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We are a family.
We are capable.
We are caring.
We all belong!
May 5 SOL Testing: Grade 5 Reading SOL
May 6 SOL Testing: Grade 3 Reading SOL
May 6 Community Peer Playdate Experience, by Reservation
May 7 SOL Testing: Grade 4 Reading SOL
May 13 Early Release Wednesday, School Ends at 1:00 p.m.
May 20 Community Peer Playdate Experience, by Reservation
May 25 NO SCHOOL: Memorial Day Holiday
May 26 NO SCHOOL: Teacher Workday
May 27 NO SCHOOL: Eid-Al-Adha Holiday
June 3 All Student Library Books Due
June 17 Last Day of School, School Ends at 2:00 p.m.
 Many thanks to the many families who joined us for last night's Bren Mar Park Title 1 Family Game Night.
Grade 3 Reading - Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Grade 3 Math - Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Grade 4 Reading - Thursday, May 7, 2026
Grade 4 Math - Thursday, May 14, 2026
Grade 5 Reading - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Grade 5 Math - Friday, May 15, 2026
Grade 5 Science - Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Retakes will be scheduled throughout the window.
Fairfax County Public Schools’ recent comprehensive boundary review was initiated by the Fairfax County School Board with their update to Boundary Policy 8130 in July 2024. At the end of the comprehensive boundary review, the superintendent identified sites for additional community engagement and input, with recommendations to be provided by January 2027.
Bren Mar Park Elementary School boundaries are currently being reviewed, with proposals for students to possibly attend Key Middle School and then Lewis High School. You can learn more on the FCPS Bren Mar Park Elementary Feeder Schools Boundary Study
Submit your feedback HERE. Feedback is open through May 8, 2026.
Congratulations to the following 2026 FCCPTA Shining Star Honorees for Bren Mar Park Elementary School:
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Bren Mar ES PTA, VA PTA Impactful PTA/PTSA
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Yolinda Qu, Bren Mar ES PTA, Elementary Volunteer of the Year
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Elizabeth Williams, Bren Mar ES PTA, VA PTA Power Partner Principal
Thank you for your amazing service to your students, schools, PTA/PTSA, and community!
As we gear up for the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments, it’s natural for students (and parents!) to feel a few jitters. While we have been working hard in the classroom, your support at home can be the secret to helping your child feel confident and ready to shine.
Here are a few ways you can help your student prepare for success:
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Talk Through Any Anxious Feelings! Open up a conversation about how your child is feeling. If they seem nervous, let them know it is ok, and help them focus to the positive. Remind them that the SOL is just a way to show off everything they’ve learned this year. It’s about effort, not perfection. Start the day with a simple "I am capable," or "I can do hard things."
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Try Some Practice Items Side-by-Side! Since these tests are online, getting familiar with the platform can take the mystery out of the process. The VDOE provides practice items that mimic the SOL tests. Spend 15 minutes exploring together the "highlighter" and other tools to build confidence.
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Help Your Child with the Physical Part of Testing! Test-taking involves the brain, and a brain that is well-rested and well-fed can focus. Be sure that your child is well-rested by having a consistent "wind-down" routine 30 minutes before lights out. Avoid screens (tablets/phones) right before bed to ensure deep, restorative sleep. Help your child start the testing day right through a protein-rich breakfast helps prevent that mid-morning energy crash. Breakfast items will continue to be available at the school, too. And, try to keep the morning of the test as calm as possible. Avoid a rushed morning by getting up and leaving early to get to school and be settled before the test.
Your child has worked hard all year. Regardless of the score, we are proud of their growth and the resilience they show every day. Let’s encourage them to simply do their best!
We are thrilled to announce an exciting enhancement to our preschool programs! Starting next school year, Bren Mar Park Elementary is opening its doors to Community Peers, creating a vibrant, inclusive learning environment where children of all abilities grow together.
The Community Peer program brings together children with and without developmental delays in the same classroom. By learning side-by-side, all students benefit from a more stimulating environment that fosters empathy, resilience, and essential life skills. The program emphasizes social interaction and shared discovery.
We are looking for a few helping hands and friendly faces to join us! Children must be between 3.5 and 5 years old (must reach age 3.5 by September 30 of the current school year).
We look forward to seeing our youngest learners thrive together through this wonderful community partnership!
To express your interest in having your child considered, please complete THIS FORM and plan to attend one of our upcoming Community Peer Playdates.
How Understanding the Past Shapes the Future
From kindergarten to 5th grade, our students are reading, writing, and talking about one powerful question: Why does the past matter? Each grade explores this question in a way that’s just right for their age — and together, they’re building a real understanding of the world around them.
Here’s a look at what your child is exploring this year in Benchmark and how you can keep the conversation going at home.
What are They Reading?
Our students are reading realistic fiction, personal diaries, and true stories written from real people’s points of view. These aren’t just stories — they’re windows into other people’s lives and experiences.
This kind of reading helps kids:
- See the world through someone else’s eyes
- Connect what they read to what’s happening around them today
- Have real, thoughtful conversations about big topics
- Build the kind of background knowledge that makes learning stick
What is my Child Learning?
Kindergarten: Topic: Holidays & celebrations. Why we celebrate people and events
The Big Question: Why do we celebrate certain people and special days?
1st Grade: Topic: Past, Present & Future. Why is the past important?
The Big Question: How does what happened before change things today?
2nd Grade: Topic: Investigating the.Past. How does the past shape the future?
The Big Question: What can we learn by looking back in time?
3rd Grade: Topic: Communities Then & Now. What is a community?
The Big Question: How have communities changed – and stayed the same?
4th Grade: Topic: The Transcontinental Railroad. How do communities grow and change?
The Big Question: How did one big event connect and change a whole nation?
5th Grade: Topic: Conflicts That Shaped a Nation. How do conflicts shape a society?
The Big Question: How does struggle and change lead to who we are today?
Building Vocabulary, Building Knowledge:
One of the most important things we do all year is build vocabulary. Not just memorizing word definitions but truly understanding words in context.
When students learn words like “community,” “tradition,” “conflict,” or “evolution,” they’re not just learning language, they’re building a foundation for understanding their school, their neighborhood, and the world.
Strong vocabulary helps students:
- Understand what they read more deeply
- Express their ideas more clearly when speaking and writing
- Make connections between what they learn in class and the real world
Try This at Home:
The best learning doesn’t stop when your child walks out of school. Here are a few easy ways to bring these ideas home:
Ask Open Questions: Ask your child: “What are you reading about right now?” or “Why do you think that happened?” You don’t need to know the answers – just listening and asking questions makes a big difference.
Visit the Library: Ask your local librarian for books connected to your child’s grade-level theme. Reading at home – even for 15 minutes – adds up fast and builds vocabulary naturally.
Talk About Your Family: Share stories from your own past – family traditions, how things are different when you grew up, or things that matter to your community. Your stories are some of the best teaching tools around.
Notice New Words: When your child uses a word they learned in school, celebrate it! Ask them to tell you what it means or use it in a sentence. Hearing and using words outside of school makes them stick.
We’re so proud of our readers, writers, and thinkers at BMP. Thank you for being part of this learning journey.
Our graduating Bren Mar Park alumni are invited to the BMP Grad Walk on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Our annual tradition involves lots of photos with former classmates and a walk around the school where graduates are celebrated by and inspire our current Mustangs in what education has to offer! The walk is concluded with a read aloud in our school library and end-of-day visits with former teachers.
Please arrive early and with your government-issued ID to check in! Families of graduates are welcome to attend and take photos from the school lobby at the beginning and conclusion of the Grad Walk.
Please RSVP if you are able to attend.
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 an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.
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.
During Staff Appreciation Week, Bren Mar Park Elementary School is celebrating "The Magic of Learning" by honoring every single staff member who makes a positive difference in the lives of our students. This special week is a chance to show gratitude to all of our amazing classroom, special education, English, and specialist teachers, as well as the instructional assistants, custodians, and office staff who all contribute to creating a wonderful learning environment. We invite our entire community to participate in a variety of activities to show their appreciation.
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Monday - send in a heartfelt picture or kind message for the teachers.
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Tuesday - help your teacher stay energized with a healthy snack or beverage, like the classic apple for the teacher.
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Wednesday - create a collective act of gratitude, with families asked to bring in a single flower for each of their teachers.
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Thursday - kind words will be shared with the staff, and everyone who receives a compliment will be entered into a raffle for some wonderful awards. Compliments can be shared via our online form at https://forms.gle/voXkUKUyQud2RLQY6.
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Friday - we invite our families to share a taste of their culture by bringing in a dessert from their home country for our entire staff to experience and enjoy. Please bring the dessert items to the front office, rather than sending them to your child's teacher.
As we look toward a successful new school year, we are pleased to open the Class Assignment Consideration process for families. This is your opportunity to partner with us by sharing specific insights regarding your child’s learning needs, such as requests to keep certain students together or to separate them to foster a better academic environment. While we value your input and strive to create balanced classrooms that support every student, please keep in mind that specific teacher name requests are not accepted, and we are unable to provide any final guarantees. We appreciate your trust and collaboration as our staff works diligently to find the best possible placement for every child.
The form is available at https://forms.gle/WYUoonpe2HUYPnDY9
The form will be open to families throughout the month of May.
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