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 Special Olympics soccer tournament at Annandale HS this past Saturday. Our BMP athletes and their peer buddies did an amazing job competing against other local elementary schools.
October 23 PTA Sponsored BINGOween, 6:00 p.m.
October 30 2 Hour Early Release, Schools Ends at 2:00 p.m. (no after-school care is available)
Nov. 2 - 3 No School - School Planning & Teacher Workday
Nov. 4 Expected first day of classes in the new addition
Nov. 18 3 Hour Early Release
Nov. 19 Thanksgiving Lunch - Families Invited to Join!
Nov. 25 - 27 Student Holiday - Thanksgiving break
Dec. 9 Title I Family Engagement Event: Game Night!
Join Dr. 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:
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
It's hard to believe, but we are almost at the end of the first quarter of this school year! Friday, October 30, 2026 is the last day. This will also be a 2-hour early release for all FCPS students.
The Bren Mar Park school day will end at 2:00 p.m. There is no after-school care available from the school on end of quarter early release days. All students dismiss at 2:00 p.m.
On Friday, October 30, 2026, the front office will be closed to the public starting at 2:30 p.m. This will allow the office time for professional learning and collaboration.
We share our appreciation for Principal Williams! She has been serving the BMP community in the role of principal since 2019. In her time, she has brought a commitment to family-school partnerships, ensuring a welcoming environment for families, guided the addition of the Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) and Early Childhood Classroom Based (ECCB) programs, as well as the Local Level Advanced Academic Program (AAP). With Mrs. Williams's support, Bren Mar Park has increased inclusive practices through Bren Mar Park Buddies, participation in the Annandale Feet Meet, and getting involved in Special Olympics. She was honored as the Region 6 Outstanding Principal of the Year in 2025 and the FCCPTA Power Partner Principal Award in 2026 for her work alongside the BMP PTA. In March, 2026 Mrs. Williams was recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly, House of Delegates, in House Resolution No. 370 for her work at our school. We thank her for her positive impact, relationships with others, the leadership opportunities she creates, and the optimism and visionary leadership that every child recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. Whether being present at after-school events or stepping in for crossing guard duty, we appreciate you!
Happy Principal Appreciation, Mrs. Williams!
The highly anticipated first day of classes in the new school building is expected to be on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. If this date is our move-in date, we ask families to support the transition in the following ways:
- Follow updated Kiss & Ride procedures, which will move drop off/pick up to the back of the parking lot and into the new cafeteria.
- We will pause caretaker lunch visits between November 4 - 18, 2026 to allow students the opportunity to become familiar with the new lunch routines and procedures. No visits on these dates, please.
- Remind your grade 3 - 5 student that they will go to their new classroom!
- We will be hosting community visits to the new addition once we get settled, most likely in alignment with Family Game Night.
The Family Café Series is a special time for parents to come together and learn about important topics that can help them support their child’s growth and learning. These fun and helpful sessions are designed to keep families
informed and involved in their child’s education—mind, body, and heart. At Family Café, we believe parents are key partners in helping children succeed. We’re excited to learn and grow with you!
Childcare will be available. Interpretation services available upon request.
- November 10, 2026 Thomas Jefferson Library, 6:30–8 p.m.
- November 12, 2026 Lorton Community Center, 6:30–8 p.m.
Register HERE
Want to better understand how your child learns to read and how you can support them at home? FCPS is offering several free virtual sessions to help families learn about reading instruction, literacy resources, and strategies to build strong reading skills. Explore the opportunities below and register for the sessions that interest you.
Lexia Family Information Sessions
Want to learn more about Lexia® Core5 and Lexia® PowerUp? These virtual sessions share how FCPS is using both programs in classrooms across the division this school year to support students’ literacy growth and give families a chance to ask questions.
Every one-hour session covers the same content.
- Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Join a Lexia Family Information Night Session.
Literacy Webinar Series
Join us for a series of family-friendly webinars designed to help you understand reading assessments, reading plans, and ways to support your child at home. Learn what assessment results mean, how reading plans guide instruction, and practical strategies to strengthen decoding, language, comprehension, and literacy skills, including support for multilingual learners.
- December 15, 2026: What Is a Reading Plan?
- February 19, 2027: How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14, 2027: Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer
Register for the Literacy Webinar Series.
Introduction to Dyslexia Webinar – What Is It and What Does It Mean for My Student?
Participants will look at the definition of dyslexia and its impact on students, including the different types of dyslexia and what support students with dyslexia require. Participants will also leave with activities and tips to support their students at home.Join us on Friday, October 23, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Shannon Springfield, BMP Art Teacher
Mustang artists have been busy finishing drawing units while we await the new art room debut in the coming weeks. Kindergarten artists have finished a self portrait drawing and are beginning to learn painting procedures. First grade artists finished a family portrait and started painting landscapes. Second grade artists finished a portrait with a friend and are now moving on to community farm paintings. Third grade artists finished a big cultural portrait drawing and will move to reviewing overlapping shapes and using oil pastels. Fourth grade artists envisioned themselves in the future self portrait and will be moving into Virginia landscapes next. Fifth grade artists learned about contour lines and are making favorite snack stuffie sculptures. Thank you parent donors for stuffie supplies! PreK and ID classes continue to explore materials in centers each week.
We can always use some baby wipes and paper towels in the art room…especially as we begin painting. The school paper towels aren’t very absorbent for the inevitable spills and the baby wipes make cleaning up a bit easier! Thank you for your donations.
 Inside the new BMP cafeteria, wall mosaics feature tiles created by BMP students working together.
Delivery and assembly of new furniture began this week as we prepare the modern learning spaces for students. Once classes move into their new classrooms, Phase 2 will begin with renovations to the current 4th- and 5th-grade hallway.
Family lunch visits will pause through November 18, 2026 in the new building while students learn the lunchroom routines.
For more information, visit the BMP Capital Project page.
As we strive to keep our school community safe and organized, we kindly remind all families to utilize our designated Kiss & Ride loop during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. While it may be tempting to park along neighboring streets and walk over or have your child walk to your car, off-campus parking severely gridlocks our small community roads, blocks our neighbors' driveways, and creates unsafe traffic conditions for student pedestrians. By consistently using the official Kiss & Ride procedures through the main parking lot, you help keep traffic moving efficiently and ensure a predictable, safe, and respectful environment for all of our students, families, and surrounding community members. Thank you for your partnership.
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is how we ensure we receive all the resources available to us from the federal government. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
As we wrap up another wonderful week at school, we want to take a moment to thank all of our families for everything you do to keep our morning drop-off and afternoon pickup running smoothly. Our top priority will always be student safety. Creating a smooth, secure arrival and dismissal routine takes all of us working together. Please follow street safety laws, slowing down in our school zone, and using the Kiss & Ride drop off rather than parking to help ensure our children stay safe when coming to and leaving our building.
We want to give a special shoutout to the new crossing guard from Fairfax County, who shows up to protect our children. Please support her work by staying attentive, yielding at crosswalks, and following her directions. Even just an extra moment to pause, check your surroundings, and model patient driving sets a wonderful example for others. Thank you for your continued partnership and shared dedication to keeping our school community safe and thriving!
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are available.
Virginia Quality Birth to Five is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of the curriculum. Visit the Virginia Quality Birth to Five website for more information.
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