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Indigenous Peoples’ Day / School Planning Day - Student Holiday - October 12
 Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and school planning day for Indigenous Peoples' Day. See the complete school year calendar.
October is AAC Awareness Month
AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, includes many ways to support communication. Some tools are low-tech, such as pictures, communication boards, and printed choice cards. Others use technology, including speech-generating devices and communication apps. Students may use different resources in different situations, and every form of communication matters.
At our school, AAC is woven into all activities to support communication and learning throughout the day. It helps students share ideas, make choices, ask questions, connect with others, and take part in lessons and school life.
A special thank-you to Karen Burke, our ATS specialist, who keeps our AAC resources up and running throughout the building. We’re grateful for the care and expertise she brings to helping every student communicate and learn.
 
Celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month!
 October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month—a time to celebrate people with Down Syndrome, recognize their contributions, and help build a more inclusive community. Join us in showing your support by wearing blue and yellow on Wednesday, October 14!
Join Us for Key Center PTA’s First General Meeting of the School Year!
 Families and students are welcome at our first PTA general membership meeting on Thursday, November 5, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. Pizza dinner will be provided.
We’ll review anticipated PTA activities for the 2026–2027 school year, vote to fill the vacant Vice President position—Katie Harper has been nominated—and hear a presentation about a program supporting adaptive skiing and ice skating for individuals with disabilities.
Please let us know if you plan to attend- register for the PTA meeting here. Questions? Contact Emily Bell at emilyherzogbell@gmail.com.
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.
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.
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.
Disability History and Awareness Month
 In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.
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
National Ombuds Day - October 8th
 Office of the Ombuds staff engage with families, students, and staff to offer resources, assist in settling conflicts, and raise concerns to improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
The ombuds is available to:
- Share strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home.
- Help resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace.
- Provide ideas to foster parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings.
Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit the Ombuds webpage to submit a question.
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 training takes 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.
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:
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Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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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.
Resources
 Inova Free or Low-Cost Healthcare for Kids
Inova offers health care services and support for children and families, including help applying for or renewing Medicaid and FAMIS, primary care for children with Medicaid or no insurance, free virtual cooking classes, and care coordination for children with special health care needs.
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Eligibility: Services and eligibility vary by program.
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Contact: Partnership for Healthier Communities, PHC@inova.org, 703-698-2550
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Contact: Inova Cares for Children, 703-531-3100
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Contact: Care Connection for Children, CareConnectionforChildrenNOVA@inova.org, 703-698-2450
Key Center PTA
 Not yet a member of our PTA? We would love to have you join! You can also support Key Center by volunteering with our PTA or making a donation through our Educate Fairfax site.
Key Center PTA Membership
Educate Fairfax link to donate to Key Center
Upcoming Dates
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October 12
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School Planning Day - Student Holiday
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October 30
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End of 1st Q, 2 hr Early Release - 11:40
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November 2
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Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
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November 3
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School Planning Day - Student Holiday
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November 25-27
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Thanksgiving Break
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December 21- January 1
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Winter Break
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