|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
 |
|
Principal Note |
Dear London Towne Families,
What an incredible week it has been at "The Towne!" Our hallways have been ROARing with energy, and I am beyond proud of our pride over the milestones they are reaching. Whether it was in the classroom, deep underground, or on a high school campus, our Lions showed up with curiosity and spirit.
-
iReady Reading Success: Our 3rd through 6th graders recently completed their iReady Reading assessments, and the results are in: HUGE growth! It is a testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication of our staff. Seeing those scores climb is a win for our entire community.
-
Immersion Bridge-Building: Our 5th and 6th-grade Spanish Immersion students had a very special "culminating event" this week. After exchanging letters with pen pals all year, they were hosted by the Westfield High School Spanish Honor Society. It was wonderful to see them meet their mentors in person, engage in community-building activities, and put their Spanish fluency to work in a real-world setting.
-
3rd Grade Adventures: Our 3rd graders traveled to Luray Caverns, where they traded the classroom for the subterranean world. From exploring ancient formations to testing their bravery on the ropes course, it was a day of adventure they won't soon forget.
-
A Harmony of Voices: On Saturday, I had the distinct privilege of attending the All County Choir Festival. Watching over 600 sixth graders from across the division gather to perform was truly heartwarming. LTES was well-represented, and our students’ voices added beautifully to that massive choir.
-
Science Olympiad: A huge shout-out to our resilient Lions who showcased their brilliance at the Science Olympiad competition this past weekend, demonstrating incredible problem-solving skills and teamwork as they tackled complex STEAM challenges!
We have another busy week on deck with more opportunities to celebrate our students' progress:
-
VALLSS & MAP Testing: This week, we begin Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) assessments for our PK–2nd graders. We are so excited to see the growth our younger readers continue to make! Additionally, our students will participate in Measure of Academic Progress tests (MAP) over the next two weeks, which will give our mathematicians in 1st-6th grade a chance to show off how much they’ve learned this year.
-
5th Grade Field Trip: Our 5th graders are heading to the Zoo! We can't wait to hear about their wild encounters.
-
PTA Spirit Night: Join us at Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday for Spirit Night! It’s a great way to skip cooking for a night while supporting our school.
I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who joins the PTA, attends sponsored events, and participates in fundraisers. The PTA is absolutely pivotal in ensuring access and opportunity for all students at London Towne. Notably, their support helps offset the cost of field trips, making experiences like Luray Caverns and the Zoo possible for every child. We couldn't do it without you!
Finally, thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring our Lions arrive on time and "Ready to Learn." That extra effort at home each morning sets the stage for the amazing growth we are seeing in our data.
I look forward to sharing more success stories with you next week!
Warmly,
Shele Banford, Principal
Jordan Moore, Assistant Principal
Lucy Zamora, Assistant Principal
Events Around the Towne
|
🗓️ Tuesday, April 21: No School for Students: Election/Teacher Work Day
🤠 Tuesday, April 21: 3:00-10:00 PTA Spirit Night - Texas Roadhouse
🧮Wednesday, April 22: Grades 3-4 MAP Math Screener
🚌 Wednesday, April 22: Grade 5 Field Trip to DC Zoo
🧮Thursday, April 23: Grades 5-6 MAP Math Screener
📸Thursday, April 23: Grade 6 Panoramic Picture
🎶 Thursday, April 23: 6:30 p.m. Grades 3-4 Musical Showcase
📣 Friday, April 24: 8:45 a.m. Quarter 4 Pep Rally
🧮Tuesday, April 28: Grades 1-2 MAP Math Screener
🗣️Wednesday, April 29: 5:30 p.m. AAP Orientation (STEAM Room)
📚Friday, May 1: Grades 3 and 5 Reading SOL Test
📚Wednesday, May 6: Grades 4 and 6 Reading SOL Test
🌮 Wednesday, May 6: 5:00-9:00 PTA Spirit Night - Chipotle
🚌 Thursday, May 7: Grade 1 Field Trip to Leesburg Animal Park
🧮 Friday, May 8: Grade 3 Math SOL Test
🔬 Friday, May 8: Grade 5 Science SOL Test
♻️♻️♻️ Earth Week Recycling Challenge ♻️♻️♻️
London Towne will be collecting plastic that is clean, dry, and free of food residue for a recycling challenge. The challenge will run from April 20th – April 24th. All items can be brought to the library!
Let’s take action for our planet! Bring in items such as grocery bags, bread bags, Ziploc and other food storage bags, produce bags, and case wraps.
We will weigh our plastic collection at the end of the week!
🎃🎃🎃 Halloween Costume Donations Needed 🎃🎃🎃
To celebrate Earth Week, we will be collecting Halloween costumes and costume parts! Please start sending them in on Monday, April 20th! Costumes will be accepted through May 15th when they will be donated to Westfield. Be on the lookout for information on how you, as a family, can shop this coming fall!
 |
|
Roar and Pour Cafe in the News |
ESOL Teacher, Jackie Kakar, recently applied for and won an Educate Fairfax innovation grant that provides supplies for our new Roar and Pour Cafe, a coffee shop run by 6th graders! Each week, selected students take coffee orders from teachers, prepare them, and deliver the early morning beverages to classrooms.
Read all about it in Educate Fairfax's blog. (Scroll down to London Towne!)
 |
|
Spring SOL and Screener Dates |
Families, please make a note of the spring screener and SOL test dates for your student's grade level.
Screeners are taken several times during the school year during the language arts and math blocks and provide teachers details about students' progress and areas of mastery and needed improvement. Standards of Learning (SOL) tests are required in the state of Virginia at the end of each school year in grades 3-6. SOL tests start at 8:30 a.m.
Ways you can support:
- Ensure your child arrives to school on time.
- Make sure your child gets a good night of sleep the night before an assessment.
- Feed your child a healthy breakfast at home or remind them to pick up breakfast at school.
- Talk to your child about the importance of taking their time and trying their best! Send them off with positivity and encouragement so they feel confident!
Grade Level Assessment Dates
0️⃣ PreK/Kinder
1️⃣ First Grade
2️⃣ Second Grade
3️⃣ Third Grade
-
April 20 - May 22: (select students) VALLSS Literacy Individual Screener
-
Wednesday, April 15: iReady Reading Screener
-
Wednesday, April 22: MAP Math Screener
-
Friday, May 1: Reading SOL
-
Friday, May 8: Math SOL
4️⃣ Fourth Grade
-
Wednesday, April 15: iReady Reading Screener
-
Wednesday, April 22: MAP Math Screener
-
Wednesday, May 6: Reading SOL
-
Wednesday, May 13: Math SOL
5️⃣ Fifth Grade
- Wednesday, April 15: iReady Reading Screener
-
Thursday, April 23: MAP Math Screener
-
Friday, May 1: Reading SOL
-
Friday, May 8: Science SOL
-
Friday, May 15: Math SOL
6️⃣ Sixth Grade
-
Wednesday, April 15: iReady Reading Screener
-
Thursday, April 23: MAP Math Screener
-
Wednesday, May 6: Reading SOL
-
Wednesday, May 13: Math SOL
 |
|
Advanced Academics Orientation |
Advanced Academic Full-Time Orientation
When: April 29th at 5:30
Where: London Towne Elementary School (STEAM Room 126)
For students newly eligible, join us to learn all about the full-time program at London Towne!
Please contact Maddie Sirota with any questions at masirota@fcps.edu
 |
|
LTES Yearbook on Sale! |
📖 Families, the 2025-26 LTES Yearbook is now on sale! Limited time only. Limited supply.
📢 Order online direct from the Strawbridge website.
 |
|
PTA News and Happenings |
Come join us at our next PTA Meeting on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m.!
Follow the LTES PTA on Instagram to stay to date with all the fun, upcoming events!
 |
|
Statewide Election April 21: No School |
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.
 |
|
April Early Release Wednesday Canceled |
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.
 |
|
Updates to 2026-27 FCPS Calendar |
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
 |
|
Enrichment Opportunities |
Interested in enrichment opportunities? Check out the link below of various offerings for FCPS students and families! This includes The National Building Museum, National Gallery of Art, and The National Air and Space Museum!
Enrichment Opportunities
TJ Techstravaganza will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 10 AM - 4 PM at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. From hands-on activities to mind-blowing demonstrations, Techstravaganza inspires students to explore their passion for STEM. Past Techstravaganza exhibitors include NASA, Robotics for Youth, and the American Society for Naval Engineers. This is a self-paced event, so students are free to visit whichever booths interest them! Students can look forward to raffles, merchandise, and goodie bags.
 |
|
Support for Spring Assessments |
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
 |
|
Pre-K and Early Head Start |
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
 |
|
FCPS Summer Camps |
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
 |
|
Twice Exceptional Student Webinars |
Fairfax County Public Schools Twice Exceptional (2E) Series:
Friday, May 15, 2026 - 10:00 - 11:30 AM - Beyond High School: Preparing Twice-exceptional Students for College, Career, and Adult Life Through Executive Functioning and Essential Life Skills.
All webinars are FREE to families, educators, and community members. This webinar is for adults only. Register using this link.
For more information, call 703-204-3941 or visit us at: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/family-resource-center Please call us to make a request for ADA accommodations.
Interpreters are available if requested at least a week before the webinar. Interpretation cannot be guaranteed. We will have closed-captioning in any chosen language if we cannot find an interpreter.
 |
|
Volunteer FCPS Update |
💗 Register Today With Volunteer FCPS
Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at [School]. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
At the Volunteer FCPS site, you can complete a volunteer orientation. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
 |
|
2025-26 Early Release Wednesdays |
⏰ Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools (K-6 only)
Early Release Wednesdays apply only to students in grades K-6. Preschool students still attend school for their regular hours.
While we anticipate that most students will be dismissed at 12:05 p.m. on limited early release Wednesdays, we recognize that some families may require childcare. These students will be supervised by school-based staff. No new instruction will take place, as after-school care is strictly supervision.
Remaining 3-hour early release day for our school is:
***FCPS has cancelled the previously planned Early Release Wednesday on April 29.***
April is the School Library Month! We are so grateful for our school librarian, Ms. Carnahan. In FCPS libraries, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth.
|
