The Westbriar Weekly

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 02/03/2026 05:00 PM EST

Notes from the Nest 🪶

Dear Westbriar Families,

Welcome back, Westbriar families! Today marks our first day back to school since January 23rd, following the Winter Snow and Ice Storm. We’re so grateful for your patience and partnership as we reopen our doors and get back into our routines. Our team is thrilled to see students’ smiles in the hallways again and we’re ready for a strong, steady return to learning.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our custodial team, Raul, Liliana, Jose, Isabelle, and Elsa, for their tireless efforts clearing walkways and preparing the building for our students’ return. We truly appreciate the care and hard work that helped make today possible.

A quick reminder to mark your calendar: Westbriar PTA Movie Night is coming up this Friday, February 6th at 7:00 PM. We hope you’ll join us for a cozy, community-filled evening together!

Warmly,

The Westbriar Administrative Team

Sallie Burch, Principal • Katie Blomquist, Assistant Principal • Erin Lear, Assistant Principal

Calling All Student Artists: The 8th Annual Marine Corps Art Competition

Does your child have a passion for painting or a knack for sketching? The National Museum of the Marine Corps has officially announced its 8th Annual Student Art Competition, and this year’s theme is “Heroes.”

This nationwide contest is a fantastic way for Westbriar students to explore American history while showcasing their creative talents. Whether it’s a tribute to a family member who served or a depiction of a courageous moment in history, we want to see their vision!

🎨 The Details

  • Who: All U.S. students in Grades K–12 (Public, Private, and Homeschool).

  • The Challenge: Create an original 2D art piece inspired by Marine Corps heroes—past or present.

  • Acceptable Media: Paint, pencil, charcoal, crayon, marker, pastel, or mixed media.

    • Note: Photography and digital art are not eligible.

🏆 Awards & Recognition

Thanks to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, students have the chance to win cash prizes:

  • Best in Show: $500

  • 1st Place: $300

  • 2nd Place: $200

  • 3rd Place: $100

Bonus: Winning artwork will be displayed at the National Museum of the Marine Corps from June 2026 through June 2027!

📅 Important Dates

  • Submissions Open: February 1, 2026

  • Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026

  • Winners Announced: May 1, 2026

📚 Helpful Resources for Inspiration

If your student is looking for ideas, check out these digital galleries and history archives:

How to Enter: Artwork must be submitted digitally along with an official entry form. For entry forms or specific questions, please contact the contest coordinators at nmmcartcontest@gmail.com.

Westbriar Falcons Shine at Virginia Science Olympiad Regionals!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from the recent Virginia Science Olympiad Division B Regional held at Langley High School. Our Westbriar students traded their Saturday morning cartoons for lab coats and safety goggles, and the results were nothing short of spectacular!

The Road to Victory

This year was particularly unique, as the regional competition was held exclusively between 17 elementary schools across 22 teams. Representing Westbriar were twenty-one dedicated 5th and 6th graders who competed in Division B, a level typically designated for middle schoolers (grades 5–9). Despite the age gap, our students rose to the challenge, competing in pairs and trios across 17 different science and engineering events.

Medals and Milestones

Our Falcons soared high, bringing home 11 event medals and securing 3rd place overall! This incredible team performance has officially qualified Westbriar to advance to the State Competition at UVA this March, where they will tackle an expanded roster of 23 different events. While a snowstorm moved the awards ceremony to a virtual format, the physical medals and our shiny new team trophy are currently being "pony mailed" to the school.

Meet Our Medalists

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the Top 5 for their respective events:

Experimental Design: 1st Place (Valentina, Adrija, & Via)

Crime Busters: 2nd Place (Coby & Rishaan)

Water Quality: 2nd Place (Aadhya & Yohanna)

Boomilever: 3rd Place (Evan & Cedar)

Heredity: 3rd Place (Georgiana & Valentina)

Rocks & Minerals: 3rd Place (Nihaal & Rehan)

Hovercraft: 4th Place (Coby & Cedar)

Anatomy & Physiology: 5th Place (Ayin & Anneliese)

Potions & Poisons: 5th Place (Ayin & Anneliese)

Dynamic Planet: 5th Place (Cameron & Jonathan)

Water Quality: 5th Place (Georgiana & Dahlia)

A special shout-out to those who just missed the podium but placed impressively high: Coby & Rishaan (6th - Remote Sensing), Cameron, Jonathan & Nihaal (7th - Code Busters), and Evan & Rehan (7th - Solar Systems).

Please join us in congratulating our young scientists and engineers for their hard work, curiosity, and team spirit. We look forward to cheering them on as they head to Charlottesville in March!

National School Counseling Week: February 2nd-6th

National School Counseling Week is a great reminder of just how much our school counselors do to support students both academically and socially-emotionally. We are so grateful for Ms. Jefferson and Ms. Plath here at Westbriar. They support students in so many meaningful ways each day through classroom lessons, small groups, and individual counseling and they always do it with care, compassion, and a steady focus on what’s best for kids.

Ramadan Accommodations

As Ramadan approaches, families are encouraged to contact Mrs. Blomquist (kjblomquist@fcps.edu) regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.

Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18th to March 19th FCPS allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information:

  • Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
  • Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
  • Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
  • Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines (form opens 2/4):

  • February 11th, 2026 for week of February 18th, 2026
  • February 16th, 2026 for the week of February 23rd, 2026
  • February 23rd, 2026 for the week of March 2nd, 2026
  • March 2nd, 2026 for the week of March 9th, 2026
  • March 9th, 2026 for the week of March 16th, 2026

Kindergarten Registration

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.

PTA Corner

2nd Annual Movie Night: BAD GUYS 2 🍿🎬
Friday, February 6 @ 7:00 PM
Bring the whole family for a fun evening at Westbriar! Volunteers are needed to help make the night run smoothly—please consider signing up.

 

Westbriar Spelling Bee (Grades 2–6) 🐝
Registration closes February 12
Interested students can participate—sign up using the registration link.

 

Save the Date: PTA Meeting
Wednesday, February 11 @ 7:00 PM (Zoom)
Join us to hear updates, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. We hope to see you there!

 

Winter Skate Night ⛸️❄️
Hosted by the Westbriar PTA

Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 6:45–8:15 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM so you can get skates on and be ready to hit the ice at 6:45!

Bundle up and join us for a fun winter evening on the ice with our Westbriar community!

Where: Fairfax Ice Arena (3779 Pickett Road, Fairfax 22031)

Tickets: $18 per person (includes skate rentals, helmet rentals, and hot cocoa!)

 

Cultural Heritage Night 🌏🗺️🌎
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 5:30–8:00 PM

Save the date and join us for Cultural Heritage Night at Westbriar Elementary School! This special evening is a chance for our community to come together, celebrate the many cultures represented at Westbriar, and learn from one another through food, stories, traditions, and shared experiences. To make this event successful, we’ll need lots of helping hands so please consider signing up to volunteer!

District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

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

  • School Board Approves Proposed Boundary Changes

  • It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.