Weekly Message

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 6 who have enrolled in FCPS since January 2026 may be referred by October 15, 2026.
• Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2 to 7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.

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 Abby Holzinger, school testing coordinator, at acholzinger@fcps.edu by September 30.

Families are invited to attend an AAP information meeting led by Heather Barber, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):

• AAP Parent Information Session: September 29 from 5:00-6:00PM in OES Library. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students and the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.

For more information, please contact Heather Barber, AART, at hsbarber@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.

Penny Wars

The PTA Penny Wars fundraiser is returning to help grades compete to raise the most points!

Event Details

Dates: September 14–18

Location: Collection bottles will be located in the school lobby

Goal: The grade level with the most positive points at the end of the week wins a prize!

How to Play

ADD Points to Your Grade: Drop pennies or dollar bills into your own grade's bottle.

SUBTRACT Points from Other Grades: Drop silver coins into other grades' bottles to reduce their totals.

Point Breakdown

Time to clean out your change jars and support the PTA! If you have any questions, reach out to OaktonFundraising@gmail.com.

Directory information to be shared with the PTA

Each year, Oakton Elementary may provide parent name, email address, student name, and teacher name to the PTA for families who have not opted out. Typically, the PTA uses such information to publish student directories (either electronic or paper) and to contact your family about school-related activities.

If you would like your student’s information to be excluded, the enrolling parent must use their ParentVue credentials to access the Parent Digital Consent portal and toggle the “Choice A – School-related Organizations opt-out” in the Directory Information section. This will not opt the student out of the yearbook.

While a family may change the opt out status at any time, Oakton will share the information for those not opted out on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. If you wish to opt out, please do so no later than Monday, September 7. The information and link to the consent portal is here: https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent/directions

Fall 2026 Enrichment Classes

at Oakton ES

• Sponsors: Oakton PTA & Baroody Camps, Inc.
• Registration Window: Sept 10 @ 9:00 AM – Sept 27 @ 11:59 PM (Financial Aid closes Sept 23 @ 11:59 PM).
• Schedule: On-site morning programs run 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM across Oct 5 – Dec 18.
• Monday Classes (Oct 5 – Dec 7): Minecraft Creative Building (Baroody Camps, K-6th, $245).
• Tuesday Classes (Oct 6 – Dec 8): LEGO® Spike Robotics: Crazy Carnival Games (Baroody Camps, K-6th, $270).
• Wednesday Classes (Oct 7 – Dec 9): Basketball (Love the Ball, K-6th, $245).
• Thursday Classes (Oct 8 – Dec 10): Chess (Silver Knights Chess Academy, K-4th, $272); Canvas & Clay (KidCreate Studio Ashburn, K-6th, $244).
• Friday Classes (Oct 9 – Dec 11): Soccer (Love the Ball, K-6th, $245).
• Website: bc-ffx-oakton.jumbula.com
• Contact: info@baroodycamps.com / (703) 539-2602, or Laila Cooper (Oakton PTA) at laila.v.cooper@gmail.com
• View the Fall 2026 Baroody Enrichment Camps flyer here!

Financial Aid Details

Limited financial aid is available (one class per session) for students receiving public assistance or experiencing temporary hardship. Please apply under the Financial Aid tab prior to the early September 23 deadline.

Oakton Elementary Chess Club Information

Who Can Join: Students in grades 2–6, from beginners to advanced players. Players are grouped by ability rather than age.

Meeting Details: Tuesdays from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the cafeteria.

Fall Semester: September 29 – January 26

Spring Semester: February 2 – May 25

Cost: $150 per student per semester. This fee includes a weekly meeting, a club T-shirt (one per year), snacks, and the opportunity to participate in the Elementary Team League.

Benefits: Taught through a partnership with the non-profit U.S. Chess Center, the program teaches rules to beginners and strategy to experienced players. It builds critical thinking, problem-solving, responsibility, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Registration: Scan the QR code or visit chessctr.org/oakton/. The registration deadline is October 12.

Contact: For questions, email the Oakton ES PTA's VP of Programs at vp.programs@oaktonpta.net or the U.S. Chess Center at admin@chessctr.org