In this Paw Print:
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School News:
- Principal's Message 🗣️
- Where in the School is Ms. Andujar 🔎
- Save the Date - Panther Prowl! 🏃🏽♀️➡️
- Become a Student Ambassador 💜
- Lexia Usage 📖
- Picture Day is Coming! 📸
- Paw Tech Squad Application 💻
- Yearbook Cover Art Contest 🎨
- Advanced Academics Newsletter 🧠
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PTA News:
- Picture Day Volunteers Needed! 📸
- After School Activities Registration 🎉
- Spirit Wear Sale! 👚
- Spelling Bee 🐝
- Library Volunteers Needed! 📚
- Bartaco Spirit Night 🌮
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Community News:
Dear families,
It was another great week here at Poplar Tree! Thanks to everyone who joined us for our PTA meeting and Back to School Night this week!
Starting on Tuesday, September 22, families are welcome to join their child for lunch! We ask that if you do join you sit with your child at one of our new VIP tables. This way we can ensure there are enough chairs at the tables for students. It will also help us with our new cafeteria behavior management system! Thank you for supporting us in this new routine!
We also wanted to remind you about the Superintendent Community Conversations. During these conversations, you can 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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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
Enjoy the 3-day weekend and we look forward to seeing your students back at school on Tuesday!
Sue Andujar, Principal
Amy Alley, Assistant Principal
Where in the School is Ms. Andujar?
Watch the video linked below to see Ms. Andujar during 5th grade lunch introducing us to our new VIP cafeteria tables!
Save the Date!!!
Panther Prowl Fun Run 🏃🏽♀️➡️
Our annual Panther Prowl Fun Run will be on Friday, October 16 starting at 5:30 pm! Stay tuned for more information soon!
Become a Student Ambassador💜
Student ambassadors help new students feel welcome here at Poplar Tree, support our military families, and make the school a better place! All 4th, 5th, & 6th graders who are interested in becoming a student ambassador are encouraged to pick up an application from Ms. Williams. All applications are due back to Ms. Williams by Tuesday September 22.
Lexia Usage 📖
Lexia Core5 & Power Up is an adaptive, science-of-reading-based program designed to develop fundamental literacy skills for students. Its intended purpose is to personalize instruction—automatically adjusting difficulty, providing targeted practice in areas like phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension, and flagging specific concepts where a student needs direct, face-to-face help from their teacher. The program meets students right where they are in their development of reading skills.
As a reminder, students should not be using Lexia at home after school. Students have a weekly goal which is to be completed at school. Many students have been "over using" Lexia and losing sight of the purpose of the program. While we are encouraging our students to do their best, it is not a game to "beat" and/or are students expected to be at a certain level. Teachers monitor students' weekly progress. Please help to monitor your child's usage at home. We have lots of other available programs located on our student quick links page on Schoology for students to practice skills at home other than Lexia. Thank you!
Picture Day is Coming! 📸
Fall Picture Day will be on Thursday, October 8. You can pre-order by visiting mylifetouch.com. Our picture day ID is EVTTCRHNH.
Can't wait to see all those awesome smiles! 😃
💻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!
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.
Twice Exceptional Students
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are both gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.
Picture Day Volunteers Needed 📸
School Picture Day is October 8th, and we’d love your help making it a fun and smooth day for everyone! We’re looking for volunteers to lend a hand throughout the day.
Please sign up to volunteer for picture day here!
Registration for After-School Activities
Opens Saturday!
It's almost time to register for fall after-school programming, sponosored by the PTA! Registration opens on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 am. Visit the PTA website to get more info and to register: https://www.poplartreepta.org/classes.
See you after school!
Spirit Wear Sale 👚
Miss out on the recent Spirit Wear Sale? We’ve got you covered!
Several sizes are still available for purchase- only the items listed are currently in stock. Order online here and we’ll deliver the shirt(s) to your student!
Looking for something more custom? Check out additional designs currently on sale. These are mailed directly to your home! https://1stplace.sale/98006
The Spelling Bee is Back! 🐝
We are excited to announce that the Poplar Tree Spelling Bee is getting ready for another exciting year! Thanks to the Poplar Tree PTA, we were able to take advantage of early registration, and we are officially ready to S-P-E-L-L!
Study Resources
Parents can create an account and log in directly to the Spelling Bee website to access and download the official study lists. The platform also provides exclusive study materials and resources to help students
prepare and build their spelling skills for the competition.
Student Registration – Coming in January
Student registration will open in January. Registration details, including the registration fee, will be shared with families at that time. The Spelling Bee is self-funded through student registration fees. These fees will be
used to cover competition-related expenses, including trophies, certificates, gift cards, and other event costs.
School Spelling Bee
Once student registration is complete, we will finalize the School Spelling Bee date and time and share the details with all participating families. We look forward to seeing our Poplar Tree students learn, practice, and challenge
themselves this year.
Get those word lists ready, and let’s S-P-E-L-L!
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!
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!!
Remaining Tuesdays in September: 9/22 and 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.
Annual Asha-Jyothi 5K 👟
📢Poplar Tree families, please help us reach 100+ registrants for the Asha-Jyothi 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run THIS 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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