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A collage titled "Shrevewood Elementary" featuring four photos of students reading, drawing, and working together on STEM activities in classrooms.
đPrincipal's Message
đWise Owl Way Positive Referrals
đRead Across America Week
đRobotics Event
đCelebrating the Power of School Breakfast
đNew Visitor Management System-Raptor Safe
đFasting Meal Kits
đSpring Picture Day
đKindergarten Orientation
đSeeking Career Day Volunteers
đLocal Food Bank
đShrevewood PTA News
đFamily Resource
đLimited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools
đEnsuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS
đProcedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch
đCell Phone and Smart Watch Policy
đStudent Birthday Policy
đAttendance
đSchool Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
đFCPS News
đSave the Date
Dear Shrevewood Families,
As we look toward the first week of March, itâs hard to believe that Spring is just around the corner. Next week (March 2â6) is Read Across America Week, a time when we join millions of students across the nation to celebrate the power of literacy.
At Shrevewood, we strive to move beyond teaching children how to read and helping them to love to read. Literacy is the gateway to every other subject, but it is also a window into different worlds and a mirror for our own experiences. Whether itâs a graphic novel, a non-fiction book about space, or a classic Dr. Seuss rhyme, every page turned is a step toward a brighter future. To celebrate, we have an exciting Spirit Week planned. More details are found in the newsletter below.
You are your child's first and most influential reading teacher! Here are three low-pressure ways to boost their skills this week:
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The "Reading Sandwich": Try 10 minutes of reading together before or after a favorite activity. It helps children associate reading with relaxation rather than "work."
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Audiobooks Count: Listening to stories builds vocabulary and comprehension just as much as physical reading. Itâs a great option for car rides!
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Ask "What If?": When reading together, ask: "What if the character had made a different choice?" This builds critical thinking and deeper engagement with the text.
We are so proud of the progress our students are making. Thank you for your continued partnership!
Sincerely,
Katie Vandawalker, Principal
Dan Reichard, Assistant Principal
- Maraki K. (1st Grade)
- Huda J. (1st Grade)
- Sullivan B. (1st Grade)
- Zoe L. (1st Grade)
- Charlie F. (1st Grade)
Weâre excited to celebrate a love of reading during Read Across America Week at Shrevewood! Throughout the week, students will participate in fun, themed spirit days that highlight the joy of books and reading together. We encourage everyone to join the fun and show their school spirit!
 Monday: Hats off to reading! Wear your favorite hat!
Tuesday: Camp out and read! Wear clothes you can go camping in!
Wednesday: Team up for reading! Wear your favorite sports gear!
Thursday: Read with a friend! Bring a book to share!
Friday: Cozy up and read! Wear your pajamas!
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Oakton Cougar Robotics will be hosting a robotics event for elementary school students at the City of Fairfax Regional Library this upcoming Sunday, March 1st, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.Â
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Multiple studies show that school breakfasts are important in supporting overall student health by improving studentsâ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers.Â
This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.Â
Want to know whatâs for breakfast? Nutrition Services has printable menus available.
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Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18, FCPS will be rolling out Raptor Safe, our new visitor management system. This system will be the standard way to sign in at all FCPS schools. Â
The new system allows you to preregister via the Raptor Safe App, saving you valuable time when checking in for school visits or events! We strongly encourage all family members to download the app and complete their registration today. It will only take a few minutes to complete the process!
Registration Options:
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Via the App: Search "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit com/raptorsafe-app/Â for direct links.
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In Person: If you are unable to register ahead of time, you can still complete the process at the school kiosk. Please ensure you have a valid photo IDÂ with you to check in.
From February 18th to March 19th, 2026, 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:Â
- Kits are charged based on a studentâs 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 Feb. 4):
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March 2nd, 2026, for the week of March 9th, 2026
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March 9th, 2026, for the week of March 16th, 2026
Spring Picture Day is Tuesday, March 3! You can place your order at mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTF4NNGW. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get free shipping! Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Tuesday, March 3. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only via mylifetouch.com
Parent Helpers Wanted: Help us make Spring Picture Day smooth and effortless. Contact the office if you'd like to volunteer.
- Friday, April 10 at 9:30 A.M.
- Learn about Kindergarten at SWES
- Meet the teachers
- Tour the School
Shrevewood is looking for members of our greater community to share their careers with our students for our first annual Career Day!
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Times: 9:30â11:30 a.m. and/or 1:30â3:30 p.m.
Contact: If interested, please contact Shari Winston at slwinston@fcps.edu.
Timber Lane E.S. has invited Shrevewood families who are in need to participate in their family market. Market dates are listed below.

ONLINE AUCTION
The Shrevewood PTA is excited to host our first online auction April 13-27! The Auction Committee is busy reaching out to local businesses, and we wanted to give our community a chance to donate and help!
Donation ideas:
- Special talent or service you can offer
- Access to a government building, news room, theatre, or stadium for a behind-the-scenes tour
- Experiences like âbe a vet/graphic designer/pre-school teacher/vacation planner/auto mechanic/etc. for the dayâ
- Tickets for a sports team or theatre
- Access to music venues, travel opportunities, vacation homes/timeshares, or similar Â
All donations will receive a donation receipt for the approximate value of the item and are tax deductible! We appreciate your support!
If you have items to donate, please fill out this form, https://forms.gle/oGKS5bPqyfW1FSSn9!
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BINGO NIGHT
- Pizza! Snacks! Raffle prizes!
- Friday, March 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Shrevewood cafeteria
- Bingo cards are free!
- Raffle tickets: $2.00/ticket or $5.00 for 3 tickets
- Pizza will be available for purchase at the event for $2.00/slice
- Sign up to volunteer
PTA OFFICERS NEEDED FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Shrevewood needs great volunteers like YOU to serve on the 2026-2027 PTA Board! Interested in making a direct impact on our students' learning experiences? Want to support teachers and staff, while strengthening the family-school connection? Shrevewood thrives because of the people who show up for our kids. Check out the open positions below and help us shape the next chapter of our school!
The nominating committee is looking to fill the following positions:
- President: oversees and coordinates the work of the board, presides at board meetings, and serves as the PTA's official contact and representative
- Secretary: keeps records and minutes of PTA meetings, drafts PTA newsletters, and assists with other communications
- VP Programs: coordinates programs and events
- VP Membership: promotes membership, processes new members
If you are interested or have any questions, please reach out to: Emily Gillotte (esgillotte@gmail.com), Deb Sutton (wahoobloom@aol.com), or Kate Kelly (katespadekate@gmail.com).Â
Joining the board might be your "wisest" decision to make a difference for the Shrevewood Wise Owls!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE PTA
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.Â
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools â Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood â and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. Â
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
Three-hour early release days for Shrevewood E.S. will include:
Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.Â
Volunteer Registration Update
Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers.Â
If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.
Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. âââââââ
Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check).Â
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.
Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.
As a reminder, all volunteers â and visitors to a school â are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website or contact our Volunteer Point of Contact, Pilar Quintero Flores, pjquinterofl@fcps.edu, with questions.
We are excited to open our cafeteria for parents and guardians to join their children for lunch at school! We know how much you value connecting with your child, and this is a great chance to share a special moment during the school day.
If you'd like to have lunch with your child, please follow these steps:
- Enter at Door 1 and report to the Main Office.Â
- Using a government issued photo ID, sign-in and receive a visitor sticker.Â
- Wear the visitor sticker at all times.Â
- Report directly to the cafeteria.Â
- Enjoy lunch with your child(ren).Â
- Return to the main office to check-out using your visitor sticker.Â
- Please don't visit the classroom or recess, so our daily schedule and routines can continue without interruption for our students.Â
- Please do not bring fast food for lunch.Â
- Please do not bring any food to share with other children due to safety protocols and allergies.
Please remind your child that FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:
- Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
- Cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office. Learn more about FCPSâ cell phone and personal device policy.
As an administrative team and school, we will be recognizing and honoring our students' birthdays monthly. For the safety of all students and staff in our building and to limit the amount of classroom disruptions, please do not send in food or toys for your child's birthday.
Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your childâs well-being. FCPS has created a Health Flyer for Parents indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please review FCPS Attendance Policies and resources to encourage regular school attendance.Â
Parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE HERE. Families can also report absences by emailing shrevewoodelem.attendance@fcps.edu or calling 703-645-6666 before 10:00 a.m. each day.
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, students will enter their student ID number as their cafeteria PIN at the cash register to receive their meals.  You can access your studentâs ID number via ParentVUE.
Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast will be $1.75. Lunch will be $3.25. Money can be added to your child(ren)âs accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com. You may also write a check to Shrevewood Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager. During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch at https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/ESSF44.
Free and Reduced-Price Status
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September. A new application must be completed each new school year. Forms are available online now: https://www.fcps.edu/frm. Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 813-4800 if you need help. This application must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- FCPS Budget
- School Safety Updates
- Family Academy
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.Â
âRead Across America Weekâ
Mar. 2-6
âSpring Picture Dayâ
Tuesday, Mar. 3
âBingo Nightâ
Friday, Mar. 6
â3 Hour Early Releaseâ
Wednesday, Mar. 18
âEid al-Fitr Holidayâ
Friday, Mar. 20
(No school for students or staff)
âCelebration of Learningâ
Thursday, Mar. 26
âEnd of Quarter-2 Hour Early Releaseâ
Friday, Mar. 27
âSpring Breakâ
Mar. 30-Apr. 3
(No school for students or staff)
âTeacher Workday/Student Holidayâ
Monday, Apr. 6
(No school for students)
âSchool Planning Day/Student Holidayâ
Friday, Apr. 10
(No school for students)
âKindergarten Orientationâ
Friday, Apr. 10
âCareer Dayâ
Friday, Apr. 17
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