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Dear Mantua families,
The shortened student week this week gave our staff opportunities for professional development to take to the classrooms and also time to submit 3rd quarter grades. Our staff is also excitedly preparing for Family Culture Night on April 15th! We gladly anticipate this event all year. It is a time for Mantua families to celebrate together the rich cultural diversity that generates the unity and strength within our community. You will have the chance to meet Regi Incer, our Family Liaison, who has coordinated festivities, crafts and games for all, and we have many families sponsoring tables–you won’t want to miss this! This event is from 6 to 7:30 PM in the gym.
In the coming week:
- Classroom and group photo day is April 14th, and don’t forget to stop by the Woodson Pyramid Art show beginning at 6 PM at Woodson High School!
- April celebrates the Month of the Military Child! We will host events throughout the school this week, and we invite all staff and students to wear purple on April 15th for “Purple Up Day” in support of our military families and the contributions they make to our community.
Have a wonderful week!
Take good care,
Ms. Shannon, Mrs. Vaughan, Ms. Maurer
 We caught our preschool students enjoying their new playground! We're so glad that they have a safe and clean place to call their own!
April 13: Mantua Movement Monday begins at 8:30 AM on the track
April 14: Classroom and Group Photo Day (rescheduled)
Woodson Pyramid Art Show, 6 to 8 PM at Woodson High School
April 15: Purple Up Day! (wear purple)
Family Culture Night 6 to 7:30 PM in the gym
April 18: All-county Chorus Festival performance, 3 PM at Lake Braddock SS
April 20-24: Earth Week, more details to come
April 21: Special Election Day, Student Holiday
April 28: AAP Orientation Night, 6 to 7 PMin the cafeteria
May 1-2: Mantua PTA drama performance of Shrek the Musical, more details to follow
Special Announcement regarding April 22:
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. April 22 will be a full day of school. This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days. Due to this change, we will not be able to hold our Kindergarten Orientation that day. Kindergarten Orientation will be held on May 13th from 2 to 3 PM. Please adjust your schedule to allow for this new date. Any questions can be directed to our registrar, Mergie Kakouris, at mbkakouris@fcps.edu.
Theravada New Year (Observance Day)
Thursday, April 16, is Theravada New Year. FCPS has designated this day as a religious and cultural observance day. There is school on these days, however specific events that cannot be made up will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.
Weekly Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight is our way to recognize Mantua's incredible staff! Each week, we recognize a group of staff members. Check them out on Mantua ES Instagram. This coming week's featured staff members are our Art teachers, Mr. Lorenzi and Ms. Shirley.
Please use the Spotlight Submission Form to share a positive message with them. We will share the messages with them at the end of next week.
Thank you for helping us make Staff Spotlight a fun and engaging way to celebrate our school community. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support!
Month of the Military Child and Purple Up Day!
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April is the Month of the Military Child, and at Mantua, we are proud to celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and spirit of our military-connected students.
Join us on Purple Up Day, April 15th, by wearing purple to show your support and appreciation. As a Purple Star School, this day is especially meaningful to our community. It is a chance for all of us to stand together and recognize the sacrifices our military families make, especially the children who walk our halls each day.
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We invite Mantua to Purple Up on Wednesday! |
Mantua Earth Week
Get ready to make a difference, Raccoons! We are thrilled to announce the Mantua Raccoons Earth Week Challenge, a week-long journey where we will ACT, CREATE, and INSPIRE, taking one simple action each day to protect our planet. Here is your daily action guide:
Make-it Monday Let’s get creative! The goal today is to Create Recycled Art! You can make it in class or bring it from home. We'll also Watch the Teacher Video and officially Start Our Collection Drive! Don't forget your donation!
Turn-it-Off Tuesday Today is all about saving energy. We are challenging every family to Power Down at Home for 30 Minutes! Turn off those electronics! You can use natural light and enjoy some active time with your family. Remember to look around the house and Learn (at home) other ways you can save energy.
Walking Wednesday (or BIKE!) Let's reduce emissions and get active! Today’s challenge is to Walk or Bike to School! It’s a great way to start the day. If you live too far, don’t worry—try the "Park & Walk" approach by parking a few blocks away and walking the rest of the way.
Thoughtful Thirsty Thursday (Hydration Station) It's a plastic-free day! The rule is No Plastic Bottles Today! You must Bring Your Reusable Water Bottle! Remember, our mascot says, "Raccoons love clean water!" and using reusable bottles keeps plastic out of our oceans.
Fresh Air Friday (Outdoor Learning) Let’s breathe in that fresh air and Learn in the Wild! Your classes will head outside for learning. We will also be using "Sit Spots" to quietly sit and observe the beautiful nature around us.
Let's show everyone what we can do, Mantua Raccoons!
MOVEMENT MONDAY IS BACK!
We are looking forward to having our families and students come join us for some walking/jogging around the track on Monday mornings. Everyone is welcome! Rocky Raccoon also loves this, so he let us know that he will be making lots of appearances on those days as well.
When: April 13th – June 15th.
Times: 830am-9:05 AM (We will send the students to their classes at 9:05!)
In case of rain, it will be canceled.
Contact your PE teachers Karen.bruining@fcps.edu or Brianpcollins@fcps.edu for any questions.
Join us for the 2026 Special Education Family Conference: Stronger Together: Connecting Families & Schools.
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043
This no-cost, in-person event hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools and our community partners will feature:
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Keynote Session: Dr. Shelley Moore, an inclusive education consultant and engaging speaker, will lead our keynote address, The Evolution of Inclusion. She will share how inclusion has evolved as we better understand diversity and identity. She will lead participants to reflect on their own experiences and consider simple, meaningful next steps for advocacy and action. View Dr. Moore’s Five Moore Minutes Videos and Resources before the event.
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Breakout Sessions and Vendor Hall: Explore the full lineup of engaging breakout sessions and vendor hall participants on the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage.
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Childcare: Childcare is available for students of varying abilities. Please request childcare when you register.
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Lunch: Lunch will be provided for attendees.
Learn more and register today!
The conference is a great opportunity to connect with other families and school staff!
If you have questions, please email us at SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
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 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.
Quick Contacts & Links
Linda Shannon, Principal LCShannon@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
Michele Maurer, Assistant Principal, Mkmaurer@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Administrative/Finance Assistant SLPalomino@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, MBKakouris@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, FFinaish@fcps.edu
Judy Toy, Office Assistant, JPToy@fcps.edu
Avril Donat, Office & Library Assistant Andonat@fcps.edu
Kathy Van Dyke, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher kkvandyke@fcps.edu
Maria Regina Incer, Family Liaison, mrincernunez@fcps.edu
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