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Dear Cardinal Families,
Happy October! As we turn the calendar to a new month, the cooler morning temperatures and crisp air are bringing a wonderful feeling of fall to our campus.
With fall comes one of our most thrilling traditions: Rocket Day! On Wednesday, October 8, our teachers will be blasting off their class rockets into the sky. We are incredibly proud to share that our school was one of only seven schools in Region 1 selected to participate in this special event!
Our classes have been working hard preparing their rockets, and we can't wait for a day filled with hands-on learning, teamwork, and excitement. Please make sure your child dresses in comfortable layers for the cooler autumn weather as we spend time outdoors cheering on each launch.
Finally, I want to give a huge thank you to all of our parents for your efforts in getting your children to school each day. Thanks to you, we had fantastic attendance with fewer than 10 students absent on Friday! Your support truly makes a difference.
Thank you for everything you do to make our school community so special!
Warmly,
Allison Hoak, Principal
Jon Kemmerer, Assistant Principal
➡️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.
🛣️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.
📅Advanced Academic Program Meeting Next Week on Oct. 9
Families are invited to attend an AAP information meetings led by Jenna Murgia, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART). We will meet on October 9, 2026 at 8:45 AM in the CPES cafeteria. During the meeting, Ms. Murgia will share the AAP Continuum of Services. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students. She will then share about Full-Time AAP Identification. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
If you cannot make this meeting and would like more information, please contact Jenna Murgia, AART, at jlmurgia@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
FCPS News
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:
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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.
Superintendent Community Conversations
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:
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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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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
🏫Connected Communities, Thriving Students
Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Hosted by FCPS in collaboration with community partners, the conference highlights the power of partnerships in supporting student success. Families, educators, and community members are invited to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants.
Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
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