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Dear Lynbrook Families,
As we approach the end of the first quarter, I want to take a moment to reflect on the power of family involvement in learning. When I was a child, my father painted homes for a living. He worked long hours from 4 AM until 7 PM, yet he always made time to ask me about what I was reading. After finishing a story or a book, he would ask questions like “What was the story about?” or “Who was your favorite character?” Those simple conversations had a lasting impact on me and helped build my love for reading.
That experience is one of the reasons why I believe so strongly in the importance of talking with your child about what they read. Taking just a few minutes to ask questions or discuss a story can strengthen literacy, deepen comprehension, and spark curiosity. Below are some ideas and questions you can use to support literacy at home:
- What was the story about?
- What happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story?
- What was the problem in the story, and how was it solved?
- Who was the main character?
- How did the main character feel throughout the story?
Parent Expectations
Your partnership at home continues to be a key part of your child’s success. Please make sure your child completes their homework each night and comes to school every day ready to learn. These small but consistent habits make a big difference in building strong academic routines.
Important Reminder
Monday is a holiday and there will be no school.
Thank you for all that you do to support your children and our Lynbrook community. Together we are creating strong learners, great readers, and confident thinkers.
The typical sights and sounds of a fourth grade classroom — pencils scratching, keyboards clicking — were replaced by a resounding “CRUNCH” at Lynbrook Elementary School. The sound was part of a statewide celebration of Virginia Farm-to-School Week, but for these students, it was much more than that. It was the taste of a lesson learned firsthand.
The students had a special visitor: Jim Saunders, a farmer from Saunders Brothers. He didn’t just bring apples; he brought the farm-to-table story to life, explaining the journey of the fruit from a blossom on a tree to their lunch trays.
"I think it's critical that they understand the farmer-to-food aspect of our food system," Saunders shared. "Food does not come from a grocery store ultimately, there's a family farm out there that's putting a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this fruit."
 The students learned about pollination, how apple trees bloom in April, and the nerve-wracking threat of a late frost. For many, the experience created a brand-new perspective.
“The farm has been owned for different generations,” said fourth grader Brianna. “They work really hard to make these apples.” When asked if the visit changed how she sees an apple, she nodded. “Yes, I would think that these farmers work so hard to plant them and pick them and do so many other things.”
The visit was a powerful, hands-on extension of the science curriculum. "It helps because we just started our ecosystems unit," Lynbrook Teacher Caitlin Jaggat explained. "It helps them with just kind of connecting — farmers are actual people. We do have farmers here in Virginia." For students who may not have the opportunity to visit a farm, she added, "bringing the farm here is quite exciting."
 Experiences like this illustrate how FCPS provides students with tangible, hands-on experiences that connect them to their community and build foundational life skills — in this case, understanding where food comes from and making healthy choices.
That single “crunch” at Lynbrook was echoed in cafeterias across the county. The visit was part of a massive, division-wide effort by FCPS to celebrate Virginia Farm to School Week. To celebrate this initiative, 4P Foods, a distributor dedicated to increasing local food access in communities, helped deliver more than 50,000 apples from local orchards.
This focus on wellness directly supports Goal 2 of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
As the visit wrapped up, student Gisselle took a bite of a crunchy apple. “It tastes very sweet,” she said, adding that it smells like “air with a hint of sweetness.” The lesson from that day will stick with her. The next time she sees an apple in the cafeteria, she’ll be thinking about where it came from, the different varieties she can name, and the farmer who made it all possible.
FCPS partners with 13 different farms from Virginia's agricultural community to bring a rainbow of produce to students year-round — from sweet plums and zucchini to heirloom tomatoes and crisp red cabbage. This initiative is part of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, administered at ten elementary schools, which is designed to plant the seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating. Learn more about how FCPS is connecting students with fresh, local food and promoting healthy habits!
🩹 Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
- Thursday, November 6
- Tuesday, November 18
- Wednesday, November 19
- Thursday, November 20
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
Participation is voluntary. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student. Learn more about immunization resources
National School Lunch Week
This week is National School Lunch Week, which promotes the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom. View menus for your child’s school to help you plan for the week ahead.
Did you know that families can apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits anytime during the school year?
If a family’s income changes at any point, they may become newly eligible according to federal income guidelines and can apply immediately. This includes income interruptions caused by furloughs, layoffs, or job losses. Once approved, benefits remain valid for the rest of the school year and for up to 30 school days into the following school year, even if the family’s income changes again. Read Superintendent Reid's October 1 letter regarding other resources available to families impacted by the government shutdown.
 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.
Bond Referendums Support Communities
The building and renovation of Fairfax County public schools is not funded through the division’s annual operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. A $460 million bond referendum is on the November ballot. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.
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.
📍 October Community Boundary Review MeetingsFCPS’ October community boundary review meetings are underway. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our pyramid will be covered at the meeting on Friday, October 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Lewis High School, (Edison and Lewis Pyramids) in person or virtual
Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to our pyramid and the Lewis Pyramids. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
Elementary Language Arts GradesProgress report grades in English language arts (ELA) have changed to reflect the 2024-25 curriculum, assessments, and Standards of Learning.
FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the skills they need by the end of the school year. Think of it as a growth chart and each quarter students are measured in progress toward end of year expectations. In light of this, first quarter grades are often lower than the other quarters as students work to reach grade-level mastery.
This is an expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they progress in learning. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards! Learn more about this change in ELA grading and reporting.
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