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Our third graders designed amazing habitats. Look at their creativity in action!
Upcoming Events
October 28 - AAP Screening Process Parent Meeting, 6:00 P.M.
October 29 - 3-hr Early Release
October 31 - End of 1st quarter, 2-hr Early Release
November 3 - No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 4 - No School, Teacher Workday, PTA Bake Sale
November 6 - PTA Membership Meeting, 6:30-8:00 P.M
November 7 - Outstanding Employee Nominations Due
November 11 - No School, Veteran's Day
November 12 - 3-hr Early Release
November 13 - Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 26-28 - No school, Thanksgiving Break
Read-a-Thon
We’re entering the second week of our 2025 Read-a-Thon: “Camp Out with a Good Book!” Students have been diving into their reading challenges, and the excitement continues! This week brings more fun activities, including our second author visit, a storybook character parade, and other reading adventures. Let’s keep encouraging reader(s) at home and keep the momentum going toward our $6,000 Read-a-thon goal - every donation makes a difference! Please consider making a donation on the Read-a-thon website.
All students have the opportunity to win a prize for reading!
- K-2 Students: 200 minutes over two weeks
- 3-6 Students: 300 minutes over two weeks
The top class in each grade will earn a popcorn and movie party once the Read-a-Thon concludes. In addition, the grade level that raises the most money will earn an extra recess!
Check last week’s Thursday folder for reading logs and all the details you need to support your reader(s)!
 Our 4th-6th graders got a visit from author Struan Murray this week. They heard all about his newest book, Dragonborn and what it's like being an author!
FCPS Homework Policy
At Woodburn we care deeply about supporting students both in the classroom and at home. We know learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends, and small routines at home can help build strong habits that support student success. This year, you will notice your child bringing homework assignments home. While we’ve previously taken a “no-homework” approach, we are introducing at-home tasks to support our students in building lifelong academic habits and giving families a simple window into the learning happening at school.
Why this shift?
Research shows that short, developmentally appropriate practice at home can:
- Reinforce classroom learning
- Build responsibility, time management, and independent work habits
- Support reading growth through consistent reading at home
- Strengthen communication between school and home
What to expect:
- Assignments will be manageable and directly connected to classroom work
- Daily reading will be encouraged at all grade levels
- Completion and effort may be reflected in the Life, Work, and Citizenship Skills: Completes Assignments on Time
- Families will receive clear instructions so they can support without taking over
Total homework time per day:
- Grades K-2: 10–20 minutes**
- Grades 3-4: 20–30 minutes**
- Grades 5-6: 40–60 minutes**
**Daily reading is encouraged and should be included in the total homework time.
Homework should not feel stressful or overwhelming. It’s meant to help your child grow. If you ever have concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. We’re excited to partner with you in this new step toward supporting student success.
 The infamous egg drop challenge returned to 5th grade this year! Students collaborated to create an enclosure for an egg to be placed in. The goal? Don't let the egg break! They were innovative and unique designs! Students observed each drop and recorded their findings.
Storybook Character Day!
It’s almost here! Join us for Storybook Character Day on Friday, October 31st! Students are invited to dress as their favorite storybook character and will have the option to participate in our parade. Due to our early release and lunch schedule, the parade will take place in the morning at 9:45. Families are invited to gather in the bus loop to wave at their Wildcat as they walk by!
Storybook outfits must align with the dress code as outlined in SR&R. "FCPS respects a student's right to express themselves in the way they dress. It is important, however, that their appearance is tasteful and appropriate for a K-12 setting."
- Masks are not permitted
- Anything that resembles a toy weapon is not permitted
Woodburn Outstanding Employee Nominations
Woodburn Outstanding Employee Nominations are now open! If you have worked with an outanding employee at Woodburn ES, FCPS wants your help recognizing them. Wildcat families are invited to nominate outstanding employees using this form. Reach out to Ms. Coury at sacoury@fcps.edu with questions!
 We had a SURPRISE Attendance day on Tuesday! If students were at school, they got a sticker during lunch and the stickers were a HIT. Keep coming to school Wildcats, you never know when another SURPRISE Attendance Day may pop up!
✅ 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. We 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, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
AAP Screening Process Parent Meeting
Families are invited to attend a family meeting to learn more about the Advanced Academic Program (AAP). The Parent Information Meeting 2: Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process, will be held on Tuesday, October 28, from 6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at Woodburn Elementary School in the Library. This session will be in person and open to all K-6 families. If you have any questions, please email me at nhkhan@fcps.edu.
Election Day Bake Sale, Thursday, November 4
The Election Day Bake Sale will be held in the Woodburn Elementary School Parking lot on Tuesday November 4th from 8am-1pm. We are seeking your donations of both homemade or store-bought baked goods, as well as a few volunteers to assist with sales. This is a fun tradition and a great way to see friends and neighbors headed to the polls at Woodburn! Please sign up here to help out!
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PTA Membership Meeting, Thursday, November 6, 6:30-8pm
Please join us for our second meeting of the year. Dinner will be served from 6:30-7pm, and the meeting will take place from 7-8pm. Childcare will be provided.
 Students wore their favorite hats to show how we “use our heads” to think carefully and ask questions about what we see online.
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).
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.
🩹 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.
 Creativity was in full swing at! Students enjoyed crafting, creating, and letting their imaginations shine.
Meal Benefits
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 or teachers] 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.
 FCPS put on the "Walktober" Challenge this year to encourage activity and community! Many members of our staff competed in the challenge with FCPS employees across the county!
Elementary Language Arts Grades
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.
🏗️ 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 students, countywide, have effective and efficient learning environments to thrive and grow.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- ⏰ School Start Times Update
- 🎖️ 75% of FCPS Schools Recognized for Supporting Military Families
- Red Ribbon Open House
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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Do you want to celebrate a Woodburn employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
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