|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
-
October 21st- 3hr Early Release - Dismissed at 1 pm
-
October 30th- End of First Quarter, Two-Hour Early Release
-
October 30th- Halloween Trunk or Treat at 5 pm- Bus loop
Fairfax County Public Schools 2026-2027 Standard School Year Calendar
Happy Friday, Powell Puma Families!
We hope everyone had a wonderful week! Although it was a shorter school week for students, our Powell Pumas jumped right back into learning, growing, and connecting with their classmates and teachers.
We want to extend a big thank-you to our school community for your enthusiasm and support of our Booster Fun Run! It was wonderful to see our Pumas come together with so much energy and school spirit. Events like these remind us of the strong sense of community that makes Powell such a special place. We appreciate our families, PTA, and everyone who helped make this experience possible.
As we move further into October, our classrooms are buzzing with learning, collaboration, and opportunities for students to challenge themselves. We encourage you to continue checking in with your child about what they are learning, celebrating their successes, and encouraging them when they encounter challenges. These small conversations at home make a big difference!
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for being such an important part of our Powell community. We are grateful to work alongside you in supporting our students.
Wishing all of our Puma families a wonderful and restful weekend!
Catherine Han
Principal
 |
|
Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated! |
Sign up to display what makes your family, culture, heritage, country of origin, and/or traditions unique!
Below are some ideas for designing your display. See the link below for previous YOUseum displays.
https://canva.link/0fjdy19e4hgu8qs
STORIES
Some families choose to showcase children’s books or traditional stories from their culture.
CELEBRATIONS
Every culture has their own type of celebration. Show us yours!
FOODS
Some groups share photos of traditional foods and sweets.
CLOTHING
Some displays show traditional clothing or attire.
HOW TO SIGN UP
https://bit.ly/4xG2LJL
Email cbleeder@fcps.edu with any questions!
Veterans Day Program – Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Colin Powell’s Veterans Day Program will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. RSVPs are requested by Monday, November 2: https://tinyurl.com/VDayCPES. Please spread the word to all veterans in the Colin Powell E.S. community.
Join us for a fun-filled evening at our Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 30th, a two-hour early release day!
Set-Up: 4:00 p.m.Event: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
We’re looking for volunteers to help make the event a spooktacular success. You can participate by decorating a trunk, handing out candy, hosting a game or activity, or donating candy. Please use the link below if you are able to decorate a trunk and/or donate candy!
Sign Up - Trunk Decorators
Sign Up - Candy/Chocolate Donations
Thank you for helping make this a fun and memorable event for our school community!
It is so hard to believe that we are almost done with the first quarter. The school year is zooming by!
Teachers & staff members will be working hard on Monday, 11/3 & Tuesday, 11/4 completing report cards and preparing their classrooms for the second quarter. If you could please donate one or more food items, that would be great. Thank you!!
Teacher Workday Grab n' Go Donations
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wear pink that day to show your support!
Friday, October 23
The SEL Team has partnered with the Family and School Partnerships Office to offer a Family Café Series titled, Growing Together: Talking about Social-Emotional Learning at Home. Families will have the opportunity to learn about the SEL Screener and how they can use their child’s results as a starting point for conversation and skill building. There is one session scheduled within each region; however, families can attend any session that is most convenient for them.
Family Café General Flyer
Family Café Registration Form
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:
-
Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
-
Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
-
Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
-
Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
FCPS Is Participating in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5)
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.
Share Your Thoughts on Schools and Buildings in the Renovation Queue SurveyThe Office of the Chief of Facilities Services and Capital Programs is seeking input from community members, families, and employees about school facility needs and how FCPS prioritizes facility improvements.
Whether you work in an FCPS school, have a child enrolled, or live near an FCPS school, please share your perspective. The survey asks about building conditions, how facilities affect teaching and learning, renovation priorities, and what information would help you better understand this process.
Look for the survey in your email on Friday, October 16. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. The survey will remain open until Saturday, October 31.
Did You Know? Bond Referendums Fund Facility Renovations
FCPS does not pay for facility renovations out of its general operating budget. Instead, Fairfax County voters decide on how much money FCPS can spend on capital improvement projects through bond referendums. Bonds are issued by the county to the school division and allow FCPS to renovate buildings without increasing taxes.
Learn more about bond referendums and how they support our schools on the Bond Referendum webpage.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: We Need You!
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:
-
Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS.
-
Student Volunteers: Sign up through the Student Volunteer Interest Form. Students will receive service hours for their time.
-
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.
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.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
-
- Facilities Survey
- Transportation Survey
- Health Department Letter on Preventing the Spread of Illness
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
