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You are invited to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held virtually on Monday, October 26, at 7:00 PM. All program materials and media will be available for your review at this time.
Please use this link to join the session:https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/95574654827
Family Life Education (FLE) promotes parental involvement, fosters positive self-concepts, and provides coping mechanisms for dealing with peer pressure and the stresses related to the students' developmental stages and abilities. Students in grades K-6 participate in FLE. The early elementary program emphasizes the importance of families, distinction between good and bad touch, sources of help, and the importance of friendships. Human Growth and Development (HGD) is first introduced in grade four. Students learn about changes that occur during puberty and prenatal development. An understanding of sexually transmitted infections is introduced in grade 5. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions. Lessons, slide presentations, and media may be viewed in Parent View in Schoology. Instruction occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. Opt-out forms for students are available in the Parent Digital Consent (PDC). If you already completed an opt-out form at the beginning of the school year, you do not need to complete another one. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify the school in writing before instruction begins. An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices now and in the future.
Do you know a teacher, staff member, or leader at Westbriar Elementary who goes above and beyond to make a difference for your child and our school community?
Nominations for the 2026–2027 FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards are open from October 12th through November 13th! We invite parents and guardians to nominate deserving Westbriar staff members for district-wide recognition.
Award Categories Open for Nomination:
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Outstanding Teacher (3+ years of teaching experience)
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Outstanding New Teacher (First 3 years of teaching experience)
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Outstanding Principal & Outstanding New Principal
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Outstanding Leader (Assistant Principals and School-Based Administrators)
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Outstanding Professional Employee (School Counselors, School Psychologists, Social Workers, SBTS, Instructional Coaches, etc.)
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Outstanding Operational Employee (Instructional Assistants, Administrative/Office Staff, Custodians, Food Service Staff, Parent Liaisons, etc.)
How You Can Nominate:
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Check with the Staff Member: Prior to submitting, please confirm with the nominee that they are comfortable receiving a nomination.
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Complete the Form: Submitting a nomination takes only a few minutes—all that is needed is a short paragraph or two describing how the employee excels in their role and supports our Falcons.
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Submission Period: October 12th – November 13th
🔗 Submit a Nomination for a Westbriar Staff Member
Thank you for helping us celebrate the extraordinary educators and staff who make Westbriar Elementary such a special place to learn and grow!
Mornings can certainly be a rush, but arriving at school on time makes a world of difference for your child’s school day! When students arrive late, they miss crucial instruction, class announcements, and the soft landing of morning routines that set a calm, focused tone for learning. Research consistently shows that chronic tardiness directly impacts student achievement, leading to gaps in reading and math comprehension as well as unnecessary social stress as children transition into a classroom that is already underway.
How you can support a smooth start:
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Aim for students to arrive 5–10 minutes before the first bell so they have time to unpack, visit the Lost & Found, and settle in.
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Set out backpacks, clothes, and lunches the night before to eliminate morning delays.
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Reach out to your student's teacher or counselor if morning routines are feeling tricky—we are here to support you!
To maintain a safe, focused learning environment and prevent valuable or cherished items from getting lost, damaged, or traded, students should leave all toys, collectible cards (such as Pokémon or sports cards), and electronic devices at home.
While we love seeing students share their interests, these items often lead to unnecessary distractions during class and heartbreak on the playground when something goes missing. Any personal items brought to school will be kept safely in the student's backpack or with the main office until dismissal. Thank you for helping us keep our focus on learning and building friendships through shared school activities!
We are immensely proud to announce that Westbriar Elementary School has been officially designated as a 2026–2027 Purple Star School by the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children!
The Purple Star Award recognizes Virginia public schools that show significant commitment to supporting military-connected children and families as they transition into new school environments and communities.
What This Means for Our Community:
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Sustained Commitment: This designation is awarded for a three-year period (2026–2029) and reflects our ongoing dedication to providing targeted support, resources, and a warm welcome to military families and all incoming students.
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Special Recognition: As part of this honor, our school is being presented with an official SY 2026–2027 Recognition Resolution and a traditional military Challenge Coin to celebrate our efforts.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our staff, student ambassadors, and military families who help make Westbriar a caring, supportive, and connected home for every child. We look forward to displaying our Purple Star logo proudly as a symbol of our commitment!
In celebration of reading and creativity, students are invited to come to school dressed as their favorite book character! Costumes should be school-appropriate, comfortable for learning, and inspired by a character from a book they enjoy. No masks or props that resemble weapons, please. Let’s make reading come alive at Westbriar!
Our Student Lost & Found is currently overflowing with coats, jackets, water bottles, and lunch boxes. To keep our cafeteria safe and tidy, all unclaimed items will be bagged and donated at the end of the school day on Friday, October 30th.
How You Can Help Us Reunite Items
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Student Reminders: Please ask your child to walk by and check the Lost & Found area during arrival, lunch, or dismissal before October 30th.
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Label Everything: Write your student’s first and last name on all outer layers, water bottles, and lunch boxes. When items are labeled, staff can return them directly to your student's classroom!
Ongoing Donation Schedule
To prevent future build-ups, remaining Lost & Found items will now be donated at the end of each school quarter and right before winter break. Please save these cutoff dates and help us remind students to check the racks beforehand:
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Quarter 1 Cleanout: Friday, October 30
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Winter Break Cleanout: Friday, December 18
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Quarter 2 Cleanout: Thursday, January 28
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Quarter 3 Cleanout: Friday, April 16
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End-of-Year Cleanout: Wednesday, June 16
Thank you for helping us keep our school organized and making sure your family's belongings find their way back home!
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.
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.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Put on your favorite costumes and bring the whole family to Westbriar Elementary on Friday, October 23rd for an evening of spooktacular fun, treats, and games!
Here is what we have planned for our Falcons:
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Trunk or Treat | 5:30–6:30 PM Head to the back parking lot to visit creatively decorated cars and collect some delicious Halloween treats!
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Halloween Bingo | 6:00–8:00 PM Keep the fun going inside! We’ll be hosting bingo games in both the cafeteria and the gym, with school bathrooms open for families throughout the night.
We Need Your Help to Make It Spooktacular!
Events like this are only possible through the incredible support of our Westbriar community. We need a lot of volunteers and donations to ensure the night runs smoothly.
Whether you can decorate a trunk, help with ticket sales, run the concession stand, or contribute item donations, your support makes a huge difference!
👉 Sign Up Today: Please visit the main Westbriar PTA website to access the sign-up links for volunteering and donations. Thank you for helping us create an unforgettable night for our students!
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