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Upcoming Laurel Ridge Events
Thursday, August 13 - Welcome New Lions event (see below)
Friday, August 21 - Open House (see below)
Monday, August 24 - First Day of School!
Thursday, September 17 - Back to School Night (see below)
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Principal's Message
Greetings Laurel Ridge Families,
Excitement is building at Laurel Ridge as we prepare to welcome staff, students, and families to the 2026-2027 school year. If you are ready to get a jump on Back to School shopping, please check the Laurel Ridge Supply Lists. Families will receive an email from the school by Wednesday, August 19th, to inform you of your child’s teacher. We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House and the PTA Activities Fair on Friday, August 21st. Kindergarten Open House will run from 9:00 – 10:00 so that our newest Lions can safely navigate the hallways. Grades 1-6 Open House will run from 10:00 – 11:00. The PTA Activities Fair will be set up on the blacktop by the playground.
As you enjoys these next few weeks of summer, you may notice a mix of emotions in your children as they prepare to transition to a new school year. Please reassure your children that these feelings are completely normal, and our dedicated staff is ready with open arms to make sure every single Lion feels safe, supported, and ready to roar from day one!
Megan Counts
Laurel Ridge Principal
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Save the Dates
Kindergarten Open House: Friday, August 21st, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
We are excited to welcome our kindergarten lions to visit their classrooms and meet their teachers when the school is a little bit quieter than the traditional Open House. Popsicles will be served on the front porch following classroom visits.
Open House Grades 1 - 6: Friday, August 21st, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Our in-person Open House opportunity will help our families prepare for the new year and learn more about their child’s classroom teacher. Students will be provided an opportunity to see their classrooms and begin developing positive relationships as a classroom community. Popsicles will be served on the front porch following classroom visits.
Back to School Night: Thursday, September 17th 6:00 – 8:00 pm
These sessions are an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn about grade level curriculum, classroom procedures, schoolwide expectations, and more.
- 6:00 – 6:45 pm: Kindergarten – 6th grade (Session 1)
- 7:00 – 7:45 pm: Kindergarten – 6th grade (Session 2) This session will be a repeat of Session 1 for families who have more than one child.
From the PTA
Welcome New Lions Event 8/13
The LRES PTA is happy to offer an informational session and a tour of our school for our new LRES lions. We'll answer your questions on everything from setting up a cafeteria account, to drop-off and pick-up procedures, and more. This event is good for all students new to Laurel Ridge: all kindergartners, as well as any students from all grade levels who are new to the school. Please pick just one session - either at 4:00pm or 6:00pm. Both sessions will cover the same content. Siblings are welcome.
RSVP at: https://grasshoppersignup.com/respond/68b20b3a-3c44-4544-8f50-ac9e39047c27
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Back-to-School Checklist
We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!
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 703-426-3700 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.
New Student ID Cards Coming for
Bus Riders This Fall
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.
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Get Ready for the New School Year With the FCPS App! 📱
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.
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New Menu Platform
Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform
Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using MealViewer:
- View what is being served each day.
- View the nutritional information for each meal.
- See if any specific allergens are being served.
- Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.
Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Immunizations
Back-to-School Immunization Requirements
Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your healthcare provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Where to Receive Immunizations
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents/guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster.
Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.
SR&R Updates
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
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