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 From the Haycock staff to your family- best wishes for a happy holiday season and a fun winter break
Dear Haycock Families,
Last week was such a fun week. Each day was spirit filled! Many thanks to the parents who came into school to assist with celebrations ensuring that it was a special and enjoyable week for our students.
Some grade levels began their winter window Math MAP assessments before the break. Other grade levels will take these assessments in January. Additionally, students in grades 3-6 will take winter literacy iReady assessments. These assessments assist us with determining student growth and planning instruction.
The office will be closed this week and next. It will reopen on Monday, January 5 at 8:00 a.m.
Our next Haycock Hello will come out on Monday, January 5 when students return to the building. There are lots of upcoming important events in January to put on your calendar (see below). We look forward to seeing your child back at Haycock on Monday, January 5.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy New Year!
With appreciation for your partnership,
Liz Beaty, Principal embeaty@fcps.edu
Heather Boyd, AP HABoyd@fcps.edu
Krystal Styles, AP krstyles@fcps.edu
Winter Break Literacy Adventures
Engaging in literacy activities during 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 students return to school confident and ready to continue growing in literacy.
 SCA Spirit Day- Staff Team Costumes 💗
🗓️Important Upcoming Dates
December 22 to January 2- Winter break- no school- school office will be closed
Monday, January 5- Students and staff return after winter break
Monday, January 12- PTA virtual meeting at 7:00 pm
January 12-16- FCPS ST Math Week (see information below)
Wednesday, January 14- Longfellow Curriculum Night for rising 7th graders and parents 6:00-8:00 p.m. (inclement weather date: January 21)
Thursday, January 15- Dark Skies Presentation at Longfellow MS 7:00-8:30 pm (see information below)
Monday, January 16- Martin Luther King holiday, no school
Wednesday, January 21- PTA Heritage Night
Thursday, January 22- Winter Band Evening Concert
Wednesday, January 28- 2nd Quarter ends, 2 hour early dismissal at 2:05 pm
Thursday and Friday, January 29 and 30- Teacher Professional Development and Workdays, no school for students
FCPS 2025-26 School Year Calendar
🏆Haycock Outstanding Employee Award Representatives
If you would like to share your experience and stories in support of our Outstanding Haycock Employee Award representatives in their consideration for the 2025-2026 McLean Pyramid Outstanding Employee award, please take a few minutes to add your input to the Google Forms below.
Please submit your story by 4:00 pm, Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Thank you so much for your support!
🧮ST Math Week
MIND Research, the organization behind ST Math, is hosting Family Math Week from January 12–16, 2026. During this week, students are encouraged to log in to the ST Math FCPS Family Math website (link coming out soon!) to participate in fun math activities with their families at home.
Family Math Week features engaging activities including stories with mathematical concepts connected to a variety of different math games from around the world! . All activities are available in English and Spanish, making it easy for families to learn and play together.
We encourage all families to join in as FCPS works toward a community goal of three million minutes of math engagement.
Dark Skies Presentation at Longfellow MS
The McLean HS and Longfellow Get2Green teams are studying light pollution and are offering this outreach event about that topic.
Event: Dark Skies Presentation & Astronomy Night
Date & Time: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Where: Longfellow Lecture Hall & PE Field
Who: This event is open to the Haycock, Longfellow and McLean community as well as our greater community. Please invite your neighbors.
Description: Come learn how the natural world thrives in darkness. Students and guest speakers will discuss light pollution and ways to be better stewards of our night skies. After the presentations, a local astronomer will lead stargazing on the Longfellow PE field. Bring warm clothes (hats and mittens) for the outdoor portion. We'll have telescopes and binoculars available.
Also, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum has a special exhibit on this topic open through the end of December called “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky,” on the second floor. The Smithsonian provides a virtual tour if you can’t go in person. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/lights-out
Dr. Reid Reflects:
State Standards and the FCPS Budget Story
In her latest Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid thanked every member of our community for supporting FCPS as it remains fully accredited. Referencing a news release on accreditation, Dr. Reid noted how FCPS needs funding to support and maintain this excellence.
As we shared last week, Haycock Elementary was recognized as being Distinguished.
Visit the Budget Story webpage to learn more about the FCPS budget and the funding challenges that schools across Virginia, not just FCPS, face because of outdated state funding formulas. Read more of Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education and encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process. Several key decision dates and engagement opportunities are listed below:
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Thursday, December 18, 2025 - The Virginia Governor introduced the Fiscal Years 2026-28 state budget.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. - There will be virtual regional public hearings on the governor’s proposed 2026-28 biennial state budget.
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Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Dr. Reid will present the proposed FCPS budget to the School Board.
 Congratulations to Dr. Bartczak, third grade teacher, who was recognized as the Region 2 FCPS Cares Recipient for the month of October. (It was also the day that the third grade team dressed as characters from The Polar Express😊)
❤️FCPS Cares
Take a moment to acknowledge and affirm a Haycock staff member when they go above and beyond in demonstrating care and dedication that ensures every one of our students is seen, heard, and valued. FCPS Cares.
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