Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- PTA News
- Floris Spelling Bee Champion
- Month of the Military Child
- 2026-2027 Safety Patrol Application
- Student Showcase Art Show
- Spring Picture Day
- Yearbooks
- Curiosity Corner
- AAP Information
- Floris SOL Schedule
- April Statewide Election
- Special Education Awards
- Special Education Family Conference
- Countdown to Kindergarten
- Summer Learning
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
I am excited to share some wonderful news with our Floris community! Congratulations to Laasya Mohan, our Floris Spelling Bee winner, who earned first place in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee! Laasya will now advance to compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. What an incredible accomplishment! We are so proud of Laasya and look forward to cheering her on as she represents Floris on the national stage. The competition will be televised, and we will share more details as they become available.
This week was also Career Week at Floris, and we want to extend a thank you to all of the family members and community volunteers who took time to visit our school and share their career experiences with our students. Your support helped make this week engaging, meaningful, and inspiring for our learners.
As we head into Spring Break, I would like to wish all of our Floris families a safe, restful, and enjoyable break. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Principal DeSmyter
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
🍎Food Share Program:
-
Sign up to deliver donated food on Fridays. It is a quick errand!
📷Picture Day Volunteers:
- Floris needs parent volunteers to help with Picture Day on Wednesday, April 8th from 9:30am - 3:30pm. Please review the available time slots and sign up. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your time slot to check-in at the front office. Thank you!!
🌎International Night:
- Held on Thursday, April 30 from 6:30-7:30pm in the Floris Elementary School Cafeteria and Gym. International Night is a celebration of the diversity of our students and families from different parts of the world. To make this event successful, we need volunteers. Check out our sign up and host a country table, perform, or just help.
🗣️Floris Arabic Student Club:
- Registration for the Floris Arabic Student Club (FASC) is OPEN for any Floris 3rd-6th graders. FASC meets on Wednesdays from 4:15-5:00pm. This club is for all levels of learners - from those just starting to learn Arabic to fluent speakers.
2026-2027 PTA Leadership Opportunities:
- Got ideas? Got energy? Floris PTA needs YOU!
-
Volunteer to be a PTA officer to help continue programming and provide enrichment opportunities for Floris students.
- Roles vary in commitment, and we are happy to provide training/support. If you’d like to learn more, please contact florispta.pres@gmail.com.
Want to learn more about the PTA? Visit our website.
Floris Spelling Bee Champion Heads to the Scripps National Spelling Bee
We are thrilled to announce that Laasya Mohan will be representing Fairfax County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in May! Laasya won 1st place at the Fairfax County Spelling Bee, correctly spelling the winning word B-é-a-r-n-a-i-s-e. Our community looks forward to cheering her on when the competition is televised!
This exciting achievement comes after a fantastic Spelling Bee season at Floris Elementary in February. Congratulations to all 64 students who participated in the preliminary round, with 24 advancing to the final round. After 11 rounds of spelling — and 6 additional rounds to determine 3rd place — the winning word was a-l-a-c-r-i-t-y.
Congratulations to our Floris top 3 spellers: 1st Place: Laasya Mohan (4th Grade) 2nd Place: Idhanth Anbuselvan (3rd Grade) 3rd Place: Isabel Theodore (5th Grade)
We are so proud of all of our spellers for their hard work, courage, and dedication, and we wish Laasya the very best at the Scripps National Spelling Bee!
Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and honor the unique experiences and resilience of our military-connected students and families. As part of this recognition, Floris Elementary will be joining Fairfax County Public Schools in celebrating Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15.
We encourage all students, staff, and community members to wear purple on April 15 as a visible show of support. Purple represents all branches of the military and symbolizes unity and appreciation for the sacrifices made by military families.
We are proud to support and celebrate our military-connected youth and look forward to seeing our Floris community “Purple Up!” together!
Safety Patrol Reminder (Grades 4 & 5)
Is your child in becoming a Safety Patrol member? Don’t forget to complete and submit your patrol application! This is a great opportunity to build leadership skills and help our school community.
The application link can be found in your homeroom Schoology course.
Deadline: This Friday, March 27th!
Student Showcase Art Show
You are invited to attend the Student Showcase Art Show and explore student artwork. Admission is free and open to all!
Date: April 8
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location:
Westfield High School Gym (Westfield Pyramid)
4700 Stonecroft Boulevard
Chantilly, VA 20151
Event Schedule:
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Open viewing of student artwork
- 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Awards presentation
Spring Picture Day is Coming!
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001271138
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
Yearbooks Are Now On Sale
- Cost: $18
- Order Deadline: April 17, 2026
- In order to ensure everything is tracked appropriately and efficiently, we will only be conducting online orders.
👉👉You can order the Floris Yearbook from 🔗this direct link 🔗👈👈
- You will need to enter your student's first name, last name, grade level, and provide online payment.
- If you are ordering more than one yearbook, you'll need to complete the above process for each student (separate transactions).
We can expect our yearbooks to arrive from Walsworth at the end of May and they will be distributed to students in June! Thank you!
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
April's Maker Mission: Patterns in Bloom! 🌸
There are many patterns in nature, and Spring is the perfect time to observe them! Create spring art inspired by patterns found in nature—like leaves, flowers, insects, or clouds. Use any materials at home to design your artwork and share it with a photo, drawing, or short explanation.
The goal is to promote creative and critical thinking and engage in the engineering and design process. Submissions are due in the Curiosity Lab at the end of the month and will be highlighted within the school building and on the student news show. Let's get curious!
AAP Information
AAP Screening – School-Based Services (Subject-Specific Differentiation and Part-Time Services):
Screening for subject-specific differentiation (grades K-5) and part time services (grades 2-5) will be happening in May for the 26-27 school year. This is a screening process that is completely separate from full-time services. For families interested in referring their child for subject-specific differentiation and/or part-time services you have the option to submit a referral form to Amy Albanese by April 30, 2026. Please note the forms are not required - All students will be automatically screened for possible services, but the form allows the parent to submit their own insights as to why their child needs services. Forms can be submitted digitally to abalbanese@fcps.edu by April 30, 2026.
If you are interested in learning more about the 4 levels of AAP services, please click on this link: Elementary School AAP Levels of Service.
If you should have any questions regarding AAP services, please reach out to Amy Albanese our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher here at Floris ES, or learn more about AAP on our Floris webpage!
 Grades 3 and 4
Tuesday, May 12 - Language Arts SOL
Thursday, May 14 - Math SOL
Grade 5
Friday, May 8 - Science SOL
Grades 5 and 6
Wednesday, May 13 - Language Arts SOL
Friday, May 15 - Math SOL
Grades 3-6
May 18-May 22 - SOL makeup testing
May 28-June 2 - Expedited SOL retakes (Scores of 375-399 on initial assessment)
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
March 26: Science Fair
March 26: Westfield HS International Night
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
April 6: Teacher Workday
April 8: Spring Picture Day
April 8: Student Showcase Art Show
April 10: School Planning Day
April 10: Kindergarten Orientation, 10:00 in Cafeteria
April 15: "Purple Up" Day for Military Children
April 21: Election- No School
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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