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Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing, and rejuvenating spring break filled with quality time and sunshine. It has been such a joy having students back and bringing a renewed sense of energy to our classrooms.
As we kick off this final stretch of the school year, we are ready to head into the fourth quarter strong. This is a special time to reflect on just how much our students have matured and to celebrate the incredible growth and progress they show every day. Our focus for these final weeks is to keep that momentum going by nurturing their confidence, strengthening their friendships, and finishing the year with pride in everything they’ve accomplished. Let’s work together to make this quarter the most positive and memorable one yet!
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Long, Mrs. Agner, Mrs. Compton
Upcoming Dates 📆
April 10 - No School for Students
April 10- Kindergarten Orientation at 1:30pm
April 13 - 16 - Scholastic Book Fair
April 13-17 - Month of the Military Child Spirit Week
April 15 - Purple Up! Day
April 21 - No School, Statewide Election
 April Statewide Election
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.
See the complete school year calendar.
National Arab American Heritage Month
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FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. |
Autism Acceptance Month
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🌈 Join us in recognizing #AutismAcceptanceMonth! One in 31 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students. #OurFCPS |
🌟Mrs. Long's Blueprint Byte
This week, we are proud to celebrate Assistant Principal Appreciation Week and the incredible impact of Ms. Agner and Ms. Compton. Their dedication to fostering deep connections and supporting every student is a vital part of our school’s Blueprint, and we are so grateful for their heart-centered leadership!
🧸Spread the Word: Kindergarten Orientation!
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.
We can’t wait to meet our future kindergarten families!
💜Month of the Military Child Spirit Week
April is Month of the Military Child! To recognize and honor our Cardinal Forest ES military students, we are inviting everyone to participate in the Month of the Military Child spirit week nest week, especially “Purple Up!” day on April 15. Why purple? Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force blue. We appreciate the service of our Cardinal Forest students from military families and celebrate them by wearing purple to say, “Thank You!”
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Monday, April 13th - Dress in camouflage
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Tuesday, April 14th - Wear Red, White, and Blue
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Wednesday, April 15th - Wear Purple to support our military students and families
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Thursday, April 16th - Branch Day: Wear something to represent one of the branches of service
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Friday, April 17th - Wear Red to Remember Everyone Deployed
Spring School Portraits- Now Available!
Hello Cardinal Forest Elementary Families! Victor O'Neill Studios recently held Spring portrait day at our school and pictures are now online. All orders will include free shipping until April 6th. Please use the link below to view your student's Spring photos.
https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001355961
Please remember, the online code is the Student ID Number.
For questions about orders, please email underclass@vosphoto.com
📚 Scholastic Book Fair is next week!
Get ready to read, Mighty Red Birds!
VISIT Cardinal Forest’s SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR PAGE
Scholastic eWallet. Click to Set up eWallet
Please join us for Family Shopping Night on Tuesday, April 14th from 4:30-6:30 PM. Families can come and shop at the book fair!
Volunteers Needed! Please consider helping during our book fair. It’s the BEST volunteer job of the year! CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!
Interested in donating so students at Cardinal Forest can get free books? Click here to donate. All donations go directly towards Cardinal Forest Students!
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Hawk- mahawk@fcps.edu
☀️ Friendly Face Fridays!
Join us for Friendly Face Fridays at 9:20 AM to experience the heart of our school day! Parents and caregivers are invited to jump into our 20-minute Morning Meeting to share in the greetings and activities that bring our community together. It’s a wonderful way to connect with your child’s classroom and feel the warmth of our school family firsthand before the workday begins.
Please mark your calendars for your child's grade-level date:
🎨 West Springfield Pyramid Art Show
Save the Date! Wednesday, April 15th, 5pm-8pm, West Springfield High School
The Pyramid Art Show is our annual art exhibit. Selected artwork from Cardinal Forest ES will be displayed along with artwork from surrounding elementary schools, Irving Middle School and West Springfield High School. Students that have art on display will receive an official invitation with their name on it upon returning from Spring Break! We hope you can join us in celebrating the creativity of our amazing students.
Cardinal Forest SOL Testing Dates (Grades 3-6)
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May 6 – Reading SOL for Grades 3–6
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May 14 – Math SOL for Grades 3–6
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May 19 – Science SOL for Grade 5
Expedited Retake Dates (for students who qualify)
- May 20 – Reading SOL Retakes
- May 21 – Math SOL Retakes
- May 29 – Science SOL Retakes
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.older text.
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:
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.
Arrival and Dismissal - Be A Good Neighbor!
As a reminder, please help us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth for everyone. We ask families to be good neighbors and mindful of:
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Not blocking intersections or painted boxes during Kiss & Ride —this impacts visibility and also prohibits access for emergency vehicles.
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Crossing only in crosswalks and watching carefully for cars.
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Avoiding parking in residential areas, fire lanes, or private parking spaces.
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Refraining from making illegal U-turns.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Winter Sports Champions
- Parent Acknowledgement of Course Requests
- Last Chance to Take the Family Engagement Survey
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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