Forestville Focus
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/05/2026 08:00 AM EDT
Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15The Advanced Academic Program (AAP) fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3 to 8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time AAP services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Sarah Brooker at slbrooker@fcps.edu by Thursday, October 15. Late referrals will not be accepted. For students who are not new to FCPS, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2 to 7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by Tuesday, December 15. Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services. Other Advanced Academic ServicesAt the elementary level, all students are screened each spring for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services. Families may also refer their student for consideration for Subject-Specific or Part-Time AAP at any time during the school year. Eligibility decisions are made at the school level, and families are notified of the decision within 30 school days of the referral. The Full-Time AAP referral deadlines do not apply. At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students. For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
 Our community showed up in a big way for Fall Carnival! A huge thank-you to our PTA for bringing this annual tradition to life, to the adult and student volunteers who made it all happen, and to the families who came out to celebrate. With dunk tanks, cotton candy, carnival games, and bounce houses, it was a night for the books! Stay Connected with Forestville!Want to see what learning, laughter, and life at Forestville really look like? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a front-row seat to the amazing moments happening in our classrooms and around our school. From special events and student highlights to spirit days and everyday fun—you won’t want to miss a thing! 📸 Facebook: ForestvilleFCPS
 Calendar Change: Eid al-FitrFCPS 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. Superintendent Community ConversationsJoin Superintendent Dr. Michelle 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:
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver SurveyAs 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 Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP CentersFCPS 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:
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. Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at HomeSocial-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:
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. Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at HomeAll 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:
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. Understanding the FCPS CalendarHelp 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. FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 
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First Day of School Photo Request
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Cardinal families — we love seeing those first‑day smiles! If you’d like your child featured in this year’s Forestville Yearbook, please submit photos taken on school grounds or at the bus stop only. Uploading is easy:
Thank you for helping us capture the magic of the first day! |
Yearbook Committee Volunteers Needed
If you’ve ever wanted to help shape the story of our school year, this is your moment. We’re looking for up to three more volunteers to join our Yearbook Committee — a creative, collaborative group that helps bring Forestville’s memories to life.
What volunteers do
- Take and submit photos at PTA events
- Help sort and organize uploaded photos
- Join small spring committees to edit content, design page layouts, and prepare the final book
Time commitment
- Training in October with our Yearbook sales rep (required; 1–2 hours)
- Light prep beginning in December (cover contest!)
- Most of the work happens February–May
If you love storytelling, design, or just being part of something fun and meaningful, we’d love to have you on the team.
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Mookie's BBQ Spirit DayForestville PTA Spirit Day @Mookie's BBQ 11AM to 8 PM Mention Forestville PTA when placing your order, and the PTA will receive a portion of the proceeds. |
Charleston Wrap Fundraiser
Cardinals, it’s time to unleash your inner gift‑giving superstar! Our Charleston Wrap Fundraiser is officially LIVE, and we’re inviting families to jump in and help us reach our goals in the most fun way possible — by shopping for cute, cozy, sparkly, yummy, and “I definitely need this” goodies.
How to join the fun
Register at registercw.com using Organization ID 26323
Shop from 2,500+ gifts and goodies — holiday treats, home décor, bags, candles, and all the things that make life a little brighter
And because Forestville families are the best, you can earn free ultra‑heavy gift wrap (the fancy kind!) plus $10, $25, or even $50 off your order just for sharing your link.
Every purchase helps our PTA bring more magic to our school — more events, more programs, more smiles. Let’s wrap up some joy together
Afterschool Enrichment: Chess
PTA sponsored, Fall enrichment afterschool chess with Silver Knights Chess Academy
Learn chess with Silver Knights Chess Academy! We’ve taught 100,000 children to play including state & national champions, but most students are beginners looking to learn a new skill and have FUN. Class time is divided between lessons and practice games. Lessons range from the basic rules to advanced tournament strategies.
Students will have the opportunity to play in tournaments outside of club time, which may have an additional fee. All chess supplies provided. We welcome all grades and skill levels!
Time: 4pm to 5:10pm
Dates: Starts on 9/11, ends 12/18, no classes on 9/4, 10/30, 11/27
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1085 Utterback Store Road | Great Falls, VA 22066 | 703.404.6000 |