CSMS News You Choose April 24 2026
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 04/24/2026 02:57 PM EDT
A message from Principal Laxton
Dear Sandburg Families,
We hope you’ve had a great week. As we move further into the spring, we are entering an important time for our students with state assessments.
ELA SOL Assessment – This Tuesday, students will take the English Language Arts (ELA) Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment. We are proud of the hard work our students and staff have put in throughout the year to prepare for this opportunity to demonstrate learning.
How Families Can Support at Home:
- Ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep on Monday.
- Encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast Tuesday morning.
- Remind them to arrive at school on time to avoid any added stress.
- Offer positive encouragement—confidence goes a long way!
- Help them stay calm by reinforcing that this is an opportunity to show what they know.
Attendance Matters. It is important for students to be present and on time for testing. If a student is absent on Tuesday, they will complete the assessment upon their return to school during the designated make-up window.
We appreciate your partnership in supporting your child during this important time. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued support of Sandburg Middle School!
Exciting Leadership Update and Transition News
Dear Families and Community Members,
I am writing to share some wonderful news regarding our administrative team as we move into the final stretch of the school year.
Effective April 24th, our current Dean of Students, Ms. Ryan Espinoza-Gray, will officially assume the role of Interim Assistant Principal. In this capacity, she will take over the administrative duties and supervisory areas previously managed by Ms. Wade.
Ms. Espinoza-Gray is a familiar face to many of you. Having served as our Dean of Students for the last two years, she possesses a deep understanding of our campus culture, our students’ needs, and our daily operating procedures. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with her expertise and dedication ready to step into this leadership role.
This transition comes as we celebrate a joyful milestone for Ms. Wade, who will be going on maternity leave starting today through the end of the school year. We are thrilled for her and her growing family, and we wish her a restful and happy leave.
Change can bring questions, but please rest assured that our priority is stability for our students. Ms. Espinoza-Gray and Ms. Wade have been working closely over the past few weeks to ensure a thorough hand-off of responsibilities. We are confident that this collaboration will result in a seamless transition for our entire school community.
We are excited to support both women as they embark on these new chapters—Ms. Wade in her journey into motherhood and Ms. Espinoza-Gray in her expanded leadership role.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for joining us in celebrating these updates.
Important Update Regarding Outside Lunch Policies
To maintain a safe and secure learning environment and ensure compliance with district regulations, we would like to clarify our policies regarding outside lunches:
- Drop-Off Procedures & Location: Any outside food brought to the school must be dropped off in the main office by a parent or guardian. To prevent distractions and ensure cafeteria harmony, these meals must be consumed in the main office rather than the cafeteria.
- Food Delivery Services: Students may not order food from delivery services (such as Uber Eats or DoorDash) during school hours. This is a significant safety concern, as delivery drivers are often directed to unauthorized entrances. Furthermore, these deliveries disrupt the educational process. Please help us support a secure building by not allowing these deliveries.
- Family Lunch Visits: Parents are welcome to have lunch with their students; however, due to limited seating, these lunches will take place in the main office. Alternatively, you may sign your student out for lunch. We kindly ask that you plan accordingly so that lunch does not cut into instructional time and students return before their next class begins
- Compliance with Regulations: We have noted a steady increase in fast-food deliveries for students. We encourage students to utilize the healthy food choices available in our cafeteria. Per FCPS Regulation 5003.4, no food or beverages may be offered for sale to students by outside providers in competition with the school food service department.
- Support for Every Student: Our priority is to ensure every child is fed. If a student forgets their lunch or is without funds, our Cafeteria Manager, Ms. Sabrina Clarke, ensures that no student goes hungry. Students should feel free to speak with Ms. Clarke or the front office, and she will work with them to provide a meal.
Please note that these policies are in place to maintain school schedules and security. If we notice a consistent pattern of outside food being brought in, our Administrators will reach out to those families individually to discuss any specific needs.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and supporting our food services program!
Greetings from Sandburg’s Testing Team!
We are beginning testing season soon, and we wanted to share our upcoming SOL dates:
4/28/26 – Reading SOL (7th & 8th Grade)
5/5/26 – Science SOL (8th Grade)
5/12/26 – Math SOL (7th & 8th Grade)
Please complete the Google Form or use ParentVue to let us know whether your student should retake a test if eligible.
https://forms.gle/sj8FyjUjSU8wmMpN6
If you have questions, please contact Ms. Johnson, Testing Coordinator, at mgjohnson1@fcps.edu.
Thank you for your continued support of your student and Sandburg!
Reminder: Arriving Late or Leaving Early
Students arriving after 7:30 am must check in in the Main Office (Door 1). Students who arrive late must have a written excuse from their parent/guardian to receive an excused tardy pass or bring in a note from any medical appointment they are coming from, if the parent has not called or submitted a ParentVue attendance request. Parents/Guardians do not need to accompany their child into the building if they have called or sent a note explaining the late arrival.
If a student needs to be dismissed for an appointment before the end of the school day, they must bring in a note from their parent/guardian stating the reason and time of dismissal, unless the parent/guardian has made previous arrangements by phone or online via parentvue. Parents/Guardians must still come into the building to sign students out and show a form of ID.
- To arrange a same-day early dismissal during school hours, a parent/guardian should call 703-799-6131
- For early check out, parents/guardians must come into the Main Office, provide their driver’s license or other form of government issued photo ID and sign the student out. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up the student, this should be included in the note or message from the parent/guardian even if they are on the emergency care card.
- To avoid being blocked in by buses and Kiss-N-Ride traffic, students should be picked up no later than 1:30 pm. Anytime after that, we ask that you wait until dismissal for your student.
Thank you for your continued partnership and making sure our students are safe coming in and out of school!
REMINDER: 8th Grade End-of-Year Events
Parents and Families, please save these upcoming dates as we celebrate our 8th graders' final weeks of middle school!
Wednesday, June 10th
- 8th Grade Awards Ceremony: 8:00 AM in the Auditorium.
- Parents are invited to attend as we recognize students for Honor Roll, Department, Elective, and House awards.
- 8th Grade Dance: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the Large Gym.
Friday, June 12th
- Field Day & BBQ:
- Wonderers House: Activities from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM; Lunch from 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
- Navigators House: Lunch from 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM; Activities from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Monday, June 15th
- Field Day & BBQ: All-day event for Ascenders and Vanguards houses.
Tuesday, June 16th
- Field Day & BBQ: Morning event for the Innovators house.
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
We love our parent volunteers! Please note that all volunteers must be registered through the official portal. If you are interested in chaperoning the dance or helping with Field Day stations, please ensure you are registered here:
Volunteer FCPS Portal: https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps
Important Note: We will continue to share more details and specific activity sign-up links as these dates approach.
Thank you for your support in celebrating our 8th-grade students!
SUMMER LEARNING
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.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
Production Camp is a four-week summer theatre intensive for students in grades 6-11. Students in performance or technical theatre tracks rehearse, design, and build a musical in a collaborative atmosphere. The show is presented to the public at the end of camp.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
📱 STUDENT CELL PHONE & HEADPHONE REMINDER
As we move through the school year, we want to provide a quick reminder regarding our expectations for cell phones and personal listening devices (earbuds/headphones). We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these habits with your students.
School Expectations From 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., student cell phones and personal listening devices should be powered off and stored out of sight unless specifically directed by a staff member for instructional purposes.
Family Conversations We encourage families to talk with their children about:
- Leaving items at home: Whenever possible, leave personal electronics at home.
- Storage: Keeping phones powered off and stored in backpacks throughout the school day.
- Safety & Interaction: Keeping earbuds and headphones put away between classes and in common areas to ensure students can hear safety announcements and engage with their school community.
Main Office Support If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the Main Office. We will ensure your message is delivered or make arrangements for you to connect with your child immediately.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our learning environment focused and distraction-free!
🎖️ Supporting Our Panthers: A Special Note for Our Military Families
Hello Panther Family!
One of the things that makes our school community so vibrant is the diversity of our families, including those who serve our country.
Did you know that we receive special funding from the U.S. Army to help power our after-school programs? These funds are vital for providing the clubs, activities, and support systems that our students love. To keep these programs running strong, we need to ensure our records are up to date!
Can you help us?
If you are currently Active Duty U.S. Army, a U.S. Army Civilian employee, or work with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), we want to hear from you.
Please take 60 seconds to do the following:
- Drop us a quick "Hello": If you haven’t confirmed with us yet this year, please send a brief email to jlcarter3@fcps.edu.
- Check the Box: Ensure you’ve selected the military-connected box on your Digital Consent Form via the link below:
By taking these small steps, you are directly helping us provide the best possible experience for our students.
Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and for being such an essential part of the Panther family!
Warmly,
Jamaal Carter
After School Specialist & Building Use Coordinator
Quick Links & Phone Numbers
Attendance Phone Line: 703-799-6131
Attendance Email: sandburgmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu
SIS Parent Vue Account Set-Up Video
Parent Information Phone Lines: Phone lines available in different languages to assist families.
Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
Sandburg MS Administration
Jennifer Laxton: Principal jklaxton@fcps.edu
Frank Steventon: Assistant Principal fbsteventon@fcps.edu
Amber Richard-Kleeschulte: Assistant Principal alrichard@fcps.edu
Rob Kerr: Assistant Principal rjkerr@fcps.edu
John Grey: Assistant Principal jrgrey@fcps.edu
Ryan Espinoza-Gray: Interim Assistant Principal rnespinozagr@fcps.edu
Eugena Weaver: Director of Student Services ejweaver@fcps.edu
Counselors
Tiffany Clemons - tnclemons@fcps.edu
Vania Espichan- vpespichan@fcps.edu
Claire Majors- clmajors@fcps.edu
Melinda Wilkerson- mlwilkerson@fcps.edu
Oshin Wilson- otwilson@fcps.edu