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Congratulations to our wonderful Bailey’s Upper staff members, Marian Perez, Jocelyn Sarwar, Laura Wagner, and Erin Bueno de Mesquita, who were recognized by Mason District's Supervisor Jimenez's FCPS Staff Spotlight for their outstanding service! We’re so proud of this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the dedication and care they bring to our students and school community every day!
Bailey’s Upper Families,
Thank you to all the families who joined us for our first Literacy Night! It was an amazing evening filled with so much love for books.
Students enjoyed book tastings and learned how to choose books that are just right for them. We also shared read-alouds in English and Spanish, visited the book fair, explored STEAM activities, and sent home FREE BOOKS!
As we near the end of the first quarter, teachers are reaching out to schedule conferences. Please make it a priority to meet with your child’s teacher. This is an important opportunity to learn more about how your child is doing, celebrate their strengths, and talk about areas for growth. We look forward to these conversations and to building an even stronger partnership with your family.
Lastly, next week during the PTA General Meeting Ms. Dews and I will be holding our Annual Title 1 Meeting. During this meeting, we will be sharing what Title 1 is, how it benefits families and students, and more. Please plan to log in virtually so that you can learn about our school and the resources we have.
Have a wonderful weekend,
The Bailey’s Upper Team
💙Ms. Dowling
🧡Ms. Wayland
🐯Ms. Wiley
📂 This week’s Thursday Folder includes:
- Digital Citizenship Week Flyer (English & Spanish)
- PTA Raising Canes Flyer (English & Spanish)
- PTA General Meeting Focusing on Title 1 Schools (English & Spanish)
Please take a few minutes to review these items with your student so you stay up-to-date with all the exciting things happening in our school community!
October is Disability History and Awareness Month in Virginia. This is a time to recognize the contributions, experiences, and achievements of people with disabilities. At Bailey’s and across FCPS, we celebrate our differences and remain committed to creating a welcoming community where every student belongs, has access to opportunities, and can thrive. Throughout the month, we’ll highlight different types of disabilities and share ways we can build greater understanding and inclusion.
This week, we’re highlighting neurodiversity and learning disabilities and recognizing that people think, learn, communicate, and process information in different ways. By celebrating individual strengths and providing appropriate support, we can help every student feel valued, included, and empowered to succeed.
For more information, explore FCPS Community Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities.
Staff Name: Mary Medeiros, Special Education Chair
Ms. Medeiros has been a teacher in FCPS for 22 years. She began her career as a general education teacher, then earned a master’s degree in special education and decided to pursue a new path in my teaching journey. Since 2008, she has served as a special education teacher at Bailey’s, eventually becoming the Special Education Department Chair. One of the most rewarding parts of her career has been serving the Bailey’s community and building lasting relationships with families. It is especially meaningful to celebrate the graduating seniors she first taught as fifth graders at Bailey’s.
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Physical and mobility disabilities, which can affect how a person moves, navigates spaces, or participates in everyday activities. Some people may use wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetics, or other assistive devices, while others may have physical disabilities that are not immediately visible. By promoting accessibility and removing barriers, we can help everyone participate fully in our school and community.
For more information, explore FCPS Community Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities.
Thank you to all our Bailey’s families who joined us for Literacy Night! We loved seeing our students and families enjoying an evening of reading, learning, and fun together. A special thank you to our amazing staff for their time, dedication, and teamwork in making this event possible!
Get ready for a fun week of school spirit while learning how to be safe, kind, and responsible online! From October 19–23, students are invited to participate in our Digital Citizenship Spirit Week with a different theme each day! 💙🧡
📅 Spirit Week Schedule
- 🕶️ Monday, October 19 – Super Vision Day: Wear fun glasses or your favorite hat to show you're ready to think critically online!
- 🦸 Tuesday, October 20 – Secret Identity Day: Wear a superhero shirt, logo, or school colors to celebrate protecting personal information.
- 🧦 Wednesday, October 21 – Leave a Positive Mark Day: Wear crazy socks or bright sneakers to represent leaving a positive digital footprint.
- 👯 Thursday, October 22 – Dynamic Duo/Squad Day: Match with a friend or group, or wear red to celebrate kindness and positive connections.
- 💤 Friday, October 23 – Power Down, Recharge Day: Wear pajamas or cozy clothes to celebrate healthy screen time habits.
We can't wait to see our Tigers participate while learning important lessons about being responsible digital citizens! 🐯💙🧡
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Calling all 5th grade Tigers! 🐯 Bailey’s Upper Arts Ensemble (BUAE) is a FREE after-school performing arts program where students can explore acting, singing, dancing, and technical theatre while working together to bring Disney’s The Little Mermaid KIDS to the stage! No prior experience is needed. 💙🧡
🌟 Important Information
- 📅 Application Deadline: Monday, October 19
- 🎭 Open to: 5th Grade Students
- 🎟️ Limited to 60 students, selected through a lottery
- 🗓️ Program Dates: November 10–June 4
- ⏰ Rehearsals: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:45–5:30 PM
- 🎬 Auditions and regular attendance are required.
- 👨👩👧 Mandatory Parent Meeting: October 27th
📝 Apply Here
🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfedObuahAr3CEAtL9ULR3sv88ZmMe-2-OgRPE0UhBVyC5YfA/viewform
We can’t wait to see our tigers share their talents and become part of the magic of The Little Mermaid KIDS! 🧜♀️🎶💙
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Take a night off from cooking and enjoy a delicious meal while supporting Bailey’s! Join us at Raising Cane’s, where 15% of net sales from qualifying purchases will be donated back to our PTA! 💙🧡
📅 Event Information
- 🗓️ Monday, October 19
- ⏰ 4:00–8:00 PM
- 📍 Raising Cane’s
- 6363 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church, VA 22044
🍟 How to Support Our PTA
- 🍗 Dining in? Simply mention the Bailey’s PTA fundraiser when ordering.
- 📱 Ordering online or through the app? Use promo code RCFUND96 at checkout.
Every qualifying order helps support our Bailey’s school community!
Bring the family, enjoy some good food, and help support our Tigers! We hope to see you there! 🐯💙🧡
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 One of our tigers enjoyed getting creative with chalk crayons during art class, adding colorful details to their artwork with a big smile!
A friendly reminder that our first 3 Hour Early Dismissal at Bailey's Upper is:
- 🗓️ Wednesday, October 21
- ⏰ Early Dismissal: 12:25 PM
- 🚌 Students leaving early will follow the dismissal plan selected on their 3-Hour Early Release Form.
- 🏫 Students staying until 3:25 PM will be dismissed using their regular mode of transportation.
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Bailey’s families are invited to join Justice High School for a fun evening of football, school spirit, and community! Come cheer on the Justice Wolves as they take on Edison High School and celebrate the Justice Pyramid! 💙❤️
📅 Event Information
- 🗓️ Friday, October 23
- ⏰ Kickoff: 7:00 PM
- 📍 Justice High School Stadium
- 🎟️ FREE admission for children ages 13 and under with paid adults.
Bring the family, show your school spirit, and enjoy a great evening cheering on our Justice Wolves! 🏈🐺✨
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Ms. Coles and her 3rd graders enjoyed another day of learning together, using Benchmark to strengthen their reading and literacy skills.
Get cozy and join us for a spooktacular evening of Halloween stories! Bailey’s staff will be sharing fun and festive stories in both English and Spanish for students and families to enjoy together from home. 💙🧡
📅 Event Information
- 🗓️ Monday, October 26
- ⏰ 7:00 PM
- 💻 Virtual via Zoom
- 📖 What to Expect
- 🎃 Halloween-themed stories read by Bailey’s staff
- 📚 Storytelling in both English and Spanish
💻 Join Us on Zoom
🔗 Zoom Link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97253141957
⚠️ Important: Please note that FCPS student accounts cannot be used to join the Zoom meeting. Families should log in using a personal account.
Grab a cozy spot, gather the family, and enjoy an evening of stories with our Bailey’s community! We hope to see you there! 🎃🐯💙🧡
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We need your help stocking up on treats! Families are invited to donate bags of individually wrapped candy to help make the evening fun for all our Tigers.
🛒 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZPM59DT244E7?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_65Cbn8HOYjFIq
Families may also purchase candy from any store. Donations can be sent to your child’s teacher—just let them know it’s for Trunk or Treat—or dropped off at the Main Office at either Bailey’s school.
Bailey's Annual Trunk or Treat!🎃
Join us for our annual Trunk or Treat at Bailey’s Primary! Families are invited to dress up, bring a treat bag, and enjoy a fun evening together with our Bailey’s community. 👻🧡
📅 Event Information
- 🗓️ Thursday, October 29
- ⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
- 📍 Bailey’s Primary Parking Lot
- 👻 Costumes are welcome! Please no masks or toy weapons.
- 🍬 Don’t forget to bring a bag to collect your treats!
Bring the family and join us for a fun evening of treats, costumes, and time together with our Bailey’s community! 🎃🍬
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Get ready to bring your favorite book characters to school! On Friday, October 30, students are invited to dress up as a character from their favorite book. From superheroes to storybook favorites, we can’t wait to see our Tigers get creative and celebrate their love of reading! 🐯💙🧡
📅 Important Information
- 🗓️ Friday, October 30th
- 📖 Dress as your favorite book character!
- 🚫 No masks, weapons, bloody or scary costumes, or inflatable costumes are allowed.
We look forward to seeing our Tigers and their favorite book characters around Bailey’s! 📚✨
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 Our 5th grade musicians practiced their flute skills during band class, continuing to build their confidence and grow as young musicians.
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Monday, October 19th- BUAE Sign-Up Deadline for 5th Graders
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Monday, October 19th- PTA Fundraiser @ Raising Cane's 4:00-8:00pm
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Tuesday, October 20th- PTA General Meeting via Zoom @ 7:00pm
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Wednesday, October 21st- 3 Hour Early Release @ 12:25pm
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Friday, October 23rd- Justice High School Youth Night Football Game Kickoff @ 7pm.
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Monday, October 26th- Spootacular Story Time via Zoom @7pm
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Wednesday, October 28th- 4th Grade Field Trip
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Thursday, October 29th- Trunk or Treat at Bailey's Primary @ 5:00-6:30pm
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Friday, October 30th- Book Character Day
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Friday, October 30th- End of 1st Quarter: 2 Hour Early Release @ 1:25pm
Updated Bailey's Upper October 2026 Calendar
 Our strings students enjoyed another class together, practicing their instruments and continuing to develop their musical skills.
Help Your Child Become a Stronger Reader: Upcoming Family Learning Opportunities
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. Choose the option that works best for your family:
- Wednesday, October 21, at 5 and 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Join a Lexia Family Information Night Session.Literacy Webinar SeriesJoin 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.
- October 20, 2026: Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
- 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.
Register for the Introduction to Dyslexia webinar.
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Register now to attend the annual Special Education Family Conference, Connected Communities, Thriving Students, on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Educators, families, and community members are invited to this in-person event at no cost. Participants can connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Register to attend the conference.
Volunteers Are Needed to Make This Event a Success!
Find out how to volunteer:
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Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS.
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Student Volunteers: Sign up through the Student Volunteer Interest Form. Students will receive service hours for their time.
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Student Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project. Service hours will be awarded to students serving in these roles.
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
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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. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
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