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October 5: Green Team Officers Meeting - 3:30 pm
October 5: PTA/Baroody After School Pottery & Soccer begin
October 7: Walk, Bike & Roll to School
October 8: PTA/Baroody Chess begins
October 9: PTA/Baroody Cooking & Lego Spike Robotics begin
October 9: Chorus Sings Nat’l Anthem at Woodson football game
October 12: No School for students / School Planning Day
October 14: Green Team Meeting - All - 3:30 pm
October 19: Fall Picture Day (individual photos)
As we move further into the school year, our hallways are filled with a wonderful sense of energy, community, and growth. We have had an incredibly event-packed couple of weeks, and I want to take a moment to celebrate the wonderful moments our students and staff have shared together.
Here is a look at what has been happening around our school:
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Purple Star Military Breakfast: We were honored to host our Purple Star military-connected families for a special breakfast. It was a privilege to connect with our brave service members and their children, showing our gratitude for the incredible sacrifices and dedication they bring to our country and school community.
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Kindergarten & 1st Grade Principal Coffee: Thank you to all the early-childhood parents who joined me for our recent Principal Coffee. It was fantastic to engage in open dialogue, answer your questions, and discuss how we can continue supporting our youngest learners during these crucial foundational years.
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School-Wide Field Day: Our campus was full of smiles, high-fives, and friendly competition during Field Day! This year, our primary focus was on teamwork, and it was inspiring to see students from every grade level encouraging one another, communicating effectively, and celebrating collective success.
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5th & 6th Grade Electives Kickoff: Our upper elementary students officially kicked off their new electives! From creative arts to STEM exploration, students are diving into specialized subjects that spark curiosity and help them build new skills as they prepare for the transition to middle school.
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Teacher Professional Development: During our recent three-hour early release, our dedicated faculty spent time expanding their own learning. Teachers engaged in deep professional development focused on restorative justice circles—a powerful approach that fosters active listening, strengthens classroom relationships, and helps students resolve conflicts empathetically.
Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and dedication to making our school a warm, inclusive, and thriving environment for every child.
Warmly,
Principal Prindle
sbprindle@fcps.edu
FCPS will participate in Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 7th, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Schools are encouraged to register online with Walk and Bike to School.
*If you are biking or rolling, please obey all traffic rules and wear a helmet.
Under Virginia Code § 22.1-273, public schools must screen students for hearing and vision issues in Kindergarten, 3rd grade, and newly enrolled students. Hearing and vision screenings were held for all Kindergarten students in September, while 3rd grade and any new students will be screened in October. These will occur in the morning. Students should bring their glasses to the screening if they wear them regularly for school.
The schedule is as follows:
October 8th - Ms. Maturan and Ms. Sill
October 9th - Ms. Lee
- Results: Schools send a written notice to parents if a child does not pass or needs a follow-up medical exam.
- Opt-Out: Parents can decline the screening in writing for religious reasons.
- Absent: If your child is out during the screening, they will be screened at another time.
Fairfax County Public Schools is presenting a literacy webinar series to help families understand reading assessments, reading plans, and how to support their child at home. The series and topics are as follows:
- October 20th at 10:00 am- Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
- December 15th at 10:00 am - What is a Reading Plan?
- February 19th at 10:00 am - How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14 at 10:00 am - Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer.
Click on this flyer for more information.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Alex Dilldine, School Testing Coordinator, at adilldine@fcps.edu by September 30.
Families are invited to attend AAP information meetings, led by Alina Delarosa, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: On September 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom, families learned about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students. If you were unable to attend, click here, View Continuum of Academic Services Presentation, then scroll down to "Presentations."
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Full-Time AAP Identification: November 5th 2026 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. (Link to be shared later). Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Alina Delarosa, AART, at amdelarosa@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
How to Order Pictures:
- Go to Strawbridge.net
- Click “Order Pictures & Yearbooks” Button
- Enter code: PX526543
- Click “Find” Button
- Place your order by logging in, or registering if you are a new family.
We love having families visit school, volunteer, come to support events, etc. Now you can make the check in process easier by using the QR code below to get the Raptor app. How does this help you? With the app, you can have your own personal QR code ready to go before you enter the building, then scan it in the computer when you arrive. No more pulling out your license, running home because you forgot it, or taking a new picture at every visit. Give it a try today!
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.
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.
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):
Registration links will be shared soon. 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.
Supervisor Sizemore Heizer's office has two upcoming opportunities for Braddock area students and staff. Please feel free to share with, or nominate, people from your communities!
- Best of Braddock awards
This is an award ceremony that recognizes exemplary Braddock residents in front of state and federal representatives. We are specifically seeking nominations for outstanding students, organizations, and public employees. If you know anybody who fits this bill, please nominate them here. Nominations are due October 9.
- Braddock District intergenerational art competition
This is an art competition for Braddock residents. This year's theme is: What does joy look like to you? We are specifically seeking submissions from young artists. The submission link can be found here. Submissions are due October 9.
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.
Accessing K-6 Family Life Education (FLE) Materials
K-6th grade classes will be participating in Family Life Education (FLE) lessons beginning in December. (Be on the look out for communication from teachers regarding the specific dates).
For your convenience, the lessons and materials are available for families to view at your own pace on the All Parents/Guardians: Wakefield Forest Elementary School Schoology Course. Detailed instructions on how to access these materials can be found HERE.
Additionally, the Woodson Pyramid will be hosting a Virtual Parent Preview Night for FLE on Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30-6:00PM. This event provides an opportunity to ask questions and receive assistance in accessing the materials virtually. If you want to opt your child out of these lessons the form is due by October 23rd.
Join us using this link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/93938963976?pwd=IHjKylFG1cXWapiZ25LcSruyS2l9Ba.1
We invite you also to learn more about Fairfax County's elementary FLE program on the FCPS website.
Please reach out to Amy Williams at alwilliams1@fcps.edu with any questions.
 What a great turnout we had for our Kindergarten/1st grade parent coffee with Principal Prindle. Thank you to all who joined us!
Attendance: 703-503-2323 or WakefieldForestES.attendance@fcps.edu
Health Room: 703-503-2310
Family Information Phone Lines/Support for families who do not speak English as their first language: Family Information Phone Lines
Technology Support: Resources for Families Using FCPS Technology
Principal: Sharyn Prindle sbprindle@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Amy Williams alwilliams1@fcps.edu
WFES PTA: HOME
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