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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
As we continue to celebrate all the special things that make Great Falls Elementary unique, we’re thrilled to share an update on one of the most meaningful projects on our school grounds.
What started as a simple student research project has blossomed into one of the most unique parts of our school campus. In 2022, our 6th graders wrote and won a grant from MIT, bringing our school a sapling grafted from the very apple tree linked to Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity.
During the Great Plague of London in the 1660s, Newton found himself quarantined from Cambridge University while the school was closed. As he spent time at home - reflecting and studying - he began to wonder: why do things fall to the ground? The story goes that seeing an apple drop from a tree sparked the questions and ideas that eventually led to his theory of gravity. Now, this remarkable connection to history, science, curiosity, and innovation has quite literally taken root at GFES.
Over the past few years, this project has grown into a true community partnership. We teamed up with the Great Falls Garden Club and found an arborist to help our sapling thrive. Just last week, with help from our PTA, we installed a permanent sign that tells the story behind the tree and why it’s so special to our school. Starting next year, students will be able to dive even deeper into the history, science, and inspiration this tree represents. We couldn’t be more excited about this meaningful project—or more grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life.
Next time you’re at school, we hope you’ll stop and take a look as our apple tree continues to grow with us.
Take care,
Sara Harper
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Sign inscription:
A Little Apple Tree with a Big Impact
This tree is a graft from the famous apple tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity when he was quarantined during the Great Plague of London. Gifted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in recognition of a student-awarded grant.
Planted here after the pandemic, it stands as a symbol of: Curiosity, Discovery, and New Beginnings
Just like Newton wondered why, we encourage every student to: Ask questions. Explore ideas. Grow something amazing.
🌱 Great Falls Elementary School
🗓️Calendar Updates
May 20: 5th-grade Science SOL
May 25: No School - Memorial Day
May 26: No School - Teacher Workday
May 27: No School - Eid al-Adha (begins sunset on May 26th)
May 29: Field Day
June 1: Field Day Rain Date
June 4: Cooper Parent Coffee (Rising 7th grade families)
June 5: PTA Dads and Donuts (Katie's Coffee) - 7:00 - 8:45 am
June 17: Last Day of School - Early Release
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2026-2027
Most recent Great Falls ES PTA Newsletter
☀️Field Day is Coming!
We’re looking for volunteers for Field Day. It’s one of our students’ favorite days of the year, but we can’t do it without your help! Use the sign up genius to select a spot–you can see which events your child’s class will participate in under event comments. Questions? Reach out to Mr. Boucher: JPBoucher@fcps.edu
🏥 Health Room Reminders: Medication Pickup
Our health room staff has been hard at work supporting our students all year. To stay in compliance with school policy, please note the following regarding student medications:
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Deadline: All medications must be picked up no later than student dismissal on the last day of school.
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Disposal: Any medication remaining in the health room after this time will be destroyed.
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Policy: Medications cannot be sent home with students; they must be retrieved by a parent or guardian.
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Exception: High school students may transport over-the-counter medications with explicit parent/guardian permission.
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Summer Programs: If your child is attending an FCPS-sponsored summer program, your existing authorization forms remain valid. However, you must still pick up the medication on the last day of school and personally deliver it (along with copies of the forms) to the summer site on day one. Please contact the health room if you require copies of your current forms.
🍵Cooper MS PTO Coffee
June 4th 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Parents of rising 7th graders are invited to a parent coffee hosted by the CMS PTO. Parents will have an opportunity to tour the school, meet administrators, and hear from current students about transitioning from elementary to middle school. Spirit wear will be available for purchase!
☀️Beat the Heat and Get Ahead
Cooper Middle School’s Math Boot Camps
Dates: July 20–23 & July 27–30
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Who: Rising 7th & 8th graders
Courses: Pre-Algebra, Pre-Algebra Honors, Algebra 1, Algebra 1 Honors
Register: https://bit.ly/4my.jjPN
Payment: https://bit.ly/3O6pAWp
Spots are limited—sign up soon!
📝SOL Family Score Reports PDFs
We are committed to supporting our students through this period of SOL testing. The week of June 8 (if not before), SOL family score report PDFs will post to SIS ParentVUE Documents.
📲New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1
On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.
This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.
High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
📙Other SR&R Changes for the 2026-27 School Year
Visit the FCPS website or the School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
- Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
- Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
- Responses to incidents involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, object throwing, and drug policy violations.
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🥜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.
📚 Finishing Up Our Uncovering of History in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 7 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about history and culture.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: What’s the most interesting thing you learned during this unit? Why is it so interesting?
- Activity: Design a family crest or symbol. Work together to draw and decorate a family coat of arms that represents your history, values, traditions, or favorite activities.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
🔎Summer Break STEM Camp – Hands-On Science & Engineering Activities!
Looking to start summer break with an exciting and educational opportunity? Students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are hosting a one-week long STEM Camp for 4th-7th graders from June 22-26 in Oakton, VA. Campers will explore engineering, coding, chemistry, physics, and biology through engaging, hands-on activities designed to make STEM fun and accessible. The camp runs from 9 AM - 4 PM, with optional extended care available.
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Cost: $300 (FREE for students receiving free/reduced lunch)
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Location: Unity of Fairfax (2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124)
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Lunch: Students will either buy lunch (pizza and light refreshments) or bring their own lunch and snacks.
Sign up here: tinyurl.com/summerstemcamp2026. For more details or questions, please email springstemcamp@gmail.com.
🎭Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) summer program (Grades K–5)
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. Registration is still open! There are four camp sessions to choose from.
🧩Solving Fun Puzzle Pals
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.
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