|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
This week certainly kept us on our toes! Thank you for your incredible flexibility regarding Monday's weather. Transitioning to a 3-hour early release is a major logistical lift for families, and your partnership ensured a smooth and safe dismissal for every student.
From the excitement of leprechaun visits on Tuesday to the high energy in our classrooms, our students haven't missed a beat. Even with a shorter week and no school this Friday, our students and staff show that while the schedule might be inconsistent, the learning remains steady.
We have just one more full week of school before Spring Break! We look forward to finishing this quarter strong with all of you.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Long, Mrs. Agner, Mrs. Compton
Upcoming Dates 📆
March 20 - No School (Eid al-Fitr)
March 30- April 3 - No School, Spring Break
April 6 - No School, Teacher Workday
April 10 - No School, School Planning Day
April 10 - Kindergarten Orientation @ 1:30 PM
April 13 - 16 - Scholastic Book Fair
April 15 - Purple Up! Day
April 21 - No School, Statewide Election
April 22 - Early Release Wednesday
Eid al-Fitr
 |
|
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. #OurFCPS |
Nowruz
 |
|
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. #OurFCPS |
🌟Mrs. Long's Blueprint Byte
Great schools don't happen by accident! Once a month, our teachers and specialists meet in cross grade level and content area Working Groups to analyze schoolwide data and solve complex "problems of practice." Whether it's Literacy, Math, Equity, or Responsive Classroom, these teams are hard at work aligning our strategies to make sure our "Blueprint" translates into classroom success for every child.
☀️ Introducing: Friendly Face Fridays!
We are thrilled to announce a new way for our families to connect with our classrooms this spring: Friendly Face Fridays! We invite parents and caregivers to join us for Morning Meeting, the high-energy, heart-centered way we start our school day. This will be a wonderful chance to see our school community in action, see your child in their learning environment, and feel the "blueprint" of our culture firsthand.
Rooted in the Responsive Classroom approach, these 20-minute daily circles use four key components (greeting, sharing, activity, and a message from the teacher) to make sure every student starts their day feeling connected and ready to learn. By participating, you’ll see firsthand how this routine builds the trust and social-emotional skills necessary for a safe, inclusive, and successful day of learning. Friendly Face Friday will begin at 9:20, where parents and caregivers will participate Morning Meeting and then head out as the students transition into their first lesson.
Please mark your calendars for your child's grade-level date:
Please be on the lookout next month for more specific information and details from your child’s classroom teacher. We can’t wait to see your friendly faces in your child's classroom soon!
Family Engagement Survey is now open!
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. 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.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Families received a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9.
2025-2026 Cardinal Forest Yearbook Ordering
1 Visit www.candidcolor.net and select Yearbooks. Enter your access code:CRFEYBK26
2 Select the quantity of books to purchase. Add the yearbook to your cart. Click “view cart” or “checkout” to verify your order and continue.
3 Fill out your student’s information. Enter your billing information and pay by credit card.
Order your yearbook by: March 28, 2026
Cardinal Forest Yearbook Cover Contest
 Contest Rules
Please follow all contest guidelines below:
- Submit an original drawing on an 8½ inch by 11-inch piece of white paper.
- The design must be vertical (portrait orientation).
- The drawing must include a cardinal and the words “Cardinal Forest.”
- The drawing must be fully colored.
- Use crayons or markers only.
- Add as many details as possible.
- Write your student name and teacher name on the back of your paper.
- Entries are due by April 8, 2026
🧸Save the Date: Kindergarten Orientation!
We are excited to welcome our newest Mighty Red Birds!
Kindergarten Orientation will be held on April 10 at 1:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for incoming kindergarten students and their families to visit the school, meet our staff, and learn more about what to expect in the year ahead.
More details will be shared soon — we can’t wait to meet our future kindergarten families!
Countdown to Kindergarten: Supporting a Smooth Transition
 Is your child heading to kindergarten this fall? Join FCPS staff for Countdown to Kindergarten, a virtual event designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition! The webinar will take place on Friday, March 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support their child's smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools. Register to receive the event link.
Kindergarten Registration
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment (the student and one caregiver must be present).
Read more about the registration process. Click to edit this placeholder text.
April Statewide Election
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.
Budget
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.
Cell Phone Reminder
Phones Off, Learning On
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:
-
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).
-
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 [phone number]. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Purple Up FCPS 💜
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!
Purple Up! Day ~ Wednesday, April 15th
This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. 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, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
Arrival and Dismissal - Be A Good Neighbor!
As a reminder, please help us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth for everyone. We ask families to be good neighbors and mindful of:
-
Not blocking intersections or painted boxes during Kiss & Ride —this impacts visibility and also prohibits access for emergency vehicles.
-
Crossing only in crosswalks and watching carefully for cars.
-
Avoiding parking in residential areas, fire lanes, or private parking spaces.
-
Refraining from making illegal U-turns.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
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
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
