Parents send off their 11th grader on the first day of school at Falls Church High School.
Relive Sights and Sounds from #FirstDayFairfax
Enjoy some highlights from #FirstDayFairfax in this video and photo gallery.
Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
Get ahead of the back-to-school forms and checklists! Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
☑️ Update Contact Information: Get Weather Closings, Bus Delays, Attendance Alerts, Etc.
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a ParentVUE account should either contact their school for an activation code to create an account, or print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form and submit it to their child’s school.
☑️ Submit Absences
Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in to the platform and click “Report Absence.”
Note: Partial-day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to your school’s front office.
☑️ Review and Submit Immunization Forms
Parents and caregivers can check their child’s immunization records and submit updates in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If needed, families may provide other immunization documentation including a health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Please visit the FCPS How to Submit Immunization Documentation webpage for step-by-step instructions.
🚍 Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following kiss-and-ride procedures and being understanding while waiting for school buses.
If a bus is delayed, parents and caregivers may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to communicate significant bus delays.
Visit the Transportation Services webpage to find out who to contact with specific questions. For emergencies after hours, contact the Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.
🍴 Help Your Child Navigate the Lunch Line
Help your child get through the lunch line quickly and have more time to eat:
- Teach your child their student ID number to receive meals at school.
- Sign up for and add money to MySchoolBucks to purchase meals at school.
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Apply for free and reduced-price meals. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should submit a new application as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
If your child has any food allergies, learn how to submit accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergens.
Access menus for breakfast, lunch, and other school meals, as well as allergen and nutrition information.
🔍 See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed
Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited.
The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s internet access on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
Updated Special Education and 504 Handbooks
The Department of Special Services has updated and translated key resources to help our families of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or Section 504 Plan:
These resources help family and staff understand procedures, rights, and processes. Find additional information on the Special Education Instruction and Family Academy: Resources to Support Special Education and 504 Plans pages.
🏈 Touchdown! Girls Flag Football Takes the Field This Fall
In her latest Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared that all FCPS high schools will be piloting girls flag football this fall. The Washington Commanders will sponsor the new sport.
Watch this hype video to learn more about this empowering team sport. Read more about flag football.
Find more updates from Dr. Reid in this week’s Weekly Reflections.
🎖️ Thank You, and Welcome: BBQ for Military-Connected Families
A special BBQ welcome was hosted last week for Fairfax County Public Schools’ new and returning military families. The inaugural event, held at Mount Vernon High School, offered FCPS military-connected families the chance to meet each other and connect to resources from the FCPS Office of Family and School Partnerships.
Read about this event and hear from some of the families.
✨ FCPS’ North Star for Student Success
The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan is our North Star for how we provide excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every student. It focuses on ensuring students love learning and feel safe, happy, and welcome at school.
The plan includes five student-centered goals. It also outlines how we’ll measure progress, equity commitments to support every student, and four pillars that identify what FCPS must do to reach our goals. The plan aims to ensure students:
- Build strong reading and math skills.
- Have fair opportunities to grow and succeed.
- Stay on track to graduate and thrive beyond school.
Discover how the Strategic Plan impacts student success.
Schools Build Belonging so Students Can Thrive
What does belonging look like in our schools? In this inspiring video, you’ll see how Fairfax County public schools are creating inclusive, supportive environments where every student feels known, valued, and connected — the second goal of the Strategic Plan. From mentoring to cross-grade collaboration, these stories show that when students feel safe and supported, they can truly thrive — academically, socially, and emotionally.
🍎 May FCPS CARES Recipient Helps Students Love School
FCPS CARES allows parents/caregivers, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Among the CARES of the Month recipients for May is Chandrani Ohdedar (above, center) from Churchill Road Elementary School.
“Ms. Ohdedar stands out as one of the finest teachers any of [my four children] have had,” the parent who nominated her said. “In [my daughter’s] words, Ms. Ohdedar is ‘the best teacher ever.’ There is no greater gift as a parent than seeing your child excited to go to school each day. We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Ohdedar.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- Tim Roberson, Woodson IT.
- Kylee West, Bailey's Upper Elementary School.
- Shannon Southard, Mount Eagle Elementary School.
- Jody Hull, Robinson Secondary School.
- Wafika Albani, Greenbriar East Elementary School.
- Sadida Chaudhry and Natasha Triplett, Bren Mar Park Elementary School.
Read about all the recipients.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Labor Day
Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1, are school holidays for Labor Day. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening before Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately before Labor Day.
We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
🛑 Help Keep Students Safe — Become a Crossing Guard
Dependable and caring adults are needed to serve as crossing guards, helping students safely bike and walk to and from our schools. This is a great opportunity for retirees, stay-at-home parents, or anyone looking to make a difference in their community.
Crossing guards will earn $16.50 per hour and receive bonus time: Work 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after school for a total of one hour a day and earn $33.00.
The Fairfax County Police Department has engaged All City Management Services (ACMS) to recruit crossing guards. Please visit their website to learn more and apply.
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