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As we head into the final stretch of the 2024–2025 school year, we want to share some important updates regarding administrative coverage at Westbriar.
🌍 Dr. Burch Out of Office: May 14–20
Dr. Sallie Burch will be out of the country on vacation from Wednesday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 20. During this time, she will not be available for meetings or email communication. We kindly ask families to be mindful of this window when planning time-sensitive meetings or events.
🏥 Assistant Principal Erin Lear on Medical Leave Starting May 14
Mrs. Erin Lear will begin medical leave on May 14 and will be out for the remainder of the school year. We extend our very best wishes for a smooth and restful recovery!
👥 Interim Administrative Support
To ensure ongoing leadership and support during this transition, we’re pleased to welcome back a familiar face to the Westbriar team:
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Carol Larsen, also a retired FCPS principal and one of our wonderful interim leaders from earlier this year, will assist during this time and then officially step in as Interim Assistant Principal beginning Wednesday, May 21 through the last day of school.
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Dan Phillips, retired FCPS principal, will also assist with administrative coverage while Dr. Burch is away.
Please give Dan and Carol a warm welcome (or welcome back!) when you see them around the building. We’re grateful for their leadership as we work together to finish the school year strong!
Thank you for your flexibility, partnership, and continued support during this time of transition.
As part of the FY26 Superintendent’s Approved Budget, presented to the School Board on May 8, several proposed changes may significantly impact elementary schools across Fairfax County, including Westbriar.
Due to reduced funding, the proposed budget includes:
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The elimination of classroom monitors, who have provided valuable support since the pandemic.
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A reduction in the Special Education Chair position from full-time to part-time at each elementary school.
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A decrease in Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) allocations, moving non-Title I schools from a full-time to a half-time position.
The final School Board vote on this budget is scheduled for May 22, with a public hearing option available on May 13. These changes could affect instructional support, differentiation, and school operations. The School Board will hold a public hearing on final budget adjustments on Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. Sign up to speak by Monday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m.
We encourage families and community members to stay informed and advocate for what they believe our schools need. Learn more and follow updates at: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/budget
Together, our voices can make a difference.
We want to make you aware of a concerning TikTok trend circulating nationally that encourages students to intentionally damage their school-issued Chromebooks. Referred to as the “Chromebook Challenge,” this trend involves students inserting metal or other objects into the charging or USB port or tampering with the battery—actions that can cause the device to short out or even catch fire.
What may seem like a harmless prank can have serious consequences. In addition to risking injury, students can lose access to important instructional materials and face disciplinary actions. As outlined in the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) handbook, intentionally damaging school property violates the code of conduct and may lead to disciplinary consequences.
We are asking for your help. Please talk to your child about the dangers and consequences of this challenge, which include:
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Potential fire or injury
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Damage to school property
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Loss of access to educational resources
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Financial responsibility for device replacement or repair
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Disciplinary action as outlined in the SR&R
Our top priority is student safety and maintaining a respectful, responsible learning environment. Thank you for partnering with us to keep Westbriar safe and focused on learning as we close out the school year.
We are excited to celebrate our amazing 6th grade students as they prepare to take flight from Westbriar! The 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, and we look forward to recognizing the hard work, growth, and accomplishments of our students.
We are currently working with the 6th grade team to finalize the format for awards and student recognition. Our aim is to create a ceremony that is meaningful and celebratory, while also remaining efficient and respectful of our limited time and space.
More detailed information—including timing, logistics, and any visitor guidelines—will be shared in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support as we prepare to send our Falcons soaring into middle school!
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas! Have an unforgettable experience at the FCPS Summer Extravaganza! FCPS invites all families to get a jump on summer learning by participating in engaging, educational, and enriching activities for Fairfax County students.
The Summer Extravaganza is FREE and will take place:
Saturday, May 10
10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Woodson High School Parking Lot
9525 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031
Students will be able to take advantage of fun and educational activities and resources designed to inspire curiosity and growth. Representatives from local businesses, Fairfax County Public Library, and the Fairfax County Park Authority are participating. Community organizations, such as Neighborhood Community Services, will be at the Summer Extravaganza as well. All will have learning games, tips, strategies, and helpful information for families.
Supervisor Walter Alcorn will be hosting an in-person Tysons West Community Town Hall at Westbriar Elementary School on Sunday, May 18th at 3:00 PM. This important event will spotlight nine ongoing projects and issues that impact neighborhoods surrounding the school and the Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley forest corridor.
Residents of the Greater Tysons Green Civic Association (GTGCA), Westwood Village HOA, and the Tysons Towers senior community are encouraged to attend and engage directly with project representatives.
Each project’s Point of Contact will provide a brief 2-minute update, followed by a 5-minute Q&A to address general questions. At the conclusion of all presentations, attendees will have an opportunity to speak with staff one-on-one for more in-depth conversations or additional questions.
Topics to Be Discussed:
- Westbriar Elementary School Kiss & Ride Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Update
- Old Courthouse Spring Branch at Ashgrove Lane Stream Restoration and Culvert Replacement Project
- Tysons West Sanitary Sewer Project
- Dominion Electric Spring Hill Substation
- Road Improvements on Old Courthouse Road
- Carter Family Cemetery
- Ashgrove House Resident Curator Program
- Casino Proposal Update
- Tysons Forest Community Task Force / Rewilding Tysons Forest
We are proud to host this collaborative community discussion and hope many of our Westbriar families and neighbors will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in shaping the future of our community.
Families, staff, and community members will soon be able to explore and visualize potential boundary scenarios using a customized Boundary Explorer Tool. The tool will be accessible from the FCPS website. You are also invited to participate in another series of community meetings in order to review and reflect on the initial draft scenarios before the start of summer break:
- Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8 p.m., Oakton High School
- Friday, May 16, 6:30-8 p.m., Robinson Secondary School
- Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., Herndon High School
- Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Lewis High School
- Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Annandale High School
- Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Whitman Middle School
- Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m., Chantilly High School
- Friday, June 6, 6:30–8 p.m., Glasgow Middle School
Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. Registration links will be shared soon. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- FCPS Budget Update
- Summer Internships for Students
- Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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