Student ambassadors decorate the front sidewalk of Sangster Elementary School with welcoming messages for Blue Star Welcome Week.
Weekly Reflections: Our Students Will Lead Us Into the Future
Last week, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid traveled to the Quantum World Congress to announce that FCPS will host the world’s first K-12 quantum computer. It’s another way FCPS is expanding opportunities for each and every Fairfax County student.
Check out Weekly Reflections to learn more about Dr. Reid’s activities last week.
Early Literacy Fun Fact
During the 2025-26 school year, FCPS students and staff checked out more than 3 million books. Third grade students checked out the most books, at more than a half a million — an average of 43 books per student!
Keep that love of reading going with #FavoriteBookFriday! Each Friday, we’re asking members of our FCPS community to share a favorite book from their elementary school days. Share your own reading memories on social media using #FavoriteBookFriday and #FCPSreads.
See our latest Favorite Book Friday with Liberty Middle School Principal Tracy Bromberg on Instagram and Facebook.
Superintendent Community Conversations
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.
Preparing for Life After High School
To help Virginia students get ready for college, job training, or entry-level work, the Virginia Department of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia have developed resources and gathered important information to share with Virginia families.
Middle and high school students and families can learn more about preparing for college or a career by visiting the following websites:
Each site contains information on preparing, applying, and paying for college, as well as information on degree options and labor market career projections.
Federal Student Aid Form Opens October 1
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans.
The 2027-28 FAFSA officially opens tomorrow, Thursday, October 1.
Free Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Sessions
College Access Fairfax, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, will present virtual information sessions on the financial aid process for post-secondary education and scholarship information.
Sessions include:
Click on the date to participate. Visit College Access Fairfax for more information.
Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair
Students with disabilities and their families are invited to attend the Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair, which will be held Thursday, November 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Fairfax High School.
The fair is designed for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities who will need continuing support after leaving FCPS. It is an opportunity to connect with agency and vendor representatives to gather information about services for adults in need of ongoing support.
Exhibitors will share information on supported employment, training, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential options, travel training supports, advocacy, funding, Medicaid, and social security.
The fair is sponsored by FCPS, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and The Arc of Northern Virginia. Register to attend the resource fair.
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 sessions include:
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Wednesday, October 14, Autism and ABA Overview (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
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Wednesday, November 18, Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
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Wednesday, December 9, Toilet Training
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.
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 page.
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.
How Supported Staff Build Community
Across FCPS, approximately 1,400 custodians serve more than 230 schools and offices. They maintain more than 29 million square feet, clean over 14,000 classrooms and 1,200 restrooms, and care for more than 3,300 acres of school property.
During Dr. Reid’s Strategic Plan update at last week’s School Board meeting, she shared this video, which shows how our custodians’ impact goes far beyond maintaining our buildings.
Read about some FCPS custodians who were nominated for Outstanding School-Based Employee in 2025-26.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: Request for Volunteers
Register now to attend the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students, on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to this in-person event at no cost. Participants can connect, learn, and explore special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided.
Find ways to volunteer below:
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Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS using the Volunteer Registration Form.
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Student Volunteers: Sign up through the Student Volunteer Interest Form. Students will receive volunteer hours for their service.
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Student Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project. Volunteer hours will be awarded to students serving in these roles.
Register to attend the conference. Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
A Fist Bump, a Smile, and a Safe Place: Celebrating the Impact of Julian Gaither
Walk through the halls of Edison High School, and there is a good chance you will see Julian Gaither greeting students with a smile, a fist bump, and a friendly “Good morning.”
As a safety and security assistant, Julian helps keep the school safe each day, but his impact on the Edison community goes well beyond his job description.
Read more about Julian’s impact on the Edison community.
Building Trust Through Transparency: FCPS Receives Budget Award
FCPS earned the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for its 2026-27 budget. This national recognition celebrates the division’s commitment to clear, transparent, high-quality financial reporting and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Read about the award.
Designing Lessons for All Learners
In the Academic Matters portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid presented on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Professional Development. UDL principles help teachers craft lessons to keep in mind each and every students’ strengths, incorporate supports into everyday planning, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate what they know.
At the board meeting, Dr. Reid shared a video in which educators across FCPS share how summer UDL workshops equipped them with tools to make instruction more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for every student. Read more in Weekly Reflections.
Understanding the FCPS Calendar
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 the school as early as possible. Find links to your school’s attendance email or notification system on their homepage, or call the front office.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to your school. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
Calendar Reminder: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and staff development day for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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 on this day.
A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note: holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.
Shorter Days Ahead: Stay Alert, Stay Visible
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.
Information on Fentanyl and Safe Storage of Firearms and Medications
Public schools in Virginia are required by the state to share information regarding the importance of securely storing any prescription drug present in the household, a one-page flyer (PDF) about the dangers of fentanyl, and the parent's responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board has a limited supply of free locking medication boxes and trigger locks that fit a wide variety of firearms. Visit the Lock and Talk website to learn more.
In FCPS, we build gun safety lessons into our curriculum. It is critical that parents and guardians talk to their children about the importance of gun safety and safe gun storage in their homes and in any home they may visit.
Our website includes gun safety resources and detailed information about FCPS safety and security practices in our buildings. See Dr. Reid’s recent letter to the community for more resources.
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