Students are loving learning at Herndon Elementary School.
🚨 Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is our priority. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year.
Schools must also notify parents and caregivers at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools do not have to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. Preschool and kindergarten students do not participate in the first lockdown drill.
By law, the first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with them about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your student before and after school lockdown drills.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
☎️ Anonymous Safety Tip Line
If you or your child have concerns or information related to feeling unsafe in any way at school, please report them to the FCPS Office of Safety and Security safety tip line. You can access it anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and you need immediate assistance, please dial 911.
Students, staff, parents/caregivers, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
If you have concerns about programs, regulations, policies, or other topics that do not impact the safety of our schools, please contact the FCPS ombuds online, at 571-423-4014, or ombuds@fcps.edu.
🩹 Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations
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 checking your child’s immunization status and submitting 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 health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
📵 Cell Phones Off, Learning On
Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting until the school day is over to call or text your child about non-urgent matters. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact the school’s front office to reach your child during class time.
Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level.
💯 Algebra Power Up = An Equation for Success
In the Academic Matters portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed the Algebra Power Up summer program. This program provided a three-week experience for students in grades 7 and 8 to help establish a strong foundation for success in Algebra 1. Algebra Power Up also helped to strengthen their understanding of fundamental math and algebra concepts.
Part of Goal 3 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan is that all students will successfully complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade. We are on our way to meeting our goal! Approximately 75% of eighth graders are enrolled in Algebra 1 or higher. Hear from students about Algebra Power Up.
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
Every Day Counts: Setting Your Child Up for Success
September is Attendance Awareness Month. There are many ways parents and caregivers can help their children create healthy routines and make a habit of getting to school on time every day. Some examples include:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make them feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- When possible, avoid medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
Visit our website for more attendance tips and resources. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
Adult and Community Education Instructors Needed
FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) is always seeking to hire expert instructors in all content areas, including:
- Apprenticeships
- Trade
- Industry
- Health and medical business
- Computers
- World languages
- Cooking and crafts
- English for speakers of other languages
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
- Test preparation
- Career exploration
If you have specialized skills, come teach for ACE! Get paid to share your knowledge and help others build their skills. Learn about benefits and how to apply or email ACEJobs@fcps.edu.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: September Special Election
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 Dr. Reid’s message about this change to the 2025-26 school year calendar.
View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on September 9.
⏰ Early Release Wednesday
Elementary schools in the following pyramids will release three hours early on Wednesday, September 10:
- Annandale, Edison, Falls Church, Herndon, Lake Braddock, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes, West Springfield, and Woodson.
Find out more about limited early release Wednesdays.
September 11 National Day of Service
On September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country on that day in 2001. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
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