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Dear Cardinal Families,
What an incredible day we had on Wedesdnay for our "Shared Home!" The Madison Pyramid came alive with the spirit of service and community. It was inspiring to see our students embrace their roles as Ethical and Global Citizens, and the impact of their hard work is already being felt across our neighborhood.
This day was a massive success thanks to our wonderful community. We are deeply grateful to our families for the generous supply donations that made these projects possible, and to our teachers for expertly guiding students through these meaningful activities. A special thank you goes to the Madison High School students who spent the day mentoring our younger learners and to our amazing staff for jumping in with a helping hand at every turn.
In addition to our service work, our halls were filled with purple as we proudly wore Purple Up! gear to celebrate and honor our military-connected students.
It was a joy to see a sea of purple as our students worked together to complete over 148 craft kits for a local memory care facility, 187 dog toys for our neighborhood shelters, 48 flower bouquets for residents at Sunrise Senior Living, and 200 snack bags for our school and the Vienna community. Our garden beds are now refreshed and ready for spring, and we invite you to stop by and see the wonderful new Purple Up! display now featured in our lobby!
Today we proved that when we work together, we can truly strengthen the people and places around us. Thank you for making our Shared Home a brighter place.
Warmly,
Allison Hoak, Principal
Jon Kemmerer, Assistant Principal
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📅Calendar Reminder
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 April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
📅Updates to 2026-27 School Year 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.
Support Your Children During Important 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.
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Grade
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SOL Content Areas Tested
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3
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Reading (5/19), Mathematics (5/12)
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4
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Reading (5/8), Mathematics (5/15)
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5
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Science (5/18), Reading (5/7), Mathematics (5/14)
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6
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Reading (5/5), Mathematics (5/15)
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💌Parent Input for Class Placement for the 26-27 School Year
As we look toward the fall, our team is beginning the thoughtful process of creating next year’s class lists. Our Homeroom and Specials teachers spend significant time reflecting on the school year and discussing the students they have come to know so well. This work is careful and thorough, focused on building balanced, positive communities rather than simply assigning students to specific teachers.
While we value social connections, we also encourage students to remain open to forming new friendships. Because we are a small school with only 2–3 teachers per grade level, our placement options are limited. If you choose to offer input, please focus on your top priority regarding your child’s unique needs or friendships.
If you have information to share, please complete the Parent Input for Class Placement Form by Friday, May 1, 2026. Your input is optional, and we ask that you do not request specific teachers or individual conferences for placement. Please submit a separate form for each child if you have multiple students. Any requests received after the deadline will not be considered. While we take your perspective into account, the final decision on class placement rests with our school team.
Thank you for your partnership and for respecting our process as we prepare for another wonderful year.
 We are celebrating Earth Week with a spirit week filled with ways to support our Earth!
- Monday, April 20 – wear nature print for Wildlife Day
- Tuesday, April 21 – NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, April 22 – wear green for Earth Day
- Thursday, April 23 – wear red for Climate Change Day
- Friday, April 24 – wear blue for Watershed Day
Kindergarten Orientation
Our kindergarten orientation will now be held on Wednesday, MAY 13 at 1:30 pm to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school. Your rising kindergarten should attend this event as well. Students will meet teachers and participate in an activity in the classroom while parents learn about CPES.
Contact our registrar, Nicole Madariaga, at njmadariaga@fcps.edu or 703-255-5602 to register your child today!
FCPS Information
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to 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. (unless otherwise noted) 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.
Resources to Help Infants and Toddlers Meet Milestones
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child’s development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas: communication, fine and/or gross motor skills, self-help skills, problem-solving, and attention skills. Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) provides evaluations and services for children (0-36 months) who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and 5 years (children must be two by September 30).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process. Parents are encouraged to call 571-423-4121 with questions.
2026 Special Education Family Conference is this Weekend!
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.
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💗FCPS CARES
If a Cunningham Park employee or group has impressed you with their care and commitment, tell us their story below so they can receive FCPS CARES recognition. Submit an FCPS CARES today!
🚨Important Dates
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April 21: No School | Statewide Election Day
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May 13: Kindergarten Orientation from 1:30-2:30
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May 25: No School | Holiday
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May 26: No School | Teacher Workday
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May 27: No School | Holiday
Quick Links
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