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Terra Centre Families,
What a fantastic turnout for Open House! We loved seeing our TC families back together and filling the school with so much great energy. We also want to send a huge thank you to our incredible PTA for a delicious kick-off breakfast earlier this week!
We are so excited to welcome your students back for a wonderful school year! As we prepare to learn and grow together, please review a few key details about our first day and an important district technology update.
The First Day of School
We can’t wait to see everyone back in the building!
- Elementary Students
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Early Childhood
First-Day Arrival Guidelines:
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Transportation: We recommend your child arrive on Day 1 using their standard daily routine (bus, walk, or car).
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Doors Open Early: Doors open at 8:20 AM on the first day (normal arrival begins at 8:30 AM).
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Escorting Students: Families are welcome to walk their child to their classroom door. To help classes start smoothly, please remain outside the classroom doorway.
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Photos: Please take all first-day photos before entering the school building.
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Start Time: The morning bell rings at 8:40 AM, and instruction begins immediately. Please build in extra time for hugs and goodbyes before the bell!
Important Technology Update ("Off and Away")
To help keep our classrooms focused, connected, and engaging, Fairfax County Public Schools is implementing Virginia’s state policy regarding cell phones and smart devices (including smartwatches and earbuds), which is reflected in the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities.
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The Policy: All personal smart devices (phones, smartwatches, earbuds) must be turned off and away during the entire school day.
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What This Means: Upon arrival, students must store their devices inside their backpacks. Devices will remain off and in backpacks until dismissal.
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How You Can Help: Please review these expectations with your child before the first day. Choosing a specific, secure backpack pocket where devices "sleep" during the day is a great strategy to practice together!
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Thank you so much for your continued partnership and support. Please scroll down for additional updates, and let's get ready for a fantastic year ahead!
Warmly,
Rebecca Gidoni, Principal
Meghan Ehrman, Assistant Principal
TC News & Reminders
A huge thank you to School Board Member Tom Dannan for visiting Terra Centre last week! 🏫✨
Mr. Dannan stopped by to recognize our amazing custodial team for their tireless work getting the building ready for the school year. He brought treats for the team, beautiful flowers for Ana to celebrate her promotion to Building Supervisor, and even jumped right in to help prepare classroom desks!
Thank you, Mr. Dannan, for your incredible support of our Terra Centre team!
Kindergarten Popsicles on the Playground
A big thank you to our amazing PTA for hosting Kindergarten Popsicles on the Playground earlier this week! Such a fun way to cool down and make new friends. 🍦 Playtime, popsicles, and new friendships!
26-27 Terra Centre School Hours & Information
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Main Office Hours
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M – F
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8:00 – 4:00
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All K-6 Students
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M – F
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8:40 – 3:25
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PreK Inclusion
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M – F
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8:40 – 3:25
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PAC Students
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T, Th
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8:40 – 12:00
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PAC Students
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M, W, F
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8:40 – 3:25
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AM ECCB Preschool
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M – F
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8:40 – 12:00
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PM ECCB Preschool
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M – F
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12:05 – 3:25
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For the complete bell schedule, visit the Terra Centre website.
Main Office Phone Number
703-249-1400
Health Room Phone Number
703-249-1410
Report an Absence
Parents and caregivers have the option to submit their student’s attendance directly through ParentVUE starting the first day of school. ParentVUE offers a more secure and reliable platform for managing students' attendance information. How to Report an Absence Through ParentVUE
Alternatively, families may call the Terra Centre Attendance Line at 703-249-1414 or email: TerraCentreESAttendance@fcps.edu
Pick Up Patrol – New Dismissal System
As we get ready for the start of school, we wanted to send a quick reminder about PickUp Patrol, our system for managing student dismissal plans and changes. Registration information was previously sent to families.
How It Works
Your child’s regular dismissal plan is entered in PickUp Patrol as their Default Plan. If your child’s dismissal plan changes on a particular day, please submit the change through PickUp Patrol. The school and your child’s teacher will be notified of the change so we can make sure your child gets where they need to go safely.
Before School Starts
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Register: If you haven’t already done so, please use the registration email previously sent on August 14, 2026, to set up your PickUp Patrol account.
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Confirm Your Default Plan: Log in and make sure your child’s regular dismissal plan is accurate. This is an important step in helping us ensure a safe and smooth dismissal each day.
- PickUp Patrol is free and can be accessed from a smartphone or computer. It is a web-based app and is not downloaded through an app store.
Dismissal Changes
Please use Pick-Up Patrol to report dismissal changes. Reference the Pick-Up Patrol Parent Guide for additional information.
First Week Reminder
During the first week of school, we will accept dismissal changes by note, email, or phone as families get accustomed to the system. Beginning August 31, all dismissal changes should be submitted through PickUp Patrol.
Thank you for helping us make dismissal safe, accurate, and efficient!
Student Arrival-Dismissal-Transportation
Students are considered bus riders or walkers. Kiss and Ride is a courtesy service. We encourage all families to use their designated transportation.
ARRIVAL:
Students may not be dropped off before 8:30 a.m. There is NO supervision prior.
- Parking Lot is closed 8:20-8:40
- At 8:30 a.m. students may walk to their classroom.
- Students arriving after 8:40 a.m. are tardy and will need to be walked in by their parent to sign in at the main office (Door 1).
DISMISSAL:
- Parking Lot is closed 3:15-3:45
- Dismissal begins at 3:25 pm.
- All preschool and kindergarten students must be met by an adult
- Kiss and ride is organized by numbers assigned to families.
STUDENT ENTRY/EXIT DOORS:
- Door 1
- Bus Riders Preschool - 6th grade
- Walkers 1st-6th grade
- Gym
- Preschool and Kindergarten Walkers
- Door 8
- Kiss and Ride Preschool - 6th grade
Walkers
If your child will be walking to school, we encourage you to walk with your child(ren) to ensure familiarity with the route. Walkers must use designated paths or sidewalks.
Bus Riders
We recommend having your child ride the bus on the first day of school when extra provisions are in place to help students learn bus routines and bus numbers.
- Bus stops and route information are available on ParentVUE.
- Arrive at the bus stop 5 – 10 minutes early.
- In the afternoon, buses will typically depart school at 3:30 p.m.
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Preschool and kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop each afternoon by a parent, parent designee, or a responsible middle school or older sibling. That person must ask for the child by name at the door of the bus. Otherwise, the student will be returned to the main office at Terra Centre.
- For more information about bus transportation, visit the FCPS Transportation webpage.
- If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report.
- Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7000 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
- To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
Kiss & Ride
All students in FCPS are either designated as bus riders or walkers. Kiss & Ride is a courtesy service that we provide for parents. Please follow the guidelines below if you choose to drive your child to and from school.
- Kiss and Riders will receive numbered car tags to support student pick up at dismissal.
- If you are returning to Terra Centre, please use your assigned number and hangtag from last year.
- If you are a new family and indicated Kiss & Ride as your default transportation on Pick-Up Patrol, you will be issued a number and hangtag.
- Use the Kiss and Ride lane on Burke Centre Parkway, rather than neighborhood streets. This helps to ensure the safety of all students, including our student walkers who are utilizing the paths and streets behind the school.
- Kiss & Ride is open 8:20-8:40 in the morning and 3:25-3:40 in the afternoon.
- All car riders must be dropped off and picked up in the Kiss & Ride lane during arrival/dismissal. Parents must stay in the car and children must exit on the right side of the vehicle (closest to the curb).
- If you arrive after 8:40 and Kiss & Ride is closed, you must park in the main parking lot and accompany your child to the main office.
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When entering Kiss & Ride, please follow Marshall Pond Road to Pond Spice Lane to Burke Centre Parkway and follow the entire loop to exit on to Burke Centre Parkway.
- Please avoid U-turns at the intersection of Pond Spice Lane and Burke Centre Parkway.
Calendar Reminders
First Day of School
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Monday, August 24, is the first day of school for K-6 students and PAC preschool students.
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Thursday, August 27, is the first day of school for PreK and ECCB preschool students.
- View the 2026-27 school year calendar for additional important dates.
Labor Day Holiday
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Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 - no school
Back to School Night for Preschool - 6th Grade
- Session 1: 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
- Session 2: 6:45 - 7:30 p.m. (repeat of session 1)
- Learn about your child's grade level, classroom expectations, and the exciting year ahead!
Limited Early Release Wednesdays for Elementary Schools
- This year there will only be 4 Early Release Wednesdays.
- The dates for these 3 hour early release days are:
- October 21
- December 2
- February 10
- May 5
FCPS News
In Case You Missed It
In FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Student ID Cards for Bus Riders
- Get Ready for Day One With the FCPS App!
- Learn About School Meals
- Managing Technology at Home
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Resources
Families needing support (food assistance, school supplies, fee sponsored activities, mental health support, etc.) can reach out to a member of our clinical team. All requests are confidential. Our clinical team members are always available to support TC families with Fairfax County resource information.
David Lammon- School Counselor
Ivy Jun- School Counselor
Laurel Hanlon- School Social Worker
Emily Oliver- School Psychologist
Erika G. Bunin- Family Liaison
☎️ Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
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