|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
We are thankful for our outsanding Custodial Team for keeping our school and campus in pristine condition every day.
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
 |
|
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.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
|
Inspired by Her Kindergarten Teacher: Principal Gadley Believes in Academic Growth and Excellence for Every Dranesville Dragon
 |
|
Inspired by her own Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Gadley's K-12 journey began with a love of reading. Mrs. Hall's instruction resulted in Mrs. Gadley learning to read as a four-year old kindergartner, sparking a lifelong passion for literacy and teaching. As a child, Mrs. Gadley would teach her dolls to read, turning that early love for reading into a passion for teaching.
Today, Mrs. Gadley brings her foundational experience to Dranesville with one clear goal: that every Kindergartner at Dranesville attends school daily, accesses high quality instruction, and learns to read. Thank you, Mrs. Gadley, for carrying that inspiration forward to make a difference for every Dranesville Dragon.
|
Developing Literacy at Dranesville
Kindergartners are learning to read and write through daily Benchmark lessons.
📚 Finishing Up Our Learning About Life Science in Language Arts 📚
Benchmark Unit 1 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the natural world around us.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: How do living things change? How have you changed since last year? How do you think you’ll change in the next five years?
- Activity: Go outside and try to spot three different plants or animals. Discuss how they get food, water, and shelter.
At the end of the unit, your child (Grades K-6) 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.
What is My Child Learning First Quarter?
Instruction in Virginia's public schools is guided by the Standards of Learning (SOL). The standards describe the expectations for student learning, assessment, and achievement in grades K-12. There are 48 instructional days in the first quarter of the 2025-2026 school year. There is a specific learning goal for each content area every school day. Teachers assess student learning throughout and at the end of each unit.
First Quarter Curriculum Overview | First Quarter Homework
Daily Attendance Matters
 |
|
Every day of school is another opportunity for students to engage in lessons build their skills and deepen their understanding across content areas. Thank you for establishing routines at home that support your child's daily attendance at school. |
As the fall and winter holiday season approaches, daily instruction will continue and daily attendance is important for every student at Dranesville. We ask that you consider the school calendar in scheduling appointments and vacations so that your child can access lessons and learning experiences that will help them to learn, grow, and achieve excellence this school year.
2025-2026 School Year Calendar
If your child is having difficulty with daily attendance, our Student Attendance and Engagement Team is ready to assist. Please call us at 703-326-5252 if you need support. Together, we will develop a plan to help your child attend school so they can access daily instruction.
📰Check out the September Edition of the Dragon's Spark Student Newsletter
 |
|
One of the enrichment opportunities that is open to all students in grades 4-6 is the Dragon's Spark student journalism club. Students determine the featured topic each month. They collaborate, engage peers in making contributions, and they use technology to create each monthly edition. The September Edition of Dragon's Spark is now available.
Is your 4th-6th grader interested in joining Dranesville's student journalism club? Sign them up today! The journalism club meets during the school day on Fridays.
|
Science Olympiad Applications Now Available
 |
|
Scientists in Grades 3-5: Science Olympiad is a team competition where students in grades 3-5 grow their collaboration, critical thinking, creative thinking, goal setting, and communication skills through knowledge and building events. Each of these events is focused on different branches of science and engineering. |
The team will meet on Wednesdays from 4:20pm to 5:20pm on regular dismissal days, with 1:10pm to 4:05pm bonus sessions on designated early release Wednesdays. All students in grades 3-5 will received an application today, Tuesday, October 7th. Applications will be due Tuesday, October 14th. The Science Olympiad team is limited to only 30 students. If more than 30 applications are received by October 14th, the team will be selected by lottery.
 We look forward to walking and biking to school with Dranesville Dragons on Thursday, October 9th. Note that this is a new date due to rain in the forecast on the previously advertised date. Let's wear our Dranesville spirit wear and walk or bike to school together! 💙
Lightspeed Student Online Activity Reports Are Coming to All Families
Beginning October 12, 2025, all parents and caregivers with Records Access in SIS will automatically receive a weekly Lightspeed email report summarizing their student’s online activity. These reports will be sent to the parent/caregiver email addresses on file in SIS.
The Lightspeed Student Online Activity Reports are designed to enable families to have meaningful conversations with their students about responsible technology use and digital citizenship. Families who prefer not to receive these weekly emails may easily opt-out by selecting the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the weekly email.
For more information and to help answer common questions, FCPS has added a new FAQ section to the Lightspeed Parent Report page on the FCPS website.
Save the Date
October 9: Walk and Bike to School Day
October 10: Fall Individual Picture Day | Makeup Pictures November 25th
October 11: Herndon Homecoming Parade 9:30 am
October 13: No School | Staff Development Day
October 15: PTA Meeting 7:00 pm
October 20: No School | Holiday
October 29: 3 Hour Early Release 1:05 pm Dismissal
October 31: 2 Hour Early Release 2:05 pm Dismissal | End of Quarter 1
November 3 - 4: No School | School Planning & Teacher Workday
November 10: Dranesville's Veterans Day Celebration
November 11: No School | Holiday
November 12: 3 Hour Early Release 1:05 pm Dismissal
November 19: Full-time AAP Referral Family Information Session 6:00 pm
November 20: Thanksgiving Lunch and Family Math Day
November 25: Fall Make-up and Retake Picture Day
November 26 - 28: No School | Thanksgiving Holiday
25-26 School Year Calendar
25-26 SACC Calendar
|
