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Dear Bailey’s Upper Families,
We hope this message finds you well and staying warm! It’s hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the 2nd quarter. Our students have been working incredibly hard, and we are so proud of the effort, growth, and positivity they bring to school each day.
Middle-of-Year Assessments Next Week Beginning next week, students will take their Middle of the Year iReady and MAP assessments. These assessments help us understand what students have learned so far and what support they may still need as we move into the second half of the school year. We encourage each child to simply do their best—these tests are not high-stakes; they are tools to guide our teaching and celebrate progress.
Family Data Conversations in January In January, we will begin scheduling time with each family to review your child’s assessment results and discuss their growth. These conversations are an important opportunity to partner together and ensure every student continues to thrive.
Please remind your children that we are already so proud of them. Their hard work matters, and these assessments are just another opportunity to show what they know and what they are ready to learn next.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Stay warm, and have a wonderful week ahead!
With gratitude,
Bailey’s Upper Admin Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- SEL Letters for Parents Not In Parent Vu -English Only
- Glasgow MS Rising 6th Grade Night (English and Spanish) for 5th Grade only
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Information (English and Spanish)
- December 2025 Bailey’s Upper Elementary School Calendar (English and Spanish)
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!
We are still looking for a coach to run our after school Science Olympiad club from January-April. If you are interested and would like more information please reach out to Ms. Wayland at pawayland@fcps.edu
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)
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
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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Monday, December 15th - Deadline for Application for Full-Time Advanced Academics (AAP)
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Wednesday, December 17th- 3-Hour Early Release (Dismissal starts at 12:25 p.m.)
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December 22nd-January 2nd- Winter Break (No School)
- Bailey’s Upper Office will be on Winter Break Office Hours. Schedule to come soon
- NYC will resume on January 9th
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
✅ 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.
🎤 Share Your Thoughts With Superintendent Reid
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.
🙋♂️ Attendance Is Important Every Day!
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.
🍲 Food Assistance and 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.
Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools
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 Levels
Due 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).
FCPS’ Budget Supports the Success of the Local Economy
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.
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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