Students have fun participating in Field Day at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
🎖️ 75% of FCPS Schools Recognized for Supporting Military Families
Forty-nine Fairfax County public schools have been recognized for the first time by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as 2025 Purple Star Schools. Additionally, 40 schools renewed their Purple Star designation.
The Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.
The total number of Purple Star schools in FCPS is now 145, nearly 75% of schools. Last year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced a goal for FCPS to achieve Purple Star Division status by the 2026-27 school year, with 100% of schools being designated as Purple Star schools. Read more about our newest Purple Star schools.
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✅ Please Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
⏰ K-12 School Start Times Project Update at Thursday’s School Board Meeting
In January 2023, the School Board awarded a contract for the study of middle school start times and the development of alternatives for later start times. A brief update on the K-12 start times project will be shared at the School Board meeting on Thursday, October 23, at 7 p.m. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
🏫 New Western High School Also to Be Discussed
As you may know, FCPS has acquired a new high school in the western part of Fairfax County. The School Board held a work session on October 7 to discuss programming and naming for the new western high school.
An agenda item to open public comment is being added as New Business for the October 23 board meeting. Potential programming for the new school will be discussed as well.
💯 Changes to Middle and High School Report Card Feedback
With the first quarter of the school year ending on Friday, October 31, families can expect student report cards to be available the week of November 10.
FCPS has revised the way teachers provide feedback on report cards, so you may notice some new comments. Specifically, comments have been revised to provide more detailed feedback for students and families.
Also, teachers will now include a Work Habits mark each quarter for each student. This scale provides feedback on students’ time management, organization, assignment completion, and overall effort in class. This is meant as feedback to families and will not appear on a student’s transcript.
View the Middle and High School Grading and Reporting webpage for more information.
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given each fall to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It provides information about a variety of topics related to our students that influence their physical and mental well-being, from sleep, physical activity, and nutritional habits to protective factors, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of depression.
The 2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be taken by students between Monday, November 10, and Friday, November 21. Parents and caregivers will hear about plans to administer the survey from their child’s school. They will also be able to opt their student out of participating in the survey, if they so choose.
Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage for more information and to review the opt-out forms and translations of the parent letter.
✨ Providing students with access to the necessary emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health services to support their successful engagement in school is part of the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Reid Reflects: Team Teaching Multiplies Learning
Among her many community events and meetings last week, Dr. Reid also made time to visit several schools. At Kilmer Middle School (above), she witnessed an algebra lesson co-taught by an algebra teacher and librarians. Read more about Dr. Reid’s activities in her Weekly Reflections.
✨ Successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade is one of the measures of Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.
📍 Remaining October Community Boundary Review Meetings
Six October community boundary review meetings remain. At the meetings, the consultant will present the latest draft map (Scenario 4) and changes specific to the two pyramids being covered at that meeting. Participants will also be invited to ask questions. The following meetings will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. unless otherwise specified. Please note that some dates have changed:
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Friday, October 24, at Lewis High School, (Edison and Lewis Pyramids) in person or virtual
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Saturday, October 25, 9:30 to 11 a.m., at Sandburg Middle School, (West Potomac and Mount Vernon Pyramids) in person or virtual
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Monday, October 27, at Irving Middle School, (Lake Braddock and West Springfield Pyramids) in person or virtual
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Tuesday, October 28, at Fairfax High School, Library (Woodson and Fairfax Pyramids) in person or virtual
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Wednesday, October 29, at McLean High School, (Madison and McLean Pyramids) in person or virtual
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Thursday, October 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Chantilly High School, (Westfield and Chantilly Pyramids) in person or virtual
Click “in person” or “virtual” to register for a meeting based on how you would like to participate. If participating in person, you may come to the event 30 minutes early to explore the latest draft map in the Boundary Explorer Tool. A limited number of FCPS laptops will be available, and staff will be on site to assist you in using the tool. Virtual participants may log on 30 minutes early, and a staff member will be able to show how to use the tool.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
🌲 FCPS Leads the Nation in Green Flag Honors for Sustainability
Forty-four Fairfax County public schools – nearly half the schools recognized in the nation — were recognized this year as Green Flag Schools by the National Wildlife Federation. This is a distinction given to schools that show exceptional achievement in educating students about sustainability, as well as youth leadership for environmental change.
Read about the efforts underway at Lemon Road and Terra Centre elementary schools.
📝 Applications Open for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Eighth graders who have an aptitude and passion for science, technology, engineering, and math are encouraged to apply for admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, with a submission deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, November 14. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.
🚍 A Day in the Life of a Bus Driver: 30+ Year Veteran Takes Us for a Ride
This week is National School Bus Safety Week, and FCPS extends gratitude to all the dedicated school bus drivers, attendants, mechanics, and transportation staff who assist in getting thousands of students safely to and from school each day!
Jannell Haskins (pictured above) has been transporting students safely for nearly 32 years. She has kept the same route all those years, serving South Lakes High School, Hughes Middle School, and Dogwood and Terraset elementary schools.
Read more about Jannell and bus drivers’ contributions to education. Watch how she practices school bus safety each day.
Red Ribbon Open House: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Substance Abuse
The Family Resource Center (FRC) and Office of Student Safety and Wellness will host a Red Ribbon Awareness Open House on Friday, October 24, from noon to 2 p.m.
This event aims to equip attendees with essential resources and confidence to discuss substance use with their children. Narcan training will be offered. After the presentation, participants can tour the FRC library and browse through pre-selected resources.
💊 National Drug Take Back Day Is October 25
Take advantage of free, convenient, confidential, and safe disposal of unused or expired medications during Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the drop-off site closest to you. |
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Can’t make it to Drug Take Back Day? No problem. Learn about year-round prescription and over-the-counter medication disposal.
Thank you for doing your part in making the Fairfax County community safer!
🏗️ How Bond Projects Are Selected
Each year, the School Board and FCPS staff members work with the community to develop an updated, five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for school building and renovation projects.
To develop the CIP, the school system assesses changes in expected enrollments, academic programs, and facility conditions to determine priorities for new construction, renovations, and other capital facility projects.
The School Board then evaluates the affordability of these school needs against other countywide requirements to determine the bond proposal. Because of this, while FCPS and the School Board generally try to follow the CIP, changes can be made year-over-year depending on the evolving needs of the school division.
The School Board is committed to protecting the community’s investment in schools and other buildings, which have a combined present value approaching $9 billion. Not only do these facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, both technologically and instructionally.
FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that each and every student has an effective and efficient learning environment to thrive and grow.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Register to vote. Make a voting plan by Tuesday, November 4.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Early Release Wednesday, Quarter End, School Planning, and Teacher Workdays
⏰ Early Release Wednesday
Elementary schools in the following pyramids will release three hours early on Wednesday, October 29:
- Annandale, Edison, Falls Church, Herndon, Lake Braddock, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes, West Springfield, and Woodson.
Find out more about limited early release Wednesdays.
Quarter End, School Planning, and Teacher Workdays
Friday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students.
Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day and Tuesday, November 4, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Website
The Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry website, which includes the Public Notification Database, provides access to publicly available information about persons convicted of specified violent and sexual offenses. Members of the public can use this website to educate themselves about the possible presence of such offenders in their local communities.
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