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Principal's Message

Greetings Twain Families! 

This week I read an article from the Harvard Gazette entitled “What Makes a Good Student.” In the article, the author summarizes key qualities and practices of students that were most impactful to success in academics and life, according to nine Harvard faculty members. Amongst those qualities were some that we certainly emphasize with our students through their academic classes, our learning seminar, and individual coaching. They include:

• Being organized, prepared and diligent
• Developing a desire to learn and understand, not just earn a high grade
• Having a growth mindset
• Continuously asking questions
• Holding themselves to high moral standards
• Seeking help when they need it and being open to feedback

Thanks for helping your students grow in these areas at home. Our partnership between school and home is the key to their success here at Twain and beyond! 

Have a great weekend and go Tigers! 

Sincerely,

Matt

Twain’s Weekly Schedule 

Monday, September 28: Anchor Day Schedule

Tuesday, September 29:  Odd Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 30:  Even Day Schedule

Thursday, October 1: Odd Day Schedule

Friday, October 25: Even Day Schedule

After School Program

Save the date for the 15th Annual Culinary Challenge!

This event is open to the public

February 27, 2027

Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, VA

Check out the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge website.

Use the Culinary Challenge HUB Registration form to request this year's guidelines.

Connect with the Real Food for Kids Team: culinarychallenge@realfoodforkids.org

FCPS Ignite Partner Real Food for Kids hosts the spectacular co-curricular culinary event where middle and high school students develop original school meal recipes and launch their culinary careers. This is the Annual Culinary Challenge, and participating students prepare their submissions for their ideal school meal over the course of the year and present to a panel of esteemed judges and the public! This event reinforces key learning objectives in CTE coursework and encourages students to collaborate on problem solving, time and financial management, innovation, and presentation.

Student teams can compete in the Lunch or Showcase category. Only lunch teams present before the judges and showcase awards are determined by public vote. The winning lunch team for high and middle school categories will both take home a $500 certificate. High school lunch winner will be offered internship options in top tier DC area food and hospitality work. The Middle school lunch winner will take home a $500 certificate and a one-of-a-kind field trip opportunity in a Silver Diner kitchen.

The future of school food centers the student voice, and the Culinary Challenge is where those ideas can be realized. Past winning dishes have been adopted in cafeterias across the DMV, an FCPS team's submission could be next!

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.

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.

Traffic Safety Near Our Schools

We understand that families may need to drop off or pick up their children at school from time to time. Please familiarize yourself with your 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. Also avoid parking in neighborhoods or double parking in front of a 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. 

Always follow all signs and directions posted at schools, 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 schools. 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.

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). Since the start of the school year, our Tigers have had an SR&R review with administration, lessons delivered by their teachers in learning seminar, and a FCPS required SR&R quiz. 

Families should review the SR&R and sign the acknowledgement form by next Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or by signing and returning the Signature Sheet to their child’s school. 

Cellphones and Personal Devices

Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ 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, 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.

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. 

National Junior Honor Society Fundraiser at Noodles & Company

Come support Twain’s National Junior Honor Society as we raise money for our service projects and the Tiger Paws. Come to the Kingstowne Noodles & Company at 5900 Kingstowne Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22315 on Thursday, October 8th from 4-8pm and enjoy great food! Use the code GIVING20 at checkout and be sure to mention Twain NJHS.

Save or print the NJHS Noodles and Company flyer.

Thank you for your support!

Blue Star Welcome Week

Our community and FCPS are proud to participate in Blue Star Welcome Week, a special event dedicated to welcoming military-connected families to the area. From September 26 through October 4, 2026, various events and activities will be held throughout FCPS schools and the region to show support and appreciation for military-connected families.

Blue Star Welcome Week is an annual event hosted by Blue Star Families, a non-profit organization that empowers military-connected families and strives to help them integrate into civilian communities. This week-long celebration offers newcomers the opportunity to connect with local resources, meet other military-connected families, and engage with the community. 

Please visit the National Capital Region Chapter to learn more about the events Blue Star Families and their partners will be hosting. 

FCPS wishes a warm welcome to our military-connected families! We are honored to have you as part of our community, and we thank you for your service. 

It's Time to Check SIS ParentVue

We are halfway through the first quarter!  Now is an excellent time to check for missing or incomplete assignments and make a plan with your student to get them completed and turned in before the end of the quarter. Please watch our tutorial on how to find information about student grades and assignments.

In SIS ParentVUE you can find your student's teachers and their email addresses, help your student keep track of assignments and grades, submit absences and update medical information, and so much more!

If you've previously activated your account but can't remember how to log in, please go to the SIS ParentVUE site.  Your username will be the email address you activated the account with and there's a Forgot password link under the login screen if you can't remember the password.  If you've never activated your account, please email Mercy Popal, Twain's Family Liaison, at mspopal@fcps.edu for your activation code.

Edison High School Feeder Night Football Game

Join Edison High School on Friday, October 2nd for the Edison Eagles vs. Mount Vernon Majors football game.  Admission is free for feeder students with a paying adult.  Future Eagles should meet at the far goal post at 6:15pm to be a part of the pre-game celebration and get to run onto the field.

4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310  |  Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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