Shrevewood Wise Words - March 12, 2026

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Photos of students reading, writing, and having fun.


🌟Principal's Message

🌟Wise Owl Way Positive Referrals

🌟Yearbook Orders

🌟Want to Make a Difference at Kilmer M.S.? Join the PTA Board!

🌟Kindergarten Orientation

🌟Seeking Career Day Volunteers

🌟Local Food Bank

🌟Shrevewood PTA News

🌟Family Resource

🌟Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools

🌟Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

🌟Procedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch

🌟Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy

🌟Student Birthday Policy

🌟Attendance

🌟School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

🌟FCPS News

🌟Save the Date


Principal's Message

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Dear Shrevewood Families,

If you’re feeling a bit of "weather whiplash" today, you aren’t alone. It’s hard to believe that just yesterday we were enjoying a beautiful 80 degree spring afternoon, only to have snowĀ  on the ground less than 24 hours later. It’s a classic reminder of how unpredictable this season can be. Make sure those winter coats aren't tucked too far back in the closet just yet!

Family engagement is an essential part of building a trusting and caring culture that fosters success for each and every student. Your voice is a critical part of that effort and we truly value your thoughts and feedback. Our Family Engagement Survey is administered every other year, and it is a great opportunity for you to let us know how our schools can best serve your family.

Parents and caregivers should have received an email invitation with a unique survey link from FCPS on March 9 with the subject line "FCPS Family Engagement Survey." The survey will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. If you need to step away before you can complete the survey, your response will automatically be saved. Please ensure you complete the survey by Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Thank you for taking the time to help us grow and improve for our students. Stay warm out there!

Sincerely,

Katie Vandawalker, Principal

Dan Reichard, Assistant Principal


Wise Owl Way Positive Referrals

  • Samy L. (2nd Grade)
  • Charlotte A. (5th Grade)
  • Lily O. (4th Grade)
  • Jefren M. (4th Grade)
  • Robert C. (4th Grade)
  • Charlie F. (1st Grade)

Yearbook Orders

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Order your Shrevewood E.S. yearbook today! Yearbook orders can be made online at ybpay.com using the code 15358326. The deadline to order is April 19, 2026.


Want to Make a Difference at Kilmer M.S.? Join the PTA Board!

The Kilmer Middle School PTA is looking for parents to join our board for next school year (2026-2027). We have openings for President, Secretary, and Treasurer — no prior PTA experience required. Interested? Reach out to us at KilmerPTA@gmail.com!


Kindergarten Orientation

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  • Friday, April 10, at 9:30 a.m.
  • Learn about Kindergarten at SWES
  • Meet the teachers
  • Tour the school

Seeking Career Day Volunteers

Shrevewood is looking for members of our greater community to share their careers with our students for our first annual Career Day!

Date: Friday, April 17, 2026

Times: 9:30–11:30 a.m. and/or 1:30–3:30 p.m.

Contact: If interested, please contact Shari Winston at slwinston@fcps.edu.

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Local Food Bank

Timber Lane E.S. has invited Shrevewood families who are in need to participate in their Family Market.Ā  Market dates are listed below.

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Shrevewood PTA News

ONLINE AUCTION

The Shrevewood PTA is excited to host our first online auction April 13-27! The Auction Committee is busy reaching out to local businesses, and we wanted to give our community a chance to donate and help!

Donation ideas:

- Special talent or service you can offer

- Access to a government building, news room, theatre, or stadium for a behind-the-scenes tour

- Experiences like ā€œbe a vet/graphic designer/pre-school teacher/vacation planner/auto mechanic/etc. for the dayā€

- Tickets for a sports team or theatre

- Access to music venues, travel opportunities, vacation homes/timeshares, or similarĀ Ā 

All donations will receive a donation receipt for the approximate value of the item and are tax deductible! We appreciate your support!

If you have items to donate, please fill out this form, https://forms.gle/oGKS5bPqyfW1FSSn9!


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

  • Staff Appreciation Volunteers: Our teachers and staff work incredibly hard, and we’re excited to celebrate them this spring! We’re looking for volunteers to chair or join committees for two upcoming events in April and May. Whether you can lead an event or lend a helping hand, we’d love your support. Let’s make our staff feel the love!
  • Love books? Help out in the Library!: Our librarian, Mrs. Oswalt, is seeking volunteers to assist with book check-ins on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting at 9:45 a.m. While all help is welcome, we are looking for individuals who can commit to a regular schedule. All new volunteers must complete a brief orientation before their first shift. Please email Mrs. Oswalt at beoswalt@fcps.edu to schedule your training.
  • Power Pack Distribution
  • Family Market

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE PTA


Family Resource

Spring is here! With warmer weather and longer days, it’s the perfect time to enjoy outdoor activities. However, staying safe is just as important as having fun. Keep these essential safety tips in mind as you embrace the season.

Beware of Insects

With spring’s arrival, insects become more active. If you plan to spend time outdoors, wear appropriate insect repellent and protective clothing. Be cautious of stinging insects such as yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, honey bees, and fire ants. While these insects are not usually aggressive, they may sting if they feel threatened.

If you are stung:

  • Leave the area immediately to avoid multiple stings.
  • Remove the stinger by scraping it off with a fingernail or the edge of a credit card.
  • Wash the affected area with soap and water and apply a cold compress.
  • Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms such as chest tightness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, hoarseness, dizziness, nausea, or loss of consciousness.
  • If you have a known insect allergy and are prescribed epinephrine, always carry your epinephrine device like an EpiPenĀ® with you.

Stay Safe While Playing Sports

Springtime means outdoor sports are back in full swing. Protect yourself from injuries by wearing appropriate safety gear. Be aware of concussion symptoms, as they can result from head impacts.

Symptoms of a concussion include:

  • Temporary loss of consciousness.
  • Headache or pressure in the head.
  • Confusion or feeling foggy.
  • Amnesia surrounding the event.
  • Dizziness.

Some symptoms appear immediately, while others may be delayed. If you suspect a concussion, seek medical attention right away.

Bicycle Safety

Biking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but safety comes first:

  • Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
  • Parents should set an example by wearing helmets as well.
  • Avoid biking at night for better visibility.
  • Ride in the same direction as traffic and obey all traffic signs.
  • Ensure your bicycle is in good working condition before heading out.

Hiking Safety

Hiking is a fantastic way to explore nature, but proper preparation is key:

  • Wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
  • Bring plenty of water and a small first aid kit.
  • Stick to marked trails to avoid getting lost.

By following these safety tips, you can enjoy a fun and injury-free spring season. Stay safe and make the most of the great outdoors!

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/make-this-spring-a-safe-one

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/get-healthy-stay-safe-outside-in-spring


Limited Early Release Days for Elementary SchoolsĀ 

Three-hour early release days for Shrevewood E.S. will include:

  • March 18
  • April 22
  • May 13

Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.Ā 


Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

Volunteer Registration Update

Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers.Ā 

If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.

Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. ​​​​​​​

Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check).Ā 

To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.

Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPSĀ to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.eduĀ with any questions.

As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit theĀ Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked QuestionsĀ page to learn more.

For full details, visit theĀ Volunteer FCPS websiteĀ or contact our Volunteer Point of Contact, Pilar Quintero Flores,Ā pjquinterofl@fcps.edu,Ā with questions.


Procedures for Joining Your Child for Lunch

We are excited to open our cafeteria for parents and guardians to join their children for lunch at school! We know how much you value connecting with your child, and this is a great chance to share a special moment during the school day.

If you'd like to have lunch with your child, please follow these steps:

  • Enter at Door 1 and report to the Main Office.Ā 
  • Using a government issued photo ID, sign-in and receive a visitor sticker.Ā 
  • Wear the visitor sticker at all times.Ā 
  • Report directly to the cafeteria.Ā 
  • Enjoy lunch with your child(ren).Ā 
  • Return to the main office to check-out using your visitor sticker.Ā 
  • Please don't visit the classroom or recess, so our daily schedule and routines can continue without interruption for our students.Ā 
  • Please do not bring fast food for lunch.Ā 
  • Please do not bring any food to share with other children due to safety protocols and allergies.

Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policy

Please remind your child that 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.
  • 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. Learn more aboutĀ FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy.


Student Birthday Policy

As an administrative team and school, we will be recognizing and honoring our students' birthdays monthly. For the safety of all students and staff in our building and to limit the amount of classroom disruptions, please do not send in food or toys for your child's birthday.


Attendance

Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your child’s well-being. FCPS has created aĀ Health Flyer for ParentsĀ indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please reviewĀ FCPS Attendance PoliciesĀ and resources to encourage regular school attendance.Ā 

Parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUEĀ HERE. Families can also report absences by emailingĀ shrevewoodelem.attendance@fcps.eduĀ or calling 703-645-6666 before 10:00 a.m. each day.


School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, students will enter theirĀ student ID numberĀ as their cafeteria PIN at the cash register to receive their meals. Ā  You can access your student’s ID number viaĀ ParentVUE.

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast will be $1.75.Ā  Lunch will be $3.25.Ā  Money can be added to your child(ren)’s accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com.Ā  You may also write a check to Shrevewood Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager.Ā  During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch atĀ https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/ESSF44.

Free and Reduced-Price Status

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September.Ā  A new application must be completed each new school year.Ā  Forms are available online now:Ā https://www.fcps.edu/frm.Ā  Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 813-4800 if you need help. This application must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.


FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

  • April Statewide Election: No School for Students
  • Family Engagement Survey
  • Student Honors

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.Ā 


Save the Date

⭐3 Hour Early Release⭐

Wednesday, Mar. 18

⭐Eid al-Fitr Holiday⭐

Friday, Mar. 20

(No school for students or staff)

⭐Celebration of Learning⭐

Thursday, Mar. 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

⭐End of Quarter-2 Hour Early Release⭐

Friday, Mar. 27

⭐Spring Break⭐

Mar. 30-Apr. 3

(No school for students or staff)

⭐Teacher Workday/Student Holiday⭐

Monday, Apr. 6

(No school for students)

⭐School Planning Day/Student Holiday⭐

Friday, Apr. 10

(No school for students)

⭐Kindergarten Orientation⭐

Friday, Apr. 10

⭐Career Day⭐

Friday, Apr. 17


Click Here for the FCPS 2025-2026 School Year Calendar


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