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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
Thank you for joining us for our Open House last week. It was so wonderful to see all of you and to feel the excitement for the new school year.
This morning went very smoothly! I just took a walk around the school, and students are happy, reviewing routines and procedures, and beginning the 2025-2026 school year. After all, it is the most wonderful day of the year!
Please know that this is one of the most essential newsletters of the year. It contains vital information and forms to ensure we have a smooth and safe start for everyone.
Please take the time to read the entire newsletter and complete all necessary forms as soon as possible. Your prompt attention to these items is incredibly helpful and allows us to finalize our preparations for the first day.
⭐Don’t forget some essential ways to be ready for this school year. Have a Great Falls ES question? Take a look at our updated parent handbook.
We are certain it will be a great year!
Best,
Sara Harper
🚨Calendar Updates
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First Day of School: Monday, August 18th
- Back-to-School Nights:
- Monday, August 25, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades K, 1, 2, 3)
- Wednesday, August 27, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades 4, 5 & 6)
** JIP classrooms will have different times sent by JIP teacher **
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No School: Fri., Aug. 29th and Mon., Sept. 1 for the Labor Day Holiday
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No School: Tuesday., Sept. 9 due to a special election
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3-Hour Early Release: Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 12:20 PM - more information will be sent to you from FCPS
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No School: Tuesday, Sept. 23, for Rosh Hashanah
Complete Permission Forms Today
Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Opt your child in or out of online educational tools and choose how student information is managed. You may also opt in or opt out of after-school care on early release Wednesdays; read more below.
Visit FCPS’ Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
⭐Opt In/Opt Out for Early Release Wednesday Childcare⭐
While we anticipate that most students will be dismissed at 12:20 PM on limited early release Wednesdays, we recognize that some families may require childcare. Specialists and instructional assistants will supervise these students. No new instruction will take place, as after-school care is strictly supervision only.
Elementary school parents and caregivers should log in to the Parent Digital Consent system to review and provide consent to a variety of resources and services, including Early Release Wednesday Childcare.
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OPT IN if you require childcare on our limited early release Wednesdays.
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OPT OUT if your child will go home (or to childcare arranged with SACC or another provider) at the early release time.
Families need to make their selection in the Parent Digital Consent system by Monday, August 25, to receive care for all early release Wednesdays.
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📃K-6 Homework Expectations
What to Expect This Year
This year, your child will bring home purposeful homework assignments designed to reinforce classroom learning and support growing independence and time management. Homework might include reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, or health practice, such as reflection questions, activities, projects, or tasks connected to what they’ve learned in class.
Why It Matters
- Helps develop strong academic habits like responsibility and problem‑solving
- Reinforces skills already taught in class
- Builds confidence and supports independent learning
How Families Can Help
- Choose a quiet, consistent spot and time for homework—reading right before bed works well.
- Help your child make a simple plan: “First I read, then I finish the math sheet.”
- Encourage your child’s best effort—and let us know if something feels too hard. That feedback helps teachers adjust instruction.
- Read together or talk about what your child is reading. This builds vocabulary and curiosity.
👋🏻Meet our new staff members!
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to a few of our new staff members! We are so excited to have these talented and passionate educators and support staff join our community. We will feature more of our staff members in our next newsletter!
Isabel Oliver, 6th Grade
Hello! I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Great Falls ES family this year, teaching sixth-grade AAP language arts! I grew up in Reston, VA, and am a proud graduate of FCPS. I graduated from James Madison University with my master’s degree in teaching in 2018, and this will be my seventh year teaching. I have taught fifth grade for four years, sixth grade for one year, and third-grade AAP for one year (all within FCPS). I live in Fairfax, and I love reading, musical theater, swimming, and cuddling with my two cats (Sal and Vinny, named after the artists Salvador Dalí and Vincent van Gogh) and my dog, Maggie.
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Cody McCready, Music & Chorus
Hello! I’m thrilled to join Great Falls ES! I grew up in India and bring over 12 years of experience as an art teacher there, along with a background in the animation and gaming industry. Since February 2024, I’ve been part of FCPS, teaching at Greenbriar East ES, Greenbriar West ES, and Terraset ES. Art runs in my family, passed down from my mother and now to my son. Painting and reading fuel my creativity, but it’s music that adds soul to everything I do. I enjoy trekking and exploring trails with my son. While numbers make my head spin, nature, children, and animals bring me calm. I’m excited to meet the Roadrunners!
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Richa Malik, Art Teacher (K–6)
Hello! I’m thrilled to join Great Falls ES! I grew up in India and bring over 12 years of experience as an art teacher there, along with a background in the animation and gaming industry. Since February 2024, I’ve been part of FCPS, teaching at Greenbriar East ES, Greenbriar West ES, and Terraset ES. Art runs in my family, passed down from my mother and now to my son. Painting and reading fuel my creativity, but it’s music that adds soul to everything I do. I enjoy trekking and exploring trails with my son. While numbers make my head spin, nature, children, and animals bring me calm. I’m excited to meet the Roadrunners!
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🐶Our newest community member
We anticipate that a trained service dog will be accompanying a student at Great Falls ES this school year. As such, we will be working with our students to support their understanding that Great Falls ES will have a service dog within our school community. We will share that the dog is a worker doing a job while she is in the classroom, and we will emphasize that she should not be fed or pet during the school day while she is working. Please help us reinforce these same boundaries with your child(ren) as well. Students are typically excited to have an animal in school during the academic day, and we ask for your help in reinforcing this message.
We understand that you may have concerns regarding your child’s exposure to an animal on school grounds. Please contact Mrs. Harper or Mr. Diaz with specific questions you may have. If your child has a documented allergy to dogs, please let us know and use this form to upload this information into ParentVUE. We will work with your child’s teacher to minimize exposure to the service dog.
We believe that a safe school environment is everyone’s right and will work with you regarding any questions or accommodations your child may need.
📞Parent Translation Support
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
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