Hollin Meadows Buzz Bulletin for August 1, 2026 🐝

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A Message from Principal Crews

🐝 Gearing Up for an Amazing School Year at Hollin Meadows! 🐝

Dear Hornet Families,

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! While many of our students are soaking up these last weeks of vacation, our Hollin Meadows team is hard at work preparing for another fantastic school year.

Our custodial team has been working diligently throughout the summer to deep clean classrooms, hallways, and common spaces so that our building is clean, safe, and welcoming for all students and staff. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication as they help get our school ready for another successful year.

As we get closer to the first day of school, please mark your calendars for these important upcoming events:

• Sunday, August 9 I 9:00-11:00 a.m. – Get 2 Green Community Clean-Up Join us as we help beautify the front of our school and prepare our campus for the new year.
• Friday, August 21 I 12-1:30 p.m – Open House & Block Party Come meet your child's teacher, reconnect with friends, and celebrate the start of a new school year together.
• Sunday, August 23 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. – Popsicles on the Playground All Hornets are invited to enjoy a sweet treat, play together, and welcome new and returning families.
• Monday, August 24 – First Day of School We can't wait to welcome our Hornets back at 8:05 a.m. for an exciting year of learning and growth! 
• Tuesday, September 15 | 5:00–7:00 p.m. – Back-to-School Night Families are invited to learn more about their child's classroom, curriculum, and the exciting year ahead.

We are looking forward to another year of learning, growing, and celebrating together as one Hornet family. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!

With Hornet Pride,

Jasibi Crews

Principal

Hollin Meadows Elementary School

⭐ Back to School Open House 🏫

HMES School Supply Lists

✏️ Are you ready to go shopping for school supplies? You can see the list for each grade level on the HMES School Supply List webpage.

The HMES PTA has some great events planned! Please mark your calendars for the following events: Popsicles on the Playground with the PTA will be on August 23 for all families in grades K-6. More information will be shared soon! Fall Club registration will be from Sept. 7-21, 2026.  The Taste of Hollin Meadows PTA meeting will be on Sept. 23 at 6:00 p.m. You can learn more about the PTA by visiting the HMES PTA website.

ALX South Block Party 🎉

📅 Saturday, August 22, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

📍 Bryant High School (2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306)

🎟 FREE Admission 

Register for event for chance to win a free iPad! (Must be present to win)

Get ready for South Alexandria's biggest community celebration! The ALX South Block Party is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the people, businesses, and organizations that make the Richmond Highway corridor and southeast Fairfax County such a vibrant place to live, work, and play.

Spend the afternoon enjoying live entertainment, delicious food from local food trucks, interactive activities for all ages, local vendors, community organizations, giveaways, raffles, and much more.

Hosted by United Community in partnership with local businesses, community organizations, and neighbors, the ALX South Block Party is more than just a celebration—it's an opportunity to strengthen community connections while supporting local families. Proceeds from sponsorships, raffle sales, and donations benefit United Community's programs serving neighbors experiencing food insecurity, financial hardship, and other challenges.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Live Entertainment
• Food Trucks & Local Eats
• Local Vendors & Small Businesses
• Family Fun Zone
• Health & Wellness
• Raffles & Giveaways

This community gathering is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, including Atlantic Union Bank, Spectra Credit Union, Lions Club International, 495 95 395 Express Lanes (operated by Transurban), NVAR Cares, U.S. Dermatology Partners, and Sentara Health Plans 

Contact Cecilia Fix at cecilia.fix@unitedcommunity.org for more information.

Fiesta Comunitaria ALX South 🎉

📅 Sábado, 22 de agosto de 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

📍 Escuela Secundaria Bryant (2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306)

🎟 Entrada GRATUITA

¡Regístrese para el evento y participe para ganar un iPad gratis!

¡Prepárese para la celebración comunitaria más grande del sur de Alexandria! La Fiesta Comunitaria ALX South es un evento gratuito y familiar que celebra a las personas, las empresas y las organizaciones que hacen del corredor de Richmond Highway y el sureste del condado de Fairfax un lugar tan vibrante para vivir, trabajar y divertirse.

Pase la tarde disfrutando de entretenimiento en vivo, deliciosa comida de camiones de comida locales, actividades interactivas para todas las edades, vendedores locales, organizaciones comunitarias, obsequios, rifas y mucho más.

Organizada por United Community en asociación con empresas locales, organizaciones comunitarias y vecinos, la Fiesta Comunitaria ALX South es más que una simple celebración: es una oportunidad para fortalecer las conexiones comunitarias mientras se apoya a las familias locales. Los ingresos de patrocinios, ventas de rifas y donaciones benefician a los programas de United Community que sirven a los vecinos que experimentan inseguridad alimentaria, dificultades financieras y otros desafíos.

QUÉ ESPERAR:

• Entretenimiento en Vivo
• Camiones de Comida y Comidas Locales
• Vendedores Locales y Pequeñas Empresas
• Zona de Diversión Familiar
• Salud y Bienestar
• Rifas y Obsequios

Esta reunión comunitaria es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de nuestros patrocinadores, incluidos Atlantic Union Bank, Spectra Credit Union, Lions Club International, 495 95 395 Express Lanes (operado por Transurban), NVAR Cares, U.S. Dermatology Partners y Sentara Health Plans.

Para más información, comuníquese con Cecilia Fix en cecilia.fix@unitedcommunity.org.

Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-27

FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four. 

Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students. 

Please view the dates for our school’s early release Wednesdays below:

• October 21
• December 2
• February 10
• May 5

Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.

Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

With the app, you can:

• View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
• Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
• Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.

New ParentVUE Mobile App

On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app became available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.

New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall 

This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school. 

Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.

All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.

Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.

Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals. 

Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. 

The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.

Meals for Students Available Through August 21No-cost meals will be provided to students on a first-come, first-served basis through Friday, August 21, at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on site while eating their meals.

Give Your Kids a Strong Start: Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs 

FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children ages 6 weeks to 4 years living in Fairfax County with economic and educational risk factors. 

• The pre-K program prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30. 

• Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and parents/guardians of children 6 weeks to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. However, space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail (printable application), or in person at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

Programas para Pre-K y de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia 

Los programas para Pre-K y de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia proveen experiencias educativas tempranas de alta calidad a niños que califiquen para ellos, que enfrenten factores de riesgos económicos y educacionales, que estén entre las edades de 6 semanas a 4 años, y que vivan en el Condado de Fairfax. 

• Los programas para Pre-K priorizan aquellos solicitantes de 4 años de edad, pero también acepta solicitudes para niños que cumplan 3 años antes del 30 de septiembre del mismo año.
• Los programas de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia están ubicados en tres escuelas primarias; Clearview, Crestwood y Dogwood, y acepta solicitudes de cupo desde el embarazo y hasta los 2 años de edad.

Animamos a las familias a solicitar cupos lo más pronto posible; el espacio es limitado y se otorga basado en el nivel de necesidad, no en el orden de llegada.

Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma online, por email, por correo, o en persona en la oficina del programa en la dirección 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.  

Si tiene preguntas acerca del proceso de solicitud o sobre el estatus del suyo, por favor llame en inglés al 703-208-7900, o en español al 703-208-7901.

The Hollin Meadows Leadership Team 

The Hollin Meadows team is dedicated to making our school a safe and supportive place to learn for your child. We know that the best results come from families and our school team working together. Since you often hear about your child’s day-to-day experiences before we do, please reach out with questions or concerns that you may have.

• Principal Jasibi Crews is our school leader. She is available for questions and concerns by email at jcrews1@fcps.edu. 
• Assistant Principal Francesca Gilley (flgilley@fcps.edu) is the team leader for Pre-kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 4, and Grade 6.
• Assistant Principal Daniel Seidenberg (dpseidenberg@fcps.edu) is the team leader for Grade 1, Grade 3, and Grade 5.

AP Gilley and AP Seidenberg both work with the Kindergarten team.

Hollin Meadows Important Times Arrive on campus: 8:00 am Doors Open: 8:05 am Tardy Bell: 8:20 am Dismissal Bell: 3:05 pm Main Office Hours: 7:45 am to 4:00 pm

FCPS Cares FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our Hollin Meadows staff members.

Quick Links

Hollin Meadows Attendance Information

FCPS Breakfast and Lunch Menus

FCPS Calendars

FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC)

2310 Nordok Place, Alexandria, VA 22306  |  Phone: 703.718.8300

Attendance: 703.718.8383 or HollinMeadowsESAttendance@fcps.edu

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