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Aug 21- Kindergarten Playdate @ 8:30-9:00 AM
Aug 21- Open House @ 9:00-10:00 AM
Aug 24- First Day of School
Sept 2- Back to School Night @ 6:00 -7:30 PM
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Dear Washington Mill Families,
We are almost there! All of our teachers will be back in the building on Monday, and we have a full week ahead of us to prepare classrooms, plan together, and make sure we are completely ready to welcome our students and families back to Washington Mill.
There is always a special energy in the building when our entire staff returns. We are excited to spend this week putting the finishing touches on everything and preparing for a great first day on Monday, August 24.
Watch for an Email From Your Child's Teacher
On Wednesday, August 19, classroom teachers will email families to introduce themselves, welcome students to their class, and share information in preparation for Open House. We know finding out your teacher is an exciting moment, so be sure to watch your email on Wednesday!
Open House — Friday, August 21
We can't wait to welcome everyone to Open House on Friday, August 21, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Students will have an opportunity to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and begin reconnecting with friends and our Washington Mill community.
Kindergarten families: Our kindergarten play date will take place on the playground from 8:30–9:00 a.m., immediately before Open House. At 9:00, families can head inside to visit classrooms and meet teachers.
Be First-Day Ready
The first day of school is Monday, August 24. Our school day is 8:35 a.m.–3:20 p.m., with arrival beginning at 8:20 a.m.
As we get closer to the first day, please take some time to review transportation plans, update important information in ParentVUE, and make sure your child is ready for a great start.
New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation System
FCPS is launching a new bus navigation system this year, including new student ID cards for students who ride the bus. Students will use their cards to tap on and off the bus, providing FCPS and families with better information about which students are riding which buses. FCPS will continue to share additional information with families as the new system is implemented.
Stay Connected With FCPS
The FCPS mobile app is a convenient place to access school calendars, daily meal menus, ParentVUE, Schoology, MySchoolBucks, and other frequently used FCPS resources.
We are incredibly excited about the week ahead. Our staff is ready to get back together, and before we know it, our hallways will be filled with students again!
Enjoy the final week of summer, and we'll see you Friday at Open House!
Every Voice. Every Strength. Every Student.
Brad Bennink, Tara Pensiero, and Jasmine Piernas
WMES Admin Team
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Please complete Kiss & Ride form using this link for each student who will use Kiss & Ride at Washington Mill Elementary School this year. Parents will receive a number for their vehicle's rear-view mirror. We will distribute these vehicle numbers as soon as they are ready. For any questions or concerns regarding Kiss & Ride, please contact Jasmine Piernas at jmpiernas@fcps.edu or 703-619-2500. |
We’re excited to welcome our newest Wolves and their families to our Kindergarten Play Date before Open House! Join us on Friday, August 21, from 8:30–9:00 a.m. on the school playground for a fun opportunity to meet classmates, make new friends, and get comfortable before the first day of school.
After the play date, families are invited to head inside at 9:00 a.m. for Open House, where you'll meet your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, and learn more about the exciting school year ahead.
We can’t wait to welcome our newest Washington Mill Elementary families! Be sure to check out the flyer below for more details.
Washington Mill Elementary is excited to welcome our students and families to Open House on Friday, August 21, from 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Open House is a wonderful opportunity for students to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and become familiar with their new learning environment before the first day of school. Families will also have the chance to connect with staff, ask questions, and begin building strong partnerships that support student success throughout the year.
We look forward to welcoming everyone as we kick off another great school year—together, we grow, learn, and lead! Please see the flyer below for additional details.
Join us for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Washington Mill Elementary! This in-person event is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with teachers and learn about the exciting year ahead.
During the evening, teachers will share important information about classroom routines, daily schedules, curriculum, school supplies, student supports, and ways families can partner with us to ensure a successful school year. Whether you're new to Washington Mill or returning for another great year, Back to School Night is an important opportunity to build strong home-school connections.
We look forward to seeing you as we work together to help every student grow, learn, and lead. Please see the flyer below for additional details.
Join the Mount Vernon community for Pyramid Schools Night at the Mount Vernon High School Varsity Football Game on Friday, August 28, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mount Vernon High School Stadium!
All Mount Vernon Pyramid students in grades K–8 receive FREE admission when accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket. During halftime, students from each Pyramid school will be recognized as they participate in a special Spirit Walk on the track.
Come out to show your school spirit, connect with families from across the Mount Vernon Pyramid, and help cheer on the Majors as they take on Hayfield. We look forward to seeing our Washington Mill Wolves and their families for a fun evening of community and school pride! Please see the flyer below for additional details.
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 703-619-2507 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.
¡Estamos entusiasmados por recibir a todos de vuelta en la escuela!
Mientras el verano llega a su fin, nosotros nos preparamos para darles la bienvenida a los estudiantes en nuestros salones de clase. ¡Revise esta lista para que se asegure de que su niño está listo para el primer día!!
☑️ Inscríbase en SIS ParentVUE
Tenga acceso a los récords de asistencia, calificaciones y tareas asignadas a su estudiante, cuando lo necesite a través de SIS ParentVUE. Contacte al registrador de la escuela llamando al 703-619-2507 si necesita un código de activación. Conozca más sobre SIS ParentVUE.
Actualice su información de contacto
¡Asegúrese de que pueda recibir información que es importante! Actualice sus números telefónicos y direcciones email haciendo clic en “Mi Cuenta” y revisando lo que aparece en la sección “Verificación/Actualización Online”. En este formulario, usted también puede actualizar los récords de vacunación, la información de salud y los contactos de emergencia.
☑️ Revise las Vacunas y los Récords de Vacunación
Las vacunas son obligatorias para todos los estudiantes que van a la escuela en Virginia. Este es un paso importante para protegerlos de ciertas enfermedades y mantenerlos saludables.
Cuando le ponga alguna vacuna a su niño, recuerde pedir una copia de su récord de vacunación y entréguela en la oficina principal de la escuela o envíela a través de SIS ParentVUE lo más pronto que le sea posible. Encuentre más información en la página web de FCPS.
☑️ Conozca más sobre las Comidas Escolares
Las familias deben darles dinero a sus estudiantes para comprar comidas en la escuela o enviarles un almuerzo preparado en casa. Como alternativa, pueden solicitar los beneficios de comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido, sujetos a aprobación.
☑️ Ponga el Calendario del Año Escolar en sus Favoritos
Asegúrese de poner en sus favoritos el calendario del año escolar de FCPS para que esté al tanto de los días feriados escolares, las vacaciones y las fechas especiales religiosas y culturales:
- Los días marcados con una “H” azul, son feriados para los estudiantes. Las escuelas estarán cerradas esos días.
- Los días marcados con una “O” naranja son días de observancia religiosa y cultural (o tardes, si solamente se marca medio día). Habrá clases esos días, pero ciertos eventos que no puedan reprogramarse, podrían no realizarse esos días.
- Los días marcados con las letras TW, SD, y SP en color rosa son feriados para los estudiantes, pero son días de trabajo para maestros y personal escolar.
Por favor, note que algunos días feriados o fechas especiales como Eid al Fitr, podrían cambiar y el calendario sería ajustado.
A new Schoology Study and Support Hub is available for students in Schoology. This space was developed by the FCPS Educational Technology Team with input from students. It is designed to provide essential study tools and academic support resources directly to our learners.
Students can log in to Schoology and read their Schoology announcements or watch this video on the support hub for more information
Building a Brighter Future, Together: FCPS Family Academy
The FCPS Family Academy is where families can learn and get support for their child’s school journey.
We know that parents and caregivers are critically important in their child’s education. The Family Academy lists classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. The Family Academy also includes information about resources available to help every family ensure their child has what they need to succeed.
Visit the Family Academy webpage. Check out its catalog for upcoming classes, workshops, and webinars to help families learn about FCPS, parenting, early literacy, and how to partner with schools.
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All Your FCPS Links in One Spot
There are a lot of school and FCPS webpages to bookmark, but the FCPS mobile app serves as your central hub!
Check daily meal menus and calendars with no login required, or use one-tap quick links to launch SIS ParentVUE, Schoology, and MySchoolBucks.
Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store..
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Is WhatsApp one of the ways you stay connected with family, friends, and your community? Now you can use it to stay connected with FCPS, too.
Follow the new FCPS WhatsApp Channel for helpful information and reminders throughout the school year, including important announcements, upcoming dates, tips for families, and more.
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FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number has been reduced from eight to four days.
Dedicated time for planning and professional development is essential to maintain instructional quality. It also creates opportunities for staff to focus on at-risk students, including those with high absenteeism, through targeted interventions and support. Additionally, this initiative helps address the disparity in planning time between elementary teachers and their middle and high school counterparts (300 minutes elementary vs. 450 minutes middle and high).
- Elementary school staff are expected to deliver high-quality, personalized instruction in math, reading, writing, social studies, and science while staying current with research-based best instructional practices.
- Providing an excellent education to all students and meeting individual student needs requires dedicated and appropriate planning time for teachers.
- A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff will lead to better educational outcomes for students.
- On early release Wednesdays, elementary teachers will have 1.5 individual hours of teacher-directed planning time and 1.5 hours of school-directed professional development.
- The three-hour early release will not impact the state mandated number of instructional hours but will reduce the amount of built in snow days.
- We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home (bus, walk, kiss and ride) on early dismissal days.
- While these are designated as early release days, where necessary, we will ensure that every student has supervised activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for families.
- SACC will support supervision of students currently enrolled in their Aftercare Program during the three-hour early release.
Dates for Early Release Wednesdays Early release Wednesdays will start in late October 2026. Each elementary school will have a total of four early release days throughout the school year. Lunch will be provided on early release Wednesdays.
Early release Wednesdays for elementary schools in the Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Hayfield, Justice, Lewis, Mount Vernon, Oakton, Robinson, South County, Westfield, and West Potomac pyramids:
- October 21
- December 2
- February 10
- May 5
Additional Resources
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Stay connected with the Washington Mill PTA
Our Linktree page (https://linktr.ee/washmillpta) is your one-stop hub for everything happening in our PTA community! From volunteer opportunities to upcoming events and important resources, it’s updated regularly—so check back often as new ways to get involved are always being added.
Don’t miss out—be sure to sign up to receive the PTA newsletter for the latest updates, reminders, and ways to support our amazing Wolf community!
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In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- New Student Device Requirements
- Math Textbooks
- Football Game Safety Measures
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
QUICK LINKS
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