Forestville Focus

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/21/2025 03:04 PM EDT

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Calendar Reminders

calendar reminder graphic

October 24: AAP Parent Information for Full-time Services (9:30 a.m. Cafeteria)

October 27- 31: Fall Spirit Week - see flyer below

October 29: 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday (Dismissal at 1:00 p.m.)

October 31: Book Character Dress Up Day - see flyer below

October 31: 2-Hour Early End of Quarter Dismissal (Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.)

November 3: School Planning Day - Student Holiday

November 4: Teacher Workday/Election Day - Student Holiday

November 10: Veterans Day Assembly - (9:30 Gym - Wear Red, White and Blue)

November 11: Veterans Day Holiday - School is Closed
Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School award for supporting military-connected students.

Forestville is Recognized As a First Time Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School

Forestville Elementary School has been named a Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School for its exceptional support of military-connected students and their families. This is the first time the school has received this prestigious, three-year designation from the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

This honor recognizes Forestville’s commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, reflecting FCPS’s dedication to ensuring safety and belonging for every student. Congratulations to the Forestville community on this outstanding achievement!

We would like to especially thank our school counselor, Mrs. Shana Schnaue, for spearheading this effort and ensuring our staff met all required criteria to compete for this recognition! Thank you Mrs. Schnaue!

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Keep those Forestville Nominations Coming!

Forestville would like to thank the those who have already nominated an Outstanding Forestville Employee and invite even more families to participate!  Check out the flyer above and take a few minutes to nominate a Forestville staff member today. There are many different categories for nominations, encompassing all staff in our building! If you are uncertain about the appropriate category, simply choose the one you believe is closest and we will get it to the correct place. We look forward to honoring and celebrating the school full of professionals we have and thank you in advance for your time, consideration and recognition! Nominations accepted through Google Form.

🌟Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Parent Information Sessions with Mrs. McKinnon🌟

📅 Friday, October 24 at 9:30 AM

Who: Parents of current 2nd – 6th graders What: Everything you need to know about the Full-Time AAP Referral Process with Mrs. McKinnon

📍 Sessions will be held in the cafeteria

✨ Don’t miss these opportunities to learn more and get your questions answered!

Fall Spirit Week


Fall Spirit Week - Next Week

Forestville invites all students and staff to participate in our Fall Spirt Week, marking the end of the first quarter. We are excited to celebrate together in a variety of ways and will look for as much participation as possible! Encourage your child to make some plans and join in the fun!

Monday, October 27 - PJ Day (Bring sneakers for PE and Recess)

Tuesday, October 28 - Hat Day (Whether Baseball, team or something else, wear your favorite hat to school!)

Wednesday, October 29 - Decades Day (We are going back in time and remind all families that we will have an early release Wednesday with a 1:00 p.m. dismissal on this date.)

Thursday, October 30 - Flannel Day (Wear your favorite cozy flannel to school)

Friday, October 31 - Book Character Dress Up Day (Wear your favorite school appropriate costume of any character that can be found in a book - Reminder no face coverings, masks, face paint and/or weapons and Students will be dismissed early at 2:00 p.m. due to last day of quarter.)

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Early Release Wednesday Reminder - 10/29

Forestville reminds all families that our next three hour early release is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 with a 1:00 p.m. dismissal. We will send all students home based on the dismissal information collected for our first early release in September. As a reminder, all students are expected to dismiss from school at the 1:00 p.m. time. If assistance is required, a supervision plan is in place at Forestville.
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Early Release & Early Dismissal - What's the Difference?

Forestville wants families to know about our different dismissal times coming up at the end of October. 

1) Wednesday, October 29

  • Early Release Wednesday = 3-hour Early Dismissal at 1:00 p.m.
  • Supervision plan in place for those requiring assistance
  • There are 8 Early Release Wednesdays this school year

2) Friday, October 31

  • Quarter End Early Dismissal = 2-hour Early Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
  • All students must leave school, no supervision plan available (other than registered SACC users)
  • There are 4 Quarter End 2-hour Early Dismissals this school year
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Save the Date - November 10 Veterans Day Assembly

Forestville will honor and celebrate the brave men and women who have served and/or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during our Veterans Day Assembly on Monday, November 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the Gym. 

We invite all veterans and active-duty military members to join us and be recognized for this special event. Uniforms are welcome and not required. Following the assembly, guests* are welcome to visit a classroom to share about their experiences in the military and answer students’ questions.

In addition, we invite all Forestville families to join us during this special recognition and hope you can make plans to attend. All students, staff and guests are invited to wear red, white and blue!

*If you are interested in speaking to a class, please reach out to Mrs. Schnaue at saschnaue@fcps.edu so she can connect you with a class.

We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize and learn from those who have dedicated themselves to serving our country.

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Fridays are Spirit Days

Forestville reminds all families to have students wear our school colors (red/black) and/or Forestville Spirit Wear on Fridays! It is a fun way to end the week and lead into the weekend. Our staff LOVE our Friday Forestville Spirit days!
Four smiling students stand together in a classroom, holding an orange paper project shaped like a cone.

 

#ForestvilleSOARS #CardinalCommunity

Stay Connected with Forestville!

Want to see what learning, laughter, and life at Forestville really look like? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a front-row seat to the amazing moments happening in our classrooms and around our school. From special events and student highlights to spirit days and everyday fun—you won’t want to miss a thing!

📸 Facebook: ForestvilleFCPS
📸 Instagram: @forestvillefcps

FORESTVILLE FAMILIES written in red block lettering


Tuesday Folder

Forestville uses Schoology for all Tuesday Folder contents. All flyers are posted to Schoology Course: Forestville All Parents and contents are listed below.

  • Forestville Outstanding Employee Nominations
  • Food & Nutrition News
  • 25-26 Reflections Contest Information
  • Community Fliers Disclaimer

Elementary Language Arts Grades

You might notice that your student's progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) look a little different. This is happening because we've brought in a new curriculum and new ways to check on learning (assessments), and there are new state guidelines called the VDOE Standards of Learning.

FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the big skills they need by the very end of the school year. Think of it like going on a journey. It’s challenging at first, but on your journey, you learn your way — and maybe even a few shortcuts! 

First-quarter grades may seem lower than usual as students work hard to reach grade-level mastery.

Please know that this is a positive, expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they grow and achieve. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards!

Learn more about this change in ELA grading and reporting.

When Should Your Child Stay Home?

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit the FCPS website for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school and your child’s teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long. 

How AI Is Shaping Teaching and Learning

Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:

  • Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
  • Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
  • Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
  • Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.

Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.

🎤 Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

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. 

FCPS Ombuds Office: Your Go-To Guide for the School System

Do you have a question or concern about Fairfax County Public Schools, but you don’t know where to find the answer? Dawn Clements wants you to know you can ask her! Dawn’s mission as the FCPS Ombuds is to make it easier to understand the school system and help build trust within the community. In honor of Ombuds Day, learn more about Dawn Clements and the Ombuds Office. 

FCPS News

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

  • Immunization Events for FCPS Student
  • Blueprints for Success, How Bonds Build Communities

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

news from the PTA
I belong explore the arts and express yourself

Forestville Reflections - Call for Submissions

Forestville Reflections is back for another year with the theme "I Belong"!

We invite students to submit entries in dance, film, literature, music, visual arts and photography. Students can enter in their age division (K-2, 3-5, 5-7) and win prizes at the school level. Enter by Nov. 15th by e-mailing Forestvillereflections@gmail.com your entry form and submission.

Check the PTA homepage for  detailed instructions for each category.

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