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Recess smiles! Our students enjoyed some fresh air, playground fun, and time with friends.
Dear Bailey’s Upper Families,
We had yet another amazing week here at Bailey’s Upper! Our students continue to learn, grow, and make us proud each day.
Next week, we will begin some of our benchmark testing. Students will take both i-Ready (literacy diagnostic) and MAP (math diagnostic) assessments. We will remind them that these assessments are simply an opportunity to show what they know and help us understand how to best support their learning. We will encourage them to try their best, take their time, and be proud of their effort. You can do the same!
We are also incredibly excited for Back to School Night! We cannot wait to welcome you into our school and classrooms. We have shared videos with important school information for you to view ahead of time so that you can spend more time with your child’s teacher learning about their specific classroom, daily routines, and the wonderful learning taking place this year. All presentations will be available in both English and Spanish.
Our students also completed their first math unit test. At some point this week, they will bring home their goal-setting folder. Please take a few minutes to review it with your child, celebrate their accomplishments, and talk together about what they can continue working on. These conversations are such a meaningful way to help students take ownership of their learning and feel proud of their progress.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please do not send ANY toys to school. We are seeing a lot of dumplings /fidgets being used as toys and not fidgets during the day. We can not be responsible for toys, fidgets, Pokémon cards, or anything brought from home that should not be at school.
We are looking forward to another wonderful week!
Go Tigers! 🐯
With love,The Bailey’s Upper Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- Back to School Night Flyer (English & Spanish)
- PTA Odyssey of the Mind (English & Spanish)
- PTA General Meeting Flyer (English & Spanish)
Please take a few minutes to review these items with your student so you stay up-to-date with all the exciting things happening in our school community!
Today, Sunday, September 13 is the last day to sign up for OM! Looking for a creative challenge for your child? Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a PTA-led after-school opportunity where students build creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and performance skills by working together on fun challenges!
🧠 Important Information
- 🎟️ Students are selected through a lottery
- 👥 The number of available spots depends on volunteer coaches
- 🙋 Parent Head Coaches are guaranteed spot for their child(ren)
- 📅 Meeting schedules/locations are determined by each team, usually weekly at primary, library, or a home
- 📅Teams meet from October-March working towards the regional tournament on Saturday, March 6 at Oakton HS.
- 💙 Financial Aid is available
Watch this video to learn more about OM:
Apply for your child to participate:
Apply to coach:
Read all about OM at Bailey’s here:
Watch the recent info Zoom here:
Questions? Email Suzanne Lay at 📧 odyssey@baileyspta.org
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Students explored rhythm and beat in music class while learning and playing together with tambourines!
At Bailey’s Upper ES, our number one responsibility is to ensure the safety of our students and staff at all times. We continually work with county leaders to ensure coordinated responses to potential safety concerns and we practice emergency drills on a regular basis throughout the school year. We will hold fire drills, Lockdown Drills, Bus Evacuation and Tornado drills periodically throughout the year.
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.
We plan to have our first lockdown drill of the school year the week of September 14, 2026, at Bailey’s Upper ES.
Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child. Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.
During a lockdown drill:
- All students stay in place with a teacher or staff member.
- Students and teachers remain in locked classrooms, unobservable from outside (lights-off, window blinds closed, door windows obscured with paper) and outside potential lines of fire.)
- Students and staff members disregard fire alarms.
- No one enters or exits the school, except public safety personnel.
- Persons in trailers remain in locked trailers.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
If students, staff, or families have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Bailey’s families are invited to join our upcoming PTA Meeting! Come connect with other families, hear important school updates, learn about upcoming events and programs, and share your ideas and feedback. Your voice is an important part of our school community!
📅 Meeting Information
- 🗓️ September 14, 2026
- 🚪 Doors Open: 6:00 PM
- ⏰ Meeting Begins: 6:30 PM
- 💙 Free Childcare will be provided.
- 📍 Bailey’s Primary
6111 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church, VA 22041
🌟 Meeting Agenda
- 👋 Welcome & Introductions
- 🏫 Principal’s Update
- 📅 School Events & Upcoming Programs
- 💬 Parent Feedback & Open Discussion
🧸 Child Care Available
Child care will be provided! Families using child care are encouraged to arrive early to allow time to sign in their child(ren).
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of connection, conversation, and partnership! 🐯💙🧡
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Bailey’s Upper families are invited to join us for Back to School Night! Come connect with your child’s teacher, learn more about the school year, explore helpful resources, and choose from family workshops. We look forward to welcoming you! 💙🧡
📅 Event Information
- 🗓️ Wednesday, September 16
- ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
🌟 Schedule
- 🎪 6:00–8:00 PM: Resource Fair during breaks
- 🍎 6:15–6:45 PM: Classroom Presentation #1
- 💡 6:50–7:10 PM: Choose a Workshop or visit the Resource Fair
- 🍎 7:15–7:45 PM: Classroom Presentation #2
Both classroom presentations are the same—you only need to attend one!
🚌 Free Bus Transportation Available!
📍 Pick-up will be at Bailey’s Primary beginning at 5:45 PM, with shuttle service continuing throughout the evening.
🚗 Parking is limited, so families are encouraged to carpool or use the free shuttle.
🎥 Get Ready for Back to School Night!
1: Who We Are & What We Believe
Learn about our mission statement and meet members of our team.
2: Staying Connected
Learn about attendance, communication, and ways to volunteer and stay involved.
3: Teaching, Learning & Measuring Growth
Learn about academics, curriculum, and how we measure student success.
We hope you’ll follow along with our videos and join us Wednesday evening for a wonderful night of learning, connection, and community! 💙🧡🐯
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Two of our Tigers focused on building their math skills through independent practice.
Let’s show our school pride and celebrate AVID Spirit Day at Bailey’s Upper! Students are invited to represent their favorite college, university, or school by wearing school colors, a T-shirt, sweatshirt, or other school gear. 💙🧡
🌟 Spirit Day Information
- 📅 Friday, September 18
- 👕 Wear your favorite school or college swag!
- 🎓 Show off your school pride and future goals!
We can’t wait to see our Tigers representing their favorite schools and dreaming big about their futures! 🐯
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A friendly reminder that school will be closed on Monday, September 21, in observance of Yom Kippur.
🐯 Students return to school on Tuesday, September 22nd.
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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-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 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
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 Tests (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Hugo Duran, School Testing Coordinator, at haduran1@fcps.edu by September 30.
Families are invited to attend our AAP information meeting, led by Sue Lackey & Reilly McDonald, our Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AART):
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October 1, 2026 @ Bailey’s Primary at 9am and 5pm. Both sessions cover the same content. Spanish interpretation will be available.
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AAP Continuum of Services: Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Sue Lackey, AART, at salackey@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
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Our Bailey’s Upper and Bailey’s Primary Assistant Principals teamed up for our SR&R Parent Coffee, helping families learn more about student expectations, rights, and responsibilities for a successful school year.
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Sunday, September 13th- Deadline to sign up for Odyssey of the Mind
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Monday, September 14th- PTA General Meeting at Bailey's Primary Cafeteria. Doors Open at 6:00pm, Meeting begins 6:30pm
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Wednesday, September 16th- Back to School Night 6:00pm-8:00pm
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Friday, September 18th- AVID Spirit Day at Upper
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Monday, September 21st- No School: Yom Kippur
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Thursday, September 24th- PTA Fundraising Event 3:00pm-9:00pm @ Fairfax Chuck E. Cheese
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Thursday, October 1st- AAP Information Meeting
- Morning Session: 9am @ Bailey's Primary Cafeteria
- Evening Session: 6pm @ Bailey's Primary Cafeteria
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Tuesday, October 15th- Student Picture Day
Bailey's Upper September 2026 Calendar
What does belonging look like in our school? At Bailey's Upper, we are creating inclusive, supportive environments where every student feels known, valued, and connected — the second goal of the Strategic Plan. From mentoring to cross-grade collaboration, when students feel safe and supported, they can truly thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. See how Goal 2 is being put into practice at FCPS.
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We caught two of our Tigers sharing smiles in the hallway between classes!
The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.
Families, please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to your child’s school.
Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.
Cellphones and Personal Devices
Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. Learn more about the student device requirement.
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
Even though FCPS has launched a new bus navigation system, some aspects like the new FCPS My Ride mobile app are still in development. Families should still use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to track the location of their child’s bus. This app is still compatible with the new system.
FCPS will notify families and schools when the new app is ready to download and use. In the meantime, everyone should reinforce with students that they need to tap on and off the bus with their student ID cards.
Did you already download the new app? That’s okay! The new app is in the final stage of testing, so some features are not yet fully functional. At this time, you should refer to Here Comes the Bus for the most accurate information.
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September is Attendance Awareness Month. Some of the ways parents can help their children create healthy routines and a habit of getting to school on time every day include:
- Setting a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
- Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
- Talking to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning, if they seem anxious about going to school.
- Developing back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoiding medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
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Our 5th grade patrols were hard at work during dismissal, helping keep things safe, organized, and running smoothly!
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the health and well-being of our students continues to be one of our priorities. Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will be taking place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):
- Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
- Monday, September 28, at Riverside Elementary School
- Monday, October 19, at Spring Hill Elementary School
- Monday, October 26, at Beech Tree Elementary School
- Thursday, October 29, at North Springfield Elementary School
- Friday, November 13, at Colin Powell Elementary School
Registration links will be shared soon. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
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