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Congratulations to Ms. Wayland on being named Region 2’s Outstanding Leader! As Bailey’s Upper Assistant Principal, she has shown exceptional leadership, always keeping student success at the center while supporting staff and strengthening our school community.
Dear Bailey's Upper Families,
I hope this message finds you well. As we continue moving through a busy and productive time of year, I wanted to share a few important reminders to help ensure our school days run smoothly for all students.
First, we are asking for your support in ensuring that students do not bring toys or recess equipment to school. This includes items such as Pokémon cards, Beyblades, soccer balls and similar items. While these may be enjoyable at home, they have become a significant distraction during the school day and have led to conflicts between students. We have also had instances where students missed the bus because they were playing with these items at dismissal. To keep everyone focused and safe, these items should remain at home. We can not be held responsible for lost or stolen toys.
Additionally, we want to remind families about expectations regarding smart watches. If your child wears a smart watch to school, it must be disconnected from the internet during the school day. Students should not be receiving messages or communicating with family members during instructional time. These interruptions can cause stress for students and take away from their ability to fully engage in learning. FCPS guidelines for cell phone use also apply to smart watches.
We truly appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our administrative team.
Thank you for your continued support.
With great appreciation,
Bailey’s Upper Admin Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
✨ Thursday Folders ✨
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- Family Engagement Survey (English & Spanish)
- Intent to Return Forms for 2026-2027 School Year (English & Spanish)
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.
Take the survey, available in various languages:
• English: https://bit.ly/FESURVEY2026
• Spanish: https://bit.ly/3Nn8fIb
• Arabic: https://bit.ly/40bclWK
In addition, the survey is also available in Amharic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Urdu, and Vietnamese. You can also request a hard copy version of the survey from your Family Liaisons, Marian Perez & Jocelyn Sarwar.
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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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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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 Ms. Wiley, Ms. Dowling, and Ms. Wayland spreading some St. Patty's cheer! Staff excited to see if they were lucky or not!?
Friday, March 27 will be a 2-hour early release due to the end of the 3rd quarter. Students will be dismissed at 1:25 PM and will follow their regular mode of dismissal, just as they would on a typical school day. If you have any questions or need to make a change to your child’s dismissal plan, please contact the school office.
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Spring Break will take place from March 30th – April 3rd. During this time, there will be no school and school offices will be closed.
We hope our students and families enjoy a safe, relaxing, and wonderful Spring Break filled with rest and fun.☀️😎
Monday, April 6 is a Teacher Work Day, so students will not report to school that day.
We look forward to welcoming our students back when classes resume on Tuesday, April 7!
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We’re excited to invite families to our Spring Band Concert on Monday, April 20th! 🌷✨ Come hear our amazing 4th & 5th grade musicians shine!
🎺 4th Grade Band:
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Call Time: 5:30 PM at Bailey’s Upper
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Concert: 6:00 PM
🎷 5th Grade Band:
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Call Time: 7:00 PM at Bailey’s Upper
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Concert: 7:30 PM
🚗 Please use the link below to let us know if your student will be able to get to their call time, or reach out to our friendly Family Liaisons: Marian Perez & Jocelyn Sarwar.
https://forms.gle/y6VUH44S89zDt6wv8
Let’s celebrate our young musicians together! 🌟🎵
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 Our 5th graders building their musical skills on the ukulele during music class.
Standards of Learning SOLS
Fifth grade students took Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Standards of Learning (SOL) on Wednesday, March 18th. Some make-up testing for the IRW will continue this week. All other SOLs for all grades are scheduled for May.
- In preparation for the SOLs in May we sent home a 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
🎻 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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Volunteers Needed for Family Science Night! 🔬
Join us in making this year’s Bailey’s Primary & Upper Family Science Night a fun and memorable evening for our students and families! The event will take place on Thursday, April 16th from 5:15pm–7:45 p.m.
Volunteers will help with set-up, support hands-on science activity stations alongside a partner, and assist with clean-up at the end of the night. Your time and energy will help create an exciting night of discovery and learning for our school community.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and able to stay for the entire event.
Thank you for helping make Family Science Night special for our students and families—we hope you can join us! 🌟🔬
VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP!
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Educate Fairfax, the 501(c)3 education foundation that partners with the community to support Fairfax County Public Schools students and educators, is launching a divisionwide Student Bookmark Art Contest during March. FCPS students in grades K–12 are invited to design a 2” x 7” bookmark celebrating the power of learning and creativity under the theme “Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader.”
Artwork must be original, flat (no glitter or pop-ups), and include the student’s name, grade, and school on the back. Entries will be judged on creativity, connection to the theme, and overall effort. Four winners (K–2, 3–6, middle, and high) will each receive a $25 gift card, and winning designs will be printed and shared in schools and the community. This initiative supports FCPS Goal 3 by promoting literacy and student engagement.
Submissions may be mailed to Educate Fairfax (8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031), emailed to info@educatefairfax.org, or sent via pony by the April 17th deadline. By submitting, students confirm FCPS enrollment and grant permission for printing and promotion (first name and grade only; parent/guardian signature required for winners).
For more information visit EducateFairfax.org
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 Ms. Hill, one of our school counselors, leads an engaging lesson with our 3rd graders, who are focused and eager to learn.
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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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Tuesday, April 14th- Strings Pyramid Concert at Justice High School (5th Graders invited to perform.)
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Thursday, April 16th- Family Science Night at Primary
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**NEW DATE** Monday, April 20th- Band Concert: 4th Graders at 6:00pm & 5th Graders at 7:30pm
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**NEW** Tuesday, April 21st- No School - Virginia Statewide Elections
 Bailey's Upper March 2026 Calendar
 Our students who participate in our mentorship program had the opportunity to attend a field trip to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center – Air and Space Museum alongside their mentors.
Nominations are open for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Awards, which recognize educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support students receiving special education services. The annual program celebrates individuals across Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, support, and student success.
Honorees may include teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers, and other community members who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families. Nominations are open through Friday, March 27, and can be submitted online.
Award recipients will be recognized at the SEPTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, where families, educators, and community members will gather to celebrate those helping build more inclusive and supportive school communities. Registration details for the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
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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. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
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The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
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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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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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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
Some Ms. Wagner's 4th grade students working as a team through the Resilience Challenge using their cooperation and productive struggle skills to think critically and creatively.
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