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 6th graders enjoying some fresh air at recess!
IMPORTANT DATES
Oct. 27 – Oct 31
School Spirit Week
Friday, 10/31
Book Character Day!
(More details below)
Friday, 10/31
End of quarter: 2-hour Early Release
Friday, 11/7
Veterans Day Program @ Garfield
Quarter End, Early Release
Student Holidays
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.
El viernes, 31 de octubre, es el último día del primer trimestre y los estudiantes saldrán dos horas antes de la hora habitual. Las escuelas están cerradas para los estudiantes el lunes, 3 de noviembre, para un día de planificación escolar, y el martes, 4 de noviembre, para un día de trabajo para los maestros. Consulte el calendario completo del curso escolar.
We’re Celebrating the End of
the Quarter with Spirit Week!
School Hours and General Information
Our school hours are from 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Monday through Friday. School doors open at 9:05 a.m. each day to begin receiving students.
Please call the attendance line at 703-923-2929 to report a tardy or absence.
Join us on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 9:30-10:45 AM for a Cybersecurity Parent Coffee!
Hear firsthand from Mr. Romeo Gardener, Senior Cybersecurity Training Specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools and learn tips and strategies to keep your students safe online.
To celebrate our school-wide love of reading, students are encouraged to dress up as a favorite book character on Friday, October 31st !
Students are encouraged to bring a book that includes the character they are representing. During the school day, they may be asked to share more about the character they’ve chosen.
Guidelines for Book Character Costumes
- Characters must be age appropriate and from elementary or middle- grade level books.
- Costumes may not involve blood or other horror-type elements.
- No weapons of any kind or masks that cover the entire face.
Costumes must allow students to take care of personal needs, sit at desks, and participate in school and classroom activities throughout the day, including appropriate shoes for PE/ recess!!
See what our Specialist Teachers have been up to!
Don’t miss the October Newsletter -
The Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available to complete online.
Attention FCPS Families! Every family should complete the survey.
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:
- Military families.
- Federally connected families.
- Families living on a military base.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the parent that registered the student with FCPS (the ‘enrolling parent’) can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.
Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12.
Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.
To access the Impact Aid Form from your computer or mobile device, we recommend using Google Chrome.
Step 1: CLICK HERE or type sisparent.fcps.edu into your Chrome address bar to be taken to SIS ParentVUE. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation letter.
Step 2: After you’ve logged into your ParentVue Account, look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets’.
Step 3: Next, click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page. This will take you to the Impact Aid Survey for you to complete.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page and see a green check next to each of their names.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please Call Garfield’s front office at 703-923-2900.
Federal Shutdown Support
We know that the federal shutdown adds stress to many in our community, especially in Fairfax County, where many serve in government and military roles. Please know that we are here to support you and provide stability for students.
Families can access meals, mental health sessions, financial and housing assistance, reduced transportation fares, and free county resources. Visit the FCPS site for links and the superintendent's full message: https://bit.ly/4pRv4Cg
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Uncovering Characters in Language Arts
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 six 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.
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Save the Date!
Garfield’s Veterans Day Celebration
Because Veterans Day falls on a student holiday this year (Monday, November 11), we will be celebrating on Friday, November 7 at 9:45 a.m.
We invite all family members who are current or former members of the military to join us for this special event. It will be our honor and privilege to recognize and celebrate your service!
More details will be shared soon, but we wanted to get this “Save the Date” to you early so those interested can mark their calendars and arrange time off from work if needed.
 Please Send Photos of your Veteran!!
In honor of those who have served our country, we will be making a banner and posting photos of members of our community who have served or currently serve in the military. If you or a family member have served and you’d like to be included please send a photo to Mrs. Wheatley at mdwheatley@fcps.edu by Wednesday, October 29.
Copies of photos are preferred, but originals can be returned upon request.
When submitting, please include:
- Name
- Branch of service
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Years served(Optional: You may also include rank, specialty, or theater of operation.)
You may:
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Email a digital photo to Mrs. Wheatley at mdwheatley@fcps.edu, or
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Send a hard copy to school with your child (please label it with your child’s and teacher’s names if you’d like it returned).
Grades in 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.
Ensuring Student Safety:
Register for Volunteer FCPS
Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.
As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
Quick Links
YOUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
We are in this together!
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with your family this year. Each day, our commitment is to provide your child with a safe, supportive, and joyful place to learn and grow. Open communication is important to us—please reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or celebrations.
Thank you for your trust, your support, and for being an essential part of the Garfield community.
With appreciation,
Your Garfield Partner Principals
Mrs. Peerman, Principal, Klpeerman@fcps.edu
Ms. Manning, Assistant Principal, eamanning1@fcps.edu
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