In this Paw Print:
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School News:
- Principal's Message 🗣️
- Where in the School is Ms. Andujar 🔎
- SCA Spirit Day 🧦👒
- Lockdown Drill 🔒🦺
- Paw Tech Squad Application 💻
- House T-Shirt Design Contest 👕
- Yearbook Cover Art Contest 🎨
- Advanced Academics Newsletter 🧠
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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,
It was another great week here at Poplar Tree! Walking through the hallways, we have seen so many smiling faces, engaging classroom lessons, and students building new friendships. Our routines are settling in smoothly, and the positive energy across our school is contagious!
As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11, we join our community in honoring Patriot Day. Reflecting on this significant day reminds us of the values that unite us: hope, resilience, and a shared commitment to caring for one another.
Looking ahead, we have two important events next week that we hope you will join us for:
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PTA Meeting: Join us virtually or in person for our first PTA meeting of the year. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents, hear about upcoming school initiatives, and learn how you can get involved.
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Back to School Night (BTSN): Wednesday, September 16 is Back to School Night for Grades 3-6 and Ms. Sitter's Kindergarten.
Enjoy a restful and wonderful weekend!
Sue Andujar, Principal
Amy Alley, Assistant Principal
Where in the School is Ms. Andujar?
Watch the video linked below to see Ms. Andujar visit the gym and catch a 5th grade class doing one of everyone's favorite activities - the parachute!
SCA Spirit Day
Crazy Socks and Hats Day 🧦👒
Friday, September 18th is Crazy Socks and Hats Day! Wear your silliest socks and or hat to show your school spirit! Be creative, be colorful, be you!
🦺 Lockdown Drill 🔒
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.
A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. We will have our first lockdown drill of the year on Thursday, September 15. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.
We will conduct a lockdown drill at our school soon. Our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are exempt from mandatory participation in lockdown drills during the first 60 days of the school year. They will participate in our second and final drill later this school year.
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.
💻Paw Tech Squad Applications📑
Students in Grades 4-6 can apply to be a part of the Poplar Tree Paw Tech Squad. This group of students support the technology needs of our school community and meet bi-weekly for lunch to learn new things and work on various technology projects
Students must apply for the Paw Tech Squad just as they would apply for a real world job. They must complete a digital resume highlighting some of their technology skills. They also have to complete a form indicating why they want to be a part of the squad. After they have submitted their application, they will also have a short interview!
The applications are now open will be due by Friday, September 25. The applications are available in the Student Schoology course. We will be announcing the application process on the Good Morning Poplar Tree news show starting next week!
If your child has any questions about the application process, feel free to reach out to Ms. Leisey, lfleisey@fcps.edu. THANK YOU!
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! 🎨✨
Advanced Academic Programs
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 Leslie Leisey, School Testing Coordinator, at lfleisey@fcps.edu by September 30.
Poplar Tree families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Kim Keleher, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: September 22 from 6:30-7:00 virtually. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students. Join Virtually via ZOOM at this link
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Full-Time AAP Identification: October 22 at 9:30. We will offer a hybrid meeting inviting families in person and online. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services. Join Virtually via ZOOM at this link
For more information, please contact Kim Keleher, AART, at kjkeleher@fcps.edu or visit the Poplar Tree Advanced Academic Programs website.
 
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 16!
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 👟
📢Poplar Tree families, please help us reach 100+ registrants for the Asha-Jyothi 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Fairfax Corner! Reaching our goal could unlock an additional $2,000 grant for new library furniture and a STEAM program. Participation in the actual run is not required—registering alone helps support our school.
Follow this link to register: https://asha-jyothi.redpodium.com/2026fairfax5k.
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