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December 12, 2025
Dear Waynewood Owls,
What an incredibly busy and productive week we have had here at Waynewood! The energy in the building is truly electric as we move closer to the winter break, and it is wonderful to see so much learning and community spirit in action.
This week, our students celebrated Computer Science Education Week with enthusiasm. It was fantastic to see our young learners engaging in coding activities during their Lab special. They were thinking like innovators and problem-solvers, designing and debugging to solve coding challenges. These activities are vital for building critical thinking skills, and I hope they continue to explore the world of computer science at home!
We also had a great success this week with our ongoing environmental efforts! Our students participated in our composting initiative during lunch, and we collected 50 pounds of waste to be composted right here in our courtyard area! This is a wonderful hands-on lesson in sustainability and responsibility. A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful parent volunteers who helped facilitate this effort—we couldn't manage this important work without your support. Your time and dedication make a real difference in our school culture.
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for next week. Wednesday, December 17th, is a three-hour early release day (1:00 PM dismissal) for all students. Please plan accordingly for transportation home.
I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has already completed and submitted their Impact Aid forms. These federal funds are absolutely essential for our school, and your timely response helps secure necessary resources for every student. If you have not had a chance to fill out your form, please make it a priority to do so this weekend. We truly appreciate your cooperation with this important matter.
Finally, next week is going to be a lot of fun as we gear up for Winter Break with a full Spirit Week! I encourage all students (and staff!) to participate as a way to build school spirit and celebrate a great semester of hard work:
- Monday: Winter Break Vibes
- Tuesday: Hat or Crazy Hair Day
- Wednesday: Peppermint Day (Wear red and white!)
- Thursday: School Colors or Waynewood Gear
- Friday: Pajama Day (Followed by a school-wide movie, Camp Rock 2!)
We can’t wait to see the creative spirit our students bring to these themed days!
Sincerely,
Katie Cachine, Principal
Alyssa Bonner, Assistant Principal
Allison Ovalle, Assistant Principal
As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 22, to Friday, January 2. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. See the complete school year calendar.
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to providing our community with transparent information about changes impacting our schools. Recently, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) developed a new School Performance and Support Framework to measure school performance, replacing aspects of the previous accreditation system.
What changed?
The new framework introduces four performance categories: Distinguished, On Track, Off Track, and Needs Intensive Support.
Accreditation is now separate from the school performance category. You may be familiar with the previous accreditation model in which schools are rated Accredited, Accredited with Conditions, or Accreditation Denied. In the new framework, schools will continue to receive this accreditation status, however accreditation does not reflect academic performance. Instead, schools will be accredited by meeting basic requirements such as having qualified teachers and certain safety requirements. For additional details including school performance components and indicators visit our information page New Evaluation System for Virginia Schools.
Potential impacts:
The new framework places a greater emphasis on standardized test results, alongside student growth and readiness measures that vary by school level. For high schools, graduation rates are also a key component.
This new system may lead to schools with diverse student populations, including those with higher percentages of multilingual learner students and economically disadvantaged students, being labeled as underperforming due to the increased weight on standardized tests and the shortened adjustment period for multilingual learner students to acquire academic language.
The "Off Track" category is broad and may not clearly indicate specific areas of struggle. It's important to remember that a school's label is not the only measure of success.
What FCPS is doing:
FCPS is actively working to understand the full implications of this new framework. We are advocating for a fair and equitable system that accounts for the diverse needs of all our students. We are also monitoring and reporting our own internal metrics as part of our FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan to provide a more comprehensive picture of school success.
The FCPS Future Ready Index highlights our commitment to preparing every learner for future opportunity and long-term success. FCPS will work to provide you clear and timely communication about state accountability and keep the community informed about school and division performance.
What you can do:
Stay informed about the new framework through FCPS communications. Continue to support your local schools and engage with school leaders to understand their efforts. Advocate for adequate resources and policies that support all students in achieving their full potential.
Share your opinions with the Virginia Board of Education. Your voice in the community is vital to ensuring our schools remain strong.
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
Engaging in literacy activities over winter break helps students maintain the reading, writing, and speaking skills they built during the first half of the school year. Even a little daily practice, such as these 10 fun family activities, helps ensure they return to school confident and ready to continue growing in literacy. Enjoy these literacy adventures as a family!
We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Whenever your child is unable to attend school, please let us know. Reporting absences helps our staff support students and connect them with resources they may need.
Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Parents can also report absences by calling our school attendance line at 703-704-7171 or emailing WaynewoodElem.Attendance@fcps.edu If a student is absent, and we have not been notified, our staff will reach out to parents.
Parents may monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.
Attendance Codes in SIS ParentVUE Explained
Attendance codes in SIS ParentVUE are assigned by school staff to better identify the reasons behind student absences. This allows us to respond thoughtfully and provide appropriate support. Visit the FCPS Attendance Policy webpage to learn more about the codes.
When Your Child Is Sick
It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home.
For instance, a child should attend school if they have cold symptoms, as long as they are feeling like they can participate in school activities. However, if they have severe, uncontrolled, or rapid coughing; wheezing; or difficulty breathing, definitely keep them home and contact your health care provider.
Monday, December 15: Full Time Advanced Academic Program Referral Deadline (grades 2-6 only)
December 15-19: School Spirit Week
- Monday (15)-Winter Break Vibes
- Tuesday(16)- Hat or Crazy Hair Day
- Wednesday(17)- SCA Choice: Peppermint Day (wear red and white)
- Thursday(18)- Waynewood Gear or Colors
- Friday(19)-Pajama Day, Schoolwide Movie: Camp Rock 2
Wednesday, December 17: 3 hour Early Release
Thursday, December 18 Winter Concert 6:00pm
December 22- January 2: Winter Break (no school, front office closed)
Tuesday, January 13-PTA Meeting
You can access the full 2025-26 calendar here. Days that are shaded pink or blue are holidays for students. Orange days are NOT school holidays.
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