 Last week was a gorgeous week for field trips! Our 4th graders travelled to Jamestown and 2nd graders went to Cox Farms. Both grades had a lot of fun - thank you to our chaperones for helping make these trips possible!
A reminder that our next Early Release Wednesday created for elementary teacher planning is in a couple of weeks (Wednesday, October 29). Students will be released based on the selection that was made earlier this year. A reminder will be sent to families a few days prior.
 Thank you to everyone who joined us at our PTA meeting on Wednesday, October 15! There were many great discussions and questions, and we greatly appreciate everyone's input. Dr. Karyn Ewart's presentation was so insightful and we'll share a PDF of her presentation soon.
Piney Meadow Farm Animal Petting Zoo: We are excited for our first "assembly" of the school year on Tuesday, October 21. Our students will have the opportunity to interact with dairy calves, goats, lambs, and laying hens outside on the Lemon Road field.
Movie Night: Our 2nd movie night of the year is Friday, October 24 outside on the blacktop. Voting is happening now in the front lobby. Will it be Addams Family, Monsters Inc., or Hotel Transylvania? Voting ends on Thursday, October 23! If you're able to donate concession items or volunteer at the event, please click HERE.
Coat Drive: We have received so many coats so far, and we've been busy getting everything washed and ready to share with a partner school on Monday, November 3. Please continue to drop off items until the end of October.
Art Volunteers: Mrs. Norton, our art teacher, is seeking volunteers to:
- Help with art displays (hanging work in the hallways).
- Help in the art room during your child's art class.
You can either contact your child's classroom teacher or email Mrs. Norton at ksnorton@fcps.edu.
 Help us decorate the Lemon Road library for fall! Have your child decorate a small or medium pumpkin (no cutting or poking holes) like their favorite book character and drop off in the library beginning on Tuesday!
 Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about why characters matter. Students in K-5 will be learning about different characters, and how they shape stories and face challenges. Grade 6 students will learn about how characters are changed and inspired by others.
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 people think about you?
- Activity: Pretend you are a talk show host and interview your child as if they are the main character of their favorite book.
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.
Progress 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.
💻 All Families Opted in to Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report
FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12th, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.
This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.
Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Immunization Events for FCPS Students
- How AI is Shaping Technology
- Blueprints for Success, How Bonds Build Communities
-
Monday, October 20: NO SCHOOL - Happy Diwali
-
Tuesday, October 21: B Week
-
Wednesday, October 22: Patrol Meeting; Eco Defense SWAP Meet
-
Thursday, October 23: 6th Grade Field Trip to Udvar Hazy Museum; Variety Show Auditions: K - 3 (3 - 4 PM)
-
Friday, October 24: 1st Grade Field Trip to Hidden Oaks; 3rd Grade Field Trip to The Alden; Spooky Movie Night (7:00 PM)
-
Monday, October 27: Kindergarten Field Trip to Cox Farms
-
Tuesday, October 28: SCA Officer Meeting; 4th - 6th Variety Show Auditions (3 - 4 PM)
-
Wednesday, October 29: 3-Hour Early Release for Teacher Planning; SCA Grades 5 & 6 Fall Social (12:15 - 1:15 PM)
-
Thursday, October 30: Grade 2 Family Engagement Event; Student Ambassador Lunch; Preschool Parent Book Event (3:15 PM)
-
Friday, October 31: End of Quarter 1; Freaky Friday - Costume Day; Kindergarten Parent Engagement Event (8:45 AM); 2-Hour Early Release
-
Monday, November 3: D Week; Student Holiday; School Planning Day
-
Tuesday, November 4: Student Holiday; Teacher Work Day
-
Wednesday, November 5: Grade 5 Field Trip to Colvin Run
-
Monday, November 10: Veterans Day Breakfast & Classroom Visits
FCPS 2025-2026 School Year Calendar
|
