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December 9: Book Fair Family Night 5:00 PM
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December 9: 5th & 6th Orchestra & 6th Advanced Band Concert 7:00 PM
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December 11: Winter Chorus Concert 7:00 PM
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December 15: Deadline to submit AAP referral
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December 17: Three Hours Early Release at 1 p.m.
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December 22- January 2: Winter Break Holiday- No School
Fairfax County Public Schools 2025-2026 Standard School Year Calendar
Good afternoon Powell Puma Families:
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed a well-deserved Thanksgiving break and had time to rest, recharge, and spend meaningful moments with family and friends. We’re excited to jump back into our work together as we head into the busy—and joyful—winter stretch.
As the weather turns colder, please make sure students are coming prepared with winter gear each day. Feel free to remind families about coats, hats, gloves/mittens, and waterproof boots when needed. We want everyone to enjoy outdoor recess safely and comfortably whenever the weather allows.
This is also the time of year when weather conditions may impact our schedule. Please keep an eye out for district alerts related to delays, early dismissals, or closures.
Thank you for all you do and for the positive energy you bring to our learning community. Let’s finish strong heading into winter break!
Warmly,
Catherine Han, Principal
Ms. Faustino’s 1st grade class had Silly Sock Day!
Keeping our morning Kiss & Ride line safe and efficient helps every student start the day calmly, on time, and ready to learn. Thank you for doing your part to support a smooth arrival for all families.
We recognize that the volume of vehicles accessing Kiss & Ride this year is higher than usual, and families have been experiencing longer wait times. Each morning, our staff works to safely and efficiently bring more than 100 cars through the Kiss & Ride line in a short window of time. As the weather gets colder, we also understand that more families may choose to drive rather than walk. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together through this busy period.
If your family lives within walking distance, we encourage you to walk to school whenever possible. If your student has an assigned FCPS bus, please utilize bus transportation. This helps relieve congestion in the Kiss & Ride line and improves safety for everyone.
At the same time, we are actively reviewing our Kiss & Ride procedures to determine a more efficient process that supports student safety and timely school entry. We have received feedback from the FCPS Safety & Security team and are exploring possible adjustments. We will provide an update to families if any changes to our current process occur this school year.
Please note that at Colin Powell Elementary, the morning bell rings at 9:15 a.m., and all students should be inside the building. If your child arrives after the bell has rung, they will be marked tardy. In these cases, a parent or guardian must come into the building to check the student in. Students should enter through the Main Office with their parent/guardian to complete the check-in process.
To ensure everyone’s safety and help our current system run as smoothly as possible, please follow these expectations when using Kiss & Ride:
🚗 Stay in the Car For safety reasons, please do not exit your vehicle while waiting in the Kiss & Ride line. Staff members on duty will support students if needed.
🎒 Be Ready to Go To keep the line moving, please make sure your student is fully ready when you reach the drop-off point:
- Jacket on
- Backpack zipped and on their lap or easily accessible
- Materials (water bottle, instruments, lunch, etc.) in hand or next to them
➡️ Pull All the Way Forward Please drive all the way to the end of the Kiss & Ride drop-off zone before stopping. Stopping early slows down the line and creates unsafe gaps for other vehicles.
👋 Follow Staff Directions Our staff members are on duty to ensure safety. Please follow their signals and directions at all times—they are helping manage traffic flow and student safety.
We appreciate your partnership in keeping Kiss & Ride safe, welcoming, and efficient for all families. With everyone following these routines, we can ensure a positive start to the day for every child.
Thank you for being part of our caring, safe school community. One Team. One School. K.I.D.S. First.
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Visit the FCPS website for more attendance resources.
Spirit Week to Countdown to Winter Break!
| Day |
Date |
Theme/Description |
| Monday |
15 |
WARM & FUZZY- Wear fuzzy socks, fluffy sweaters, sherpas, mittens, or any soft fuzzy clothing. |
| Tuesday |
16 |
SPARKLE LIKE A SNOWFLAKE- Wear sparkly, white, silver, or light blue clothing to shine bright! |
| Wednesday |
17 |
WINTER ACCESSORIES- Pull out those hats, festive headbands, jewelry, fun socks, and more! |
| Thursday |
18 |
WACKY TACKY- Wear a wacky outfit that could include a tacky sweater or mismatched patterns. |
| Friday |
19 |
PJ DAY- Keeping up with tradition, wear pajamas to school on the last day before winter break! |
Benchmark Unit 3 in Language Arts is about government and citizenship. Students in K-5 will be learning about what a government does and what it means to be part of a community. Grade six students will learn about different types of governments across societies.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If you could pass one law right now, what would it be?
- Activity: Create a family constitution: work together to write three to five laws for your household and explain why they matter.
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.
6th Grade Korean Immersion Fundraiser
5th/6th grade Orchestra & 6th grade Band Concert Tuesday, Dec 9th
Flower Pre-Order to Congratulate Your Child After the Concert!!!
(Limited number will be for sale at the door: 1 for $7, 3 for $12)
Pre-order by Sunday, 12/7 using the link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14f8d8yary-_HXX5QCW89wqpGE-DgJKNt4WgTk0egcy8/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1&utm_campaign+
Pre-pay via PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle
Skip the trip to the store — simply pick up your beautiful bouquet at the event to present to your child right after the concert!
We will also be selling food and drinks after the concert so you don't have to cook!
THE HOLIDAY IS ALMOST HERE! LET US SPREAD A SPRINKLE OF HAPPINESS AND HOLIDAY CHEER!
Please use the link below or the QR code and submit by Friday, December 12th.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpXdr3YluDLB9anpLbhI2YOdZcBrBCnfYLxAOJEgdi34bpKQ/viewform?utm_campaign+
This is in support of the 6th grade Korean Immersion trip to Korea. Thank you for your support!!!
Mark your calendars for a wonderful evening at Powell Elementary on Tuesday, December 9th!
We are hosting our annual Book Fair and Winter Concert!
📚 Book Fair Details
🎵 Winter Concert Details
Book Fair is here, and shopping will begin on Monday, 12/8. Teachers have selected the shopping time for their class. You can also shop the fair online by using our school's online book store. Register for an eWallet and don't stress about sending cash to school with your child. Join us on Tuesday Night to shop from 5:00pm-6:50pm!
Save the Date for the Rising 7th grade Katherine Johnson Curriculum Night! The event will be at KJMS from 6p – 8p and is for current 6th graders and their Parents and Guardians. More information will be shared soon!
Curriculum Night – Wednesday, January 14 (snow date Wed Jan 21)
Save the Date for the Rising 7th grade Liberty Curriculum Night! You are invited to join us for our Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 14th for Liberty Middle School rising 7th grade students. This is a great opportunity to learn about course offerings and the course selection process as students prepare to select classes for the 2026-2027 school year.
We look forward to seeing you in January!
Full-Time AAP
Full-Time AAP is an academic program that offers a high degree of frequency and intensity of differentiation through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content and skills in all four core content areas. If you have a current 2nd-6th grader and feel your child requires full-time AAP, please submit your referral materials by December 15th. Please read below to learn more about what to submit. **Please note that ability test scores may or may not be released by December 15th. Do not wait until scores are received to submit your referral package.**
Parent Responsibility for the Referral File:
You can also find information from our November 5th Parent Night posted on our Parent Schoology page in the AAP folder.
Sending/Delivering the Referral File
If you are submitting your materials digitally, please email your attachments to Mrs. Bach, kmbach@fcps.edu. Only PDF and JPG formats are allowed.
If you are submitting your materials by hard copy, please drop them off to the front office. All copies and forms should be completed prior to drop off. Items will not be returned.
Confirmation of the Referral File
Upon submission, Mrs. Bach will send an email to confirm receipt of the file and the materials, within 24-48 hours of submission during workdays. If there is any issue with the readability or if the file does not follow the guidelines, the email will specifically communicate what needs to be fixed for the file to proceed. Please note, Mrs. Bach is on leave December 9th-12th and will be unavailable. She will follow up with email messages upon return on Monday, December 15th.
Please submit your referral materials BY DECEMBER 15th. This is the deadline and there are no exceptions.
We have some great news! The deadline for the annual Yearbook Contest has been extended to give students a little more time.
All submissions are now due on Monday, December 18th.
Please encourage your student to finalize their entry and submit it soon. We're really looking forward to seeing all the masterpieces!
Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities across the division. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using our visitor kiosk.
Individuals can complete a volunteer orientation on the Volunteer FCPS website. View Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.
Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity LevelsDue to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
As part of the application, all volunteers sign a statement confirming they have not been convicted of violent crimes, crimes against children, or other serious misconduct.
Field trip chaperone opportunities are now classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check).
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
When our schools have the resources they need, all of Fairfax County succeeds!
FCPS is one of Fairfax County’s largest employers, and every paycheck we issue helps support local businesses, services, and housing markets. FCPS’ annual operating budget flows through our local economy — supporting jobs, purchasing goods and services, and contributing to regional stability.
Learn more about the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and how FCPS supports the Fairfax County economy.
Fairfax County Joint Budget Committee Meeting
The School Board met with the Board of Supervisors on December 2 to discuss the budget forecast. View the meeting materials and learn more about FCPS' FY27 budget
At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid are underway across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. We encourage you to attend, share your thoughts, and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
Click on a date above to register. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Community Conversations are open to all. Please check FCPS’ website for additional updates.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 💻 Technology Tips
- 🍲 Food Assistance
- 📚 Winter Reading Challenge
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