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 Patrols guide younger students during this week’s bus evacuation practice.
October 6 Fall School Picture Day
October 12 No School - School Planning Day
October 15 AAP Referral Window for New BMP Students Closes
October 23 Book Character Dress Up Day
October 23 PTA Sponsored BINGOween, 6:00 p.m.
October 30 2 Hour Early Release, Schools Ends at 2:00 p.m. (no after-school care is available)
Michelle Domingo, Physical Education Teacher
We just started our throwing and catching unit this week in Physical Education. During this unit, our younger mustangs will have fun participating in a variety of activities to improve their skills. They will be working on throwing and catching to self as well as partners. They will also be working on throwing and rolling objects to targets. Our older mustangs are working hard to improve their throwing and catching skills in order to be prepared to play team handball games at the end of our unit. Leading up to team handball, they will be practicing overhand throwing and catching with a partner at various distances and throwing and catching while under pressure in keep away type group games.
Families can help improve their student’s throwing and catching skills by practicing these skills at home. If you have a ball and enough space, try playing catch together. If space is limited or you don’t have a ball, a small stuffed toy or even a rolled up pair of socks work great for some gentle tossing and catching practice and can help improve your child’s hand-eye coordination.
 Welcoming New Military Students and Families
Blue Star Welcome Week is a special time when we make sure new students— especially those from military families — feel welcomed and included at our school.
At Bren Mar Park, we want everyone to feel like they belong. During this week, students, especially our Student Ambassadors, have met new friends and learned how to support classmates who might have just moved here by helping them feel included and part of our school family!"
We're closing out Blue Star Welcome Week by wearing blue on Monday, October 5th to celebrate!
The Annual Special Education Family Conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Hayfield Secondary School.
Hosted by FCPS and community partners, its theme — Connected Communities, Thriving Students — highlights the power of partnerships that support student success. This no-cost, in-person event brings together families, staff, and community partners to explore special education services, supports, and resources and to build meaningful connections.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall, and lunch for all participants. Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for the latest information.
Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
Join Dr. 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, 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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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (Note date change)
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. Childcare and interpretation services will be available.
Fall is here, bringing cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and shorter days. As daylight hours decrease, many morning and evening commutes will take place in lower-light conditions.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is reminding drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists that reduced visibility can make it harder to see and be seen on our roadways. Read the FCPD blog on seasonal safety.
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 on this day.
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.
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.
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:
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Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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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.
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.
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.
Picture day is Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The photographer accepts exact change or check made out to Strowbridge Studios with your order form. If ordering online, go to STROWBRIDGE.NET and use code PX525899 (Bren Mar Park Elementary School). Orders placed more than 5 days may incur a fee.
Help your child prepare for future success by encouraging them to develop positive attendance habits. Regular attendance supports learning and helps students stay on track for college, careers, and other opportunities after graduation.
Take a look at the FCPS calendar. Try your best to schedule any vacations or planned family events on weekends and school holidays. If the appointment needs to be during the school day, when possible, schedule it for the beginning or end of the day to minimize time missed.
If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, please report the absence to our school as early as possible. Find out how to report an absence on our homepage or call the front office.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please let us know. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
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