2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

• April 21: Student Holiday, Election Day and Teacher Work Day
• April 22: CANCELED: 3-Hour Early Release 
• April 23: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• April 23: 29th Annual Career Day
• April 23: Full Time AAP Orientation Night, 6:00 pm
• April 30: HES Community Thrift Store, 6:00-7:30 pm
• May 4-8: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
• May 6: Bike and Roll to School Day
• May 6: School Nurse Day (includes school health aide)

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Children's Science Center Lab had lots of hands-on activities at Family Science Night.

Message from Principal Vereb 

🐝 Principal Vereb's Weekly Reflections from the Hive

Hello Herndon Elementary Families,

It has been a full and joyful week of learning, connection, and celebration across our school community. Thank you for the many ways you continue to partner with us to support our Bees.

Here are a few highlights and important updates:

• Science Night Success Tuesday evening brought energy and excitement to Herndon ES as families engaged in hands-on learning during Science Night. A special thank you to Elizabeth Baxter, Kathleen Trench, Brian Falkey, Pam Galyean, Raquel Snyder, Bertha Sanders, and Jenn Flora for creating such a meaningful experience for our students and families.
• Listening and Learning with Our Community On Wednesday, we spent time with our 5th and 6th grade students, continuing to support their growth as leaders. I also joined two parents at Gatehouse for a parent panel with our Senior Leadership Team. It was a powerful opportunity to listen to the voices of our families—especially our multilingual learner and military families—as they shared what is working well, where we can grow, and their hopes and dreams for their children.
• Honoring Our Military Families We were proud to recognize Purple Up Day by wearing purple in support of our military-connected students and families. We hope to see many of you this weekend at the Military Family Field Day on Saturday, April 18, from 12:00–2:00 p.m. at Annandale High School.
• Strong Systems and Student Experiences On Thursday, we welcomed the Virginia Department of Education to observe our food services program—an excellent reflection of the strong systems in place to support students. We also completed our monthly fire drill, and our students demonstrated responsibility and readiness. Friday brought smiles across the building with Spring Pictures and an exciting field trip for our 5th graders to the Air and Space Museum.
• SOL Review: Supporting Students at Home We are now 10 days into our SOL review cycle, and these final weeks leading up to state assessments are an important time for reinforcing skills and building student confidence. At school, students are receiving targeted small group instruction based on their needs, using multiple data points to guide support .

Families can support at home by using the following resource: SOL Pass (www.solpass.org)

This site provides review activities, practice questions, and content support aligned to Virginia standards. Even short, consistent practice at home can make a meaningful difference.

• Select Elementary or Middle School based on your child’s grade level
• Find and click on your child’s school name
• Enter the shared password: herndon1
• Looking Ahead

Science Olympiad- This weekend, we are cheering on our Science Olympiad team as they compete at Oakton High School. We are proud of their hard work and grateful to Ms. Deshong and Ms. Helton for their leadership.

2026 Special Education Family Conference- You are invited to attend the 2026 Special Education Family Conference on April 18, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043. This conference is a chance to spend meaningful time with our families, learn more about the resources that support our students, and continue building the strong partnerships that help our students thrive. I truly hope you’ll join us and be part of a day centered on supporting the students and families we care so much about. Please register for the conference using this registration form. Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and families.

And finally, a quick note about this week’s weather—if it felt like we skipped right past spring and landed in summer, you were not alone. We appreciate your help in sending students prepared for these warmer days ahead.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are ensuring every student feels prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.

In Your Service,

Principal Vereb

📸Snapshots from Principal Vereb

Herndon Elementary School
Health Room Update

Dear Parents,

Our school health aide is Ms. Heba Sawares hsawares@fcps.edu and our public health nurse is Ms. Caroline Boateng cagyenimboat@fcps.edu. They are both wonderful! 

Please direct all HES student health inquiries to them.

Thank you.

Statewide Election, April 21
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. 

See the complete school year calendar.

Early Release Wednesday
CANCELLED
April 22

Elementary schools only

Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 , which was previously an early release Wednesday.

All Herndon ES students will be dismissed at 4:05 pm.

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.

29th Annual Career Day
April 23

NEXT WEEK, Thursday, April 23rd, is our Herndon ES 29th Annual Career Day!  Our Bees are hard at work preparing for one of our students' most favorite events!

Students can dress up in the attire of what they want to be when they grow up  or wear a favorite college shirt or a shirt with a positive message to show their spirit for future endeavors! 

Start planning now and get ready for the fun!!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Supplies Needed

Dear Herndon Elementary community,

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 4-8.  We love our teachers and staff and are preparing a fun and healthy week for them.

We have an Amazon wish list of small requests to make this event extra special.  Some of these are toppings for yogurt parfaits, tablecloths,  decorations, etc.

Amazon Wish List

Thank you!

Herndon Elementary School 

Our Amazon Wish List has recently been updated with Teacher and Staff Appreciation requests. Take a peek!

Please consider sharing the link with your families and school community. Donations directly support our students and help ensure classrooms remain well stocked with essential supplies throughout the year.

We are grateful for your partnership in supporting our school community.

HES Spring Community Sale
April 30

Thursday
April 30th, 2026

HERNDON ELEMENTARY GYMNASIUM

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Families are welcome to come and shop for gently used spring and summer clothing, shoes, hats, and accessories for all ages. Plus, toys, home decor, and more!

PROCEEDS FROM OUR EVENT WILL HELP SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED AT OUR SCHOOL.

COST: $5 PER BAG TO FILL WITH YOUR FINDS!

WIN BIG AT OUR COMMUNITY RAFFLE!

Order your Herndon Elementary School yearbook NOW!  It is $15 until May 1.

Submit your order online through www.myschoolbucks.com. 

Note: If you cannot order online or don't remember if you've already ordered, please call Mrs. Perez at 703-326-3109.

FCPS AAP  Spring Newsletter

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.

Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.
•Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or Assistant Principal by April 15, annually.
•The AAP School-Based Services Referral Form may be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms or by searching “AAP Forms” at https://www.fcps.edu/.
•Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.

Screening Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.

Appeals Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher or Assistant Principal.

Subject Specific and Part-Time Services Overview

Subject Specific and Part-Time Services in Elementary School
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services to students’ needs rather than labeling students. Students have:
•Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
•A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to support student learning and growth.

Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services at the elementary level:

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
•All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
•Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.

Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
•Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
•Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
•Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.

Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.

•Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
•Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-Time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Screening for Full-Time Services

Screening Timeline for Full-Time Services
Screening for Full-Time AAP services happens at the district/central level rather than by local schools. For your planning for next school year, please know that screening for Full-Time services occurs during two specific screening cycles:
•Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
•Fall referrals are due October 15, annually.
Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
The referral window is from the first day of school - December 15, annually.

For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.

Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8
Some advanced learners need a Full-Time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services are cluster grouped on a Full-Time basis and receive:
•Full-Time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
•Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-Time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC

Get the medical care you need at our FREE MEDICAL CLINIC coming to CHANTILLY VA.

Remote Area Medical (RAM®) provides free, quality healthcare to those in need

DENTAL
Cleanings, Fillings, Extractions,
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Complete Eye Exams,
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MEDICAL
Physical Exams, Rx Consultations,
Women’s Health, General Exams,
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FREE, FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED UNTIL CAPACITY IS REACHED. NO ID REQUIRED!

2 DAYS ONLY: APRIL 18–19

Mubarak Mosque
4555 Ahmadiyya Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151

Parking Lot Opens: Friday @ 11:59 p.m.
Clinic Opens: Sat. & Sun. @ 6 a.m.

Hosted By:
Humanity First
Serving Mankind

These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this school.

CLÍNICA MÉDICA GRATUITA

Reciba la atención médica que necesita en
CLÍNICA MÉDICA GRATUITA que llega a

CHANTILLY, VA

Remote Area Medical (RAM®) brinda atención médica gratuita y de calidad a quienes la necesitan

DENTAL
Empastes, Limpiezas,
Extracciones,
Radiografía

VISIÓN
Exámenes de la vista,
Lentes hechos al momento

MÉDICA
Exámenes físicos,
Consultas de prescripción médica,
Exámenes de Salud Femenina y más!

GRATUITA. NO SE REQUIERE IDENTIFICACIÓN. SE LE ATENDERÁ POR ORDEN DE LLEGADA HASTA COMPLETAR AFORO.

SOLO 2 DÍAS: 18–19 de abril de 2026

Mubarak Mosque
4555 Ahmadiyya Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151

Se abre el estacionamiento: viernes @ 11:59 p.m.
La clínica comienza en: sábado y domingo @ 6 a.m.

Organizado por:
Humanity First
Serving Mankind

Estos materiales no están patrocinados ni respaldados por la Junta Escolar del Condado de Fairfax, el Superintendente ni esta escuela.

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:
    • Calendar Updates
    • Teacher on The Kelly Clarkson Show
    • Support Your Student During SOLs

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

Follow the Herndon Elementary renovation progress which is located on the FCPS website by clicking here.

Administration E-mail:

• Principal, Monika Vereb mgvereb1@fcps.edu 
• Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Baxter eabaxter@fcps.edu 
• Assistant Principal, Daphne Holliday daholliday@fcps.edu
• Assistant Principal, Kelly Cosgrove kmcosgrove@fcps.edu

📸(Left to Right): Mrs. Cosgrove, Dr. Vereb, Mrs. Holliday, and Mrs. Baxter

Do you know a Herndon Elementary staff member who goes above and beyond or turns the ordinary into something extraordinary? If so, click here to nominate them for FCPS Cares and help us share their story.

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630 Dranesville Rd. Herndon, VA 20170  | Main Office: 703-326-3100
Attendance: 703-326-3131 | Web | Twitter | Facebook