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POPSICLES TOMORROW!
Dear Fairhill Families,
We hope you had a wonderful long weekend connecting as a family and recharging after our first two weeks of school.
Thank you to the many families who joined us for our PTA meeting on Wednesday! We had a fantastic turnout and hope to keep the energy and enthusiasm going throughout the school year.
Tomorrow is our PTA Popsicles Event at 5:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Warmly,
Ted & Maura
September
- September 9th - Whole School Popsicle Playdate 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- September 11th - Fall Student Pictures
- September 16th - BTSN 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
- September 21st - Yom Kippur (No School)
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September 30th - Wednesday Early Release (3 hours)
October
- October 6th - Parent Coffee 8:00 am
- October 7th - Mosaic PTA Night (Chipotle, Shake Shack, Barnes and Noble)
- October 8th - AAP Parent Overview 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- October 16th - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Zoo
- October 28th - Fall Picture Makeup Day
- October 30th - Fall Festival
November
- November 2nd - Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
- November 3rd - School Planning Day (Student Holiday)
- November 5th - 1st Grade Field Trip to Frying Pan Park
- November 10th - PTA Meeting 6:30 pm
- November 14th - Pumpkin Pie Run
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November 18th - Wednesday Early Release (3 hours)
- November 25th - November 27th Thanksiving Holiday (No School)
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Need to Make a Change to Your Child’s Transportation Home
At Fairhill, the safety of our students is always our top priority. To ensure dismissal runs smoothly and safely each day, we kindly ask for your partnership.
If you need to make a change to your child’s dismissal plan, please notify the main office at least one hour before dismissal (i.e. 3:00pm). You can reach us by phone at 703-208-8100. Please note that TalkingPoints should not be used for dismissal changes, as it does not allow us to respond quickly enough during this busy time.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and stress-free for our students and staff. We truly appreciate your cooperation!
Important Reminder: Supporting Safe Student Dismissal
There are three ways students may get home from Fairhill, and every family plays an important role in keeping dismissal safe and orderly. Please review the expectations below and make sure your child is following the correct dismissal procedure.
Walkers: Walkers are dismissed from Door 1. This designation is for students who walk from the school building to their homes. Students being picked up by car—including students being picked up on Chichester or in the parking lot—are not walkers and must use Kiss and Ride.
Bus Riders: Bus transportation is the preferred FCPS transportation option. Bus riders are dismissed from Doors 1 and 2 and walk directly to their assigned buses.
Kiss and Ride: Kiss and Ride is for families picking up students by car and is available only through the designated Kiss and Ride lane. These students are dismissed from Door 8. Each day, five to ten staff members are outside to support dismissal and protect student safety. For this reason, please remain in your vehicle and ensure that your child can enter or exit from the passenger side. Students should never enter or exit on the driver’s side or from a vehicle stopped outside the Kiss and Ride lane.
Thank you for following these procedures and helping us keep every Fairhill student safe.
Upcoming AAP Parent Information Sessions
Overview of AAP Programs & Continuum of Services: Thursday, October 8th at 5:30-6:30 pm
Please join us for a Parent Information Session on Thursday, October 8th @ 5:30-6:30 in the Fairhill library for an Overview of FCPS Advanced Academic Programs and AAP services provided here at Fairhill. All parents are welcome to join to learn more about AAP programs and continuum of services.
Please reach out to the Fairhill AAP team (fairhillaap@fcps.edu) with any questions.
Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-27
FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number has been reduced from eight to four days.
Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students.
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays, including the list of early release dates.
2026-27 Early Release Wednesday Dates for Fairhill Elementary
The following are our three hour early release dates for the 2026-27 school year. Please add to your calendars now and more information will be coming at the start of the 2026-27 school year
- ERW 1 - September 30
- ERW 2 - November 18
- ERW 3 - January 13
- ERW 4 - April 7
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Order PIctures Now!
Fall Individual Student Pictures on Friday, 9/11.
1 - Go to strawbridge.net
Ir a strawbridge.net
2 - Click “Order Pictures & Yearbooks”
Haga clic en "Solicitar Fotografías y Anuarios"
3 - Enter the code below and click “Find” to order Introduzca el código a continuación y haga clic en "Buscar" para realizar el pedido
Code PX518850
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News from PTA
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New Fairhill spirit wear is here!
Show your Tiger pride with the latest gear. Check out the collection and place your order by September 30! 🐯
Link: https://www.fairhillpta.org/spirit
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Glow N The Dark Dodgeball
We are so excited for an opportunity to hold a PTA event at InCourage in this month of September to support Fairhill PTA. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting the Fairhill PTA.
The event will be held on Friday, September 18th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at Fairfax InCourage Martial Arts (3013 Nutley Street, Fairfax, VA, 22031)!
Students can look forward to an exciting evening of Glow Dodgeball, fun physical activities, and a pizza dinner with friends! Our team will take care of the event from start to finish, so parents can enjoy a night off while the kids have a blast.
You are also welcome to share the registration link HERE so families can learn more and sign up.
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Room Parents at Fairhill
What is a room parent?
A room parent facilitates communication between families in their child’s class, the PTA, and their child’s teacher. The PTA is looking for room parents from each class at Fairhill.
What are the responsibilities of a room parent?
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Email families in your class periodically with key announcements and information. The Room Parent Coordinator will let you know when to send these emails and provide suggested language, which you can personalize.
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Support Teacher Appreciation Week. Each spring, the PTA plans a school-wide celebration for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Room parents are encouraged to supplement the PTA’s efforts by providing families in the class a nonmonetary opportunity to recognize your teacher.
Room parents may also assist in other ways, depending on their availability and teachers’ needs. For example, some room parents have chosen to:
- Coordinate grade-level playdates in collaboration with other room parents (typically just a weekend meetup at the Fairhill playground).
- Assist teachers with administrative tasks, such as creating a Sign-Up Genius when the teacher needs particular supplies or stuffing Tuesday folders.
- Check with the teacher quarterly to see if they need supply donations from the PTA or classroom families.
I don’t have a flexible schedule and I can’t volunteer during the school day. Can I be a room parent?
Yes! You can do all of the tasks required of a room parent on your own time. Room parents do not need to be available during the school day.
Volunteer or ask questions here (or email sharonkim18@gmail.com)
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Calling for Volunteers: Help to Make a Big Difference in our community
The Fairhill PTA again will continue to support Fairhill families and our broader local community by collecting unused food purchased from the cafeteria (e.g., milk, string cheese) and/or unopened store-bought food (e.g., crackers).
Our kids' role -> Kids are asked to leave food they may otherwise toss in the garbage and instead put it off in the Food for Others fridge in the cafeteria.
Our volunteers' role -> Once a week (Mondays or Tuesdays), we are asking for a volunteer to collect the food and drop it off at Food For Others (1 mile away).
Our collective Impact -> In addition to minimizing food waste, we are helping 75,000 Fairfax County (and Fairhill families) who are food insecure. On a weekly basis last year, we collected hundreds of milk cartons, string cheese packets, crackers, yogurts and more.
Sign up here to volunteer! Questions???? Call/text//email Anika Marpaka (anikaamin@yahoo.com or 703 855 0500)
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Help Us Erase Student Lunch Debt
Please consider donating to eliminate school lunch debt through our Educate Fairfax platform. All donations are tax deductible; you will receive a receipt for tax deduction purposes.
News, Updates & Resources
from FCPS
Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS): A Military Family Orientation
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and Thursday, September 17, 2026
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
This virtual presentation will be held via Zoom on Tuesday September 15, 2026, from 6-7 p.m., and Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please fill out the Military GTK registration form to sign up and receive the Zoom link.
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Student ID Cards for Fairhill Bus Riders
We have distributed student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.
ID cards should be worn or attached to your child’s backpack and brought to the bus each day.
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 are checking in students 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.
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. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for their children. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible children continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
Download the FCPS App Today!
The FCPS Mobile App offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS Mobile App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
With the app, you can:
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View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
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Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
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Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launched July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app became 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. Although enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. If you need assistance, submit a Parent Support Request.
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Get The App and Save the Site!
Now would be a great time to download important FCPS apps and bookmark key pages to set you up for the school year. Below are our recommendations and their specific use.
Apps:
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ParentVUE - The SIS ParentVUE Account (Student Information System ParentVUE Account) is the FCPS secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and link to Schoology. It provides an additional conduit for communication with your child's school.
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Here Comes the Bus - Know when your bus is approaching your stop! Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that provides real-time bus location. This helps parents and students get to the bus stop on time. Here Comes the Bus® utilizes our GPS data and is available on multiple devices. The FCPS school district code 28982, and you will need your SIS Parent Account set up first.
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Talking Points - TalkingPoints is an easy and safe way families can communicate in their home languages with their child’s teachers for free. We will be using this platform to communicate with you about your child’s education and progress.
Bookmarks:
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LinqConnect - Find out what’s for lunch each day!
- Or, follow FCPS Food and Nutrition Services for weekly updates on Instagram and/or Facebook.
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MySchoolBucks - Online payment for student fees (e.g. field trips), lunch accounts, and school store items are available through the MySchoolBucks School Store. This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to pay for school-related purchases. You will be able to pay for a variety of school fees using credit/debit cards or electronic checks.
News from Fairfax County Government
Family Information Phone Lines
FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about family information phone lines.
Fairfax County Government Programs & Services
Fairfax County Health Department – Public Health Center Services (Ongoing)
The Fairfax County Health Department continues to offer a wide range of public health services for children, adults, and families at locations throughout Fairfax County. Services include immunizations, maternal and child health care, HIV/STI testing and counseling, tuberculosis services, pregnancy testing, WIC nutrition support, vital records, and eye care assistance for eligible residents. Walk-ins and appointments are available at Annandale, Herndon-Reston, Mount Vernon, and Franconia-Springfield locations.
Health Department Services & WIC Information (Ongoing)
The Fairfax County Health Department is providing ongoing community health services including environmental health, communicable disease support, refugee services, maternity services, school immunizations, TB testing and treatment, and WIC nutrition assistance. Multiple WIC offices and public health centers remain available across Fairfax County to support families and residents.
- Updated Fairfax County Health Department Flyer (English) (Spanish)
- Contact for more information: 703-246-2411 | WIC Information Line: 703-246-5599
Inova Health System – Community Health Programs for Children (Ongoing Services Available Year-Round) Inova offers a variety of free or low-cost healthcare resources for children, including assistance with Medicaid/FAMIS applications, primary care services for children with Medicaid or no insurance, free virtual nutrition and cooking classes, and care coordination for children with special healthcare needs. Families can access preventive care, immunizations, school and sports physicals, nutrition counseling, and support services at no cost or reduced cost.
Important Fairhill Contact Information
Fairhill Phone Numbers:
Main Office 703-208-8100
• Health Room 703-208-8110
• Cafeteria 703-208-8121
Administration e-mail addresses:
• Principal, Ted Cooper: egcooper@fcps.edu
• Assistant Principal, Maura Cotter: mkcotter@fcps.edu
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