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⏱️ Have 10 minutes before March 23? Now is your chance to give feedback on your school's welcoming environment, communication, volunteer opportunities, and more. Take the Family Engagement Survey before it closes on Monday: https://bit.ly/FESURVEY2026
⏱️ ¿Tienes 10 minutos antes del 23 de Marzo? Esta es su oportunidad para brindarnos su opinión sobre el ambiente acogedor de su escuela, la comunicación, las oportunidades de voluntariado y más. Tome la Encuesta de Participación Familiar antes de que se cierre el lunes. https://bit.ly/3Nn8fIb
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Cardinal Forest ES has a NEW Visitor Check-in System beginning this week. Downloading and registering on the Raptor Safe App is not required, you can still use your driver’s license in the building, but this is faster.
What is Raptor Safe?
Raptor Safe is a free mobile app designed to make school visits and student dismissals both faster and more secure. By using the app, you can create a Raptor Passport, which allows you to check in at the school entrance by simply scanning a QR code. A new QR code is generated each time so no screenshots.
A few notes for registration in the app: no code is needed so skip that step and foreign id's and passports can be used (as long as they are in English).
Setting Up Your Account
Getting started is straightforward. Here is the play-by-play:
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Download: Search for "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Verification: To keep the community safe, the app will ask you to scan your driver’s license and take a live selfie to verify your identity.
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Privacy: Don't worry about that selfie—it is used only for the initial verification and is not stored in the app.
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Stored Info: The app only keeps necessary details like your name, date of birth, the photo from your ID, and the last four digits of your license or passport.
Quick Tips for Users
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No Passwords to Memorize: The app uses your mobile phone number to log you in. You’ll receive a one-time code via text each time you need to access your account.
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Need Help?: If you run into any technical snags, you can find troubleshooting guides at raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/.
Raptor Safe FAQ Sheet
Summer is closer than you think ! The family resource center has a great Summer Camp Guide to get you started.
Tech Adventure Camp: Current Kindergarten - grade 5 students explore Business/Marketing, Family + Consumer Sciences, Health + Medical Sciences, STEAM, and Trades by rotating through daily classes
Visit the Tech Adventure Camp Web page!
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Academy: Current grade 6 - 11 students choose their classes and dive deeper into CTE program areas, skills, and career exploration
Visit the CTE Summer Academy Web page!
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA): A dynamic summer enrichment program serving students currently in grades K–5. Students currently in grade 6 are eligible for our secondary program, Institute for the Arts (IFTA).
Our programs offer students daily experiences in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance in a fun, supportive environment designed to nurture creativity and confidence.
Visit the Elementary Institute for the Arts Web page!
Camp Fairfax: Serves rising 1st through 7th graders and is held in public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided. A sliding fee scale is available. Registration opens March 17!
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
Military Family Field Day: Saturday, April 18, 2026
FCPS invites all military-connected families with FCPS students to a special field day to honor our military-connected children.
Join us for an afternoon of fun and community at Annandale High School on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m.
Enjoy field day games and crafts at the football and track stadium. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to support various FCPS school clubs and organizations. This is a great opportunity to connect with other military families across the division!
To RSVP, please complete this Google form by Friday, March 27, 2026
MILITARY FAMILY OUTREACH: FSPwill be facilitating monthly workshops, webinars, or family engagement events for military families throughout the school year. Please check the Family Academy Catalog CLICK HERE under "Military-Connected Families Offerings" for more information on these events as they are posted.
For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
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!
Sign-ups for our spring enrichment programs are here! These before or after school programs are designed to help students explore new or current passions and grow through hands-on activities. Register today to secure your spot - registration deadline is Tuesday, April 7th. Spots may be filled before this, so register early! If you have questions, please contact cfes.enrichmentcoordinator@gmail.com.
MONDAY AM: 7:45-9:00 AM
RunFit Kidz (1st-6th)
*** Registration for RunFit Kidz closes March 24th ***
3/17/26 - 5/13/26
https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Burke/RunFitKidz
MONDAY PM: 4:10-5:10 PM
Kids in Motion "Fun Fitness with HipHop and Zumba" (K-6th)
4/13/26 - 6/8/26 (No classes 5/25/26)
https://www.hisawyer.com/kids-in-motion/schedules/activity-set/1832201
TUESDAY PM: 4:10-5:10 PM
Kids in Motion "Sports Mix" (K-3rd)
4/14/26 - 6/9/26 (No classes 4/21/26, 5/26/26)
https://www.hisawyer.com/kids-in-motion/schedules/activity-set/1832202
WEDNESDAY AM: 8:00-9:00 AM
Sticky Fingers Cooking Class (K-6th)
4/15/26 - 6/3/26
https://stickyfingerscooking.com/school-programs/northern%20virginia/cardinal-forest-elementary-school-spring-2026
THURSDAY AM: 8:00-9:00 AM
STEM ExCEL "3D Printing" (1st-6th)
4/16/26 - 6/4/26
https://stemexcel.org/cardinalforest/
YOUNG REMBRANDTS "Drawing" (K-6th)
4/9/26 - 5/28/26
https://www.youngrembrandts.com/find-a-class?zipCode=22152&radius=5&stateCode=
THURSDAY PM: 4:10-5:10PM
Acting For Young People "Take the Stage" (2nd-6th)
4/9/26 - 5/28/26
https://www.afyp.org/cardinal-forest
 Signup is open for RunFit Kidz this spring. We need 10 more signups in order for this program to happen. It is an enrichment program offered before school on Wednesdays, 7:45-9:00am, beginning March 18th. Signup is open now.
Cardinal Forest’s annual book fair is just around the corner, happening April 13th-16th. The PTA is looking for volunteers to help during school hours,family night, and tear down. View and sign up for shifts on PTBoard.
Support Cardinal Forest Elementary at our last Spirit event this school year! The South Block Springfield Spirit Week will run the entire week of April 20th. More details to come!
Upcoming Events 📆
PTA Calendar
March 20: FCPS Student Holiday
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
April 6: FCPS Student Holiday
April 10: FCPS Student Holiday
April 14: Teacher Workroom
April 15: Military Family Popsicle Playdate
April 20-24: South Block Spirit Week
April 22: 3-hour Early Release
May 4-8: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 13: 3-hour Early Release
May 13: General PTA Meeting
May 15: Spring Picnic
May 25-27: FCPS Student Holiday
Connect With Us
PT Board: https://cardinalforest.ptboard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBirdPTA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardinalforestespta
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cardinalforestpta
cardinalforestpta@gmail.com
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