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Hello, Scottie families!
What a joyful day of learning today, as we celebrated our October SCA Spirit Day - Costume Day! We also had a fantastic PTO Fall Festival last Friday, a fun event that so many of our Scottie families were able to attend. Thank you to the PTO for organizing and to all the staff and volunteers who were able to support.
We have another great community event coming up next week, as we honor our Bonnie Brae connected veterans and their students with a Veterans Day breakfast on Friday, November 7. See below for more information and to support this great event. Additionally, on Wednesday, November 13 we host our annual Math & Literacy Night from 6-7:30 PM. Come and participate in fun math and literacy games and learn more about Wayfinder and our Get2Green initiatives!
Finally, a reminder that schools are closed until Wednesday, November 5, for school planning/teacher workdays.
Go Scotties! Enjoy the long weekend!
Morgan Birge, Principal
Rose Stephens, Assistant Principal
Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal
Family. Relationships. Success.
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November 3 - School Planning Day (no school for students)
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November 4 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
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November 7 - Veterans Day Breakfast, 8:40-9:10 AM (Cafeteria)
A few amazing highlights that happened this week...
Students enjoy painting in our light filled and spacious art rooms.
Our PAC team dressed up as Magic School Bus characters.
Smiling faces and friends enjoying lunch time together.
Student Holidays
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.
Resources for Furloughed Families
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need
Through partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need
View the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
Veterans Day Breakfast & Classroom Visits
Bonnie Brae is excited to be able to host the Veterans Day Breakfast and Read Aloud event on Friday, November 7th beginning at 8:40 AM in the cafeteria for Bonnie Brae families and staff who currently serve or have served in the armed forces. We extend a warm invitation to our honored veterans to start their day with a delicious meal, followed by a special opportunity to read a book and share their stories with our students. It's a chance for our students to learn, connect, and express their gratitude. If you can submit a photo, join us for breakfast, or visit a classroom, please complete this google form. We will use photos submitted from the community to create a slideshow both for the event and for our Bonnie Brae Bark News Show to share with students.
Donations/Volunteers Needed for Veterans Day Breakfast
To make this event truly special, we kindly request breakfast donations from our generous community. Let's come together to celebrate our heroes and the values they embody. Please consider signing up by Tuesday, November 4th to help make this event a success. Thank you!
Math and Literacy Night - November 13
Join us for an adventurous evening filled with engaging math, literacy, Wayfinder, and Get2Green activities that support student learning at school and at home.
We’re turning trash into treasure and art! Families will use recyclable materials to complete fun challenges and create art, encouraging creativity while promoting the importance of reusing and repurposing everyday items. Please send any recyclable materials (small cardboard boxes, toilet paper/paper towel rolls, etc.) with your child and drop off in Miss Warr’s classroom.
Halfway Through Uncovering Characters in Language Arts
We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts! Students have explored how we learn about people and how our actions influence our lives.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Have any of the characters in your reading this unit reminded you of someone you know in real life? How are they similar and how are they different?
- Activity: Choose two different book characters and imagine what would happen if they switched places in their stories.
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.
Family Engagement Month
November is National Family Engagement Month, and we are grateful for our FCPS families! This month reminds us that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Over 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children's education. The importance of family engagement will be highlighted during November as we celebrate and strengthen family-school partnerships.
Family Engagement Month Calendar (First Week):
November 1: Create a Belonging Board
November 2: Take a Nature Noticing Walk
November 3: Talk to Your Child About Their Favorite Subject
November 4: Talk to Your Child About the Importance of Voting
November 5: Plan a Day With No Electronics
November 6: Connect With Your Child's School
November 7: Teach Your Child a New Skill
Outstanding Employee Nominations
Each fall, Fairfax County Public Schools acknowledge Outstanding Employees. The recognition of outstanding employees begins at individual schools and then employees may be further recognized in their region and in the entire county. Nominations are now open for the Bonnie Brae community to recognize outstanding Scottie Staff. Bonnie Brae families are invited, along with school staff, to nominate outstanding employees in the categories listed below. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. Please review the list below to see categories and criteria for nominations. Nominations should be submitted using this Google form. Thank you for helping us to acknowledge great work at our school!
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position (that is not the building principal). Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals.
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one-year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership. Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee. Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid).
***Deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 3.***
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, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Election Day is Next Week - Make a Voting Plan!
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot on Tuesday, November 4. Remember to vote. Learn how bonds help build strong communities.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require special services and support to access instruction that is typically presented auditorily (by means of hearing) and visually. FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school site or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The Virginia Department of Education also provides information about Additional Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians
The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:
- ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School
- Moving on to Life in the Community
Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources.
Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
Stock the Lounge
Let's shower our amazing BBES Staff with appreciation and stock the staff lounge with yummy goodies to keep them going throughout the day! We’re collecting SHELF-STABLE and INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED snacks and drinks. All items will be divided amongst the two staff lounges and available for all staff to enjoy throughout the second quarter.
How to support:
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Sign up, purchase items, and drop off at 10694 Paynes Church Dr, Fairfax by October 30th
- Purchase directly off of the Amazon Wishlist by 10/28 (items shipped to coordinator to bring to school on stocking day)
- Send funds via Venmo and items will be purchased and brought to school (please add note "Bonnie Brae Stock The Lounge"): @Michelle-Atkin-2
Tumbles Parents Night Out - COMING SOON!
Drop off the kids for a fun night of crafts, cosmic obstacle courses, laser dance party, and pizza dinner for our next Parents Night Out fundraiser.
When: Saturday, Nov 15 (5:30-8:30 PM)
Where: Tumbles, 10621 Braddock Rd. Suite E
Who: Children 3-10 years old
Cost: $40/child (sibling discount available)
Five Guys Restaurant Night - COMING SOON!
Take the night off from cooking and support our Scottie Community! Our PTO will receive 20% of all sales during the Five Guys Restaurant Night!
When: Tuesday, Nov 18 (4-8 PM)
Where: Five Guys on Burke Centre Pkwy
Now Recruiting: 2026–2027 PTO President-Elect & VP of Programs
Do you love Bonnie Brae and want to help shape a great year for our Scotties? We’re starting early to recruit for two key PTO leadership roles for the 2026–2027 school year!
President-Elect (2026–2027)
Why This is Great: You’ll be mentored by the current PTO President throughout the spring so you’re fully ready to lead next year.
What You Will Do:
- Shadow this year (Jan–June 2026) to learn operations — events, fundraising, volunteers, budget, and communications.
- Lead the PTO the following year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).
Time Commitment: ~5–8 hrs/month while shadowing; ~8–12 hrs/month as President (peaks around major events).
Skills: Organizing people and projects, clear communication, and a team mindset. No prior PTO leadership required!
Vice President of Programs (2026–2027)
Focus: Plan and oversee our big community events (Fall Festival and Spring Festival), plus support other school-wide programs.
What You Will Do:
- Build and support event committees (logistics, volunteers, vendors, communications).
- Coordinate with school administration and the PTO board; manage timelines and budgets.
Time Commitment: ~6–10 hrs/month (peaks 4–6 weeks before major events) Skills: Event planning, teamwork, and problem-solving. Great role for project-oriented doers!
Key Dates
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Nominations Open: November 2025
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Onboarding/Mentoring Begins: Winter – Spring 2026
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Term of Service: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
How to Put Your Name In (or Nominate Someone)
- Email the Board at: president@bonniebraepto.org
- Prefer to chat first? Reach out, and we’ll connect you with a current board member for a brief Q&A.
Bonnie Brae thrives when many voices help lead. Military-connected families, grandparents/guardians, and first-time volunteers are warmly encouraged to apply — training and support provided!
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November 11- Veterans' Day Holiday (no school for students and staff)
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November 12 - 1st Quarter Report Cards Go Home
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November 12 - In-Person PTO Meeting, 6-7:30 PM
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November 13 - Math & Literacy Night, 6-7:30 PM (Bonnie Brae)
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November 15 - PTO Tumbles Parents Night Out, 5:30-8:30 PM
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November 18 - PTO Five Guys Restaurant Night, 4-8 PM
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November 19 - 3-Hour Early Release Closing, 12:15 PM
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November 21 - SCA Spirit Day: Construction Crew!
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November 26-November 28 - Thanksgiving Break (no school for students and staff)
Stay up to date on all things BBES! Subscribe to our School Calendar.
FCPS Standard School Year Calendar
Printable FCPS 2025-26 School Calendar (PDF)
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