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Dear Bailey’s Upper Families,
As we head into this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to share just how thankful I am for each of you. We truly have the best students, the best families, and the best community. Your partnership, your support, and the joy you bring into our school every single day make Bailey’s Upper such a special place to learn and grow.
I hope you enjoy this time with your loved ones—rest, laugh, recharge—and get ready, because we have an exciting December ahead!
With gratitude,
Bailey’s Upper Admin Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
Please take a few minutes to review these items with your student so you stay up-to-date with all the exciting things happening in our school community!
Family Life Education (FLE) week is coming up at Bailey’s Upper ES.
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5th Grade FLE is a week long and will take place December 12–18.
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4th Grade FLE is one day and will take place on December 19.
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3rd Grade FLE includes two days of lessons on December 17 and December 19.
To preview the FLE lessons and resources, families can access materials online. Please use the video tutorials below for step-by-step directions on how to find the content:
FLE opt-out forms were sent home at the beginning of the school year and again on Thursday, November 20th. If you would like to opt your child out of any lessons, please complete the opt-out form and return it to school by December 5th. Students who are opted out will participate in an alternative health lesson.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Wayland at pawayland@fcps.edu
📸 This is for students who were ABSENT or who would like to RE-TAKE pictures.
✨ Important Information:
- Parents must notify your child’s teacher in writing if your child needs to take re-takes.
- The original photo package must be returned on the day of re-takes.
- Students who were absent may order photos online or bring in hard copy forms.
- Deadline to order photos: Friday, December 5th.
- Payments can be made by check (payable to Victor O’Neill Studios) or exact cash only (no change available).
🗓️ Dates:
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Bailey’s Primary: Wednesday, December 3rd
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Bailey’s Upper: Thursday, December 4th
💻 Online Orders:
iReady Reading and MAP Math Testing Coming in December!
- All grades will be taking the winter iReady and MAP tests the week of December 9th- 12th.
SEL Screener: Parent Reporting
The Fall SEL Screener window for students in grades 3-12 is now closed. Results will be released on the following schedule:
- Parent/guardian reports will be available to families in SIS ParentVUE the week of November 17, 2025.
- For families that do not have Parent Vue, Reports will be provided by December 5, 2025.
If you have any questions regarding past, current, or upcoming assessments, please contact Nicole Cassidy or Hugo Duran, our School Testing Coordinators at 703-503-2700
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Wednesday, December 3rd- PTA General Meeting (Online via Zoom) 6:30pm
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Thursday, December 4th- Make-up Picture day for Individual Photos
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Wednesday, December 17th- 3-Hour Early Release (Dismissal starts at 12:25 p.m.)
Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble invites our friends at Bailey's Upper to join us on one of our three dates for our December concert series, Your Favorite Things.
This holiday season, the bells will be ringing with your favorite festive songs! We asked our friends and followers to share the holiday tunes that mean the most to them - and we listened. The result is a delightful handbell concert featuring repertoire chosen by our very own community.
To request your free tickets to one of our concerts, please click on the link below:
https://forms.gle/qAK7Pq42nGytSnzz7
How long can you safely keep what you don’t finish on Thanksgiving?
As families try to stretch their dollar more than ever nowadays, the Thanksgiving leftovers are even more a crucial part of the Thanksgiving season. More than just a tradition, it’s become a cost-saving way to get families through the long holiday weekend. But how long can you hang on to those Turkey Day staples and fixins? Let your feast live on by safely storing leftovers in your refrigerator or freezer.
Proper Storage
Follow these simple rules so that you don’t spoil the day after Thanksgiving:
- Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of serving.
- Divide large amounts of hot food into smaller portions so they cool quickly.
- Refrigerate leftovers in airtight packaging or containers.
- Freeze leftovers that will not be eaten within four days.
- Dispose of foods that sit at room temperature longer than two hours.
Leftover Shelf Life
How long will leftovers last when stored properly? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests these guidelines for refrigerated leftovers:
- Cooked turkey should be eaten within three to four days.
- Stuffing and gravy lasts up to two days.
- Casseroles and cooked vegetables can remain in cool storage for up to three or four days.
- Fruit and cream pies should be eaten within two to three days.
- Frozen leftovers last longer. For example, meat lasts up to three months in a freezer.
Reduce the Risk
Proper storage also helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 6 people gets sick by consuming contaminated food and beverages. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. These four steps can help prevent foodborne illness:
- Cook to the right temperature. Use a food thermometer to be sure food is heated to a temperature that kills harmful bacteria.
- Wash your hands and cooking surfaces often.
- Do not cross-contaminate. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs separate from other foods in the fridge. Dripping juices can spread bacteria.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly.
Remember, no matter how long leftovers have been in your refrigerator or freezer, if in doubt – throw it out.
For your care and convenience, all Patient First Neighborhood Medical Centers are open 8 am to 8 pm every day of the year, including Thanksgiving. Please contact Victoria Soriano at (571) 340-1594 or email Victoria.Soriano@patientfirst.com to set up an in-person interview, or via Zoom.
Join us for TPAC Session #2: Ensuring Equitable Access to Literacy! 📚
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:00–8:30 PM at Mason Crest ES.
Hear from students and principals, learn literacy strategies, and enjoy interactive activities. Childcare & snacks provided!
Join online: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/99642589438
✅ Please Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to complete 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 the survey as soon as possible.
Our school will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page or watch this video about why Impact Aid matters.
Register for ParentVUELearn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child’s education at FCPS.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Sue Lackey (AART Teacher) at salackey@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Sue Lackey (AART Teacher) at salackey@fcps.edu
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by our school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
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The FCPS CARES Program 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 FCPS employees, specifically at Bailey’s Upper ES. |
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