WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FOREST - 10/31/25

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Mon, Nov 3 - No School, School Planning Day Tue, Nov 4 - No School, Teacher Work Day Thu, Nov 6 - FLE Night: Virtual, 6:30pm                    - PTA Meeting, 7pm Fri, Nov 7 - Veterans Day Wall of Honor display                      submissions due                   - Yearbook design cover submissions due Sat, Nov 8 - Book Fair begins! 10:30am - 2:30pm

What a fun day in the Forest!

This morning's Storybook Character Parade was a blast! Everything went so smoothly and the students really enjoyed marching along the parade. We were glad to see lots of families "in the stands" to cheer for all grade levels.

Mrs. Sharrett, our Librarian, has been working tirelessly to prepare for our upcoming Book Fair. Our kick-off date will be Saturday, November 8th, 10:30am-2:30pm. Please see below for the full Book Fair schedule.

As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL on Monday or Tuesday of next week. We look forward to seeing our students back in the building on Wednesday, November 5th. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Angela Thompson
Principal

Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness

We had a "Pink Out" day on the last Wednesday of October.

Storybook Character Parade

NFES Virtual FLE Night

You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on:

Thursday, November 6, 6:00 PM

Virtual Zoom link:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/92979325615?pwd=ulS0mQrxLDeXxcC6WppNnlyQ5eMWmh.1

For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.

Book Fair 2025

The Book Fair is Coming to
Newington Forest Elementary!

Preview Hours (no student sales)
Thu Nov 6 & Fri Nov 7
Students browse the fair during school hours

Student Sales Begin
Sat Nov 8
10:30am -2:30pm

Nov 10, 12, 13, & 14
8:35am - 3:30pm

Evening Event
Wed Nov 12
3:30pm-6:30pm

***We still need parent volunteers!***
Please check out the sign-up to see if you are available to help out at the Book Fair: https://tinyurl.com/r8hjz5fh 

Veterans Day Wall of Honor Display

In recognition of Veterans Day, we are creating a Wall of Honor to recognize veterans and active-duty service members in our community. A hard copy of the participation form was sent home in your eldest child’s Wednesday folder this week. Families who wish to participate can complete the form and include a photo (copies only, please).

Please return forms and photos to your child’s teacher by Thursday, November 6. Need an extra copy? Email Andrea Howard at ahoward@fcps.edu.

Participation is optional, and we appreciate any contributions to honor those who have served. Thank you for helping us make this Wall of Honor meaningful for our students and community!

November is National Family Engagement Month!

This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.

FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.

Additionally, every school has a family liaison who will welcome and orient families, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact our family liaison, Andrea Howard, at ahoward@fcps.edu.

Student Laptops

An important reminder about the proper care of school-issued laptops. Recently, we have seen an increase in both damaged and lost devices. These laptops are essential learning tools, and their replacement or repair is a significant expense for the school. We ask for your partnership in helping students understand their responsibility for taking care of this valuable equipment.

Please take a moment to review the following tips with your child:

• Keep food and drinks away. Spills are a leading cause of device damage.
• Always use the protective case. Laptops should be in their case when being transported to and from school.
• Store the laptop safely. When not in use, devices should be put away in a secure location, not left on the floor or in a busy area where they could be stepped on or have something dropped on them.
• Do not leave devices unattended. Laptops should be kept in your child's possession or in a secure, locked space. If a device is lost or stolen, it must be reported to the school immediately.
• Handle with care. Encourage your child to close the laptop gently and avoid putting heavy objects on top of it.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a productive learning environment for all students

NFES Advanced Academics News

Grades 2-6: The Full-Time AAP Referral Deadline is December 15, 2024.  The referral form must be submitted to Ms. Matthias JLMatthias@fcps.edu, our instructional coach, while Mrs. Trope is on leave, no later than midnight on December 15.  The optional parent questionnaire can also be submitted.

Late referrals cannot be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Matthias or the AAP office.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

✅ 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.  

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).

Register for one of more of these enrichment programs at https://newingtonforestpta.givebacks.com/shop. 

🗳️ 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. 

📱 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:

• Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from our school and FCPS.
• View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
• Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• 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.

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our Newington Forest staff members.

FCPS News In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others: The FCPS Mobile App Understanding the Annual Youth Survey Resources for Families Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

8001 Newington Forest Ave. Springfield, VA 22153  |  Phone: 703.923.2600

Attendance: 703.923.2626  |  Web  |  Twitter