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Welcome, Forestdale Families!
The new school year is officially here, and we can't wait to see all of our wonderful students tomorrow, Monday, August 18th! We also want to give a huge thank you to everyone who came out for our Open House last week. It was wonderful to see so many of you and feel the excitement for the year ahead.
Our teachers have been working hard all week to get their classrooms ready and create a welcoming and engaging environment for your children. We have a fantastic year ahead of us, and we're so excited to kick things off. In this newsletter, you'll find important information to help you and your child have a smooth start, including safety procedures for arrival and dismissal, details on how to get involved with the PTA, and instructions for signing up for our communication tools.
To report an absence, please call the school attendance line (703-313-4343) or use your ParentVUE account. This ensures our records are accurate and keeps our students safe.
Please note that family lunch visits will be paused until October 1st to allow students to adjust to the new cafeteria routines. Thank you for your understanding.
We look forward to a fantastic school year with all of you. See you tomorrow morning!
Together for OUR Students,
Nikki Steptoe-Coleman, Principal
Mary-Elizabeth Hagaman, Assistant Principal
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal
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Forestdale Calendar Reminders
August 2025
8/18: First Day of School (Doors Open 8:40am)
8/29: Labor Day Holiday (No School)
September 2025
9/1: Labor Day Holiday (No School)
9/9: Special Election (No School)
9/11: PTA Meeting @ 7pm
9/17: 3 Hour Early Release (School Dismiss 12:35p)
9/18: Back to School Night @6pm
9/23: Rosh Hashanah (No School)
9/26: Back to School Block Party @ 6pm
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🥞 Breakfast Menu 🧃 🥪 Lunch Menu 🍎
The first day of school for our grades K-6 students and our students in the Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) is Monday, August 18, 2025.
Our first day for our AM/PM Early Childhood Class-Based (ECCB) Preschool program and our PreK (formerly called HeadStart) is Monday, August 25, 2025.
Our school hours are from 8:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., and every minute counts! Doors open daily at 8:40am
The doors will open at 8:40 a.m., and parents may walk their child to the classroom door on Monday, August 18. Students will be walking to class independently with staff support beginning Tuesday, August 19th.
Students in grades PreK-6 should be in their classroom seats no later than 8:50 a.m. Our day begins by connecting with one another and building relationships among staff and students for productive learning.
If you need to make a change to your child's regular transportation for the day, here are best practices:
For Same-Day Changes
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You must call the school office at 703-313-4300 to make a change.
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The call must be made by 3:00 PM.
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Do not email the teacher for same-day changes, as they may not see the message in time.
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If you're picking up your child, you'll need to sign them out in the front office with a valid ID.
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It's recommended that you sign your child out before 3:15 PM.
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Students cannot be taken off the bus once they are on it after school.
For Next-Day or Future Changes
In short, if you need to make a change for today, call the office. If you're planning ahead for tomorrow or later, you can email or text the teacher.
To ensure a safe and successful start to the school year, please have your child follow their daily arrival and dismissal procedures on the very first day. Establishing this routine early helps them learn how to get to and from school safely.
Bus
Bus routes were shared with families by the FCPS Office of Transportation. If you are unsure of your child’s bus number and stop information, contact the school office at (703)313-4300.
When I know my child's route? Bus routes were shared by email and posted to SIS ParentVUE accounts on August 8th. Children with specialized transportation will receive a call from transportation by August 14th.
You can monitor your child's bus arrival. To know when your child's bus is approaching, get the Here Comes the Bus mobile app. It is a school bus tracking system that gives you real-time bus location and text or email notification. Click here for more information and the FCPS access code.
Kindergarten and PreK, and ECCB Students:
Kindergarten students, riding the afternoon school bus will be returned to school unless a parent, guardian, caregiver, or an older sibling (middle school age or above) meets them at the bus door and verbally confirms their name.
Pre-K, PAC, & ECCB students, riding the afternoon school bus will be returned to school unless met by a parent, guardian, or caregiver, 18 years or older meets them at the bus door and verbally confirms their name.
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Walkers
Families walking their student to school can walk them to the crosswalk on Elder Avenue or to Door 1. Walkers will be dismissed from Door 2 at the end of the day.
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Kiss and Ride
- New families who are in need of a Kiss and Ride tag should come into the school office to get a tag. Tags are required for families whose students will be picked up every day from Kiss and Ride.
- Families using Kiss and Ride should enter through the 2nd entrance.
- Students will be let out of cars starting at 8:40 a.m. and will be dismissed to cars starting at 3:35 p.m.
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For the safety of all students, please follow these procedures when on campus:
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Arrival and Dismissal: The main entrance will be roped off to prevent cars from entering the bus loop during arrival and dismissal. The second entrance is designated for Kiss and Ride only. If you wish to walk your child to the front door, please park legally in the surrounding neighborhood.
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Campus Access: To be granted access to the building, or to pick up your child, you must present proper identification. We will not be able to release a child or allow entry without it.
Mark your calendars! The first Forestdale PTA meeting is on September 11th. This is a great opportunity to get involved and directly support our school's daily work. By joining the Parent Teacher Association, you are joining a group supporting a variety of Forestdale activities and programs. We look forward to seeing you there and working together throughout the year. Please use the links in the original message to become a member today.
FCPS Annual Calendar (Click Here)
Back to School Night
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When: Thursday, September 18th, 6pm-7:30pm
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Who: Families & Students
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What: Join us for our annual Back to School Night! It's a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn about the curriculum, and find out how you can support their learning this year. We look forward to seeing you there!
September 26th: Back to School Block Party
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When: Friday, September 26th, 6-8pm
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Who: Families & Students
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What: Come celebrate a successful first month of school with us at our Back to School Block Party. This is a great chance to learn more about our school and discover how you can get involved. We'll have food trucks on-site for you to purchase dinner, so bring your appetite!
Access to 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? Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Video instructions in English. Video instructions in Spanish
Important Apps to Download: Now would be a great 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 is 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.
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