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Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
The second week of school has brought many moments worth celebrating! Students are becoming more independent, friendships are developing, and teachers are creating engaging opportunities for students to think deeply, ask questions, and share their ideas. Throughout the building, our Mighty Red Birds are showing care for one another and embracing the routines and responsibilities of being part of our school community.
We are grateful for the energy, encouragement, and support our families continue to provide at home. These early weeks are helping establish the relationships, habits, and sense of belonging that will support students throughout the year. We hope you enjoy the long weekend and have time to rest, recharge, and make special memories together!
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Long, Mrs. Agner, Mrs. Compton
Upcoming Dates 📅
🗓️ September 4 - 7- NO SCHOOL (Labor Day Holiday)
🗓️ September 16 - Back to School Night
- 5:50 - Doors Open
- 6:00 - 6:30 - PTA Meeting (Cafeteria)
- 6:35 - 7:10 - Session 1
- 7:15 - 8:00 - Session 2 (repeat of Session 1)
🗓️ September 21 - NO SCHOOL (Yom Kippur)
🗓️ September 30 - 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday
Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
🌟Mrs. Long's Blueprint Byte
Cardinal Forest is a Professional Learning Community (PLC), and teachers meet regularly as Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs) to strengthen instruction and support the success of every student. Across all CLTs, teams ask four essential questions: What do we want students to learn? How will we know they have learned it? What will we do when they have not learned it? What will we do when they already know it? This thoughtful collaboration helps teams plan responsive instruction and ensure every student receives the support and challenge they need to thrive.
Attendance Awareness Month
Want your child to succeed in school, and in life? 📚 It starts with showing up. Daily routines at home help students build the academic skills and real-world habits they need to thrive. Here's how you can help:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine
- Pack bags and pick outfits the night before
- Talk through any school worries with a teacher, school counselor, the administrative leadership team, or other parents
- Make a backup plan for getting to school if something comes up
- Schedule trips and appointments outside school hours when possible
Showing up is the first step to thriving academically, and parents play a crucial role in making every day count.
Need help in supporting your child's attendance? We have resources! See our tips on how to encourage positive school attendance in elementary school: https://bit.ly/3TP2gdB
Boundary Study Community Meeting on September 14
Fairfax County Public Schools is moving into the second phase of the boundary study for Rolling Valley Elementary School student planning area (SPA) 8922 middle and high school feeders, and Keene Mill Elementary School attendance island and surrounding schools (e.g., Cardinal Forest and White Oaks elementary schools).
Families are invited to attend a community meeting to learn about the revised draft scenarios on Monday, September 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Cardinal Forest Elementary School. You may register to attend by clicking in person or virtual, based on your preference.
As a reminder, the revised draft scenarios will focus on addressing over capacity at Cardinal Forest, the Keene Mill attendance island, and the elementary school assignment only for SPA 8922.
Visit the FCPS website for more information about the Rolling Valley Elementary School Middle and High School Feeders, and Keene Mill Elementary School Attendance Island and Surrounding Schools Boundary Study.
Advanced Academic Programs Information
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:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3 to 7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2 to 7 may be referred by December 15.
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 [NAME], school testing coordinator, at [EMAIL] by September 30.
Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings led by [NAME], our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: October 8, 2026 at 5:30pm. This meeting will be held virtually - a sign up for the link will be coming soon!
- Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: October 16, 2026 at 5:30pm in the library at Cardinal Forest. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Ashlynne Rico, AART, at arico@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
Forms and Links
Please access the Cardinal Forest Parent Links to fill out the Digital Consent Forms and review key family resources. We recommend you save these for easy access throughout the year!
Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-2027
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.
Please view the dates for our school’s early release Wednesdays below:
- September 30
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.
Arrival and Dismissal - Be A Good Neighbor!
Please help us keep arrival and dismissal times safe and smooth for everyone. We ask families to be good neighbors and mindful of:
- Not blocking intersections or painted boxes during Kiss & Ride —this impacts visibility and also prohibits access for emergency vehicles.
- Crossing only in crosswalks and watching carefully for cars.
- Avoiding parking in residential areas, fire lanes, or private parking spaces.
- Refraining from making illegal U-turns.
- No pets are allowed on school property.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
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- 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.
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