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Upcoming Events
 Sept 23 – No School / Rosh Hashanah
Sept 25 – AAP Information Night, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sept 26 - SCA Spirit Day / Wear School Colors! (Blue and Yellow)
Oct 2 – No School – Holiday
Oct 13 – No School - Student Holiday
Link to 2025-2026 School Year Calendar 2025-26 FCPS School Year Calendar
Principal’s Message to Families
Dear Ravensworth Families,
Our students and staff have been working diligently to complete our beginning of the year assessments, SR&R assemblies, and safety drills. Our school community did a fantastic job practicing our lockdown drill, and next week we will practice our bus evacuations. We are extremely impressed with our students this week. They have displayed listening skills and respect during our safety drills and assemblies.
Please remember next Tuesday, September 23rd is a student holiday. Next Friday, September 26th, we will have our Ravensworth Spirit Day sponsored by our student leaders (SCA). The SCA is promoting the joy of being at school next Friday! Let's celebrate the joy of learning and being together by wearing our school shirts or colors (blue and yellow) Let’s show our love of school next week! If you don’t have a shirt or would like to purchase a new one, you can purchase from our fantastic PTA’s online store: SHOP THE STORE .
Thank you for your partnership and have a wonderful weekend,
Shannon Mueck
Interim Principal
National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Lake Braddock Secondary School Theatre’s Fall Production Invitation
Looking for something fun and family-friendly to do with you and your family? Look no further than Lake Braddock Theatre's fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows the love story of four confused Athenians, a wacky bunch of actors preparing their play for the upcoming royal wedding, and a forest full of magical fairies who tend to disrupt the natural order of the human world. This show is set around a PG-rating and will perform on October 30th, 31st, and November 1st! A special addition, those who come on October 31st, Halloween, will be able to get a photo with their favorite cast members! Costumes are encouraged.
Tickets can be purchased at lbtheatre.com. We hope to see you there.
FCPS 2e Programming Flyer
FCPS has developed an informational flyer to showcase the range of services and resources available to support our Twice Exceptional (2e) Learners and their families.
Immunizations Requirements
Make Sure Your Children Are Up to Date on Immunizations
Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure that your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Tuesday, November 18, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to our front office. Find more information on immunizations.
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned to our front office by Tuesday, September 30.
🌞 Celebrate Sun Day on September 21
Celebrate the launch of FCPS’ solar initiative and the arrival of 17 new electric school buses at Louise Archer Elementary School on Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. Come learn more about the great work FCPS is doing to reduce its carbon footprint and meet sustainability goals.
Bring the family for live music, solar story time, student-led sustainability demos, and other activities. Register for Sun Day today.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included and Empowered
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.
Fairfax County public schools are creating inclusive, supportive environments where every student feels known, valued, and connected — the second goal of the Strategic Plan. From mentoring to cross-grade collaboration, when students feel safe and supported, they can truly thrive — academically, socially, and emotionally. See how Goal 2 is being put into practice
Workshop – Mind in the Making
Mind in The Making: Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs - 8-week in-person workshop series begins September 25
Parents and caregivers will learn about the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs in this in-person workshop. They will discover why these skills matter, how they help their children grow, and fun ways to build them at home. These are proven strategies based on research about how kids learn and develop. Participants attend each week with a group of other families and caregivers.
Workshop Details:
When: Thursdays, September 25 - November 20 Time: 10 a.m. – noon / Where: Annandale Community Center
Register Here
School Safety
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. 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 are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students 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.
If students, staff, or families have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 911.
Everyday 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 backpack 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!
FCPS Volunteer Procedure
Thank you to all our parents/guardians who have signed up to volunteer at Ravensworth this year! We appreciate your patience with this new Volunteer FCPS system.
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, help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, and cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.
If you think you may want to chaperone a field trip this year, field trip chaperones are required to sign up as Level 3 volunteers. If you have signed up under a separate opportunity, please take a moment to sign up under this one as well. Once you have completed the process for one opportunity, registering for another one is quick and easy!
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.
FCPS Staff Who Volunteer: FCPS employees who would like to volunteer at their child’s school, be student mentors with MentorWorks, or help in any unpaid capacity in the school system must register with Volunteer FCPS. The volunteer management system will verify that they are an FCPS employee with a current background check on file.
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. Please contact the office if the way your child will be going home on these days has changed.
The 12:20 pm Early Release Wednesdays for Ravensworth are scheduled for:
- October 29
- November 12
- December 10
- February 18
- March 18
- April 22
- May 13
Immunizations Requirements
Make Sure Your Children Are Up to Date on Immunizations
Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure that your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Tuesday, November 18, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to our front office. Find more information on immunizations.
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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.
Special Education Virtual Workshop for Military Families
Family and School Partnerships (FSP) will be facilitating a virtual workshop given by the Office of Special Education Procedural Support on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 6 to 7 p.m. The Office of Special Education Procedural Support will present information on the IEP/504 process within FCPS, provide resources to help families navigate receiving these services in accordance with the Military Interstate Compact, and answer questions from workshop participants. The presentation will be geared towards military families, and parents/guardians may submit questions beforehand.
- To register for this virtual workshop, as well as submit questions, please fill out this Google form
- FSP will be facilitating monthly workshops, webinars, or family engagement events for military families throughout the school year. Please check the Family Academy catalog under “Military-Connected Families Offerings” for more information on these events as they are posted.
- For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12
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.
Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.
The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they’re joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success. See how Goal 1 is being put into practice. Learn more about or enroll in FCPS Pre-K or Early Head Start
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
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.
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: September 25th, 6:30 PM
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 Ravens Nest after the presentation.
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September 30th-Deadline to request abilities test re-take.
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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.
We have almost reached our membership total from last year and it’s all because of YOU! Together, we can reach our goal of having one-quarter of Ravensworth families as PTA members.
Why does this matter? Every membership strengthens our community, gives families a voice, and provides the resources to:
- Bring educational programs to our students
- Fund services beyond the school’s budget
- Support our teachers, staff, and administrators
When more families join, our impact grows—and every child benefits. If you know a family who hasn’t joined yet, encourage them to sign up and be part of something that makes a real difference.
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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