Falcon Flyer: August 17th, 2026

August 17th, 2026


Flint Hill Updates


Good Afternoon Flint Hill Families,

Today was the beginning of a wonderful first week back for FHES staff. The school is already buzzing with positive energy. The classrooms are beginning to come alive and we are so eager to welcome students.

Welcome letters from teachers will be emailed to families on Wednesday, August 19th at 3:30 pm.

Be sure to save the date on Friday, August 24th from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm for our Open House. The PTA and other organizations will also be present to share information with families. Be sure to check out the new PTA Spirit Wear offerings for the new year!

After Open House, head over to the playground for a sweet treat—popsicles on the playground, courtesy of the PTA! It’s a great chance to relax, catch up with old friends, and meet new ones as we kick off the school year together. We hope to see you there!

Also mark your calendars for more opportunities to connect with FHES.

  • Saturday, August 22nd
    • Courtyard Clean-up! 8:00 am - 12:00 pm (more details below)
  • Sunday, August 23rd
    • Kindergarten Playdate 3:00 pm

On Friday, I will share another newsletter for families with more beginning of the year information including kiss and ride directions, 1st day kindergarten procedures and more information to help you start the year.

Kindly,

 

Mr. Montaquila, Principal

Mr. Baker, Assistant Principal


Back-to-School Checklist

summer school

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 [email/phone number] if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere! 

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.


School Supply Kit Pickup at Open House

pencil

Families who ordered a school supply kit through the FHES PTA can pick up their supplies during this year’s Open House. Pickup will begin at 10:30 AM in the gym, giving families a head start before Open House officially begins at 11:00 AM.

Important Pickup Details:

  • Families may enter through the side gym doors beginning at 10:30 AM.
  • The main school building will remain closed until 11:00 AM, when Open House begins.
  • Kits will be organized by grade level and student name to make pickup quick and easy.
  • When you arrive, please complete a short pickup form before getting in line.
  • Any kits not claimed during Open House will be available afterward for pickup from the Front Office.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House and helping our Falcons start the year stocked and ready!


Courtyard Clean-up Day! 8/22/26

Join us on Saturday, August 22nd from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm to help get the FHES courtyard ready for another year of outdoor learning! 

Courtyard

Come out to help with jobs both big and small.

  • Weeding
  • Pruning
  • Mulching
  • And much more!

Attendees will receive popsicles and a special FHES gift!


Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Please use the routes and locations marked below for arrival and dismissal.

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:35 am to ensure their safety and supervision.  Students should be in their classroom when the second bell rings at 8:50 am.  

We begin our dismissal process at 3:30 pm and all students are on their way home no later than 3:35 pm. Crossing guards will be located at the corners of Flint Hill Rd/Vale Rd. as well as on Flint Hill Road near the SACC entrance.

Parents who wish to pick up their children by car should use the Kiss and Ride lane (marked with purple arrows) that is located on the curb by the parking lot entrance near the gym.

FHES Arrival & Dismissal

New Family Breakfast - 8/28/26 at 9:30 am

New Families, 

Please join the PTA for the New Family Breakfast on Friday, August 28th at 9:30 am.

New FHES families are invited to gather in the courtyard to learn more about FHES, the PTA and make connections with other new families!

FHES

Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform

Food

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.    


Calendar Reminders

  • August 21st - Open House -11 AM-12 PM
  • August 21st - Popsicles on the Playground 12 PM (PTA event)
  • August 22nd - Courtyard Cleanup 8am-12pm
  • August 23rd - Kinder Playdate - 3:00 pm
  • August 24th - First day of school!
  • August 28th - New Family Breakfast - 9:30 am
  • September 4th - September 7th - Labor Day Break - School Closed
  • September 17th - Back to School Night - 5:30 - 7:00 pm
  • September 21st - Yom Kippur- Student Holiday

Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

health graphic

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:

  1. Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
  2. If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
  3. 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.


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.


School Supply Lists

View our school supply lists here!

Flint Hill ES: Supply Lists 26-27

If you ordered a supply kit from the PTA, those supplies will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school. The deadline to order supply kits from the PTA closed on June 24th.

If you have other school supplies, you may drop them off in your students' classrooms on Friday, August 15th from 10:00 - 11:00 am.


FHES Family Handbook

FHES Logo

Good communication between home and school is vital to a successful school experience for each child. Questions relating to your child should be directed to the classroom teacher. All teachers have voice mail and an e-mail address. The school has a web page that links directly to each teacher’s e-mail.

Each year, FCPS produces a Handbook for its FCPS families. It contains valuable information you may need throughout the year, including calendars, services, and special programs, the instructional program, and information about starting school. Flint Hill Elementary has produced a handbook that includes some additional notes that are important for our school community.

Flint Hill Elementary Family Handbook


Apply Today for Free and Reduced Price Meals

FCPSlogo

!According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals receive breakfast and lunch at school at no cost. 

Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Access the application and view criteria on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage

Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.


How to Receive FCPS Messages in Other Languages

You may wish to read FCPS messages in a language other than English. There are several ways you can receive or view our communications in a different language.

FCPS This Week is distributed in other languages to parents/guardians who have filled out the Home Language Survey form and selected a language supported by FCPS as their preferred language for communication. Home Language Survey forms are available in the following languages: Amharic | Arabic (العربية) | Chinese (中文) | Farsi (فارسی) | Korean (한국어) | Spanish (español) | Urdu (اردو) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).

Learn more about other communications that are translated. 


Paperless Opt-Outs Available!

As a part of our ongoing efforts to streamline paper processes, parents can now select a number of opt-out’s electronically via ParentVUE.  Once you have signed into your ParentVUE account, simply select the “Student Info” tab and click on “Edit Information.” You will find opt-out’s listed there.  Parents that do not yet have a ParentVUE account will still be able to use paper forms for notification. If you need to set up your ParentVUE account, you can create one online via the FCPS ParentVUE Registration page.