🌞 Summer Update from the Principal

Dear Westbriar Families,

I hope you're enjoying a restful and joyful summer! While the building is still quiet, our team is already hard at work preparing for the 2025–2026 school year. We’re excited to launch the year with our new theme: “Let the Adventure Begin!”—a celebration of learning, growth, and new possibilities for every Falcon.

Look out for important back-to-school updates in early August, including class placement information and upcoming events. We can’t wait to welcome you all back soon!

Warmly,
Dr. Sallie Burch
Principal, Westbriar Elementary School

📝 School Supply Lists

If you purchased a PTA Sprout Supply Box—great news! Your child’s supplies will be delivered directly to their classroom prior to Open House.

For families who did not order a box, grade-level supply lists are available on our website: WES Supply Lists.

If purchasing supplies presents a challenge for your family, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Sallie Burch at srburch1@fcps.edu or our school social worker, Beth Jackson, at btjackson@fcps.edu. We’re here to ensure every Falcon is fully equipped for the school year!

📅 2025–2026 FCPS Calendar

As you plan for the year ahead, we encourage all families to review the 2025–2026 FCPS School Year Calendar to take note of holidays, early release days, and teacher workdays. Planning ahead helps ensure a smooth and successful year for your family.

🍎 Teacher Assignments

Teacher Assignments
We know students and families are excited to learn who their classroom teacher will be for the upcoming school year! Families will be receiving a welcome letter and teacher assignment via postal mail, which should arrive no later than Wednesday, August 13. In addition, teacher assignments will be available to view online starting Thursday, August 14 through SIS ParentVUE. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE account, please contact the WES Front Office. Instructions for accessing ParentVUE can be found on the FCPS website.

Accessing SIS ParentVUE
To view your child’s teacher assignment on August 14, log in to your SIS ParentVUE account. If you need assistance accessing your account or creating one, please contact the WES Front Office at 703-937-1700. This is the same platform used throughout the year to view grades, attendance, and other important student information. We encourage all families to ensure their login is up to date prior to August 14 to avoid delays.

📆 Mark Your Calendars

Open House–Thursday, August 14

This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to visit the classroom, meet the teacher, and connect with classmates.

Open House Schedule:

• Kindergarten & Students New to WES: 12:00–12:45 PM

• Last Names A–F: 1:00–1:30 PM

• Last Names G–N: 1:30–2:00 PM

• Last Names O–Z: 2:00–2:30 PM

*If you ordered a PTA supply box, it will be delivered to your child’s classroom in advance.

Back to School Night–Thursday, September 4

Join us from 6:30–8:00 PM for our annual Back to School Night.

We will host an optional Meet & Greet with the Administrative Team from 6:00–6:30 PM.
Following that, staff will offer two information sessions:

• Session 1: 6:30–7:10 PM

• Session 2: 7:15–7:55 PM

Please note: Childcare will not be provided. We encourage families to make arrangements for children to stay at home.

Early Release Wednesdays at Westbriar

Westbriar will observe several Early Release Wednesdays with dismissal at 1:05 PM. On these days, we strongly encourage families to follow their child’s regular dismissal plan—bus, walker, or Kiss & Ride—for consistency.

While we understand some families may have unique childcare needs, the option for supervision at school until 4:05 PM is intended only for those who cannot make alternate arrangements. Students remaining at school will engage in supervised, quiet activities such as reading, homework, board games, or educational technology use. No academic instruction will be provided, and staffing will be limited.

A Google Form will be sent soon to collect your child’s dismissal plan for each Early Release Wednesday. The options will include:

• Bus Rider

• Walker

• Kiss & Ride

• Supervision until 4:05 PM (only if no other childcare option is available)

2025–2026 Early Release Dates:

• September 10

• October 29

• November 12

• December 10

• February 18

• March 18

• April 22

• May 13

🚌 Transportation Updates

Bus Riders
Be on the lookout prior to the week of school starting for communication from the FCPS Transportation Department with bus information. Bus route information will also be available prior to the first day of school in your ParentVUE account.
If you need help accessing your account, contact Mrs. Revelo at irevelo@fcps.edu.
Kindergarten families: A parent or designated adult is required to meet the child at the bus stop.

For additional questions, contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7100.

Walker Dismissal
Walkers will exit through Door 9. For safety, we ask that families not drive to pick up children from the walker area. Please use the Kiss & Ride system if you plan to drive.

Front Door Pickup – No Longer Permitted
The front door and lobby area are reserved for bus dismissal only. Parents will not be able to pick up students in this area.

Kiss & Ride Registration

• If your family plans to use Kiss & Ride for daily drop-off and/or pick-up, please note the following: Families who already have a Kiss & Ride number should continue using the same number.
• Only families who are new to Westbriar OR who have lost their Kiss & Ride tags should complete the Kiss & Ride application and pick up tags in the WES Front Office.

A Google Form will be included in our next newsletter to register for a new number. New Kiss & Ride tags will be available for pickup at Open House or sent home during the first week of school. This system helps us ensure a safe and efficient dismissal for all students—thank you for your cooperation!

Students using Kiss & Ride will exit through the cafeteria to the designated pickup area.

🥗 Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

The cafeteria offers daily breakfast and lunch:

• Breakfast: $1.75

• Lunch: $3.25

Families can add funds to student accounts via My School Bucks.

Staying Connected with Westbriar

• Weekly Newsletters

Sign up for “News You Choose” emails to receive weekly updates and Principal Burch’s monthly newsletters.

• Schoology

Teachers will post homework and classroom updates through Schoology. Additional communication tools may also be used.

• ParentVUE

We encourage all families to use ParentVUE throughout the year for updates, grades, and student records.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Westbriar PTA: Join the PTA!

Membership options:

• One Parent/Guardian – $25

• Family (Two Adults) – $30

• Teacher/Staff – $10

To join for the 2025–2026 school year, CLICK HERE.

Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for volunteers to support a wide range of PTA events, including our signature 5K.
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form to get involved!

WES Spirit Wear

Show your Falcon pride with customizable spirit wear through our PTA-hosted shop at WestbriarSpiritWear.com!
Choose from hundreds of items in youth, women’s, and men’s sizes—t-shirts, hoodies, polos, joggers, hats, mugs, and more.
Orders over $50 ship free, and items are delivered right to your door.

1741 Pine Valley Dr., Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Office: 703-937-1700
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