|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Churchill Chatter - Issue 1
August 31, 2026
Important Dates
-
Monday, August 31 - Thursday, September 3 - Spirit Week
-
Friday - Monday, September 4-7 - Labor Day Break
-
Thursday, September 10 - Fall Picture Day
-
Monday, September 21 - Yom Kippur - School Closed
-
Friday, September 25 - PTA Family Movie Night
-
Wednesday, September 30 - 3-hr early release, dismissal at 12:20 PM.
Dear Churchill Road families,
Thank you so much for collaborating with us for a fantastic first week of school. Having the students back in school has been so exciting. It has been too quiet around here!
We hope you enjoyed our Open Houses and Back to School Night and meeting your teachers to get a better idea of what your child will be focused on this coming year.
A big Thank You to the PTA for chalking the sidewalks as we entered the building this week with encouraging words for our entire community. We really have the best students and families supporting us!
This past week has been focused on building relationships, organizing supplies, and getting into the routines of our academics and special’s classes. We also had our first fire drill, and our students cleared the building in only 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
Now is the time to become an approved FCPS volunteer so you can volunteer as a chaperone, support classrooms and special events, assist in the cafeteria, and more! As a reminder, all volunteers must register with FCPS, and complete a short, online volunteer orientation.
Student assessment are starting this week:
-
iReady Reading Assessment (Grades 3-6) - Starts tomorrow, September 1st.
-
MAP Math Assessment (Grades 1-6) - Starts Wednesday, September 9th.
These important assessments are essential to provide teachers with beginning of the year data to best meet your children's needs. You can help, by making sure the students get a good night's rest. Additionally, we ask that you share with them the importance of taking the test seriously and giving their best effort to show what they know.
We are so happy to have all our students back in the building!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Pierson-Barr and Mr. Kilpatrick
In This Week's Issue
- Spirit Week August 31 - September 3
- New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
- New ParentVUE Mobile App
- Student ID Cards for CRS Bus Riders
- SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
- Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates
- Apply Today for Free and Reduced Price Meals
- How to Receive FCPS Messages in Other Languages
Spirit Week
- Monday, August 31 - Wear anything, and everything you have that is blue! Show your Bobcat spirit.
- Tuesday, September 1 - Bring summer vacation vibes to the classroom with your favorite tropical wear!
- Wednesday, September 2 - Embrace your inner cowboy/girl and wear your best Western gear!
- Thursday, September 3 - End the second week of school by wearing the color white! Bobcats shine bright each day - our colors are blue and white.
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.
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.
New ParentVUE Mobile App
A new ParentVUE mobile app is available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Student ID Cards for CRS Bus Riders
|
We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services later this week.
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.
|
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.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced Price Meals
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).
In Case You Missed It
- In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
- Permission Forms for School Resources
- Follow Multiple Schools in the App
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
FCPS Cares Program
Recognizing employees who go above and beyond
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS, and more specifically, Churchill Road employees.
From our Family Liaison
Starting Strong and Organized - Brain First Strategies for the New School Year Webinar
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM
Children and youth with neurodiversity and who experience other hurdles to learning are more likely to struggle with back-to-school transitions and the essential executive functions that schools expect of them. Join Formed Families Forward as they explore why our kids' brains sometimes seem to work against logic and organization. They will offer solid strategies and tools for improving organization and strengthening routines that help kids feel safer and more ready to tackle the new school year stronger than ever.
Register here
Military Families Welcome BBQ
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
FCPS invites new and returning military-connected families to celebrate the start of the 2026–27 school year at a Welcome BBQ. Families can enjoy food, activities, and an opportunity to meet and connect with other military-connected families from across FCPS.
- Date: September 9, 2026
- Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015
- Contact: militaryfamilies@fcps.edu
- Flyer
Celebrate McLean 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Save the date for Thursday, September 10th for Celebrate McLean. This fun event will run from 3:30 - 6:00pm at the practice football field, prior to the football home opener vs Falls Church. There will be games, food, DJ and tables from McLean High School’s clubs and sports.
|
