|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear CES Friends & Families,
It has been another great week at Columbia! Earlier this week, our second graders enjoyed a field trip to the George Mason Regional Library. Experiences like these are a wonderful way for our students to extend their learning beyond the classroom, explore community resources, and build their excitement for reading and learning.
Looking forward in the month of October, please see the note below about students being allowed to wear costumes to school on Friday, October 23rd. We also are looking for a volunteer with a truck or convertible for the Annandale Parade on Saturday, October 24th.
As a friendly reminder, this Monday is a student holiday and staff planning day, giving our students a three-day weekend. We hope everyone enjoys the extra time with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Tuesday, October 13, refreshed and ready for another great week of learning!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Mike Astudillo
Proud Principal
Columbia Elementary School
PTA News & Notes
SAVE THE DATE - Bingoween 5 - 8 pm (10/23)
Join us for a night of costumes, family fun, and BINGO! There will be raffles, a silent auction, a concession stand, and plenty of prizes. More information coming soon!
Spirit Night at Jet's Pizza next Wednesday, October 14
Available 4 - 8 pm (10/14). Feed your family and support your Columbia Community at the same time. Mention the flyer (sent home in the Tuesday folders) or order online and JET’S PIZZA® will donate 25% of sales of your total food purchases to Columbia Elementary School,
Annandale Parade – 9:30 am (10/24)
The fun continues the morning after Bingoween! Show your Columbia spirit by wearing your red or spiritwear and walking with us in the Annandale Parade. Let’s show the community our school pride!
PTA meeting at 7 pm (10/14)
Join us for the next PTA meeting. You do not have to be a member to attend. Click here to JOIN via Zoom.
🎃 Halloween Costumes & Bingo-ween
We are excited to celebrate Bingo-ween on Friday, October 23, from 5:00–8:00 p.m.! To help build excitement for this fun community event, students are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes to school on Friday, October 23.
For the school day, please keep the following in mind:
-
Masks that cover the face may not be worn during the school day. Students may wear masks as part of their costumes at the evening Bingo-ween event.
-
Costumes should be appropriate for school and allow students to participate safely and comfortably in their regular learning activities.
-
Students will not wear costumes to school on Friday, October 30.
We look forward to a fun day at school followed by a wonderful evening together at Bingo-ween!
🚗 Help Represent CES in the Annandale Parade
We’re excited to participate in the Annandale Parade on Saturday, October 24, and we’re looking for a community member who would be willing to volunteer their truck and drive in the parade!
The time commitment would be approximately 9:00–11:00 a.m. A white or red truck is preferred, but most importantly, we’d love to hear from anyone who has a truck and is willing to help.
If you’re available to volunteer that morning, please email Mr. A. at mastudillo1@fcps.edu.
Thank you for helping Columbia show our school spirit and represent our community in the parade!
🚗 Afternoon Dismissal Changes: Please Contact the Main Office
To help us provide a safe, smooth, and efficient dismissal for every student, we ask families to contact the main office before 3:30 p.m. with any changes to their child's dismissal plans for that afternoon.
Requests received after 3:30 p.m. may result in a delay or mix-up during dismissal, as our staff are actively preparing students for departure at that time.
Please communicate dismissal changes directly to the main office rather than your child's teacher. During the school day, our teachers' primary focus is teaching and supporting students, and they may not be able to check messages in time to communicate a dismissal change. Our main office team is best positioned to receive these updates and ensure the information gets to the right staff members.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep dismissal safe, organized, and on time for all students!
 From George Mason Regional Library
George Mason Regional Library will close this fall for an approximately two-year renovation. The last day of service will be October 23, 2026.
- October 9 – Last day to place holds for pick up at George Mason Regional Library
- October 13 – Last day holds will be delivered to the branch
- October 17 – George Mason Library Celebration & Open House 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- October 23 – Last day of service and to pick up holds
- Early 2027 – Thomas Jefferson Library adopting regional branch hours, Culmore Library reopening
Fairfax County Public Library happenings:
Hispanic Heritage Month Bingo Adventure – September 15 to October 15
Register for the challenge on fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org. Earn FIVE virtual badges and then be entered into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate. Five winners will be selected from each age group.
All Fairfax Reads: Demon Copperhead - September to November 2026
All Fairfax Reads is an annual series that encourages our community to come together for a shared reading experience. This year, we will be reading Barbara Kingsolver's best-selling Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead, and pairing it with a variety of events.
You can get the latest news on all things FCPL by following us on social media or subscribing to our BranchOut newsletter.
Save the Date!
October 12 - School Planning Day, No School for Students
October 23 - Bingoween from 5 - 8pm
October 24 - Annandale Chamber of Commerce Parade - 9:30am
October 30 - Last day of 1st Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release
November 2 & 3 - Teacher Workdays, no school for students
|
