Tuesday Terragram March 3

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 03/03/2026 03:15 PM EST

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Dear Terraset Families,

As we step into March, we continue to be inspired by the kindness, growth, and curiosity we see in our Tigers every day. Thank you for your ongoing support in making Terraset a place where all students feel valued and empowered to learn.

Our current chronic absenteeism rate is 6.6%. As you know, our goal is to stay below 10% all year, so this rate is a serious celebration! Please note that attendance is taken through the last day of school. This also includes tardies and early dismissals for our students. Every day that we partner together to keep chronic absenteeism down, we provide all Tigers with the environment to succeed. Let’s work together to stay below 10% for the remainder of this year!

We invite you to join us for our PTO meeting on Wednesday, March 4th at 6:30 PM. Our very own Terraset clinical team, Coleman Adkison, school psychologist, and Katie Brown, school social worker, will be presenting on how families can support student mental health. We hope to see many of you there.

Additionally, this month all grade levels will participate in a refresher on Students' Rights & Responsibilities. These conversations will help students reflect on their own behaviors and ensure they align with Terraset and FCPS guidelines for positive and respectful conduct.

As always, we appreciate your partnership in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for our students!

Warmly, 

Katie Aldridge, Principal

Dave Ickowski, Assistant Principal

 📚Yearbook Orders

Celebrate the memories of the 2025–2026 school year with a Terraset Elementary School yearbook!

Yearbooks are available for $13.00 and must be ordered by April 10, 2026. Quantities are limited, so be sure to place your order on time to guarantee your copy.

Families can order online at www.strawbridge.net using the school’s online code: YB35615, or return the completed order form to school. Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the smiles, friendships, and special moments from this school year!

🔬STEAM Night Volunteers Needed!

STEAM Night will be held on Thursday, March 19 6:00-7:30pm. The Children's Science Center is hosting many hands-on activities in the gym and cafeteria! We need staff volunteers to help lead stations. All supplies/equipment are provided; volunteers will just be asked to supervise stations. We need a minimum of 20 volunteers. 

Please direct your questions to Courtney Wiley at clwiley@fcps.edu. Thank you SO MUCH for volunteering! 

Sign up here!

💻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!

📝Learn About Kindergarten at Terraset

Our kindergarten orientation is being held on April 10th at 10:30 a.m. to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school. 

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. 

There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Shannon Johnson with any questions.

🥯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 (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. 

Want to know what’s for breakfast? Nutrition Services has printable menus available.

🗣️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: 

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.

🚸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).

🏫South Lakes Pyramid-Wide PSTA Meeting

The South Lakes High School PTSA is opening its March meeting to all schools in the South Lakes pyramid, in collaboration with Melanie Meren, Hunter Mill District Representative on the Fairfax County School Board. 

  • Connect with others in our Reston school communities
  • Learn from a guest speaker about technology in education, Keena McAvoy, of DMV Unplugged
  • Engage with your School Board Member, Melanie Meren 

For questions, please contact huntermillstaff@fcps.edu.

🌼Girl Scouts

Calling all K & 1st graders: Learn about being a Girl Scout by earning badges, playing games and making new friends! These meetings are free, but registration is required. Please register by filling out the interest list here: bit.ly/WestFairfax. If you need assistance filling out the form or would like to request a translator, please text Morgan Sorenson at 703-372-4351. 

Our meetings will be on February 23, March 2, 9 and 16th from 4:15-5:30 PM. We will be in the Terraset ES Cafeteria. (Caregivers, please have your youth go to the cafeteria at dismissal. I will be there to greet them!)

🐯PTO News

Please be sure to check your student’s Tuesday folder and subscribe to our weekly PTO news email for more information about all PTO-related activities!

  • Learn about Supporting Student Mental Health at Our Next PTO Meeting Tomorrow, March 4: Join us at 6:30pm in the library. We will hear from Terraset’s school psychologist and school social worker about ways families can help. Refreshments will be provided for attendees, and childcare with pizza will be provided for children. See our agenda on for more details: https://www.terrasetpto.org/meeting-agendas-and-minutes.
  • STEAM Night Volunteers Needed - We’re looking for volunteers to help make STEAM Night a success on March 19! If you have Level 1 volunteer approval and can lend a hand, we’d love your support. Email Ms. Wiley (clwiley@fcps.edu) to sign up and join the fun!
  • Tickets Now on Sale for the Terraset Basketball Challenge: Visit https://terrasetpto.square.site/basketball-challenge to get your tickets, pre-order concessions, and more. If the cost of a ticket is a challenge, we have a limited number of complimentary tickets available. Please contact Ms. Chavez (imchavezotoy@fcps.edu) for more information.
  • Spring Tiger Clubs Registration Opens Next Week: The Spring clubs season will take place April 7-May 21. Clubs will be offered Monday-Thursday, with no clubs on any early release days. The schedule is available on Homeroom.com and registration will begin Tuesday, March 10.

🏫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

🐾P.A.W.S. (Parents Appreciating Wonderful Staff)

Have you seen a staff member go above and beyond for your family or student? Take a moment to fill out this quick form to let us know and say thank you! 

Click here to tell us about a PAWSitively amazing staff member! 

🗓️TES Looking Ahead:

  • Wednesday, March 4- PTO Meeting @ 6:30 p.m. (TES Library)
  • Wednesday, March 18- 3-hr Early Release
  • Thursday, March 19- Terraset STEAM Night @ 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 20- No School (Nowruz)
  • Thursday, March 26- Terraset Basketball Challenge
  • Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3 - Spring Break/No School
  • Monday, April 6 - No School (Teacher Workday)
  • Friday, April 10 - No School (Teacher Workday)
  • Friday, April 10- Kindergarten Orientation @ 10:30 a.m.

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