đPrincipal's Message
đWise Owl Way Positive Referrals
đCommon Sense Education
đProcedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch
đParticipate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review MeetingÂ
đScience Olympiad
đProvidence Day & Back to School Celebration
đA Midsummer Nightâs Dream
đEvery Day Counts: Setting Your Child Up for Success
đAdvanced Academics Program â Fall Newsletters
đEnsuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS
đParent Reminders
đCell Phone and Smart Watch Policy
đ Limited Early Release Days for Elementary SchoolsÂ
đGreen Team Stretchy Plastics Collection
đShrevewood PTA News
đFamily Resource
đSchool Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
đStudent Birthday Policy
đAttendance
đFCPS News
đSave the Date
Dear Shrevewood Families,
We're excited to introduce the Second Step program, a new Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum we are implementing at Shrevewood this year to support our students' growth. This program is designed to teach essential social-emotional skills, such as empathy, emotion management, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Second Step uses age-appropriate lessons and activities to help students build a foundation for academic success, healthy relationships, and lifelong well-being. By focusing on these "human skills," we aim to create a positive and supportive school community where every child feels connected, confident, and ready to learn. We'll be sending home additional resources and activities throughout the year so you can reinforce these skills with your child at home.
As a reminder, next Tuesday, September 23rd, is a student and staff holiday. Shanah tovah to our Jewish community celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! Meaning âhead of the year,â Rosh Hashanah is one of Judaismâs holiest days and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that ends with Yom Kippur. All FCPS schools and offices will be closed.
Sincerely,
Katie Vandawalker, Principal
Dan Reichard, Assistant Principal
Congratulations to our Wise Owls who earned a W.O.W. positive referral this week!
- Forrest B.
- Luella B.
- Adriana O.L.
- Alexandra B.M.
- Diego M.C.
- Samantha A.
- Camryn H.
- Christie S.
- Jannat H.
- Adam S.
- Andrew C.
Your child is taking part in classroom lessons from Common Sense Education. Common Sense helps kids learn the habits and skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly in school, at home, and beyond.
WHAT IS DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP?
Kids today may seem like experts at using technology, but the digital world requires all kinds of skills and habits that kids donât just pick up as they go. Digital citizenship helps them learn those skills. The Common Sense lessons help kids in grades Kâ2 develop healthy media habits and learn how to be safe online. Lessons for kids in grades 3â5 continue to focus on screen time and online safety. Older kids also learn about how to recognize cyberbullying, what is and isnât OK to share online, and how to find credible news and information.
WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO
Common Sense Education provides resources to help you support your kidâs learning. As we teach these lessons in class, weâll be sending home tip sheets, videos, and activities for you to do with your kids. You can visit the Common Sense website at www.commonsensemedia.org for more. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Working together with Common Sense Education, we can prepare todayâs kids to think critically and use tech in positive, creative, and powerful ways.
We are excited to open our cafeteria starting on Monday for parents and guardians to join their children for lunch at school! We know how much you value connecting with your child, and this is a great chance to share a special moment during their school day.
If you'd like to have lunch with your child, please follow these steps:
- Enter at Door 1 and report to the Main Office.Â
- Using a government issued photo ID, sign-in and receive a visitor sticker.Â
- Wear the visitor sticker at all times.Â
- Report directly to the cafeteria.Â
- Enjoy lunch with your child(ren).Â
- Return to the main office to check-out using your visitor sticker.Â
- Please don't visit the classroom or recess, so our daily schedule and routines can continue without interruption for our students.Â
- Please do not bring fast food for lunch.Â
- Please do NOT bring any food to share with other children due to safety protocols and allergies.
As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall â one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting.Â
All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, an update and opportunity for feedback on school start times, how community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process.Â
The meeting for our pyramid will be held on Saturday, September 27, 9 to 10:30 a.m., at Marshall High School (In Person or Virtual)
Please register by clicking âin personâ or âvirtual,â depending on how you would like to participate.Â
Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed.Â
Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.
We're excited to announce that we are in process of forming a Science Olympiad team this year at Shrevewood and we're looking for enthusiastic and dedicated parents to volunteer as coaches.
đ§Ș As a coach, you'll guide students in preparing for various events, from building a bottle rocket to identifying different types of rocks and minerals. It's a fantastic opportunity to share your knowledge, inspire young minds, and help our school achieve great things!
If you're interested in learning more about this rewarding opportunity, please email April Done at ardone@fcps.edu.
đ
 Saturday, September 20, 2025
đ 10:00 a.m. â 1:00 p.m.
đ George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043
Join us for a fun-filled day with performances by the Vienna Singing Princesses, Drew Blue Shoes, and local Providence talent, plus activities for all ages like arts and crafts, bingo, cornhole, and a visit from some adorable furry friends!
This free, family-friendly event is a wonderful chance to celebrate our community, highlight local organizations and businesses, and bring together students, families, and neighbors from across the Providence District. Itâs the perfect opportunity to gear up for a successful school year and a festive way to kick off the fall season. RSVP TODAY:Â https://www.eventbrite.com/e/providence-day-back-to-school-celebration-tickets-1560093284009
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 the FCPS website for more attendance tips and resources. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
Please click this LINK to view the Fall newsletter for the Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) at Shrevewood ES. You will also see the referral forms for Subject-Specific Advanced Differentiation (open all year for grades K-6) and the referral forms for the Full Time AAP Program (open for grades 2-6, deadline December 15, 2025, for the following school year). Â
Shrevewood ES will host two parent meetings this school year. The meetings will be held on October 7 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. These will be repeat presentations. The parent meeting will focus on the AAP Continuum of Services, as well as the Referral and Screening process for Full Time Services.Â
At Shrevewood Elementary School, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students.Â
Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal:Â keeping students safe.
These updates â such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks â are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care.Â
We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click âLearn More,â and then âSign Up.â After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application.Â
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 â and visitors to a school â are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website or contact our Volunteer Point of Contact, Pilar Quintero Flores, pjquinterofl@fcps.edu, with questions.
Update your child's information for us as soon as possible by clicking this link: SIS ParentVUE Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet
Provide consent for your child to access some digital resources used at school through the Parent Digital Consent System
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 (airpods, 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. Learn more about FCPSâ cell phone and personal device policy.
Three-hour early release days for Shrevewood ES will include:
- September 10
- October 29
- November 12
- December 10
- February 18
- March 18
- April 22
- May 13
Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.Â
Our SWES Green Team has collected 750 pounds of STRETCHY PLASTICS from our community, and the collection CONTINUES!!! We only have 250 pounds left to collect before October 31 to reach our 1000 pound goal! Stretchy plastics can be dropped in the collection bins located by Door 1, at Kiss & Ride, or at SACC.
Ask your family and friends to collect with you!  If we reach our goal, we will receive a special new bench made of recycled plastics!!!
As our Green Team likes to say, âGo Green â Go Clean â Shrevewood Owls on the Scene!â
UNLOCK THE BLOCK: UPDATE!
Raised to date (as of 9/17 @ 12 PM): $7,255Â
We are 1 week in and are well on our way to our $15,000 goal! The first BLOCK to unlock is PAJAMA DAY! Letâs hit that $10,000 mark so the kids and staff can have a cozy pajama day as soon as this week!Â
Top 2 classes earn outside learning and special snacks! Right now our top 5 classes are: Krizner, Smith, Wuest, Jones, and Hemmingson, but itâs close so YOUR donation can move your childâs class into the rankings!Â
The PTA relies on YOUR donations to fund our annual budget. Here are just a few things the PTA budget covers this year:
Donate By Check Here (Drop your check to the main office and let them know it is for the PTA)
Donate With Credit Card/Pay Pal Here (fees apply)
Become a PTA Member - Get Connected and Make a Difference!
Be a part of the incredible community that supports our school! By joining the PTA and becoming a member, youâre helping to support our school and create a stronger connection between families and school life. Become a member today and stay informed, involved, and inspired!
Kindergarten Bedtime Stories
Attention kindergarten families! Join us for our Kindergarten Bedtime Stories event tonight, Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 6:00PM - 7:00PM, in the Shrevewood library. Wear your pajamas, bring a blanket or stuffed animal, and come listen to stories read by Mrs. Vandawalker and Mr. Reichard. It's a great opportunity to meet and mingle with other Kindergarten families as well. RSVP here!
Join Us for the Shrevewood Elementary Fall Fun Fair!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and come celebrate the season at the Shrevewood Fall Fun Fair! Bring the whole family for an afternoon filled with games, laughter, and community fun. Costumes are welcome and encouraged, but costume masks and weapons are not allowed for the safety of all attendees. To help make the event a success, weâre collecting candy, small prizes and other treats and weâve created an Amazon Wish List filled with items that can be donated. Items ordered from this list will be delivered directly to the Shrevewood PTA event organizers. Wristbands will be available for purchase soon and volunteer opportunities are just around the corner. Stay-tuned for more information!
 
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, students will enter their student ID number as their cafeteria PIN at the cash register to receive their meals.  You can access your studentâs ID number via ParentVUE.
Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast will be $1.75. Lunch will be $3.25. Money can be added to your child(ren)âs accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com. You may also write a check to Shrevewood Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager. During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch at https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/ESSF44.
Free and Reduced-Price Status
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September. A new application must be completed each new school year. Forms are available online now: https://www.fcps.edu/frm. Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 813-4800 if you need help. This application must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.
As an administrative team and school, we will be recognizing and honoring our students' birthdays monthly. For the safety of all students and staff in our building and to limit the amount of classroom disruptions, please do not send in food or toys for your child's birthday.
Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your childâs well-being. FCPS has created a Health Flyer for Parents indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please review FCPS Attendance Policies and resources to encourage regular school attendance.Â
Parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE HERE. Families can also report absences by emailing shrevewoodelem.attendance@fcps.edu or calling 703-645-6666 before 10:00 a.m. each day.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- đ 262 FCPS Students Named 2026 National Merit SemifinalistsÂ
- đ Resources for Life After High SchoolÂ
- Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens About Fentanyl
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.Â
âFall Picturesâ
Tuesday, September 16
âPTA Meetingâ
Tuesday, September 16, 6:30 p.m.
Shrevewood Library
âKindergarten Bedtime Storiesâ
Thursday, September 18, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Shrevewood Library
âRosh Hashanahâ
Tuesday, September 23
(No school for students or staff)
âYom Kippurâ
Thursday, October 2
(No school for students or staff)
â5th Grade Field Trip -
Huntley Meadows Parkâ
Tuesday, October 7
âAAP Parent Info Meetingâ
Tuesday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Shrevewood Library
â1st Grade Field Trip - Zooâ
Friday, October 10
â4th Grade Green Team Field Trip -
Potomacâ
Friday, October 10
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