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Churchill Chatter - Issue 14
March 9, 2026
Important Dates
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Thursday, March 12 - Spring Indivdual Portraits & Class Photos
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Wednesday, March 18 - 3-Hour Early Release, Student Dismissal @ 12:20 PM
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Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr - School Closed
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Friday, March 27 - End of Quarter 2-Hour Early Release @ 1:20 PM
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Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3 - Spring Break
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Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
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Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day, Student Holiday
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Wednesday, April 22 - 3-Hour Early Release, Student Dismissal @ 12:20 PM
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Wednesday, May 6 - Reading SOL for Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6
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Tuesday, May 12 - Mathematics SOL for Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6
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Thursday, May 21 - Science SOL for Grade 5
Dear Churchill Road families,
What a beautiful start to the school week. With the time change came some long-awaited spring sunshine and warmth. Over the past few weeks,
- We have a new Churchill Road Spelling Bee champion - thanks to all who participated and showed their superlative spelling skills. Our PTA and staff organized a wonderful event.
- Our fifth and sixth grade students participated in a Bake for Good program - learning the science behind the baking, and offering an opportunity to make loaves to contribute to a local food bank. Many thanks to Mrs. Truax for organizing!
- Fifth graders also enjoyed a field trip to the Alden Theater to see a performance about John Lewis.
Looking ahead,
- Our third graders will visit Colvin Run Mill to learn about simple machines and our sixth graders will travel to Philadelphia.
- Our spring picture day for both individual and class photos is this Thursday, March 12.
- Wednesday, March 18 is an early release day; students will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m. (details below).
- School is closed Friday, March 20 for Eid al-Fitr
Again, we thank everyone for helping us keep our absenteeism rate as low as possible. This time last year we were at 7.5%, now we are at 4.1%. This is a big win for our entire school community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Pierson-Barr and Mr. Kilpatrick
In This Week's Issue
- Kids Heart Challenge
- Family Engagement Survey
- Attendance Matters
- Early Release Wednesday, March 18
- FCPS Black History Month Celebration - Recap
- Language Arts Updates
- Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
- Langley Youth Tailgate
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Kids Heart Challenge!
Churchill has heart! For the 27th year, Churchill Road has again partnered with the American Heart Association to educate students about the cardiovascular system, while providing information on keeping this essential body system healthy throughout life. The American Heart Association launched the Kids Heart Challenge, formally known as Jump Rope for Heart. Kids Heart Challenge is the same as Jump Rope for Heart, only now it aligns more with our Health and Physical Education curriculum.
This year we have set a goal of $10,000. Last year our students raised an amazing $13,781!!! Churchill Road was #4 in Fairfax County and in the top 20 for the state of Virginia! It is just another example of how our families value living a healthy and active lifestyle along with the generosity to help a good cause. Our total fundraising over the past 27 years has been a whopping $432,659.36!!
Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser forms will go out in this week’s VIP folder. Students who choose to participate in the fundraiser will have the opportunity to earn Thank You gifts from the American Heart Association while helping millions across the United States through the American Heart Association. We are again going 100% online donations this year, no physical money will be collected. The fundraiser will officially begin on Monday March 16 and end on Friday April 10, 2026.
Click the link below to sign up now! Search “Churchill Road.” Thank you for your participation in this great event! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Varhol.
https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/ym_school_search.html
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Attendance Matters
Our current chronic absentee rate is 4.1%, compared to 7.5% in 2025.
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your 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 via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Early Release Wednesday Reminder - March 18
Just a reminder that our next three-hour early release is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 with a 12:20 p.m. dismissal. We will send all students home based on the dismissal information collected for our last early release in February. Please help us make sure your child's dismissal runs smoothly by verifying and/or updating the dismissal method, as necessary.
As a reminder, all students are expected to dismiss from school at the 12:20 p.m. time. An eNotify reminder will be sent out later this week.
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Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her 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:
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Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
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Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
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Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
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Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Rooted in Resilience, Echoes of Excellence: FCPS’ Second Annual Black History Month Celebration
The spirit of heritage and the promise of the future filled the air at Carter G. Woodson High School as FCPS held its second annual Black History Month Celebration with the theme, Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence. This year’s event was especially significant as it coincided with the 100th anniversary of the movement that became Black History Month.
Students from across the division took center stage as the true "echoes" of this excellence. The program featured student-led Moments of Pride that connected local and national history to contemporary achievements. A spirited keynote speech was delivered by Vernon Walton, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Vienna. Another highlight of the night was the FCPS Black Excellence video tribute.
Read more about the Black history event.
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📚 Journeys and Themes in Language Arts 📚
Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts is about the lessons we can learn from different stories around the world. Students in K-5 will be learning about themes across cultures. Sixth grade students will learn about legendary journeys.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: What’s a lesson that you’ve learned recently, or a challenge you had?
- Activity: Pick a few of your child’s favorite books or classic stories such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” With your child, discuss each story and whether it has a lesson.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
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Schools Closed Friday, March 20 for Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz
Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (evening only observance day, holiday)Thursday, March 19, is an evening only observance day for Eid al-Fitr, which begins at sundown. Friday, March 20, is a holiday and all schools and offices are closed for Eid and Nowruz. See the complete school year calendar.
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Langley Youth Tailgate - April 14
Join students and families from other Langley Pyramid schools for the Youth Tailgate at Langley High School on Tuesday, April 14 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. It promises to be a fun event with games, a guessing booth, a prize wheel and more!
In Case You Missed it...
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Board Adopts Budget
- New Date for Special Education Conference
- Celebrating Our Schools
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
FCPS Cares Program
Recognizing employees who go above and beyond
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS, and more specifically, Churchill Road employees.
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