Pine Spring Paw Print 26-27

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 08/23/2026 10:03 AM EDT

Paw Print Topics

Dear Pine Spring Families,

Tomorrow is the big day! We are incredibly excited to welcome our Bobcats back for the first day of school! It was wonderful to see our hallways filled with smiling students and families during Open House onThursday. The energy throughout the building reminded us just how special the Pine Spring community is, and we cannot wait to begin an amazing school year together!

To help us provide a safe and smooth start for every student, please review these important first-day reminders:

  • All staff members will be focused on safely welcoming students and helping them get to their classrooms. Therefore, the main office will only be available to assist families with emergency topics until 9:00 a.m. This will allow us to ensure that only students and staff are inside the building during arrival.
  • Families should not park to walk their children to school. If you are driving your child to school, please remain in your vehicle and use the Kiss and Ride line. Following this procedure will help traffic move as safely and efficiently as possible during the first weeks of school. This does include our Early Childhood and PAC students. 
  • Please anticipate delays with both Kiss and Ride and buses during the first week. Many of our youngest Bobcats will be learning the arrival and dismissal routines for the very first time. Your patience, kindness, and positive attitude will help us create a calm and encouraging experience for everyone.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep all of our Bobcats safe. We are ready, we are excited, and we cannot wait to see everyone tomorrow morning!

Let’s make it a fantastic first day and an incredible school year!

Nikki Yacubovich, Principal 

Jennifer Ganci, Assistant Principal

Melissa Wallace, Assistant Principal 

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Student ID Cards for Pine Spring Bus Riders

We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.

once the cards arrive, we will be sending the cards home with each child that uses the bus. 

Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.

We ask for your patience! Bus drivers will begin checking in students next week and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.

Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.

Help Your Child Navigate the Lunch Line

Check out some tips to help your child get through the lunch line quickly and have more time to eat:

  • Teach your child their student ID number to receive meals at school.
  • Sign up for and add money to MySchoolBucks to purchase meals at school.

If your child has any food allergies, learn how to submit accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergens. 

Access menus for breakfast, lunch, and other school meals, as well as allergen and nutrition information.

All students at Pine Spring will receive both breakfast and lunch daily free of charge. 

You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home

At Pine Spring, we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.

 

In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.

 

With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.

 

In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.

 

These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.

 

Customize Your Lightspeed Settings

All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.

 

Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.

 

Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.

💻 Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.

A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:

  • Your child’s classes.
  • Your child’s upcoming assignments.
  • School, class, and group announcements.

To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.

SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification

The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

 

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Advanced Academic Programs

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K to 12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs. 

 

Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:

  • Fall identification: Students in grades 3 to 7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15.
  • Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2 to 7 may be referred by December 15.

 

FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services:

  • All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT).
  • Students in Grades 3 to 6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
  • Students in Grades 3 to 6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request a retake of the ability test by contacting Bridget Lovas, school testing coordinator, at belovas@fcps.edu by September 30.

 

Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings led by Tracy Haynes, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):

  • AAP Continuum of Services: October 8, 2026, at 6 PM in the Pine Spring Library. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
  • Full-Time AAP Identification: November 12, 2026, at 6 PM in the Pine Spring Library. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
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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.

Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools 

This year we will have four 3 hour early release days at the elementary level. Pine Spring releases students at 12:30 PM on 3-hour early release days. We ask that you indicated your plan in ParentVUE before August 18th. For additional information, please visit https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/safety-and-transportation/limited-early-release-wednesdays.

Pine Spring three-hour early release days will be:

  • September 30
  • November 18
  • January 13
  • April 7

Bell Schedule

Students will be welcomed into the building promptly at 8:30 AM, with the late bell ringing at 8:45 AM. We will release all students starting at 3:30 PM each day.

Additionally, please note that Kiss and Ride will close at 8:40 AM after the first week of school. This adjustment will provide students with a valuable 5 minutes to travel to their classrooms and be fully prepared for a productive day of learning. While students will not be tardy until 8:45 AM, you will need to park your car in a parking space and bring your child to the front office to be signed in by an adult. 

First Day Plan

The first day is always a special day for our students. To ensure a smooth start, we kindly request your cooperation with a few important guidelines:

  • Please have your child arrive at school using their regular transportation method on the first day. Consistency helps establish a positive routine from day one.
  • Discuss with your child their planned method of transportation for going home. Clear communication ensures a successful dismissal process.
  • It's essential for all children to confidently share their first and last names to ensure we can guide them to the correct morning location. For students in grades K and 1, please write their first and last name inside their backpacks using the name provided during registration. For example, if your child's name is John Robert but goes by JR, please write John Robert in the backpack. This will help to eliminate any confusion.

Kiss and Ride

Kiss and Ride

If you are planning to use Kiss and Ride during the school year, we ask that you please have a tag. If you previously had a Kiss and Ride tag, you will continue to use your current number. If you are new to Kiss and Ride, please complete the Kiss and Ride form. Please note that Kiss and Ride will take longer during the first week. We ask that you continue to be patient and allow extra time.

The Kiss and Ride process will remain the same as the last 3 years with one small change. 

AM Drop-off 

  • Cars will pull to the front of the building with their student on the passenger side of the car if at all possible. (We do understand that some families have babies that need to be in that seat.)
  • A Pine Spring team member will open your child’s door and ensure your child gets into the building. Please do not get out of your car. 
  • We ask that you have said goodbye to your child and ensured that your child has everything they need for the day before you get to the drop-off zone. This ensures that all families are able to get through the line in a timely manner. 
  • This year Kiss and Ride will close at 8:40 AM. Families who come after 8:40 AM will need to bring their child into the building. Children coming after 8:40 AM must be accompanied by an adult.  

PM Pick-up 

  • Cars will line up in the Kiss and Ride line outside of the main door, where you dropped your child off. We ask that you do not line up for pickup before 3 PM. 
  • A staff member will collect your tag number (or your child’s name for the first week). 
  • Once dismissal begins, children will come out of the building in the order of your arrival once you stop at the designated cones. 
  • Again, a team member will open your door so that your child can get into the car. 
  • If your child does not come out in time, or if your child still needs support with their seatbelt/car seat you will pull to the designated area so that you can park the car to wait/support your child. 
  • Please do not go around a car in line unless you are directed by a Pine Spring staff member. 

Bus Riders

If your child is going to take the bus, you will receive communication from transportation with your child’s bus number, stop, and approximate times. During the first week, your child should arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes early until the bus driver establishes a regular routine. We encourage you to practice going to your bus stop before the first day of school to help eliminate any additional first-day jitters. 

Here Comes the Bus® 

FCPS knows that knowing when the bus is coming is an important part of your morning and afternoon. You can download the app to know when your bus is approaching your stop.  Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. You can get additional information about the app and how to download it here.

Walkers

Walkers Arrival 

  • We will welcome PreK-K students starting at 8:30 AM at Door 1.
  • We will welcome 1st-6th students starting at 8:30 AM at Door 6.
  • We will have staff stationed outside to support the transition.

Walkers Dismissal 

  • Parents of PreK walkers will be asked to meet their child at outside of the cafeteria. 
  • Parents of K walkers will be asked to meet their child at the library door across from the flagpole.

Parents of 1st-6th walkers will be asked to meet their child at Door 6 near the playground.

 

*All students in Kindergarten or younger must be picked up by an adult on their emergency care card each day. Students in kindergarten or younger not picked up by an adult from the bus will be returned to Pine Spring. 

Save The Date

August 24: First Day of School

September 4-7: Labor Day Break

September 17: Back to School Night (5:00-6:30) 

September 18: PTA Dance

September 30: 3-Hour Early Release 

October 8: AAP Continuum of Services

November 12: Full-Time AAP Identification

November 18: 3-Hour Early Release 

January 13: 3-Hour Early Release

April 7: 3-Hour Early Release 

 

 

Pine Spring Resources

Grade Level Supply Lists

Bell Schedule

Attendance Procedures

Pine Spring PTA 

Pine Spring Website 

Early Release Wednesdays

 

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