SARATOGA CONNECTION
October 1, 2026
Principals’ Corner
Today was out of this world! We were thrilled to host our second annual Rocket Day, a fantastic tradition that brought our entire school community together.
 
Every grade level joined in the excitement through our specialist programs:
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PE: Students took part in high-energy, rocket-themed games that promoted cardiovascular health.
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Music: Our musicians learned the Rocket Day Blast Off countdown song as well as our beloved Saratoga School Song.
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Art: Creative minds designed eye-catching Rocket Day advertisements to build schoolwide anticipation.
Our 5th graders took center stage as real-world scientists! Applying their knowledge of force and motion, they collaborated to design, build, and launch rockets right in front of our school. Beyond the excitement, this hands-on event deeply enriched our learning standards:
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Portrait of a Graduate: Students wrote their Ethical & Global Citizen wishes for the future, which launched right alongside their rockets.
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Force & Motion: Students observed energy transformation firsthand. Potential energy built up as pressure accumulated inside the sealed bottles, which instantly transformed into kinetic energy upon liftoff.
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Scientific & Engineering Practices: Our 5th graders practiced changing independent variables—such as experimenting with the ratio of vinegar to baking soda or altering the angle of the launch pads—to observe the effect on their rockets' flight.
Looking Ahead & Announcements
Stallion Carnival – Friday, October 9 (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
We are so excited for tomorrow evening’s Stallion Carnival, sponsored by our PTA! This event is fun for our entire community and directly supports Saratoga. Please consider stopping by to paint a pumpkin, play a game, grab some delicious popcorn, and enjoy a yummy hot dog meal prepared by our Watch D.O.G.S. Don't waste your time standing in line—preorder tickets are available now at saratogapta.org.
PTA Meeting Feature: Social-Emotional Learning
Be sure to join us for our upcoming PTA meeting! Our wonderful school counselors, Amy Ashley and Tatyana Cottle, will be giving a special presentation on Second Step, our school-wide social-emotional learning program designed to help our students build empathy, emotion management, and problem-solving skills.
Student Holiday – Monday, October 12
As a reminder, Monday, October 12 is a student holiday. While our students enjoy the day off, our staff will be participating in professional development to learn about UDL (Universal Design for Learning) environments and engagement strategies for the students they teach daily.
Thank you for your continued support in making Saratoga such an extraordinary place to learn and grow!
Be the Change,
Abby Ragan Abby Lower Jordan Perry
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Boundary Study Community Meeting on October 14
Fairfax County Public Schools is holding a final community meeting related to the boundary study for Rolling Valley Elementary School student planning area (SPA) 8922 middle and high school feeders, and Keene Mill Elementary School attendance island and surrounding schools (e.g., Cardinal Forest and White Oaks elementary schools).
Based on community engagement and feedback on the revised draft scenarios shared in September, FCPS staff is recommending to the superintendent that no changes be made to the Rolling Valley Elementary School boundary.
A final community meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 6 to 7 p.m., at Cardinal Forest Elementary School. FCPS staff will provide an update on the Keene Mill, Cardinal Forest, and White Oaks portion of the boundary study and gather community feedback. Please register to attend by clicking in person or virtual, based on how you would like to participate.
Learn more about the Rolling Valley Elementary School Middle and High School Feeders, and Keene Mill Elementary School Attendance Island and Surrounding Schools Boundary Study.
- 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)
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.
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.
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FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP CentersFCPS 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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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.
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Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at HomeSocial-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Join a workshop for parents and caregivers to:
- Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
- Use the results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
- Support your child’s social and emotional development.
- Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together.
Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, at Skyview High School and Wednesday, October 21, at Kingstowne Regional Library. View additional dates on the FCPS Family Academy webpage.
Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu.
- 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 a 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.
Reminders
- October 9: Saratoga Carnival
- October 12: No School
- October 13: PTA Meeting
- October 21: Early Release Wednesday
- October 29: Watch D.O.G.S. and M.O.M.S. Pizza Party
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