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Tuesday, September 9 - Student Holiday (Teacher Workday for Staff) | Special Election Day
 Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has set Tuesday, September 9, as the date for a special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. Because more than half of our schools serve as polling locations, the Fairfax County Office of Elections asked us to consider closing for the day. Therefore, all FCPS schools will be closed on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s message about this change to the 2025-26 school year calendar.
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. The school closest to Key Center having meals is Springfield Estates Elementary School. Several other schools are also offering meals and should be close to your home, check the list for specific schools. 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 Key Center 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.
Celebrating our Physical Therapists
 Happy World Physical Therapy Day! World Physical Therapy Day is observed annually on September 8th.. On this day, we celebrate the invaluable work of physical therapists like Megan Tiedemann and Jill Stratton who help our students achieve their full potential. Their dedication to promoting health, mobility, and well-being is truly appreciated. Thank you for all you do, Key Center Physical Therapy team! #WorldPTDay"
Welcome Back Message from School Board Members
Our school is physically located in the Franconia District, yet many of our families come from the neighborhoods of various school board representatives. We highlighted those who represent a small majority of our families.
What Is a School Board?
The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for running the public schools in Fairfax County. Twelve School Board members are elected by county voters every four years.
A student representative serves on the board as a non-voting member. They are chosen by their peers each year.
The School Board makes general rules and sets guidelines to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools runs properly. They follow the laws of Virginia and the rules set by the Virginia Board of Education.
Learning about your local School Board is important. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. There are many ways to get involved.
Learn more about the School Board, how to participate in their meetings, and where to watch their meetings.
Provide Feedback to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
 Each year, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services asks for feedback to help them improve. Your input as a person on the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver Waitlist or as a family member is crucial for making their programs, including the IFSP-Funding Program, even better. Your Voice Matters! Please take a moment to complete our survey and tell them how they’re doing. It's a quick way to make a big impact!
The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will be open through Thursday, Sept. 18th. Thank you for taking the survey and sharing it with others on the Waitlist!
Special Education Handbook
 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 Special Education Instruction and the Family Academy: Resources to Support Special Education and 504 Plans pages.
Update Your Child’s Immunization and Records
 Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations
Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
Starting Tuesday, November 18, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. Visit the How To Submit Immunization Documents webpage for step-by-step guidance on how to check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information
Please check with your health care provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2025-26 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
Weather Happens, FCPS is Ready
 Virginia is no stranger to inclement weather. From severe thunderstorms to high winds to flooding, there are many different types of weather events that can (and sometimes do) impact our schools. But FCPS has a plan for each of these scenarios that prioritizes the safety of all our students and staff. What does FCPS do during a flood? What about a severe thunderstorm?
Answers to those questions along with resources you can use to prepare for different weather events are now available on the new FCPS weather safety webpage.
FCPS Family Vision Group-Representatives Needed
 The FCPS Office of Community Relations is reaching out to request each school to have 1-2 designated representatives for the Superintendent’s Family Vision Group—a vital forum for elevating family voice and strengthening connections across the division.
We have 1 volunteer, thank you Chris! We need one more volunteer please, the meetings are very concise in nature and start/end on time. Please call Ann Smith at school if interested.
Information for Family Vision Group Representatives:
- The Superintendent’s Family Vision Group meets six times in person, all sessions held in the evening, from 6-7:30pm.
- The Family Vision Group team has divided Fairfax County into four sections, called Quads; you are placed in a Quad based on where your school falls within these sections, and meetings are organized by Quad to ensure accessible locations.
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Tentative Meeting Schedule for 2025–26:All meetings are subject to change in accordance with division-wide priorities and scheduling adjustments as needed.
- Thursday, September 4, 2025 (Full Group Kickoff)
- (Meeting #1) TBD
- Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (Meeting #2)
- Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (Meeting #3)
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026(Meeting #4)
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (Full Group Wrap-Up)
- Representatives are expected to attend all meetings whenever possible.
- Communication is essential—please notify the Family Vision Group Team in advance if you cannot attend a meeting.
- Representatives who accumulate three or more unexcused absences may be replaced during the school year.
- For more details on the group’s structure and purpose, please visit the Superintendent’s Family Vision Group webpage.
Please let Key Center know if you would like to serve on this committee, simply call and share with our front office staff and/or call Ann Smith, principal if you have any questions about this opportunity.
Resources
 Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
We know that 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.
The Family Academy also includes information about resources to help ensure your child has what they need to succeed. 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.
Key Center PTA
 Not yet a member of our PTA? We would love to have you join! You can also support Key Center by volunteering with our PTA or making a donation through our Educate Fairfax site.
Key Center PTA Membership
Key Center PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Educate Fairfax link to donate to Key Center
Upcoming Dates
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September 9
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Special Election - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
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September 23
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Rosh Hashanah - Student/Staff Holiday
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October 2
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Yom Kippur - Student/Staff Holiday
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October 13
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Indigenous Peoples' Day - Staff Development Day / Student Holiday
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October 20
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Diwali - Student/Staff Holiday
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October 31
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End of the 1st Quarter / 2 Hour Student Early Release
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November 3
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School Planning Day / Student Holiday
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November 4
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Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
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November 11
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Veterans Day - Student/Staff Holiday
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November 26-28
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Thanksgiving Break
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December 22-
January 2
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Winter Break
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