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September 25, 2026
Dear Waynewood Owls,
The energy around Waynewood Elementary this week has been absolutely electric, and I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing Owl community.
First and foremost, I want to share some truly soaring news about our annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and enthusiasm of our families, friends, and community, we did not just reach our goal—we shattered it! Together, we raised over $82,000 to support our school! These funds make a direct impact on every single student at Waynewood, helping us provide enriching assemblies, memorable field trips, essential grade and department resources, fun recess equipment, and exciting special projects throughout the year.
Because our Owls soared past their goal, we will be celebrating this incredible milestone with a special school event on October 15 and 16. Stay tuned, as our individual grade-level prize winners will also be announced very soon!
An event of this size takes a huge team effort, and we owe a heartfelt thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who came out to cheer, count laps, and keep our runners hydrated. A very special shout-out goes to Stephanie Angle, Melissa Kadish, and Mary Frances Daly for their tireless work in organizing and running such an incredible event. We also want to give a big thank you to Ben Angle for creating our fantastic Jog-A-Thon hype videos that got all of our students so excited to participate. You can catch the latest hype video here.
In the classroom, our teachers and students have been hard at work wrapping up our beginning-of-the-year assessments in both Reading and Math. These assessments give us valuable insight into where each student is starting their learning journey this year so we can tailor our instruction to meet their unique needs. To help keep you informed of your child's progress, 1st Quarter interims will be sent home for all students next week as a helpful check-in. As we partner together in your child’s education, we strongly encourage all parents to sign up for a 1st quarter conference with your child’s teacher. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate early successes and set goals for the rest of the school year.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support, warm partnership, and dedication to making Waynewood such a special place for our children to learn and grow. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend!
Sincerely,
Katie Cachine, Principal
Alyssa Bonner, Assistant Principal
The book fair is coming October 5th-9th! Students can shop with cash or an online eWallet.
The Book Fair Late Night will be on Tuesday, October 6. Stop by after school, we are open until 7:00pm! You can also order Chick-fil-A for pick-up Tuesday night. Proceeds benefit the 6th grade committee!
Visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/waynewoodelementaryschool to create an eWallet, view hours, or shop online.
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:
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times, such as during homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
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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.
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.
As part of FCPS’ continued support for digital literacy, families can access lesson materials that introduce the concepts students will explore throughout the school year. These resources include student lessons and supporting materials organized by grade level. Resources will be shared on a quarterly basis through Schoology.
The All Parent/Guardian Course is available in Schoology through a parent or guardian account. Schoology and ParentVUE use the same login credentials. Families who need assistance can review How Do I Log in to and Access Schoology? or watch the brief walkthrough on the Schoology Snippets page.
Families can also learn more about FCPS guidance and practices on the Educational Technology in FCPS webpage.
Fall Enrichment Sign-ups are available
See offerings and register HERE
PTA Membership Drive continues through October 16th
Join HERE
Receive PTA updates directly to your inbox:
Update the PTA directory with your family's information HERE
Save the Date:
Fall Book Fair- October 5-9th, late night is 10/6, order Chick-fil-A
PTA Meeting — Tuesday, October 13th at 6pm in the Cafeteria Join us for our October PTA meeting at 6:00 PM in the Waynewood Elementary Cafeteria. Please enter through Door 10 (Kiss and Ride entrance)
Fall Fun Night- October 29th
Thursday, October 1-Full-Time AAP Identification Information Session 5:30pm in Cafeteria
Monday, October 5-Friday, October 9-Fall Book Fair
Tuesday, October 6-Book Fair Late Night (Open until 7pm)
Monday, October 12-Student Holiday
Tuesday, October 13-FLE Preview Night 5pm, PTA Meeting 6pm
Wednesday, October 21- 3 hour early release (1:00pm)
Thursday, October 29-Fall Fun Night
Friday, October 30-End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release (2:00pm)
See the complete school year calendar.
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