Eighth grade students work on a trigonometry problem at South County Middle School.
Note: Yesterday, we inadvertently sent Employee News to the mailing list for FCPS This Week. We apologize for the error.
Three Teams and 34 Individuals Win 2025-26 VHSL Winter Sports Championships
Congratulations to all the FCPS student-athletes who participated in the 2026 winter sports season. This year, three teams — including Robinson Secondary School Girls Indoor Track and Field, pictured above — and 34 individuals won the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 championship in their respective sports. Also, three teams and 34 individuals were the state runners-up. View the full list of champions.
Reid Reflects on the “Attraction” of STEAM Learning
Where in FCPS is Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid? Last week, she visited schools in Centreville and Fairfax City. Read more about what inspired the students above to learn about magnets and other updates in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.Â
Last Chance to Take the Family Engagement Survey!Â
Do you feel welcome at your child’s school? Do you feel like the staff at your child’s school communicates and partners well with families? Share your feedback on these topics and more by Monday, March 23, in the Family Engagement Survey.Â
The survey is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Parents/caregivers received a survey link via email from FCPS on Monday, March 9. The survey is also available on the FCPS website, and paper surveys are provided at each school.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
Connecting with community members across Fairfax County is critical to Dr. Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held this spring from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.on:Â
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services.Â
Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year
As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all middle and high school families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year.
Please contact your child’s counselor for assistance. To access this feature:Â
- Log in to your ParentVUE account.
- Navigate to the Course Request module.
- Review your student’s course request list for next school year.
- To complete the acknowledgment, click Student Info in the left menu.
- Click Edit Information.
- In the Course Request Acknowledgment field, update the acknowledgment field to Yes.
- Click Save Changes.
Families have until Friday, March 27, to review and acknowledge course requests via this new feature.
Visit the FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage for more instructions and screenshots of this process.
Register by March 27 for the Elementary Magnet School Lottery
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools — Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Elementary, and Bailey’s Upper — provide enhanced learning programs in science, technology, and performing arts. Â
Registration for the 2026-27 elementary magnet lottery is open through Friday, March 27. Learn more about Elementary Magnet Schools and find out how to apply to the Magnet School Lottery.
2026 Special Education Family Conference
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.Â
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. Â
Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference. Families may also register to serve as event volunteers. Please sign up by Thursday, March 19.
2026 Awards Recognizing Special Education Supporters
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 FCPS 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.
Two Grandmas and a Bus: Decades of Dedication for a Driver and Attendant
For Bus Driver Paula Langhorne (right) and Bus Attendant Pam Mitchell (left), safety is the top priority each day. They also work hard to create an environment filled with connection, laughter, and care so every student starts the day feeling welcomed and supported.
Paula began her career with Fairfax County Public Schools in 1985, and Pam joined in 1992. Although they’ve worked side by side for 16 years, the two have known each other for more than three decades. Their long friendship and deep trust for one another make them an inseparable team. Read about their impact on students.
Middle School Students Prepare for Financial Realities
Every year, all FCPS eighth graders venture to Junior Achievement's Finance Park for a rite of passage: learning about personal finances, family budgeting, and the costs associated with adulthood. The effort aligns with FCPS Strategic Plan 2023-30 and Portrait of a Graduate goals of providing students with the foundations of financial literacy. Read more about this crash course in financial reality.
UNO! How One School Is Using a Card Game to Encourage Attendance
Students were selected to participate in the Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School inaugural UNO! tournament because of their 100% attendance that week. This initiative is just one approach the school is using to encourage regular attendance, which is critical to academic success, as outlined in the FCPS Strategic Plan’s Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. Read more about this UNO! tournament.
A Friendly Competition Drives Students to Serve Their Community
The Helping Games have been a tradition at Keene Mill Elementary School for the last nine years. The activities, which take place over a month, teach students meaningful life skills and values, such as empathy, compassion, responsibility, teamwork, and collaboration. Read more about the Helping Games at Keene Mill.
Genuine Love and Concern Helps Parent Feel Less Alone
FCPS CARES gives parents, caregivers, staff, and community members the opportunity to recognize employees who go above and beyond to help others. Among December/January CARES of the Month recipients is Aaron Tenenbaum, learning disabilities teacher at Springfield Estates Elementary School.Â
What sets Mr. Tenenbaum apart, his nominator said, “is his genuine love and concern for his students. Teachers like Mr. T remind us parents of [neurodivergent] kiddos that we do not have to shoulder this alone and that they are with us as we navigate this daunting task.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- Cindy Trinca, Gatehouse Administration Center.
- Min-Jung Jung, Hughes Middle School.
- Catherine Giacomo, Noel Naylor, and Melissa Snyder, Bailey's Elementary School.
- Samantha Whitelaw and Megan Hook, Rose Hill Elementary School.
- Lynda Falkenstein, Bonnie Brae Elementary School.
- Lisa Choi, Fairfax Villa Elementary School.
To recognize an employee with an FCPS CARES, please visit the submission page.
Calendar Reminders
Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (Evening Only Observance Day, Holiday)
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.Â
⏰ Early Release Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 25, elementary schools in the following pyramids will release three hours early:
- Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Hayfield, Justice, Lewis, Mount Vernon, Oakton, Robinson, South County, Westfield, and West Potomac.
Find out more about limited early release Wednesdays.
Quarter End/Early Release
Friday, March 27, is the last day of the third quarter and an early release day for students.
SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable for students and parents during end-of-quarter updates from Friday, March 27, at 4 p.m. to Tuesday, April 14, at 6 a.m.
Spring Break
Schools will be closed from Monday, March 30, to Friday, April 3, for spring break. Monday, April 6, is a teacher workday, and there will be no school for students. See the school year calendar.
School Board Meeting Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m.Â
A special meeting will be held at 6:15 p.m., during which newly-elected Braddock Magisterial Representative Tom Dannon will be administered the oath of office.
Topics on the agenda include:
- Third Quarter Budget Review.
- Awarding of Contracts.
View the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
Commonwealth Listening Tour: Speak Up for Virginia’s Future
The Virginia Department of Education and the Secretary of Education are hosting a series of listening sessions across the Commonwealth to hear from Virginians about how we can highlight successes and work together to strengthen public education by supporting educators and students. Learn more about the listening tour.Â
If you can’t make it to an in-person event, complete this survey to share your feedback with the governor. The survey will close on Friday, April 10.
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