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Family. Relationships. Success.
Hello, Scottie families!
Happy Friday! We had a great first PTO meeting of the year Tuesday evening. Thank you to those who were able to attend, as it was good to connect with new families, returning families, and many new PTO Board members.
Next week on Friday morning we host our first parent coffee of the year. We will be sharing information on Wayfinder, including the future-ready core skills that students will be learning about and practicing throughout the year. We invite all to join us, and we also extend a special invitation to our current or former military parents and caregivers, as we will be kicking off our Blue Star Welcome Week on Friday as well. Be on the lookout for more information on our parent coffee and Blue Star Welcome Week soon.
Also next Friday, we hold our first Spirit Day of the year - Fall Frenzy! Dress in the colors of the changing autumn leaves, wear scarves, flannel, boots, etc. We encourage everyone to participate in our Spirit Days by dressing up or, as always, by wearing Bonnie Brae gear and/or our colors of blue and white.
A reminder that this Tuesday, September 23, there is no school, in observance of Rosh Hashanah.
Finally, we end this week with our PTO outdoor movie night tonight. A reminder that movie night is a family event, and it is for Bonnie Brae students and parents/caregivers only. Students must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver at all times. We look forward to seeing our Scottie families this evening in the grassy area outside of Door 4!
Have a great weekend!
Morgan Birge, Principal
Rose Stephens, Assistant Principal
Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal
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September 23 - Rosh Hashanah Holiday (no school for students and staff)
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September 26 - SCA Spirit Day, Fall Frenzy!
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September 26 - Parent Coffee: Wayfinder, 8:35-9:15 AM (Library)
A few amazing highlights that happened this week...
Our youngest Scotties enjoy eating lunch together!
A second grade student waited patiently to line up for lunch.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 22. That day is an evening-only observance day. Important events will not be held after school.
Tuesday, September 23, is a holiday for all FCPS students and staff. Schools and offices will be closed.
See the complete school year calendar.
SCA Spirit Day: Fall Frenzy! (Friday, September 26)
Dress in the colors of the changing autumn leaves. Wear scarves, flannel, boots, etc. Or wear your favorite Scottie gear or blue and white on Friday, September 26.
Join Us In Making a Positive Impact On Our World
Sign up for a Friday pickup anytime between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to collect soft plastics from the bins near Trailer 18 (look for two black/red Get2Green bins and a grey trash can). The plastic will already be weighed and recorded. Just drop it off at the back loading dock of Burke Giant, our recycling partner, and email a photo of the drop-off to moshirey@fcps.edu. By participating, we're working towards earning a free bench from NEXTREX. We did it last year, let's do it again!!
https://signup.com/go/TwiTZhX
Blue Star Welcome Week
Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate, and schools are a primary way they get integrated into their new location. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 27 - October 5, 2025, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS
Looking for Families Interested in Community Peers Program
Bonnie Brae is excited to invite community peers into our preschool classrooms to learn alongside students with disabilities. Community peers, ages 3-5 years, will attend at least half-day for up to 5 days a week. This is a unique opportunity for preschool aged kids, who are not yet attending school, to learn and grow in a school environment. For more information, contact the front office at Bonnie Brae, (703) 321-3900.
Family Engagement and Equity Committee - Looking for a New Member
The Family Engagement and Equity Committee is looking for a parent/guardian to join our team. Our goal is to promote family engagement and continue to build a culturally responsive school culture and climate. We also plan the spring This Is Us school wide event. We meet once a month on Wednesdays, alternating mornings and afternoons.
The next meeting is October 15th at 3:35 PM in Room B276. The November meeting will be on November 19th at 7:45 AM. Please reach out to Larissa Sheehan (ltsheehan@fcps.edu and Catherine Weiss (cweiss@fcps.edu) if you are interested in joining this committee.
Vision and Hearing Screening
As a regular practice in FCPS, all Kindergarten and Grade 3 students will have their vision and hearing screened at Bonnie Brae. Screenings will begin October 6-10 for 3rd grade students and will be held on October 14-17 for Kindergarten students. Students new to the county will also be screened during this time. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day. Parents will be notified by letter, only if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.Please don’t hesitate to contact our Public Health Nurse, Mrs. Scheider, at kscheider@fcps.edu, with any questions.
Discovering Character in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about characters who are faced with difficult choices. Sixth grade students will learn about characters who are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Have you ever disagreed with a friend? How did you see things differently?
- Activity: Have your child write a diary entry from the perspective of a book character.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
Take the K-12 School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. That feedback helped in developing two options for adjusting school start times. The options are designed to support student well-being, align with research, and balance transportation logistics.
We invite you to provide input on the two options by taking a short survey. This voluntary survey will close on Tuesday, September 30. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.
What Is a Bond?
To pay for large-scale construction and renovation work, Fairfax County sells bonds, which allows the county to pay for these projects over time, like a home mortgage. By maintaining its triple-A bond rating, Fairfax County bonds are purchased by institutional investors at very low rates, saving the county considerable amounts of money that might otherwise be paid in interest. The county estimates that the triple-A rating has saved taxpayers at least $1 billion in financing costs.
FCPS uses bonds to fund all of its capital improvement projects – the projects that are focused on the infrastructure of schools and facilities. From important renovations to new safety features like security vestibules, this work is paid for by bonds.
FCPS will have a bond referendum on the ballot this Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. Bonds can make a difference that represent an investment in public education now and in the future.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. And learn more about registering to vote and making a voting plan.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
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.
Goal 5 focuses on preparing every student for life after graduation with the skills they need to thrive. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.
Supporting Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students in FCPS
Supporting Our Twice-Exceptional Students
Did you know that some students are considered "twice-exceptional" or "2e"? These are students who are both gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
At Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), we believe that strong partnerships between families and school staff are essential for these students to succeed. To help them thrive, we focus on several key areas:
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Individualized Support: We use flexible and individualized instruction that responds to a student's strengths, disabilities, and challenges. We also provide accommodations and support to help them access instruction and show what they know.
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Social-Emotional Learning: We work on social-emotional learning to build students' confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
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Collaboration: We bring together a team that includes the student, teachers, support staff, and family to create and adjust plans that recognize the student's identity and experiences.
As a family, you are a critical part of this team. You can support your 2e student at home by:
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Celebrating their effort, not just their achievements.
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Helping them with their struggles while also supporting their strengths.
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Teaching them how to advocate for themselves at home and school.
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Reaching out to the school team if you notice signs of stress or burnout.
If you'd like to learn more, you can visit the FCPS Twice-Exceptional (2E) Learners webpage and view the FCPS Special Education Handbook for Parents.
Bonnie Brae Movie Night – Friday, September 19!
Our annual Bonnie Brae PTO Movie Night is back and better than ever! Join us outside in the the grassy area near the school parking lot for a fun evening with family and friends featuring Lilo & Stitch under the stars.
Event Details
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Concessions Open: 6:30 PM (pizza, popcorn, candy, and drinks available for purchase)
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Movie Starts: 7:00 PM • Cost: FREE entry – just bring your chairs and blankets!
Volunteers Needed
This beloved tradition is only possible with YOUR help! Please consider signing up to volunteer and help us make this year’s Movie Night a success.
***This is not a drop-off event. Children must be supervised by an adult.***
Let’s come together to enjoy a night of popcorn, laughter, and community spirit—see you there!
Fall Club Registration Coming Soon
This fall, the PTO is excited to offer a variety of after-school clubs, including cheerleading, acting, chess, art, music, cooking and more! Keep an eye on your Tuesday folders and the PTO website for more info. Registration will take place September 24, and clubs will begin October 6. Questions? Contact us at afterschool@bonniebraepto.org. We look forward to a wonderful session of clubs!
Game Night at iCode – Bonnie Brae PTO Fundraiser!
Join us for a fun evening of gaming to support the Bonnie Brae PTO! Students in grades K–6 can enjoy approved games like Minecraft and Roblox in iCode’s state-of-the-art gaming hub, while parents take a well-deserved break. Pizza and drinks are included!
When: Saturday, October 4, 6–8 PM
Cost: $35 per student
Where: iCode Burke, 6045 Burke Centre Pkwy, Suite 202
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September 27-October 5 - Blue Star Welcome Week
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September 30 - Interims Go Home in Tuesday Folders
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October 2 - Yom Kippur Holiday (no school for students and staff)
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October 4 - Game Night at iCode, 6-8 PM
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October 7 - End of Phase Community Meeting with Design & Construction, 6:30-7:30 PM (Cafeteria)
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October 13 - Staff Development Day (no school for students)
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October 14 - AAP Family Information Meeting, 8:35-9:35 AM (Cafeteria)
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October 15 - 3-Hour Early Release Closing, 12:15 PM
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October 20 - Diwali Holiday (no school for students and staff)
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October 24 - PTO Fall Festival/Dance, 6-8 PM
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October 30 - Fall Picture Make-Up Day
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October 31 - 1st Quarter Ends, Two-Hour Early Release (1:15 PM)
Stay up to date on all things BBES! Subscribe to our School Calendar.
FCPS Standard School Year Calendar
Printable FCPS 2025-26 School Calendar (PDF)
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