Forestville Focus

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Calendar Reminders

April 15: Purple Up Day - Wear Purple in support of military-connected youth April 21: NEW**Student Holiday/Teacher Workday - due to special election  April 22: Full day of school - Early Release Wednesday cancelled April 24: PTA Grades 4-6 Dance (see below)

Wear Purple on Wednesday, 4/15! Forestville and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!  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.

Welcome to Forestville, Mr. Plunkett!

We are excited to welcome Mr. Rob Plunkett as the new Assistant Principal of Forestville Elementary! Mr. Plunkett brings a passion for supporting students, building strong relationships, and fostering a positive school community.

We look forward to the leadership and energy he will bring to our school and are thrilled to have him join the Forestville family. Please join us in giving Mr. Plunkett a warm Cardinal welcome! ❤️🖤

April Calendar Reminders & Updates Forestville would like to remind families about two recent calendar adjustments impacting our April schedule. As FCPS Superintendent Dr. Reid shared last evening, our April 22 Early Release Wednesday is cancelled and we will have a full day of school. This is due to the closure on April 21 as it is now a special election day in many school. April 21 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday April 22 - Full day of school; no longer Early Release Wednesday

We loved welcoming our rising kindergarten students and their families to Forestville Elementary for Orientation! Thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope it gave you a glimpse into the joyful learning, caring community, and exciting experiences that await.

We are so excited to welcome our newest Cardinals this fall and can’t wait to watch them learn, grow, and soar. It’s truly a great day to be a Cardinal! ❤️🖤

Celebrating Community Connections at Little League Opening Day ⚾

This past Saturday, Dr. Reid had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the Great Falls Little League Opening Day—right here in the park adjacent to Forestville Elementary!

It was a wonderful morning filled with excitement, teamwork, and community spirit. Mrs. Brooker was happy to join Dr. Reid as we cheered on many of our Forestville students! Two fortunate cardinals were selected to catch the opening pitches!

Events like this highlight the strong connection between our school and the greater community. From building friendships to learning teamwork and sportsmanship, our students continue to grow both on and off the field. We are so grateful for the coaches, volunteers, and families who make these meaningful experiences possible for our Cardinals! ❤️🖤

Forestville Celebrates our Langley Pyramid Winners 🏆

Forestville is thrilled to update our community with the exciting news that three staff members were selected as Langley Pyramid representatives for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards!

Congratulations to Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jenny Grider representing Forestville Elementary and the Langley Pyramid for Outstanding Teacher.

Congratulations to School Counselor, Mrs. Shana Schnaue representing Forestville Elementary and the Langley Pyramid for Outstanding Professional.

Congratulations to Second grade teacher, Ms. Grace Cornman representing Forestville Elementary and the Langley Pyramid for Outstanding New Teacher.

All three moved on to the Region 1 category and while not selected, we could not be more proud of our amazing staff members.

Thank you to all community who nominated our staff members! We look forward to even more nominations next year!

💻Standards of Learning Assessments 

Students in grades 3-8 participate in state assessments each year.  These assessments measure how students are learning the state standards.  Below is the current schedule for the spring Standards of Learning tests at Forestville Elementary. Visit the FCPS webpage here for more information about these assessments.

• Grades 5 and 6 Reading

  • Tuesday, May 5

• Grades 3 and 4 Reading

  • Thursday, May 7

• Grades 5 and 6 Math

  • Tuesday, May 12

• Grades 3 and 4 Math

  • Thursday, May 14

• Grade 5 Science

  • Tuesday, May 19

Want to see what learning, laughter, and life at Forestville really look like? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a front-row seat to the amazing moments happening in our classrooms and around our school. From special events and student highlights to spirit days and everyday fun—you won’t want to miss a thing!

📸 Facebook: ForestvilleFCPS
📸 Instagram: @forestvillefcps

Nominate a Forestville Employee Today Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. We encourage our community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated and we thank you in advance for your time!

Langley Pyramid Youth Night - April 14

Forestville invites all students and families to join us at Langley Pyramid Youth Tailgate on April 14. Students are admitted free to high school Lacrosse and Baseball with a paying adult. Come root on our former Cardinals and current Saxons!

Tuesday Folder

Forestville uses Schoology for all Tuesday Folder contents. All flyers are posted to Schoology Course: Forestville All Parents and contents are listed below.

• Chipotle Night - April 14
• Great Falls Basketball Camp
• PTA Monday Afterschool Activity - Soccer
• Tuesday Folder Content Disclaimer
• Bands on the Run - Langley Pyramid 5K
• Langley Pyramid Youth Tailgate
• Techstravaganza 2026

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. 

FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Tuesday, April 21, at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available for the children. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage. 

Help FCPS Sustain Excellence: Make Your Voice Heard on the FY 2027 Budget

About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget before final adoption in May. This includes public budget hearings (April 14-16) and an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.

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: 

• Thursday, April 16, at Ravensworth Elementary School 
• 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 it 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.

Halfway Through Journeys and Themes in Language Arts

We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts! Across grade levels, students have explored stories involving quests, challenges, and problem-solving. 

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

• Question: Which character has been your favorite from this unit and why?
• Activity: With your child, brainstorm a brand-new invention to solve a problem, like shoelaces that tie themselves or a clothes dryer that folds clothes. Ask your child to tell or write a story about someone using the invention. 

At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.

📰FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• Support Military Children
• National Merit Finalists
• School Board to Present Budget to Board of Supervisors

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.  

Join Forestville PTA and Cardinals at Chipotle Night - Tuesday, 4/14

Forestville PTA has collaborated with Chipotle on Sunset Hills Road for a Restaurant Night fundraiser. Make plans for a Chipotle dinner on Tuesday, 4/14 and 25% of purchase will go back to Forestville. Be sure to use the online code or show the flyer for credit!

📔Yearbooks Now On Sale Don't Miss Out on the 2025-26 Yearbook The 2025-26 school year is full of special moments. You can make sure they last forever by ordering your yearbook today! Online sales are officially open. Ordering is quick and easy through our secure website. Please use the link and school ID code below to reserve your copy: Website: www.BuyTheYearbook.com School ID Code: 732280 There are two options available for families this year: Standard Yearbook: $25 Yearbook with Foil Name on Cover: $30 Be sure to order soon to guarantee your student receives a copy of this year’s memories!

Hollywood Night Dance for Grades 4-6

Forestville PTA is looking forward to Hollywood Night, a dance for students in Grades 4-6 on Friday, April 24. This is NOT a drop off event.

🎬 Hollywood Night Dance – Grades 4–6 🎶

Lights, camera, dance! Our 4th–6th Grade Hollywood Night Dance is coming up soon and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for our students.

Important reminder: We are looking for volunteers to help staff a few key roles throughout the evening to ensure a safe and successful night for everyone. If you’re able to help, we’d love your support!

🎧 DJ Song Requests Are Open! Purchase your dance tickets by Wednesday, April 15 to help create this year’s playlist.

Each student who purchases their ticket by April 15 may submit up to three song requests for the DJ to play. Think songs that make you want to dance, jump, and sing along — clean and school‑appropriate, please!

This is your chance to help create the ultimate dance floor playlist, so choose wisely and bring the fun!

1085 Utterback Store Road | Great Falls, VA 22066 | 703.404.6000 
Attendance: submit online or call 703.404.6098 | Web | Twitter
Administration: Sarah Brooker | Afton Carlson