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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Dear Dranesville Families,
I want to thank everyone who took the time to speak at the Budget Hearing this week. While I was not able to be in person, I watched on YouTube until the last speaker finished. My absence was due to my annual involvement with National Police Week, where I have been a counselor/support with kids/teens who lost a parent or a sibling in the line of duty. Thank you for understanding why I was not able to be in person for the Budget Hearing.
As you all know, this has been an extremely difficult budget year since the Board of Supervisors (BOS) was not able to fund the entire transfer ask from Dr. Reid. Her needs-based budget focused on compensation to ensure that FCPS offered the highest first year salaries to teachers in the master’s lane. The gap required the bargaining unit to return to the table and renegotiate the contract. As a board member, I am not privy to what is being negotiated nor what is agreed upon.
Since learning of the proposed cuts, I have been working hard to find a way to restore both the AART and SPED Chair positions back to full time.
Finally, I am incredibly grateful to the BOS for adding the meals tax. This provides a new source of revenue to fund the county and school system moving forward. What I did not realize is that this would lead to a small cut in the real estate tax rate for this year. It is my hope that the BOS and FCPS will begin working on annual budget earlier in future years. And I hope that the commonwealth will change their funding formula, address the findings of the JLARC study, and fund public schools moving forward. I believe this will require a tremendous amount of advocacy from parents and students.
I want to share my condolences on the passing of Janie Strauss, the longtime Dranesville School Board member. In 1991, she was appointed as an At-Large School Board member for a two-year term. She was the first elected Dranesville School Board member and served 23 years, 1996- 2019. Before serving as a school board member, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and was a preschool and elementary teacher, advocate, Franklin Sherman Elementary School PTA president, Fairfax County Council of PTAs president, and mother of 4 FCPS students. After retiring from the School Board, she continued her leadership of The Cappies, a writing and awards program that honors student theatre programs and critics. She received the 2021 Dranesville District’s Lady Fairfax in honor of her service to our Dranesville community. I met Mrs. Strauss several times during my tenure at FCPS. I appreciated her wisdom and support during my School Board campaign. She will be missed.
It is hard to believe we are in the last few weeks of school! I am excited to attend the upcoming Dranesville high school graduation ceremonies.
See you around Dranesville,
Robyn
In this newsletter,
At National Police Week with FCPS Staff Members
School Board Updates
May 8, 2025 Regular Meeting
Board Meeting Highlights
Action Items
The School Board approved the Student Rights and Responsibilities regulation for SY 2025-2026 (SR&R), including the following amendments:
- To amend Page 6, Section IX: Monitoring and Enforcement of Regulation 2601.39 to add the word “dispositions,” after “required intervention,” and before “and factors” so that it now reads: "The Chief Equity Office, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Schools, shall conduct a semester review of all discipline cases involving weapons, assault, and assault and battery to determine use of required intervention, dispositions and factors considered prior to issuing a suspension for the related violations."
- To amend page 17 of the proposed Students Rights and Responsibilities regulation related to 9th-12th grade cell phone use to say the following: “Cell phone use is restricted, and cell phones may only be used on campus before the first bell, after the last bell, and during lunches.
In a related action, the School Board approved this follow-on motion to the SR&R:
- That the School Board direct the Superintendent to develop a process requiring parents/guardians and students to acknowledge and agree that cell phones, smart watches, and other wearable devices are the sole responsibility of parents/guardians/caregivers and students while they are on FCPS property or attending FCPS sanctioned events, similar to those guidelines used to manage other Bring Your Own Devices. These guidelines should include but are not limited to statements acknowledging that FCPS is not responsible for providing charging spaces for or the care of such devices; that FCPS is not responsible for the security, safety, loss, damage, or theft of such device; and that the students must abide by the Acceptable Use Policy in the Student Rights and Responsibilities document if they bring one of these devices onto FCPS property or to FCPS sanctioned events.
The School Board also awarded an intergovernmental contract to the Alexandria City School Board regarding professional development services for supporting Multilingual Learners.
Presentations to the School Board
Dr. Reid presented the proposed FY 2026 Approved Budget. This budget details the Superintendent's recommended adjustments to the FY 2026 Advertised Budget, which are required to balance that budget.
Dr. Reid presented Academic Matters on Classroom on Wheels.
My Visit to Cooper MS's After School Program
FY 2026 Budget
Dr. Reid presented our amended Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget to the School Board at its May 8th meeting. We will continue to be budget focused in the coming weeks as we finalize fiscal details for the coming year.
FY 2026 Approved Budget Timeline
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May 8, 2025- Dr. Reid presented the FY 2026 Approved Budget proposal to the Fairfax County School Board.
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May 13, 2025- The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted their budget.
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May 13, 2025- The School Board heard testimony of 187 speakers at the Budget Public Hearing.
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May 20, 2025- Budget Committee Meeting of the Whole
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May 22, 2025- The School Board scheduled to adopt the FY 2026 Approved Budget.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Tuesday, May 20, 5 p.m.- Budget Committee Meeting
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Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m.- Regular Meeting
All times and topics are subject to change.
How to watch meetings and sign up to speak
FCPS Updates
Comprehensive Boundary Review
Phase 2 Community Comprehensive Boundary Review Meetings- May and June
Registration links are now available for our Phase 2 upcoming community comprehensive boundary review meetings. At the meetings, we will provide updated information and take you through three initial proposed scenarios. You will be able to look up your address and discuss the proposed boundary adjustments for each of the three scenarios in small groups in person or in breakout rooms online. In addition, we will be using an interactive tool that will allow feedback to be shared at the meetings.
Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or virtually via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation for all participants will be available as needed.
Please click on one of the dates below to register for a meeting:
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Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., at Herndon High School
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Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., at Lewis High School
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Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School
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Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School
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Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m., at Chantilly High School
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Friday, June 6, 6:30-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School
We encourage you to visit our Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information, including an updated timeline for the boundary review process.
Initial Draft Boundary Scenarios
 Feedback from 12 community meetings during Phase 1 of FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review offered key insights into the community’s perspectives and needs. Our partner, Thru Consulting, collected and analyzed that feedback as well as the input received via email and our online platform. This data informed the creation of three initial draft boundary scenarios: Neighborhood Connectivity, Cohort Continuity, and Comprehensive Balance. Now, you can explore and visualize how these initial scenarios may affect boundaries by using our new Boundary Explorer Tool.
Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meetings
Learn more about the comprehensive boundary review and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.
4/25 Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met on April 25, 2025, at Gatehouse Administration Center.
Key takeaways from the meeting:
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Welcome He reminded the group that tonight’s meeting is focused on split feeders, where less than 25% of students from a lower-level school (elementary or middle school) are split off to a different upper-level school (middle or high). The consultant provided a demonstration of the online boundary tool that is coming and will be available to the public to review and provide feedback on proposed boundary changes.
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Review of Boundary Review Process to Date The consultant reviewed feedback provided by committee members from the last meeting and answered questions.
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Draft Split Feeder Boundary Adjustments Small Group Review and Feedback The consultant shared that we are primarily focused on resolving split feeders at the elementary school level, because we can make the most targeted adjustments with the least disruptions.
- He reviewed the Findings on Split Feeders and the Guiding Principles for Split Feeder Elimination
- Worked in regional groups, reviewing the “Before and After” maps for each proposed area, with accompanying data tables.
Please visit FCPS’ website to access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received.
My Visit to the April Kent Gardens PTA Meeting
May 5 Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met May 5, 2025, at Gatehouse Administration Center.
Key takeaways from the meeting include:
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Welcome/Recap of the Boundary Review Process to Date The consultant welcomed and opened the meeting. He thanked the Boundary Review Advisory Committee members for the feedback they have provided to date. He reminded the group that tonight’s meeting is focused on overcapacity issues.
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Preparation for Upcoming Community Sessions With community meetings starting on May 15, the committee members tested out the interactive tool, which will be used to support the upcoming meetings. The community meetings will be hybrid, so that families and members of the community can attend in person or virtually. This tool will allow participants to share feedback during the meetings.
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Presentation of Draft Boundary Adjustments to Alleviate Overcrowding For this draft scenario, the consultant used the capacity thresholds included in the annual CIP to identify overcrowded schools.
- With these proposed draft maps, schools with a substantial capacity deficit are brought down to 105% or less.
- Kent Gardens Elementary School and Falls Church High School were not included because steps taken to alleviate their overcrowding are already underway.
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Small Group Review and Feedback The Advisory Committee worked in regional groups, reviewing the “Before and After” draft maps for each proposed area, with accompanying data tables. The groups discussed and made notes on graphic organizers to provide feedback.
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Timeline The consultant reviewed the updated timeline and the upcoming community meetings. The consultant and Dr. Reid took questions from the Boundary Review Advisory Committee members.
Please visit FCPS’ website to access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Additional immunizations are required for students entering 7th grade:
- Required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
Additional immunizations are required for students entering 12th grade:
- Required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older.
Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and health care providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. Additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and the Fairfax County Health Department.
School Bus Stop Arm Cameras
Cameras have been installed on the stop arms of 50 FCPS school buses. These cameras will be used to identify drivers who pass stopped school buses while children are entering and exiting the bus (called a “stop arm violation”).
According to Virginia law, drivers must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights on and their stop signs extended. Motorists should stop when approaching from any direction, unless there is a barrier or median separating their lane from where the bus is stopped. Motorists should remain stopped until everyone is clear, and the bus is moving.
- $250 Citations began Monday, May 12
- School bus stop-arm safety cameras identify drivers not adhering to “stop arm” signals.
- Violation videos and license plate images reviewed by our Police Department for approval before a Notice of Infraction is issued.
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Student Bus Passes Offer Free Transportation
All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Complete the application and return it to your school office. Students at Marshall HS and Davis Center can ride Metrobus for free.
Children 12 and younger ride for free on the Fairfax Connector with a paying adult.
Bus Discount Program for Adults
Fairfax Connector’s Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides 50% off fares for low-income residents ages 18-65. Learn more about the TRIP program and how to apply.
Bringing Solar Power to 25 Schools
At the April 24 Regular meeting, the School Board took a major step forward in its commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality by approving the installation of rooftop solar panels at 25 additional schools. Staff also secured a 25-year fixed energy rate with zero escalation, ensuring long-term savings until 2050. This achievement contributes to FCPS’s impressive 31% reduction in energy use since 2014, which has saved more than $100 million and significantly lowered our greenhouse gas emissions.
Included Dranesville students' Schools:
- Aldrin ES
- Clearview ES
- Cooper MS
- Herndon HS
- McLean HS
May 7 Coates ES Capacity Community Meeting
Given the ongoing Comprehensive School Boundary Review, the Coates ES boundary study will be prioritized in that effort. Accommodations for students for School Year (SY) 2025-26 were presented to the community on May 7, 2025.
ES Limited Early Release Days
From Dr. Reid's May 12th Weekly Reflections,
And in the Superintendent Matters section of the School Board meeting, I discussed a review of the limited early release days, which this year were on Mondays, but for next school year we will be moving them to Wednesdays, with the same services as this year. I will be sharing more information about this with the community at the beginning of the coming week.
Interest Meeting for New Korean Dual Language Immersion Program
Families are invited to learn more about a new Korean Dual Language Immersion opportunity in Fairfax County. Register to attend the informational community meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m., at Halley Elementary School. It will also be available virtually. Attendees can learn more about dual language immersion and next steps to apply for the program.
Kindergarten Registration
Do you have, or know of a rising kindergartener scheduled to FCPS next year? All students that turn five by September 30, 2025 are eligible to attend Kindergarten this fall. Registration is currently underway. Please consider registering asap since staffing at elementary schools reflects the number of registered students.
Helping Your Child Prepare for Kindergarten
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Explore the resources on FCPS’ School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage for ways to help ensure your child starts kindergarten with confidence.
My Visit to Great Falls ES's Kindergarten Orientation
SY 25-26 FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors ages 6 weeks to 4 years living in Fairfax County. Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, however, space is limited and provided based on need, not “first come, first serve.”
Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30, 2025. Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and parents/guardians of children 6 weeks to 2 years old.
FCPS Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help answer questions, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, text 571-496-8284, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Family Resource Center: Supportive Hub for Families
The Fairfax County Public Schools Family Resource Center offers a variety of resources to help all families support their children's success in school. They provide free webinars and events, confidential consultations with professionals, and a lending library with over 10,000 resources. There are even resources specifically designed to help families of children with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
May Family Resource Webinars
The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed. Speakers are academic and FCPS experts.
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May 20: Using Strength-based Approach When Communicating with Twice-Exceptional Students
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May 30: The Effects of Bullying on the Child’s Self-Esteem – Spanish Webinar
Community Updates
Supervisor Bierman's Newsletter
Please sign up for Supervisor Bierman's Thursday Dranesville Dispatch newsletter to keep up to date on Dranesville and Fairfax County news and events.
495 NEXT Project News
Crews continue to make progress replacing old bridges with new bridges featuring sidewalks and trail connections. In addition to providing upgraded features, new bridges crossing I-495 are necessary to allow for construction of the future, wider Beltway below. The following milestones highlight progress being made on the project’s bridge construction:
- New Live Oak Drive Bridge opened in August 2024
- New northern portion of Georgetown Pike Bridge opened in August 2024
- Beltway bridge widening over Scott’s Run is ongoing
- Scheduled to be completed in May 2025
- New southern portion of Georgetown Pike Bridge
- Scheduled to be completed in November 2025
My Visit to the Langley vs. Herndon Varsity Baseball Game
5 FCPS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Winners
Five Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been awarded 2025 corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The students are part of a group of more than 830 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.
Congratulations to the Dranesville Awardees:
- Jayden Lee of Langley High School, National Merit George Watts Hill Scholarship.
- Riley Seewer of Langley High School, National Merit Boeing Scholarship.
- Aileen Wu of McLean High School , National Merit NVIDIA Corporation Scholarship.
28 FCPS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Winners
Twenty-eight students from nine Fairfax County high schools have been named winners of $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Scholarship winners are part of a group of approximately 2,500 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships in 2025 primarily financed by the NMSC.
Congratulations to the Dranesville Awardees:
- Langley HS: Amy Key, Vishwa Rakasi, and John Wu.
- McLean HS: Rachel Noh.
- Thomas Jefferson HSST: Sophia Huang, Sophia Lin, Phoebe Pan, and Patrick Shi.
FCPS Hispanic Leadership Alliance Honors 32 Students and Leaders
The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) — a certified employee group of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees — presented scholarships to 32 high school seniors, adult learners, and community leaders pursuing fields ranging from healthcare, education, engineering, psychology, law, public policy, and cybersecurity on Tuesday, May 7.
Congratulations to Emely Anna Flores Hinojosa, Marshall HS, who received the Latinos-Unidos-Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarship.
2025 Shark Tank Tech Challenge
The Shark Tank Challenge is an annual competition for Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church City students. The participants are challenged to create an innovative device or app that will have a positive impact on the lives of older adults or adults with disabilities.
Congratulations:
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Second Place: Artisin - Alan Wang (McLean High School)
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Third Place: Gaitway - Jasmine Ma (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology), Jaiden Saran and Sophie Zhang (McLean High School)
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Honorable Mentions
- First: BlindSight - Kriesh Tivare (Langley High School)
- Third: CHAT - Aryan Rathour (McLean High School), Chenxi Xu (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology), Sean Miles (Herndon High School)
NAMM Names FCPS One of the 2025 Best Communities for Music Education
Fairfax County Public Schools has been honored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. Read more about this honor.
2025 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarships
The McLean Community Center awarded 2025 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarships to six local high school students. The annual scholarship competition began with preliminary auditions in February and culminated with a final competition on stage at The Alden on April 17.
Congratulations:
- Vocal Music
- First Place: Caden Peng, Sophomore, Langley HS
- Second Place: Mia Mortman, Junior, McLean HS
- Third Place: Alex Valencic, Junior, McLean HS
- Instrumental Music
- First Place: Sophia Lin, Senior, Thomas Jefferson HSST
- Second Place: Guillermo Javierre Carmona, Junior, McLean HS
- Third Place: Ryan Chun, Senior, McLean HS
Herndon HS
My visit to Herndon HS's Footloose
I so enjoyed Herndon HS’s production of Footloose. I wanted to share share the miraculous recovery of the lead of the show, senior James Culatta, who played Ren. Last summer, James suffered from a freak accident while hiking in Utah and received 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body. He had to miss the first half of his senior year and went through many exhaustive medical surgeries to heal his life-threatening wounds. Through the power of modern medicine and a faith-based community surrounding him, he fully recovered to become the outstanding lead dancer, singer and actor in this spring musical and is college bound in the fall.
Langley HS
Congratulations to the Langley High School Hockey Team for winning their 4th straight Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League Championship with a 6-4 victory over Battlefield High School.
Marshall Academy
In the Academic Matters section of the May 8th School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed a classroom on wheels. This project showcases the efforts of Auto Tech and Engineering students at Marshall Academy. They have been working to transform a retired school bus into a mobile learning lab. Once completed, the bus will travel to neighborhoods to offer students extra academic help and also help strengthen connections between families and schools.
Dr. Reid shared a video providing in-depth information about the Classroom on Wheels project and how the Marshall Academy students worked together to get it started.
McLean HS
Students from McLean High School DECA attended ICDC in Orlando to participate in a variety of events such as Human Resources, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and International Business. DECA member Leah Fontaine earned recognition as a Top 20 Finalist in Principles of Entrepreneurship. The DECA International Career Development Conference was the pinnacle of competition, where over 18,000 students vied for international honors, making this a significant accomplishment.
Longfellow MS
Congratulations to August P., a 7th grader who recently competed in National History Day. August won a special award for African American history while placing 3rd overall.
Cooper MS
Cooper KidWind team got second place at the State level and will progress to the world competition in Phoenix, Arizona on May 18.
Aldrin ES
My Visit to the Aldrin 30th Anniverisary Celebration
Top 10 Reasons Aldrin Elementary Soars! -we’re proud of our students, staff, and families and the way they make our community unique! Check out 10 Reasons Aldrin Elementary Soars and why Aldrin Elementary is an amazing place to learn and grow!
Coates ES
Coates Cosmic Coffee! Our amazing before-school Coffee Club 5th and 6th graders have been hard at work bringing its very own student-run business. Every Thursday, these young entrepreneurs step into various roles – serving as baristas, organizing deliveries, managing orders, and truly running their own business. This hands-on experience is giving them invaluable opportunities to develop their Portrait of a Graduate durable skills, including communication, collaboration, and becoming goal-directed and resilient individuals.
Get2Green Plastic Collection- Our Get2Green Club collected an impressive 19 pounds of plastic this week, bringing our total to 90 pounds as we work toward our goal of 1,000 pounds! This initiative is part of the club’s ongoing effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste at Coates ES and promote environmental responsibility.
Haycock ES
Congratulations to all our 6th graders who presented their National History Day projects in Richmond for the state competition. Some of them are moving on to the National NHD competition. NHD is a great learning experience for all our 6th graders!
Hutchison ES "Reading Under the Stars"
To create a "celestial" mood, Hutchison librarian and RIF NOVA liaison Peggy Harding hung pictures of night skies, planets, and stars over the darkened reading corner. Each child was given a flashlight to illuminate the pages of their brand new book, and the "star-studded" reading began!
Jewish American Heritage Month
May is a recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Our Public Library celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Jewish Americans with a virtual reality exhibition, book discussions, presentations, crafts, children’s storytimes and more.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
In May, we recognize the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Learn more here.
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Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services
Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports to include medication assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and more. Contact CSB Entry and Referral by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
Speech language pathologists help students to develop effective communication skills so that students may participate in school and later in the workforce.
Learn more from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
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Free Workshops & Screenings During Speech & Hearing Month
Learn about hearing, voice, speech, or language development, staff from the Fairfax County Health Department’s Speech and Hearing program will offer free, 30-minute information sessions at several county libraries throughout May.
These sessions are for parents who want to know more about how speech and hearing develop. Local experts will talk about signs to watch for, tips to help children at home, and early intervention options. Parents can ask questions and meet other parents. After the information sessions, speech therapists will come back to the libraries to offer free speech screening tests for children ages 3 to 7 years. You need to make an appointment for the free screenings.
Disclaimer: Opportunities and events offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Volunteer Opportunity - 2025 School Bond Referendum Committee
A citizen’s committee supporting the 2025 School Bond Referendum is seeking volunteers. This is an organized, positive, and short-term way to support FCPS. Along with the distribution of information, the volunteers will meet 2- 3 Times between June and November.
The committee’s general duties will be
- sharing information that supports passage of the bond to HOA boards, other organizations, and chambers of commerce; and
- distributing information electronically and in print.
If you are a Dranesville resident and interested in this opportunity, please fill out this committee interest form by May 23, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to Caitlin Bennet (cebennett@fcps.edu).
SY 25-26 RIF Young Ambassador Program
If you are interested in knowing more about and possibly applying for the Reading Is Fundamental NOVA Young Ambassador program, the application for the 2025-2026 school year is live! Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2025.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are 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 individual staff person, community member, or student who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 19, 2025.
Summer Opportunities
Loving Solutions for Korean-Speaking Families
Tuesdays June 3- August 5: 6- 8 p.m. Are you interested in creating a space of harmony with your child? Join this 10-week, free family workshop taught in Korean! The first and last sessions are in person at the Lecture Hall in Centreville High School while the remaining dates are taught online via Zoom. Refreshments and childcare will be available for the in-person sessions.
In this course, families will get tools to:
- Improve communication and boost self-esteem,
- Support strong-willed children in a positive and loving way, and
- Create a space of harmony at home.
Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration is now available for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration ends Friday, June 6.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.
For more information, see the Summer Learning page.
Fairfax County Camps
Camp Fairfax
Camp Fairfax welcomes rising 1st - 7th grade children for a weekly summer camp located in public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. Each weekly session offers the opportunity for children to explore their creativity and develop their talents and skills.
Fairfax County Parks Summer Camps
Registration for 2025 summer camps is open! Whether your child wants to refine their existing skills or try their hand at something new, the Park Authority has a camp that they’re sure to enjoy!
Teens in Action Camps
Teens in Action offers an engaging, healthy and affordable recreation program for youth ages 12 to 18 to learn, play and serve. Activities include team sports, games, arts and crafts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming, service projects, cultural field trips and much more! Free nutritious lunches and snacks are served.
Therapeutic Recreation Camps
Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) offers affordable summer camp experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, and/or attention deficit disorders
Herndon Summer Grand
Summer Grand is a 4 week summer musical theater intensive program that gives campers in grades 7-12 an opportunity to work with professional directors, choreographers, musicians, and theater technicians. The camp will meet daily June 30- July 25 at Herndon High School (). We will be performing “Anastasia”! Email jbwaldrop@fcps.edu for more information.
Vienna Summer Strings!
Sign up your young musician up for Vienna Summer Strings! The camp will be June 23 - July 11, with July 4 off. This camp is a great place to start learning the basics of playing strings or enhancing the skills they already have.
SoCo Summer Strings
SoCo Summer Strings is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from Monday, July 7- Friday, July 18 from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM (weekdays only). Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.
Vienna Band Camp
Sign up your musician (4th- 9th grade) up for Vienna Band Camp! The camp will be June 23 - July 17, with July 4 off. This camp is a great place to start learning or enhancing the skills they already have.
Traveling Players
Traveling Players is an ensemble-based non-profit that trains students in 2nd - 12th grade in classical theatre. This summer, their sleepaway camps (4th -12th grade). They also have day camps for 2nd - 5th grade students located in Tyson's, VA. You can find their dates and rates with this link.
Outdoor Summer Concerts
Herndon's Friday Night Live!- Fridays through 8/22
Head to downtown Herndon for Friday Night Live! — a free outdoor concert series featuring great live music and fun for all ages. Bring your friends, family and a lawn chair and enjoy the perfect way to start your weekend. Fridays 6- 10 p.m. at the Town Green (777 Lynn Street, Herndon).
Great Falls Concerts on the Green- Sundays 5/25- 8/31
Pack up the family, a blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner - or grab takeout from one of our local restaurants! Join us at the gazebo for a laid-back evening of good music and good times with your neighbors. All concerts take place on Sunday evenings 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Village Centre gazebo.
The Alden Summer Concert Series- Thursdays 6/19- 7/31
Bring the whole family for a “weekend eve” outing and enjoy a new concert every Thursday evening from June 19 to July 31 at the new McLean Central Park pavilion at 7 p.m.
Disclaimer: Opportunities and events offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Longfellow MS's Cinderella- May 17
Longfellow MS's production of Cinderella
- May 17: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
110th McLean Day- 5/17
McLean Day is this weekend! And yes, McLean Day is still on, rain or shine!
Community Festival- May 17
McLean’s biggest annual festival is celebrating its 110th birthday! Join the McLean Community Center at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean). Enjoy music, food trucks, 100+ exhibitors and sponsors, giveaways, games, petting zoo, amusements, carnival rides and much more. Patrons can also vote for their favorite candidates running for seats on the MCC Governing Board from 11am- 5 pm.
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Herndon Pyramid Art Show- through May 19
The Herndon Pyramid Art Show through May 19 at the Herndon United Methodist Church (701 Bennett Street, Herndon). Select artwork from students across the Herndon Pyramid are on display.
Our Herndon, Our Future: A Community Conversation- May 20
Mayor Keven LeBlanc will host “Our Herndon, Our Future: A Community Conversation,” a town hall-style event on May 20, 2025. The event will be held at the Herndon Town Council Chambers. Remarks will begin at 6:30 pm with discussion and Q&A to follow. This event is free to the public and preregistration is not required. It will be held in the Town Council Chambers (765 Lynn Street, Herndon).
Free Narcan Training at the MCC- May 21
NARCAN Training: Free 60 minute session to learn what to do (and not do) in an opioid overdose situation. All participants who complete the full training will receive FREE dose of Naloxone — so you’ll be prepared if you ever need it.
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Wednesday, May 21: 7- 8:30 p.m.
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McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean)
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HerndonPRIDE- May 24
Come to HerndonPRIDE for an unforgettable afternoon of music, theatre, food, and community celebration. The event will feature live performances, local vendors, food trucks, art, entertainment and more. Saturday, May 24: 12- 5 p.m. Arts Herndon Lawn (750 Center Street, Herndon)
Morning at the Museum
Morning at the Museum is a free program for children, teenagers, and young adults who are neurodivergent and their families. You can visit a Smithsonian museum before it opens on certain Saturday or Sunday mornings. Each month, a different Smithsonian museum hosts the program. You need to register to attend.
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Saturday, June 21- National Postal Museum
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© 2024 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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