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Our Admin Team-Ms. Dowling, Ms. Wiley, and Ms. Wayland
Dear Families,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback as part of my evaluation. I am grateful for your honesty, thoughtfulness, and partnership. Your responses help me better understand what you value for your children and what matters most in our school community.
Families shared the importance of students feeling seen, supported, and safe, and of having a school environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and grounded in equity and respect. You emphasized open communication, accessibility for families of all backgrounds, and a principal who is visible, approachable, and responsive. Many also highlighted the value of balancing high expectations with care for the whole child, supporting teachers, and working together as a community.
Students echoed these same priorities. They shared that feeling valued comes from being noticed, listened to, and treated fairly—when adults say their names, help solve problems, check in when they are upset, and celebrate their efforts and accomplishments. Students also shared that kindness, safety, and opportunities to connect and have fun are what make school feel welcoming and help them feel that they belong.
I appreciate this feedback and take it seriously. It reinforces our shared values and helps guide my continued growth. Thank you for your trust and partnership as we work together to support every student and family at Bailey’s Upper.
With appreciation,
Bailey’s Upper Admin Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
Ms. Agus's 5th Grade Class with Fluffy!
✨ Thursday Folders ✨
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- January 2026 Calendar (English and Spanish)
- 5th Grade Only-Glasgow Middle School Rising 6th Grade Night (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!
Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Bailey’s Upper ES
Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 3-5, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. In our January 15th Thursday Folder, you will receive a letter with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose. The electronic opt-out form can also be accessed at this link.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
Our students love recess—even on the cold days!
WIDA Testing Coming in 2026!
Notification of WIDA letters went home in December
All students identified as multilingual learners (MLs) are assessed annually to monitor their progress and proficiency in English as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In Virginia, all divisions use the WIDA ACCESS for this purpose. The WIDA ACCESS is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development standards and assesses English in the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
WIDA Listening Domain testing dates:
- 3rd grade - Friday, January 23rd
- 4th grade - Tuesday, January 27th
- 5th grade - Monday, January 26th
WIDA Reading Domain testing dates:
- 3rd grade - Wednesday, February 4th
- 4th grade - Tuesday, February 3rd
- 5th grade - Monday, February 2nd
WIDA Writing Domain testing dates:
- 3rd grade - Wednesday, February 11th
- 4th grade - Tuesday, February 10th
- 5th grade - Monday, February 9th
WIDA Speaking Domain Testing dates:
- Ongoing for several weeks in small groups by the ESOL teachers beginning February 18th.:
VALLSS - Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)
Required for certain students based on other reading performance data
- Teachers will begin assessing individual students beginning January 8th.
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
The heart of our front office
Ms. Del Carpio, Ms. Hall, Ms. Hernandez, & Ms. Herbas
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Thursday, January 15th - Rising 6th Grade Night at Glasgow Middle School 6:00pm-8:00pm
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Monday, January 19th- No School (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday)
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Thursday, January 22nd- Music Showcase: Advance Band, 4th & 5th Grade Strings
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Monday, January 26th- Family Engagement Workshop: Understanding your Child’s iReady & MAP Results from Middle of the Year 9:30am In-Person & 7:00pm via Zoom
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Wednesday, January 28th- Club Photo Day
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Wednesday, January 28th- End of Quarter 2 & 2 hour Early Release (Dismissal 1:25)
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Thursday, January 29th- No School (Staff Development Day)
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Friday, January 30th- No School (Teacher Work Day)
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Justice will be hosting a youth night on Wednesday, January 14th! They are playing a Varsity Doubleheader that night and would love to have as many pyramid families and staff attend as possible.
All students’ 8th grade and under will have free entry when they arrive & attend WITH a paying adult. Entry is $7 for adults.
- 5:30pm - Justice Boys vs. Osbourn HS
- 7:30pm – Justice Girls vs. Osbourn HS
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3rd Grade students showcase their learning
Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs
Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.
Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs.
Follow Our Budget Process
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
- The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8, at noon.
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Thursday, January 22, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board.
Visit our budget webpage for more information.
Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages
FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.
The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.
Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.
Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.
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FCPS invites you to experience a full week of family time with FREE stories, games and math activities - all from the comfort of your home.
Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a fun and positive way. All content will be available for families in English and Spanish beginning Monday, January 12.
Visit the Math Week website for games, stories, and other interactive activities for the whole family.
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