Table of Contents
- October is National School Principals Month
-
Wednesday, October 7: Walk and Roll to School Day & PTA Meeting @7:00pm
-
Monday, October 12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day / School Planning Day (No School for students)
-
Wednesday, October 21: Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal begins at 12:55pm.
-
Thursday, October 29: Literary Night
View the FCPS 26-27 School Year Calendar here.
|
Principal's Message
Dear Crestwood Families,
Thank you all so much for making me feel so appreciated for National Principals Month! I was deeply touched by your kind nature and loved all the wonderful surprises. Serving as the principal of such a loving, dedicated community is truly my absolute joy every day!
🩵 National Custodian Appreciation Day
Last Friday was National Custodian Appreciation Day! We want to send a huge, heartfelt thank you to our amazing custodial team for keeping our school clean, safe, and welcoming every single day.
🏆 Attendance Champions
Our attendance this week was AMAZING! Our percentage of student absences was even lower than the county average. We are so proud of our Owls for showing up ready to learn every single day!
🍕 PTA Meeting
Please join us for our first PTA Meeting of the year on Wednesday, October 7th at 7:00 PM in the Cafeteria. Pizza will be provided, and we would love to see you all there! Please check the PTA Corner in the newsletter below for more details.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we keep climbing to new heights together!
Warmly,
Ms. Casablanca
|
PTA Corner
Attention all Crestwood Parents and Teachers!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 7 @ 7pm in the Cafeteria.
It's our first PTA meeting of the year! We are excited to share our plans for the year, to hear your ideas, and to connect you all with ways to support our school! We will have pizza and you are welcome to drop off children in the SACC room (after they grab a slice).
Lewis Homecoming Game
Come cheer on the Lancers at the Homecoming Game! Join us at John R. Lewis High School on Friday, October 9, at 7:00 PM as our team takes on Falls Church High School. Stick around during half-time to enjoy a performance by the school band and see the Homecoming Court presentation.
Sign up for Good News Club
The Good News Club® is coming to Crestwood Elementary School! This free, fun-filled weekly after-school program features songs, stories, and games designed to teach Bible lessons.
-
When: Mondays from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (October 5, 2026 – April 26, 2027; full school days only)
-
Where: Crestwood Elementary School
-
Who: Sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship of Northern Virginia and led by screened, specially trained teachers
To sign up your child, visit the online registration page or contact Carol Bishop at 703-473-2932 (p-c.bishop@juno.com).
Superintendent Community Conversations
Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid
Join 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.
Calendar Change
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 that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.
Transportation Survey
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.
AAP Expansion
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:
-
Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
-
Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
-
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.
Attendance
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 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.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) at Home
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 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.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Home
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 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.
New ParentVUE App
New ParentVUE Mobile App Is Here
The new ParentVUE mobile app is available in the Apple and Google App stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their ParentVUE account. The previous app will be deactivated at the end of 2026.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature. Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Immunizations
The Importance of the Flu Vaccine
Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- College Prep Resources
- Life in the Community Fair
- Calendar Update: Eid al-Fitr
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
