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Greetings McNair Students and Families,
Tomorrow is the first day of school for our Kindergarten, First, and Second grade students as well as our students accessing the Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) program. (Students accessing our Pre-K and ECCB programs will join us for their first day of school on Thursday, August 27th.) We are so excited to welcome our Mustangs back into the building to kickoff the 2026-2027 school year together!
Please see below for a couple of friendly reminders:
School Hours: 8:45 am- 3:30 pm
We will open our doors to welcome students with our first bell ringing daily at 8:35 am to signal a ten-minute notice for students to enter the school building and make their way to their classroom. Our students should be in their classroom seats no later than 8:45 am. Our day begins with connecting with each other and building relationships among staff and students for productive learning! Please partner together with us to have your child/children at school and in class on time.
First Day of School
We will be permitting families to walk their child to the classroom on the first day of school. McNair staff will greet students at arrival each morning throughout the school year and will be available to assist students to class.
Buses & Delays
Please be patient and show grace to all of our FCPS employees as we want to ensure a successful first day, week, and year for all of our students and families. If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7000 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000. To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please follow staff directions during arrival and dismissal times to ensure we are keeping all of our students safe. If you are a walker, please use the crosswalk for safety.
We are so eager and excited to kick off this incredible school year together! See you tomorrow, Mustangs!
Together We Grow,
Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Stringer, and Mrs. Royer
Please contact us with any questions!
Principal: Elizabeth Watson, evwatson@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Ipsa Stringer, IBStringer@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Sara Royer, smroyer@fcps.edu
Click on the links below to navigate to sections of this newsletter.
Save the Date, Mustangs!
Please mark your calendars!
📌August 24: The First Day of School for the 2026-2027 School Year!
📌August 27: The First Day of PreK & ECCB for the 2026-2027 School Year!
📌August 28: Happy Birthday, McNair! Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence at McNair ES, 5:30-7:30pm
📌September 4 & September 7: Labor Day Holiday; No School for Students
📌September 16: Monthly PTA Meeting, 6:30pm at McNair ES
📌September 17: Back-To-School Night at McNair Elementary School, 5:00-6:30pm (Session 1: 5:00-5:45pm and Session 2: 5:45-6:30pm)
📌September 20: Asha Jyothi Run at Fairfax Corner at 8:00am **Register today and support a great cause and Team McNair! We cannot wait to see you there! More information is below in this newsletter.**
📌September 21: Holiday, Schools & Offices Closed (Yom Kippur)
📌October 12: School Planning Day; No School For Students
📌October 21: 3-Hour Early Release For Students In Grades K-2 (Dismissal is at 1:30pm)
📌October 21: Monthly PTA Meeting, 6:30pm at McNair Upper ES
📌November 2 & November 3: Teacher Work Days; No School For Students
📌November 16-November 20: Fall Book Fair at McNair
📌November 18: Family Night at the Book Fair & Storytime with the Principal; 4:30-6:00pm
📌November 18: Monthly PTA Meeting, 6:30pm at McNair ES
📌November 20: Thanksgiving Luncheon at McNair
📌November 25-27: Thanksgiving Holiday; Schools & Offices Closed
Arrival and Dismissal
Doors open for arrival at 8:35 a.m. The school day begins at 8:45 a.m.
Dismissal begins at 3:30 p.m.
**Please reference the 2026-2027 School Year FCPS Calendar when making appointments or scheduling family trips. Attendance counts and everyday matters!**
Kindergarten Registration
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment (the student and one caregiver must be present).
Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Ms. Afkham Hosseini, at 703-793-4800 with any questions.
McNair's 25 Years of Excellence Celebration!
 Save the Date, Mustang Community!
Join us on Friday, August 28th from 5:30 PM -7:30 PM to celebrate 25 Years of Excellence at McNair Elementary!
We will kick off the evening with a special anniversary ceremony, followed by a variety of fun activities for all ages. Come reconnect with friends, celebrate our shared journey, and honor the wonderful memories we’ve created together over the years. Stay tuned as more exciting details are coming soon!
Back To School Night
This year’s annual Back to School Night will be held on the evening of Thursday, September 17th. We will offer two sessions.
- Session #1: 5:00-5:45 pm
- Session #2: 5:45-6:30 pm
At Back to School Night, classroom teachers will share information with parents/guardians about grade level curriculum your child will be learning about this school year and specific grade level events such as field trips your child may attend this upcoming school year. You will also hear about the classroom practices and expectations your child’s teacher will employ this school year to support them.
This is a great opportunity to begin establishing your partnership with your child’s classroom teacher(s) to support their success this school year. It is important that parents/guardians plan to attend one of our session offerings.
Join Us, Mustangs! Mark Your Calendars!
Fall is around the corner, and so is our next big event! 🍂
Join us on Sunday, September 20, 2026, for the Asha-Jyothi 18th Annual 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run at Fairfax Corner! We can’t wait to see our Mustang community out there.
How to Support McNair:
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Register here
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Use coupon code AJ4SCHOOLS at checkout.
Using this code sends a direct donation straight to our school! Thanks to your support last year, we will be kicking off the 2026–2027 school year with a brand-new 3D printer and a water bottle filling station for our Mustangs. Let’s keep the momentum going! Let's Go Mustangs!!!
School Supply Lists for the 2026-27 School Year
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Please view all of our McNair ES Supply Lists for the 2026-2027 School Year. We appreciate your partnership and support. If you have any questions, or need assistance, you are welcome to contact our main office at 703-793-4800. Please click below to view each grade level's school supply list.
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School Hours
The first day of school is Monday, August 24, 2026 and every minute counts! We will open our doors to welcome students with our first bell ringing daily at 8:35 am to signal a ten-minute notice for students to enter the school building and make their way to their classroom. Our students should be in their classroom seats no later than 8:45 am. Our day begins with connecting with each other and building relationships among staff and students for productive learning! Please partner together with us to have your child/children at school and in class on time.
The bell schedule is as follows:
Keeping Your Child Safe
All exterior doors are locked during school hours. To enter the building, go to Door #1, push the doorbell, show your official identification (driver's license, passport, etc.) and the front office will remotely unlock the door. Upon entering, please report to the office where you will be requested to sign-in and show identification again. To maintain the momentum of instruction, forgotten lunches and materials will be delivered by office staff, or students will be called down to the office to get their forgotten items.
For any change in a child’s typical transportation arrangements, send a note to the teacher indicating the date of the change, the duration of the change, and the reason for the change. Students may not ride a non-designated school bus home with a friend as buses are filled to capacity. For safety, we also ask that students get off at their designated stop only.
If picking up a student before the end of the school day, provide notice to the teacher and school office as soon as possible to avoid confusion for your child. If a student must leave unexpectedly, alert the office at least one hour ahead of time. If a student is being picked up early, they will not be released after 3:00pm. Parents will have to wait to pick their child after dismissal at 3:30pm. This is for the safety of all students.
During arrival and dismissal, please follow the established rules and travel routes for the safety of all. For everyone’s safety, we ask that parents follow the procedures for arrival and dismissal. This will allow you to get your Mustang to school as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Modeling safe procedures is critical and teaches our young students to stay safe when adults are not with them.
Action Item for Kiss & Ride
Students
As a final reminder, taking the bus is a very safe way to travel to and from school. If you plan to have your child take the bus during the school year, put them on the bus the first day of school. It will help establish the school year routine, and students will be learning the rules and expectations along with peers from day one!
Back-to-School Checklist
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.
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.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Resources
On Facebook, please like & follow to get the latest updates.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567288287981
McNair ES PTA Updates & Back-to-School Announcements
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Free School-Wide Parent Directory: Join the brand-new Honeycomb Parent Directory to easily find classmates, message parents, and organize carpools or playdates. It is 100% free and open to all McNair families (PTA membership not required). Join here: https://hcirl.app.link/RNHx6akxI2b?_p=c71529c39f0a7af1ea1990ffe8b1
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2026–2027 PTA Memberships & Pre-Orders: Support our students and staff by joining or renewing your PTA membership today! Options include:
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Family Membership ($60): 2 adult memberships, stickers, magnet, early competition sign-ups, and a McNair insulated lunch bag.
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Adult Membership ($35): 1 adult membership, sticker, magnet, and early competition sign-ups.
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Teacher/Staff Membership ($15): 1 staff membership, sticker, and priority access to classroom supply grants.
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Reduced Dues Pre-Order ($15): Discounted pre-order for families on free/reduced lunch or facing financial need (confidential honor system). Email board@mcnairespta.org for the private link.
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Join or Renew Here: https://mcnairespta.givebacks.com/shop?category=25434
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Volunteer Opportunities: We are running with a small, nimble team this year and need your help with newsletters, social media, events, welcoming new families, corporate partnerships, or flexible tasks you can do from home. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.mcnairespta.org/volunteer
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👍❤️ Follow Our School on Social Media!
Want to see more photos and videos of what’s going on at McNair Elementary School? Follow us on social media!
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Thank you for your partnership as we gallop together in supporting our Mustangs!
#BloomingTogether
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