It was wonderful to see so many students and families at our Welcome Back Bash! We are excited and ready to begin a new school year together.
As we prepare for the first day of school on Monday, safety will remain our top priority. Please review these important reminders:
Confirm your child’s dismissal plan. Be clear and consistent about how your child will go home, and communicate the plan with your child’s teacher.
Review transportation information. Log in to ParentVUE to identify your child’s bus stop and schedule, or refer to the email from Fairfax County Transportation.
Plan for younger students. All Pre-K and kindergarten students who ride the bus or are walkers must be met by an adult at dismissal.
Expect delays during the first days. Our arrival and dismissal systems are designed to safely support more than 950 students and nearly 200 staff members. Please be patient and give grace as we practice routines and settle into our systems.
Drive carefully. Please follow staff directions, use designated areas, and watch carefully for students and families walking throughout the parking lots.
Make sure your child knows the plan. Talk with your child about where to go, who will meet them, and what to do if they are unsure or need help.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe, smooth, and successful start to the school year. We cannot wait to welcome our Eagles on Monday!
It was wonderful meeting so many parents, teachers, and students at the Back‑to‑School Bash — thank you for stopping by and sharing your excitement for the year ahead. The PTA is looking forward to a fantastic school year and wants to hear from everyone, so please consider joining and adding your voice.
Our first PTA meeting will be in September, and we’ll continue meeting monthly in conjunction with a school meeting for convenience. Stay tuned for dates and details — we can’t wait to connect and collaborate with you this year. Follow us on social media, or simply become a member. Click Here to Join the PTA!
POC: Michele Lansel president@hutchisonespta.org
Hutchison Team Organizational Chart
Our Hutchison team is here to support your students, staff, and families. Please use the chart below to identify the administrator supporting each grade level and department.
Administrator
Grade Levels and Departments
AP Mikeala Antonio
mantonio@fcps.edu
Pre-K, Kindergarten, Special Education, Multilingual Learners, PE
AP Jackie Wilson
JAWilson@fcps.edu
1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, Performing Arts
The Spring 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.
POC: Mikaela Antonio mantonio@fcps.edu
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 the ability test retake by contacting Mikaela Antonio, school testing coordinator, at mantonio@fcps.edu by September 30.
POC: Caitlin Pickett capickett@fcps.edu
Updates from the County
💻 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.
Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services
Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports that include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and other services.
FCPS has resources available to support your child’s mental health. During after-school hours, parents and students who need additional support can use the 988 Lifeline to get free, confidential guidance from trained crisis counselors on how to best help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can call or text the number.
Recent reports have shared an 11% drop in suicides among young people since the rollout of 988. Please note, the hotline is not only for those experiencing suicidal ideation (or thoughts), it is also available for any mental health or substance abuse-related crisis and those with a loved one experiencing those crises or suicidal thoughts.
And as always, if your concern is an emergency, you should call 911.
Third Annual FCPS Puzzle Hunt Encourages Active Family Fun
The Solving Fun Puzzle Pals have been busy getting ready for the 3rd Annual Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt, and it kicks off in only three weeks!
This free event is open to solvers of all ages and is a great way to keep students and families engaged in fun, creative problem-solving over the summer. It also teaches bike and pedestrian safety and encourages active transportation.
New this year: The school with the most solvers will win a special visit from Sue Doku! Sign up for the Puzzle Hunt!
Community Meetings: Skyview HS and Western Pyramids Boundary Study
We want to ensure you are aware of the upcoming community meetings for the Skyview High School and Western Pyramids Boundary Study. Revised draft scenarios will be shared at the events, which will be held in person at Skyview and virtually via Zoom on:
Please register to attend by clicking the appropriate link above based on how you would like to participate. The same information will be shared at both meetings.
As mentioned in a recent message from the school division, FCPS has eliminated adjustments to elementary school boundaries from this study based on community feedback. While feeder patterns — the middle and/or high schools that some elementary schools would attend — may change, elementary school boundarieswill not be adjusted at this time.
The superintendent will present a final recommendation for boundaries to the School Board for consideration and action at a board meeting in July. This additional time will allow the consultant to analyze feedback received after the revised draft scenarios are shared this month and prior to the community meetings being scheduled in June.
