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At Bush Hill Elementary, we deeply value and celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community so vibrant and special. Last year, we embarked on a wonderful initiative to visually represent this pride by displaying flags in our cafeteria, showcasing the many countries our students, families, and staff are connected to.
The response to our flag display was truly heartwarming! It was inspiring to see the visual representation of our global community and the conversations it sparked among our students and families. In fact, our collection of flags grew so quickly that we've temporarily taken them down to allow for a thorough cleaning of the cafeteria walls.
This also presents us with an exciting opportunity to reimagine and expand our display in a more sustainable way. To truly showcase the breadth of our community's connections, we are planning to acquire a larger number of smaller flags. This will allow us to represent even more countries and create a more comprehensive and visually impactful display.
To help us rebuild and enhance this beautiful representation of our school's diversity, we are currently creating an Amazon wish list containing the smaller flags we need. Your support in helping us purchase these new flags will be deeply appreciated and will allow us to continue celebrating the many backgrounds that enrich our school.
We are excited to bring this display back in a new and improved way and look forward to your continued partnership in fostering an inclusive and celebratory environment for all our students.
Amazon Wishlist link attached for those who would like to purchase a flag.
https://a.co/4ZgBFdc
We hope you will join us for Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, May 1st @ 6PM in our cafeteria. This is an excellent opportunity to meeting our amazing staff and learn more about Bush Hill Elementary and the Kindergarten Program. You are welcome to bring your rising Kindergartener as there will be activities in the classroom for those who want to participate.
 Wednesday, May 7th
Students within walking distance of Bush Hill, along with their families, are encouraged to walk or Bike to school.
Bus Riders can walk to the bus stop together with their families or other bus riders.
Be sure to get your walking shoes and bike helmets ready for the BIG day!
We are organizing a “Bike Train” where bike riders can meet @ NewLife church parking lot and ALL ride together.
Address: 5502 Trin Street Alexandria Virginia
Meet Time: 8:25 – 8:35
Bike Train Leaves for Bush Hill @ 8:40
We hope to see our Kiss & Ride line shorter that day!!
Many Jurisdictions in Northern Virginia require the use of bicycle helmets. Fairfax County is one of them. Fairfax County Code Section 82-6-38.1 defines the use of a protective helmet while operating a Bicycle: Any person under the age of fifteen years of age shall wear a protective helmet that meets the standards promulgated by the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation while riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or public bicycle path.
 *Culture*Community*Connections* Night
Thursday, May 8, 6:15-7:15 pm
Come celebrate the many diverse cultures that make up the Bush Hill Community! We will have more that 20 countries represented: from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Iceland to Jamaica, Nepal, and Venezuela, just to name a few! There will be performances, displays, food to sample, and people wearing traditional clothing. We hope to see you there! If you’d like to present a place special to you and your family, please complete this form by Friday, May 2nd, especially if you plan to have a performance, dance or activity.
Upcoming Events
- May 5-9, Staff Appreciation Week
- May 7, Bike, Walk, and Roll to School
- May 8, Community Night
- May 17, Kids Business Fair
- Congratulations to the BHES Chess Team
We are so proud of our Chess Team! They won third place in the Your Best Chess Tournament held last weekend.
- Volunteer to support our students Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day
Volunteers needed to help ensure the route is blocked off and safe for the kids to get to the school. The starting point will be the New Life Church on Trin Street. We will need people on Old Rolling Road, Brookland Road and Westchester Street. See the signup here Volunteer Signup!
- Staff Appreciation Week starts Monday - We need your help!
Our Staff is the “Best in the World!" To celebrate our incredible team, we will be treating them to a travel-inspired week of fun from May 5th - 9th.
Our teachers and staff work tirelessly to provide the best education and support for our students, and we want to show them just how much they mean to us. This special week will be filled with activities and events that transport them to exciting destinations around the globe, right here at Bush Hill ES.
We need volunteers throughout the week to make it a success.
Volunteer to Help with Staff Appreciation Week
We are also seeking donations via givebacks or contributions of services or new items related to our travel theme.
Donate to Staff Appreciation Week
Your gift of time or monetary support will help us create a memorable experience for our teachers.
- Kids Business Fair @ BHES
 Bush Hill Elementary School is having their first Children's Business Fair on Saturday May 17th from 1-3pm in the school gym. The business fair will be a fun-filled event that allows young entrepreneurs to show off their businesses in the live marketplace. The kids have a real-world opportunity to showcase their products and interact with consumers in the community. Use the link below to sign up now! Kids Business Fair Sign-up
- Interested in joining the PTA Board, We Need You!
 We need people who are interested in PTA board positions for SY 25-26, ALL BOARD POSITIONS ARE OPEN!! Current board members are available for discussion if you have questions about the positions. Please reach out. More people involved makes things so much lighter and more fun!
SOL Testing Quickly Approaching!
All students in grades 3-6 will complete spring SOL testing following the schedule below:
- May 7th: 5th Grade Reading
- May 14th: Grades 3-4, 6 Reading & 5th Math
- May 21st: Grades 3-4, 6 Math & 5th Science
Please do your best to ensure that your student attends school on these days to participate in these assessments. If you know in advance that your student will be absent, please notify your child’s teacher. Do your best to ensure that your student gets a good night’s rest and eats a healthy, filling breakfast in the morning on these dates! Looking for extra support? Here are the slides from our presentation at the SOL Parent Coffee, which includes links to the Virginia Practice Items, Test Blueprints, and VDOE Released Tests.
Thank you for your support!
Bush Hill School Testing Coordinators- Kaitlyn Side & Alison Garner
1 - Kindergarten Orientation @ 6 PM
5-9 Staff Appreciation Week
7 - Bike, Walk & Roll To School
8 - Culture Community Connections Night @ 6:15
12 -- Early Release @ 12:55 PM
20 -- Bush Hill Strings Concert @ Edison HS - Time TBD
23 -- Little Feet Meet
26 -- Memorial Day Holiday -- No School
27 -- Band & Chorus Concert @ 6:30 PM (students arrive at 6 PM)
Field Day Is Monday June 2 (Rain date Tuesday June 3rd)
We will be looking for volunteers for this AWESOME Day!!!
Look for more information soon!
Field Day T-shirts
Orders yours today! Flyers will be sent home in Tuesday Folders with ordering Information.
Please note: This year the color of the shirt is Sapphire Blue, the dry fit shirt option is Royal blue.
Orders must be received by Friday May 2nd.
No orders will be taken after this date, so be sure to order before then.
TO ORDER AND PAY ONLINE GO TO:
HTTPS://BUSHHILL25.ITEMORDER.COM
Building Self-Esteem and Stopping Bullying - Arabic Webinar
بناء تقدير الذات و وقف التنمر
May 9, 10-11:30 am
تستعرض هذة الندوة عبرالانترنت تأثيرالتنمرعلى تقدير الذات وتقدم استراتيجيات لمواجهة ووقف التنمر، دعم المتضررين وتعزيز ثقافة الاحترام والمرونة. انضموا إلينا للمساعدة في خلق بيئة أكثر أمانًا وشمولية لكل طفل.
Register here
Summertime and an Idle Mind: Keeping Children Drug-Free While Home This Summer
May 16, 10-11:30 am
While students look forward to summer break, families must begin to plan what their children will do with their downtime. Participants will learn basic drug safety in the home as they prepare for their children to be home for the summer and how they can reduce the likelihood of their child using mood altering substances. Participants will understand the purpose of harm reduction and how to apply it in their conversations with youth while remaining nonconfrontational.
Register here
Part 3-Using Strength-based Approach When Communicating with Twice- Exceptional Students
May 20, 10-11:30am
Supporting families in recognizing common communication challenges for twice-exceptional students and understanding the principles of a strength-based approach and how it differs from a deficit-based perspective. As well as, applying practical strategies to communicate effectively with your 2e child by emphasizing strengths and fostering empowerment, using active listening and emotional coaching techniques to support your child’s confidence and emotional regulation and implementing strength-based communication strategies in real-life scenarios to enhance your child’s engagement and resilience.
Register here
The Effects of Bullying on the Child’s Self-Esteem - Spanish Webinar
May 30, 10-11:30 am
El propósito del taller es ayudar a las familias a definir y reconocer los diferentes tipos de acoso escolar (bullying). El taller ayudara a informar a los padres y cuidadores de posibles señales que indican que su hijo/a pueda estar experimentando el acoso escolar, y el impacto que tiene en su bienestar. Adicionalmente, proveeremos estrategias para apoyar a sus hijos si experimentan acoso escolar.
Register here
SibShops
June 18, 9:00-12 pm
Dunn Loring Administrative Building 2334 Gallows Rd. Dunn Loring
The Sibshops workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with support needs to meet other siblings in a relaxed setting. Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs, share sibling experiences, and receive peer support. Play games and have fun.
Register here
SibTeens
June 18, 1-4 pm
Dunn Loring Administrative Building 2334 Gallows Rd. Dunn Loring
SibTeens is a community-building group for Middle School siblings of children with support needs. We have fun activities, both recreational and art-based, as well as discussion activities. It’s a unique opportunity for students to share about their lives and support each other while normalizing their life experiences.
Register here
Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the SEL Screener Results Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
✅ Share Feedback With County Health Department on School Health Services
The Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite parents/caregivers of FCPS students to participate in a survey on satisfaction with school health room services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, May 5.
School health rooms (clinics) are managed by public health nurses and school health aides. Those staff provide care for students who become sick or injured during the school day, who require medications during the school day, and/or who have a chronic health condition that requires management during the school day.
Additionally, the school health room staff:
- Provide health education, communicable disease prevention, and health screenings.
- Work with schools to help address the root causes of population health disparities so that all students have equitable access to educational and health opportunities.
- Ensure that students have care for minor injuries and illnesses, and chronic health conditions, thus helping to minimize health barriers to learning.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health room services as well as inform future planning for schools.
☀️ Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Attend the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School and get a jump on summer learning and fun! At this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
An FCPS Student Program Marketplace will feature student-made goods for sale. Proceeds will support the students’ programs.
Learn about summer programs and resources available from community and business partners. Enjoy face painting, touring a fire truck, student performances, and much more! For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 19. Visit the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage to access the nomination information form.
Pre-K Program Accepting Applications for Fall
The FCPS PreK Program serves 3 and 4 year old students with a high quality, full-day preschool program with no cost to families at 78 Fairfax County elementary schools.
Students may qualify with a variety of economic or educational risk factors. Learn more about the Pre-K and Early Head Start Program by watching this video (English) or video (Spanish).
Spaces fill quickly, so complete an application online now or call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish) for more information.
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