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Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
During last week's Principal's Coffee, we shared the incredible progress taking shape within our walls. At the start of the year, we set out with a "Blueprint for Success" to strengthen our students' foundations in reading, math, and science. Today, we are thrilled to report that the "structure" of our student learning is strong.
Our midyear data reveals exciting trends that point to a solid foundation for the months ahead. In math, we are seeing fantastic momentum as students reach new milestones in problem-solving. Our literacy landmarks are equally strong, with more students than ever making progress and demonstrating proficiency. Perhaps most exciting is the "Academic Talk" buzzing throughout the school! Our students aren't just finding answers... they are learning how to articulate their reasoning and compare ideas with their classmates to deepen their understanding.
Families, you are a vital part of our crew. Whether it’s reading together at night or ensuring your child arrives ready to learn, your partnership is the "mortar" that holds this foundation together. We are so grateful for the trust you place in us, and we know this progress is only possible because of your constant collaboration.
We're heading into "Spring Phase" of our construction, and we remain focused on providing the right supports to help every Mighty Red Bird soar. Thank you for being such amazing partners in this journey. Let’s keep building great things together!
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Long, Mrs. Agner, Mrs. Compton
Upcoming Dates 📆
March 13 - Spring Picture Day 📸
March 13 - Authors Visit, during specials 📖
March 20 - No School (Eid al-Fitr)
March 30- April 3 - No School, Spring Break
April 6 - No School, Teacher Workday
April 10 - No School, School Planning Day
April - Kindergarten Orientation @ 1:30PM!
🌟Mrs. Long's Blueprint Byte
Our budding scientists put their theories to the test by building and investigating their very own electromagnets! By adjusting wire wraps and battery power, students gathered real-world data to discover exactly what makes a magnetic field stronger. It was incredible to watch them analyze their results and transform their observations into solid scientific conclusions.
2025-2026 Cardinal Forest Yearbook Ordering
1 Visit www.candidcolor.net and select Yearbooks. Enter your access code:CRFEYBK26
2 Select the quantity of books to purchase. Add the yearbook to your cart. Click “view cart” or “checkout” to verify your order and continue.
3 Fill out your student’s information. Enter your billing information and pay by credit card.
Order your yearbook by: March 28, 2026
Cardinal Forest Yearbook Cover Contest
Contest Rules
Please follow all contest guidelines below:
- Submit an original drawing on an 8½ inch by 11-inch piece of white paper.
- The design must be vertical (portrait orientation).
- The drawing must include a cardinal and the words “Cardinal Forest.”
- The drawing must be fully colored.
- Use crayons or markers only.
- Add as many details as possible.
- Write your student name and teacher name on the back of your paper.
- Entries are due by April 8, 2026
Meal Kits for Fasting Students
From February 18 to March 19, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. Please note other important details below:
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Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
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Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
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Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.
Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.
Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility. Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation and any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process.
Also, please share with families you may know that have a child who will turn 5 on/before September 30, 2026!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Karen Stephens at kdstephens@fcps.edu, or 703-923-5201
🧸Save the Date: Kindergarten Orientation!
We are excited to welcome our newest Mighty Red Birds!
Kindergarten Orientation will be held on April 10 at 1:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for incoming kindergarten students and their families to visit the school, meet our staff, and learn more about what to expect in the year ahead.
More details will be shared soon — we can’t wait to meet our future kindergarten families!
Daylight Saving Time ~ Sunday, March 8th
Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. Remember to "Spring Forward" by moving your clocks ahead one hour! While we look forward to more evening sunlight, the shift can impact student routines and morning safety.
To help your child (and yourself!) adjust to the "lost" hour and the extra evening light and ensure a safe and refreshed start to the week, consider these steps:
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Incremental Adjustments: Start shifting bedtimes 10–15 minutes earlier each night leading up to Sunday.
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Manage the Light: Use blackout curtains or heavy shades to keep bedrooms dark during the brighter evenings.
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Morning Sun: Seek out natural light as soon as you wake up to help reset the internal "body clock."
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Limit Screens: Turn off electronics 60 minutes before bed.
Let’s embrace the longer days ahead by staying safe and well-rested!
Pre-K and Early Head Start
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).
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our biennial Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Our families’ feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools. Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link by email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on the FCPS website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Purple Up FCPS 💜
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!
Purple Up! Day ~ Wednesday, April 15th
This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military.
Did you know, Kings Glen has been as recognized with their Purple Star Designation since 2022, and this year was the recipient of the Purple Star 2nd Award?
FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
Arrival and Dismissal - Be A Good Neighbor!
As a reminder, please help us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth for everyone. We ask families to be good neighbors and mindful of:
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Not blocking intersections or painted boxes during Kiss & Ride —this impacts visibility and also prohibits access for emergency vehicles.
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Crossing only in crosswalks and watching carefully for cars.
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Avoiding parking in residential areas, fire lanes, or private parking spaces.
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Refraining from making illegal U-turns.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
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.
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