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Principal's Note
Dear Sandburg Families,
A few important reminders for the week ahead:
No school Monday. We hope you enjoy the long weekend and look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday.
We have seen an increase in public displays of affection at school. Please talk with your child about keeping interactions appropriate for a school setting. Kissing and other physical displays of affection are not appropriate during the school day.
Please also do not send large gifts, baskets, signs, flowers, or similar items to school. These items have been disrupting hallway transitions and the learning environment. Thank you for helping us keep the focus on learning and safe movement throughout the building.
Afternoon dismissal: Students who do not ride a bus should not go to the bus loading dock. They should exit through Door 1 and go directly to their car, bike, or begin walking home.
School Performance and Support Framework
I’m excited to share that Sandburg Middle School has been recognized as Meets Expectations under Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). This rating, based on data from last school year, shows that our school is meeting expectations set by the state for student performance.
The state system provides information about our school’s performance on academic and readiness measures. The framework places emphasis on standardized test results, alongside student growth, graduation, and readiness measures that vary by school level.
Sandburg Middle School has an overall framework score of 83.59, which falls into the Meets Expectations state performance category.
I want to be clear in saying that our students are much more than the results of standardized tests and point systems. Every day in our classrooms, our amazing educators are leading moments of joy in learning. This recognition reflects the strength of our entire school community. Our strong performance stands out and is something to celebrate.
We will continue building on this success. Our team is committed to keeping high expectations for learning, supporting each student’s unique strengths, and creating a school environment where every child feels welcomed, challenged, and cared for. We are also grateful for the support we receive from families. Your involvement makes a difference, and it plays an important role in helping our students succeed.
Thank you for being such an important part of our community. Together, we will continue helping every student at Sandburg thrive.
Warmly,
Jennifer Laxton, Principal
Important Dates
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National School Lunch Week | Oct. 12-16
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Parent Teacher Conferences | Nov. 2
Hello Sandburg!
We are excited to announce that nominations are now open for our Outstanding Employee Awards! This is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognize our amazing staff members who make a difference every day at Sandburg.
If you’d like to nominate a staff member, please fill out this Google form. You can nominate one person or more, but remember that each person can only nominate one employee per category. The nomination window is from Oct. 12th - 23rd !
What to Include:
Just write a paragraph or two about how the employee shows exceptional work in one or more of the award categories. The Google form has more details about each award.
Thank you for taking the time to honor our incredible teachers and staff at Sandburg. We cannot wait to see your nominations!
For additional information or questions please contact Sydney Fischer (sfischer@fcps.edu) and Jake Winston (jmwinston@fcps.edu).
National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is an annual celebration from October 12 to October 16, 2026, that recognizes the vital role school meals play in nourishing students nationwide. This year's theme is “Cafeteria Circus,” to celebrate school nutrition teams across the country who juggle dozens of moving parts, feed hundreds of hungry students, and find ways to bring joy to the lunch line.
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.
Are you looking for practical tools to help with challenges at home with your child? Parent Project is a free, virtual program offered in Spanish for parents of children ages 10–18.
The program begins October 14th at 6:00pm and meets virtually.
Families will learn practical tools to:
- Build a stronger, positive relationship with their child
- Address drug use, disruptive behavior, and gang involvement
- Use active supervision and find concrete solutions to parenting challenges
Registration is required. The link to register is https://forms.gle/krJBYxmWZ7g6WN3c7 .
Family Life Education curriculum is broken into two units - Human Growth & Development, taught in December and Emotional and Social Health taught in March. Families wishing to opt their students out of any or all lessons may do so by October 31 via the Parent Digital Consent System. Scan the attached QR codes to access curriculum details, questions, or opt-out forms. If you have questions, please contact HPE Department Chair - Coach Ty (tlaugustin@fcps.edu)
Superintendent Community Conversations
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:
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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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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)
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.
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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