Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- 6th Grade Musical
- Library Books are Due
- Summer Reading Adventure
- 6th Grade Musical
- End of Year Spirit Week
- Medication Pick Up Reminder
- Student Awardee In National Contest
- Superintendent's Family Vision Group
- Dining Room Assistant
- Immunization
- AAP Information
- Calendar Survey
- Summer Resources
- Summer Meals
- Special Education Newsletter
- Fairfax County Carnival and Fair
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
As we begin the final countdown to the end of the school year, it's hard to believe that our last day with students is next Wednesday. This time of year always brings a mix of excitement, celebration, reflection, and gratitude as we recognize all that our students, staff, and families have accomplished together.
Last evening, Floris Elementary was proudly represented at the FCPS Employee Awards Ceremony by three outstanding staff members whose dedication and excellence embody the very best of our school community.
Please join me in congratulating:
• Vernella Lanham – Operational Employee of the Year
• Cristina Kang – Teacher of the Year
• Kelly Elson – New Teacher of the Year
These honors are incredibly well deserved and reflect the passion, professionalism, and commitment each of these individuals bring to Floris every single day. We are grateful for the positive impact they have on our students, colleagues, and school community, and we could not be prouder of their accomplishments.
As we celebrate these achievements, we also want to recognize three valued members of our Floris family who will be embarking on exciting new journeys next year. While we will miss them greatly, we are thrilled for the opportunities that await them:
• Christina Molitor – accepting a promotion as a Math Resource Teacher with Loudoun County Public Schools
• Julissa Mejia – transitioning to a full-time FLES position at Greenbriar West Elementary School
• Kristen Hollen – beginning an exciting new adventure as she relocates to Japan
Each of these educators has made a meaningful impact on our students and school community. We thank them for their dedication, compassion, and service to Floris, and we wish them nothing but success and happiness in their next chapters.
Here's to finishing strong, cherishing these final days together, and ending the 2025–2026 school year with the same spirit of excellence and community that has defined Floris all year long.
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
Another Successful Sixth Grade Musical
A huge congratulations to our talented 6th graders for an outstanding week of performances of The Little Mermaid! Students put on four wonderful shows—two for their fellow students and two for families—showcasing their hard work, creativity, and confidence on stage. We are incredibly proud of all they accomplished.
Special thanks and congratulations to our amazing Music Teachers, Steven Field and Danielle McLellan, whose dedication and leadership brought this production to life. We also extend our appreciation to our 6th grade teachers—Jessica Albright, Heiner Berrick, Christina Molitor, and Sarah Tisinger—for their support throughout the process. Together, they helped create a memorable experience for our students and community. Bravo to everyone involved!
Library Updates
As the school year comes to an end, please remember to return any library books that may still be at home. All library books were due on Wednesday, June 3rd.
Parents, we would appreciate your help in locating any overdue books. Please take a quick look in backpacks, on bookshelves, under beds, and even in the car for books that may have been overlooked.
Returning library books helps us get the library ready for next year and ensures that all students can continue to enjoy our collection. If you find any library books at home, please send them back to school as soon as possible. Thank you for your help and support!
If you believe a book has been lost, please contact Ms. Papas at mopapas@fcps.edu to discuss next steps. Thank you!
Summer Reading Adventure
The Fairfax County Public Library will be holding their Summer Reading Adventure again this year! Miss Mary from the Herndon Fortnightly Public Library visited Floris this week and told students about the program. Students earn badges for reading, which can be redeemed for prizes. All the information is available at https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/reading-challenges/summer-reading (or on the flyer that is attached). The program begins on June 17.
Fairfax Library Foundation 2026 Children’s Summer Reading Festival
The Fairfax County Public Library will kick off their summer reading program this Saturday, June 13th from 10:00 to 1:00 at the Fairfax Government Center. See here for more information and to get free tickets to the event.
Herndon Fortnightly will also be hosting many exciting programs this summer for all ages. Stay tuned for more information on this!
End of Year Spirit Week
Our Spirit Days continue tomorrow and next week. Here's a reminder about our upcoming days:
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Friday, June 12 – Double Trouble: Match outfits with a friend.
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Monday, June 15 – Destination Vacation: Wear an outfit inspired by your favorite vacation destination.
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Tuesday, June 16 – Pajama Day: Wear your favorite pajamas.
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Wednesday, June 17 – Summer Fun: Wear your best tropical attire to celebrate the start of summer break.
Medication Pick Up
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. 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.
Student Named 2026 Awardee in National America250 Contest
Congratulations to 5th grader Isabel Theodore! She has been selected as a 2026 awardee in @America250’s America’s Field Trip contest — a nationwide competition that asked students to answer the question, “What does America mean to you?” through writing or artwork, to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Isabel's poem was chosen from out of 10,000 entries as the first prize winner in the written category for Virginia, and is one of 125 First Prize winners across all 50 states, DC and the US territories. As part of her prize, she will be travelling this summer for an exclusive tour of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral and will get to meet one of our nation's astronauts.
Superintendent's Family Vision Group
Floris Families,
We are looking for one additional parent representative to serve on the Superintendent's Family Vision Group for the 2026–2027 school year. This group provides families with an opportunity to share perspectives and help strengthen communication and collaboration across FCPS.
Representatives are expected to attend six evening meetings throughout the school year (6:00–7:30 p.m.) and serve as a consistent voice for our Floris community. Because schools are required to maintain at least two active representatives, we are seeking one more volunteer to join our current representative.
If you are interested in serving in this role, please email me directly. Thank you for considering this opportunity to represent Floris and support our school community!
Dining Room Assistant Position Open
Floris Elementary is looking for a member of our community to join our team as a Dining Room Assistant for the 2026-27 school year.
Hours: 10:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on student attendance days
Position Description: The Dining Room Assistant helps create a positive and safe lunch experience for our students by:
- Assisting students during lunch periods
- Supervising student clean-up
- Maintaining expectations for cafeteria behavior
- Dismissing students to their teachers
This role works closely with a variety of staff members and interacts with students across all grade levels throughout the day.
Qualifications:
- Friendly and energetic
- Reliable and dependable
- Comfortable maintaining expectations and routines
- Enjoys working with children
This position plays an important role in the daily operation of our school and is a wonderful opportunity for a member of the Floris community to give back while working part-time during the school day.
If you are interested or would like to learn more, please contact Assistant Principal Rob Gibbs at ragibbs@fcps.edu.
Summer Immunization Events for All FCPS Students
Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, will be providing school-required immunizations this summer. Immunizations will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students or families. Registering families will be required to provide insurance information, if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate.
Visit the FCPS and Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events webpage for dates, times, and locations. Additional event dates will be made available and shared four to five weeks prior to the event on the webpage. Additional immunization resources are also available.
AAP Information
The Virginia Association for the Gifted (VA Gifted) has a list of summer enrichment programs, camps, and student scholarships designed to keep advanced learners engaged over the break.
While these activities are not officially vetted by FCPS, they are excellent options for families who are looking for summer extension opportunities.
2026 VA Gifted Enrichment Opportunities
If you are interested in learning more about the 4 levels of AAP services, please click on this link: Elementary School AAP Levels of Service.
If you should have any questions regarding AAP services, please reach out to Amy Albanese our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher here at Floris ES, or learn more about AAP on our Floris webpage!
Calendar Survey
FCPS values your input as we plan future school calendars. On Friday, June 5, all caregivers and FCPS staff received an email from noreply@fcps.edu containing a unique link to complete the FCPS Calendar Survey.
Your feedback matters. Please take a few minutes to share your priorities and perspectives by Monday, June 22, at 11:59 p.m.
Your individual responses will be kept confidential and will not be shared with school staff or used in any way that identifies you or your student. Only aggregate, summary-level results will be reported to the Fairfax County School Board.
If you do not receive a link to the survey or have technical difficulties completing the survey, please contact the FCPS Office of Research and Program Evaluation.
Summer Resources Help Students Stay Curious, Healthy, and Busy
The FCPS Summer Resource Guide has activities and tips on a variety of subjects and interests, from camps and activities to health and safety resources.
Be sure to check back over the summer, as more resources may be added.
Learning Doesn’t Take a Vacation and Neither Does Fun!
The FCPS Summer Learning webpage offers ideas and strategies for families to keep students curious until August. Summer is the perfect time to help your student explore new interests, reinforce concepts, and stay engaged!
Summer Meals for Students
Starting Monday, June 22, no-cost meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on-site while eating their meals.
This year, thanks to generous support from Educate Fairfax, families may also receive one no-cost breakfast and lunch per adult at the following elementary schools: Braddock, Dogwood, Glen Forest, Hutchison, Hybla Valley, and London Towne.
Summer sites will continue to be added, so check the Summer Food webpage regularly for updates.
End of Year/Summer Special Education and Section 504 Newsletter
View the latest issue of the FCPS Special Education and Section 504 Newsletter. Topics in this 2026 End of Year/Summer issue include:
- Celebrating 50 Years of IDEA
- A Year of Inclusion in FCPS
- Advancing Success for Twice-Exceptional (2e) Learners
- Extended School Year (ESY)
- Your Guide to a Fun and Inclusive Summer
- Play, Plan, Grow: Summer Activities for Executive Function
- Keep SEL Growing all Summer Long
- New Resources to Support Life after High School
- Make an Impact as a Special Education Teacher
- Fairfax County SEPTA News
Subscribe to the Special Education and Section 504 Newsletter.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
June 10-11: 6th Grade Musical Performances, 7:00
June 16: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:30am
June 17: Last Day of School
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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