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5th grader Valentina C. had the opportunity to share her original AI-created song with Dr. Reid, explaining the inspiration behind it and her vision for the future of learning.
Dear Bailey's Upper Families,
We are excited to share a special moment from this week that truly reflects the talent, creativity, and heart of our students.
Dr. Reid visited our campus to meet with one of our incredible 5th grade students, Valentina C. Recently, Valentina created an original song using AI technology, and she had the opportunity to share it with Dr. Reid. During their time together, Valentina thoughtfully explained the process she followed, the meaning and inspiration behind her song, and her ideas about what education could and should look like in the future.
It was a meaningful conversation. Valentina spoke with honesty and confidence about her thinking and her hopes for learning. Moments like this remind us why student voice matters so much.
We are so proud of Valentina and grateful for the way she is using her skills and creativity. We love when our students step forward and show what they can do.
Thank you for being part of a community that supports and encourages our students to explore, create, and share their ideas.
With pride,
Bailey’s Upper Admin Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
✨ Thursday Folders ✨
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- Bailey’s Read-A-Thon: Story Extravaganza (English and Spanish)
✨ This Week ✨
- VALLS Student Summary Letter were sent home to a set of specific students only. Please check your child's backpack to find it in a envelope.
Please take a few minutes to review these items with your student so you stay up-to-date with all the exciting things happening in our school community!
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9th to Monday, March 23rd. 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.
Please use this link to complete the survey online:
FCPS Family Engagement Survey
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
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📖 Read-a-Thon: Story Extravaganza! 📖
We are wrapping up our Annual Read-a-Thon with a fun filled Closing Celebration, and we would love to see you there! Let’s come together to celebrate all the incredible reading our students have done.
✨Tomorrow will be the final day to earn and log reading minutes during the celebration, so encourage your child to finish strong and bring their love of reading with them!
Special Guest Author: Bilingual author Gabriella Aldeman will be joining us for a special presentation.
Enjoy amazing stories shared by our Primary and Upper staff in both English and Spanish.
A Book for Every Student: Every student who attends will go home with a book to keep the love of reading going.
🚪 Doors Open 6:00 PM
🎉 Event Begins 6:30 PM
📍 Bailey's Primary - Cafeteria
🍕 Food Available: Pizza and beverages will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
📚 Book Donations Welcome
If you have gently used books to donate, please bring them with you. They will be shared with our newest community partner so she can help spread the love for books with other schools in our community. 📚
Let’s celebrate a wonderful season of reading together. We cannot wait to see you there! 📖✨📚
📝 Important Reminder
Reading logs and donations are due Wednesday, March 18th.
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Our third-grade students participated in a meaningful mentorship experience with students from the AVID program at Justice High School. In small groups, the high school students led conversations about leadership, inclusion, and the importance of treating others with respect and kindness. They shared personal experiences about overcoming bullying and discussed the Justice High School motto, “We Are One,” which emphasizes respecting and valuing everyone’s differences. Using Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” students reflected on how this message applies to their daily interactions and shared actionable steps they can take to treat each other with respect and improve our school community. This special visit provided our students with positive role models and helped reinforce the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
 Students from the AVID program at Justice High School discussing the positive impact of the Super Bowl Half-Time show with our 3rd graders.
Last week, our 4th grade students had the exciting opportunity to welcome back former Bailey’s Spanish Immersion student Max Pabilonia, currently serving as Miss Spotsylvania County 2026. During her visit, Max shared her journey from Bailey’s to becoming a scientist and now an AI engineer, inspiring students to explore careers in STEM. She also led students in a hands-on “Resilience Lab Challenge,” where teams worked together on an engineering activity that promoted problem-solving, creativity, perseverance, and teamwork. We are proud to see Bailey’s alumni giving back to our community and inspiring the next generation of learners.
 Bailey’s Spanish Immersion alumna Max Pabilonia, Miss Spotsylvania County 2026, sharing her journey to becoming a scientist and AI engineer with students in Ms. Wagner's 4th grade class.
This past week, our 5th grade students engaged in a health-focused workshop with Team CleanLungs, led by a Langley High School Class of 2026 student and founder of the program. The presentation gave students clear, age-appropriate information about vaping, including its impact on the brain, lungs, and heart, as well as how flavors and social media can influence perceptions. Using real statistics, personal stories, and guided discussion, students explored nicotine addiction, healthier coping strategies for stress and peer pressure, and left better equipped to make informed, healthy choices.
 5th graders explore vaping awareness and healthy choices with Team CleanLungs during a class presentation.
WIDA Testing
WIDA Speaking - Testing concluded Friday, March 13th
Standards of Learning SOLS
Fifth grade students will be taking the Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Standards of Learning (SOL) on Wednesday, March 18th. All other SOLs for all grades are scheduled for May.
- In preparation for the upcoming 5th grade IRW and the SOLs in May we sent home an SOL Notification of Testing letter to all families on Thursday, March 6th. The letter shares information on the SOL’s your child will take this year. It explains that students will also have an opportunity to retake an SOL if needed. A parent retake permission form is included on the letter. If you would like your child to have the opportunity to retake an SOL, please plan to complete the bottom half of the letter and ask your child to return the form to their teacher.
If you have any questions regarding past, current, or upcoming assessments, please contact Nicole Cassidy or Hugo Duran, our School Testing Coordinators at 703-503-2700
Justice Pyramid Art Show – Bailey’s Tigers Featured!
The annual Justice Pyramid Art Show is approaching fast! Our Bailey’s Upper Tigers who have gone above and beyond in art this year will have their artwork displayed in our section of the show at Justice High School.
Reception Details:
📅 When: Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Justice High School, 3301 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church, VA 22044
🎭 Location: Little Box Theater
If your family is unable to attend the reception, you can view your child’s artwork during the day:
📅 Monday, March 23 – Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
🚪 Entrance: Please use Door 1 for security
Note: The reception on March 26 is the only evening opportunity to see the show.
We can’t wait to celebrate the creativity and hard work of our talented Tigers!
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Throughout the month of March, we are celebrating the power of music and the many ways it supports student learning and growth. Music helps students listen, learn, and connect while building important skills they use every day in and out of the classroom.
Through music, students develop perseverance and a growth mindset, think creatively and critically, and learn how to collaborate and communicate with others. Making music together also helps students explore different cultures, build understanding, and gain confidence in expressing their ideas and emotions.
From playing instruments and singing to performing together, music opens doors to endless possibilities and helps our students grow as goal-directed learners, collaborators, communicators, and global citizens. 🎵
We are proud to celebrate the joy and impact of music in our school community all month long!
Our school is blessed to have an extraordinary team of music teachers, thank you to Ms. Award, Ms. Freeman, Mr. Gorham, Ms. Herrera, and Mr. Nakamura for all that you do for our students.
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 Congratulations to the Bailey’s Upper team for their exciting win against Bailey’s Primary in the PTA Basketball Tournament!
🎻 Play at the Justice HS Pyramid Concert! 🎶
We are excited to invite our 5th Grade string students to perform IMPULSE alongside the Justice HS Orchestra on their stage at the Justice HS Pyramid Concert on Tuesday, April 14th!
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience performing at the high school level, connect with fellow musicians, and be part of something special. ✨
🎁 Students will receive a free goodie bag filled with a pencil, candy, instrumental supplies, and fun swag!
👩🏫 Students will also have the chance to meet the music teachers:
Ms. Haynes (Justice HS), Ms. Mossey (Justice HS), and Mr. Nguyen (Glasgow MS).
🎼 Participating schools include:
Bailey’s Upper, Beech Tree, Belvedere, Glen Forest, Mason Crest, Parklawn, and Sleepy Hollow.
Please return permission slip to Ms. Herrara as soon as possible. We hope to see many of our talented musicians there! 🎶✨
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Attention 5th Grade Families!
Do you have a rising 6th, 7th, or 8th grader? Are you looking for a fun, engaging, and enriching way for them to spend the summer?
We’re excited to announce that VIP Camp (Value in Prevention) will be hosted at Glasgow Middle School this summer!
📅 Dates: July 1, 2026 – July 30, 2026
🕗 Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday–Friday
🚌 Transportation provided
🍳 Breakfast and lunch provided
💵Cost: $100 for entire month
Registration will open Tuesday, March 17th at 6:00pm.
If you need a reduced fee or full scholarship, please let your Family Liaisions, Marian Perez and Jocelyn Sarwar know.
VIP Camp offers a safe and supportive environment filled with fun activities, learning experiences, and opportunities to build friendships.
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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.
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Our next 3-hour early release is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th. Students will be dismissed at 12:25 PM. All students will follow the same mode of transportation used during the last 3-hour early release. If you need to make any changes to your child’s dismissal plans, please contact the front office at (703) 503-2700 as soon as possible
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Monday, March 16th- PTA Read-A-Thon: Story Extravaganza at Primary Doors Open 6:00pm & Program Begins 6:30pm
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Wednesday, March 18th- 5th Graders take Integrated Ready & Writing SOL Test
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Friday, March 20th- No School - Eid al-Fitr
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Tuesday, March 24th- Bailey’s Upper Career Day
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Wednesday, March 25th- 3 Hour Early Release (Dismissal at 12:25pm)
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Thursday, March 26th- Justice Pyramid Art Show 6pm-8pm at Justice High School
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Friday, March 27th- Club Photo Day
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Friday, March 27th- 2 Hour Early Release (Dismissal at 1:25pm)
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Monday, March 30th-Friday April 3rd- Spring Break - No School
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Monday, April 6th- No School - Teacher Work Day
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Friday, April 10th- No School - School Planning Day
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**NEW** Tuesday, April 21st- No School - Virginia Statewide Elections
 Bailey's Upper March 2026 Calendar
 Ms. Mahmood’s 4th grade class enjoyed a fun surprise visit from Fluffy the Tiger, spreading school spirit and Tiger pride!
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
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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
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.
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.
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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:
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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).
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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 703-503-2700. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
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 A huge thanks to Raising Canes, one of our incredible community partners for helping us celebrate our Upper students’ Odyssey of the Mind achievements with awesome giveaways!
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