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Dear Thoreau Families,
Thank you to all the parents and guardians who joined us yesterday evening for our annual Back to School Night! Our teachers deeply value your partnership, and we appreciate your engagement in supporting our students' success. If you were not able to attend, teachers will be posting their presentations to their Schoology sites by early next week.
On-Time Arrival to Class
We are dedicated to helping our students make the most of every learning opportunity. Starting next week, class tardies will be tracked by period and reset each quarter. Arriving on time gives students the space to settle in, feel prepared, and begin every class with confidence. We ask families to talk with their students about planning ahead, moving promptly between classes, and arriving on time for both instruction and lunch.
Tardies will be recorded in SIS as UNT (Unexcused Tardy) and we encourage you to check on your child’s attendance throughout the year. Our staff will continue to work closely with families to reinforce positive attendance habits, and we are committed to providing additional support whenever a student needs help getting back on track.
OpenGate Weapons Detection Reminders
To help morning arrival through OpenGate run quickly and smoothly, we need your assistance! Please remind your student to remove metal items from their backpack before passing through the scanners. Laptops, 3-ring binders, eyeglass cases, eyelash curlers, and umbrellas left inside bags trigger alarms and delay the line. Encouraging your child to take out these items in the car or on their walk up to school makes a significant difference. Thank you for helping keep Thoreau safe, efficient, and ready to learn!
We wish you a wonderful holiday weekend and look forward to welcoming our Eagles back to school on Tuesday, September 8th!
Sincerely,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
We will distribute student ID cards to all students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services on Tuesday, September 8th. If your student registered for Thoreau after July 2, 2026, they may receive their ID at a later date. Students without bus IDs will still be eligible to ride their assigned bus; they will just have to check in with the bus driver upon onboarding.
ID cards should be inserted into your student’s yondr pouch where the name card is 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.
After-School Programs Begin the Week of September 14!
We’re excited to get after-school activities underway at Thoreau! If you have not registered your student for after-school yet, please complete the After-School Registration Form. All students participating in after-school activities must be registered.
Our first activity schedule will be posted by September 11, with programming and late buses beginning the week of September 14.
Late buses will be available Monday–Thursday. Parent/guardian pick-up is required for Friday activities.
New clubs, activities, and opportunities will continue to be added throughout the school year, so be sure to check back for updates!
Cross Country practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first after-school session only. Students will begin practice in a gym for attendance and to change into appropriate practice attire if needed. The team will then head outside by approximately 2:20 p.m.
Students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:
- A completed FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). This must be submitted to school before any kind of participation, including tryouts or practice as a member of any school Interscholastic competitive athletic team. Once this packet is completed in it's entirety, you (or your student) can drop it off at the main office.
- Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will complete a registration process (coming soon!) that includes the state-mandated concussion education program and Emergency Care Card information before the student participates in middle school sports. Additionally, you must complete the Thoreau MS Registration Link - https://forms.gle/Y5GSVGUXFusd6ECJ8
- Any student participating in voluntary after school athletic programs, must have medical/accident insurance. Families may choose to purchase student accident coverage, serviced by K&K Insurance Group Inc. to satisfy this requirement.
- Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.
For more information on FCPS Middle School Sports, go to the Student Athlete page of the FCPS website.
📧 Questions?
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding Cross Country, please feel free to contact:
Athletic Coordinator: Krissy Schnebel - kaschnebel@fcps.edu
Head Coach, Cross Country: Raja Anderson - rranderson1@fcps.edu
After-School Specialist: Walter Pegues - wlpegues@fcps.edu
Registration for the World Languages Credit by Exam:
Registration begins on Tuesday, September 9th and closes on Friday, October 16th at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. If that language is one of the languages listed on the FCPS website, consider registering your student for the World Languages Credit by Exam!
The 2026 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Thoreau Middle School during the Week of November 9th. More details about the test date will be sent out after the registration deadline closes.
Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available on the FCPS website.
All students in Grades 2-7 may be screened for Advanced Academics services by referral. The referral window is open from the first day of school through December 15, annually for returning FCPS families. Do not wait for test scores or the universal screener referral. No referrals for Full-Time screening will be accepted after the spring screening deadline of December 15, annually. Families who are new to the county as of January 2026 may submit a referral for fall screening. This includes any family that was in private school or even families that were in the county but left for a gap. The deadline for fall screening referrals is October 15th. The deadline for spring screening referrals is December 15th.
Administrators, teachers, parents or guardians, students or peers, or other adults who know of a child’s advanced potential may submit an Advanced Academic Full-Time Referral Form. The completed form should be submitted to the AART: Hannah Converse (hpconverse@fcps.edu). You will receive, in writing, receipt of the referral.
Click here for further information on Advanced Academics in FCPS
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We’re excited to share information about Twice-Exceptional (2e) Programming available within our school system. Twice-exceptional students demonstrate advanced abilities while also experiencing learning, attention, or other challenges that may require additional support.
Please view the attached flyer to learn more about 2e programming, available resources, and opportunities to support the unique strengths and needs of twice-exceptional learners. You can also visit the FCPS 2e webpage for additional information and resources.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Hannah Converse at hpconverse@fcps.edu.
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We'd love to offer our students academic enrichment opportunities here at Thoreau after school, but we are in need of volunteer sponsors! If you are interested in volunteering to sponsor an after school academic enrichment club at Thoreau, please contact Hannah Converse, AART. Hannah's email: hpconverse@fcps.edu
Hi Thoreau families! My name is Elizabeth Imas, and I have been Thoreau’s Family Liaison since 2024. I’m here to welcome and support our families and help them feel connected to our school.
As a Family Liaison, I serve as a bridge between families, the school, and the community. I can help families navigate FCPS and school procedures, connect with teachers, counselors, and administrators, complete forms, and find the right resources and support when needed. Whether you are new to the school or have been part of our school for years, please know that you can always reach out to me. If you’re not sure who to contact about something, I’ll be happy to help you find the right person or place to start. My goal is to help families feel welcomed, informed, connected, and involved in our school community. I look forward to getting to know you and working together to support our students!
At the end of the day, what makes me happiest is knowing that I was able to help one of our families, even in a small way.
A little more about me: I’m originally from Argentina, and I love having mate, visiting museums, and practicing yoga. And of course, as an Argentine soccer fan, I have to say… Lionel Messi is one of my favorites! 😉
Please feel free to message me through TalkingPoints. You can also reach out by email at elimas@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-846-8007.
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.
Middle school students enrolled in Math 6 through Algebra 2 will be using new textbooks this school year. A committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers reviewed materials and provided input on the selection. Schools should receive textbooks to distribute to students in September.
Building a Brighter Future, Together: FCPS Family Academy
FCPS has introduced new parent controls in the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help families manage web access on FCPS-issued devices outside of school hours.
Through the Lightspeed Parent Portal, parents can now:
- Set Custom Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times and days (e.g., bedtime, homework, or family hours).
- Create Custom Web Rules: Add specific websites to a custom block list to restrict access on their child's device. Note: Parent settings do not affect or override district web filtering policies during the instructional day.
- Parent Registration: Parents can sign up using the link found at the bottom of their weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
For additional details, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website
The FCPS Family Academy is where families can learn and get support for their child’s school journey.
We know that parents and caregivers are critically important in their child’s education. The Family Academy lists classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. The Family Academy also includes information about resources available to help every family ensure their child has what they need to succeed.
Visit the Family Academy webpage. Check out its catalog for upcoming classes, workshops, and webinars to help families learn about FCPS, parenting, early literacy, and how to partner with schools.
Calling all 6th–8th grade students interested in marching band! Oakton High School invites future Cougars to experience a night with the Marching Cougars on Friday, October 9, 2026, during the Oakton vs. South Lakes football game.
Students can participate by playing the fight song and National Anthem, spinning with the Color Guard, watching the halftime show, or cheering on the Cougars!
📍 Arrival: 6:00 p.m. at Door 7 (back of Oakton High School) 🎟️ Parent Admission: $7 👨👩👧 Parents must enter through Door 7 to sign in their student.
https://www.oaktonbands.org/future-cougar-night
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With the upcoming 25th anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
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Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11. That day is an evening-only observance day. Important events will not be held after school.
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