🥁...because his students were so bright!

Dear Wonderful Navy Community,

We are less than a week away from the start of the school year, and the energy in the building is building! We have a few exciting updates to share:

• New Kindergarten Section: Due to exponential growth in late July and August, we have been awarded another section of Kindergarten! Our new classroom will likely begin with a dedicated long-term substitute for a brief period while we finalize staffing.

• New Upper Grades Enhanced Autism Teacher: We are thrilled to share that we have hired an incredible teacher to support our upper grades Enhanced Autism program.

• Teacher Welcome Emails: Just like last year, teachers will email families tomorrow to welcome students and provide details for Open House on Thursday and Friday.

A tremendous amount of thought, care, and input from both parents and teachers went into student placements this year. We cannot wait to welcome you back through our doors this week!

Your Joyous Admin Team
Jason, Barbara and Kim

SR&R Updates

We are excited for families, new and returning, to get to know one another. We’re asking that all families put some time and attention into the updates below as they represent a significant change across our school district. We all want students to start off on the right footing and maintain that balance as it allows us to be informed.

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. Please log on to your SIS ParentVUE account and sign to acknowledge review of this document OR sign and return the Signature Sheet to your child’s teacher.

Get a Head Start on Back-to-School Forms!

The start of the school year comes with several important forms that need to be completed for every student. To save time during Open House and the first week of school, we encourage families to log in to SIS ParentVUE and the Parent Digital Consent (PDC) System (same username and password that you use for SIS ParentVue) now and complete as many forms as possible. Many required forms, along with several optional permissions and resources, are available online. We've included a handy Back-to-School Parent Checklist below to help you keep track of everything in one place.

We also have everything listed out with detailed directions on our Navy Website on the Parent/Guardian Checklist for Attending Navy ES

Action Item: Three Hour Early Release

This year, we will have four 3-hour early release days, with students dismissing at 12:30 p.m. Our Navy staff will use these afternoons for team planning, professional development, and staff meetings.

Save the dates and plan ahead!

• October 21, 2026
• December 2, 2026
• February 10, 2027
• May 5, 2027

To help us prepare, all families need to complete the Google Form and select one plan for their child. The plan you choose will apply to all four early release days. You will need your child’s 7-digit student ID number and will indicate whether your child will:

• Dismiss at 12:30 p.m., or
• Remain at school until 3:30 p.m. due to a child care hardship.

After-school care: If your child normally attends after-school care, they will transition to their program at 12:30 p.m. This includes SACC and students who ride daycare buses.

We encourage families to save these dates and write down the option you select so you can easily remember your child’s early release plan throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Thank you for planning ahead and helping us ensure we have an accurate plan for every student!

Complete the Early Release Plan Form

Save the Date for our Open House

Ahoy, Navy Stars! We’re excited to kick off another school year with you. Join us for our Open House events to meet your child’s new teacher, connect with classmates, and drop off classroom materials. Let’s make this year shine like the stars you are!

📅 Thursday, August 20 – Grades K–3

• Kindergarten & EAC – 8:30–9:00 AM
• 2nd Grade – 9:30–10:00 AM
• 1st Grade – 10:30–11:00 AM
• 3rd Grade – 11:30 AM–12:00 PM

📅 Friday, August 21 – Grades 4–6

• 5th Grade – 9:00–9:30 AM
• 4th Grade – 10:00–10:30 AM
• 6th Grade – 11:00–11:30 AM

We can’t wait to see all our Navy Stars ready to set sail for a fantastic year ahead!

Asha Joythi 5K - Sign Up to Join Team Navy

• Event Details: Sunday Sept 20th, 2026. Fun Run at 8AM,  5K Run/Walk at 8:30AM  
• Location: 4250 Fairfax Corner Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030 
• Price:  Regular Prices (April, 2026 - Sept 8th, 2026): 
  • Fun Run (13 and under) - 25$ 
  • Fun Run (13+ years) - 30$
  • 5K Run/Walk (all ages) - 30$
  • All prices increases by 5$ Sept 8th 2026.

Sign Up to Join Team Navy

Kiss and Ride Updates

Kiss and Ride expectations for the 2026-2027 School Year. Most expectations will remain the same. One important change is parking on Thomson Road instead of using Kiss and Ride. I have a meeting with FCPD for signage that will be displayed specific to Thompson Rd parking that will prohibit parents from parking there and dropping off children. I am asking that our families refrain from parking on Thompson Rd. This is a dangerous practice that has students and parents walking through traffic in our parking lot.

Please see below for additional expectations.

Drop-Off (No Earlier than 8:25am)

All cars entering kiss and ride will drop their child off starting at door 5 and exit the school grounds by proceeding to West Ox Rd. Instead of dropping your child off at door 4 (normal kiss and ride door), you will now proceed straight through the kiss and ride line and exit school grounds on West Ox Rd. The exit to Thompson Rd. from the Navy parking lot will be coned off during arrival and dismissal times. We may let cars exit through Thompson Rd. when cars are backed-up on West Ox.

The kiss and ride line opens at 8:20AM. Doors to the school will be open at 8:25am each morning. If you arrive at school early, you are responsible for monitoring your child until 8:25am. The doors to Kiss and Ride close at 8:50am. If you arrive later than 8:50am, please bring your child to door 1 and check them in at the front office. The Kiss and Ride line will be closed and doors locked. 

Pick-Up 

Cars will line up starting at Exit 5. We will have adults to assist our students in locating cars. You will exit school grounds via West Ox Rd. 

Things to Avoid

• Avoid getting out of your car in the kiss and ride line
• Parking in school parking lots to pick up or drop off your child(ren) is not permitted. This will be monitored and upheld should any parents use school parking lots to drop off children.
• If you have a meeting scheduled in the morning, simply let the Kiss and Ride team know and they will provide access to the parking lot.

Walkers

Walkers will be dismissed through door 3. This is on the side of the school where the picnic tables are located. This will alleviate some moving parts at kiss and ride and support a safer dismissal experience for all kids. 

Please use the map as a visual reference to support this request! We hope our combined efforts will make pick-up and drop-off a safer and more efficient experience for everyone!

Thank you in advance!

Jason, Kim, and Barbara 

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.

Navy Parents for Digital Wellness Club

Join the brand-new Navy Parents for Digital Wellness club! We are a parent-led community dedicated to navigating technology together while prioritizing vibrant, screen-free outdoor activities for our kids and families.

Come hear our brief introduction at the Principal’s Coffee this September to learn about our mission. Then, bring the whole family to our Fall Outdoor Kickoff on October 17th at 3:00 p.m. on the Navy Playground for an afternoon of community connection and active fun.

Visit our official Navy Parents for Digital Wellness website to learn more about our club and the activities planned for the year!

Navy Parents for Digital Wellness

https://navydigitalwellness.lovable.app

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.

Study Help and Support Available to Students in Schoology

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. 

New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation SystemNew Student ID Cards Coming This Fall 

FCPS is launching a new bus navigation system, which includes student ID cards for students who ride the bus. Students will use the cards to tap on and off the bus, helping FCPS and families know exactly which students are riding which buses.

Learn more about the new system and how it will improve route efficiency, safety, and transparency with families. Check out the frequently asked questions for families.

Updated Cellphone Policy: Includes Smart Watches

Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.

Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.

This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.

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:

• View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
• Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
• 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.

August

• Aug 20 | Open House K-3 and EAC - Details above
• Aug 21 | Open House 4-6 - Details above
• Aug 24 | First Day of School

September

• Sept 4-7 | No School - Labor Day Break
• Sept 16 | Back to School Night K-3 - Details to come
• Sept 17 | Back to School Night 4-6 - Details to come
• Spet 21| No School - Yom Kippur
• Sept 24 | Fall Picture Day

Mrs. Benavides is looking for family volunteers in the mornings to shelve books or check books in and out. Please reach out to her if you're interested. debenavides@fcps.edu

Check it out and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

For your convivence, here is a customized printable Oakton Pyramid calendar that includes our four Wednesday 3 Hour Early Release days.

Quick Links:

• School Calendar
• FCPS Calendar
• PTO Website
• Lunch Menus
• Navy Parents for Digital Wellness

3500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22033  | Main Office: 703.262.7100

Attendance: 703.262.7171 | Web | Facebook | Instagram