 Welcome back, Haycock families!
My name is Nisha Bhatia, and I am thrilled to serve as your new Family Liaison this school year.
As a local resident for the past six years and the proud mother of two elementary students- a kindergartner and a fifth grader- I know firsthand how vital a strong, caring connection between home and school is for our children. As your Family Liaison, my goal is to connect you with helpful school and community resources, assist with family dynamics, and support your child's growth every step of the way.
This newsletter is designed to keep you updated on important events, share helpful resources, and celebrate the incredible spirit of our community. I look forward to getting to know all of you as we team up to build a thriving, connected community, and make this a fantastic year for every student.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or concerns at nbhatia1@fcps.edu/ 571-460-4334
 Welcome new parent families!
To help you get acquainted with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), explore the Welcome to FCPS guide for essential district information and local family resources.
Download the Free FCPS Mobile App!
Stay connected directly from your smartphone—no login required! Download the FCPS Mobile App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to:
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View School Calendars: Track events, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check Menus: See daily breakfast and lunch options.
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Tap to Contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access Key Tools: Jump directly to ParentVUE, Schoology, and school news.
Learn more on the FCPS Mobile App page.
FCPS Family Academy & Family Resource Center
FCPS offers a wide array of free services through the Family Academy and the Family Resource Center (FRC) to empower parents, enhance learning at home, and support every child's academic, social, and emotional growth:
1. FCPS Family Academy Resources
🎒 FCPS Family Academy Catalog: Browse and register for live webinars, interactive workshops, and in-person learning sessions.
📖 Support Students at Home: Access self-paced guides and practical tips for reading, math, routines, and digital safety.
✏️ Online Tutoring Services: Learn how your child can access free, 24/7 on-demand homework help via Tutor.com on Schoology.
🤝 Community Support Beyond the Classroom: Connect with local Fairfax County services for food assistance, healthcare, housing, and mental health support.
2. FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) Resources
🗣️ Free Consultations & Liaisons: Schedule confidential 1-on-1 guidance for navigating school systems, special education, or 504 plans.
📚 Family Resource Center Library: Borrow books, DVDs, and educational materials focused on parenting, child development, ADHD, and executive functioning.
Family Resource Center Digital Resources
YouTube "Back to School Videos” offers a playlist of previously shared "Back to School" resources. Playlist Includes: Ann Dolin Back to School Toolkit Setting the Stage for School , Schoology, Help My Kid Won't Go to School How to Keep Distracted Kids in “Study Mode” , Understand Executive Function Milestones, Challenges, & Implement Effective Strategies
Volunteer Sign up at Haycock
Volunteers play an important role in supporting student success at Haycock and throughout FCPS. Parents, caregivers, and community members interested in volunteering in classrooms, at school events, or in other school activities must complete the FCPS volunteer registration process, which includes an online application, training video, and, depending on the volunteer role, a background check.
If you are interested in volunteering at Haycock Elementary, please visit the Haycock website for volunteer information and registration details. We look forward to partnering with you to make a positive difference for our students!
 Haycock Elementary School is excited to support the Get2Green initiative! 🌱♻️ Through Get2Green, we hope to help our students understand that caring for our environment is a responsibility we all share. Families can join us by encouraging children to practice simple green habits at school and at home—reducing waste, recycling, reusing items, conserving water and energy, and keeping our surroundings clean. Every small action counts! Together, our Haycock community can help our students become responsible environmental stewards and make our school a greener place to learn and grow. 🌎💚. Learn more about Get2Green.
FCPS Programs and Workshops
Supporting the ADHD Brain
Friday, Sep 11, 2026| 10- 11:30 AM
Students with ADHD often know what they need to do but struggle to begin, stay focused, and follow through. This session, presented by The StudyPro, helps parents understand how executive function can make seemingly simple tasks much harder for students with ADHD and shares practical strategies designed to work with the ADHD brain. Register here
Digital Wellness and Cyber Threat Indicators in K-12: When Online Behavior Becomes a Safety Concern
Friday, Sep 18, 2026| 10 - 11:30 AM
This session will provide FCPS Parent/Guardians with a broad understanding of how digital wellness concerns can overlap with cybersecurity, student safety, behavioral risk indicators, and emerging online threats. This session focuses on awareness, early identification, and appropriate escalation pathways. Register here
Navigating the Digital Age: Creating Digital Balance as a Family
Friday, Sep 25, 2026| 10 - 11:30 AM
This session offers caregivers practical strategies for establishing healthy relationships with technology at home. We will explore how to model balanced digital habits, foster open communication, and work as a family to find a healthy balance. You will leave this session with steps on how to create healthy technology habits for the whole family, and how to keep kids connected without technology. Register here
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Mind in the Making offered in Spanish!
Sept 8 - Oct 27, 2026
Come to this 8-week workshop and learn about the Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.
You'll discover why these skills matter, how they help your child grow, and fun ways to build them at home. These are proven strategies based on research into how kids learn and develop. Click here to register!
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Resources for Military families
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Military Families Welcome BBQ Event
Sep 9, 2026| 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Lake Braddock Secondary School (9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015)
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) would like to welcome our new and returning military-connected families for the 2026-2027 school year!
Enjoy food, fun, and community while making new friends and connecting with other military families from across the Division. For planning purposes, please complete the registration form for this event by noon on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
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Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS): A Military Family Orientation
This virtual presentation will be held via Zoom on Tuesday Sep15, 2026, from 6-7 p.m., and Thursday, Sep 17, 2026, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Military families new to FCPS or moving to FCPS soon may attend this interactive presentation. Families will learn about: FCPS programs, school staff, and digital resources. Strategies to support student success, early enrollment for military families, the Military Interstate Compact.
Please fill out the Military GTK registration form to sign up and receive the Zoom link.
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FCPS is hiring AVID Tutors!
Attention military spouses and family members! Are you looking for a flexible and part-time position? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2026-2027 school year. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5 to 7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $21.77 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to AVID@fcps.edu.
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♥Follow FCPS Military Families on Social Media
Stay up-to-date on all of our latest events, workshops, and resources to support our FCPS military families by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information on FCPS military resources, please email militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
Community events and activities
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SIA Bingo
Friday, Sept 9, 2026| 9-10:30 AM
McLean Community Center
Registration information here.
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Beyond Back-To-School: Navigating Anxiety, Routines, and School Avoidance
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026| 7-8:30 p.m.
McLean Community Center
MONTHLY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CHAT SERIES
Free information sessions that are designed specifically for parents and caregivers to gain professional insights, share experiences, and build a toolkit for supporting your family’s well-being. More information here.
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Exhibition Falls Church Arts Gallery
Entry Deadline: Midnight, Sunday, Sep 13
Artists are invited to submit works that celebrate the expressive possibilities of water-based media- including watercolor, gouache, acrylic, tempera, inks, dyes, water-based pencil, water-based crayon, and water-miscible oils- where pigment and water merge to create works that are at once intentional and unpredictable. More information here.
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Robo-Fun
Monday, Sep 14 - Monday, Nov 16, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
McLean Community Center
Ages: 5-12 years Learn more here.
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Kids Fit
Saturday, Sep 19 - Saturday, Oct 31, 2026
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
McLean Community Center
Ages: 4-8 Years
This series integrates different fitness techniques into a fun exercise routine that helps children build cardiovascular fitness, along with agility and strength. Register.
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School Break Fun at OFC
Monday, Sep 21, 2026| 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Old Firehouse Center
(5th-8th Grade)
Looking for a safe, exciting place for your 5th–8th grader during teacher workdays or school breaks? The Old Firehouse staff has you covered! Participants will enjoy pool, ping pong, cooking activities, and a variety of planned programming designed to keep them active, engaged, and having fun all day long. Registration is required.
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Harvest Happenings
Saturday, Sep 26, 2026| 10 a.m. - Noon
McLean Community Center
Enjoy family-friendly activities and entertainment, interactive games, and visits with friendly animals in the petting zoo.
Event details here.
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