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09/16 Fall Picture Day (8:45am, Gym)
09/17 Back to School Night (5:30-7:30pm)
AAP Information Night (5:30-7:30pm, Room 135)
09/18 PTA Sponsored Chuck E Cheese Fundraising Night
(4:00pm, 9404 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031)
09/21 Student Holiday-Yom Kippur (No School)
09/25 Student Parent Luncheon (Lunch time, Cafeteria)
09/30 3-Hours Early Release -Dismissal time 12:20pm
1st Quarter Interim’s Sent Home
10/05 Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
10/12 Student Holiday-Indigenous People's Day
Teacher Workday (No School)
10/22 AAP Information Night (5:00 pm, Cafeteria)
10/30 End of 1st Quarter
2-Hour Early Student Release - Dismissal time 1:20 pm
 Our students are continuing to settle into their routines, building relationships, and showing us more and more of who they are as learners each day. It has been wonderful to see students becoming more comfortable in their classrooms, connecting with their teachers and classmates, and embracing all that Annandale Terrace Elementary School has to offer. While we know the beginning of a school year comes with lots of learning and adjusting, we are proud of the progress our students have already made.
Thank you to our families for continuing to partner with us as we build strong habits and routines. Your support at home makes such a difference, and we appreciate the encouragement you give your children each day.
As we move forward, we will continue focusing on learning, belonging, and growing together. We want every Cougar to feel safe, supported, challenged, and excited to come to school each day. We are looking forward to building on this strong start and making even more progress together!
Below are pictures from this past week's learning:
We also want to take time to express our gratitude for the generous donations received this week. A former parent dropped off backpacks filled with school supplies for students in need, and Reading Is Fundamental gifted us 200 string bags containing books. We are deeply grateful for these wonderful contributions to our school community!
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 Back to School Night will be on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 5:30PM – 7:30PM. Each grade level, including PreK/Head Start, will present three sessions to accommodate families with more than one elementary aged child. See above for the locations where each grade level will meet.
Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Michelle Carr-Hogan, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: Back to School Night, September 17th at 5:30 – 7:30pm in Room 135. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: October 22nd at 5pm in Cafeteria. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Michelle Carr-Hogan, AART, at mccarrhogan@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
 Chuck E Cheese fundraiser night is scheduled tonight on Friday, September 18th from 4:00-8:30pm at the main street, Fairfax location. The flyers and coupons will be sent home in the Wednesday folders. Do join the fun this evening and help make this event a success. Don't forget to mention Annandale Terrace every time you make a purchase. All proceeds will benefit ATES PTA. Thank you!
 We will celebrate the ATES Attendance Awareness Spirit Week with a few events:
- Monday, September 22nd: No school due to Yom Kippur Holiday.
- Tuesday, September 22nd: Good Attendance Leads to Bright Futures! Wear neon colors or sunglasses!
- Wednesday, September 23rd: Attendance Today, Achieve Tomorrow! Wear college attire or ATES school spirit to promote schools now and in the future!
- Thursday, September 24th: Great Attendance is TIED to Great Learning! Wear tie dye clothing or a tie!
- Friday, September 25th: Roll Out of Bed and Get to School! Wear pajamas or comfy clothes!
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.
 The Family Engagement Committee is sponsoring the Student-Parent Lunch Day on Friday, September 25, 2026. Parents are invited to have lunch with their students during their lunch time. This event is part of increasing family engagement at ATES and providing parents an opportunity to come to school. The price for lunch is $5.75 for all guests (Free of charge for all students in Annandale Terrace). Please complete this survey (https://forms.gle/xfgPnEJgfxKMhihr7) if you are planning to attend.
The Advanced Academic Program (AAP) fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3 to 8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time AAP services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Michelle Carr-Hogan, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at mccarrhogan@fcps.edu by Thursday, October 15. Late referrals will not be accepted.
For students who are not new to FCPS, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2 to 7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by Tuesday, December 15.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services.
Other Advanced Academic Services
At the elementary level, all students are screened each spring for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services. Families may also refer their student for consideration for Subject-Specific or Part-Time AAP at any time during the school year. Eligibility decisions are made at the school level, and families are notified of the decision within 30 school days of the referral. The Full-Time AAP referral deadlines do not apply.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please contact Michelle Carr-Hogan, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at mccarrhogan@fcps.edu or visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
 The Family Literacy Program will be teaching morning and evening free English classes at the Mission Center in Annandale, starting September 22nd. If you are interested, please sign up from the QR code.
Where: Mission Center (7901 Heritage Dr, Annandale, VA 22003)
When: Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00pm starting on 09/23
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:00-12:00pm starting on 09/22
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
What does belonging look like in our school? At Annandale Terrace Elementary School, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Limited early release days for elementary schools will shift to Wednesdays for the 2026-27 school year.
Three-hour early release days for our school will include:
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September 30
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November 18
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January 13
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April 7
K-5 students will be dismissed @12:20pm on 09/30 to allow educators time for planning & training. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship due to the early release. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it. Complete https://forms.gle/XaM775HqXsmFER5R8 as soon as possible for each of your children who are enrolled at ATES no matter you need a childcare or not. Questions? Please call the main office @ 703-658-5600.
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.
 Culmore Community Day is scheduled on Saturday, September 19th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Culmore Family Resource Center. Join them to celebrate Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month.
 George Mason Regional Library is holding its Fall Book Sale with a large selection of books at unbelievably low prices! The library is located at 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale from September 24 through September 27.
In the children’s category there are hundreds of volumes of new and gently used picture books, board books, and early readers. Categories include classics, storybooks, holidays, foreign language, non-fiction and many, many more.
 12 in-person free sessions of Dad's Parenting Group will be held on Tuesdays from 6:00-8:30pm from September 8th to November 24th, 2026. Call 703-324-7720 for the registration if you are interested.
 Registration is officially OPEN for the first session on September 21!
Campers will have exclusive access to workshops with professional graphic artists learning to plan, write, imagine, and design their own graphic novel elements. Each day camp will offer new skills and perspectives to learn.
🗓️ When: September 21, 2026 9:00 am - 3:30 pm*
📍 Where:
The Community Studio at John Calvin Presbyterian Church
6531 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
👥 Who: Open to ages 8 –12
Learn More and Secure Your Child’s Spot Today!
Space is strictly limited to ensure high-quality, individualized attention for every camper.
*Before and after care available as needed.
Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Hosted by FCPS in collaboration with community partners, the conference highlights the power of partnerships in supporting student success. Families, educators, and community members are invited to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants.
Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
 If you are interested to sign up Wee Play program, please fill out the registration form via: Wee Play English Flyer Annandale Terrace 2026.pdf and submit the completed form to ATES Main Office. If you have any questions about the program, please email Kathy Brennan at kpbrennan@fcps.edu or call 703 463-0012.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
 Please visit www.campussurvivalkits.com/ates to shop ATES customized apparel. A portion of all sales benefits the Annandale Terrace PTA — support your school while you shop!
 The Fairfax County Public Schools HIPPY Program is a free home-based early literacy and parent education initiative. It helps parents of two-, three-, and four-year-olds become their child's first teacher by providing weekly instruction, activity packets, stories, and school-readiness tools. The HIPPY Program will start from September 30th,2026 - June 2nd, 2027 on Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. If you are interested to sign up the weekly lessons, please contact Sara Parada, HIPPY Program Leader, at spparadacamp@fcps.edu or call 703-204-4350.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Review and Sign the SR&R
- Your Child Belongs at School
- What’s for Lunch? Check the FCPS 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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