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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer! With the start of the new school year just around the corner, our staff at Great Falls Elementary has been busy preparing for an exciting and successful 2026–2027 school year. We can't wait to welcome back our returning Roadrunners and extend a warm welcome to the many new students and families joining our school community.
🍦New Family Playdate🍦
Wednesday, August 19 on the playground
9:30 - 10:00 Montessori Preschool Families
10:00 - 11:00 New Families
🏫GFES Open House🏫
Thursday, August 20
11:00 - 11:30: Montessori Preschool Families
12:00 - 12:45: Families with last names A – L
1:00 - 1:45: Families with last names M – Z
Come visit, meet your teacher(s), and drop off school supplies!
Supply lists can be found on our website.
🚌First Day of School🚌
Monday, August 24
📚Back to School Nights📚
Tuesday, September 1
(For Parents/CareGivers Only)
Tuesday, September 1, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades K, 1, 2, 3)
Wednesday, September 2, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades 4, 5 & 6)
** Montessori and JIP classrooms will have times sent by teacher **
📅Labor Day Break📅
Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2026-2027
🎒Early Release Wednesday🎒
Great Falls ES will release students at 12:35 pm. As we continue to focus on attendance at Great Falls ES, we hope you will consider making doctor and other appointments on these afternoons when possible.
September 30
November 18
January 13
April 7
FCPS has created this webpage to provide detailed information about the 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:
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View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
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Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
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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 App Launching July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become 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.
🩹 Health Room - Medication Drop-Off
The school health room will be open for medication drop-off during the week before the first day of school at the following times:
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Tuesday, August 18 | 1:00–3:30 PM
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Wednesday, August 19 | 1:00–3:30 PM
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Thursday, August 20 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
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Friday, August 21 | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Medications may also be dropped off during Open House; however, we strongly encourage families to use the times listed above to avoid long wait times. Please remember that all medications must be accompanied by the required forms, which can be found here.
🍔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 21
No-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.
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