🍴Meals Available for Students, Budget and Boundary Updates

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 01/28/2026 07:00 PM EST
students playing in the snow


Students enjoy sledding at Wakefield Forest Elementary School. 

🍴 Meal Kits Available for Students

In an effort to support students who may be experiencing food insecurity while our schools are closed during planned student holidays, Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is providing meal kits at specific schools for students. Meal kits will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, and Friday, January 30. 

Children do not need to be present to pick up the kits, which will contain a meal and a healthy snack. No proof of eligibility or identification is required. View pickup locations for meal kits.

🏫 Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Presented to School Board

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented the FY 2027 Proposed Budget during last Thursday’s School Board meeting. This proposed budget reflects FCPS’ unwavering commitment to sustaining excellence for our students, staff, and community. 

The top priorities of FCPS’ FY 2027 Proposed Budget include: 

  • Beginning to restore last year’s budget reductions by fully restoring staff positions and lowering some class sizes. 
  • Continuing multiyear initiatives, including certified athletic trainers at each of our high schools, family liaisons, fine and performing arts stipends, student athletics and activity offerings, K-12 robotics, and educator math certification and credentialing. 
  • Prioritizing competitive compensation for all employees. 

View the budget presentation video and slides. Follow the budget process by watching the Tuesday, February 10, School Board work session or visiting FCPS’ Budget webpage.

đź“Ť School Board Approves Proposed Boundary Changes

Boundary graphic for newsletters


The School Board approved the recommended boundary changes, as part of FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review, at its meeting last Thursday. The adopted boundary adjustments currently affect nearly 1,700 students at 46 schools. These changes will be implemented starting in the 2026-27 school year. Read the boundary changes news story for additional details.

🚌 Reid Reflects: Transportation Safety and Technology

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In the Strategic Plan Update portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered, with an emphasis on transportation safety and technology. She shared a video, which discusses how technology and our staff members keep students safe, supported, and connected while on our buses. Read more about transportation safety in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.

Girl Wrestlers Develop Character and Life Skills on the Mat

students wrestling on the mat


Now in its second season as an official sport in FCPS, varsity girls wrestling is also one of the school division’s fastest-growing athletic programs. Westfield’s team has grown from eight athletes in its inaugural season to 22 strong! Read more about Westfield’s Girls Wrestling Team.

🧸 Students Get an Ultra Unique Experience, Plush Patients Included 

students x-ray a stuffed animal


Chantilly Academy students in the Veterinary Science program are used to working with animals. But stuffed animals? Not so much. Students recently took part in a hands-on learning experience using veterinary ultrasound simulators, thanks to a Chantilly High School alumnus. Read about the simulation.

⌚ It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!

child raises hand in class


Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. 

Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, in the spring. Eligible children can be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps schools prepare and have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

After determining which school your child will attend, you should gather necessary documents and complete registration forms as soon as possible. Get the details on the FCPS Registration webpage. 

FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the registration webpage.

Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians

The Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in February:

  • Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in English and Spanish)
  • Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
  • Lexia Family Information Night

Family Resource Center webinars will also cover topics such as Early Childhood Identification Services, developing flexibility with your child, the social lives of twice-exceptional (2E) students, what to ask when the school calls, and self-care for caregivers. 

Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.

External Athletics Investigation at Fairfax HS and Hayfield SS Completed

An independent outside investigation of allegations surrounding student athlete transfers and eligibility practices at Fairfax High School and Hayfield Secondary School has determined there were violations of Virginia High School League (VHSL) rules in 2024. The findings and recommendations have been provided to the School Board and Superintendent who implemented numerous corrective measures in 2025 to close the identified gaps in division systems and processes to ensure future compliance with VHSL standards and rules. The investigation regarding the allegations was conducted by the law firm of Baker McKenzie, LLP. More detailed information about the investigation and findings is available on the FCPS website.

đź“ť Application for the 2025 Student Representative to the School Board

The School Board student representative speaks for the interests of FCPS students. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity. Students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply. 

To be considered for the election, students are required to provide the following:

  • A written component, due Monday, February 23.
  • A 30-second candidate video statement, due Monday, March 16. Candidates will be emailed a link to record their video on Monday, March 2.

Both application components are required to be considered for the election. Read more about the election process.

🍎 Join Team FCPS: Attend Our In-Person Instructional Job Fair!

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FCPS wants you to be a part of our team!  We are seeking teachers with strong student engagement skills and a passion for having a positive influence on our school communities. 

An in-person instructional job fair will be held on Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. There will be networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from our FCPS schools. Learn more and register for the hiring fair.

Our Office of the Ombuds Is at Your Service!

ombuds


Ombuds staff engage with FCPS staff, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.  

Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements between parents and schools. Ombuds staff do not make or change decisions, policies, or regulations. They do not take sides, and they do not provide legal advice.

Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may submit a question.

🗓️ Calendar Reminder: No School for Students/Quarter End

Schools are closed for students on Thursday, January 29, for a staff development day, and Friday, January 30, for a teacher workday.

End-of-Quarter 

Due to the recent loss of instructional days, the final day of the second quarter has been moved to Tuesday, February 3. 

Teachers may continue second-quarter assessments through February 3 and will share any specific changes with students and families through Schoology. Students in semester courses will continue attending first-semester classes through February 3. Dr. Reid’s letter to the community about the end-of-quarter adjustments contains more details. 

SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable for students and parents during end-of-quarter updates from Tuesday, February 3, at 4 p.m. until Monday, February 9, at 6 a.m. (These dates have been updated with the later end of quarter date.)

See the complete school year calendar.

Title IX Notice

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to a learning and working environment free from all forms of discrimination and does not tolerate acts of sex-based or gender-based misconduct:

  • Any student who believes that they have been subjected to sex-based or gender-based misconduct, any parent of such a student, or any student who believes that another student is being subjected to sex-based or gender-based misconduct is encouraged to report the misconduct to FCPS, specifically to their school principal.
  • Any administrator who believes that a student is being subjected to sex-based or gender-based misconduct is required to report such suspected misconduct to the school principal.

FCPS conducts prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into any such reports. Interim measures will be available to students who have alleged sex-based or gender-based misconduct and students who are accused of sex-based or gender-based misconduct – including but not limited to: separation pending the outcome of an investigation, counseling, and educational resources.

When an investigation reveals that sexual misconduct created a sexually hostile environment, FCPS will take prompt and effective steps to end the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effect – including continuing the interim measures as necessary to protect the reporting student and ensure his or her safety. Students found to engage in acts of sex-based misconduct or other acts that create a hostile environment will be dealt with promptly, and discipline may include, but is not limited to, suspension or expulsion. FCPS encourages students, parents, and staff to work together to prevent sex-based or gender-based misconduct of any kind.

For more information about the FCPS Title IX Process and Response, please contact:

FCPS Title IX Coordinator
Chief Equity Office
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 571-423-3070
Website: fcps.edu/title-ix
Email: titleixcoordinator@fcps.edu   

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