WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FOREST - 3/27/26

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Mar 30-Apr 3 -   NO SCHOOL, Spring Break Mon, Apr 6 -      NO SCHOOL, Teacher Workday                            Community Clean Up Day,                            9-11am Fri, Apr 10 -       NO SCHOOL, School Planning Day                            Kindergarten Orientation,                            8:30-10am Apr 13-17          Month of the Military Child                            Spirit Week Mon, Apr 13 -    NEW DATE: 3rd Grade Recorder                            Concert, 7pm Wed, Apr 15 -    FCPS PurpleUp! Day                            Military-Connected Family Breakfast                            Progress Reports sent home Tue, Apr 21 -     NO SCHOOL, VA Statewide Election Thu, Apr 23 -     Parent Workshop - Helping Kids                             Handle Big Emotions, 6-7pm                            Evening Kindergarten Registration,                            4:30-7pm

Schools and school offices 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.  To see future important school dates, please see the school year calendar.

Good afternoon Newington Forest Families,

We kicked off our week with Curriculum Knight on Monday and it was wonderful to see many families stop by to learn how to support learning from home. Thank you to Ms. Howard, Family Liaison, and Ms. Cradle, 5th Grade Teacher, for organizing this event for our school community.

Today was the last day of the 3rd quarter. I'm so proud of how hard our students have worked. Teachers will be working on grades for student progress reports.

Please note that Wednesday, April 29th was originally planned to be a 3-hour early release date, but it will now be a full school day. Students will release at 3:35pm.

I hope you have a wonderful spring break! 

Sincerely,

Angela Thompson
Principal

STEM Fest @ NFES

This past Saturday, NFES hosted STEM Fest, organized by STEAMOLOGY, a volunteer-run non-profit whose mission is "to provide a learning platform for one and all by engaging and empowering students via innovative educational activities and support."

We had several Newington Forest families come through to explore the different stations. Even Dr. Reid dropped by to check out the fun. Thank you, STEAMOLOGY!

Curriculum Knight

Thank you to all of the NFES students and families who came out to experience Curriculum Knight! Our teachers enjoyed seeing their current and future students talk about strengthening reading and math skills.

We Want Your Feedback!
Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire

On Monday, April 6, parents and guardians of Newington Forest Elementary will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.

Topics covered in the survey include:

✅ Instructional leadership

✅ School climate

✅ Management (human resources and organizational)

✅ Communication and community relations

✅ Culturally responsive and equitable leadership

✅ Professionalism

The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and feedback!

April is the Month of the Military Child!

Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community and recognize their strength and resilience.

Get ready! During the week of April 13, Newington Forest Elementary will be celebrating with exciting activities to honor our military-connected students. Stay tuned for details about:

• A school-wide spirit week
• A special display recognizing our military-connected students
• A family breakfast event honoring our military-connected students

We look forward to coming together as a school community to show our appreciation and support! Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS resources for military families.

NFES Community Clean Up Day

Monday, April 6
9-11 AM
Meet @ Kiss and Ride area

Let’s work together to keep our campus beautiful!
Support with litter clean up, mulching, weeding, and spring garden prep!

Students must be accompanied by an adult. This is not a drop off event.

RSVP at https://bit.ly/NFEScleanup2026

Friday, April 10, 2026
8:30am – 10:00am

To accommodate the busy lives of our families, we will be hosting a Registration Night in addition to our daytime appointments.

April 23^th

4:30pm – 6:30pm

For registration questions, please contact Ms. Jessi Padua, School Registrar, at jpadua@fcps.edu. Visit http://bit.ly/3KZQVY3 to make a registration appointment.

NFES Parent Workshop:
Helping KIds Handle Big Emotions

Understanding Anxiety, Stress, and Emotions and How Parents Can Help

THURSDAY, APRIL 23
6:00 - 7:30 PM
ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE

Join us either in person at Newington Forest Elementary or virtually for an informative parent workshop with Rachel Bailey, M.A., Clinical Psychology, who has helped thousands of parents and children learn practical tools for improving behavior, motivation, resilience, and self-esteem. Through her podcasts, speaking engagements, and parenting programs, Rachel shares easy-to use strategies that families can apply right away.

This session will help parents recognize signs of anxiety and stress in children and learn ways to support healthy emotional coping skills at home and at school.

RSVP at bit.ly/April2026Workshop

Questions? Contact Andrea Howard, Family Liaison, at ahoward@fcps.edu

NFES
UPDATED SOL Schedule Spring 2026

Please note the changes in our calendar below! Our SOL testing days are just around the corner. You can help your student feel confident and ready by reviewing the schedule and ensuring they arrive at school on time. If you know your child will be absent on a testing day, please notify their teacher as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.

Elementary Early Release Wednesday Update for April

Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.

Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.

This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.

Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details. 

Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her 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. on: 

• Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
• Thursday, April 16, at Ravensworth Elementary School (note date change).
• Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
• Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.

Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

Provide the County Government With Feedback on its Budget

About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May. Opportunities to provide feedback to the county include Budget Town Hall Meetings airing on Channel 16 on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., (Springfield District) and Friday, April 10, at 6 p.m., (Franconia District).

You can also provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Tuesday, April 14, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak. 

Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget. 

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our Newington Forest staff members.

FCPS News In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others: School Weather Safety Science Fair Winners Summer Internships at FCPS Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

8001 Newington Forest Ave. Springfield, VA 22153  |  Phone: 703.923.2600

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