2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

• March 9:  Sign up for student fasting kit for the week of March 16
• March 16: Music in our School Monday! Wear a music t-shirt
• March 18: 3-Hour Early Release at 1:05 pm
• March 20: No School, Eid-al-Fitr and Nowruz 
• March 26: Heritage Day and Night! Wear culture inspired attire
• March 27: 2-Hour Early Release at 2:05 pm, End of 3rd Quarter
• March 30-April 3: No School, Spring Break
• April 6: Student Holiday, Teacher Work Day
• April 10: Student Holiday, School Planning Day
• April 10: Kindergarten Orientation, 10:00 am-11:30 am

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

This week was National School Breakfast Week and our admin made pancakes for our staff!

Message from Principal Vereb 

Please excuse the duplicate message. We realized the March 6 newsletter did not send on Friday as scheduled, and the updated principal message was not reflected before the message was saved and released.

Principal’s Message

Dear Herndon Elementary Families,

It has been a busy and meaningful week of learning and collaboration at Herndon Elementary.

On Monday, our staff engaged in a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) planning day led by our Title I Resource Teacher, Mrs. Abby Hamilton. During this time, teams reviewed student data and planned supports to ensure every student receives the instruction and assistance they need to succeed. Throughout the week, our leadership team also continued one-on-one coaching conversations with teachers and celebrated the hard work of our students during our Science Olympiad recognition event.

Midweek, our faculty gathered for a community meeting focused on strengthening our MTSS structures so we can continue providing timely and coordinated support for students. At the same time, our Carnegie Clear Math partners worked alongside teachers to plan upcoming instruction, visit classrooms, and reflect on teaching practices that support strong mathematics learning. These collaborative efforts help ensure instruction remains aligned and responsive to student needs.

On Thursday evening, our Family Engagement Committee (FEC) shared updates with families and provided learning focused on appropriate technology use. Additionally, the PTA hosted their general meeting in the library, where we discussed upcoming events, renovation updates, and the need for parent volunteers for the PTA Executive Board for 2026–2027. We appreciate the partnership of our PTA and families in supporting the success of our students and school community.

We also welcomed colleagues from the FCPS Office of School Support (OSS) on Friday. Together we conducted classroom learning walks in our third and sixth grade classrooms to observe instruction, celebrate strengths, and identify next steps as we continue preparing students for the SOL assessments that begin in May.

Across classrooms this week, we saw students actively discussing their thinking, working with partners to solve problems, and using clear learning targets to guide their work. Teachers are continuing to use data and regular feedback cycles to refine instruction and ensure students are making strong progress.

We are also encouraged to share that our school’s chronic absenteeism rate has continued to decline and is now 9.9%, reflecting the strong partnership between families and staff in supporting student attendance.

As we move into the spring months, our focus remains on strong instruction, targeted support for students, and maintaining the momentum our students have built throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our Herndon Elementary Bees.

📸Snapshots from Principal Vereb

Students reorganizing their desks and book boxes, working on science projects, and admin making pancakes for staff.

Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 8
Turn Clocks Ahead 1 Hour

Daylight saving time will begin Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 am local time in the U.S. The clocks "spring forward" by one hour, meaning sunrise and sunset will occur one hour later.

El horario de verano comienza el 8 de marzo Adelantamos los relojes una hora

El horario de verano comenzará el domingo 9 de marzo a las 2:00 am, hora local. Los relojes se "adelantan" una hora, lo que significa que el amanecer y el atardecer ocurrirán una hora más tarde.

Herndon ES March Madness Calendar

Parents, our students love dressing up for spirit days!  We're so excited to share our March calendar of spirit days with you!  From Music in our Schools Monday (wear a music themed t-shirt) on March 16 to our Heritage Day and night (wear cultural inspired attire) on March 26, these are exciting ways to bring extra joy to our school days. 

Also, every Wednesday wear college or career gear and on Fridays wear Herndon ES spirit wear, school colors red, yellow, and black, or anything with bees on it.  Go HES Bees! 🐝🐝

Herndon Elementary School 

Our Amazon Wish List has recently been updated with current classroom and student needs, as we items to support our teacher break snack cart.

Please consider sharing the link with your families and school community. Donations directly support our students and help ensure classrooms remain well stocked with essential supplies throughout the year.

We are grateful for your partnership in supporting our school community.

HES Heritage Night is Coming!
March 26

Thursday, March 26, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Save the date for our exciting Annual Heritage Night!  Experience our community's vibrant heritage and many cultures at one of our most popular events of the season.

Families, if you have an artifact that represents your heritage and would like to share it that evening, please bring it to the main office to Mrs. Perez before or that night.  Make sure you put your name and phone number on it so it can  be returned.

We need volunteers!  If you haven't registered with FCPS to be a volunteer, please do so today and you'll be all set to volunteer: Volunteer FCPS.

Please contact Mrs. Perez in the main office at MYPerez@fcps.edu

Herndon ES 29th Annual Career Day Participants Needed!

Each year we host an annual career day to present information for our future workforce! 
You are invited to participate in our 29^th ANNUAL Career Day on APRIL 23! It's a SCHOOL WIDE day of fun.  We have 2 sessions available: 10-Noon and 1-3 with a great lunch provided! 

Each grade level attends for 30-40 minutes and has the chance to explore, interact, and communicate with the participants.  We prefer a hands-on approach for the learning; students & staff have the opportunity to create, play instruments, touch animals and engage in a variety of ways. 

We have space for you and hope you can join us to share your career area with all of our students.  Please contact Tiffany Bryant at TABryant@fcps.edu.

🐝

Countdown to Kindergarten: Supporting a Smooth Transition

Is your child heading to kindergarten this fall? Join FCPS staff for Countdown to Kindergarten, a virtual event designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition! The webinar will take place on Friday, March 27, from 10 to 11:30 am.

During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support their child's smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools. Register to receive the event link. 

Registering your child early helps schools prepare and ensure they have the necessary teachers and resources in place on the first day of school.  A child may enter kindergarten for this coming school year if he or she turns five on or before September 30, 2026.   

If you have not registered your child, we are scheduling appointments for all rising kindergartners.  We have Spanish translators in the office and can arrange for other languages as well.  Please contact Shermin Sirajudin, our Student Information Assistant, by email at ssirajudin@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-326-3108.

✨ Save the date! Herndon Elementary Kindergarten Orientation will be on Friday, April 10 at 10:00 am.

Visit the Herndon ES registration webpage for more details.

Meal Kits for Fasting Students

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 for every student who wants a kit. The next deadline is March 9, for the week of March 16, which is the last week of meal kits

• Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day. 
• Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
• Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.

Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and more information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.

Body Safety Program at Herndon ES

The Body Safety Program is scheduled to take place at Herndon Elementary the week of March 23rd for grades Pre-K-6^th. If you would like to opt your child out of this program, please make sure to send in a signed opt-out form (English/Spanish) no later than March 6th. Printed copies went home this week. Please note that Rylynn, a Department of Family Services Facility Dog, will be on-site Friday.

• OPT Out Form - English
• OPT Out Form - Spanish

Sleep Awareness Week

The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week is March 8 to 14. The observance highlights the critical link between sleep and health, both physical and mental. Read more about sleep health and sleep strategies you can try at home.

FCPS 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.

FCPS Family Academy

The FCPS Family Academy is where families like yours can learn and get support for their child's school journey. 

We know that as a parent or caregiver, you're important in your child's education. The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by Fairfax County Public Schools to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. The Family Academy also includes information about resources available to help you ensure your student has what they need to succeed.

More information can be found here.

FCPS Fine and Performing Arts Camp

We are excited to share information about our Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) — a dynamic summer enrichment program serving students currently in grades K–5. Students currently in grade 6 are eligible for our secondary program, Institute for the Arts (IFTA).

Our programs offer students daily experiences in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance in a fun, supportive environment designed to nurture creativity and confidence. To ensure access for all families, we provide:

• Tuition assistance
• Transportation
• After care options

More information can be found here.

FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference: Rescheduled

FCPS’ 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall High School. Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage. Please register for the event. If you registered before, please re-register for the new date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause and appreciate your understanding.

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:
  • 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.  

Follow the Herndon Elementary renovation progress which is located on the FCPS website by clicking here.

Administration E-mail:

• Principal, Monika Vereb mgvereb1@fcps.edu 
• Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Baxter eabaxter@fcps.edu 
• Assistant Principal, Daphne Holliday daholliday@fcps.edu
• Assistant Principal, Kelly Cosgrove kmcosgrove@fcps.edu

📸(Left to Right): Mrs. Cosgrove, Dr. Vereb, Mrs. Holliday, and Mrs. Baxter

Do you know a Herndon Elementary staff member who goes above and beyond or turns the ordinary into something extraordinary? If so, click here to nominate them for FCPS Cares and help us share their story.

Click here to follow us on X (Twitter).

Click here to like our Facebook page.

Click here to follow us on LinkedIN.

Click here to access our website.

630 Dranesville Rd. Herndon, VA 20170  | Main Office: 703-326-3100
Attendance: 703-326-3131 | Web | Twitter | Facebook