Forestville Focus

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Calendar Reminders

May 13: Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 1 pm and 4 pm May 18: General PTA Meeting - 7 pm (Cafeteria) May 21: 6th Grade Basketball Game, Langley Gym May 25: Holiday - Memorial Day May 26: Teacher Workday May 27: Holiday - Eid al-Adha June 5: Field Day

Early Release Wednesday Reminder - 5/13 Forestville reminds all families that our next three-hour early release is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13, with a 1:00 p.m. dismissal. We will send all students home based on the dismissal information collected for our previous early release in March.  As a reminder, all students are expected to dismiss from school at the 1:00 p.m. time. If assistance is required, a supervision plan is in place at Forestville.

💻Standards of Learning Assessments 

Students in grades 3-8 participate in state assessments each year.  These assessments measure how students are learning the state standards.  Below is the current schedule for the spring Standards of Learning tests at Forestville Elementary. Visit the FCPS webpage here for more information about these assessments.

• Grades 3 and 4 Math

  • Thursday, May 14

• Grade 5 Science

  • Tuesday, May 19

Seussical was a Smashing Success! 

Forestville 5th & 6th graders impressed the entire student body and Forestville community over four performances! We were so appreciative of our amazing PTA and parent volunteer director, Mrs. Spies, for making this happen! Students sang, danced, told jokes and made us all have a great time traveling through the land of Seuss! We cannot wait for next year's show and love this Forestville Elementary tradition!

Staff Appreciation Was in Full Bloom

Forestville would like to thank our incredible parent community and PTA! Our staff was treated to special surprises all week last week in honor of Staff Appreciation Week. The treats were beautiful, delicious, practical and made us all feel special and appreciated for our work! Staff were surprised to arrive last Monday to door after door of appreciation posters! The designs created by our families were perfect, personal and will adorn our doors until the school year ends, reminding us each day what a special community we get to serve!

Helping Our Students Be Smart Digital Citizens

We are excited to share that our school has been recognized as a Common Sense Education School! This honor shows our dedication to teaching students how to use technology safely and responsibly.

Our teachers use research-based lessons to help students navigate the digital world with confidence. By focusing on digital citizenship, we ensure every student is prepared with the skills they need for the future. You can learn more about these resources at Common Sense Media.

Want to see what learning, laughter, and life at Forestville really look like? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a front-row seat to the amazing moments happening in our classrooms and around our school. From special events and student highlights to spirit days and everyday fun—you won’t want to miss a thing!

📸 Facebook: ForestvilleFCPS
📸 Instagram: @forestvillefcps

Nominate a Forestville Employee Today Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. We encourage our community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated and we thank you in advance for your time!

Tuesday Folder

Forestville uses Schoology for all Tuesday Folder contents. All flyers are posted to Schoology Course: Forestville All Parents and contents are listed below.

• STEM Summer Camp
• AAP Spring Newsletter
• Great Falls Basketball Camp
• Tuesday Folder Content Disclaimer
• Techstravaganza 2026

PreKindergarten and Kindergarten Montessori Program

The FCPS Montessori Program is coming to the Langley pyramid with two classes located at Great Falls Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year.  Families in the Langley pyramid are invited to apply for this opportunity if you have PreK or Kindergarten children.

Program Highlights & Eligibility:

• Ages: Children ages 3 through Kindergarten (age 5 by September 30, 2026).
• Classroom Model: Montessori Early Childhood incorporates both PreK and Kindergarten students in mixed-age classrooms, utilizing a unique hands-on approach to learning.
• Tuition: A sliding scale tuition model applies to PreK students in the program. Kindergarten is tuition-free.
• Transportation: Please note that transportation is not provided for students attending outside of the Great Falls boundary. Enrolled families will need to provide their own daily transportation to and from the Montessori program at Great Falls ES.
• Selection: Admission to the program is based on a randomized lottery selection process.
• Hours & Calendar:  Same bell schedule as Great Falls ES (currently 8:50 a.m.-3:35 p.m.) and follows the FCPS K-12 standard school year calendar.

How to Apply: The Great Falls Montessori lottery application is currently open

• To apply, visit the FCPS Montessori webpage and click the "Apply to Great Falls Lottery" button. The application link also includes full details on the sliding scale tuition model for preschool-age students.
• Lottery applications will remain open on a rolling basis only until all available seats are filled.

Learn More: If you would like to learn more about the Montessori program, please watch this introductory video. 

Virtual Information Session Registration Join us via Zoom for a comprehensive overview of the Montessori approach and curriculum, as well as the lottery process and Q&A. 

• Tuesday, May 19, at 12:00 p.m.
• Sign up here to attend a virtual information session. A Zoom link will be provided to registrants the morning of the meeting date. 

FCPS is excited to expand educational offerings in the community and looks forward to providing this wonderful opportunity for eligible families.

If you have any questions, you may reach the FCPS Montessori program at Montessori@fcps.edu.

3rd Annual Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Puzzle Hunt FCPS is excited for the third year of Puzzle Hunt! This FREE event is open to solvers of all ages and is a great way to keep students and families engaged in fun, creative problem-solving over the summer. It also teaches bike and pedestrian safety and encourages active transportation. New this year: the school with the most solvers will win a special visit from Sue Doku! Participants can sign up here: www.solvingfun.com/fairfax

FCPS Caters to Food Allergies

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month. The FCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to safe and nutritious school meals. Since 1 in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy, FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school.

To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.

Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a safe menu for students.  

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/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 health care 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/guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available. 

📱 Stay up to Date With the FCPS Mobile App!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.” 

With the app, you can:

• View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
• Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed. 

Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents.

FCPS News

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

• FCPS Caters to Food Allergies
• Immunizations Needed Before 7th and 12th Grade
• Thank you Teachers and Staff! 

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

Shape Our School's Future: Join the Final PTA Vote

We are so excited to share the proposed list of PTA leaders for the next school year! These volunteers are ready to help our students grow by supporting exceptional academics and providing teachers with the resources they need to succeed.

Final PTA Meeting & Vote

• Date: Monday, May 18, 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM

• Location: Forestville Elementary School

All current PTA members can vote at this meeting. We will also celebrate our amazing volunteers and the impact of our work this year. Your voice matters as we look ahead to another great year supporting our community!

2026–2027 PTA Officer Slate

• President: Denise Gramsky

• Community Affairs: Rehenuma Asmi & Stephanie Guilfoyl

• Curriculum Enhancement: Zhijun (Sam) Cai & Tim Howard

• Fundraising: Jackie Malkes & Li-Hui Ueng

• VP Social: Rebecca James & Danielle Yu

• Secretary: Jennifer Montana

• Treasurer: Andy Tichenor

• Assistant Treasurer: Barbara Hamidi

• Webmaster: Cristina Gussman

Popcorn, a Movie, and a Great Cause!

Forestville Elementary is hosting a Parents Night Out on Friday, May 15, from 6–9 PM. This special event supports our 4th-grade Odyssey of the Mind team as they travel to the World Finals. By attending, your child helps our students practice creative skills like teamwork and decision-making.

Students in grades K–4 and potty-trained siblings are invited to the school cafeteria for a screening of the new movie Hoppers. We will provide popcorn for a fun movie-theater experience!

We suggest a donation of $30 per child for this drop-off event. All funds go directly to the team’s travel and competition costs. Please register today at https://bit.ly/4mTBEXM.

6th Grade Basketball Game at Langley High School

Bring the family out to cheer on the Forestville basketball teams in a tournament at Langley High School on Thursday, May 21st! Our 6^th graders will be facing off on the court, halftime entertainment will include competitions with the Forestville staff, and Forest, our beloved cardinal mascot will be making a special appearance to boost the energy. Students in any grade can join the fun with a raffle ticket to compete in halftime contests with our awesome staff. 

See the tentative schedule below:

5:30 Doors open (Langley HS Door 12)

6-6:30  Preliminary Game 1: Gray vs. White

6:45-7:15  Preliminary Game 2: Red vs. Black

7:30-8:00: Championship Game (Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2)

Show your Cardinal Spirit and buy your tickets now before the price increases at the door. Advance purchase ticket packages are on sale now - buy yours before the price goes up! Tickets are $7 each or $40 for a Family 4 pack, including 4 game tickets, 1 large pizza & 4 drinks. (Visit Givebacks for more details, links below) 

Go Cardinals!

4 pack tickets: https://forestvillepta.givebacks.com/shop/items/48c5d005313c30

Raffle tickets: https://forestvillepta.givebacks.com/shop/items/e66f0574fcdef7

General admission tickets: https://forestvillepta.givebacks.com/shop/items/2b6e46a766

1085 Utterback Store Road | Great Falls, VA 22066 | 703.404.6000 
Attendance: submit online or call 703.404.6098 | Web | Twitter
Administration: Sarah Brooker | Rob Plunkett