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March 4 Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
There are so many great things happening around Union Mill! Thank you to our families for your generous donations and for coming out to support the Kids Heart Challenge. Our students learned so much about healthy lifestyles while having fun together. We are also looking forward to the warmer weather this week and the positive energy it brings to our school community.
Friendly reminder that daylight saving time will begin Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, March 12th - Picture Day
Friday, March 13th PTA Sock Hop (6:00-7:30 pm)
Thursday, March 19th - Kindergarten Book Character Parade
Friday, March 20th - Eid-al-Fitr Holiday (No School)
Wednesday, March 25th - 3-hour Early Release
Friday, March 27th - 2-hour Early Release
Monday, March 30th - Friday, April 3rd - Spring Break
Monday, April 6th - Teacher Work Day (No School for Students)
Friday, April 10th - School Planning Day (No School for Students)
- Unified Sports @ CVHS
Wednesday, April 29th - Kindergarten Orientation
See the complete school year calendar
Kids Heart Challenge
The Kids Heart Challenge was a huge success! Thanks to the Union Mill community, we raised $24,543.49 for the American Heart Association! The top three highest earners were: Leyna H., Jackson S., and Quinn K
We had an amazing group of staff volunteers, 7th grade alumni volunteers, and 6th grade volunteers. The night could not have run as smoothly without their help. We are already looking forward to next year’s event.
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Military Family Field Day - Saturday, April 18, 2026
FCPS is excited to celebrate the Month of the Military Child with a good, old-fashioned field day! We invite all military-connected families with FCPS students to a special field day to honor our military-connected children. Join us for an afternoon of fun and community at Annandale High School (4700 Medford Dr, Annandale, VA 22003) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy field day games and crafts at the football and track stadium. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to support various FCPS school clubs and organizations. This is a great opportunity to connect with other military families across the division! To RSVP, please complete this Google form by Friday, March 27, 2026.
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FCPS Art Summer Opportunities
FCPS’s Fine and Performing Arts Camps (IFTA, E-IFTA, and Production Camp) is OPEN NOW through June 5, and classes are already filling up!
Program Overview
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) Grades 6–11 Two sessions: July 6–17 and July 20–31 Students select four courses in visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, and design. Sessions culminate in a showcase/exhibition. We also offer Online Health & PE 9 for rising sophomores – a popular option for students interested in freeing up an elective slot in their schedule!
Website: bit.ly/FCPS_IFTA
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) Grades K–5 Four one-week sessions: July 6–31 Students rotate daily through art, music, theatre, and dance in a joyful, age-appropriate environment led by FCPS arts teachers.
Website: bit.ly/FCPS_EIFTA
Production Camp Grades 6–11 July 6–31 (Evening performances July 30 & 31) Students collaborate to produce a full theatrical production, with tracks in performance and technical theatre. This year, we are excited to produce High School Musical 2!
Website: bit.ly/FCPS_PC
Camp Details
📍 Location: Robinson Secondary School 🕣 Camp Day: 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Early drop-off: 7:30 a.m. Aftercare available until 5:00 p.m. 🚌 Bus transportation available at no extra cost
Tuition assistance is available for FCPS students eligible for Free and Reduced Meals. We are committed to access and welcome FCPS, private, homeschooled, and out-of-county students.
Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians
The Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in March:
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
- Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
- Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Family Orientation (for military families)
- Mind in the Making: Making Connection and Critical Thinking
There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including reducing parent stress and anxiety, parenting neurodivergent kids, why smart kids struggle, and a countdown to kindergarten.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.
2026 A. Heath Onthank Award Nominations: March 2-13
The purpose of the Onthank Award is to grant recognition for accomplishments of outstanding worth in advancing and improving public service in the Fairfax County Government and School System by an individual county employee.
Pretty much everyone EXCEPT teachers and IAs are eligible. Examples of eligible positions include Librarians, Front Office staff, Food Services, Custodians, Building Supervisors, Bus Drivers, Safety and Security Staff, Operating Engineers, Central Office staff.
Applications for the Onthank Award applications can be found here and are due Friday, March 13
Email questions to: HRAwards@fairfaxcounty.gov
Kindergarten Registration and Orientation
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!
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
UMES Sock Hop Update
Please note that we have reached capacity for our upcoming Sock Hop on Friday March 13th from 6-7:30 PM – thank you for your incredible response!
Updated UMES PTA Calendar of Events
View our updated calendar of events here.
Volunteer for the 2026/2027 PTA Board
Are you interested in serving on the PTA board or in a volunteer position? Reach out by the April 15 PTA Meeting. We will put together the 2026/27 officer slate in April and vote in May. 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.
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!
Click this link to get started and use code P7R07LNQ!
Visit us at unionmillpta.org, follow the PTA on Facebook @UMESPTA and email us anytime at pta@unionmillpta.org.
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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