Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- Kindness Spirit Week
- PTA News
- PTA Reflections Winners
- Overdue Book Notices
- Curiosity Corner
- Herndon Library Information
- AAP Information
- FCPS App
- Kindergarten Registration
- Ombuds Office
- Upcoming Dates
Hello Floris Families,
What an exciting week it has been welcoming our students back into the building! The energy, laughter, and joy of having everyone together again has been wonderful to see. Thank you for your continued flexibility and partnership as we navigated school closings and a full week of delays. We know that shifting schedules and routines at home is not easy, and we appreciate your support.
I also want to thank you for helping students arrive ready to learn despite the unpredictable weather and what many of us have started calling “snowcrete.” Whether it looked like snow, felt like ice, or behaved like concrete, you helped ensure our students stayed safe and prepared each day!
Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming Kindness Spirit Week, which should bring some fun, positivity, and hopefully the consistency of a full week of school together. We look forward to celebrating kindness across our building and creating moments that bring our community even closer.
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
Next Week is Kindness Week!
PTA News and Announcements
Student Program Information
Floris Arabic Student Club:
Is your child interested in learning basic Arabic and learning about Arabic culture (games, songs, stories, and crafts)?
Registration for the Floris Arabic Student Club (FASC) is OPEN for any Floris 3rd-6th graders. FASC will meet on Wednesdays from 4:15-5:00pm.
A big thank you to Ms. Noon Ragi! She will be directing and teaching this after-school club!
STEAM Night:
Floris Family STEAM Night will be held on Friday, February 27th from 6:00-7:30pm. In order to make this event a success, the PTA is asking community members to sign-up to lead a STEAM station during the event. We are hoping to have at least 20 stations.
Themes for stations can include engineering challenges (think marshmallow structures, penny bridges), chemistry fun, art integration (3D pens, stamped patterns), social science (emotional regulation through breathing/five senses), etc. There are many possibilities. Please sign-up HERE.
Science Fair:
Registration is OPEN! Space is available for up to 60 teams. Please visit our website for more information and the link to register.
Food Share Program:
SIGN UP to deliver donated food on Fridays. It is a quick errand!
Girls on the Run:
Spring season registration opens on February 2.
Want to learn more about the PTA? Visit our website.
Parents Night Out at Black Dragon Martial Arts
Parents, enjoy some well-deserved downtime while your child has a blast!
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Date: Saturday, Feb 14. 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Black Dragon Martial Arts
13914 Metrotech Dr, Chantilly, VA 20151
Registration Link: https://cp.mystudio.io/e/?=PFyPFH/16231/784929//1768444262
Fee: $30.00 per child
This event is for kids only, ages 4 and up.
Your kids will:
- Play fun, organized games under disco lights
- Enjoy arts & crafts
- Have pizza dinner & popcorn
- Watch a movie
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PTA Reflections Winners
Several students from Floris Elementary have received county-level awards in the PTA Reflections Program - a wonderful achievement that highlights their creativity and talent!
Outstanding Interpretation Award (Gold):
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Ditya Dhevarajan – Dance Choreography, Primary Division (Grades K–2)
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Dhrithii Dhevarajan – Dance Choreography, Intermediate Division (Grades 3–5)
**Both Gold Award–winning entries have qualified to advance to the Virginia PTA level of awards.
Award of Excellence (Silver):
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Aradhya Bondili – Photography, Primary Division (Grades K–2)
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Laasya Mohan – Visual Arts, Intermediate Division (Grades 3–5)
Award of Merit (Bronze):
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Aradhya Bondili – Visual Arts, Primary Division (Grades K–2)
The Fairfax County Council PTA will host an awards ceremony in late February or early March to formally recognize these students. Please join us in congratulating these amazing accomplishments!
📚Overdue Book Notices📚
The library will be sending out overdue book notices next week. Kindergarten through second grade students will receive paper notices, while third through sixth grade students will find their notices in their school email accounts.
Please encourage your children to return library books so others can enjoy them. If you're having trouble finding a book or have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Papas at mopapas@fcps.edu.
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
February’s Maker Mission: A-Maze-ing Leprechaun Adventures!
In preparation of St. Patrick's Day coming up next month, your challenge is to design a maze for a leprechaun using materials found at home! The maze can help a leprechaun reach their gold—or escape with it. There is no right or wrong way to complete this challenge; creativity and problem-solving are encouraged. Have fun exploring, building, and thinking like an engineer!
The goal is to promote creative and critical thinking and engage in the engineering and design process. Submissions are due in the Curiosity Lab at the end of the month and will be highlighted within the school building and on the student news show. Let's get curious!
Activities From the Herndon Library
Looking for fun indoor activities to do this winter? Check out all that is being offered in February at Herndon Fortnightly Library:
AAP Information
If you should have any questions regarding AAP services, please reach out to Amy Albanese our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher here at Floris ES, or learn more about AAP on our Floris webpage!
📱 More News and Updates — on the go — With the FCPS App
Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here is how it makes life easier:
- Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) different schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events specific to your family.
- No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly — no password to remember, no login required.
- Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates — including weather announcements! — ensuring you never miss an important announcement from the district or your school.
- Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.
To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app, or download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
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 ensure they have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and complete registration forms as soon as possible.
FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, please visit the FCPS Registration webpage.
FCPS Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff 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 answer questions, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters. Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, text 571-496-8284, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit the ombuds webpage, where you may submit a question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
February 9-13: Kindness Week
February 12: Spelling Bee, 5:30 in Cafeteria
February 13: Club and Candid Photos
February 16: Holiday- President's Day
February 17: Teacher Workday, No School for Students
February 25: 3-Hour Early Release
February 27: STEAM Night, 6:30 in Cafeteria
March 9-13: Spring Book Fair
March 17: Spring Chorus Concert, 7pm in Cafeteria
March 20: Holiday- Eid al-Fitr
March 25: 3-Hour Early Release
March 26: Science Fair, 6:30 in Cafeteria
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
April 6: Teacher Workday
April 8: Spring Picture Day
April 10: School Planning Day
April 10: Kindergarten Orientation, 10:00 in Cafeteria
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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