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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ashley Nelson - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
Upcoming Dates & Reminders:
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August 18th: First Day of School for 2025-2026. School starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m.
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August 25th: First Day of Pre-K and ECCB
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August 29th/September 1st: Labor Day Holiday. School is closed for staff and students.
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September 4th: Back to School Night. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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September 9th: Election Day. School is closed for students.
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September 17th: Three Hour Early Release. Students dismissed at 12:20 p.m. Additional details can be found here
First Day of School
Gunston Staff will be available to help students find their classroom on the first day of school, Monday, August 18th. Doors to school will open at 8:25 a.m. and school officially begins at 8:35 a.m.
The PTA will be hosting a Tears & Cheers breakfast after the bell rings on the first day of school. Visit the cafeteria and connect with other Gunston parents!
If you are planning to walk your student to class the first day of school, please ensure they come to school the same way they will go home that day. If your child rides the bus, after you put them on the bus you can meet them at the school. We recognize the excitement of the first day of school and are excited to welcome you the opportunity to escort your child to class this first day. Our staff is excited to begin the first day with their students and will not be available for individual conferences at that moment. Please go to the office if you have any specific questions we may be able to assist you with answering.
Please note that for the safety and security of our students, our parents must say good-bye to their eagles at the door after the first day. We have all additional staff in the hallways and patrols assisting our students as they find their classrooms.
Kiss and Ride Times
Kiss and Ride starts at 8:25 am for arrival. Pick-up for Kiss and Ride will begin at 3:25 p.m. Please follow the line and pull up to Door 3. Please do not arrive early as we want to avoid blocking traffic on Gunston Road since it is one lane in each direction. If you arrive at school after 8:35 a.m., please park and bring your child to the Main Office to check-in.
Pre-K and ECCB
Pre-K and ECCB starts on Monday, August 25th,2025.
Pre-K and ECCB do not have release early release days.
Visiting Gunston - Driver’s License is Needed
The safety and security of our students and our staff are of utmost importance. Every visitor who enters the building is monitored. All visitors entering Gunston will need to have a valid driver’s license and sign-in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building.
Lunch with your Child(ren)
To ensure school staff have time to teach and reinforce cafeteria routines and procedures, we will be delaying the visitation of family members during lunch until September 8th. We have a designated table for families and their student to sit together as the classroom tables need to be available for our students. You must sign into the office with your driver’s license and wear a visitor pass in order to be with your child in the cafeteria.
SIS ParentVue
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Get the App
Now would be a grea time to download important FCPS apps and bookmark key pages to set you up for the school year. Below are our recommendations and their specific use.
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ParentVue - The SIS ParentVUE Account (Student Information System ParentVUE Account) is the FCPS secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and link to Schoology. It provides an additional conduit for communication with your child's school.
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Here Comes the Bus- Know when your bus is approaching your stop! Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that provides real-time bus location. This helps parents and students get to the bus stop on time. Here Comes the Bus® utilizes our GPS data and available on multiple devices. FCPS school district code 28982 and you will need your ParentVue app set up first.
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Talking Points - TalkingPoints is an easy and safe way families can communicate in their home languages with their child’s teachers for free. We will be using this platform to communicate with you about your child’s education and progress.
Student Consent Forms
Student consent forms currently available on ParentVue will be moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.
https://digitalconsent.fcps.edu/ispb/r/is01/pdcp/login?session=2945843123735
Forms available include:
School Counseling Opt-out Digital Resources Consent SEL Screener Opt-Out Family Life Education Opt-out SOL Retest Permission Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website
Paperless Opt-Outs Available
As a part of our ongoing efforts to streamline paper processes, parents can now select a number of opt-out’s electronically via ParentVUE. Once you have signed into your ParentVUE account, simply select the “Student Info” tab and click on “Edit Information.” You will find opt-out’s listed there. Parents that do not yet have a ParentVUE account will still be able to use paper forms for notification. If you need to set up your ParentVUE account, you can create one online via the FCPS ParentVUE Registration page.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. School meals have high nutrition standards, and recent updates make them even better. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families that are earning less than 185% of the poverty level can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2025-26 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
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Bookmark the School Year Calendar |
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked with an orange “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.
Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.
Limited Early Release Days for Elementary
Schools will shift to
WEDNESDAYS this school year
Proposed dates and information regarding early release Wednesdays for elementary schools are available on the FCPS website.
Please note: Gunston's Early Release Wednesdays are listed under the HAYFIELD pyramid:
September 17 * October 15 * November 19 * December 17
February 25 * March 25 * April 29 * May 20
*Students will be released at 12:20pm on the dates noted
Please locate the ERW consent for childcare opt-in/out in the Parent Digital Consent page.
FCPS has created this webpage to provide detailed information about the Early Release Wednesdays.
Opt In/Opt Out for ERW Childcare
We anticipate most students will be dismissed at 12:30, like last year. However, we recognize that some families may require childcare during the limited Early Release Wednesdays; these students will be supervised by instructional assistants. No new instruction will take place as after-school care is strictly supervision.
Directions to Opt In/Opt Out ERW - Due Aug. 25
Parents are to log in to the Parent Digital Consent to review and provide consent to a variety of resources/services to include Early Release Wednesday Childcare.
⇒ OPT IN if you have a childcare hardship and require childcare on our limited Early Release Wednesdays.
⇒ OPT OUT, if your child will go home at the Early Release time, 12:20 p.m.
⇒PM SACC Student? Opt Out as your child will go their normal route home i.e. SACC.
District News/In Case You
Missed It (ICYMI)
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 🎉 Countdown to the First Day of School
- 📞 Family Information Phone Lines
- 🩹 Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
En caso de que se lo haya perdido en FCPS This Week, la división escolar compartió actualizaciones sobre los siguientes temas y otros:
- 🎉 Cuenta Regresiva al Primer Día de Clases
- 📞 Líneas Telefónicas de Información para las Familias
- 🩹 Actualice las Vacunas y Récords
Lea FCPS Esta Semana para aprender más sobre estos temas. Si aún no recibe este boletín semanal, suscríbase hoy mismo.
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