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

Principal's Message

Greetings Tiger Families!

It is hard to believe that today marks the end of the first quarter! Our students and staff have been working hard to establish routines, build relationships and engage in rigorous and authentic learning experiences since the start of school. As teachers finalize grades and your student’s progress in their classes are discussed at home, please do not hesitate to reach out to teachers, counselors and administrators so that we can partner together to maintain success where it already exists and improve in areas where it is needed. 

Monday and Tuesday next week are student holidays and teacher workdays. We look forward to seeing our students again on Wednesday, which is an anchor day. Tuesday is election day and I hope all eligible voters take advantage of our privilege to vote in this, and every election. If you have an 8th grade student, you may have been hearing about their campaign simulation project that they have been working on in recent weeks in their Civics class. As a former social studies teacher and a passionate fan of our democratic traditions and institutions, I have been encouraged by what I have seen, heard, and read from our students as they take on various roles in their projects to include serving as candidates, campaign managers, finance consultants, communication directors and political consultants. The collaboration, creativity, and real-world application of this learning is truly something that students will remember beyond their time here at Twain.

When students return to begin the 2nd quarter, we will use that as an opportunity for resetting expectations and celebrating the many ways our students positively support Twain every day. We continue to strive to “Take care of ourselves, take care of each other, and take care of our school!”

Please have a safe Halloween, a restful long weekend, and a positive Election Day on Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule 

Monday, November 3: No School / Teacher Workday

Tuesday, November 4: No School / Teacher Workday

Wednesday, November 5: Anchor Day Schedule

Thursday, November 6: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, November 7: Even Day Schedule

After School Program 

For the weeks of November 3 - 7 and Nov 10 - 14

Calendar Reminders

Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)

On Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time will end. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour! 

School Planning and Teacher Workdays

Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4, for a teacher workday. 

Veterans Day

Monday, November 11, is a school holiday for Veterans Day. All schools and offices are closed. 

See the complete school year calendar or employee calendar.

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

If your family is affected by the shutdown or you know someone looking for help, the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides centralized information for community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies. CSP can provide 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 Food or Donate to Those in Need

Use the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to find where to access food or donate to your local food bank.

The FCPS Mobile App In her Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared an update on the FCPS mobile app. It provides a custom district-branded platform for iOS and Android that helps keep families connected and informed from their smartphones.  Families can access essential information, including news, live updates, calendars, district and school-specific notices, cafeteria menus, and more, all in one place. 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, and hear from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.   Download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.” Read more in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.

School Bond Referendum on November 4 Ballot

The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot next week.

New and renovated schools provide optimal spaces for teaching and learning — and the entire community benefits too. Our school construction and renovation programs help provide space for our students and educators. Our buildings also serve the community as gathering spaces, recreation sites, polling places, places of worship, civic meeting spaces, and more.

Vote on Tuesday, November 4. Learn more about how bonds help build strong communities.

Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians

The 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

There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including 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 explore these and other resources. 

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. 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. 

K-12 School Start Times Project Update

At its last meeting, the School Board voted to direct the superintendent to postpone any divisionwide implementation of changes to school start times until no earlier than the 2027-28 school year.

NJHS Panera Fundraiser

Come support Twain's National Junior Honor Society at the Panera in Kingstowne on Saturday, November 1 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. 25% of the sales will benefit Twain's NJHS. Enter the promo code FUND4U at online checkout or tell the cashier you're with Twain to make sure your donation goes to NJHS.

Thank you for your support.

Go Paperless with Report Cards

We’re excited to offer you a more convenient option for receiving your child’s report cards: Go Paperless!

By choosing to go paperless, you'll be able to:

• Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.

• Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.

Here's how you can opt-in:

1. Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”

2. All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.

3. Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to all associated students, no matter their grade level.

4. If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
Web | Twitter | YouTube