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Dear Panther Family,

As the calendar turns, we mark the successful conclusion of the first quarter of the school year! And what a special last day of the quarter we had celebrating Storybook Character Day!

Thank you to all the parents and guardians who helped your children put together such creative and wonderful costumes. We believe that fostering a love for reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students, and today certainly helped inspire some new reading adventures! 

We are so incredibly proud of the hard work, growth, and enthusiasm demonstrated by all of our Panthers this first quarter.

This quarter was filled with so much learning:

• Students have been building foundational skills in reading, writing, science and math.

• We've seen friendships blossom and collaborative skills strengthen through Panther PRIDE.

• Our classrooms are buzzing with curiosity and discovery!

Please take some time this week to celebrate your child's achievements, big and small, and discuss their learning journey so far. Progress reports for students in grades 1st-6th  will be coming home on November 13th. We encourage you to review them together and work with your child's teacher to set exciting goals for the second quarter!

We wish you all a wonderful and restful long weekend as we head into the next phase of the school year! The second quarter begins on Wednesday November 5th. 

Sincerely, 

Gina O'Neal, Principal

Christine Berry, Assistant Principal 

Kevin Heron, Assistant Principal 

November 3- Student Holiday (No School) 

November 4- Student Holiday (No School) 

November 11- Student and Staff Holiday- Veterans Day 

November 13- Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 19- Early Release Wednesday (dismissal at 12:15pm)

Thanksgiving Lunch at Mt Vernon Woods

Our Thanksgiving Luncheon will be on the 13th of November. Families are invited to join their students for lunch (times are listed below). If you would like to have Thanksgiving Lunch the price will be $5.00 a person including any children who do not attend Mt Vernon Woods. Tickets for lunch must be purchased ahead of time. A flyer has been sent home with information about how to purchase Thanksgiving Lunch. Mt Vernon Woods students' lunch is free.

If you plan to attend our Thanksgiving Lunch, please bring your ID to sign into our system as a guest. Please come during the time listed below for your child's lunch. Parents will not be permitted to stay in the cafeteria or office after or before their child's lunch. 

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 NeedThrough 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 NeedView the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.

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.

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. 

4015 Fielding Street, Alexandria, VA 22309 |  Main Phone: 703.619.2800
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