In this Paw Print:
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School News:
- Principal's Message 🗣️
- Where in the School is Ms. Andujar 🔎
- Join the Poplar Tree Chorus! 🎶
- House T-Shirt Design Contest 👕
- Yearbook Cover Art Contest 🎨
- We STILL need a cafeteria hostess! 🍕
- Notification of Fall Academic Screening & Growth Testing 📝
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PTA News:
- Library Volunteers Needed! 📚
- Poplar Tree Free T-Shirts! 👚
- Bartaco Spirit Night 🌮
- iCode Clifton Back to School 💻
- PTA General Meeting 🐾
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Community News:
Dear families,
We've had a great 2nd week here at Poplar Tree! It's hard to believe we've already been in school for 9 days! Our staff and students have worked hard building community, learning routines, and getting settled into new schedules. They have eared their 4 day weekend!
As a reminder, we will have Back to School Night these next couple weeks. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
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K-2 Back to School Night
- Wednesday, September 9
- 6:00 - 7:00 pm
- FLE Preview will be from 7:00 - 7:30 pm
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3-6 Back to School Night
- Wednesday, September 16
- 6:00 - 7:00 pm
- FLE Preview will be from 7:00 - 7:30 pm
We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and has a relaxing and fun Labor Day holiday!
Sue Andujar, Principal
Amy Alley, Assistant Principal
Where in the School is Ms. Andujar?
Watch the video linked below to hear from Ms. Andujar about our new incentive system in the cafeteria!
 Attention 5th & 6th Graders:
Join the Poplar Tree Chorus! 🎶
Registration is open to all 5th & 6th graders for Chorus here at Poplar Tree! Practice your Panther PRIDE and Portrait of a Graduate skills while singing music that will be both challenging and fun! As a Chorus member you'll get to:
- Perform in concerts
- Sing music in different languages
- Sing music from other cultures
- Perform with singers from other FCPS schools
- And much more!
Registration is due Friday, September 11th. Click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/ptchorus27
House T-Shirt Design Contest 👕
Does your Panther want to design our new House T-Shirts?! The design contest is happening NOW!
Each T-shirt design should:
- Represent our entire school community
- Incorporate our theme Panther Pride Begins with Me
- Use only Black or Gray so it can work on any color T-Shirt
- Can be paper/pencil or digital!
Students can submit their design into the form in the Student Schoology course and also linked HERE by Friday, September 18!
Yearbook Cover Art Contest!🎨
Calling all Poplar Tree artists! Students are invited to create a design for our 2026–2027 yearbook cover featuring this year’s theme: “Panther Pride Begins with Me!”
Artwork should be on standard-size paper in portrait orientation and include “Poplar Tree Elementary 2026–2027.” Be sure to put the artist’s name and teacher on the back.
📚 Submit entries to Mrs. Riddile in the library by Friday, October 2!
We can’t wait to see what our creative Panthers come up with! 🎨✨
We STILL need a Cafe Hostess!🍕
We are STILL in need of a cafeteria hostess! This is a job that would be needed Monday - Friday from 10:30 am - 2:00 pm. If you are interested, please email our Assistant Principal Amy Alley - avalley@fcps.edu.
Academic Screening & Growth Testing - Grades PreK-2
The Virginia government requires assessments for the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) in all schools. These assessments help state officials understand literacy and school readiness needs across Virginia. Additionally, the mathematics assessment in grades 1-2 fulfills a Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) MultiTiered Systems of Support (MTSS) requirement. Test results help teachers, school leaders, and parents know how to support each student’s learning and development. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage provides more information on these tests.
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Grade
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Literacy Assessment
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Mathematics Assessment
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Behavior
Assessment
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PreK -K
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Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)
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Early Mathematics Assessment System (EMAS)
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Child Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS)
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1-2
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VALLSS
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Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
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none
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Teachers assess all PreK-2 students with the VALLSS in fall, winter, and spring. Grade PreK-K EMAS and CBRS tests are given in fall and spring. In grades 1-2, all students take the MAP. Math test in fall, winter, and spring. Tests are delivered within the classroom instructional block. Teachers set specific testing dates for each class. General timing for required screening is
available on the Grade Level Tests webpage.
Based on academic screening results, some students may require a reading plan or math intervention plan. Some students may need additional diagnostic tests to help teachers determine specific areas for support. If you have questions about academic screening, growth, or diagnostic tests, please contact your child's teacher or one of our School Testing Coordinators - Amy Alley and Leslie Leisey.
Academic Screening & Growth Testing - Grades 3-6
The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require schools to provide reading and mathematics screening tests for all students in grades 3-8. These assessments also fulfill a requirement for reading and mathematics growth assessments within the Virginia Assessment Program (VAP). Test results help families and teachers know how to support each student’s learning and development.
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MAP: Measures of Academic Progress in Math - required for all students who are scheduled to take the spring Standards of Learning (SOL)
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iReady Reading - required for all students who are scheduled to take the spring SOL
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Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) - required for certain students based on other reading performance data
If your student is identified to participate in VALLSS, you will receive additional communication from your student’s school with details about this assessment. Families may also choose to opt-in to VALLSS participation by contacting their student’s teacher.
Teachers assess grade 3-8 students with MAP Math, iReady Reading, and VALLSS in fall, winter, andspring. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage provides more information on these tests.
iReady and MAP tests are generally delivered during the classroom instructional block. The division schedule for iReady, MAP, and VALLSS tests can be found on the Grade Level Tests webpage. Teachers set specific testing schedules for students in their class.
Based on academic screening results, some students may require a reading plan or math intervention plan. Some students may require additional diagnostic tests to help teachers determine specific areas
for support. If you have questions about academic screening, growth, or diagnostic tests, please contact your child's teacher or one of our School Testing Coordinators - Amy Alley and Leslie Leisey.
 
Library Volunteers Needed!
- ❤️Want to spend a little time among the books (and some pretty great kids)? K–3 library volunteer sign-ups are OPEN!
- 📚Come help us with check-out, shelving, and keeping the library magic going. Head to https://www.poplartreepta.org/volunteers and click “Library Volunteers” to find your child’s class.
- 🐾 4th–6th grade families: Your turn is coming! We’ll add those sign-ups as soon as specials groups are finalized.
We’d love to see you in the library this year!
 Free Poplar Tree T-Shirts! 👚
Caregivers, the PTA will be giving house shirts to ALL students and teachers again this year! We need student sizes by Wednesday, September 9!
Submit your size HERE before the deadline to be entered in a raffle to win this awesome 12" Squishmallow!
Does your Panther want to design this year’s shirt? Keep an eye on the Paw Print for more information.
Bartaco Spirit Night 🌮
Every Tuesday in September!
We're partnering with Bartaco for fundraiser nights that give 10% back while also giving families a little escape.
Dates + Times:
Every Tuesday in September from 5 - 7pm!!
9/1; 9/8; 9/15; 9/22; 9/29
How it works:
1. Spirit nights are only on the dates and times above
2. Dine-in at your local Bartaco
3. Mention our organization (Poplar Tree PTA) at checkout to have 10% of sales donated back to us
Nearest Bartaco:
Reston Town Center
12021 Town Square St.
iCode Clifton🎮
Need help with child care for back to school nights?
iCode Clifton has you covered!
$10 per child, including gaming, robotics, and snacks.
September 9 or September 16 from 5:45 - 7:45pm
5754 Union Mill Rd #19, Clifton, VA 20124
For more information and signups, click on the dates below!
PTA General Meeting 🐾
Join us for the first PTA meeting of the year on September 14 at 6 p.m. Please join our fall meeting to vote on the budget, learn more about upcoming PTA programs and opportunities for students, hear more about volunteer opportunities, and get an update from school leadership.
Join us in person at the school or online via Zoom!
Annual Asha-Jyothi 5K 👟
The annual Asha-Jyothi 5K and One Mile Fun Run will be held on Sunday, September 20 at Fairfax Corner. The one mile fun run begins at 8 am, and the 5K begins at 8:30 am. Registration includes a T-shirt, kids' medals, food, and Bollywood music!
Register here and use coupon code AJ4SCHOOLS for a direct school donation to Poplar Tree! 100% of registration fees are donated back!
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