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LONG WEEKEND AHEAD

Dear Fairhill Community,

This has been a wonderful five-day week at Fairhill!

We have finished our large-group testing for both the math and reading SOLs, and our preliminary data looks incredible. All indicators are pointing to increased scores schoolwide in both math and reading, which is a huge celebration for our students, staff, and families. This progress aligns with our core value of rigorous academics and reflects the hard work happening across our school and community each day.

In reading, we saw a 6% increase in students scoring Pass Advanced,  which is especially exciting. Thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support throughout the school year. Our students’ success is truly a shared celebration.

Looking ahead, we hope you enjoy the long weekend and have time to reconnect with family and loved ones. Please note that there will be no Fairhill Forum next week due to the holiday.

All our best,

Ted & Maura

May May 20th - Spirit Night at Mosaic Shake Shack, Chipotle and Barnes & Noble May 21st - 5th Grade SOL Testing Science  May 22nd - 2nd Grade Field Trip to American Indian Museum May 25th - Memorial Day (No School) May 26th - Teacher Workday (No School for Students) May 27th - Eid al-Adha (No School) June June 7th - PTA Movie Night Cinema Arts Theater June 9th - 6th Grade Field Trip to Gettysburg June 10th - Ellipse Run June 12th - Field Day 9:30 am - 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and EAC Upper 1:00 pm - K, 1st, 2nd, and EAC Lower June 15th - 6th Grade Kickball June 17th - 6th Grade Promotion June 17th - Last Day of School

A Note from the Library Per FCPS regulations, all library book circulation ends two weeks before school ends.  This means that all library books must be returned back to the library on Wednesday, June 3rd. Please help us stress the importance of returning all library books by having a discussion with your student. The next round of overdue notices will come home in the June 2nd Tuesday folders to help facilitate returns. Thank you for your support!

🎉 Field Day Volunteers Needed – Friday, June 12th!

Field Day is right around the corner, and we need your help to make it a fun and successful event for our students! We’re looking for parent volunteers to help run stations and support our 3rd–6th grade Field Day from 9:30–11:30 AM.  In the afternoon, Kindergarten–2nd grade students will enjoy their Field Day from 1:00–3:00 PM. Parents of K–2 students are invited to join their child’s class as they rotate through the stations — no sign-up needed, just come ready to have fun! If you’re available to volunteer in the morning, we’d love to have you! Please email Mr. Jones at mwjones1@fcps.edu if you're available. 

Class Placement Input

We are beginning to plan for the 2026–27 school year and will be collecting parent input electronically. Class placements are an important part of both learning and building a strong school community. If there is information you would like us to consider as we determine placements, we invite you to take a few moments to respond to the questions below.

We recognize that a positive teacher-student match and a well-balanced classroom contribute to student success, and we carefully consider each child’s strengths and needs throughout this process. To ensure we are able to thoughtfully account for all factors, we ask that families do not request specific teachers. Teacher assignments may change due to the needs of the school, and requests for specific teachers are not considered as part of the placement process.

We have found it most helpful when families share relevant academic or behavioral information about their child that may support our decision-making. Completion of this form is optional; however, if you choose to participate, please submit your responses by May 29.

Thank you for your time and for partnering with us.

Use link here: https://forms.gle/WobJSdgm8QBoUNEE6

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. 

Thursday, May 21: 5^th Grade Science

News from PTA

Fairhill Spirit Night  We're thrilled to announce our upcoming Spirit Night in partnership with Shake Shack, Chipotle and Barnes & Noble in Mosaic! Join us on May 20th for an evening of delicious food, great books, and community spirit. A portion of all sales during this event will directly benefit our school's programs. Enjoy a family meal at Shake Shack or Chipotle then browse for your next favorite read at Barnes & Noble. It's a perfect opportunity to support community businesses while helping our school.  Keep an eye on your Tuesday folder for more info! Join us for a night to remember and help us raise funds for field trips, new playground equipment, and teacher staff lunches. Let’s make a difference together! Spanish

2026-2027 Fairhill School Supply Pack Sales 

No time to shop for school supplies? Just click here to order a school supply pack from EPI for the 2026-2027 school year. Purchased packs will be delivered right to your student's classroom in August! Enter the code FAI068 for Fairhill. Additional ordering information can be found in the attached flyer.

English    Spanish

Calling for Volunteers:  Help to Make a Big Difference in our community

The Fairhill PTA again will continue to support Fairhill families and our broader local community by collecting unused food purchased from the cafeteria (e.g., milk, string cheese) and/or unopened store-bought food (e.g., crackers) during the spring semester

Our kids' role -> Kids are asked to leave food they may otherwise toss in the garbage and instead put it off in the Food for Others fridge in the cafeteria.

Our volunteers' role -> Once a week (Mondays or Tuesdays), we are asking for a volunteer to collect the food and drop it off at Food For Others (1 mile away). 

Our collective Impact -> In addition to minimizing food waste, we are helping 75,000 Fairfax County (and Fairhill families) who are food insecure.  On a weekly basis last year, we collected hundreds of milk cartons, string cheese packets, crackers, yogurts and more.

Sign up here to volunteer!  Questions????  Call/text//email Anika Marpaka (anikaamin@yahoo.com or 703 855 0500)

Help Us Erase Student Lunch Debt

Please consider donating to eliminate school lunch debt through our Educate Fairfax platform. All donations are tax deductible; you will receive a receipt for tax deduction purposes.

News from FCPS

Finish the School Year With Strong Attendance! 

As we enter the final weeks of the school year, Fairfax County Public Schools appreciates your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success. Regular attendance plays an important role in helping students stay engaged in learning, maintain connections with their teachers and peers, and finish the school year strong. 

Attending school consistently also helps students build valuable habits such as responsibility, perseverance, and daily routines that support success both in and out of the classroom.

If your child needs to miss school, please remember to report the absence. Full-day absences can be reported in ParentVUE. Families may also report absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.

If your child is experiencing challenges that are affecting attendance, we are here to help. Please contact your child’s school so staff can partner with you to provide support and resources. Learn more about attendance resources. 

How To Survive Middle School 2026

Dates: July 27-28

Times: 9 a.m.-  1 p.m. 

Location: LJMS

Eligibility: Rising 7th graders 

Cost: $40

• Participate in fun activities to learn about life at Jackson Middle School!
• Busses are available to transport students from elementary schools!
• Registration fee: $40, covers the cost of busses, an LJMS T-shirt, AND lunch!
• Register now using the form linked below.
• Questions? Email Mr. Ertekin, MErtekin@fcps.edu or view the informational flyer.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

VIP Camp Central Fairfax

(Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Poe, and Thoreau Students)

Dates: July 1-30 (no camp on July 3)

Times: M-F, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Glasgow MS

Eligibility: rising 7th & 8th graders

Cost: $100 

FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a five week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders.  Our camp will be a combination of students from the following middle schools: Kilmer, Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Poe, and Thoreau. 

Bus transportation will be provided from various pick-up locations which will be communicated in June prior to the start of camp. Breakfast, lunch, all on site activities, AND transportation are included in the fee.

There is a $100 registration fee, and a mandatory parent meeting before camp starts. Financial assistance is available upon request.

The staff is led by your local After-School Specialists and trained DNCS staff. Campers will have a great time playing sports, games, doing arts and crafts and exploring concepts in science and technology, and there's a fun field trip each week!

For more information, please view the informational flyer (también en español)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) E-IFTA is a welcoming, supportive arts enrichment program where students experience Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance each day in a fun and engaging environment. One thing that makes our program especially unique is that we are intentionally staffed with Instructional Assistants (IAs), Public Health Training Assistants (PHTAs), and Special Education Resource Teachers. Because of this, E-IFTA can be an excellent fit for families who may not feel comfortable enrolling their child in a more traditional summer camp setting. As a reminder, we are also able to offer: Tuition assistance • Transportation  After care options

Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 6-17, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (weekdays only). Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day. You can find more information and register for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Register early to save money and reserve your student’s spot!

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: Stay up to date: Get the latest news from our school and FCPS. 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 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. 

Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar

• The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.

The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed. 

Summer Extravaganza Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and IdeasJoin 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.

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.

Important Fairhill Contact Information

Fairhill Phone Numbers:

Main Office 703-208-8100

• Health Room 703-208-8110

• Cafeteria 703-208-8121

Administration e-mail addresses:

• Principal, Ted Cooper: egcooper@fcps.edu

•  Assistant Principal, Maura Cotter: mkcotter@fcps.edu

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3001 Chichester Lane, Fairfax, VA 22031 | Main Office: 703-208-8100
Attendance: 703-208-8181 | Web | Twitter | Facebook