🌟Principal's Message

🌟Wise Owl Way Positive Referrals

🌟A Focus on AttenDANCE at Shrevewood Elementary 🦉

🌟School Start Time Survey

🌟School Picture Orders

🌟Fall Picture Retakes

🌟Procedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch

🌟Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting 

🌟Every Day Counts: Setting Your Child Up for Success

🌟Advanced Academics Program – Fall Newsletters

🌟Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

🌟Shrevewood PTA News

🌟Family Resource

🌟Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools

🌟Green Team Stretchy Plastics Collection

🌟Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy

🌟Student Birthday Policy

🌟Attendance

🌟🍲 New Food Items Include Hearty Homestyle Favorites

🌟School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

🌟FCPS News

🌟Save the Date

Principal's Message

Dear Shrevewood Families,

What a fantastic week it's been at Shrevewood! The halls have been buzzing with activity, and it's been a joy to see our students so engaged.

One of the most exciting new additions has been the official launch of Second Step last week during our Morning Meetings. It's been wonderful to see our students building important social-emotional skills and learning how to work together.

Last Friday, we ended the week on a high note with our first-ever AttenDANCE assembly. With September and Attendance Awareness Month coming to a close, we wanted to celebrate the importance of being at school every day. All of our students participated and were thrilled to learn about our new school-wide attendance challenge. It was a huge success and a fun way to emphasize how much every school day matters.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are looking forward to a great rest of the month!

Sincerely,

Katie Vandawalker, Principal

Dan Reichard, Assistant Principal

Wise Owl Way Positive Referrals

Congratulations to our Wise Owls who earned a W.O.W. positive referral this week!

• Agustin R.R.
• Advika K.P.
• Owen S.
• Corra H.
• Adonai S.
• Kaiden C.P.

A Focus on AttenDANCE at Shrevewood Elementary 🦉

We had a fantastic time at our recent "AttenDANCE" event at Shrevewood Elementary last Friday, where we introduced our school-wide attendance goals for the year! It is our goal to reach a chronic absenteeism rate of 10% or less for this year. As of Thursday, we're at 9.9%! 

We've set some exciting goals for classes to aim for this year. These goals are designed to celebrate classes with full attendance, which we are calling "Owl In" days. When a class has an "Owl In" day, it means all the students were there! Starting this past Monday, we began tracking attendance to see who is "all here".

Our Attendance Goals

We've outlined a series of fun rewards to motivate our students:

• 3 “Owl In” Days: The class will get a special shout-out on the news show.

• 5 “Owl In” Days: The class will earn additional recess time.

• 10 “Owl In” Days: The class gets to have a special celebration, like a stuffy day or a spirit day, which they can vote on together.

• 15 “Owl In” Days: The class will get to do something fun with the administrative staff, like taping Mrs. Vandawalker or Mr. Reichard to the wall!

Did you know? 

• Students should miss no more than nine days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully, or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism (defined as missing 18 days per school year) is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.

• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.

• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job

We're excited to see how many "Owl In" days we can achieve together this year! Remember: "Attend today, achieve tomorrow!"

School Start Time Survey

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8:00 a.m. or after. 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^th. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.

School Picture Orders

School pictures are ready and available for purchase.

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using our school's Picture Day ID, EVT6N44GW.

All families can also log on to order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. Find out more about the SmileSafe program here.

Please note: Effective for Fall 2025, we will no longer accept late paper orders after Picture Day.  Families should place late orders online through mylifetouch.com. 

Fall Picture Retakes

Friday, October 24, is Fall Picture Retake Day.  Retakes are for:

• Students who were absent on September 16
• Newly enrolled students
• Students whose parents want a retake (please return the original picture package to the photographer on October 24) 

Procedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch

We are excited to open our cafeteria 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. 
• Using a government issued photo ID, sign-in and receive a visitor sticker. 
• Wear the visitor sticker at all times. 
• Report directly to the cafeteria. 
• Enjoy lunch with your child(ren). 
• Return to the main office to check-out using your visitor sticker. 
• Please don't visit the classroom or recess, so our daily schedule and routines can continue without interruption for our students. 
• Please do not bring fast food for lunch. 
• Please do not bring any food to share with other children due to safety protocols and allergies.

Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting 

As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall — one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting. 

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. 

The meeting for our pyramid will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., at Marshall High School (In Person or Virtual)

Please register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate. 

Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. 

Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.

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 the FCPS website for more attendance tips and resources. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Advanced Academics Program – Fall Newsletters

Please click this LINK to view the Fall newsletter for the Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) at Shrevewood E.S.  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).  

Shrevewood E.S. 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. 

Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

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. 

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.

For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website or contact our Volunteer Point of Contact, Pilar Quintero Flores, pjquinterofl@fcps.edu, with questions.

Shrevewood PTA News

Unlock the Block: Update!

Raised to date (as of 9/24 @ 10 AM): $11,546

Goal: $15,000

We are less than one week away from the end of our Unlock the Block fundraiser. We officially unlocked our first block, Pajama Day! Don’t forget to have your students wear their pajamas tomorrow. We are less than $3,500 away from our total goal and have 2 blocks left to unlock: extra recess at $12,000 and staff inflatable costume race at $15,000. 

What does your donation support? The PTA relies on YOUR donations to fund our annual budget, including the following: 

• New student welcome breakfasts
• Second Step SEL Curriculum
• Staff Appreciation Events
• Assemblies
• And SO much more. Learn more on our website!

Donate By Check Here (Drop your check to the main office and let them know it is for the PTA)

Donate With Credit Card/PayPal 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, you’re 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!

Join Us for the Shrevewood Elementary Fall Fun Fair!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. 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, we’re collecting candy, small prizes and other treats, and we’ve 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!

 September 2025 PTA Meeting

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this past week’s PTA meeting! We covered our budget, shared progress on our fundraiser, did some committee updates, and discussed what’s ahead. Ms. Vandawalker shared some beginning of the year school updates, and we also had our amazing counselors, Ms. Winston and Ms. Schoen introduce the new social-emotional curriculum, Second Step. If you missed it or want a quick recap, be sure to check the agenda and slides here. 

Join the Kindergarten Daisy Girl Scout Troop 50269

Girls and parents/caregivers can sign up now to participate in the troop and in volunteer roles. We will focus on the Daisy goals of friendship, fun, and learning about the world around them. We’ll work on Daisy “petal” activities, getting to know each other, and having fun as a troop during the first year. Reach out to Emily Gardner (emily.muth@gmail.com) or Allison Dobbins (allisonmdobbins@gmail.com) to sign up or if you have questions.

Family Resource

Electronics, Sleep, and Brain Health: Understanding the Correlation

During childhood and adolescence, the brain undergoes rapid growth and development. Learning and practicing healthy brain habits during childhood and adolescence contributes to long-term benefits, because children are acquiring cognitive and social-emotional skills that shape their capacity for learning and future mental health, and they are important for assuming adult roles in society.

Safe environments, nurturing relationships, adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise all factor into promoting a healthy brain.

Sleep 

Sleep plays a vital role in building and strengthening neural connections essential for healthy cognitive and psychosocial development. Adequate sleep helps regulate hormones, strengthens the immune system, and enables muscle and tissue recovery.

Conversely, inadequate sleep negatively impacts brain health, hindering critical functions such as decision-making, concentration, and memory. This lack of sleep can lead to increased impulsivity, emotional regulation issues, and a higher risk for mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

The human sleep-wake cycle is a circadian rhythm that is based on sunlight. When it is bright outside, people are alert. When night arrives and skies darken, the body produces a hormone called melatonin that induces sleepiness.

Electronics

Smartphones, tablets, computers, television screens, and some e-readers give off short-wavelength blue light that is very similar to sunlight. Not only does this light make people more alert, it also deceives the body into thinking it is still daytime. 

In response, the body produces less melatonin, interfering with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The longer time spent on a screen, the greater the consequences for getting adequate sleep.

In addition, research has shown that excessive use of electronic devices can negatively affect a child’s development including dopamine overload, executive function skills, stress levels, myelin development (myelin is essential for a healthy nervous system), social skills, emotional development, impulse control, and perseverance.

Balancing Sleep and Technology for Healthy Brain Development

Tips for parents and caregivers:

• Recommended sleep durations (by age):
• 3–5 years: 10–13 hours (including naps)
• 6–12 years: 9–12 hours
• 13–18 years: 8–10 hours
• 18 years and above: 7 hours or more
• Limit screen time:
• Under 2 years: Avoid screens (except video chatting).
• Ages 2–5: Max 1 hour/day of high-quality content.
• Ages 6+: Set consistent limits and monitor usage.
• Establish tech-free bedtime routines:
• No screens 1 hour before bed.
• Keep devices out of bedrooms.
• Encourage active use of technology: Choose apps and programs that are interactive, creative, and age-appropriate.
• Prioritize sleep hygiene:
• Consistent sleep/wake times.
• Quiet, dark, cool sleep environment.

Resources: 

https://centerforbrainhealth.org/about-us/youth-and-family-resources

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-7-things-to-know

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep

FCPS Sleep Health Education

https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/6630

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/134/3/e921/74176/Insufficient-Sleep-in-Adolescents-and-Young-Adults?autologincheck=redirected

Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools 

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. 

Green Team Stretchy Plastics Collection

Our SWES Green Team has collected 884 pounds of STRETCHY PLASTICS from our community, and the collection CONTINUES!!! We only have 116 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, “Go Green – Go Clean – Shrevewood Owls on the Scene!”

Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy

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 FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy.

Student Birthday Policy

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.

Attendance

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 child’s 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. 

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.

🍲 New Food Items Include Hearty Homestyle Favorites

Our new menu items debuting in September and October feature hearty homestyle favorites — including veggie chili, pictured above — and fresh global inspiration! Other new additions include:

• Breakfast: Cinnamon apple overnight oats, mini blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, egg and cheese breakfast quesadillas and tacos, and turkey sausage and cheese bagels.
• Lunch: Teriyaki chicken stir-fry, teriyaki chickenless bites stir-fry, cheesy turkey pepperoni pasta, cheesy pasta with marinara sauce, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fiesta nachos.

Check our online menu to see when your child can try new recipes developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts, based on student feedback.

School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

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 student’s 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)’s 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.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• Safety in Our Schools 
• New Fall Food Items
• Driver’s Education from a Trusted Source

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 

Save the Date

⭐Yom Kippur⭐

Thursday, October 2

(No school for students or staff)

⭐5th Grade Field Trip -

Huntley Meadows Park⭐

Tuesday, October 7

⭐AAP Parent Info Meeting⭐

Tuesday, October 7, 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Shrevewood Library

⭐1st Grade Field Trip - Zoo⭐

Friday, October 10

⭐4th Grade Green Team Field Trip -

Potomac⭐

Friday, October 10

⭐Indigenous Peoples' Day/Staff Development Day⭐

Monday, October 13

(No school for students)

⭐6th Grade Field Trip - Udvar Hazy⭐

Friday, October 17

⭐Diwali⭐

Monday, October 20

(No school for students or staff)

⭐Digital Citizenship Week⭐

October 21-24

⭐3rd Grade Field Trip - Arlington Outdoor Lab⭐

Wednesday, October 22

⭐EAC Field Trip - Cox Farms⭐

Thursday, October 23

⭐Fall Picture Retakes⭐

Friday, October 24

⭐3 Hour Early Release Wednesday⭐

Wednesday, October 29

⭐End of 1st Quarter - 2 Hour Early Release⭐

Friday, October 31

Click Here for the FCPS 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

7525 Shreve Road, Falls Church, VA 22043 | Main Office: 703-645-6600
Attendance: 703-645-6666 | Web | Facebook | Instagram