 In this Paw Print:
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School News:
- Principal's Message 🗣️
- Where in the School is Ms. Andujar!?🔍
- Prayer & Fasting for Ramadan ✨
- Ramadan Student Fasting Meal Kits 🍽️
- Lockdown Drill🔒
- Talent Show 🎹🎻🩰🎸🤹
- Yearbook Photo Submissions 📷
- Screenagers Online Film Viewing 💻📱
- Spring Picture Day 📸
- STEM Club ⚙️
- Student Experience Survey 📝
- Middle School Transition Fair ↗️
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PTA News:
- We Need YOU!!! 🫵
- Vote on Spring After-School Classes 🗳️
- Mario Kart Coin Race! 🪙
- Chick Fil A Spirit Night Rescheduled 🐔
- Join the PTA! ❤️
Dear Poplar Tree Families,
We loved seeing all the Olympic Spirit this week! Our students really went for the GOLD as they dressed up in the various themes. Check out Facebook and Instagram to see photos from each Spirit Day!
During this time classes have also been participating in our Read Like a Champion Olympic "Reading Events" in order to earn gold medals. Some of these challenges include reading while laying under you desk, reading a non-fiction book to learn Olympic facts, or reading with a buddy! Next Friday, we'll have an assembly to celebrate all the hard work the students have been doing during these reading events!
As a reminder, Monday, February 16 is a holiday for staff and students and Tuesday, February 17 is a teacher workday for staff. The Main Office will be closed from 9:30 am – 11:30 am so our office staff can attend an event.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Sue Andujar, Principal
Amy Alley, Assistant Principal
Where in the school is Ms. Andujar!?
This week's video features Ms. Andujar visiting our Main Office Staff! ☎️
A Note about Ramadan for our Poplar Tree Families
Ramadan, one of the holiest times on the Islamic calendar, begins on February 18 at sundown. If your child needs an alternative space for lunch or prayer during this time, we will accommodate them. Please complete THIS FORM and we will make arrangements. Please note that students will be required to bring a quiet activity during this.
Student Fasting Meal Kits 🍽️
From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver 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:
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February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
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February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
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February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
Lockdown Drill 🔒
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.
A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. We will have a lockdown drill on Friday, February 20. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.
Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.
Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.
🎹🎻🩰🎸🤹
PTES Talent Show 2026
Sign Up For The Talent Show!
Come showcase your skills!!
- Every performer must complete the registration form by February 22nd. Register HERE!
- Any background music (cut down to 2 min. in length) is to be submitted to uncramer@gmail.com by no later than February 22nd.
- Rehearsal will be held on Monday March 2nd directly after school, a parent/chaperone per act is required for rehearsal and for the night of the performance.
- The performance date is Friday March 6, 2026
Questions? Email: uncramer@gmail.com
Photos needed for the Poplar Tree Yearbook! 📷
Grown-ups, do you have photos from school events such as the Panther Prowl, Book Fair, First Day, Pajama Dance, field trips, class parties, or other memorable occasions? Do you have photos of students participating in after-school clubs or performances? Submit them to the Poplar Tree Yearbook for the chance for your photos to be featured. Please make sure to include information such as the name of the event and tag students pictured (if possible). The deadline for submitting photos is Sunday, March 1st.
Submit photos HERE!
Screenagers📱
Online Film Viewing
From February 1-15, we invite you to watch the award-winning documentary, Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age - Elementary School Age Edition. This film explores the impact of screen time on children and teens, offering practical solutions and strategies for parents and educators to navigate the digital world together. In today's technology-driven environment, understanding how to foster healthy screen habits is more important than ever. If you missed our in-person screening last year, this is a great chance to view this documentary.
Starting Feb. 1, click here for access: https://www.thescreenagersproject.com/online-screening/poplar-tree-elementary-school
 Spring Picture Day 📸
Spring Picture Day is scheduled for March 6th, 2026.
To order your pictures click HERE.
STEM CLUB⚙️
STEM CLUB spots available!!
Students from 3rd-6th grade will learn basics in technology, AI, coding, and other related subjects. The club is sponsored by Mr. Hsiao from Virginia Tech, and we use his program to help teach the students.
The club is first come, first serve! Register HERE!
Middle School Transition Fair ↗️
Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education
For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.
- March 4, 2026
- 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road
- Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!
It’s never too early or too late to start preparing for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult. Ensuring postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.
You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, as well as learn about short and long-term postsecondary supports, employment, postsecondary education considerations, Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post school success.
Click HERE to register.
We Need YOU!! 🫵
Each year our PTA Sponsors an Online Auction and Block Party. At this time, we do not have enough volunteers to make these events happen! Our Online Auction is a great money maker for the school and the Block Party is a very fun community event!
Please consider volunteering your time to support the PTA and our school!
Sign up to volunteer HERE!
(And check out the video below of some 1st graders encouraging you!)
Mario Kart Coin Race!🪙
Start gathering your coins for our upcoming House vs. House Coin Race!
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📅 WHEN:
- Monday, February 23 - Friday, February 27
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☑️ RULES:
- Each house competes against other houses to earn the most points.
- Students bring in coins each morning before classes start.
- Put them in your own house jar for POSITIVE points.
- Put them in other house jars for NEGATIVE points.
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🎮 PRIZE:
- The house with the most points will win a Mario Gaming party with the principals!!
Vote🗳️
Spring After-School Classes
The PTA would like to hear your opinion about after-school classes. Take this quick one-question poll to share what classes you'd most like to see for our spring after-school session.
 Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night 🐔
Rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 24th!
Come support the Poplar Tree Elementary PTA! A portion of the evening's sales will be donated. Make sure to mention Spirit Night when ordering.
If placing an order online: please enter the code: PANTHERS.
Join the PTA! ❤️
Please join the PTA to help support our school!!
If you haven't joined yet, please do so HERE!
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