2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

• Tomorrow, March 20: No School, Eid-al-Fitr and Nowruz 
• March 26: Heritage Day and Night! Wear culture inspired attire, 5:30 pm
• March 27: 2-Hour Early Release at 2:05 pm, End of 3rd Quarter
• March 30-April 3: NO School and Office Closed: Spring Break
• April 6-10: Assistant Principal's Week
• April 6: Student Holiday, Teacher Work Day
• April 10: Student Holiday, School Planning Day
• April 10: Kindergarten Orientation, 10:00 am-11:30 am
• April 10: PTA Skate Night, 7:30 pm, SkateQuest in Reston
• April 14: Family Science Night, 6:00 pm
• April 17: Spring Picture Day
• April 21: Student Holiday, Election Day
• April 22: 3-Hour Early Release at 1:05 pm
• April 23: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• April 23: 29th Annual Career Day

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

Book Character Day

Message from Principal Vereb 

🐝 Principal Vereb's Weekly Reflections from the Hive

Dear Families,

Thank you for your partnership and flexibility this week as we navigated changing weather and adjusted schedules while keeping student learning at the center.

Here are a few highlights from our week:

• Weather readiness and early release: We responded to tornado watches with a three-hour early release to ensure student and staff safety. Thank you for your quick adjustments and support.
• Staff learning and planning: During our early release, teachers engaged in focused professional learning
• Language Arts: Setting Up for Success in Benchmark Unit 6
• Mathematics: It’s All on the Line: The Power of Open Number Lines This work directly supports strong, consistent instruction for all students.
• Classroom joy: Students and staff enjoyed festive St. Patrick’s Day activities, bringing energy and connection into classrooms across the building.
• Looking ahead: We close out a strong week of learning as we prepare for Friday’s cultural observance of Eid, an important time of reflection and celebration for many in our community.
• Family engagement: I am hopeful to see many families at our upcoming Heritage Night on Thursday, March 26 from 5:30–7:30 PM. This is always a special opportunity to celebrate the cultures and traditions that make our community strong.

We appreciate your continued support as we balance safety, learning, and meaningful school experiences for every child.

Wishing all of our families a restful and positive weekend.

In Your Service,

Principal Vereb

📸Snapshots from Principal Vereb

Calendar Reminder
Tomorrow, March 20
No School

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. 

HES Heritage Night 
Thursday, March 26

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

Experience our HES community's vibrant heritage and many cultures at one of our most popular events of the season! Feel free to wear cultural inspired attire, enjoy games, activities, cultural artifacts and art displays, music, and dancing, including a performance by the Foley Academy of Irish Dance.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Perez at 703-326-3100.

2 Hour Early Release at 2:05 pm
March 27

Friday, March 27, is the end of the 3rd Quarter and a 2-hour early release at 2:05 pm.  All students must go home.  

If your child takes a bus, please be at the bus stop 2 hours earlier than normal.

Spring Break
March 30-April 3

Schools and school offices will be closed from Monday, March 30, to Friday, April 3, for spring break. Monday, April 6 is a teacher work day and Friday, April 10, is a staff planning day. There will be no school for students on these days. 

See the school year calendar or employee calendar.

Kindergarten Orientation
April 10, 10:00 am 

Join us on Friday, April 10, 10:00 am to learn more about kindergarten at Herndon Elementary.  All parents and rising kindergartners are invited to attend this orientation to get ready for Kindergarten. 

If you have questions regarding kindergarten registration, please reach out to Ms. Sirajudin at (703) 326-3100 or email at ssirajudin@fcps.edu.

More information about registering your child can be found here.  

PTA Skate Night
Friday, April 10

Lace up your skates and join us for a night of fun on the ice! Herndon Elementary’s Skate Night is happening on Friday, April 10 from 7:30-9:30 pm at SkateQuest in Reston. Bring your family and friends for an evening of music, laughter, and icy adventures!

Family Science Night is Coming to Herndon Elementary!
April 14

Join us for Family Science Night on April 14, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, brought to you by the Children’s Science Center Lab. Activities include: Stacking Currency: Building Financial Literacy, Monster Math: Creating with Probability, Forensic Fun: Mystery Solved, among others. Students will be participating in these hands-on experiments, specially designed to provoke interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Volunteers are needed from 5:15 – 7:45 pm to set up, assist students with activities, and clean up. We hope to see you there!

PTA News

Highlights from Our Digital Learning PTA Meeting

Thank you to Alaina Bear, Rachel Gonzalez, and Adriana Rivera Pancheco for joining our recent PTA meeting and sharing a helpful overview of the digital learning tools used at Herndon ES.

Teachers walked families through several of the math and literacy platforms students use in the classroom, how to access them from home through Clever on the HES website, and ways parents can support students when they get stuck.

A few key takeaways:

• Lightspeed helps the school monitor which websites students visit on their laptops.
• Lexia is a core literacy platform used to build reading skills. Students may bring laptops home so they can practice, though use at home is optional and families can set their own expectations.
• JiJi / ST Math and other math tools support conceptual understanding through interactive learning.
• Teachers shared helpful questions parents can ask when students feel stuck, helping guide them toward problem-solving instead of giving the answer.
• For ESOL students, the Summit platform supports English language development. Students can listen to stories in both Spanish and English, and research shows strong gains for English language learners.

Teachers also encouraged families to balance digital learning with traditional reading, such as spending time with physical books at home.

Get Involved with the HES PTA

The Herndon ES PTA is looking for volunteers to help keep our amazing community events going next year! Four PTA board positions will be open at the end of this school year, and we’re hoping to find parents who are willing to step in and help lead.

Not ready for a board role? That’s okay—we also need volunteers to help plan and run events like Movie Night, BINGO Night, Skate Night, school clubs, Spirit Nights at local restaurants, the Book Fair, Teacher Appreciation Week, and more.

Getting involved with the PTA is one of the best ways to meet other families, connect with teachers and administrators, and make a real impact on our school community. The good news is that support and event guides are already in place, so you won’t be starting from scratch.

If you’re curious or interested in helping in any way, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to herndonptapresident@gmail.com

FCPS VIP Summer Camp for
Rising 7th Grade Students
Register Today!

Register today for the VIP Summer Camp hosted at Carson Middle School from July 1st to July 30th! VIP Camp is for rising 7th and rising 8th grade students attending Carson, Hughes, Herndon, Longfellow, and Cooper Middle School. Camp costs $100 for all 5 weeks and includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation. Activities include basketball, soccer, cooking, theatre, STEAM, and weekly field trips. Register here TODAY!

Campamento de Verano FCPS VIP para estudiantes que
pasan a 7.º grado
¡Inscríbase hoy mismo!

Inscríbase hoy mismo en el Campamento de Verano VIP, que se llevará a cabo en la Carson Middle School del 1 al 30 de julio. El Campamento VIP está dirigido a los estudiantes que pasarán a 7.º y 8.º grado y que asisten a las escuelas intermedias Carson, Hughes, Herndon, Longfellow y Cooper. El costo del campamento es de $100 e incluye desayuno, almuerzo y transporte. Las actividades incluyen baloncesto, fútbol, ​​cocina, teatro, STEAM y excursiones semanales. Inscríbase ahora aquí.

Educate Fairfax
Student Bookmark Art Contest
“Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader”

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 mail. By submitting, students confirm FCPS enrollment and grant permission for printing and promotion (first name and grade only; parent/guardian signature required for winners).

Please click this link for instructions: Educate Fairfax Bookmark Contest Flyer and Instructions.  

 Entries are due Friday, April 17, 2026.

Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open Volunteers Needed

The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School. During this no-cost, in-person event, families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore, connect to resources and other families, and participate in afternoon sessions. 

FCPS families are invited to register to attend this year’s conference. Childcare, accommodations, and language interpretation are available.

Families are also invited to register to serve as an event volunteer by Thursday, March 19. Volunteer hours will be awarded to student volunteers.

Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.

Free
Road to Health

Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services invites you to the Road to Health.  It is a six-week program where participants will learn about diabetes and colon cancer prevention based on information that has been taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Certificate of completion available for participants who complete the six-week course.

Sundays, March 22 - May 3 (No class April 5)

1:00pm -2:00pm

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
2516 Squirrel Hill Rd.
Herndon, VA 20171

Engage in discussion and participate in activities:

• Learn about the risk factors for both diabetes and colon cancer.
• Gain in-depth knowledge about what causes these diseases and the changes they cause to the human body.
• Learn about what can be done to prevent diabetes and colon cancer.

For more information, please contact Zubair Saeed, MD, MPH
Community Health Specialist, Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services at 571-356-3568 or Zubair.Saeed@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Scan to save your spot.  Register today.

"This is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or Herndon ES."

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.

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:

• Winter Sports Champions
• Parent Acknowledgement of Course Requests
• Last Chance to Take the Family Engagement Survey

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.

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630 Dranesville Rd. Herndon, VA 20170  | Main Office: 703-326-3100
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