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Dear Cardinal Families,
As we transition from the pleasant warmth of spring into what feels like the early days of summer, it is wonderful to see our students buzzing with energy. Our playground is full of activity, laughter, and high-spirited games, which is exactly how elementary school should be!
With this increased physical activity and rising temperatures, it is a great time to have a quick conversation at home regarding personal hygiene. As our students grow and their play becomes more vigorous, a little extra attention to daily habits goes a long way in ensuring our classrooms remain a comfortable and pleasant environment for everyone.
We kindly ask that you take a few moments this weekend to review the following habits with your child:
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Daily Hygiene: Encouraging a daily shower or bath to wash away the sweat from the playground.
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Clothing Care: We understand that laundry routines and resources look different for every family, and we truly appreciate your best efforts to help your child arrive at school feeling comfortable and ready to learn.
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Deodorant: For many of our older elementary students, this is the perfect age to begin using deodorant or antiperspirant as part of their morning routine.
When our students feel fresh and clean, they are more comfortable, more confident, and better able to focus on their learning. Thank you for your partnership in helping our students navigate these important habits of personal care.
Warmly,
Allison Hoak, Principal
Jon Kemmerer, Assistant Principal
✅Skip the Line: Simplify Your School Check-ins with RaptorSafe
As we move through the school year, we know that many of you are frequently in and out of our building—whether you are volunteering in the classroom, attending lunch with your student, or joining us for special school events.
To keep our building safe while respecting your busy schedules, we recently introduced the Raptor Visitor Management System. While our front office staff is always happy to assist you, we want to help you save time during your next visit.
Why "Pre-Verify" Now?
We know that school events—like upcoming field trips, class parties, and volunteer opportunities—can lead to a line at the front office. By taking five minutes today to download the RaptorSafe app and create your Raptor Passport, you can bypass the manual entry process.
When you arrive, you’ll simply scan your personal QR code at our kiosk, and you’ll be on your way in seconds!
As always, if you have any questions or run into trouble setting up your app, please stop by our front office. We are happy to help! Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school a safe, welcoming, and efficient place for our students to learn.
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💗FCPS CARES
We are proud to announce that Mrs. Bonner has received an FCPS Cares recognition, which honors staff members who go above and beyond for our community. We also extend our gratitude to Ms. Christiansen for submitting the nomination.
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!
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📚 Uncovering History in Language Arts 📚
Benchmark Unit 7 in Language Arts is about the past, present, and future. Students in K-5 will be learning about history, culture, and geography. Grade six students will learn about the achievements of ancient cultures.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
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Question: If you could visit any time in history, when and where would you go?
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Activity: Walk around or think about your neighborhood and talk about how the buildings or other features have changed over time. How might it look in the future?
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.
💌Parent Input for Class Placement for the 26-27 School Year
Deadline: May 1, 2026
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.
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!
📅Upcoming 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.
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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💉Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th Graders
The following immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grade each school year.
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Immunization Events for FCPS StudentsFCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available.
FCPS Information
🏆Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
🚨Important Dates
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May 13: 3 Hour Early Release, dismissal at 12:20 PM
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May 13: Kindergarten Orientation from 1:30-2:30 PM
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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
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