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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we are excited to make the most of this short two-day week! From Field Day fun to honoring our graduating alumni, this week is a wonderful reminder of the strong community that makes Great Falls so special.
Field Day Today:
We enjoyed a fantastic Field Day today filled with sunshine, laughter, and school spirit. From games and friendly competition to snow cones, music from DJ Mr. McCready, and beautiful weather, it was a wonderful day for our school community to come together and celebrate another successful year at Great Falls.
Langley Leap Seniors:
We are thankful and proud to recognize our incredible Langley Leap students. Over the last few weeks, our former students and dedicated Langley High School seniors have spent time in our classrooms supporting our learners while gaining firsthand experience with elementary education as a profession. We are grateful for the positive impact they have had on our school community and appreciate their commitment to serving our students.
Senior Clap Out:
We are also looking forward to a very special Senior Clap out this year. We have invited members of our 6th grade class of 2020, who finished their time at at GFES when the pandemic disrupted many cherished traditions. These graduating seniors will return in their caps and gowns, share their postsecondary plans, and finally experience the clap-out celebration they missed six years ago. We are honored to welcome them back and celebrate this important milestone alongside them.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we celebrate the accomplishments of both our youngest learners and our graduating alumni!
Take care,
Sara Harper
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🗓️Calendar Updates
May 29: Field Day
June 3: Chorus, Strings, and Band Concert Gym, 6pm - 7pm
June 4: HS Senior Student Clap Out
June 4: Cooper Parent Coffee (Rising 7th grade families)
June 5: PTA Dads and Donuts (Katie's Coffee) - 7:00 - 8:45 am
June 5: Fifth Grade Field Trip
June 8 - 12: SCA Pet Supply Drive
June 10: Fifth Grade party
June 11: 1st grade Party
June 12: 6th grade Egg Drop, 2nd grade party, 4th grade party
June 15: Kindergarten party, 3rd grade party
June 16: Additional Yearbook Sale
June 16: Roadrunner Recognition Ceremony (by invitation)
June 16: 6th grade party and clap out
June 17: 6th grade promotion ceremony, 2 hour early release
Most recent Great Falls ES PTA Newsletter
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2026-2027
📸Additional Yearbook Sales
Missed ordering a yearbook? Stop by GFES Door #3 on Tuesday, June 16th starting at 8:30 am to purchase a yearbook while supplies last. We have a limited number available, so don’t miss out! Yearbooks are $20 each, and we accept cash or check only. Please note that yearbooks cannot be reserved ahead of time, so be sure to come early!
👀Lost and Found
We have an overwhelming amount of lost and found items accumulating in our school! From jackets and lunchboxes to water bottles and hats, many belongings are waiting to be claimed.
We will move all of the lost and found items to our school vestibule. Parents are welcome to come and browse the items to pick up anything that belongs to their child. Any unclaimed items at the end of the year will be donated, so don’t miss your chance to recover lost treasures!
🐶Pet Supply Drive🐱
Hello families of Great Falls Elementary! The Student Council Association is working on an end of the year service project and needs your help. During the week of June 8th through June 12th, we will be collecting donations of cat litter, toys and dry food or treats for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. We are also collecting old t-shirts and blankets that we will turn into toys for the animals at our last meeting. Items can be dropped off outside the front office. Please join us in helping animals in need!
🩹 Health Room Notice
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up by an adult no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school June 17th, 2026. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. However, with parent or guardian permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the school health room. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
🍕Please Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance
It’s a busy time of year, and we know many priorities are on your plate. As we approach the end of the school year, it is important to check your student’s MySchoolBucks account and pay any remaining school meal balance.
🍒Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families who earn less than 185% of the poverty level qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FRM). However, an application must be completed and submitted each school year to receive that benefit. The application for the 2026-27 school year will be available this summer.
If you have a current balance and think you may be eligible for free and reduced-price meals, please fill out the FRM application for the 2025-26 school year.
🍵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!
📲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.
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