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Fri, 9/25 TONIGHT - PTA Neon Knight, 7-9p
9/28-10/2 Blue Star Welcome Week Spirit Days
(see details below)
Mon, 9/28 Popsicles on the Playground:
Military Families Meetup,
4:30-5:30p, NFES playground
Tue 9/29 AAP Parent Information Night, 6-7p,
NFES cafeteria
Thu 10/8 Curriculum Knight, 6-7:30p, NFES
Mon 10/12 NO SCHOOL, Staff Planning Day
Tue 10/13 Fall Picture Day
Wed 10/21 3-hour Early Release, dismissal
begins at 12:35p
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Good afternoon Newington Forest Families,
Last school year, we conducted a survey and NFES parents shared that they would like:
- More information regarding FCPS curriculum
- Ways to support students at home
- Curriculum Knight to be offered earlier in the school year
In response, our teachers have prepared several hands-on activities for this year's Curriculum Knight, on October 8th.
Please RSVP to attend Curriculum Knight - we are looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP link: https://bit.ly/NFESLearnTogether26
We had a lot to celebrate this week in the Forest!
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Summer Reading Program - Last week all of our Summer Reading participants enjoyed popsicles. This week, the top readers were awarded gift cards to our Book Fair in November! Congratulations, Knights!
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New Student Celebrations - This school year, we have about 60 new students in NFES in grades 1-6 -- not including our Kindergarten students! Our newest Knights were welcomed to the Forest with a special treat and chance to get to meet and greet with our Counselors, Mr. Scott and Ms. Roop. Thank you to our Counselors for organizing these celebrations.
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Girls on the Run Kickoff - We have 42 girls signed up to strengthen their bodies and confidence, and it sounds like they are off to a great start!
Next week, we have:
- Blue Star Welcome Week Spirit Days
- Popsicles on the Playground for Military Families - Monday, 4:30-5:30pm, NFES Playground
- AAP Parent Information Night, 6:00-7:00pm, NFES Cafeteria
Tonight is the PTA's first big event - Neon Knight! I look forward to seeing everyone this evening.
Sincerely,
Angela Thompson
Principal
 Our Summer Reading Program Winners
Girls On The Run - Go, Knights, Go!
The first two practices were filled with energy, smiles, and teamwork!
Popsicles on the Playground
After-School Meetup for
NFES Military Families
Monday, September 28
4:30 - 5:30 pm
NFES Playground
Join us after school for popsicles, playground fun, and a chance to meet and connect with other NFES military-connected families. Whether your family is new to NFES or you’ve been part of our community for years, we’d love to see you there!
 Blue Star Welcome Week Spirit Days
September 28 - October 2
Blue Star Welcome Week is a special time to celebrate and support our new and returning military-connected students and families.
Join us for a fun, school-wide spirit week as we celebrate our MILITARY families and show how much they mean to our Newington Forest community!
Mon, Sep 28 - Branch/Camo Day
Wear camo or the colors of your favorite military branch
Tue, Sep 29 - Stars & Stripes Day
Wear stars and/or stripes
Wed, Sep 30 - Team Up Day
Wear your favorite sports jersey
Thu, October 1 - Red Day
Wear red to remember everyone deployed
Fri, October 2 - School Spirit Day
Wear your NFES Knight gear or any royal blue or white shirt
Elementary AAP Family Information Meeting
A family information meeting, focusing on the AAP continuum of services offered in FCPS and the Full-Time referral process for students in grades 2-8, will be held on:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
6:00 - 7:00pm
NFES Cafeteria - In Person
If you have any questions, please contact our AART, Cathy Trope, at cjtrope@fcps.edu.
Save the Date: Family Curriculum Knight
Thursday, October 8 | 6:00–7:30 PM
See it. Try it. Learn it together!
Join your child for a fun, interactive evening where families can explore classroom learning, participate in hands-on activities, and discover ways to support learning at home. Teachers will share curriculum highlights, helpful strategies, and activities for parents/guardians and children to experience together.
Families can choose up to three sessions and take home fun activity kits to keep the learning going. Topics will include Math, Reading, Science, Study Skills, Social-Emotional Learning & More!
Stay tuned! We’ll share the session lineup soon so you can start planning which topics you’d like to explore with your child.
RSVP Today: https://bit.ly/NFESLearnTogether26
A Special Request From STEAM
We need cardboard paper towel tubes (or cardboard wrapping paper tubes) for STEAM lessons/projects (no toilet paper tubes, please). If you have any to donate, please drop them off in the office or bring them to STEAM class.
Thank you!
Ms. Schulz
STEAM Teacher
Superintendent Community Conversations
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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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.
Lexia Core5 & PowerUp: How It’s Used,
the Benefits, & Addressing Concerns
around Device Usage and AI
Want to learn more about Lexia® Core5 and Lexia® PowerUp? This virtual session walks families through how FCPS is using both programs in classrooms across the district this school year to support students’ literacy growth — and gives you a chance to ask questions.
What will be covered:
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Program basics. What Core5 and PowerUp are, and how they meet your student’s individual learning needs.
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In the classroom. How Lexia supports teacher planning and instruction.
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Data & goals. How educators use Lexia data for progress monitoring and goal setting.
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Device usage & AI concerns. Understand how students interact with the online program and how much time they are using the
programs in schools.
Choose a session (Every session covers the same content — join whichever date and time works best for your family.):
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Wednesday, September 23, 2026 6:00 – 7:00 PM
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Wednesday, October 7, 2026 6:00 – 7:00 PM
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026 5:00 – 6:00 PM
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026 6:00 – 7:00 PM
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Wednesday, November 4, 2026 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Review and Sign SR&R by September 30
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. We encourage families to discuss these expectations with their child(ren).
Families should review the SR&R and sign the acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or by signing and returning the Signature Sheet.
Cellphones and Personal Devices
Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the student’s 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 on the FCPS website.
Understanding the Acceptable Use PolicyFCPS provides students with digital tools and devices to support their learning, encourage easy collaboration, and help students learn how to interact with technology safely. The FCPS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) guides how these technologies are used both inside the classroom and at home. By following the AUP, students learn how to become not just users of technology, but responsible and ethical digital citizens with critical real-world skills such as:
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Responsible Communication and Conduct: Communicating respectfully and using technology appropriately.
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Digital Footprint Awareness: Understanding online actions can have lasting effects on a student’s reputation, future opportunities and relationships, career prospects, and safety.
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Data Privacy and Security: Learning how online safety can protect their digital work and personal information, and guard against cybersecurity risks.
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Self-Regulation: Learning to manage digital distractions to stay focused when needed.
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Accountability: Understanding that they are responsible for how they use FCPS technology and digital resources.
Learn more about digital citizenship at FCPS.
Fall into Flavor With FCPS’ New Breakfast and Lunch Menu
FCPS’ new September and October menu items are packed with classic favorites and fresh global inspiration. Check our new online menu system to see when you can try new recipes based on student feedback, and developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts.
Menu items include:
- Breakfast items such as honey chicken biscuits, guava pastelitos (whole-grain pastries filled with tropical guava fruit), and roasted apple parfaits, made with vanilla yogurt and homemade granola.
- Lunch items such as crunchy beef or fiesta tacos, ramen bowl with diced chicken or hard-boiled egg, beef or vegan banh mi burger, and southwest fiesta soup with corn chips.
Stay up to date on FCPS menus and nutrition news by subscribing to the Food and Nutrition Services newsletter.
Traffic Safety Near Our School
We understand that families may need to drive their children to school from time to time. If you need to, please familiarize yourself with our school’s kiss-and-ride procedures for the safety of all children and staff.
Please drop off or pick up your students in the designated areas. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in other areas around the school or in nearby neighborhoods. Please also avoid parking in neighborhoods or double parking in front of our school if you intend to walk your child to school. This can increase the number of students walking through busy intersections and create traffic hazards for other drivers and families trying to get to school.
Please follow all signs and directions posted at our school, on public roads, or provided by school staff or crossing guards, and avoid making U-turns. Most of all, always — ALWAYS — drive slowly near our school. The safety of all our students is one of our top priorities!!
The Fairfax County Police Department has additional safety tips for families, including ways to keep walkers safe and what to do about scooters, bicycles, and e-scooters.
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our Newington Forest staff members. |
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FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Traffic Safety Near Our Schools
- Sign and Return the SR&R
- Check Out New Menu Options
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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