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Greetings McNair Students and Families,
Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and heartfelt donations during last week’s Magical World of McNair Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! The week was a resounding success, and our educators truly felt the love. We want to extend a special thank you to our PTA and the entire McNair community for your invaluable partnership. Your efforts ensured our staff felt celebrated and deeply appreciated for the dedication they bring to our students every single day. We couldn't have done it without you!
The celebrations continue this week! Please join us for our McNair Family Heritage Night this Thursday, May 14th at 5:30pm. We are so looking forward to honoring the diverse backgrounds and traditions of our families. We also want to thank the PTA for their partnership in helping us bring this event to life. It promises to be a vibrant, exciting evening and a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to highlight what makes McNair such a unique and special place to be. We cannot wait to see you there!
Looking ahead, we have some exciting events on the horizon, so please be sure to mark your calendars:
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🌷Family Heritage Night: May 14th at McNair ES at 5:30pm. (We invite you to share your culture and traditions with us! Please sign up here to participate in this wonderful community celebration.)
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🌷McNair's Family Night at the Book Fair and Storytime with the Principal: May 20th at McNair ES, 4:30-6:00pm
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🌷3 Hour Early Release for Grades K-2: May 20th: Dismissal for Grades K-2 will be at 12:30pm
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🌷Kindergarten Orientation for the Class of 2039: May 20th at 2:00pm at McNair ES
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🌷Kindergarten Registration: Kindergarten Registration is now open!
We are grateful for your continued partnership and support in your child’s education. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is anything at all we can do to support you and your family. Together, all things are possible.
Have a great week, Mustangs!
Together We Grow,
Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Stringer, and Mrs. Royer
Please contact us with any questions!
Principal: Elizabeth Watson, evwatson@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Ipsa Stringer, IBStringer@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Sara Royer, smroyer@fcps.edu
Click on the links below to navigate to sections of this newsletter.
Save the Date, Mustangs!
📌May 14: Family Heritage Night at McNair Elementary, 5:30-7:00pm
📌May 20: 3 Hour Early Release for Grades K-2, Dismissal at 12:30pm
📌May 20: Kindergarten Orientation for Class of 2039 at 2:00pm
📌May 20: Family Night at the Book Fair and Storytime with the Principal; 4:30-6:00pm. We hope you can join us!
📌May 22: Due date for Class Placement Parent Feedback Form
📌May 25: Memorial Day Holiday- No school for students or staff
📌May 26: Teacher Workday -No school for students
📌May 27: Eid al-Adha - No school for students or staff
📌May 29: McNair's School-Wide Morning Meeting
📌June 3: PTA Meeting at McNair Upper Elementary School at 6:45pm
📌June 5: PTA Movie Night on the field at 7:30pm
📌June 15: Field Day at McNair for Grades K-2
📌June 17: McNair Student Award Ceremonies and Last Day of School for Grades K-2; Dismissal is at 1:30pm
Arrival and Dismissal
Doors open for arrival at 8:35 a.m. The school day begins at 8:45 a.m.
Dismissal begins at 3:30 p.m.
**Please reference the 2025-2026 School Year FCPS Calendar when making appointments or scheduling family trips. Attendance counts and everyday matters!**
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.
Attendance Challenge! Let's Go Mustangs!
Mustangs, don't forget about our Attendance Challenge! If you're here for a full week, you will be entered that Friday for a chance to win a prize from the mystery box! Tune into the Morning News Show every Monday as we will be calling five winners each week for the remainder of the school year! Remember, you attendance matters! |
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McNair Elementary School's Heritage Night
We are excited to host our McNair Heritage Night, May 14th!
Do you have a food, dance, song, or artifact you'd like to showcase?
The deadline line has been extended. Space is limited!
Use this link to sign up today: https://forms.gle/qyCrKMGczWjVrFqH6 and join us in sharing and experiencing diverse cultures.
If you have any questions, email rbarasona@fcps.edu or kfukahori@fcps.edu.
Class Placement Parent Input Form
for the 2026-2027 School Year
 We are starting to work on our plans for the 2026-2027 school year! Class placements are an essential component of learning and building community. If you have information that you would like us to consider as we determine placements, please share your input by answering a few questions listed below. We know that a good teacher-student match and a productive mix of children are ingredients for success, and we carefully consider each child’s strengths and needs during this process. Please do not request specific teachers, as this does not take into account the many variables we must take into consideration. It is far more valuable to share particular academic or behavioral information.
Completion of this Class Placement Parent Feedback Form is optional. If you would like to provide input, you may use this online form; OR email Elizabeth Watson (evwatson@fcps.edu); OR print a hard copy that may be sent to the office by May 22, 2026.
FCPS Title I Advisory Committee (TPAC)
Future TPAC General Session Meeting Dates:
- May 19, 2026 at 7:00 pm (Justice HS)
Kindergarten Registration
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment (the student and one caregiver must be present).
Our kindergarten open house is being held on May 20, 2026 to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school.
Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Ms. Afkham Hosseini, at 703-793-4800 with any questions.
Please Join Us For Kindergarten Orientation!
When: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Where: McNair Elementary School
What: Parents are invited to come and meet new friends while engaging in fun activities in a Kindergarten classroom. Future Kindergarten students are invited to come and meet a new friend while engaging in fun activites in a Kindergarten classroom.
⏰ Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools
Limited early release days for elementary schools will shift to Wednesdays for the 2025-26 school year. Student supervision will be provided for families who require it. Three-hour early release days for our school will take place at 12:30pm on the following date:
Please contact your child's teacher as soon as possible to inform them of your child's dismissal arrangements on May 20th.
Happy 250th Birthday, America!
Join Us McNair Families For Our
School-Wide Morning Meeting!
We will have a McNair School-Wide Morning Meeting inviting all families on Friday, May 29th. Please join us in celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with a patriotic celebration and wearing red, white, and blue. If you can join us, please enter at Door 1 to sign in, and proceed to the gym. The times are as follows:
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PreK/AM Preschool: 9:15am
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Kindergarten/PM Preschool: 1:30pm
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2nd Grade: 2:00pm
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1st Grade: 2:30pm
We thank the Fairfax250 Commission for its support of this program, part of Fairfax County’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Join Us, Mustangs! Mark Your Calendars!
It's time to start planning for fall! Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026 for the Asha-Jyothi 18th annual 5K + 1 mi. Fun Run at Fairfax Corner! We cannot wait to see you there!
3rd Annual FCPS Puzzle Hunt – Free Summer Fun!
The Solving Fun Puzzle Pals have been busy getting ready for the 3rd Annual Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt — and it’s only three weeks away!
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
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Crosswalk Safety at McNair ES
We want to emphasize the importance of safety on our school grounds and surrounding areas. One crucial aspect of this is using the designated crosswalks to safely cross Thomas Jefferson Drive.
We understand that it may be inconvenient to walk to the crosswalk, but not doing so puts our students at risk. By modeling responsible behavior and using the crosswalk with the crossing guard or police officer, we can create a safer environment for everyone. Please discuss the importance of crosswalk safety with your child and encourage them to always use the designated paths. Your support and partnership in this matter is greatly appreciated.
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Register Today With Volunteer FCPS
Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at McNair Elementary. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
At the Volunteer FCPS site, you can complete a volunteer orientation. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
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PTA Links:
On Facebook, please like & follow to get the latest updates.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567288287981
Volunteers Needed!
The McNair PTA is looking for volunteers to help make our upcoming school events a success! We would greatly appreciate your support for the following activities:
- Heritage Night May14th at McNair ES
- 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony at McNair Upper ES on June16th
- PTA Movie Night on June 5th
Volunteers may help with preparing for the event, setup, activities, supervision, cleanup etc. Whether you can help for a short time or throughout an event, every contribution makes a difference and helps create memorable experiences for our students.
We are also looking for volunteers for the Next school year. Please reach out if you are interested in the below positions.
- Competition Leads for next School Year
- PTA Board Member for next School Year
Harris Teeter Together In Education- Fundraiser:
Harris Teeter’s Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. A percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn.
Instruction for Parents:
Option 1: Please use the annual sign up form for the TIE program from Harris Teeter using the following link:
https://tinyurl.com/mcnairharristeeter
Note: You need to re-register every year for this program.
Option 2: You can also sign up in-person at the counter using our school code: 5090
Corporate Donation to the PTA:
Did you know that the McNair Elementary PTA is a 501- 3(c) non profit (EIN 332743954) meaning your deductions are tax deductible!
As the year ends, please consider making a donation to the PTA and checking with your employer to see if they will match your donation.
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.
 Fairfax County Public Schools
Free Quality Half-Day PreSchool Program!
An Inclusive Learning Experience! Now enrolling community peers to
learn alongside preschool students with disabilities in a nurturing, high-
quality environment.
Engaging curriculum - play-based learning with certified teachers.
Social & Emotional Development -Building confidence & friendships.
Who can apply?
Children in our community, ages 3-5, who meet program criteria.
Infant and Toddler Resources
Resources to Help Infants and Toddlers Meet Milestones
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.
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 and 12 or as early as 9 years old.
- Parents/guardians may decide that their 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 their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so 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:
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Stay up to date: Get the latest news from 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 mobile app, including feedback from parents.
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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.
Equity Award
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.
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.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
Summer Learning
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open 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.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
 2026 CTE Summer Enrichment Programs
Tech Adventure Camp: Current Kindergarten - grade 5 students explore Business/Marketing, Family + Consumer Sciences, Health + Medical Sciences, STEAM, and Trades by rotating through daily classes
Visit the Tech Adventure Camp webpage here: bit.ly/FCPS_TAC
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Time - 8:30 am to 2 pm* *Early drop off begins at 7:30 am; after care ends at 5 pm
New to 2026! We’re offering after care!
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Location - Robinson SS
- Transportation from select FCPS schools is provided!
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Cost - $300 per week Back for 2026 programs, we will be offering tuition assistance. More information on our webpages.
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New to 2026! We’re offering a 4th week of our programs!
Different weekly offerings; weekly themes and class offerings can be found on our webpages!
Visit our webpages (linked above) for more information!
For questions, please contact Beth Mehr at bgmehr@fcps.edu
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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Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is about more than awareness. It’s about showing up for one another. It provides a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. Everyone is invited to speak up against mental health stigma. Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.
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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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FCPS This Week
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.
Please stay in touch with us by...
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Thank you for your partnership as we gallop together in supporting our Mustangs!
#TogetherWeGrow
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