Crossfield News 9/2/25

Upcoming Dates: 

Monday, September 8th- 4th, 5th, 6th Gr. Back to School Night 5:45-7:25 pm

Tuesday, September 9th- Student Holiday

Tuesday, September 16th- K,1.2.3 Gr. Back to School Night 5:45-7:25 pm

Wednesday, September 17th- 3-Hour Early Release

Friday, September 19th- Fall Pictures

Tuesday, September 23rd- Holiday

Thursday, September 25th- AAP Overview K-6 6:30 pm Crossfield Cafeteria

Friday, September 26th- Book Fair Family Shopping Night and popsicles 6-8

Monday, September 29th-October 3- Book Fair

Thursday, October 30th- Screening Process for AAP services Gr. 2-6th @6:30 pm via Zoom

No-Cost Meals Available for Students on September 9

As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students and school staff on September 9 due to a special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. FCPS will provide student meals at a select number of schools at no cost. Please keep in mind that:

• Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
• Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
• Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
• Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.

View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on September 9. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.

Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

At Crossfield Elementary School, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students. 

Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe.

These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care. 

We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application. 

Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.

We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school.

As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Back to School Nights

✅ Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources

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 a variety of online educational tools and choose how student information is managed. Parents/caregivers of elementary students should opt in/out of after-school care on early release Wednesdays. 

Please visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage today to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool

3-Hour Early Release Wednesdays

• September 17
• October 15   
• November 19
• December 17      
• February 25          
• March 25
• April 29
• May 20   

Wednesday Early Release Days

Our first early release day is September 17^th. In addition to the county’s opt in/out form, you will also receive a Crossfield-specific survey this week from Mr. Granieri asking for more details about your student’s plans for dismissal on that day.

Advanced Academic Programs Information Meetings

Melissa Graham, Crossfield’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, will host two separate meetings this fall to share information about AAP services and the AAP screening process.  

Advanced Academic Programs Overview

For families of students in grades K-6

Learn about FCPS’ AAP philosophy and the continuum of services available to our students.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

6:30 PM in the Crossfield Cafeteria

Screening Process for AAP Services

For families of students in grades 2-6

Learn about the referral and screening process for subject specific, part time and full time advanced academic services.

Thursday, October 30, 2025

6:30 PM via Zoom 

Zoom link will be provided closer to the meeting date.

Medications

Medications MUST be dropped off at Crossfield by a parent. Do not send your child to school with their medications. 

Authorization for Anaphylaxis Action Plan (SE64) - Required for the administration of epinephrine injection(s) as directed by the licensed prescriber.

FCPS Authorization for Virginia Asthma Action Plan (SE65) - Required for the administration of an inhaler as directed by the licensed prescriber.

Medication Authorization (SE 63) - Required for the administration of over-the-counter and prescription medication, with the exception of epinephrine and inhaled medication, as directed by the licensed prescriber/parent/guardian.

Physician’s Referral for Participation in Physical Education (SE200) - Complete if a modified physical education program is needed

Specific Health Care Procedures Authorization (SE 180)- Complete for physical condition(s) for which the specific procedure is to be performed.

Special Diets

All dietary accommodation requests related to food allergies, texture modifications, or other dietary needs are now handled via a centralized process. Click here to see the steps. Please note that the Medical Dietary Accommodation Form requires a doctor’s signature.

Crossfield Strings

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I am excited to offer your child the opportunity to learn to play a string instrument this year at Crossfield! No prior experience is needed to sign up for strings.

Strings class information: Students may pick violin, viola, cello or bass in elementary strings. These four instruments make up the strings family of the orchestra. During first week of school, I will demonstrate each instrument for your students. I hope one of these instruments will catch your child’s eye and ear! Strings classes occur once per week for one hour, separate from their general music class. Classes will begin the 3rd week of school, after Labor Day. Students who sign up for strings are expected to make a one-year commitment to participate in strings. At-home playing is necessary to ensure quick progress leading to lots of success and fun! There will be two required performances of the Crossfield orchestras as well as other optional performance opportunities. Information on those will be released later.

Obtaining an instrument: Students/families are responsible for providing an instrument.

Renting an instrument from a music store is the best option. Instrument rental programs provide quality instruments in every size and allow customers to exchange instruments for larger sizes as students grow. Music stores have professionals that can measure the student to see what sized instrument they need. I am happy to also measure your student for instrument size. A limited number of instruments are also available to rent from the school. Students who play cello or bass may also use a school instrument in class as transporting these instruments can be challenging. I strongly advise against purchasing an instrument online! Most of these are full sized, will be too big for your student, and many are made from lower quality woods and if played and tuned regularly will fall apart. If the cost of renting an instrument presents a financial hardship for your family, please contact me, your counselor, or the Crossfield ES administration for information. The county provides the violin or viola instrument rental for an annual fee of $20 for those families that qualify including those receiving or who have applied for free or reduced lunch.

Please talk with your child about being a part of strings this year and complete the https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQI61zm6GC1DppLdammRI2FTId5kBdAtmm9Oz7RmL2jUDi2w/viewform?usp=header.

Please e-mail me if you have any questions. I am looking forward to another fantastic year of strings!

Sincerely,

Andrew Juola

Strings Teacher, Crossfield ES

Adjuola1@fcps.edu

Registration OPEN - Crossfield’s Kids Run the Nation Team is Back! 

We are very excited to share that Crossfield’s Kids Run the Nation team is returning this fall! It’s a nationally recognized running program for boys and girls in grades 2nd-6th. This 9-week curriculum teaches kids to be strong, healthy and confident and ends with a celebratory 5K to end the season.

Registration fee is $75. This includes a team t-shirt & swag, as well as the 5k race registration fee. Please click here to register your child. 

Practices will be at Crossfield Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:45-9:00 am. Our first practice will be Tuesday, September 30, and we’ll meet on the Crossfield playground/basketball court area.

If you are interested in coaching one or both practice days or want to learn more, please email our committee chair Robyn Bywater at robynbywater@gmail.com.  

Book Fair Countdown is on

The countdown has started for the Book Fair! We are looking forward to the return of Scholastic! Have you marked your calendar for Popsicles on the Playground and Family Shopping Night on Friday, September 26 from 6-8 p.m.? Have you signed up to volunteer? It’s a great annual event to bring our Crossfield community together and encourage reading, but we need you to make it happen!

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 patient while waiting for your children’s buses. 

If your student’s bus is delayed, you may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app (School Code: 28982) to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Please contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7000 with any additional questions. For concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact the FCPS Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2000. For assistance with the Here Comes the Bus mobile app, please contact 571-423-2400.

Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.

Stuff the Bus

Fight Hunger in Our Neighborhoods by donating non-perishable Items at various locations during the countywide day for donations. 

Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families

As a parent or caregiver, you play a critical role in your child’s education. The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by the school division to help you support your child’s needs and learning at home. 

Check out some of the upcoming Family Academy sessions:

• Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (available in English and Spanish) 
• Loving Solutions
• Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council
• Parent Project
• Family Resource Center Webinars on topics including: How to Prepare for School; Building Collaborative Relationships Between Caregivers and Educators; Worried Parents, Anxious Kids; and What Families Need to Know About Drugs for Their Students with Disabilities. 

Visit the Family Academy catalog for more information on these sessions and to register to attend. Contact our Family Liaison, Emily Simon (emsimon@fcps.edu), if you have any questions or need help registering.

🍴Apply Today for Free and Reduced Price Meals

Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Access the application and view criteria on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage

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 re-apply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost. 

Basic Needs Assistance

If your family needs assistance (i.e. food, clothing, housing, healthcare, etc.), please contact our school social worker, Sarah Goswick, at segoswick@fcps.edu or 703-295-1125. Sarah will be able to share school and community resources with your family.

Parent Information Line 

Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.

School Year Calendar

To assist with your planning, view the FCPS 2025-2026 standard school year calendar here. Any changes will be communicated as early as possible.

Back-To-School Supplies

Supply Lists for 2025-6 can be found here.

Parent Vue

Access the FCPS secure solution for information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and more.

https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/student-information-system-sis/sis-parentvue/sis-parent-account

My School Bucks

Lunches, Field Trips, laptop repair fees. This is the primary way to send money to the school.https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home 

2791 Fox Mill Road, Herndon, VA 20171  | Main Office: 703-295-1100
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