Tuesday Terragram March 17

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 03/17/2026 03:30 PM EDT

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Dear Terraset Families,

The past week has been so amazing!  Many of our Tiger’s art has been on display at the Reston Community Center for the annual South Lakes Pyramid Youth Art Exhibit, and we have been gearing up for 2 great Terraset events:  Our STEAM night this Thursday, March 19th and our annual Terraset PTO 6th Grade Basketball Challenge on Thursday, March 26th at South Lakes High School!  Please see below for all the details. 

We also have a couple of schedule changes for the remainder of this week to remind everyone about:

  • Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18th is our next early release Wednesday. Students will follow their typical Wednesday dismissal routes unless a change in dismissal form was submitted by no later than last Friday, March 13th.  It will be very difficult to navigate dismissal changes on the 18th.  Our priority is to get every Tiger home safely at the correct time.
  • This Friday, March 20th is a holiday for all students and staff. Eid Mubarak to those in our Muslim community celebrating! In Islam, Eid al-Fitr is a 3 day festival to mark the end of Ramadan. Muslims dress in new clothes, give charity, and pray in congregation. Eid is celebrated with the exchange of presents and delicious food with family and friends. Additionally, Nowruz Mobarak to all who celebrate! Nowruz, meaning “New Day,” is a more than 3,000-year-old spring festival marking the first day of the new year at the vernal equinox. Rooted in ancient Persian civilization, it is widely celebrated as the national new year in Iran and Afghanistan and across many Central Asian nations. Families welcome the new season with festive meals, gift-giving, and the beautiful tradition of the Haft-Seen table, filled with symbols of new life and renewal.

Warmly, 

Katie Aldridge, Principal

Dave Ickowski, Assistant Principal

🏫 April Statewide Election: No School for Students

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.

📋County Seeking Budget Input

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.

🔬STEAM Night is Thursday (3/19)!

STEAM Night will be held on Thursday, March 19 6:00-7:30pm. The Children's Science Center is hosting many hands-on activities in the gym and cafeteria!

We can't wait to see you there!

🏀PTO Basketball Challenge

The Basketball Challenge is March 26th! Come see our talented 6th graders and staff face off in a series of basketball games!

Skip the Lines at the Terraset Basketball Challenge: Visit https://terrasetpto.square.site/basketball-challenge now to get your tickets, pre-order concessions, or send a candy gram to a participating student or staff member! Pre-sales will close at 8 pm on Tuesday, March 24. If the cost of a ticket is a challenge, we have a limited number of complimentary tickets available. Please contact Ms. Chavez (imchavezotoy@fcps.edu) for more information.

📝Learn About Kindergarten at Terraset

Our kindergarten orientation is being held on April 10th at 10:30 a.m. to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school. 

We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten. 

There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Shannon Johnson with any questions.

 📚Yearbook Orders

Celebrate the memories of the 2025–2026 school year with a Terraset Elementary School yearbook!

Yearbooks are available for $13.00 and must be ordered by April 10, 2026. Quantities are limited, so be sure to place your order on time to guarantee your copy.

Families can order online at www.strawbridge.net using the school’s online code: YB33613, or return the completed order form to school. Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the smiles, friendships, and special moments from this school year!

🤝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.

🌍SLHS International Night

South Lakes High School is hosting our International Night on March 25th from 6:00-8:30pm! International Night celebrates the diversity in the South Lakes and Reston community through interactive booths, a fashion show, and performances! This event is free and open to the public.

🗣️Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s 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. (unless otherwise noted) on: 

Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

🚸Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs 

FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County. 

  • Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
  • Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.  

If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

🏫South Lakes Pyramid-Wide PSTA Meeting

The South Lakes High School PTSA is opening its March 18th meeting (7:00-8:30 pm) to all schools in the South Lakes pyramid, in collaboration with Melanie Meren, Hunter Mill District Representative on the Fairfax County School Board. 

  • Connect with others in our Reston school communities
  • Learn from a guest speaker about technology in education, Keena McAvoy, of DMV Unplugged
  • Engage with your School Board Member, Melanie Meren 

For questions, please contact huntermillstaff@fcps.edu.

🐯PTO News

Please be sure to check your student’s Tuesday folder and subscribe to our weekly PTO news email for more information about all PTO-related activities!

  • Don’t Miss Out on Tiger Clubs Registration! Registration will close on March 23, or when clubs fill up. Clubs will begin after Spring Break.  Visit Homeroom.com to register and find all the details you need about each club and the season.
  • Skip the Lines at the Terraset Basketball Challenge: Visit https://terrasetpto.square.site/basketball-challenge now to get your tickets, pre-order concessions, or send a candy gram to a participating student or staff member! Pre-sales will close at 8 pm on Tuesday, March 24. If the cost of a ticket is a challenge, we have a limited number of complimentary tickets available. Please contact Ms. Chavez (imchavezotoy@fcps.edu) for more information.
  • Thank You, Wegmans Reston! For the second year in a row, we are grateful to Wegmans Reston and the Wegmans Community Giving Program for their generous $300 gift card donation in support of the upcoming Terraset Basketball Challenge. Their contribution provides partial support for our concessions stand, helping us offer quality refreshments for students, staff, and families.
  • You Can Help with the Basketball Challenge, Too! We still need additional donations from our school community to fully stock the stand and ensure a great event for all. Here’s how you can help:
  • Mark Your Calendars for Our Next PTO Meeting on April 29: The meeting will include elections for our 5 elected officers for next year. If you are interested in being slated for an elected position please email nominations@terrasetpto.org. There will also be many committee chair and member opportunities available, so please reach out to any officer or committee chair if you would like more information.

🏫FCPS News

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

  • Family Engagement Survey
  • Student Honors
  • No School on April 21

🐾P.A.W.S. (Parents Appreciating Wonderful Staff)

Have you seen a staff member go above and beyond for your family or student? Take a moment to fill out this quick form to let us know and say thank you! 

Click here to tell us about a PAWSitively amazing staff member! 

🗓️TES Looking Ahead:

  • Wednesday, March 18- 3-hr Early Release
  • Thursday, March 19- Terraset STEAM Night @ 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 20- No School (Nowruz)
  • Thursday, March 26- Terraset Basketball Challenge
  • Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3 - Spring Break/No School
  • Monday, April 6 - No School (Teacher Workday)
  • Friday, April 10 - No School (Teacher Workday)
  • Friday, April 10- Kindergarten Orientation @ 10:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 21- No School (VA Statewide Election)

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