SARATOGA CONNECTION
October 15, 2026
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Principals’ Corner
It was wonderful to see so many families at our annual Stallion Carnival last Friday! A heartfelt thank you goes out to our wonderful PTA for putting on an event that allowed our school community to come together and have so much fun. With great food, exciting activities, and smiles all around, it was a memorable evening for everyone. Your continued support positively impacts our school community every day!
We also want to share a special thank you to our school counselors for attending our recent PTA meeting and sharing information about our school-wide social-emotional learning program, Second Step®. Second Step is a research-based program designed to support children's overall development by teaching essential social, emotional, and decision-making skills that help them succeed both in and out of school. Through this program, students learn four key areas:
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Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting: Developing focus, managing distractions, and setting goals for social and academic success.
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Emotion Management: Recognizing and labeling feelings and applying strategies to calm strong emotions.
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Empathy & Kindness: Understanding others' perspectives, practicing kindness, and building positive relationships.
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Problem-Solving: Working through challenges using the STEP framework—Say the problem, Think of solutions, Explore outcomes, and Pick a solution.
This past Monday, our staff engaged in valuable learning around Universal Design for Learning (UDL) instructional learning environments and effective engagement strategies. UDL is an educational framework designed to meet the needs of all learners by creating flexible, accessible classrooms that remove barriers to learning. During our sessions, our teachers explored ways to build strong relationships, design flexible spaces, implement predictable routines, and foster student independence and agency across all learning spaces.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to making our school such a special place for our students to thrive.
Be the Change,
Abby Ragan Abby Lower Jordan Perry
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
- 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.
- Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
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.
- Celebrating the Power of School Lunches
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This National School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing delicious, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? View the Nutrition Services menus.
- Immunization Events for FCPS Students
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.
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
Stay Connected
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