|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Upcoming Laurel Ridge Events
Wednesday, September 30 - Wear Blue for Blue Star Welcome Week! Military mingle (see below)
Monday, October 5 thru Friday October 9 - Laurel Ridge Book Fair (see below)
Monday, October 12 - Holiday - Indigenous Peoples' Day
Wednesday October 21 - 3-Hour Early Release - 12:55 (see below)
Thursday, October 29 - Fall Picture Day (see below)
Friday, October 30 - 2-Hour Early Release (1:55pm) - End of Quarter
|
|
 |
Principal's Message
Greetings Laurel Ridge Families,
We had quite the range of weather this week and it’s beginning to feel like autumn! Students have been working hard on beginning of the year assessments. These measures inform teachers to support your child’s learning throughout the year. Please keep a careful eye on communication from your child’s teacher to schedule a 1st quarter parent/teacher conference.
Partnering with you to keep our school community safe and thriving is always our top priority. Everyday attendance plays such a vital role in your child's confidence and success, and seeing our students arrive on time each morning ready to learn makes all the difference! To help keep arrival and dismissal smooth and safe for all our Lions, please remember a few quick arrival and dismissal reminders:
-
For Walkers: Please always use sidewalks and cross Commonwealth Boulevard strictly at the staffed crosswalk at the 4-way stop. Please avoid crossing through the bus loop or stepping across Commonwealth where street slopes limit driver visibility.
-
For Drivers & Kiss & Ride: Please stay focused—cell phones down and eyes up! Drop students off only along the curb closest to the building, never in active traffic lanes, the bus loop, or directly on the street in front of the school. If you park on the street, please leave at least 10 feet from driveways and 20 feet from crosswalks and corners.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to making Laurel Ridge such a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Megan Counts
Laurel Ridge Principal
|
Laurel Ridge Book Fair -
Coming Soon!
The Laurel Ridge Book fair is October 5th to October 9th!
Students will get to shop during the day with their classes. We also have two after school family shopping times: Monday, October 5th 4:15-6:00 Wednesday, October 7th 5:30-7:00
For more information, check out our book fair website: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/laurelridgeelemschool
|
Fall Picture Day - October 29
Victor O'Neill Studios will be taking Fall Pictures on Thursday, October 29.
You will be able to view and order your child’s photos in their online gallery approximately ten days after picture day. If you have any questions leading up to picture day, please reach out to Victor O’Neill Studios by emailing Underclass@vosphoto.com
|
 Each year, approximately 600,000 military families relocate. Whether they’re transitioning out of the military, transitioning in, or moving to new duty stations, these moves are a significant part of military life. For military families with school-aged children, these frequent relocations can be especially challenging. On average, military kids change schools 6-9 times before graduating, disrupting their education and social connections. And while more than 66% of military families live off base in civilian communities, only 39% report feeling a true sense of belonging in their local communities. In response to these challenges, we’re excited to participate in Blue Star Welcome Week, a nationwide effort to foster connection and belonging for military families, from September 26th to October 4th. .
Join our Laurel Ridge community in celebrating our military-connected Lions by participating in our Spirit Day on Wednesday, September 30th. Wear blue for our “Blue Out” Day in honor of Blue Star Welcome Week.
For our military-connected families: We will be hosting a “Military Mingle” after school on Wednesday, September 30th. Come join us on the playground for a family meet and greet, and connect with other military families from our school! All military-connected families are invited. Please contact Melissa Hanley at mahanley@fcps.edu for more information.
10/21 - Early Release Wednesday
Three-hour early release day for FCPS elementary schools will continue for the 2026-27 school year. This year, Laurel Ridge will have four early release Wednesdays when we dismiss at 12:55. They are on:
-
October 21
-
December 2
-
February 10
-
May 5
We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home (bus, walk, kiss and ride) on early dismissal days. While these are designated as early release days — where necessary, we will ensure that every student has supervised activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family.
FCPS is offering student supervision at no-cost to families for those who have unique childcare needs. Students will be supervised by FCPS school-based staff, substitute teachers, and central office staff. Students who stay after school may be placed in mixed-aged groups. Students will not receive instruction between early release and the regular dismissal time. Instead, they will participate in afterschool activities under the supervision of FCPS staff.
Learn more about early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
Parents and caregivers may use the Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE to confirm whether or not child care on the four early release Wednesdays will be needed. If your plans change during the school year, please notify your child’s school directly.
Literacy Webinar Series
FCPS is offering a series of family-friendly webinars designed to help
you understand reading assessments, reading plans, and ways to
support your child at home. Learn what assessment results mean,
how reading plans guide instruction, and practical strategies to
strengthen decoding, language, comprehension, and literacy
skills—including support for multilingual learners.
The series and topics include:
- October 20, 10 a.m.- Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
- December 15, 10 a.m.- What is a Reading Plan?
- February 19, 10 a.m.- How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14, 10 a.m.- Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer.
Register here- https://forms.gle/JEYjp1T3SyK8qhh26
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
-
Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
-
Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
-
Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
-
Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
-
Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
SR&R Due
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 Policy FCPS 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:
-
Responsible Communication and Conduct: Communicating respectfully and using technology appropriately.
-
Digital Footprint Awareness: Understanding online actions can have lasting effects on a student’s reputation, future opportunities and relationships, career prospects, and safety.
-
Data Privacy and Security: Learning how online safety can protect their digital work and personal information, and guard against cybersecurity risks.
-
Self-Regulation: Learning to manage digital distractions to stay focused when needed.
-
Accountability: Understanding that they are responsible for how they use FCPS technology and digital resources.
Learn more about digital citizenship at FCPS.
New ParentVUE App
New ParentVUE Mobile App Is Here! The new ParentVUE mobile app is available in the Apple and Google App stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their ParentVUE account. The previous app will be deactivated at the end of 2026.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature. Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Set Screen Time Limits and Monitor Online Activity With Lightspeed
The free Lightspeed Parent Portal makes it easy for you to see and manage how your child uses their FCPS-issued device outside of school hours. New Lightspeed Parent Portal features for this school year include:
-
Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times, such as during homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
-
Web Rules: Block specific websites you don’t want your child accessing at home.
Be sure to check your email (subject line: “Filter Portal Weekly Report”) each Sunday for the Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report, a weekly summary of the websites your child has visited. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
Annual Special Education Family Conference
Registration Open, Call for Volunteers
Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.
How to Get Involved
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
|
Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join the session. Upcoming topics include:
- Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: a Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
|
