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Upcoming Events
Sept 9 – No School / Election Day
Sept 10 – 3-Hour Early Release
Sept 18 - Picture Day
Sept 23 – No School / Rosh Hashanah
Sept 25 – AAP Information Night, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Link to 2025-2026 School Year Calendar 2025-26 FCPS School Year Calendar
Principal’s Message to Families
Dear Raven Families,
Thank you for attending our Back to School Night yesterday evening. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with you!
Our teachers were so excited to have the opportunity to highlight your child’s beginning of the year, classroom routines & curriculum, and learning opportunities. We appreciate your time and value your partnership.
This upcoming week we have our Early Release Wednesday, September 10th, at 12:20 pm. If you have not filled out the on-line form with your family’s decision informing us of your plans, please email our assistant principal, Ms. Heiman (amheiman@fcps.edu), with your decision. We need to know the number of students who require supervision during this early release day.
We are grateful for the support of our families and the dedication of our staff in making the start of the year such a positive experience.
Wishing all our families and staff a restful weekend.
Warmly,
Shannon Mueck
Interim Principal
Parent/Guardian Action Required for Early Release Wednesdays
While we anticipate that most students will be dismissed at 12:20 on limited early release Wednesdays, we recognize that some families may require childcare. These students will be supervised by FCPS staff. No new instruction will take place, as after-school care is strictly supervision.
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 complete the opt in form by September 1st for after-school supervision for all early release Wednesdays. If a family needs to change their selection, they should notify our front office at least one week in advance to ensure enough staff are available to provide supervision.
The 12:20 pm Early Release Wednesdays for Ravensworth are scheduled for:
- September 10
- October 29
- November 12
- December 10
- February 18
- March 18
- April 22
- May 13
Immunizations
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!
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.
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Chess Club |
We've now opened online registration for the Ravensworth Chess Club, which will now be on Tuesdays (instead of Fridays) this school year (2025-2026): https://chessctr.org/ravensworth/
We also have a Sign-Up link for parent volunteers here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A5AA2BA0F9C70-58023813-adult#/
The first club meeting will be Tuesday, September 16th and as in prior years we will accept new students (registrations) up until the third club meeting (on October 7th) at which point registration will close until the spring semester.
Library Volunteers
The library needs Tuesday volunteers! Currently, our librarian, Mrs. Sloan, needs support from 8:45-10:05 am and 10:50-1:10 pm on Tuesdays.
Volunteers would be trained in shelving books and checking in and out library materials to students/staff. They might also support with pulling books for displays and processing new books.
If you’re interested, please email Mrs. Sloan at jasloan@fcps.edu.
Lake Braddock Pyramid Night
Digital Consent Form
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
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Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS |
At Ravensworth, our volunteers are the heart 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.
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Student Smart Watches and Cell Phones |
Please remind your child that FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:
- Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
- Cell phones and personal devices (air pods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-426-3600. Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy
🔍 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 access to the internet 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 Special Education Instruction and the Family Academy: Resources to Support Special Education and 504 Plans pages.
MAP Tests
New Math Screening and Growth Assessment for Elementary Students
Starting in September, FCPS elementary schools will use the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math assessment to assess grade level mathematics skills in grades 1-6. The MAP Math test along with the iReady Reading test fulfill a state requirement to measure academic growth in grades 3-6 throughout the school year.
MAP Math tests are administered in the fall, winter, and spring. They help teachers identify students' strengths and areas where they may need more support.
Families can learn more about MAP Growth assessments by visiting the MAP Test Information webpage.
SEL Screener
SEL Screener Parent Notification and Updates
The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October.
Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit FCPS’ Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
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 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.
Update your contact information in SIS Parent VUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.
Family Academy
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.
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.
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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.
Everything You Need to Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Don’t forget your 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 our front office for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
☑️ Update Contact Information
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 contact our school for an activation code to create an account, or print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form and submit it to our front office.
☑️ Submit Absences
Parents/caregivers can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in to the platform and click “Report Absence.” Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to our front office.
☑️ Review and Submit Immunization Forms
Parents/caregivers can check their child’s immunization compliance and submit immunization records in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to our front office.
If needed, families may also 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 on how to submit each of these items.
AAP – Advanced Academic Program
News from Andrea Trumbull, our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher
The Fall AAP Newsletter has been posted in multiple languages on our Parent/Guardian Schoology Page. You can log in using your ParentVue username and password. Please let me know if you have trouble accessing.
Read the newsletter to learn about:
- The Continuum of AAP Services
- The Referral Processes
- Updated Abilities Testing Information regarding the NGAT
Important upcoming dates for Advanced Academics:
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September 25th, 6:30 PM-Family AAP Information Session:
- Topics:
- Overview of the Advanced Academics Program in FCPS and here at Ravensworth.
- How to refer students for subject-specific differentiation, part-time, and full-time services.
- Slides will be posted in Schoology and the RavensNest after the presentation.
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September 30th-Deadline to request an abilities test re-take. Please see the newsletter for more details.
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October 15th- Deadline for Full-Time referral for the Fall Window. This is ONLY for families of students in grades 3-6 who entered the county after January 1, 2025 and are interested in having their student screened for full-time services. If found eligible, services begin at the start of the 3rd Quarter.
- December 15th- Deadline for Full-Time AAP referrals for students in grade 2-6.
Homework
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.
Parent Information Line Available in 8 Languages
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.
Join the PTA
Join the Ravensworth PTA – Family membership is just $20!
When you join the PTA, you’re not just signing up — you’re showing up for every student, every teacher, and every corner of Ravensworth ES.
- Here’s what we accomplished together this past year:
- Covered 100% of field trip buses — no cost to families!
- Offered every teacher a $250 grant for supplies and tools.
- Offered every grade level a $250 grant for special projects.
- Provided every student and staff member with a Ravens Pride T-shirt!
- Bought 150+ new books for classrooms.
- Refreshed the library with $4,000 in materials and $1,000+ in new books!
- Funded hands-on STEAM learning experiences.
- Appreciated Every Educator and Staff Member with two full weeks of Staff Appreciation
- Delivered essential supplies.
- Sponsored a January classroom refresh with teacher-requested items.
- Hosted afterschool clubs: Chess Club and Run Fit Kids.
Built a stronger community with:
- 4 family events
- 3 successful fundraisers
- 1 epic End-of-Year Bash!
- Kept families connected through:
- Weekly newsletters
- Open meetings
- Social media updates
- Ready to make an even bigger impact this year?
New Spirit Wear Store – Shop All Year Long!
Show your Ravensworth pride in style! Our brand-new Spirit Wear Store is open year-round, so you can gear up anytime.
- Use code SCHOOL25 for 25% off all merchandise—but hurry, this offer is only valid for a limited time. Don’t miss out on showing your Ravens pride in style!
- The PTA earns 10% back on every order, helping fund programs and events for our students.
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Everything is made to order and typically ships in 5–10 business days, so plan ahead to get your gear in time!
Grab your gear, rep the Ravens, and give back at the same time!
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT BOARD
If your child has had a great personal/family moment lately, send Ms. Heiman (amheiman@fcps.edu) a photo and it will be displayed on the Family Spotlight bulletin board in the main hallway! Examples: family celebrated a holiday, cultural traditions, child rode their bike without training wheels, great soccer game, got a new pet, and more!
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Follow Ravensworth on Social Media |
Are you connected to Ravensworth Elementary School and the Ravensworth PTA on social media? The PTA’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ravensworthelementarypta and the school’s accounts are https://www.facebook.com/RavensworthElementary
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