May 8 - News and Notes!

Dear Rolling Valley Families,

While learning is happening in every classroom each day, our students are also thriving through the many experiences that make Rolling Valley such a vibrant and connected school!

This spring, students have been digging into hands-on discovery in Garden Club, where they are learning about responsibility, sustainability, and the science of growing. Our Chess Club continues to build strategic thinkers and collaborative problem-solvers as students sharpen their skills and challenge one another in friendly competition. Meanwhile, our students in Pet Robots are exploring creativity, coding, engineering, and teamwork through engaging STEM experiences that spark innovation and imagination.

We also loved seeing our community come together for Bike, Walk, and Roll to School events, promoting healthy habits, school spirit, and fun before the school day even begins!

And this week, we are especially grateful as we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week. Our incredible staff members go above and beyond every single day to create meaningful learning experiences, build relationships, and support every child at Rolling Valley. Their dedication, energy, and heart are what make our school such a special place for students and families alike.

Thank you to our families and community for continuing to support the many opportunities that help our students grow, lead, create, and shine both inside and outside the classroom!

Rolling Valley Elementary School Principal

Save the Dates

May 13th: 3-hour Early Release - 1:00 p.m. Dismissal

May 18th - PTA Meeting - 7 p.m. - RVES Library

May 25th - Memorial Day Holiday for Students and Staff

May 26th - Teacher Workday (No school for students)

May 27th - Eid al-Adha Holiday for Students and Staff

View the 2025-26 school year calendar.

SEPTA AWARDS

This past weekend, members of our Rolling Valley community attended the 9th annual Special Education PTA (SEPTA) award ceremony. Of the 217 total nominations, Rolling Valley staff members received 14 nominations and TWO wins! Congratulations to all our nominees and to Ms. Herrera and Ms. O’Carroll and all our nominees! Thanks to our families and colleagues for recognizing our staff. To learn more about SEPTA, or become involved, please visit https://fairfaxcountysepta.org/

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.

Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

This spring, students at Rolling Valley Elementary School will participate in important assessments based on their grade level. These include Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what students have learned, and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments, which help us understand each student’s current level and growth.

We encourage all families to support their children in participating in these assessments. The state of Virginia requires schools to assess at least 95% of students on SOL tests. When students do not participate, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and our ability to fully understand and support student progress.

Families can help students feel confident and prepared by encouraging strong routines. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and arriving at school on time all make a difference. Please also remember that the FCPS cell phone policy remains in effect during testing.

Attendance on testing days is especially important. If you are aware of a scheduling conflict that may cause your child to miss a test, please notify the school as soon as possible so we can plan for a make-up session.

Students in grades 3–6 will participate in SOL testing on the following dates:

Grade 3: Math - May 12

Grade 4: Math - May 14

Grade 5: Math - May 15

Grade 5: Science - May 21

Grade 6: Math - May 19

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. 

Parent Input for Class Placements 2026–2027

As we begin planning for the 2026–2027 school year at Rolling Valley Elementary School, we welcome your input as part of our class placement process. Creating balanced and supportive classroom communities is a thoughtful process that includes multiple perspectives. We carefully consider each child’s learning needs, peer dynamics, and the overall composition of each class to ensure a strong start for all students.

If there is information about your child that you feel would be helpful for our team to consider, particularly related to learning style or classroom environment, you are invited to share that input by emailing Veronica Del Bagno at vdelbagno@fcps.edu. 

Please submit responses by Friday, May 22.

Rolling Valley

EPI 26-27 School Supplies

PTA NEWS

PTA NEWS:

HAPPY TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK to all RVES staff! We are so thankful for all you do! Thank you to everyone who helped support Teacher Appreciation Week by volunteering their time and sending in donations!

WE NEED YOU!! We will have several PTA committee positions open for the 2026-2027 school year - please contact ptarollingvalley@gmail.com if you're interested or would like to learn more! Taking on a PTA position is a great way to get more plugged into RVES, and you will have lots of support! 

• Before and After School Activities Chair - coordinate before and after school programming at RVES
• Haunted House Co-Chair- our biggest fundraising event of the year!
• Fun Fair Co-Chair- hosted in conjunction with the Haunted House
• Hospitality Committee members- host events celebrating our RVES teachers and staff

Please consider joining us- it's a really friendly group!

EPI SCHOOL SUPPLIES:  For your convenience, the RVES PTA is partnering with EPI in case you want to order your school supplies for next year! 

• Use this link to order now through June 21: CLICK HERE
• When you order, enter the school ID, ROL012
• Follow the directions to complete your order
• Keep your online confirmation as your receipt
• Supply kits will be shipped to your homes to arrive on or before August 12

SPRING BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES: All classes are now FULL! Thank you for supporting our programs! 

Reminder for Mudskippers Pottery participants: There are no pottery classes on early release Wednesdays!

Reminder for Kids in Motion Hip-Hop participants: Class will now end on Tuesday, 6/9 due to the FCPS closure on 4/21.

Please provide feedback and/or suggestions for future classes to Mallory Lyon at mhods227@gmail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  

Monday, May 18; 7:00-8:00pm; PTA MEETING:  All RVES families are welcome to attend our May general membership meeting on Monday, May 18 at 7:00pm in the RVES library. Note that childcare will be provided. This will be the final PTA general membership meeting for SY2025-26!

Tuesday, May 19; 10:30am- 10:00pm; Honeygrow Spirit Event: Whether you choose to dine-in, take out, get delivery, or a pick-up order, Honeygrow in West Springfield (8426 Old Keene Mill Road) will donate 20% of the proceeds to RVES! Use promo code GIVE164 on the honeygrow app, at honeygrow.com or in-store at the kiosk to ensure that we get credit. 

Wednesday, May 20; 6:30pm- 8:00pm; FCPS Boundary Review Community Meeting at West Springfield High School: RVES families are encouraged to join together to advocate for moving SPA 8922 fully into the WSHS pyramid. Furthermore, if you live in any of the neighborhoods currently under review - Whitlers Creek, Hunter Valley, Crosswinds, or Daventry Park, please reach out to Karen Barnes at karen@buschmans.com. She has organized a Facebook group for communications and advocacy. 

MILITARY FAMILY OUTREACH: FSP will be facilitating monthly workshops, webinars, or family engagement events for military families throughout the school year. Please check the Family Academy Catalog CLICK HERE under "Military-Connected Families Offerings" for more information on these events as they are posted. 

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.

SEPTA (FAIRFAX COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION PTA): SEPTA is a PTA organization affiliated with the state and national PTA but specifically established to address the unique needs of special education, special needs, and disabled students and families. Please click here for more information and details about upcoming events: CLICK HERE

Tuesday, May 19; 7:00pm; SEPTA general membership meeting and election: The meeting presentation will center around advice about transition. 

Feel free to contact the RVES PTA at ptarollingvalley@gmail.com with any questions or comments! 

TJ High School - Techstravaganza 

Families are invited to attend the 22nd Annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Hosted by Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology, this free, hands on STEM fair is designed for elementary and middle school students across Northern Virginia. The event features more than 70 interactive STEM labs led by TJHSST students and community partners, including organizations such as NASA, George Mason University, the National Air and Space Museum, and many others. In past years, more than 4,500 students have participated in this exciting day of exploration and discovery.

Admission is free. Families can register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOf_t0uiPZb_hGg1sffnqjQ7oKVJb3DJclrq-UAIVrweKJhA/viewform

For more information, visit:
https://techstrav.org/index.html tjpartnershipfund.org/techstravaganza/

We hope many of our Rolling Valley students take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to explore, create, and discover in the world of STEM.

Spartan Volleyball Camp Registration has opened! 

Camp Dates - July 6 - 10th, 2026

Camp Location - West Springfield HS

Camp Sessions - separated by age and skill levels

Camp is open to all female athletes, regardless of what school they attend.  We typically have athletes from 10-15 different high schools and feeder schools.  

If you have questions about which session to sign up for, please reach out to me, Coach Stephanie Noriega (sbnoriega@fcps.edu).  I am always happy to help.  

Camp usually sells out in the first couple of weeks, so register now.  

Camp Details:

Spartan Volleyball Camp is designed and has a session for athletes of all skill levels who are eager to enhance their game in a challenging and supportive environment. Camp sessions are structured by age and skill level to ensure every player receives personalized instruction and the best opportunity for growth.

Campers will have the unique opportunity to train with experienced high school coaches from across the country, as well as current college athletes. Campers in Session A and B will also get to work with the high school athletes from the Virginia State Champions team! Sessions will include individual skill development, group instruction, and competitive tournament play, all designed to help players refine their technique, build confidence, and elevate their overall performance.

Session C is ONLY for advanced players.  Unfortunately, we do not have a session for rising 10th-12th graders who are new to volleyball or who only have freshmen team level experience and/or rec volleyball experience.  Athletes attending Session C must have played on their high school Varsity or JV team or are currently playing on a competitive club team. If you are signing up for Session C, the expectation is that you are playing volleyball at or close to the Varsity level.  Most rising 9^th graders should be attending session B.

Spartan Volleyball Camp Registration

Early Release Wednesday

FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced plans to continue limited early release days in elementary schools and shift them to Wednesdays for the 2025-26 school year. 

Early release Wednesdays for RVES will be:

• May 13

FCPS has created this webpage to provide detailed information about the early release on Wednesdays.  

 6703 Barnack Dr, West Springfield, VA 22152  | Main Office: 703-923-2700

Attendance: 703-923-2727 | Web | Facebook