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Tiger Tales
Tiger's Den
Families,
Thank you to all the families who attended Back to School Night. It is wonderful to connect with families and share our school wide focus, our FCPS resources, and make home to school connections. As a reminder, please make sure your children wear a jacket or hoodie. Our students access the playground, and PE will often use our outdoor spaces, and we want them to stay warm.
Please let us know if you have any questions and as always, we wish you a wonderful week.
Laura and Annie
No School for Students Monday, October 12:Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and school planning day for Indigenous Peoples' Day. See the complete school year calendar.
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 the 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.
Jill's House/Kilmer Center
Parent Support Group
October Meeting
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Please join us for a
Virtual Parent Support Group
Thursday, October 15th, 7-8 pm EST
Topic: Rage
Caretaking is many things. These ‘things’ can span from extraordinary gifts to excruciating responsibilities and so much in-between. Naturally, this varied experience elicits a full range of emotions. One of those feelings that isn’t often discussed but is hard to ignore is rage.
Rage is real. But what is it really? What triggers your rage? How do you carry it, and what do we do with it when it surfaces? Join the meeting to discuss, share and support.
Click HERE to join
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Transition Planning: Decision-Making Alternatives for Families of Individuals with Disabilities
Register here - https://forms.gle/Hj7pV6SGXNb5w2SKA
Friday, October 30 at 10 a.m
As young adults with disabilities and their families prepare for life after high school, families may have questions about how to support decision-making while respecting their loved one’s rights and independence. This webinar will provide an overview of guardianship and conservatorship, powers of attorney (POA), and advance medical directives (AMD), including their purposes,
differences, and potential impact. Participants will learn about these decision-making alternatives and considerations for choosing the option that best meets
their loved one's needs. This presentation is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
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2026 Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair!
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Each fall, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and The Arc of Northern Virginia sponsor:
Moving on to Life in the Community: A Resource Fair
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Who should attend: Students with developmental or intellectual disabilities and their families
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Purpose: Learn about adult services and supports available after transitioning from FCPS
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Representatives will provide information about:
- Adult service providers
- Employment and training programs
- Medicaid and Social Security
- Residential options
- Supported employment
- Day support programs
- Recreation and leisure activities
- Travel training
- Advocacy and funding
- And more
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Fairfax High School cafeteria
Entry: Door 1
Register here
Scholastic Books Order is Open
Shop our school page to purchase books. When you purchase books from Scholastic our school can earn rewards. Click on the link below to access the Kilmer Center School Page.
If you have any questions please contact Simin Shojeal at sshojaeibagh@fcps.edu.
Stock the Fridge
We are excited to introduce our Staff Snack Fridge, which will provide staff members with snacks, drinks, and small treats throughout the school day.
Families and staff who would like to participate may purchase or donate items from our requested list(Click here for our requested items). This is a wonderful way to show appreciation and support the staff members who care for our students each day.
IFSP Funding Announcement
Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1st, individuals on Virginia's Developmental Disability Waivers Waiting List (the Waitlist) will be able to access the IFSP-Funding Portal in WaMS to create and submit an application.
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IFSP-Funding Application Schedule (Fall 2026)
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First day to apply:
October 1 at 9 a.m.
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Last day to apply:
October 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Virtual Training Session for Individuals and Families
The IFSP staff is offering a online training to show you to apply for funding! The training will be held using Microsoft Teams.
You will:
· Learn how to log in and use the IFSP-Funding Portal,
· Learn how to fill out the funding application, and
· Be able to ask questions during the training.
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After you register, you will receive a confirmation email. This email will include the link you need to join the meeting.
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Can't make it? Watch the training video on the My Life, My Community IFSP-Funding page.
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The application portal will be open for one month. Determinations are not based on the date you apply—so please take your time! For more details on the Funding process and criteria, please review our Program Guidelines at mylifemycommunityvirginia.org/ifsp-funding.
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Before you begin, here are a few reminders:
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· To be eligible to apply, all applicants must be on the Developmental Disability Waivers Waiting List and be living in their own home, or in their family's home.
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· Please refer to the Program Guidelines for more information about how funding determinations are made.
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· Applicants with a priority 1 Waitlist status may apply for up to $1,000. Applicants with a priority 2 or priority 3 Waitlist status may apply for up to $500.
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· Helpful Tip: Please try logging into the Funding Portal in September to make sure your login information works! (Your login information is your last name, the last 6 digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth.) This will help you avoid any delays when the Portal opens in October. Please note, you will not be able to apply for funding while the Portal is closed.
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To apply for IFSP-Funding between October 1 and October 30, please visit this link:
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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.
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.
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.
Sibshops and SibTeens: Upcoming Session
Join us for a morning of connection, activities, and conversation with peers who share similar family experiences.
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Sibshops is a community-building program for children in grades 2–5 who have a sibling with a disability. Participants can play games, enjoy art activities, and connect with other children.
Register here
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SibTeens is a community-building group for students in grades 6–8 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have a sibling with support needs. Through recreational and art-based activities and discussion, students can share about their lives and support one another.
Register here
Session details
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Date: Tuesday, November 3
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Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. (Sibshops and SibTeens)
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Location: Katherine Johnson Middle School
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Address: 3801 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA
Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers
Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.
How to Get Involved
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
Fairfax County Special Education PTA
The Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) is a perfect way to support our students, families, and Kilmer Center school! SEPTA serves all special education students, families, and educators across FCPS. Membership is $20 and SEPTA is open to all parents, teachers, staff, and community members. It directly funds free educational workshops, community-building events, teacher mini-grants, and the annual Awards Ceremony.
For more information visit SEPTA website or the link provided.
Upcoming Dates
October 2026
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October 12: Student Holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day
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October 15: Kilmer Center/Jill's House Parent Support Group 7:00-8:00 PM
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October 30: End of First Quarter | 2-hour Early Release
November 2026
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November 2: Student Holiday (Teacher Workday for Staff)
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November 3: Student Holiday (School Planning Day for Staff) | Election Day
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November 5: Kilmer Center/Jill's House Parent Support Group 7:00-8:00 PM
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November 25 - 27: Holidays | Thanksgiving Break
December 2026
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December 21 - January 3, 2027: Holidays | Winter Break
2026-2027 School Year Calendar
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