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June 11, 2026
Dear Deer Park families,
As we close another wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we have accomplished together and thank our students, staff, and families for making this year so special.
This year has been filled with tremendous growth, learning, and success. Our students demonstrated impressive progress across all academic areas, and we have much to celebrate. From growth on assessments such as WIDA, SOLs, i-Ready, MAP, and VALLSS to daily classroom achievements, our students have worked hard, persevered through challenges, and continued to reach new heights. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and accomplishments.
Beyond academics, our school community continued to thrive because of the strong partnerships among students, families, and staff. Together, we fostered a culture built on our core values of being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. These values have guided our actions, strengthened our relationships, and helped create a positive environment where everyone can learn and grow.
As we celebrate the end of the school year, we also recognize those who are moving on to new adventures. To our students and families heading to middle school, congratulations! We are excited for all that lies ahead and know you will continue to do amazing things. To those families who are beginning a new journey at another school or in a new community, thank you for being part of our school family. You will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we wish you nothing but success and happiness in the future.
To all of our students, families, and staff, thank you for a remarkable year. I hope you take time this summer to relax, recharge, explore, and make lasting memories with loved ones.
Have a happy, healthy, and safe summer vacation! We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall and are excited for all the opportunities, growth, and achievements that the new school year will bring.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we make our school an extraordinary place to learn and grow.
Warm regards,
Bob D’Amato
Principal
Last Day of School is Wednesday, June 17th
Dismissal at 1:25 p.m.
Summer Updates from the Literacy team:
Our Deer Park students have been working hard on improving their literacy skills. Summer is right around the corner so please keep their momentum going. We have some resources to support you. The first three will come in the Thursday folder so please look out for them. The rest are links to resources that you can investigate to meet your student’s needs.
Benchmark Consumables
You should be receiving the Unit 9 and 10 Benchmark magazine. There is a family engagement calendar on the back with a variety of activities you can do. In addition, K-2 are receiving some black and white books that the students can read.
Reading Plan/ Assessment Updates
Letters will be sent home with the spring reading data. There will be a letter attached. There are three different letters you could be receiving. One is for our pre-school families. The second will go to those with a reading plan and the last option will be students that took the assessments but are not on reading plans. Reading Plan outcomes and progress monitoring will be emailed between Wednesday June 10 and Thursday June 11. Please remember these emails will come from a no reply account.
BINGO
We have created a Bingo board to encourage your child to read or engage in other literacy tasks. There is one board for our preschoolers and one for the rest of the school. All students who return the bingo board by the first day of school with at least one bingo will earn a space on our Summer Reader Hall of Fame. There will also be a certificate, and prizes distributed the first week of school. The more ways the students make Bingo, the more prizes they will receive. Students are encouraged to read at their reading ability (not necessarily grade level). Books that are read together as a family count. If you prefer to participate in the public library program instead of ours, please let us know so we can include your child in the fall recognitions. The Bingo boards will be sent home in the last folder.
Book It
If your family enjoys Pizza Hut pizza, you may want to register for summer Book it. When your child meets the goal, they get a free individualized pizza. This might make dinner a little easier a few times this summer. You can get one pizza per child per month. You can set the goals to make it appropriate. The program started June 1 so don’t waste time in getting the June reward.
Virginia Literacy Partnerships Resources
Our friends at UVA have put together resources to support you or anyone else that may be working with your child this summer. These materials include options for phonics and comprehension depending on student need.
Fairfax County Resources
There are also some resources from the county. Again, there are a variety of options (for other subjects too). There will be printable packets available before the last day of school.
Please reach out to the Literacy team if you have any questions. Stephanie Jennings sjjennings@fcps.edu or Beka Hartl rlhartl@fcps.edu.
Shrek, Jr!
We are so proud of the hard work and energy of our 6th Grade Chorus in their amazing production of Shrek, Jr. Everyone practiced for weeks to make the show a success and their dedication was clear to all. A special thank you to Mr. Wallace, Ms. Kim, Ms. Tobin, Ms. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Bonneville, Ms. Fuchs and many other staff members for your time and efforts.
  
Bucky's 5K Run Club
Last Sunday was a beautiful day for a run! Our Run Club students in
grades 3-6 celebrated their hard work with a 5K run through the DP neighborhood! Thank you Ms. Katchmark for leading this program and
staff for your support.
Congratulations to Tyler C and Ruby C, the first to cross the finish line!
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Tomorrow!
Kindergarten Blast Off
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Families of Kindergarten students are invited to attend the end of year Kindergarten Blast off celebration on
June 12th at 1:45 p.m.
Reception to follow in the Kindergarten Pod
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Parent Performance Information Regarding Siblings
We are so excited to welcome parents, extended family and younger siblings to our performance tomorrow. Due to space and supervision considerations, our school age DP students will not be pulled from class to attend. Our DP students enjoyed the performance today! Thank you for your support.
Save the Date!
Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Parents and families are invited to celebrate the accomplishments of our sixth grade students and reflect on their time at Deer Park on
June 17th at 9:00 a.m. Doors open at 8:50 a.m.
Students should "dress their best" in appropriate
attire for this special day.
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Thank you Wegmans for your generous donation to the 6th Grade Promotion Committee for the end of year party. |
Rising 7th Grade Opportunity
 Panther Jump Start - Thursday, August 6th
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Explore Stone MS, meet new classmates and participate in team building activities! Lunch will be provided. Register now!
Family Vision Group Representative Needed
Superintendent Reid has created a Family Vision Group - a vital forum for elevating family voices and strengthening connections across the division. We need two representatives (one to serve as a backup) to attend meetings, ensure consistent communication and collaboration and advocate on behalf of the Deer Park community.
Here are the details:
- The Superintendent’s Family Vision Group meets six times in person, all sessions held in the evening, from 6-7:30pm.
- The Family Vision Group team has divided Fairfax County into four sections, called Quads. Deer Park is placed in a Quad based on where the school falls within these sections. Meetings are organized by Quad to ensure accessible locations.
- Tentative Meeting Schedule for 2026–27: All meetings are subject to change in accordance with division-wide priorities and scheduling adjustments as needed.
- Kickoff - Wednesday, September 9 -Location TBD
- Meeting #1- Wednesday, September 16 or Wednesday, September 23-Location TBD
- Meeting #2- Wednesday, November 4-Location TBD
- Meeting #3- Wednesday, January 13, 2027-Location TBD
- Meeting #4-Wednesday, March 3, 2027- Location TBD
- Full Group Wrap-Up-Wednesday, May 5, 2027- Location TBD
https://www.fcps.edu/fcps-family-vision-group
If you are interested in representing Deer Park, please contact Assistant Principal, Heather Hitz, or Principal D'Amato. Thank you for supporting Deer Park!
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2026 Summer Reading List
Checkout the 2026 Summer Reading Lists to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer.
Summer Reading - 2026
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Summer Reading Festival - June 13th
Kick off the summer on June 13th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the
Summer Reading Festival
There will be games and crafts, face painting, a bounce house, popcorn and cotton candy, food trucks and more! The event will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Summer Reading Adventures
June 17th - August 19th
Summer is the perfect time to relax, explore new adventures, and discover amazing stories through books! Keep your child’s reading skills strong by reading a little every day and joining Fairfax County Public Libraries’ summer reading program. Your child can read books, track progress, and earn fun prizes along the way! Whether they love funny stories, mysteries, graphic novels, or nonfiction books, there’s something exciting waiting for everyone at the library this summer. Librarians from the Centreville Public Library will be at Deer Park on Friday, June 12th to talk to students about the summer reading program and get them excited about reading over the summer! For more information, click here!
Optional Parent Input Forms Due Tomorrow
It is NOT required to complete this form: Parent Input Form DPES 2026-2027
Your input is appreciated. Every effort will be made to place your child in the environment you request, but please keep in mind that not all requests can be granted. In addition, we are unable to honor specific teacher requests.
 As we close out another amazing school year, the PTA extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year a true success!
To our dedicated PTA Board members, hardworking staff, and supportive families: thank you for your time, effort, and generosity. Your commitment directly funded vital classroom resources, enhanced student activities, powered incredible community events, and supported our amazing staff.
Special Board Recognition
A very special shout-out goes to our incredible co-secretaries: Becca, Leslie, and Paulo. Thank you for the energy, kindness, and dedication you brought to the Board over the past couple of years! Your efforts left a lasting mark on our school community, and we look forward to seeing you around as volunteers next year!
Thank You to Our Community Sponsors
Our local business partners made a massive difference this year. We want to express our deepest gratitude to: Mt. Kim Martial Arts, Victory Martial Arts, BOWA, DJ Bounce, LS Plumbing and Card My Yard - Centreville! Your partnership means the world to us, and we are excited to continue working together next year!
Exciting Updates & Next Year's Prep
☀️Playground Sun Shade: We have officially cut the check! Installation will take place this summer.
🧱 Custom Commemorative Bricks: To celebrate our new sun shade, families, staff and alumni can purchase custom engraved bricks. These will be laid in a high-traffic area on campus as a lasting tribute to our Deer Park families; new and old, staff and sponsors. order here!
✏️ School Supply Kits: Skip the store stress! Order your convenient, all-in-one school supply kits today. order here!
🎒 2026–2027 PTA Membership: Registration opens after July 1. Without your membership, we cannot "Dream Big" —so sign up or renew early!
Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and adventure-filled summer break! We will see you back in August, ready for another exciting year. Be sure to follow us on social media over the summer for updates and sneak peeks!
With gratitude,
Deer Park PTA
KONA ICE
Tuesday, June 16th
Join us Tuesday, June 16 2026 for our sweet “Summer Break is here” treat truck tradition at 5:40-7:30 p.m. outside the cafeteria door!
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Upcoming Dates |
June
12th - Optional Parent Input form deadline
12th - Kindergarten Blastoff Ceremony @ 1:45 p.m.
16th - 6th Grade Celebration Party (students only)
16th - Last day for AM/PM, ECCB Preschool
16th - Kona Ice - 5:40 p.m.
17th - 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony 9:00 a.m. (doors open @ 8:45 for parents)
17th - Last Day of School - Dismissal at 1:25 p.m.
Contacts
Bob D'Amato, Principal: rjdamato@fcps.edu
Heather Hitz, Assistant Principal: hahitz@fcps.edu
Laurie Holmberg, Administrative Assistant: laholmberg@fcps.edu
Laura Zirzow, Student Information Assistant: lezirzow@fcps.edu
Lynn Heick, Office Assistant: lmheick@fcps.edu
Jessica Arevalo, Parent Liaison: jmarevalo@fcps.edu
Main Office: 703-802-5000
Health Room: 703-802-5010
Attendance Line: 703-802-5011
Attendance email: Deerparkelem.Attendance@fcps.edu
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