Monday, December 15 - Friday, December 19: Winter Spirit Week
Monday, December 15: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Close
Wednesday, December 17: 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday, School dismisses at 1pm
Thursday, December 18: Winter Music Concert at 6:30 pm
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2: Winter Break
Monday, January 19: Holiday- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 28: 2-Hour Early Release, End of Quarter
Thursday, January 29 - Friday, January 30: Student Holidays
Update on Our School’s State Performance Category and Commitment to Excellence
Dear Woodlawn Families,
This week, the Virginia Department of Education released information about school performance in Virginia under its new School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). Our school has been designated as “Needs Intensive Support”, based on data from last school year. This means the state believes we need additional support to improve our overall school performance.
Our students are much more than the results of standardized tests and point systems. Every day in our classrooms, our amazing educators are leading moments of joy in learning. Our students are working hard and making progress. I am proud to lead our Wildcats and I am proud to be a part of this amazing community.
Understanding Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework
The School Performance and Support Framework is new this year and replaces what you may have heard as Accreditation. The framework places a greater emphasis on standardized test results, alongside student growth, graduation, and readiness measures that vary by school level.
In addition to being identified as “Needs Intensive Support”, our school has also received a federal designation of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). This means we will also receive additional federal resources that support improvement for specific student groups within our school.
While a number of factors may have contributed to our school’s TSI identification under the state’s revised criteria, the change in the minimum group size for accountability from 30 students to 15 students clearly had a significant impact.
How We Are Addressing These Concerns
At Woodlawn ES, we are implementing high-quality core instruction supplemented by targeted, data-driven interventions during our Walk to Read and Walk to Math periods to accelerate the achievement of every student.
We remain committed to transparent communication with a continued focus on academic rigor, and supporting each and every student’s learning. Thank you for your trust and partnership in this journey.
Sincerely,
Laura C. Elliott, Principal
⚠️Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Families
Parents/caretakers who would like their student to be screened for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program services may submit the Full-Time Referral Form to our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) no later than December 15, 2025. Late referrals will not be accepted.
Kerry Urbatch is our AART, her email is kaurbatch@fcps.edu.
⚠️ Early Release Wednesday, December 17⚠️
Our next 3 hour early release is Wednesday, December 17. View the 3-hour early release Wednesday dates here.
- ‼️Look at the dates for the Mount Vernon Pyramid.
Your child will be sent home on Wednesday, December 17, at the same time they were sent home on the last 3-hour early release Wednesday.
❄️Winter Spirit Week
Get ready for some fun! Our Winter Spirit Week is happening Monday, December 15th through Friday, December 19th. Students are invited to participate in a different theme each day:
 
🎶 Woodlawn Winter Concert
Mark your calendars! Join us for the Woodlawn Winter Concert featuring the talented Strings, Band, and 5th and 6th Grade Chorus.
Performers: Please ensure your student wears black bottoms and a white top for the concert. We look forward to seeing you there!
🐾Woodlawn Pause with Ms. Hill
Hello Woodlawn Families!
Enjoy this week’s Woodlawn Pause called PERFUME BREATH.
Our sense of smell is very powerful. Certain scents can evoke feelings of joy, disgust, calm or even excitement. Smells also connect to memory centers in our brain and can activate memories from our past like the smell of baked goods, or a family member’s perfume.
In this practice, we will recognize what we smell around us and also add a ‘twist’ to the practice. Twisting is a great way to settle BIG energies in a safe way, especially when we need to slow down to focus or listen. When our spine rotates it can offer a reset for our nervous system and help us to get centered and calm. Pausing to connect with our sense of smell can bring us to the present moment and slow things down too.
You access the video here
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
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.
📖Winter Break Literacy Adventures
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!
🍲 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.
💻 Important Digital Device Reminders 🔔
With Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break approaching, here are a few reminders regarding student devices:
-
Optional Take-Home: Students have the option to take their school device (laptop/tablet) home, but this is not required. If a student takes a device home, it must be returned to school the next school day.
-
Device Purpose: School devices are for instructional purposes only.
-
Family Responsibility: Families are responsible for devices that are lost, stolen, or damaged.
Need to Purchase a Home Charger?
If you want a charger for home use, you can find the necessary specifications for your child's device on the Woodlawn Website Technology Page to ensure you purchase the correct one.
⭐You can also access FCPS digital tools on your family's personal devices at home.
More Digital Learning Information
Visit the Woodlawn Website Technology Page (linked here) for details on:
-
Login Help (student usernames/passwords)
-
Digital Tools (step-by-step guides for educational websites)
-
Home Wi-Fi Assistance
-
Device Care and expectations
-
Charger Purchase Info (how to buy a home charger)
-
Monitoring Tools for home internet usage
|
