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Dear Thoreau Families,
This week, I had the pleasure of visiting classrooms across our school, and I am continually impressed by our Golden Eagles. Student engagement is strong, and our teachers have worked hard to build environments grounded in trust and belonging. As we finalize our beginning-of-year math and reading assessments, we will closely monitor student progress to identify anyone who may benefit from extra support.
As students settle into their routines and academic expectations increase, now is a great time to review their progress. Teacher-generated progress reports will be emailed to parents by October 9 (or printed for students without an email address on file). You can also monitor grades, assignments, and overall progress anytime via ParentVUE. We encourage you to review these details with your student to help them keep up with assignments, complete work on time, and schedule retakes or reassessments as needed. Building these habits of responsibility and self-advocacy is a key part of the middle school experience.
Please remind your student to join us for our first school-wide spirit day on Wednesday, September 30th—it’s PJ Day! Also, the PTA APEX Fundraiser kicks off this Monday and Tuesday. Keep an eye out for information coming home with your student on how to get involved.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Sincerely,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
Under the direction of Ms. Galus and Mr. Bohn, our student group earned the Eco-Schools U.S. Gold Certificate, an official recognition from the National Wildlife Federation for outstanding sustainability and environmental action |
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Mr. Fishman and Mr. Loht led high-energy cafeteria spirit battles to kick off the APEX Color Games and Virginia College Competitions. |
Thoreau’s Peer Helpers hosted a "Welcome to FCPS" event for new 7th graders, complete with icebreaker games, bonding activities, and, of course, donuts! |
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Has your student misplaced their FCPS Bus ID card? Before requesting a replacement, please have your student thoroughly check their backpack and belongings, home, the Thoreau Main Office, and with their bus driver.
We ask families to allow at least one week to locate a missing Bus ID before requesting a replacement.
If the ID has not been located after one week, please visit the Thoreau Middle School website for information on how to report a missing Bus ID and complete the replacement request form.
Thank you for helping us ensure students have an opportunity to locate their original Bus ID before requesting a replacement!
Congratulations to Thoreau’s Band and Orchestra for earning a Program of Honor recognition from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association for the 2025-2026 school year. To qualify, every ensemble in the school program must achieve superior ratings in state marching band and district performance assessments. Thoreau was one of 55 FCPS schools to earn this distinction. See the full list of programs honored. |
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A new Schoology Study and Support Hub is available for students in Schoology. This space was developed by the FCPS Educational Technology Team with input from students. It is designed to provide essential study tools and academic support resources directly to our learners.
Students can log in to Schoology and read their Schoology announcements or watch this video on the support hub for more information.
Registration begins on Tuesday, September 9th and closes on Friday, October 16th at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. If that language is one of the languages listed on the FCPS website, consider registering your student for the World Languages Credit by Exam!
The 2026 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Thoreau Middle School during the Week of November 9th. More details about the test date will be sent out after the registration deadline closes.
Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available online.
Friday, October 9, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM
We want to know what's going on in our children's lives -- about school, their friends, their successes, and their struggles. But what should you do when your kids won't tell you what's going on in their lives? What if you ask questions and all they do is shrug and mumble "It was fine" or "I don't know"? In this workshop, you'll learn specific strategies for getting your children to open and come to you when they need support.
Register here
Thoreau Middle School 50 Book Challenge, a new library reading initiative inspiring lifelong readers. Students are challenged to read 50 books over two years with no yearly quotas, and all books count. Current 8th graders begin with a modified goal of 25 books. Students will receive ongoing recognition and celebrations for participation benchmarks. The graphic notes that 35% of middle school students read for fun almost every day in 1984, compared with 14% in 2023, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The challenge is inspired by Madison High School’s 100 Book Challenge.
Send your child's photos for Yearbook
Jostens Yearbook Photo Share: Your iconic moments belong in the yearbook! Students and families can share photos for possible inclusion in the yearbook at photos.jostens.com/morepics. The graphic also includes QR codes for submitting photos and ordering a yearbook.
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.
After-school programming continues next week!
What’s Happening Next Week?
Please review the weekly schedule below for clubs, activities, athletics, and academic support being offered next week. Check the schedule each week, as club start dates and meeting days may vary while programs continue to get underway.
Late Buses
Late buses will run Monday–Thursday next week. Please review the late bus stops and bus numbers and make sure students know how they are getting home before staying after school.
Stay Up to Date on Schoology
Students and families should continue to check the After School Program Schoology Course for the most current after-school information, including:
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Weekly schedules and program updates
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Late bus routes and information
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Cross Country schedules and updates
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Science Olympiad information
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Club descriptions and additional program resources
A Few Reminders
Students must have an After-School Registration Form on file before participating and must sign in each day they stay after school. Students should also HAVE A PLAN before staying: know what activity you are attending, make sure your family knows you are staying, and know how you are getting home.
Interested in something we don't currently offer? Let Mr. P know!
Thoreau students can participate Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Students must register in advance: Club Phoenix Registration
A shuttle van will transport participating students from Thoreau Middle School to the Vienna Teen Center after school. Students should report to the cafeteria at dismissal and sign in for after-school attendance. Once attendance is complete, students will be dismissed from the cafeteria to the shuttle van.
🚐Important transportation information: Families are responsible for transportation home from the Vienna Teen Center. Students must either be picked up by a parent/guardian or walk home from the Teen Center. There will be no transportation back to Thoreau Middle School.
Club Phoenix offers a variety of activities, including games, recreational sports, arts and crafts, special-interest clubs, tutoring/mentoring opportunities, field trips, and more.
Please review the Club Phoenix registration flyer below for additional information.
TheatreMania
Middle school students are invited to join at Kilmer Middle School on Saturday, November 7, for a day of hands-on theatre workshops led by theatre professionals. Students will participate in four workshops covering areas such as acting, dance, vocal performance, improv, technical theatre, design, directing, and more.
Students of all experience levels are welcome!
Cost: $25
Location: Kilmer Middle School
Date: November 7, 2026
Students register themselves through the TheatreMania Google Form:
Registration
Marshall Road Elementary School is looking for middle and high school student volunteers to help with its Fall Family Picnic!
📅 Friday, October 2
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Marshall Road Elementary School Field
Students can earn up to 3 service hours for volunteering, and pizza will be provided! 🍕
Volunteer opportunities include event setup and cleanup, concessions and ice cream distribution, field games, face painting/tattoos, and helping wherever most needed.
📝 Interested students must complete the volunteer sign-up form to participate:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tvPLV-24v5ybt44Iht9jpAwrpAI_DJ_1Sz6waGNpLKk/viewform
Please note that some volunteer shifts begin before or end after the official picnic hours. Be sure to review the available shifts carefully when completing the form.
Thank you for helping support our Marshall Road Elementary School community! 💙
School is better when your child is here! But we do understand that some days, they may feel unwell. Learn more about which symptoms are ok at school (like sneezing or sniffles), and when your child should stay home (if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, for example).
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call us as soon as you know your child will be absent and, if possible, let us know how long you think they will be out.
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.
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.
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