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Our students and staff celebrating Garfield's diversity during Night Sky of Culture's Spirit Week!
Upcoming Dates
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March 17 - Spring Picture Day
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March 20 - Student Holiday-Eid al-Fitr-No School
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March 25 - 3-Hour Early Release -Dismissal time 1:05
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March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2-Hour Early
- Student Release - Dismissal 2:05 pm
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March 30 – April 4 - Spring Break
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April 6 - Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
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Sat, April 18 - Special Education Conference (Details below)
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April 10 - School Planning Day (Student Holiday)
- Kindergarten Orientation – Time TBD
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April 21 - NEW! No School for students – Voting Day
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April 29 - 3-Hour Early Release -Dismissal time 1:05pm
DessARTS Night is
Coming to GES!
Join us for a fun and creative evening at DessARTS Night — a special celebration where every GES student will have artwork proudly on display! Come stroll through the halls, admire the incredible creativity of our young artists, and celebrate the talent that makes our school community shine.
While you enjoy the art, indulge in a variety of sweet treats and bite-sized desserts available for purchase as part of a GES PTA fundraiser. It’s the perfect blend of creativity and something delicious!
- Thursday, April 9 - 5:45 PM
Bring the whole family and come ready to celebrate art, community, and a little sweetness. We can’t wait to see you there!
RSVP HERE
Purple Up! for Military Child Month in April
Purchase Gear Now!
April is the Month of the Military Child, and FCPS will be celebrating Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15.
This is a special day for us to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth.
Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military.
FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, in our Custom Ink online store.
For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
March 25th is the next Early Release Wednesday
Students will be dismissed at 1:05pm
AAP News
Engaging Families with Creative & Critical Thinking
Analogies are like bridges between ideas. By using analogies with your student, you can help them make meaningful connections to what is being said and better understand new information. They help us relate unfamiliar concepts to things we already know.
A famous analogy used in a movies include:
“Life is like a box of chocolates” (Forrest Gump)
Family Activity: During dinner or a car ride, challenge each other with fun comparisons. For example, “Learning math is like building a tower—each block builds on the one before.” Invite kids to create their own “___ is like ___ because…” statements about school, hobbies, or everyday life.
AAP Spring Screening Information
Screening for Advanced Academic Program school-based services can happen at any time during the school year, but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (subject specific advanced differentiation and part time) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral form. Forms can be found HERE and can be submitted to Heather Jenkins, AART, hkjenkins@fcps.edu, prior to April 15, 2026. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels of AAP services. Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified of their student’s eligibility status by June 5, 2026.
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligibility decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration to the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to Heather Jenkins, AART.
If you have any questions, please contact Heather Jenkins, AART at hkjenkins@fcps.edu.
Ramadan (Feb. 18-March 19)
Fasting? Take a Meal Kit Home!
FCPS is offering take-home meal kits for students fasting for Ramadan between Feb. 18 - March 19.
Parents must fill out a form for each student every week, and students will pick up the kits at the end of each school day.
Meal kits are charged just like school meals and include the same healthy, fresh food from the school menu.
For more information and to fill out the forms, visit fcps.edu/food.
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.
Fairfax County Health Department Measles Update
Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects 9 out of 10 people who are exposed, if unvaccinated or not immune. It has been in the news lately due to cases in Northern Virginia and among people who have traveled through local airports.
If your spring break or summer plans include traveling abroad or to an area in the United States with high measles activity, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages you to ensure your family is protected. Children 12 months and older should have 1 or 2 doses before traveling. Depending on your specific travel plans, your health care provider may also advise you to vaccinate infants 6 to 11 months old. Read more about these recommendations.
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start are now accepting applications for SY 2026–2027!
The FCPS PreK and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old.
PreK: For children who will be age 3 or 4 by September 30, with priority given to 4-year-olds. Oak Hill ES has a pre-Kindergarten class.
Early Head Start: For children ages 0–2 and pregnant women who live in the Reston, Herndon, and Springfield areas. This would be at another loation
More information and the online application are available here.
Countdown to Kindergarten Webinar
Friday, March 27th 10-11:30 AM
This virtual event is designed to help families prepare for the exciting transition to kindergarten. During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support a smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/3hTz474sz5mMhvGXA
NEW VISITOR CHECK-IN SYSTEM At GES
Raptor Safe App Setup
Garfield ES has a NEW Visitor Check-in System beginning this week. Downloading and registering on the Raptor Safe App is not required, you can still use your driver’s license in the building, but this is faster:
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Download the RaptorSafe App to your mobile phone so that you can quickly sign in as a visitor or volunteer to Sangster Elementary, or any FCPS school!
How to Use: Download "Raptor Safe" from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Setup: Scan your driver’s license and take a selfie for verification.
Check-in: A new QR code is generated for each visit to be scanned at the school entrance.
Registration: No special code is needed during setup.
Privacy: The app stores only essential info (name, DOB, photo, last 4 digits of ID) and does not store the verification selfie.
The Mobile App is quick and easy - and the preferred method for most visitors.
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Special Ed. Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference - Stronger Together: Connecting Families & Schools has been rescheduled from March 21 to April 18, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043.
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference is a no-cost, in-person event is hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools in collaboration with a host of community partners. Keynote speaker is renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore. Families will also have the opportunity to connect with resources and participate in afternoon sessions.
Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage.
Register HERE.
Family Resource Center Summer Camps Guide
Summer is closer than you think ! The family resource center has a great Summer Camp Guide to get you started.
YOUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
We are in this together!
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with your family this year. Each day, our commitment is to provide your child with a safe, supportive, and joyful place to learn and grow. Open communication is important to us—please reach out anytime with questions, concerns, or celebrations.
Thank you for your trust, your support, and for being an essential part of the Garfield community.
With appreciation,
Your Garfield Partner Principals
Mrs. Peerman, Principal, Klpeerman@fcps.edu
Ms. Manning, Assistant Principal, eamanning1@fcps.edu
Quick Links
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