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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Allison Ovalle - Assistant Principal
May 1st-31st: Jewish American, Asian
American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 10th-16th: Food Allergy Awareness Month
May 11th: PTA Spirit Night at Chipotle - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 16th: Annual 6th Grade Carwash - 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
May 20th: 3-hr Early Release - 12:20 p.m.
May 21st: We Are Gunston Night - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
May 25th: Memorial Day - All FCPS Schools are closed
May 26th: Teacher Workday - No Students
May 27th: Eid - All FCPS Schools are closed
Gunston Gazette
Last 3-hr Early Release
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 is the last 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 p.m.
Dismissal time and transportation will follow the same arrangements as the last March's early release day.
Preschool Students will follow their regular Wednesday schedule.
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Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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Jewish American Heritage Month
May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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SOLs at Gunston
SOLs are beginning Monday May 4th for students in grades 3-6.
Check the Gunston website calendar for month of May for specific tests and dates
Help your students remember to bring their laptops back to school.
Watch backpacks for FCPS SOL letters with more information and permissions for eligible retakes.
You can also look at the Virginia Department of Education for addition SOL information.
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.
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Yearbooks are available for purchase NOW!
Use code :15576026
Click here for the yearbook order form.
Gunston Yearbook - Parent Shout Outs
Notes from the Eagles Nest 200 characters of text $5.00
PTA Spirit Night at Chipotle
Monday, May 11th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
25% of event sales get donated to the cause. Order online for pickup using code JA8Y3J8 or show this flyer in restaurant.
Chipotle, 9447 Lorton Market Street, Lorton, VA 22079
We Are Gunston: A Celebration of Diversity
Join us to celebrate on Thursday, May 21st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Free Entry! Sample new foods, family-friendly activities, multicultural sing-alongs, and much, much, more! Please scan and sign up to contribute.
The Variety Show is open to all students attending Gunston ES grades K-6.
Music and performances must be appropriate for students and guests attending the Variety Show at Gunston School.
Students may try-out for one (1) performance only. Exception: if your entire class is trying out as well.
Deadline for entries Friday, May 15th.
Students may cross-over grade levels. Each member of the group must fill out a form. Select your music carefully - no song or music will be used twice. Songs must be provided electronically at sign up.
GOOD LUCK! PLAN, PREPARE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
If you have any questions, please ask Ms. Hart
Food Allergies
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.
FCPS CTE Summer Learning Opportunity!
We're thrilled to invite you to join us for an unforgettable experience at one of the CTE summer enrichment programs! These week-long programs will introduce you to the wonderful world of Career and Technical Education, help you develop new skills, and make new friends.
Our programs offer a wide range of activities designed to spark your curiosity and keep you engaged. You will have the opportunity to learn coding, problem solving, cooking, and more! Our experienced and enthusiastic teachers are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment where you can challenge yourself and discover new passions.
You can find more details about our programs on our camp websites below:
We are able to offer a limited number of students currently in grades KG-11 at a Code UP! grant school with a one-week registration at no cost! If you are interested in this opportunity, please fill out the interest form linked below by June 1st.
CTE Summer Enrichment Interest Form: https://forms.gle/ytfQWmR4MQ6FuvrBA
Families will be notified by the end of April to confirm whether they will receive one of the sponsored seats—students will be chosen by a lottery if there are more interested families than seats available.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Beth Mehr, CTE Educational Specialist at bgmehr@fcps.edu. We'd be happy to chat with you and your family.
NOTE: The location for these programs is not Gunston ES. Please check the information provided.
Family Information Phone Lines
Family Information Phone Lines
FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about family information phone lines.
Attendance
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!
In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Spanish:Asiste a la escuela hoy; para tener éxito mañana. ¡Todo Pertenecemos Aqui!
Todos pertenecemos a FCPS. Desde el primer día de escuela, hasta el último día de escuela, cada niño importa. Si su estudiante está teniendo dificultades para terminar el año con fuerza y asistir a la escuela, por favor contacte a un adulto de confianza en la escuela-un maestro, consejero o administrador. Visite FCPS’ sitio web para obtener más recursos sobre la asistencia.
Korean: 출석은 오늘, 학업 성취는 내일. 우리는 모두 이곳에 속해있습니다!
우리 모두는 FCPS에서 소속감을 느낍니다. 우리 학교에서는 등교 첫날부터 마지막 날까지 모든 학생이 소중합니다. 학생이 한 해를 힘차게 마무리하고 학교에 출석하는 데 어려움을 겪고 있다면 학교의 신뢰할 수 있는 성인 (교사, 카운슬러, 행정직원)에게 연락하시기 바랍니다. 더 많은 출석 관련 자료를 보시려면 웹사이트를 방문하세요.
Mental Health Services
Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services
Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports that include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and other services.
Contact CSB Entry and Referral to get started by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Additional Mental Health Resources
FCPS has resources available to support your child’s mental health. During after-school hours, parents and students who need additional support can use the 988 Lifeline to get free, confidential guidance from trained crisis counselors on how to best help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can call or text the number.
Recent reports have shared an 11% drop in suicides among young people since the rollout of 988. Please note, the hotline is not only for those experiencing suicidal ideation (or thoughts), it is also available for any mental health or substance abuse-related crisis and those with a loved one experiencing those crises or suicidal thoughts.
And as always, if your concern is an emergency, you should call 911.
Terapia Virtual Gratuita para Estudiantes de High School
Sesiones virtuales de terapia gratuitas están disponibles para estudiantes de secundaria de FCPS, lo que les ofrece un espacio seguro para encarar problemas como:
- Cambios de estado de ánimo o de comportamiento, motivación, duelo y pérdida.
- Ansiedad, preocupaciones, miedos.
- Habilidades de socialización, abuso (bullying), relaciones con semejantes y familiares.
- Estrés académico.
Los estudiantes pueden ser referidos por su cuidador o personal escolar designado. Usted puede referir a su hijo llamando al 571-749-2940 o contactando al consejero escolar, trabajador social, psicólogo o director de servicios al estudiante de FCPS. Para encontrar más información, visite la página FCPS Teletherapy.
🌱 La Salud Mental de su Niño es muy Importante: Tenga Acceso a Servicios Integrales
Comuníquese con la “Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, CSB, para que reciba servicios de salud mental para jóvenes diseñados para ayudar a su niño a lograr el éxito. La CSB cuenta con consejería individual y familiar, Evaluación y diagnóstico psiquiátrico, manejo de prescripciones, grupos de apoyo para padres, grupos de apoyo de semejantes, respuesta a crisis, apoyo para la recuperación, incluyendo “medication assisted treatment”, MAT, servicios intensivos y más.
Para comenzar, contacte a la oficina de Admisión y Referencia de CSB, llamando al 703-383-8500 o escribiendo a la dirección csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Required Immunizations
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th GradersThe 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.
Equity Award
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity AwardNominations 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.
Summer Extravaganza
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School.
Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family.
For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
📱 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:
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Stay up to date: Get the latest news from Gunston ES and FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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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.
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