Message from Mrs. Castillo

Brrr! December is turning out to be festive, but very cold!  Please be sure all students are dressed in a winter coat and wearing layers tomorrow for school.  If your child or family needs assistance with a coat, please reach out to Ms. Moncrieffe (School Social Worker: srmoncrieffe@fcps.edu) or Ms. Reyes Gomez (Family Liaison: kereyesgomez@fcps.edu).  They are happy to help!  

We are so proud of our musicians!  The Lemon Road Winter concerts (both evening and daytime) were a huge success.  Thank you parents for encouraging your children to sign up for an instrument and/or chorus and supporting their practice schedules.  

As shared earlier this week, we are thrilled to announce that Lemon Road has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as a Distinguished School. This designation reflects that our school is meeting or exceeding state expectations for student performance, and it is a testament to the partnership between our staff, students, and families.

A big thank you to our Room Parents for upcoming class parties on Friday.  This is a big lift at a very busy time for all parents.  We appreciate each of you for planning these events and all the shopping trips.  Not a room parent?  Please help your class room parent(s) plan for a great finale to 2025 with a donation of your time, money, or party supplies!  Your child will thank you!

Have a great final week of school in 2025.  The office will be closed over break, but Mrs. Castillo can be reached by email.  Thank you for a fantastic 2025! 

LRES Parent Reminders

• 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 Taylor Argue at targue@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.

• Log into Schoology to see how your child is doing in Benchmark Assessments.  Find directions here.

• Remaining Early Release Wednesdays for the school year are: February 18, March 18, April 22, and May 13.  Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.
• Help us recognize our staff!  Donate snacks/drinks that will be shared with the staff using specific staff favorites or anything you have on hand.  
• Register to volunteer/chaperone at Lemon Road.  Visit the Volunteer FCPS website or contact Mrs. Olsavsky at enolsavsky@fcps.edu.
• Add money to your child's lunch account through MySchoolBucks, check out the menu, and apply for Free and Reduced-Price Meals here.
• Nominate a Lemon Road staff member for a FCPS Cares recognition! 

Lemon Road PTA Corner

🍕Restaurant Night: The PTA is excited for our 1st Restaurant Night of the school year on Thursday, December 18 from 4:00-9:00 p.m. We are partnering with Ledo Pizza, where we will receive a percentage of their sales on all orders (dine-in or carry-out) who use “Lemon Road PTA.” If you order online, please use “FUNDRAISER” as the coupon code. Happy Eats!

❄️Baroody Winter Camps: As the fall session for Baroody is wrapping up, we’re already preparing for the winter session, which will begin at the end of January. Flyers went home in Wednesday folders and registration is open until January 11.

🎉Winter Parties: We’re all looking forward to the excitement at Lemon Road on Friday, December 19! There are plenty of opportunities for you to support the classroom winter parties that day, so please reach out to your room parent (if you haven’t already done so), to see how you can donate or volunteer.

☕Welcome Back Breakfast: We’ll kick off 2026 with our annual “Welcome Back Breakfast” for teachers and staff on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 in the library. There are plenty of ways you can help, so please use this Breakfast Sign Up Link if you want to donate $, bring breakfast items, or volunteer.

🎭Alden Theatre: Attention young local actors! The McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre will host auditions for the 2026 Youth Production of The Wizard of Oz! Actors must be residents of or go to school in the MCC tax district, and be between the ages of 10-16 on the date of the audition. Click here to register and for more information; we look forward to seeing you at the auditions on January 13 & 15, 2026!

FCPS News ICYMI

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• FCPS Showcases Success
• Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings
• Winter Resources for Families

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 

Upcoming Important Dates

• Monday, December 15: B Week; Patrol Meeting; Full-Time AAP Family Referrals Due; Patrol Meeting; Family Life Education Lesson (Grades 4 - 6)
• Tuesday, December 16: Family Life Education Lesson (Grades 4 - 6) 
• Wednesday, December 17: Grade 3 Power of Change Activist Showcase (8:45); Yearbook Cover Contest Submissions Due; Family Life Education Lesson (Grades 4 - 6); Quarter 2 Interims Sent Home
• Thursday, December 18: Student Ambassador Lunch Bunch; Family Life Education Lesson (Grades 4 - 6); PTA Ledo's Restaurant Night
• Friday, December 19: December Freaky Friday: Small Stuffed Animal Day; Lemon Road Variety Show; Class Winter Parties 
• Monday, December 22 - January 2: Winter Break
• Monday, January 5: C Week
• Tuesday, January 6: PTA Welcome Back Breakfast
• Wednesday, January 7: PTA Board Meeting (8:30 AM)
• Thursday, January 8: 3rd, 4th & 6th Grade iReady Testing; 6th Grade Transition - Longfellow AVID Presentation (during school)
• Friday, January 9: LRES Polo Day
• Wednesday, January 14: Longfellow Curriculum Night (6 - 8 PM)

FCPS 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

7230 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043 | Main Phone: 703-714-6400

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