|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Spring Picnic last Friday! Thank you to our incredible PTA for hosting a fantastic evening filled with great food, fun games, and quality time as a community. As the beauty of spring blooms around us, we are also seeing incredible growth blooming within our students. This season is a wonderful reminder of what is possible when home and school work together in partnership. The support, encouragement, and collaboration our families provide each day make a meaningful difference in students’ confidence, achievement, and joy for learning.
We are especially proud of the growth our students are showing in their learning this spring. From academic progress to personal perseverance, their hard work is shining through. Thank you for being such important partners in this journey. Together, we are helping our students flourish in every way.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Long, Mrs. Agner, Mrs. Compton
📆Upcoming Dates
May 20 - Boundary Meeting (6:30 at West Springfield HS & Virtual)
May 25 - 27 - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day, Teacher Workday, Eid al-Adha)
June 1 - Volunteer Breakfast (9:00 in the Library)
June 5 - Field Day!
Memorial Day
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, for the Memorial Day holiday. On Memorial Day, we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, the fallen soldiers of American wars. Learn about the history of Memorial Day.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha begins at sundown on Tuesday, May 26. Wednesday, May 27, is a holiday for Eid al-Adha and schools and offices are closed. Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is the second of two main holidays celebrated in Islam. Muslims believe that Eid al-Adha signifies the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as ordered by Allah. It focuses on sacrifice, the pilgrimage to Mecca and giving to those less fortunate. |
|
 |
🌟Mrs. Long's Blueprint Byte
Ms. Strandlund's class is immersed in reading informational text on stars. Our Benchmark Language Arts curriculum supports our teachers in embedding cross-curricular learning; learning science and social studies content through reading and writing. Ms. Strandlund's class is researching the solar system. Students were over the moon with excitement, and engagement!
☀️ Friendly Face Fridays!
Join us for Friendly Face Fridays at 9:20 AM to experience the heart of our school day! Parents and caregivers are invited to jump into our 20-minute Morning Meeting to share in the greetings and activities that bring our community together. It’s a wonderful way to connect with your child’s classroom and feel the warmth of our school family firsthand before the workday begins.
Please mark your calendars for your child's grade-level date:
West Springfield Boundary Meeting Tonight
Register to attend the next West Springfield Pyramid Boundary Meeting this evening (Wednesday May 20), 6:30-8:00 pm at West Springfield High School. Attendance is in-person or virtually. Click here to register.
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.
Summer Extravaganza
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
oin 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.
📱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.
Family Information Phone Lines
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.
Food Allergies
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.
Arrival and Dismissal - Be A Good Neighbor!
As a reminder, please help us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth for everyone. We ask families to be good neighbors and mindful of:
-
Not blocking intersections or painted boxes during Kiss & Ride —this impacts visibility and also prohibits access for emergency vehicles.
-
Crossing only in crosswalks and watching carefully for cars.
-
Avoiding parking in residential areas, fire lanes, or private parking spaces.
-
Refraining from making illegal U-turns.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 2027 Budget Updates
- New Cell Phone Policy
- Stay Up-to-Date with the Mobile App
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
