Laurel Ridge Update 10/5/2026

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/05/2026 09:30 AM EDT

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Upcoming Laurel Ridge Events

Monday, October 5 thru Friday October 9 - Laurel Ridge Book Fair (see below) and Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week (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

Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3 - Student Holidays

Friday, November 6 - Fall Field Day (see below)
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Principal's Message

Greetings Laurel Ridge Families,

It’s hard to believe that it is already October and we are halfway through the first quarter of the school year!  Last week, administrators met with each grade level to review Student Rights & Responsibilities.  We encouraged students to identify trusted adults at home and at school with whom they feel most comfortable sharing concerns.  Whether it’s this year’s teacher, a former teacher, a specials teacher, or another staff member, we want all students to know that there are adults who care. 

We are excited that this week brings the Scholastic Book Fair to Laurel Ridge!  Evening shopping hours for families are Monday, October 5th, from 4:15 pm – 6:00 pm, and Wednesday, October 7th, from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. We look forward to seeing the fun selections that our excited readers choose!

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Megan Counts
Laurel Ridge Principal
book fair

Laurel Ridge Book Fair 

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 

Hispanic Heritage Week
picture day

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 
field day

Volunteer for LRES Fall Field Day! 

We need YOU!

Get ready for both indoor and outdoor fun! On Friday November 6 our amazing Specialists Teams are organizing a fun Fall Field Day Event and need help running various stations. Students will rotate all day to different stations, both in and around the school.  

Check out the Volunteer Sign-up here

Please note, in order to volunteer at field day, you will need to sign up through Volunteer FCPS here and begin the process

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Sibshops

FCPS offers Sipshops and SibTeen Sessions for students who have a sibling with a disability.  The Sibshops program is open to students in grades 2-6. We
also run a teen program (SibTeen) open to students in grades 6-9.

This social work department run program will be  held on Teacher Work Days. During Sibshops and SibTeen sessions, students will have opportunities to build relationships with other sibs through community building games and discussion activities.

Find out more by clicking:

https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-academy/catalog

Scroll down the page to Sibshops for more information and to register your student. The first workshop is scheduled for November 3rd.

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. 

Transportation Survey

Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver Survey

As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.

The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns. 

Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15. 

Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.  

Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings. 

AAP Expansion

FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers

FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.

Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:

  • Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
  • Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
  • Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.

Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.

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:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. 

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) at Home

Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at Home Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Join a workshop for parents and caregivers to:

  • Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
  • Use the results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
  • Support your child’s social and emotional development.
  • Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together. 

Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, at Skyview High School and Wednesday, October 21, at Kingstowne Regional Library. View additional dates on the FCPS Family Academy webpage. 

Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu. 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Home

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 a 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.