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To read this newsletter in other languages, please click on the link below.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, haga clic en el enlace a continuación y elija su idioma.
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English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | Français | Русский
 Human drivers or robot-driven cars? Which is better? This is the question for the upcoming Great Debate in fourth grade. In order to prepare, students are first taking careful notes from the texts they are studying in class. This is an AAP lesson that all students have been accessing.
News from the Fox Den
March 6, 2026
A Message from Ms. Consolla
As you know, safety is our number one priority at Fort Hunt. This is a team effort. Unfortunately there was a fender bender at Kiss & Ride this morning. Luckily no one was hurt. I want to emphasize two reminders:
- Drive with extra care and attention. It might mean turning off music and driving slower. Be on the look-out for children.
- Always exit students on the curb side. If you have a younger child, consider placing their car seat behind the driver so that passengers can exit out safely on the curb side.
Teachers are finalizing third quarter interim progress reports. If a teacher has any concerns about academics or citizenship skills, they will complete a report which will then be emailed out on Monday. As always, please connect with the teacher with questions you might have.
Finally, please see the flyer below about our yearbook. It is on sale for $15 through April 17. Mr. Green, our art teacher, works all year to put together a colorful recording of our school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.
Jean
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Follow us on Instagram @FortHuntES
Please Be Kind to Our Trees: No Climbing
As the weather turns warmer, gathering outside Door 11 after dismissal for a few minutes of play is a Fort Hunt tradition. For safety reasons, children need to stay out of the trees, especially the one by the driveway. And it's important that we take care of our beautiful grounds and allow our trees to grow and blossom. Thank you for monitoring your child(ren) and sharing this expectation with other caregivers.
Family Engagement Survey to Open on 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.
 To make a purchase, please scan the QR code or log in at www.myschoolbucks.com
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!
Spirit Fridays are Here!
March 13: St. Patrick's/Wear Green Day
March 19: Hawaiian Beach Day
March 27: Pajama Day
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 FCPS is about to add an additional way to ensure our students stay safe and engaged while using their devices. New filters will be in place to shut down access to gaming sites as well as proxy servers. Please see the graphic above. You can learn about Lightspeed here and how to get reports on sites your child visits.
The West Potomac Pyramid Montessori Program at Bucknell ES is now accepting applications for Pre-K and Kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year.
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The Approach: Multi-age classrooms focused on discovery, independence, and hands-on learning.
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No Tuition: New PreK students will attend tuition-free for the 2026-27 school year.
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Key Dates: The lottery is now open. Apply by March 20 for initial consideration.
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Eligibility: Open to eligible students living in the West Potomac Pyramid.
Explore the program and apply today at www.fcps.edu/montessori.
Questions? Email Montessori@fcps.edu.
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, in the spring. Eligible children can be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps schools prepare and ensure they have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and complete registration forms as soon as possible.
FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, please visit the FCPS Registration webpage.
Please direct any registration questions to Ms. Rosa Dobarco here at Fort Hunt at 703-619-2600 or rrdobarco@fcps.edu
SCA Food Drive Runs Now thru March 19
The Fort Hunt Student Council will be sponsoring a food drive. The time frame of this year’s food drive will be February 19th to March 19th. The students are looking to collect all non-perishable food items to donate to a local organization.
*** Please make sure items are not expired!!!***
Non-perishable items include: canned fruits/vegetables, canned beans, peanut butter, jelly, condiments, coffee/tea, salt/pepper, dry cereals, pastas, oatmeal, bags of beans/rice, tomato sauce (no glass), cooking oils, soup, sugar, flour, etc….
Please feel free to bring donations in the morning to the Fort Hunt Elementary School during morning arrival. We will have SCA members collect the food near by the main office, just inside the main entrance. If donating a large amount and need a specific time frame please feel free to reach out to Mr. Michaels, the SCA Teacher Advisor.
The Student Council would like to thank you in advance for making this food drive a success this school year.
📵We Are Phone-Free During School
As a reminder, FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:
- 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. At Fort Hunt, this begins when students enter the building in the morning.
- Cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-619-2600. Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy. Also, view our Media Balance and Well-Being Toolkit for resources to help your child maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with technology at home
Can I Send Cupcakes on My Child's Birthday?
No, we do not have class birthday celebrations. Please do not send in any treats.
At Fort Hunt, we recognize students on their birthday on the morning news show. And at the end of the month, all students born that month are invited to Cupcakes & Books at lunch time. Our PTA sponsors this event where students can pick out a cupcake and a book to enjoy.
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We are PET-Free on Our Campus
As a reminder, all FCPS campuses, including Fort Hunt, do not allow pets at any time or day of the week. This includes drop-off and afterschool pick-up. It's fine to wait up on the sidewalk on Linton Lane with your pet. This rule is in place to ensure all students feel safe and to keep our grounds clean. Thank you!
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Lost & Found
If you are missing a jacket, sweatshirt, or umbrella, be sure to stop by our Lost and Found in the cafeteria to check for any missing items. You can access it from home by going to our website with a live gallery. Follow the directions on the page for how to claim items. Our Family Liaison, Mr. Antoine Pierce, can assist. He can be reached at (703) 619-2674 or apierce@fcps.edu
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What's For Lunch?
You can find the monthly menu here by scrolling down to Elementary menus for breakfast and lunch. Families can add money to their child's account at My School Bucks.
Families may join their child for lunch at Fort Hunt on Family Fridays. You can read about the expectations and procedures for Family Fridays in our handbook.
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Important Times
Arrive on campus: 8:30am
Kiss & Ride: 8:35-8:55am
Doors Open: 8:35am Tardy Bell: 8:55am
Dismissal Bell: 3:40pm
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
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Important Dates
Friday, March 20 | No School for students & staff (Eid al-Fitr)
Wednesday, March 25 | Early Release Wednesday 12:40pm dismissal
Friday, March 27 | Last day of Quarter 3: 1:40pm dismissal
Spring Break: Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3
Monday, April 6 | No School for students: Teacher Workday
Thursday, April 9 | Kindergarten Orientation 4-4:45pm
Friday, April 10 | No School for students: School Planning Day
You can access the full 2025-26 calendar here. Days that are shaded pink or blue are holidays for students. Orange days are NOT school holidays.
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Get Involved with your PTA
Consider becoming a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Fort Hunt. It's a great way to connect with other parents, learn about how to support your child and to have fun at their amazing community events! There are many ways where you can share your voice, talents and time. Everyone working together makes this a great community. Check out the PTA website for more information.
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Parent/Guardian Handbook
Do you have questions about attendance or food/drink at school or what students can wear? If so, please check out our Parent/Guardian Handbook on our Fort Hunt website. It's available with translations. Click here to access it. Of course, if you have a question about a situation that is not listed, reach out to your child's teacher or an administrator.
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Your Partners in Education
We are honored to work with your family this year and will work everyday to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us when there is a question or concern, especially related to bullying. As a parent, you will often hear about something before staff might. Thank you for all your support.
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Patty Settel, Assistant Principal
pasettel@fcps.edu
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