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Dear Beech Tree Families, In the classroom, students are continuing their learning in Language Arts. 📚 Halfway Through Benchmark Unit 5 📚 We are midway through Unit 5, where students across grade levels are exploring Technology and Society. So far, they have been thinking about: Why we use technology How we take responsibility when creating and using new technology Where ideas for inventions come from You can support this learning at home with a simple conversation or activity: Ask: What is the most interesting fact you have learned in this unit? Why does it stand out to you? Invite your child to draw how they would improve a common piece of technology such as a phone, car, or household item. At the end of the unit, students will bring home their unit magazine. Inside you will find an activity calendar with ideas tailored to each grade level. The Benchmark Families website also offers helpful resources for supporting reading at home. Last night’s PTA Talent Show was a wonderful reminder of what makes our school community so special. The turnout was outstanding! I was genuinely impressed by the courage each student showed on stage. Performing in front of a full audience of peers, staff, and family members is not easy. Whether students were singing, dancing, playing instruments, telling jokes, or showcasing another talent, they stepped forward with confidence and pride. That kind of bravery builds resilience and self-belief. It was a joy to watch. Thank you to our PTA for organizing such a well-run and positive event. These experiences do not happen without thoughtful planning and a great deal of behind-the-scenes work. We are also grateful to our teachers who served as MCs and kept the program moving with enthusiasm and encouragement. Their support helped make the evening comfortable and celebratory for every performer. Families thank you for being such an engaged and supportive part of our school community. We appreciate the partnership and the many ways you show up for our students. With gratitude, Principal Clarke & Assistant Principal Barry

PTA Talent Show Pictures

📌March 4-Career Day 9:30am-11:30am

Here is the sign-up link: https://forms.gle/uTbtsSD8XQrHJucp9

📌March 11-14- Beech Tree Book Fair (During Library Specials)

📌March 12-PTA Meeting-Virtual 6:30pm

Zoom link will be sent by 6:00pm
📌March 14-PTA Fun Fair 10:00am

📌March 20-Student Holiday-No School

📌March 25-Early Release Wednesday- 1:00pm dismissal 

📌March 27-End of Third Quarter - 2-hour Early Release 2:00pm

📌March 30-April 3-Holidays | Spring Break | No School 

📌April 29-Kindergaten Orientation 3:00pm

**Please reference the 2025-2026 School Year FCPS Calendar when making appointments or scheduling family trips.  Attendance counts and everyday matters! **

*To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we kindly request that parents or guardians accompany their children to school events*

Tech Adventure Camp registration is now Open!

A summer enrichment and exploratory program in career and technical education for students in grades K - 5.

Description

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a weekly exploratory camp designed to give students the opportunity to explore Career and TECHnical Education (CTE) program areas by rotating through daily classes. The camp is open to students in grades K-5 during the 2025-26 school year. Classes are modeled after CTE program areas and include:

• Business and Marketing
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Health and Medical Sciences
• STEAM
• Trades

By participating in our summer enrichment program, students will have a better understanding of the CTE electives offered through FCPS.

Dates

• July 6 - 10, 2026
• July 13 - 17, 2026
• July 20 - 24, 2026
• July 27 - 31, 2026

Location

Robinson Secondary School

Time

• 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Early drop off begins at 7:30 a.m.
• NEW to 2026! After Care is available until 5 p.m. 

Tuition

• Full: $300 per week
• Reduced Lunch: $150 per week
• Free Lunch: $30 per week

FCPS Info Website - https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-tech-adventure-camp

Video - https://youtu.be/jnRjmep4nOI

Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs 

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. 

• 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 — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — 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.  

If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on: 

• Tuesday, March 3, at Waples Mill Elementary School.
• Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
• Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
• Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
• Monday, April 20, Westgate Elementary School.
• Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.

Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

Celebrating the Power of School Breakfast

Multiple studies show that school breakfasts are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers. 

This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services 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. 

Would you like to know what’s for breakfast? Nutrition Services has printable menus available.

FCPS Family Vision Group

We Are Looking For ONE More Representative For Beech Tree Elementary!

Dr. Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, has launched the FCPS Family Vision Group. This group brings together parents and caregivers in a meaningful way through sharing diverse perspectives to ensure that FCPS provides the best possible education experience for each and every student. The Family Vision Group also provides another opportunity to put our 2023-2030 Strategic Plan in action through meaningful communication and collaboration with families and caregivers.

By participating, parents/caregivers gain valuable knowledge and connections to become powerful partners in their child's educational journey. The group also facilitates open discussions with Dr. Reid on important topics related to student success.  Bi-monthly meetings ensure consistent school representation and foster open communication through Q&A sessions, and feedback opportunities to help participants inform other families at their schools. The FCPS Family Vision Group seeks to recognize and strengthen the positive impact of community engagement on student achievement. 

Key responsibilities of the FCPS Family Connection Group Include:

• Regularly attend FCPS Family Vision Group meetings.
• Support the superintendent's outreach efforts to engage families and community members.
• Actively participate in the exchange of information and perspectives.
• Serve as ambassadors to your school community by being an additional bridge to sharing information between families and the superintendent.
• Commit to pursuing the interest of each and every student in Fairfax County Public Schools.

New Visitor Management System

We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry. 

For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.

But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school. 

If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!

🧸Kindergarten Orientation

Beech Tree Kindergarten Orientation will be on Wednesday, April 29th at 3:00pm.  Please mark your calendars.  This event is for rising kindergarteners and their families. We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar at semerino@fcps.edu (703) 531-2600 with any questions.

📅Future Beech Tree ES Early Release Dates

The following Wednesdays are early release days, with a release time of 1:00 pm:

📌March 25 📌

• April 29
• May 20

Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed

The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April18, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Marshall High School. Families will have the opportunity to hear from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore, connect to resources and other families, and participate in afternoon sessions. 

FCPS families are invited to register to attend this year’s conference. Childcare, accommodations, and language interpretation are available.

Families are also invited to register to serve as event volunteers by Friday, February 20. Volunteer hours will be awarded to student volunteers.

Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.

Take a moment to acknowledge and affirm a Beech Tree staff member when they go above and beyond in demonstrating care and dedication that ensures every one of our students is seen, heard, and valued. FCPS Cares. All FCPS Cares nominees are considered for an additional monthly award.

📸 Show Your School Pride! Order Your Yearbook NOW! 🌳

It's time to capture the memories of the school year! Don't let your student miss out on the Beech Tree Elementary School 2025-2026 Yearbook. It's the best way to remember friends, favorite teachers, and all the exciting events from this year!

FCPS Summer Programs Registration now open Includes Tech Adventure Camp, Career Technical Education Summer Academy, Elementary Institute for the Arts, Institute for the Arts, and Production Camp at Robinson Secondary School. Registration link

☎️ Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages

Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

Beech Day=Lunch Visits

Beech Days (Open Days in YELLOW):

These are the days you can come to school and have lunch with your student:

• March: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
• April: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Lunch Schedule

Unavailable Days Due to Wednesday Early Release (in RED):

These are the dates where Beech Days are unavailable because of early release closures:

• March: 25
• April: 29
• May: 20

We encourage family members to enjoy the same lunch as their child, whether it's a packed lunch or from the school cafeteria. To maintain the integrity of our meal program, we kindly request refraining from bringing fast food options.

On the day of your child's scheduled lunch, please arrive 5 minutes early to sign in at the office. Our staff will direct you to the cafeteria. As you depart, please remember to check out at the office. For those opting to purchase lunch from the cafeteria, adult pricing is $5.00 and non-FCPS students under the age of 18 price is $3.25, payable in cash. For more details on lunch options, please click here.

FCPS News

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

• The FCPS Budget
• School Safety 
• Community Conversations

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

Beech Tree School Information

Hours:  9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:05 a.m. for arrival)

Attendance Line:  703-531-2626

Attendance Email: BeechTreeElem.Attendance@fcps.edu

School Registrar: Sandra Merino (703) 531-2620

Family Liaison: Ivett Rivas Urbano (703) 531-2601

Stay updated, sign up for 

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3401 Beechtree Lane, Falls Church, VA 22042  | Main Phone: 703.531.2600
Attendance: 703.531.2626 | Web | Twitter