Members of the 65th class of Falls Church Academy’s two-year practical nursing program are excited to graduate next month.
🧪 11 FCPS Students Win Awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair
Eleven students from Fairfax County Public Schools won awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair. The students represent Langley, Marshall, McLean, and Oakton high schools, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. View the list of winners and their projects.
✨ Students innovating and preparing for the future is one of the measures of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation.
Budget Updates and Next Steps
The School Board held a work session on the FY 2026 Budget yesterday. They will be voting to approve the budget at their regular meeting tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m.
Find out how to watch School Board meetings. Visit the FCPS budget webpage for more information on the budget process.
📍 Explore Three Initial Draft Boundary Scenarios
The Boundary Explorer Tool is now live. We encourage you to enter your address in the tool and find out how the proposed draft scenarios might affect your school or neighborhood. Watch this video to learn more about using the boundary tool.
Phase 2 Community Boundary Review Meetings
You are invited to participate in a community meeting to review and reflect on the initial draft scenarios before the start of summer break:
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Friday, May 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Lewis High School
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Wednesday, May 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School
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Thursday, May 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School
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Friday, May 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Chantilly High School
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Friday, June 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School
Click on the date to register. Each meeting will be hybrid (in-person and virtual). Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. If you register to attend virtually, you will receive a Zoom link within 24 business hours. The email will come from “no-reply@zoom.us.” Check your spam folder if you do not receive the link.
At each meeting, the consultant will be using an online tool that allows participants to submit feedback during the meeting. Comments will be displayed to meeting participants in real time, and all collected input will be compiled, analyzed, and uploaded to our Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage.
Limited Early Release Days Continue Next Year
During a report to the School Board this month, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced plans to continue limited early release days for elementary schools. They will shift to Wednesdays for the 2025-26 school year.
This plan is based on recommendations from the Early Release Steering Committee, which includes parents, caregivers, school-based staff, and central office personnel. Read more about the reasons for early release and the proposed early release dates.
🥗 Remember to Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance!
It’s a busy time of year, and we know many priorities are on your plate. As we approach the end of the school year, it is important to check your student’s MySchoolBucks account and pay any remaining school meal balance.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families who earn less than 185% of the poverty level qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FRM). However, an application must be completed and submitted each school year to receive that benefit. The application for the 2025-26 school year will be available this summer.
If you have a current balance and think you may be eligible for free and reduced-price meals, please fill out the FRM application for the 2024-25 school year.
Student Testing Results Coming Soon
Throughout May and June, you will receive your child’s spring assessment results. If you aren’t sure what assessments your child took this year, view this list of tests by grade level.
How the results are delivered depends on the test. Scores will be delivered in SIS ParentVUE or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines.
Visit the FCPS website for additional information about how test results are reported to families. Individual test websites provide report translations and help with interpreting test results. Caregivers should contact their children’s schools with any testing questions or for additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success.
Access Test Results and Grades in SIS ParentVUE
Signing up for a SIS ParentVUE account helps you to support your child’s academic success! Caregivers can view important information like attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores through ParentVUE.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. And information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same account. A SIS ParentVUE app is available for Apple and Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
If you already have an account, be sure your contact information is up to date. Learn more about updating your information on ParentVUE.
🐣 Chickens Hatch Egg-cellent Lessons
Whitman Middle School students no longer get surprised if a chicken pokes its head through an open classroom window and interrupts their studies with a cluck. That’s because an internal courtyard at the school has become a happy home to a growing flock of feathered friends. They’re now a much-loved part of the Wildcats’ community. Read about how these fine feathered friends fit into the middle school curriculum.
One Teacher’s Inspiring Journey
In her Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid shared a heartfelt episode of Our Voices, Our Future. She sat down with Hanh Bui — an author, former FCPS teacher, and proud FCPS parent. Hanh shares her inspiring journey from an eight-year-old refugee fleeing Vietnam to becoming a dedicated teacher and celebrated author. Read more about Hanh in the last issue of Weekly Reflections or watch the video conversation.
🎓 Share Graduation or Promotion Ceremony Photos!
Graduation season is almost here! FCPS families, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures from this year’s graduation or promotion ceremonies on Facebook or Instagram by tagging FCPS and their school, and using the hashtag #FCPSgrad25.
View the FCPS high school graduation schedule.
Follow FCPS and Your School on Social Media
Visit the Social Media in FCPS webpage to find FCPS social accounts and a school social media directory.
🎓 Join the FCPS Alumni Network Today!
Educate Fairfax is proud to sponsor the FCPS Alumni Network — an online community connecting alumni, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members who share a bond with Fairfax County Public Schools.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a long-time supporter, or someone who’s returned to Fairfax to work or raise a family, this network is here to celebrate you. Take a peek at our site and find inspiring stories, news, events, reunions, homecomings, and more.
Want to plan an alumni event? Please contact us at Alumni@EducateFairfax.org.
Not a member yet? Join the FCPS Alumni Network today and be part of the ongoing FCPS story!
Counselors Share Tips for Teens to Protect Mental Health
In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the school counseling team at Rachel Carson Middle School — Karla Chustz, Rachel Copeland, Nina Ghafori, Christy Ryder, and Beth Schires — offer some tips for teens to work toward better mental health.
Learn About Life Skills Every Child Needs
The FCPS Family Academy will present an in-person workshop this summer on the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. At this eight-week workshop, discover why these skills matter, how they help your child grow, and fun ways to build them at home. These are proven strategies based on research about how kids learn and develop.
The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays from June 17 to August 12 at the John Marshall Library. Free child care is provided. Register in advance.
✨ The goal of the FCPS Family Academy is to fulfill Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships.
🧸 Give Your Kids a Strong Start: Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs
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.
The pre-K program prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30. 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.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, however, space is limited and provided based on need, not “first come, first served.” Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail, or in person at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
✨ The availability of pre-K programs to meet community needs is part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 1: Strong Start.
🚀 Register Today for Summer Camps and Enrichment Programs
Registration closes Friday, June 6 for summer camps and learning opportunities 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.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps.
IFTA is a two- or three-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9 (which fulfills a graduation requirement), music, and theater. 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.
🧩 Get Clued in to the FCPS and Safe Routes to School Puzzle Hunt!
FCPS and Safe Routes to School return with an engaging activity to help get families outside this summer. The Fairfax County Puzzle Hunt, which begins Sunday, June 1, will offer online puzzles that lead to a location in Fairfax County and additional clues toward the final puzzle.
Participants who submit the final answer will be entered into a chance to win a prize. Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be challenging and accessible for all skill levels, as well as teaching about bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Plan ahead and think creatively: Last year, some folks created solving teams and scheduled meet-ups to solve together. How will you participate? For more information, visit the hunt’s How to Play page.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Memorial Day (Holiday)
Monday, May 26, is Memorial Day. Schools and school offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
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