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Dear Woodley Hills Family,
Just like the leaves changing colors, the season is shifting! As we welcome fall with cooler weather and fun holidays ahead, it’s a great time to talk about something super important for your child’s success: coming to school every single day.
Think of school like a big sports team or a play. Every student has a role, and every day is a practice or a scene. If one person is missing, the whole group can struggle! When your child is here every day, they get these important benefits:
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You Don't Miss Out: Lessons in reading and math build on each other. If your child misses Tuesday’s lesson, Wednesday’s lesson will be much harder to understand. Being present keeps their learning momentum going strong.
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Friendship and Fun: Daily attendance helps your child make strong friendships and feel like they really belong at Woodley Hills. These connections are a big part of feeling happy and successful at school.
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Good Habits: Coming to school on time every day teaches kids to be responsible. It's a key life skill!
Fall Attendance Challenge!
This month, we are kicking off our 90% Attendance Challenge! From October 1st to October 31st, we want to see every single student in class for at least 90% of the school days. Why 90%? Because if we hit that goal, it means every student is here almost every day, learning and growing together.
Here’s the fun part: Any class that meets or beats the 90% attendance mark for the entire month of October will earn a special class treat! This is a great way for students to work as a team and help their class celebrate success.
We know that sometimes kids get sick, and that’s a good reason to stay home and rest. But for things like doctor or dentist appointments, please try your best to schedule them after school hours. Also, try to avoid taking long family trips when school is in session. Every day your child is in class, they are growing!
Let’s team up this fall to make sure every Woodley Hills student is present and ready to learn. Good luck to all the classes in the challenge!
Thank you,
Dr. LaChelle R. Williams, Principal
Mr. Brandon Davis, Assistant Principal
The Woodley Hills Family is proud to celebrate National Principals Month! We are incredibly grateful to Dr. LaChelle Williams and Mr. Brandon Davis for their selfless service to our community. Their leadership is marked by a continual focus on the development of the whole child, emphasizing academic excellence, support for extracurricular activities, and a commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive school environment. Their dedication to creating an ethos that prioritizes the betterment of the entire community is truly inspiring. Thank you, Dr. Williams and Mr. Davis, for making a difference in the lives of our students and families every day!
Congratulations to the following students for achieving the honor of being selected as Student of the Month or Most Improved Student for successfully following classroom rules and most importantly displaying respect throughout the month: Jeovany, Jenika, Jeremy, Lucia, Stephanie, Liam, Diego, Dylan, Abigail, Kaitlyn, Eden, Hailee, Anderson, Sofia, David, Mila, Scarlett, Hayden, Filomena, Emely, Destinee, Dylan, Danna, Evelyn, Avryl, Malik, Claudia, Sely, Solomon, Joshua, Victor, Kiara, Jose, Daniel, Cameron, Kendel, Mateo, Greissy, Emelyn, Cesar, Jonael, Emmanuel, Noah, Yuliana, Camila, and Adam.
October 13 - Student Holiday
October 15 - Early Release Wednesday
October 20 - Holiday
October 24 - PTA Movie Night 6pm
October 31 - 1st Quarter Ends - Early Release
If you haven't already, please join and support the Woodley Hills PTA. The PTA focus on supporting the needs of our students and staff, as well as, bringing families in our community together.
𝖩𝗈𝗂𝗇 ➥ If you haven't already joined the PTA or renewed your membership for the 25-26 school year, you can do that here: https://vapta-whes.givebacks.com/shop
🙋🏽 Interested in how you can support the WHES PTA - complete this volunteer form https://forms.gle/Q8Uq1JfGvwwSESp8A
🔗 Keep in touch in our new Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ACFRZJNNd/
❓If you have questions, reach out to the new PTA President Katie Eustis katie.eustis@gmail.com
Every Day Is a Stepping Stone to Success
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. Please communicate through Talking Points with your child's teacher or call the office at (703) 799-2000 if your child will be absent from school.
Take the School Start Times Survey
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 costs associated with this change, 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 and 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. The survey deadline has been extended to Monday, October 6. Find more information on adjusting school start times on the FCPS website.
October Webinars for Parents
Math Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
October 10, 10-11:30 am
In this session participants will learn about evidence-based practices in teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities and how they apply to math instruction. Specific early numeracy objectives will be discussed, along with related activities to support these objectives using items easily found within the home. A participant guide will be provided, containing a variety of tools and resources.
Register here
Sibshops and SibTeen
October 13, 9 a.m.- noon Jim Scott Community Center 3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax, VA
The Sibshops workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with support needs to meet other siblings in a relaxed setting. Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs, share sibling experiences, and receive peer support. Play games and have fun.
Register here
SibTeens is a community-building group for Middle School siblings of children with support needs in grades 6-9 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. We have fun activities, both recreational and art-based, as well as discussion activities. It’s a unique opportunity for students to share about their lives and support each other while normalizing their life experiences.
Register here
Please contact FCPSSibshops@FCPS.edu for follow up questions about either program.
Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia
October 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
What You'll Learn:
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Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
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FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
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Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
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Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
Register here
Reading Plans and Your Student
October 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:
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What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
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Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
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How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
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Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
Register here
🎤 Join a Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, 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 and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates:
Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
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✨ 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.
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🏗️ Why Are Bonds Needed to Fund FCPS Construction Projects?
The building and renovation of schools are not financed through the FCPS’ operating funds, but through bonds. Similar to an individual or a family obtaining a mortgage on a residence to spread the cost of home buying over several years, bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements over a number of years. This ensures that current and future residents and users share in the payment.
This approach is good for our taxes, too. If capital construction were financed out of current tax revenues on a pay-as-you-go basis, projects would need to be paid for in a much shorter time frame, likely reducing other county services or necessitating tax increases. Fortunately, the county’s bonded debt is not likely to be a contributing factor to any increase in local taxes.
A bond referendum to benefit FCPS will be on the ballot this Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. It represents an investment by the community into the facilities everyone uses — whether for school or to gather as a community.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4.
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