Bonnie Brae ES: Family Newsletter (March 13)

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Principal's Message

Hello, Scottie families!  

Looking for ways to support our school?  Please consider volunteering to help out in the cafeteria during lunch.  We greatly appreciate those parents who have volunteered to support in the cafeteria, and we are looking to extend our Bonnie Brae parent/caregiver volunteers.  Please click on this link to share your interest in volunteering during school lunch.  Thank you!

A reminder that next week on Thursday, March 19, we will have a schoolwide pajama day, which was earned through the PTO Read-a-Thon. Keep reading, Scotties!  

Finally, a reminder that there is no school next week on Friday, March 20, in observance of Eid al-Fitr.  

Enjoy the weekend with your family and friends. 

Morgan Birge, Principal

Rose Stephens, Assistant Principal

Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal


Family.  Relationships.  Success.


Week at a Glance

  • March 18 - PTO Meeting (in-person), 6-7 PM
  • March 19 - Read-A-Thon Pajama Day!
  • March 20 - Eid al-Fitr & Nowruz Holiday (no school for students and staff)

Scottie Feature

A few amazing highlights that happened this week...


Students catching snowflakes on their tongues

One day it feels like summer, and the next you are catching snowflakes on your tongue!


Updates

calendar reminder graphic

Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (evening only observance day, holiday) - No School on Friday, March 20

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. See the complete school year calendar.


Three-Hour Early Release - Wednesday, March 25

Wednesday, March 25 is our next Early Release Wednesday.

Any changes or questions related to your child's early release plan for March 25 should be sent to bbesearlyrelease@fcps.edu. Changes to early release plans should be communicated by 11 AM on Wednesday, March 25.

Students will be dismissed three hours early at 12:15 PM.

As a reminder, if you shared that your child/children will need to stay at Bonnie Brae on our Early Release Wednesday, they will be dismissed at the regular time of 3:15 PM.

All preschool classes will follow their normal schedule.


Club and Candid Photos Day - Monday, March 23

Club and Candid Photos Day takes place on Monday, March 23. One Victor O'Neill photographer will take candid photos while visiting learning spaces.  Another Victor O'Neill photographer will take club and group pictures. If your child participates in any of the listed clubs and groups, they will have their picture taken on March 23.  

The club and group picture schedule is below.  

8:30 AM 6th Grade Chorus & ACC Oedemann
8:45 AM Sixth Grade Band DiMassimo
9:00 AM Sixth Grade Strings Miller
9:10 AM Patrols Orahood
9:25 AM Best Buddies McCormick & Jordan
9:40 AM Fifth Grade Strings Miller
9:50 AM Fifth Grade Band DiMassimo
10:05AM Fifth Grade Chorus Warr
10:15 AM Eco Club Shirey & Clark
10:30 AM SCA Lewis & Falkenstein
10:40 AM Girls on the Run Hovey
10:50 AM Fourth Grade Strings Miller

spring picture day

Spring Individual and Class Photo Day-Thursday, March 26

Our Spring Picture Day takes place on Thursday, March 26.  Students will have their individual photo taken, along with a class picture.  

  • Approximately ten days after picture day, families will have the option to order online. Victor O'Neill will offer free shipping during a two week period once images are online.
  • Victor O’Neill Studios will notify Bonnie Brae when images are ready to be viewed.  We will then communicate this information to families.
  • Please feel free to direct questions regarding picture day or online ordering to our office at the following email: Underclass@vosphoto.com.


Order Your Yearbook

Order Our 2025-2026 Bonnie Brae Yearbook!

Bonnie Brae yearbooks are officially on sale!  All orders (online only) are due by April 17, 2026The prices detailed below are for all yearbooks purchased by April 17, 2026.

  • Soft cover yearbooks are $18
  • Hard cover yearbooks are $24
  • Option to add a foil name stamp for an additional $4  

To order a Bonnie Brae ES Yearbook via credit card online, visit https://www.buytheyearbook.com/en/bty/findmyschool and use School ID Number 732269

We will have a limited number of yearbooks for sale on-site in June at a cost of $20 per soft cover yearbook (no hard cover yearbooks or foil name stamps will be sold on-site).

Yearbooks are expected to arrive late-May/early June. 

Visit the Bonnie Brae Yearbook webpage for details.


Kindergarten Orientation

Kindergarten Orientation - Friday, April 10

Have a rising kindergarten student? Join us for Bonnie Brae's Kindergarten Orientation!   

What: Kindergarten Orientation (for rising kindergarten students and their parents)

Where: Bonnie Brae Elementary

When: Friday, April 10, 1-2:30 PM (doors open at 12:45 PM)

Learn More About This Event & Sign Up:

Register Your Kindergarten Student for School:

  • Prepare for kindergarten registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit the FCPS Kindergarten Registration webpage.  Online registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open.

April Statewide Election: No School for Students

There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled. 

Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.


This Is Us

This Is Us! - A Celebration of our Bonnie Brae Community

You are invited to join us for our "This Is Us! - A Celebration of Our Bonnie Brae Community" on Thursday, April 23, from 5:30-7 PM.  We will learn about the cultures and traditions that make up our Bonnie Brae community as we experience performances, demonstrations, food, and a share fair. We are looking for families to share about their culture and traditions with our Bonnie Brae community. 

Please view our This Is Us! webpage and our This is Us! flyer (sent home in today's Tuesday Folder) to learn more about this event and to register to share about your family's culture, heritage, and traditions.

To sign up for an event(s), please complete the below Google Form or complete and return the bottom portion of our This is Us! flyer to your child’s teacher at your earliest convenience, no later than Thursday, March 26.

Once you have signed up for an event (potluck, share fair, performance/demonstration, parade of families), a staff member will be in touch with follow up information.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to celebrating Bonnie Brae families! 

Please reach out to Larissa Sheehan (ltsheehan@fcps.edu) and Catherine Weiss (cweiss@fcps.edu) with any questions.


Phones Off, Learning On

FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students focus, learn, and engage. When students put their phones away, they have more face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers and more opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Please remind your child that:

  • Cell phones and personal devices (earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
  • Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.

If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our front office at (703) 321-3900.. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.


County Seeking Budget Input

About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. They are currently reviewing the county’s 2027 Fiscal Year Advertised Budget and are considering possible adjustments before the final county budget is adopted in May. Provide the county with feedback on how you would like your tax dollars spent by completing this survey.


Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

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: 

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.


Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9

FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open through 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.


Bonnie Brae ES PTO

Read-a-thon prizes

READATHON EXTENDED

We have great news - we're so close to hitting our goals and watching Mr. Birge kiss a goat, that we've decided to extend the Readathon. You have until Tuesday, March 17, to log minutes and raise funds, so let's keep going strong, Scotties!

If you haven't registered, you can do so at https://app.99pledges.com/fund/readathonbbes/addme - use you personal management link (from your confirmation email) to invite friends and family to donate and to track your minutes read. Questions? Email bbpto@bonniebraepto.org.


After School Clubs

Bonnie Brae Spring After-School Clubs – Registration Coming Soon! 

The Bonnie Brae PTO is excited to bring back our Spring After-School Clubs Program! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore new interests, develop skills, and have fun with friends after school.

This spring’s clubs will include a wide variety of activities such as sports challenges, nature exploration, jewelry-making, Disney karaoke, watercolor art, balloon animals, cooking, Squishmallow sewing, and more!

Teacher-Led Club Registration

  • Opens Tuesday, March 17 at 7:00 PM
  • Closes Friday, April 3 at 5:00 PM

Keep an eye on Tuesday folders and the PTO website for detailed club descriptions and registration instructions.

Company-Led Clubs

Programs such as Silver Knights Chess and iCode will open registration sooner and will be managed directly through their individual websites. Flyers with details will be sent home soon.

Clubs begin the week of April 13.

Questions?

Visit the FAQ section on the PTO website or contact the After-School Clubs team at afterschool@bonniebraepto.org.

We look forward to another fun and engaging season of clubs for our Scotties!


iCode

Parent Night Out – Game Night at iCode! 

There’s no school on Friday, March 20, so give the kids a fun night out while supporting the Bonnie Brae PTO!

If your child was hoping to attend the Read-A-Thon prize party at iCode but missed it, this is another great opportunity to experience the fun.

Where: Parent Night Out at iCode – Burke

When: Friday, March 20, 6– 9 PM

Cost: $40 per student

Who: Students in Grades K–6 welcome

Register Here: https://secure-portal.icodeschool.com/Base/EventEmbeddedUrl/B1DD01AD21

Students will enjoy an evening of gaming with friends playing approved games like Minecraft and Roblox in iCode’s gaming hubs. Pizza and drinks are included!

Parents can enjoy a relaxing evening while the kids have a blast.

Proceeds benefit the Bonnie Brae PTO, helping support school programs, field trips, classroom resources, and enrichment opportunities for our students.

Spots may fill quickly, so register early!


Upcoming Events

  • March 23 - Club & Candid Photos Day
  • March 25 - 3-Hour Early Release Closing, 12:15 PM
  • March 26 - Individual & Class Picture Day
  • March 26 - Staff Basketball Game at Robinson, 6-8 PM
  • March 27 - SCA Spirit Day:Dress Like a Teacher
  • March 27 - Two-Hour Early Release (End of Third Quarter), 1:15 PM
  • March 30-April 3 - Spring Break (no school for students and staff)
  • April 6 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
  • April 7 - Fourth Quarter Begins
  • April 10 - School Planning Day (no school for students)
  • April 10 - Kindergarten Orientation, 1-2:30 PM
  • April 14 - Third Quarter Report Cards Go Home

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FCPS Standard School Year Calendar

Printable FCPS 2025-26 School Calendar (PDF)


Bonnie Brae Hours - Office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Instructional 8:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.