Bailey’s Upper Families!

We are so excited to welcome you back to school in just a few days! It has been a wonderful summer filled with celebrating all that we accomplished last year and preparing for the year ahead.

We hope your summer included special time with family and opportunities to do the things that bring you joy! I was fortunate to spend a week at the beach with my family, and we had a blast. My daughter Madison is heading into sixth grade—middle school!—and Parker is heading into third grade. Like many of you, I am eagerly awaiting teacher assignments and schedules and looking forward to the start of a new school year!

Our theme this year is “Owning Your Excellence!” Every child at Bailey’s Upper is excellent, and we are committed to helping each student recognize and embrace that excellence. Through goal-setting and reflection, students will be able to see and celebrate their growth—both academically and emotionally.

You can expect to receive your child’s class placement and welcome letter by email during the week of August 17th. We have so many wonderful experiences planned for our students and families, and we cannot wait to get started!

Be sure to follow us on social media for a glimpse into our adventures throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaileysUpperElementary

YouTube: @BUpperFamilyCenter

Instagram: @BaileysUpperElementary

With excitement,

Bailey’s Upper Admin Team

💙Ms. Dowling

🧡Ms. Wayland 

🐯Ms. Wiley

🌎 Bailey’s Families Are Invited: Unity in the Community Day! 🎉

Join our Culmore community for the launch of the Culmore Community Health & Wellness Hub! Bring the whole family for an afternoon of FREE food and drinks, family fun and activities, games, entertainment, giveaways and prizes, and valuable community resources. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with local organizations and learn about services available to support your family.

📅 Monday, August 10, 2026
⏰ 4:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 Culmore United Methodist Church

3400 Charles Street, Falls Church, VA 22041 (across from CVS)

🎉 FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Come connect with neighbors, enjoy some family fun, and discover resources right here in our community. We hope to see many of our Bailey’s families there! 💙

We can't wait to welcome our new 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade families to Bailey's Upper! Join us for Open House to meet your teacher, explore the school, and get ready for an exciting new school year. We look forward to seeing you! 💙🧡

📅 Open House Information

• 🗓️ Thursday, August 20
• ⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
• 👨‍🎓 For Rising 3rd–5th Grade Students

📧 Classroom Placement Information

Parents will receive their child's classroom placement by email the week of August 17th. Be sure to check your inbox for your student's teacher assignment before Open House.

🚪 Staggered Arrival Times

To help provide a smooth experience for everyone, please arrive during your assigned time based on your student's LAST NAME:

• A–H: 9:00am
• I–P: 9:30am
• Q–Z: 10:00am

💙 If you're unable to attend during your assigned time, you're still welcome to join us anytime between 9:00–11:00 AM.

🚌 Bus Transportation Available

A shuttle bus will be available from Bailey's Primary to Bailey's Upper.

📍 Pick-Up Location: Bailey's Primary
⏰ Pick-Up Times: 8:40 AM, 9:25 AM, and 9:45 AM

We look forward to welcoming your family and kicking off another amazing year at Bailey's Upper! 🎉🐯

Help your child start the school year prepared! School supply lists are now available for each grade level. Simply use the link below to find your child's list and begin shopping.

📝 Click Here to See School Supply Lists by Grade

📦 Ordered a School Supply Kit?

If you purchased a school supply kit, no further action is needed! Your child's supplies will be delivered directly to their classroom and waiting for them on the first day of school.

❓Questions About Your School Supply Kit Order?

Please contact amy@campussurvivalkits.com for assistance with your order.

Our Family Liaisons are available to help you complete your required back-to-school forms. Stop by anytime during our support event—we're happy to answer questions and guide you through the process!

✅ We Can Help With:

• Emergency Care Form
• Health Information Form
• Digital Resource Consent Form
• Students' Rights & Responsibilities Form
• 3-Hour Early Release Dismissal Form
• PTA Membership Application

📅 Event Information

• 🗓️ Friday, August 21
• ⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• 📍 Bailey's Primary Family Center
  (Trailer between the green & red playgrounds)

We can't wait to welcome our Tigers back for another exciting school year! Please review the arrival times below to help ensure a smooth and successful start to the first day of school.

📅 First Day of School

• 🗓️ Monday, August 24

🐯 Bailey's Upper (Grades 3–5)

• 🚗 Drop-Off: 8:25–8:40 AM
• ⏰ Tardy Bell: 8:40 AM
• 🚗 Pick-Up: 3:25 PM-3:40 PM

💙 First Day Reminder

To help students settle into their classrooms, parents WILL NOT be permitted inside the building on the first day of school. We know the first day can bring lots of excitement (and a few nerves!), but our amazing teachers, staff, and administrators will be throughout the building ready to welcome, support, and guide every student to their classroom. Your child will be in caring hands from the moment they arrive.💙🧡

Looking for a fun way to get ready for the new school year? Families are invited to attend the Metro Transit Police Department's Annual Back-to-School Event! This free community event will feature school supplies, activities, entertainment, and resources for the whole family.

✨ Event Highlights

• ✂️ Free haircuts (while supplies last)
• 🎒 School supplies & giveaways (while supplies last)
• 🐐 Petting zoo
• 🏰 Moon bounces
• 🎨 Face painting
• 🍔 Free food & drinks
• 🎶 Live music
• 🎉 And so much more!

📅 Event Information

• 🗓️ Saturday, August 15, 2026
• ⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• 📍 Fort Totten Metro Station Parking Lot

As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready! 

☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at [email/phone number] if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Update Your Contact Information

Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts. 

☑️ Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. 

When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.

☑️ Learn About School Meals

Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.

☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:

• Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
• Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
• Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.

Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.

As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.

The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.

The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.

It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.

Simplify your back-to-school prep!

Download the FCPS mobile app to check school calendars, breakfast/lunch menus, and school contacts all in one place with no login required.

Plus, get quick access to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the bus app.

Download the FCPS mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, and make sure to subscribe to our school in the app settings.