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February 25 Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
Thank you for your support and flexibility with today's early release. Our staff was able to utilize this time to plan for instruction to support your kids. We were also able to come together as a staff and deepen our knowledge around Zones of Regulation and Small Group Instruction.
Thanks to our PTA for hosting a conversation on digital safety last week. Below you will find some FCPS recourses to support with digital wellness at home.
We are looking forward to our Kids Heart Challenge this Thursday! We look forward to seeing you there. Additional details below.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, February 26th - Kids Heart Challenge 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Friday, February 27th - SCA Spirit Day: Pod Color Day
Tuesday, March 3rd - Red Across America Day
Thursday, March 12th - Picture Day
Friday, March 20th - Eid-al-Fitr
Friday March 13th PTA Sock Hop from 6:00-7:30 pm
Wednesday, March 25th - Wednesday 3-hour Early Release
Monday, April 29th - Kindergarten Orientation
See the complete school year calendar
Kids Heart Challenge
 It is finally here! This Thursday, February 26, from 5-6:30 pm is the Kids Heart Challenge event! The event will run as an open house so you can come at any point during that time. Students do not need to register to attend, but if you would like to register with the American Heart Association, please click here or use the QR code below.
At the event there will be food and drinks for sale: $2 a slice pizza, $1 water bottles, and $1 bag of carrots. Please join us for dinner at any point between 5-6:30 pm.
Our KHC web site will close on Monday, March 2. The heart hero characters will be sent home next week. The post-event prizes (jump ropes, t-shirts, playground ball, etc.) will arrive in about 3 weeks.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Murray at jbmurray@fcps.edu.
Digital Resources For Families
Fairfax County Public Schools offers a wide range of valuable resources for parents—please explore the following sites and tools to support your child’s learning and well-being.
Digital Tools used at UMES
Students should log in using their school username (studentID@fcpsschools.net) and their regular school password—the same username and password they use to log into their school computer.
February Olympic Reading Challenge!
🥇🥈🥉 The Winter Olympics are kicking off this month in Italy, and it’s time to bring the Olympic spirit to reading! Join the UMES Olympic Reading Challenge and see how many reading medals you can earn. Will you go for gold, silver, or bronze? Every level completed earns you a fun water bottle sticker—so start reading and let the games begin. Click here to download the challenge!
Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence
Families and community members are invited to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and uplift the voices shaping our future at FCPS’ Second Annual Black History Month Celebration. Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence will take place on Wednesday, February 25, at 6 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event will honor the rich history, strength, and contributions of the Black community through inspiring student performances and a powerful keynote address by Rev. Vernon C. Walton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vienna. Light refreshments will be available.
Support 6th Grade Recycling
We are looking for parent volunteers to supervise our sixth grade recycling team on Thursday afternoon. The time commitment is about 20 minutes. If you already come to UMES on Thursday afternoons to pick up your student – this would be perfect for you! The recycling team starts at 3:00pm and is usually done by 3:15/3:20pm. There is NO lifting involved on the part of the adult. You are just there to supervise as students collect the large wheeled recycling bins in each of the pods and the cans from the teacher’s lounge. All of it is brought out to the recycling dumpster off of the loading dock. We would love to keep this program going but we need a few more adults. Volunteer commitments can be one or twice a month. Please email Ami Schroder, GET2GREEN co-sponsor at amschroder@fcps.edu if you can help support this effort!
Kindergarten Registration
 Online Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online access. Details are available here: Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Online Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current families can register their new student through their existing ParentVUE account. (No need to register students returning to UMES.)
Our Registrar, Catherine Dubas, is happy to process registrations directly, as well. Please contact her at cmdubas@fcps.edu and be ready to provide your family’s address and rising kindergartener’s date of birth. Catherine will respond with registration details and documents necessary to start the process.
Spring registration puts you on the list for school communications, so don’t wait!
Save the Date
Union Mill’s Kindergarten Orientation for rising kindergarteners is scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2026 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Early Release Wednesdays
The Centreville Pyramid, which includes Union Mill Elementary, will have the following three-hour early release Wednesdays. On these days, students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. This time allows for our staff to plan, collaborate and grow professionally.
Thank you for your help in making these days smooth and enjoyable for everyone!
Additional information can be found on the FCPS Early Release Wednesdays webpage.
It's Time to Order a Yearbook!
It's time to order your 2025-2026 yearbook! Families may place orders at www.buytheyearbook.com with school ID# 732149. Yearbooks are $16.49 each.
Don't miss your chance to order a yearbook as there will not be extras available at the end of the year.
The deadline to order is April 15, 2026.
UMES PTA
Hot Off the Digital Presses!
The second quarter Union Mill PTA newsletter has been published! Read about everything happening in the 3rd quarter with Union Mill's PTA as well as our most exciting wins from the 2nd quarter. Would you like to see something different in next quarter's newsletter? Let us know! Write in to correspondence@unionmillpta.org!
Click here to view the newsletter.
Thank You for Attending the Digital Safety Conversation with FCPD
Thank you to FCPD Community Outreach Officer Jon Kaminiski as well as all who attended the PTA meeting and digital safety presentation last week. We will share an audio recording of the presentation, resources for parents, and additional information soon.
Kids Heart Challenge Volunteers Needed
We are looking for a few volunteers to help sell pizza, water, and carrot bags during the Union Mill Kids Heart Challenge event on Thursday, February 26th! It’s an easy gig – just a 30 minute shift so you can still enjoy the event with your family. PTA and UMES staff will be alongside you to teach you how to manage the cashbox and Square devices. Thank you for your help! We’ll see you on the 26th!
Click here to volunteer.
First Ever UMES Sock Hop is Coming!
Get ready to rock 'n roll in your craziest mismatched socks! In honor of the upcoming World Down Syndrome Day, the Union Mill PTA is hosting our first annual Sock Hop with a DJ in the Union Mill gym on Friday March 13th from 6-7:30 PM.
Snacks will be provided and we will have pizza available for sale. There will be a sensory-friendly space available to all students. Space is limited, be sure to pre-register. This is not a drop off event, all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here to register.
To make this event a success, we need your help! Please consider volunteering.
Sign up to volunteer here.
Volunteer for the 2026/2027 PTA Board
Are you interested in serving on the PTA board or in a different volunteer position? Reach out before April 1st, as we will build our 2026/27 officer slate in April and vote in May. All the details can be found in the Union Mill Messenger newsletter.
Click here to read the Union Mill Messenger.
Dave & Busters Power Cards FUNraiser
Purchase a $10 or $20 Power Card and support Union Mill PTA programming and initiatives plus have some fun with your family and friends! Power Cards can be used ANYTIME at ANY LOCATION! 50% of every purchase will be donated back to Union Mill PTA! Power Card sales end March 20th and your cards will be distributed on March 27th in Friday Folders.
Purchase your Power Cards here.
Spring Flower Sale
Temps are rising and the snow is going to melt! Why not start to get your garden summer ready while supporting the UMES PTA? You can help support our entire UMES community simply by ordering your spring flower seeds and bulbs through Flower Power Fundraising. You can order here. The PTA will earn 50% of each sale. Your seeds and bulbs will be delivered to your door! Orders are open now through May 15th. Have questions? Please e-mail waysandmeans@unionmillpta.org.
Box Tops for Education
We are a Box Tops for Education school! All you have to do is download the app and scan your printed receipts or upload your digital receipts. Shopping at Walmart? Just connect your account, no scanning required! Check out the special offers for the month of November!
Click this link to get started and use code P7R07LNQ!.
Union Mill Hours
Bell Schedule
Doors open at 8:35 am. Students should be in class by 8:45 am.
Students are dismissed at 3:30 pm.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday - 8:15 am - 4:15 pm
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