From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Staff Member: Marcelo Ribera, Special Education Teacher

Country of Origin: Bolivia

Favorite Dish: Churrasco and salteñas! Bolivian BBQ is especially great when it’s shared with family and friends. 

Fun Fact: Bolivia is incredibly diverse! It has everything from the Andes Mountains and the famous Salar de Uyuni to the tropical lowlands of Santa Cruz. Bolivia is also known for its colorful traditions, music, dances, and delicious food. 

This is Mr. Ribera's first year with FCPS and Bailey’s Upper. He has been working in education for about 7 years - 6 school years as a Bilingual Family Specialist (Family Liaison) and 1 year as Special Education teacher for APS and now continuing my journey in Special Education. Mr. Ribera is happily married and has a son.

Bailey’s Upper families are invited to join us for a virtual session focused on understanding your child’s report card, i-Ready Literacy results, and MAP Math results. Learn what the results mean, identify your child’s strengths and areas for growth, and discover ways you can support their learning at home. 📚✨

📅 Session Information

• 🗓️ Thursday, October 8
• ⏰ 7:00 PM
• 💻 Via Zoom

🌟 What You’ll Learn

• 📊 How to read and understand your child’s results
• 💪 How to identify strengths and areas for growth
• 📚 Ways to use the results to support your child’s learning

📄 Families will receive a printed copy of their child’s i-Ready Literacy and MAP Math results during the session.

💻 Join Us on Zoom

English:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/92061214758?pwd=gKOdkW6QRYZ5a14T2vG2lvX9JTLnQW.1&from=addon 

Spanish:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/99870128507

We hope you’ll join us for this helpful opportunity to better understand your child’s progress and how we can continue supporting their growth together! 💙

🎻 Have you ever wanted to learn to play an instrument—or return to one you used to play? Join the Parent Orchestra! No previous musical experience is required, and financial assistance is available.

Rehearsals are held twice a month on Thursdays. The first rehearsal is October 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Annandale High School (4700 Medford Drive). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Please plan ahead for parking.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot soon: bit.ly/parentorch27

Let’s celebrate the rich cultures and traditions of our Hispanic community! On Friday, October 9, students are invited to show their Hispanic pride and join in the celebration. 💙🧡

👗 Show Your Hispanic Colors!

Students may:

• 🌎 Wear traditional Hispanic clothing or accessories
• ⚽ Wear a jersey from a favorite Hispanic athlete
• Wear the colors of a Hispanic country’s flag

We look forward to seeing our Tigers celebrate and proudly share the cultures and traditions that make our Bailey’s community so special! 🐯❤️

A friendly reminder that there will be no school on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

🎒 Students will return to school on Tuesday, October 13.

We hope our Bailey’s families enjoy the long weekend, and we look forward to welcoming our Tigers back on Tuesday! 🧡

Students and families are invited to join us for a fun evening of stories, games, hands-on learning, and reading together! Hosted by Title 1, Literacy Night will give families a chance to explore literacy through engaging activities while learning new ways to support reading at home. 💙🧡

📅 Event Information

• 🗓️ Wednesday, October 14
• ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
• 📍 Bailey’s Upper

🌟 What to Expect

• 📖 Read-alouds and literacy activities
• 🎲 Fun games for students and families
• 💡 STEAM activities
• 📚 Book tastings and opportunities to explore new books
• 🛍️ Our Book Fair will be open for shopping!

🚌 Transportation & Dinner

• 🚌 Bus transportation from Bailey’s Primary to Bailey’s Upper will be available throughout the evening.
• 🍽️ A light dinner will be provided while supplies last.

Bring the family and join us for an evening of reading, learning, and fun together! We can’t wait to see you! 📚💙🐯

Get those smiles ready! Picture Day is Thursday, October 15! All students will have their school pictures taken during the school day. 😊🐯

📅 Picture Day Information

• 🗓️ Thursday, October 15
• 🏫 Bailey’s Upper

📝 Picture Orders

Picture Day order forms were sent home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Purchasing pictures is completely optional and is not required for your child to participate in Picture Day.

💻 Order Pictures Online

Families can also place their picture orders online:

🔗 Order Online: https://strawbridge.net/picture-day-lookup/

• Enter Code: PX525702

We can’t wait to see our Tigers’ Picture Day smiles! 💙🧡📸

Join us for our annual Trunk or Treat at Bailey’s Primary! Families are invited to dress up, bring a treat bag, and enjoy a fun evening together with our Bailey’s community. 👻🧡

📅 Event Information

• 🗓️ Thursday, October 29
• ⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
• 📍 Bailey’s Primary Parking Lot
• 👻 Costumes are welcome! Please no masks or toy weapons.
• 🍬 Don’t forget to bring a bag to collect your treats!

🍭 Candy Donations Needed!

We need your help stocking up on treats! Families are invited to donate bags of individually wrapped candy to help make the evening fun for all our Tigers.

🛒 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZPM59DT244E7?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_65Cbn8HOYjFIq

Families may also purchase candy from any store. Donations can be sent to your child’s teacher—just let them know it’s for Trunk or Treat—or dropped off at the Main Office at either Bailey’s school.

Bring the family and join us for a fun evening of treats, costumes, and time together with our Bailey’s community! 🎃🍬

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.  

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.

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:

• 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. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.