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To read this newsletter in other languages, please click on the link below.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, haga clic en el enlace a continuación y elija su idioma.
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English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | Français | Русский
 Students in FLES have been learning Spanish vocabulary related to weather. They gave weather reports and made displays. It looks like our meteorologists have been accurate!
News from the Fox Den
January 23, 2026
A Message from Ms. Consolla
There is a certain electricity in the air this afternoon that only comes with a potential "Snow Day" forecast. Walking through the hallways, I overheard many students whispering about their plans to ensure the snow arrives in full force. At our All School Morning Meeting this week, Foxes made predictions about how much snow we would get: a snowball amount, a snowman amount or a snow fort amount. Ms. Gray led us in a snowman dance!
As we look ahead to the coming week, please keep a close eye on your calendars. Wednesday is the end of the second quarter, and if we are in school, there is a two hour early dismissal at 1:40pm. Additionally, there will be no school for students on Thursday and Friday to allow our staff time for professional development and grading.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible PTA for the snack break in the lounge this week. It is small gestures like these that make our staff feel truly valued and energized.
As the Saturday night storm approaches, I hope you are able to lean into the excitement with your children. There is something truly magical about a child’s belief that they can "conjure" a snow day through sheer force of will, wearing pajamas inside out and a few ice cubes. Whether we are building snowmen or just enjoying a cozy morning inside, I hope the coming days bring your family rest, laughter, and a bit of winter wonder.
Stay warm and stay safe!
As always, thank you for your partnership with us in your child's education at Fort Hunt.
Jean
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Follow us on Instagram @FortHuntES
Next week...
Stay tuned for weather-related closings as we wait for the winter storm to come this weekend. We already have a 1:40pm dismissal on Wednesday followed by Teacher Workdays on Thursday & Friday. Always check the FCPS website for updates.
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WE'RE SO CLOSE! 17 lbs to go!
Our goal is 1000lbs by February. We can do it!
Our Garden Club is sponsoring a bench for Fort Hunt through the collection of plastic bags. You can help!
Deposit clean and dry plastic wrap in the designated bins outside of the library by the front entrance.
Only certain items are eligible: grocery bags, produce bags, Ziploc bags, cereal box liners, bread bags, newspaper sleeves, plastic mailers, bubble wrap, and dry cleaning bags, etc. For more information about what's acceptable, click here:
Acceptable Plastic Bag Items
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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 weather. 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 snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
Immersion Lottery Information
All families of rising kindergarten and rising Grade 1 students (current kindergarten) are eligible to apply for the Spanish immersion lottery as well as any language offered in FCPS. Please share with neighbors!
Online Lottery for rising kindergartners: Opens January 12 and closes March 2
Online Lottery for rising first graders: Opens January 12 and closes February 12.
Click here for language immersion meeting dates and locations. We had ours at Fort Hunt this past week.
Feel free to pass this information to families with rising kindergarteners. For more information, visit the Dual Language site.
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❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather is here! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Access Schoology to Support Your Child
Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology.
Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.
Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.
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The Flu is Here. Let's Stay Healthy!
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.
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Strategies for Better Sleep
Sleep is essential to good health, and getting enough sleep has big benefits to your physical and mental health and well-being. Sleep is restorative, allowing your body time to recover and repair.
This is true for your child, too. In fact, adequate sleep in children supports healthy brain development, learning, and memory consolidation, as well as their mood. And it is important for a strong immune system and the prevention of infections. Read about how much sleep a person needs and get some sleep strategies you can use with your family.
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FCPS offers the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help you manage screen time on your child's FCPS device at home. With a Parent Portal account, you can control your child’s access to YouTube and pause website browsing during after-school hours.Please note that parent controls are active only during after-school hours, defined as Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (including student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday.
If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, use the link at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. To learn more, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.
📵Student Smart Watches and Cell Phones
As a reminder, FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:
- Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. At Fort Hunt, this begins when students enter the building in the morning.
- Cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-619-2600. Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy. Also, view our Media Balance and Well-Being Toolkit for resources to help your child maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with technology at home
Can I Send Cupcakes on My Child's Birthday?
No, we do not have class birthday celebrations. Please do not send in any treats.
At Fort Hunt, we recognize students on their birthday on the morning news show. And at the end of the month, all students born that month are invited to Cupcakes & Books at lunch time. Our PTA sponsors this event where students can pick out a cupcake and a book to enjoy.
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We are PET-Free on Our Campus
As a reminder, all FCPS campuses, including Fort Hunt, do not allow pets at any time or day of the week. This includes drop-off and afterschool pick-up. It's fine to wait up on the sidewalk on Linton Lane with your pet. This rule is in place to ensure all students feel safe and to keep our grounds clean. Thank you!
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Lost & Found
If you are missing a jacket, sweatshirt, or umbrella, be sure to stop by our Lost and Found in the cafeteria to check for any missing items. You can access it from home by going to our website with a live gallery. Follow the directions on the page for how to claim items. Our Family Liaison, Mr. Antoine Pierce, can assist. He can be reached at (703) 619-2674 or apierce@fcps.edu
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What's For Lunch?
You can find the monthly menu here by scrolling down to Elementary menus for breakfast and lunch. Families can add money to their child's account at My School Bucks.
Families may join their child for lunch at Fort Hunt on Family Fridays. You can read about the expectations and procedures for Family Fridays in our handbook.
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Important Times
Arrive on campus: 8:30am
Kiss & Ride: 8:35-8:55am
Doors Open: 8:35am Tardy Bell: 8:55am
Dismissal Bell: 3:40pm
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
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Important Dates
Wednesday, January 28 | Quarter Ends - Students dismiss at 1:40 pm.
Thursday, January 29-Friday, January 30 | Teacher Workdays - No school for students.
Wednesday, February 11 | PTA Meeting & Principals Coffee 9am
Monday, Feb 16 & Tues, Feb 17: No school
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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Get Involved with your PTA
Consider becoming a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Fort Hunt. It's a great way to connect with other parents, learn about how to support your child and to have fun at their amazing community events! There are many ways where you can share your voice, talents and time. Everyone working together makes this a great community. Check out the PTA website for more information.
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Parent/Guardian Handbook
Do you have questions about attendance or food/drink at school or what students can wear? If so, please check out our Parent/Guardian Handbook on our Fort Hunt website. It's available with translations. Click here to access it. Of course, if you have a question about a situation that is not listed, reach out to your child's teacher or an administrator.
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Your Partners in Education
We are honored to work with your family this year and will work everyday to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us when there is a question or concern, especially related to bullying. As a parent, you will often hear about something before staff might. Thank you for all your support.
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Patty Settel, Assistant Principal
pasettel@fcps.edu
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