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October 13: Indigenous People' Day (Student Holiday)
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October 15: Three Hours Early Release at 1 p.m.
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October 20: Diwali (Holiday)
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October 31: Annual Kindergarten Character Book Parade, 9:30AM
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October 31: First Quarter Ends, Two-Hour Early Dismissal 2:00PM
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November 3: Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
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November 4: Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
Fairfax County Public Schools 2025-2026 Standard School Year Calendar
Good afternoon Powell Puma Families-
We have had such a wonderful week together, filled with learning, laughter, and connection. It has been so wonderful to get to know our students better. The recent 4-day weeks have given both students and staff a chance to recharge, and we are ready to move into next week, which will be a full 5-day week of learning.
As the year continues, we also want to remind students of the importance of showing kindness towards their peers. A caring and supportive school community helps everyone learn and grow.
This weekend marks Chuseok (sometimes spelled Chusuk), Korea’s harvest festival—a time when families gather, share traditional foods like songpyeon (rice cakes), honor ancestors, and reflect with gratitude. To our Korean and Korean-American families, and to our Korean Immersion community: Chuseok 잘 보내세요! (Chuseok jal bonaeseyo—Have a wonderful Chuseok!)
Finally, please don’t forget to sign up for a Parent-Teacher Conference time with your child’s teacher if you haven’t already. Conferences are a valuable opportunity to strengthen the home-school connection and support your child’s progress.
Wishing everyone celebrating Chuseok a joyful holiday, and to all families, thank you for your continued support!
Warmly,
Catherine Han, Principal
Check out the YOUseum display this week provided by Liliana (K) and Viviana (2nd)! The Saenz family is showcasing their country of origin, Mexico. Their colorful display includes outfits for Día de los Muertos, soccer artifacts, a tortilla maker, books, and games. Fun fact: Muñecas de Trapo (Worry Dolls) are traditional hand-made cloth or wooden dolls dressed in bright fabrics that you can tell your worries to and tuck under your pillow before you go to sleep. How comforting!
Please consider signing up for one of the remaining YOUseum slots! This is a great opportunity to display your family’s heritage, culture, or whatever makes you unique! The available slots are Nov. 3-14, Nov. 17-28, Dec. 12-15, Jan. 12-23, and June 8-12. The sign up is located HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849AEAD28A3FBC70-57736332-youseum#/
Families we hope you can join us for our annual Kindergarten Character Day Parade, Friday Oct 31st. The parade will start promptly at 9:30AM. We will walk around the outside of the school building, bring your camera and we hope to see you there.
Elementary School Fall Newsletter
Colin Powell Elementary School offers students a continuum of services to meet their needs. Please look at our Fall Newsletter to learn more about AAP services. The link will take you to our Parent Schoology site which is a great resource for information.
Mark Your Calendars!
October 15th is the Referral Deadline for NEW TO COUNTY students in grades 3-6 for full-time AAP screening.
Please email me, kmbach@fcps.edu, if you have questions. There is also information conveniently linked in the parent Schoology course.
Wednesday, November 5th @ 6PM: AAP Parent Meeting in the Colin Powell ES Library
This meeting is focused on the full-time AAP screening process for the upcoming winter/spring screening window. If you have a current 2nd-6th grader and want to learn more, please consider attending.
Join us for our Fall Family Book Club to read the bestselling novel in verse, Odder by Katherine Applegate. The publisher says (Odder is) Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals. We have 21 spots for families this season. Fill out the Family Book Club Form to join. We will start next week!
📚Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about different characters in stories and their own personal sense of character.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: How does the way you act change the way you think about yourself?
- Activity: Draw a new cover for a favorite book featuring the main character in a key moment.
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.
Join us for our Fall Family Book Club to read the bestselling novel in verse, Odder by Katherine Applegate. The publisher says (Odder is) Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals. We have 21 spots for families this season. Fill out the Family Book Club Form to join. We will start next week!
Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career.
Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”
When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to our school. [Add how parents at your school should report absences.]
Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for resources on attendance.
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning 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. A new School Start TImes Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information about adjusting school start times.
Your voice matters, and Dr. Reid wants to hear from you! Parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. To register for the October 3 meeting, please click that date below. Registration links for the other dates will be available soon:
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Please check our website for updates.
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
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