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Aug 24- First Day of School
Sept 2- Back to School Night @ 6:00 -7:30 PM
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Student ID Cards for Washington Mill ES Bus Riders
We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.
We will distribute student bus ID cards to Bus Riders Only on Monday, August 24, before afternoon dismissal.
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.
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.
You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home
At Washington Mill ES, 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.
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Get Ready for Day One with the FCPS App! 🎒
As we gear up for the first day of school, make sure you have the FCPS mobile app downloaded! It's the quickest way to check the school year calendar, view lunch and breakfast menus, find school contacts, and jump to ParentVUE or Schoology from your phone.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Follow FCPS on WhatsApp
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.
 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.
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Apply for free and reduced-price meals. 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 submit a new application as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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:
- 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.
QUICK LINKS
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