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A Message from Mr. Morris
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recently released their 25-26 school year quality profiles, and for the second consecutive school year under these new state metrics, Stratford Landing is a VDOE Distingushed School. This is a celebration and an accomplishment for all of us; our students, staff and families.
Stratford Landing is outperforming division and state averages, maintaining a 90% proficiency rate in English Reading and an 87% proficiency rate in Mathematics! SLES maintains a Level 1 Rating (the highest rating for VDOE schools) for growth in both Reading and Mathematics under VDOE standards. This indicates that a high proportion of students who are not yet proficient are demonstrating high growth, while already proficient students are maintaining high performance. That means all students are learning at The Landing! We are ranked among the top 20% of public schools in Virgina.
Again, this is a moment for all of us to be proud. I share often that nothing that happens at our school is by accident. Everything is by design. This accomplishment isn’t possible without our dedicated staff and their daily diligence and commitment. Our families, too, are active partners and you should be incredibly proud of our school’s accomplishment. And wow, how about our students. They are showing up, locking in and getting it done.
Way to go, Dolphins!
Kevin Morris, Principal
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and school planning day for Indigenous Peoples' Day. See the complete school year calendar.
Please join us in celebrating Stratford Landing’s administrative team: Principal Kevin Morris and Assistant Principals Shea Hestmark and Brandon Davis. Their leadership touches so many parts of school life.
We’re grateful for the leadership and care our principals bring to Stratford Landing Elementary each day. Their commitment to our students, staff, and families helps make our school a welcoming and supportive place to learn and grow. Please join us in celebrating and thanking them for all they do for our school community!
You are invited to participate in Stratford Book Character Day
Friday, October 30th. Show your Stratford Landing Elementary spirit
and dress as your favorite school appropriate book character.
Please no toy weapons or depictions of violence.
Fairfax County Public Schools is presenting a literacy webinar series to help families understand reading assessments, reading plans, and how to support your child at home.
Series Topics:
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October 20 | 10:00 a.m. - Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
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December 15 | 10:00 a.m. - What is a Reading Plan?
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February 19 | 10:00 a.m. - How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
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May 14 | 10:00 a.m. - Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer.
Can't attend at these dates? Register now and a link will be emailed to you after the webinar is presented.
We have more parent and student volunteers in the library than ever!!!!
I am so appreciative. Elementary libraries couldn’t function without you. With our older students, we will be working on what information is available on our Schoology Library Course and how to use some of the amazing databases our students have access to for research. Good bye for now!
Ellen Gresham, School Librarian
 The ParentVUE Account is FCPS's secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and Schoology. ParentVUE also provides an additional way to communicate with your child's school. Your ParentVUE login credentials can be used to access Schoology.
SIS ParentVUE Account Overview
Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
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.
Celebrating the Power of School Lunches
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This National School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing delicious, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? View the Nutrition Services menus. Apply for free and reduced-price meals at fcps.edu/frm
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Parent Café: “Talk. They Hear You.”
Join a free virtual presentation for parents and others who support young people. Learn how to start conversations early and often about alcohol and other drugs, and get information and resources to help.
Date: October 13, 2026 (Spanish) Register - Spanish Session
November 10, 2026 (English) Register - English Session
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Contact: 703-324-7720 or BuildingStrongerFamilies@FairfaxCounty.gov
Fuel Assistance Opens October 13
Cooler weather increases heating costs, which can be difficult for anyone on a limited income. The Fuel Assistance program helps pay heating costs for eligible households. Some people will be pre-approved and others will need to apply. Applications will be accepted from October 13 until November 13.
To apply for Fuel Assistance, or other food and medical benefits, visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370.
Double SNAP Dollars at Farmers Markets
🧺 Fill your basket with fresh fall produce for nutritious meals. SNAP participants can make their dollars go farther by getting up to $40 dollars matched on fruits and vegetables.
🍎 SNAP is accepted at five farmers markets in Fairfax County: Mount Vernon, Reston, Lorton, Wakefield, and Annandale. Markets are open through October and some until November! Learn more about using SNAP at farmers markets.
Family Food Markets
Local family food markets are starting in October. Family Food Markets are open to anyone that knows about them. Families do not need to register or have income verified.
November 2, 2026 | Mount Vernon Woods Elementary | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
(first Monday every month)
November 4, 2026 | Walt Whitman Middle School | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
(first Wednesday every month)
October 27, 2026 | Hybla Valley Elementary | 4:15pm until they run out of food, enter at Door #2
(Fourth Tuesday every month, varies)
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Mark your Calendar:
October 14th - 6th Grade SLES
Cozy Blanket Fundraiser ends
October 16th - Proven Winners Plant/Flowers
SLES Fundraiser ends
October 23rd - SLES Rock N Run!
October 29th - Fall Festival 6-8pm
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Get Ready for the SLES Rock N Run on October 23rd
Fundraising begins on Friday, October 16th!
Get ready, Stratford Landing Dolphins—the SLES Rock N Run 2026 is almost here, and it’s going to be the absolute highlight of the school year! As our school’s biggest and most exciting fundraiser, this is your chance to lace up your favorite sneakers, run or walk with your friends, and move to awesome music playing all around the track. Every donation helps support our school, but best of all, Rock N Run is all about having fun with your classmates, showing off your school spirit, and celebrating how amazing our Dolphin community is. Parents, make sure you sign up to be a Rock N Run volunteer so you can be a part of the fun too! Sign up here:
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/0420514002/false?popup=true#/invitation
Want to learn more about Rock N Run? Visit slpta.org/rock-n-run/ for information on race times, donation links and prize announcements!
Join your friends and SLES community for a memorable autumn evening at the Stratford Landing Fall Festival on Thursday, October 29th from 6-8pm. Families can enjoy classic treats like warm popcorn and fluffy cotton candy, participate in games and activities, and collect candy from the trunks set up for Trunk or Treat! Don’t miss a walk through the SLES Discovery Garden to admire the whimsical, student-crafted tiny villages featuring fairies, dinosaurs, gnomes and more! Plus the SLES 6th Grade are taking pre-orders for delicious Chick-Fil-A meals available for pick up at the Fall Festival. Visit my.cheddarup.com/c/chickfila-preorders to order.
We need your help to make this event a blast for the SLES students! There are so many fun opportunities to volunteer at the Fall Festival…we need parents to assist with games, set up a decorated trunk or run the cotton candy machine! Please help us by signing up for a shift at the SLES Fall Festival. No experience necessary, we offer onsite training!
https://signup.com/go/itswcVD
We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you!
New York Times Bestselling Author Stuart Gibbs is coming to Stratford Landing Elementary School! Thursday, November 12th
Exciting news for this school year! As part of our 2026 Rock N' Run prizes, we are thrilled to host author visits for students in grades K–2 and 3–6.
Our first guest author, Stuart Gibbs, will visit Stratford Landing Elementary School during the school day on Thursday, November 12th. Mr. Gibbs is the bestselling author of the wildly popular Spy School series, as well as fan favorites like Charlie Thorne, FunJungle, and Moon Base Alpha.
A huge thank you to Old Town Books for helping bring Mr. Gibbs to Stratford Landing Elementary and offering personally signed copies of his latest release, Spy School Secret Files. Order your copy today! Books will be delivered to your student on November 12th!
https://oldtownbooks.com/teachers-schools/stuart-gibbs-at-stratford-landing
Don’t forget to include your student’s name for personalization, student’s grade and teacher’s name in the Notes section of checkout! The deadline to order signed books will be 5pm on November 9th. Email us if you have any questions: president@slpta.org
Cozy Stratford Landing ES Blanket 6th Grade Fundraiser
October 1-14th
The SLES 6th Grade is selling SLES blankets for $28! Purchase before October 14, 2026 to guarantee your blanket — remaining blankets may sell out soon after that date.
These high-quality, cozy 50″ × 60″ blankets are made of 300 GSM, 100% polyester soft minky plush. The SLES logo is on the front, and the back is plush, soft white polyester minky. A great holiday gift or perfect for a cuddle on the couch with your family!
Pickup: December 16, 2026, at the SLES PTA Winter Wonderland event. Arrangements can also be made for pickup after that date.
Buy your SLES blanket today and support the SLES 6th Grade! Go Dolphins!
Proven Winners Flower/Plant SLES Fall Fundraiser
October 5th-16th
From October 5-16, purchase your fall plants, decor, or gardening supplies and 15% of your purchase price will go to the Stratford Landing PTA. Make sure to use the link below, and happy planting!
Thank you so much to our Stratford Landing Sponsors!
Thank you to Nina Berkowitz Homes for being a Signature SLES Sponsor this year! We have so many amazing sponsors this year! The following businesses have donated to the Stratford Landing ES PTA in support of our students and SLES staff: Nina Berkowitz Homes, McAlister’s Deli, Ted’s Bulletin, Tremolo Security, Belle Haven Family Dentistry, Hughes Ortho, Encore Boutique, MVP Chess, Renée C. Gage Photography, MVP Chess, Taekwondo Masters, The Laboratory Salon, Fed Upward, Trident Swim and Triathalon, Master Roofing, Tracy Vitali with Coldwell Banker, Alexandria Children’s Theatre, Happy Place, Wegmans, Continues Arcade, Hooray Art, STEM exCEL and the Hollin Hall Pastry Shop.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Safe Routes to School Survey
- Immunization Events
- Celebrating Our Principals
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Volunteering at Stratford Landing Elementary!
We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application.
Mt Vernon Community Children's Theatre presents:
Elf the Musical November 14-22, 2026 at Bryant High School
Sink! A Titanic Murder Mystery Winter 2027
Disney's The Little Mermaid Spring 2027
Order Tickets or get details about auditions!
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