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April 17, 2026

Dear Beech Tree Families,

As we head into the final months of the school year, we are excited to see students bringing together the skills and concepts they have been building all year long. I’d like to share a few updates and ways you can stay connected to your child’s learning.

📚 Language Arts Update: Wrapping Up Our Journeys Unit
Our students are finishing Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts. Over the past several weeks, they have explored stories from different cultures and reflected on the lessons those stories teach.

You can extend this learning at home in simple, meaningful ways:

• Ask: If you could go on an adventure like one of the characters you’ve read about, which would you choose and why?
• Try: Have your child draw what they would pack for an adventure. Then talk about how their choices might change depending on the setting, such as underwater or in a very cold place.

At the end of the unit, your child will bring home their unit magazine. Inside, you will find:

• An activity calendar with ideas tailored to each grade level
• Resources to support reading at home through the Benchmark Families website

📝 Spring Assessments

Students will soon participate in spring assessments based on their grade levels and subjects. These include:

• SOL assessments, which measures what students have learned in their content areas
• MAP assessments, which help us understand where students are in their Math journey
• iReady & VALLSS which measures students reading progress

Your support plays an important role in helping students feel confident and prepared. You can help by:

• Ensuring your child gets a good night’s sleep
• Arriving on time daily 
• Avoiding early releases when possible
• Reinforcing a positive attitude towards testing and striving to do your best

Attendance on testing days is essential. If you anticipate a conflict, please notify the school as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for supporting your child’s success.

With appreciation,

Principal Clarke & Assistant Principal Barry

📌April 21 - NEW!  No School for Students - Voting Day

📌April 24-2nd Annual Wellness Rainbow school-wide photo event

📌April 27-May 1- Staff Appreciation Week 

📌April 29 - Full Day of School, No Longer an Early Release Day
Last Day to Order Yearbooks

📌May 14-PTA Meeting Virtual 6:30pm

            Zoom Link will be sent out at 6:00pm 

📌May 20-Wednesday Early Dismissal 1:00pm-(Kindergarten-5th Gr. Only)

📌May 25-Holiday Memorial Day-No School

📌May 26-Teacher Workday-No School
📌May 27-Eid al-Adha-No School

📌May 28-PTA Spring Fling 6:30pm

**Please reference the 2025-2026 School Year FCPS Calendar when making appointments or scheduling family trips.  Attendance counts and everyday matters! **

*To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we kindly request that parents or guardians accompany their children to school events*

Beech Tree Elementary's
2nd Annual Wellness Rainbow April 24th

school-wide photo event. The goal is to bring the student body together to
"Be a RAINBOW in someone else's cloud".

Grade Level Color Assignments

Students are asked to wear the following colors based on their grade to create the rainbow effect in the photograph:

📝 Important SOL Testing Dates

Please mark your calendars! To help your student perform their best, please try to avoid scheduling appointments on these specific assessment days.

🌟 5 Tips for a Successful Test Day

We want our students to feel confident and ready to shine! Here is how you can help at home:

1. 💤 Catch Some Zzz’s: It is important that students get plenty of rest the night before the test.
2. 🍳 Fuel Up: A nutritious breakfast provides the energy needed for focus and concentration.
3. ⏰ Beat the Clock: Please ensure students arrive at school on time.
4. ⏳ No Need to Rush: Remind your child that these tests are not a race. They may take as much time as they need to finish.
5. ❤️ Positive Vibes: A little encouragement goes a long way! Remind them to simply breathe and do their very best.

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. 

Visiting our school anytime soon? Avoid frustration and pre-register!

Raptor Safe is our new visitor management system. This will be the standard way to sign in at all FCPS schools.  

The new system allows you to pre-register via the Raptor Safe app, saving you valuable time when checking in for school visits or events! We strongly encourage all family members to download the app and complete their registration today, it will only take a couple of minutes to complete the process!

Registration Options:

• Via the App: Search "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/ for direct links.
• In Person: If you are unable to register ahead of time, you can still complete the process at the school kiosk. Please ensure you have a valid photo ID with you to check in

April Statewide Election: 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 April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage. 

Adjusted Elementary Early Release WednesdaysStudents will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and 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.

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.

Help FCPS Sustain Excellence: Make Your Voice Heard on the FY 2027 Budget

About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget before final adoption in May. This includes public budget hearings (April 14-16) and an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.

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: 

• Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School
• Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School

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.

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.

📅Future Beech Tree ES Early Release Dates

The following Wednesdays are early release days, with a release time of 1:00 pm:

• May 20

Nominate Our Outstanding Beech Tree Staff

Take a moment to acknowledge and affirm a Beech Tree staff member when they go above and beyond in demonstrating care and dedication that ensures every one of our students is seen, heard, and valued. FCPS Cares. All FCPS Cares nominees are considered for an additional monthly award.

📸 Show Your School Pride! Order Your Yearbook NOW! 🌳

It's time to capture the memories of the school year! Don't let your student miss out on the Beech Tree Elementary School 2025-2026 Yearbook. It's the best way to remember friends, favorite teachers, and all the exciting events from this year!

☎️ Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages

Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

Beech Day=Lunch Visits

Beech Days (Open Days in YELLOW):

These are the days you can come to school and have lunch with your student:

• April: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Lunch Schedule

Unavailable Days Due to Wednesday Early Release (in RED):

These are the dates where Beech Days are unavailable because of early release closures:

• April: 29

• There will be no Beaver Beech lunch days during the month of May due to SOL testing which may alter the daily lunch schedules. 

• Beech Days will return during the month of June.

We encourage family members to enjoy the same lunch as their child, whether it's a packed lunch or from the school cafeteria. To maintain the integrity of our meal program, we kindly request refraining from bringing fast food options.

On the day of your child's scheduled lunch, please arrive 5 minutes early to sign in at the office. Our staff will direct you to the cafeteria. As you depart, please remember to check out at the office. For those opting to purchase lunch from the cafeteria, adult pricing is $5.00 and non-FCPS students under the age of 18 price is $3.25, payable in cash. For more details on lunch options, please click here.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• Support Military Children
• National Merit Finalists
• School Board to Present Budget to Board of Supervisors

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

Beech Tree School Information

Hours:  9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:05 a.m. for arrival)

Attendance Line:  703-531-2626

Attendance Email: BeechTreeElem.Attendance@fcps.edu

School Registrar: Sandra Merino (703) 531-2620

Family Liaison: Ivett Rivas Urbano (703) 531-2601

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3401 Beechtree Lane, Falls Church, VA 22042  | Main Phone: 703.531.2600
Attendance: 703.531.2626 | Web | Twitter