News From the Nest ~ Glen Forest ES (10/18/26)

October 19, 2026

A Message from Principal Herndon-Wilson

Dear Glen Forest Families,

Thank you, Glen Forest families, for your continued support, partnership, and trust! As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, fall reminds us that change brings opportunities to grow, learn, and try new things. This month, we are focusing on Responsibility, encouraging our Eagles to make good choices, keep their commitments, and take ownership of their learning and actions. Thank you for reinforcing these important habits at home and partnering with us as our Eagles continue to grow and soar. Together, we make Glen Forest a special place to learn and belong! 💙💛

Thank you for being part of our Glen Forest family. From Many, We are ONE! 

With gratitude,

Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson
Proud Principal, Glen Forest Elementary

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

Being present every day at school is critically important to your child's future! Too many absences in preschool and elementary school can cause children to struggle socially and academically.  

As of today, our Chronic Absenteeism Rate is 8.8%, whereas last year at this time it was 11.6%!  Thank you for your support of strong attendance!  

Please let us know if your child is refusing school and we can help!  Please email the principal, Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, at dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu, and we can make a plan.  Please don't hesitate to reach out.

Mark Your Calendars

Tuesday, October 20th - Young Scholars Field Trip to Thinkabit Lab at Bucknell ES - (certain students)

Tuesday, October 20th - Family Engagement Meeting -  - 10:00-10:45 - in person or via Zoom - Topic: – Social and Emotional Learning at Glen Forest (Zones, Counseling Lessons, Resources for Families, etc) Presenters –Justin Nielsen, & Jalissa Perkins (school counselors)

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97075825377

Wednesday, October 21st - 3 Hour Early Release - Dismissal is 1:05pm - Have you returned the form that was sent home regrading your child's dismissal? 

Wednesday, October 21st - Family Food Market - 5:00pm-6:30pm or until food is gone

Thursday, October 22nd - PTO After-School Clubs - 4:30pm-5:30pm - no transportation provided - parent pickup

Tuesday, October 27th - Parent Meeting: Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process - 6pm-7pm in the cafe 

Thursday, October 29th - PTO After-School Clubs - 4:30pm-5:30pm - no transportation provided - parent pickup

Friday, October 30th - 2 Hour Early Release (2:05pm) for All Students & End of 1st Quarter

Monday, November 2nd & Tuesday, November 3rd - No School for Students & Parent Teacher Conferences 

Saturday, November 21st - PTO 5K Fun Run!  10:00am - More info to come!

National Bullying Prevention MonthOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition. 

Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”

For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student. 

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:

• 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
• Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. 

Electronic Device Policy

All personal electronic devices are prohibited.  If your child carries a cell phone, the phone must be off and stored in backpacks for the duration of the school day, including while on the bus. Smart watches, air pods, smart glasses are also not permitted.  The only exception is if a student has been approved for use due to a disability. Thank you for your attention to this FCPS policy. If your child does not comply with this policy, the parent will need to come to school to pick up the device.

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.

Survey Extended! 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 survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open through Tuesday, October 20.

Please note that parents may now submit more than one response to provide feedback regarding different schools. 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. 

Follow Us on Social Media

Please follow Glen Forest ES on Facebook and Instagram!  We post pictures, important reminders, upcoming events, and much more!  Don't miss out!

Instagram: @gfesfcps

Facebook: Glen Forest Elementary School

❤️ Also follow your Principal, Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, on Instagram!  @principaldeedee 

Glen Forest ES Administrative Team ~ Ms. Alexandra Bowman is Back!

***Please note new administrator contacts below

Pictured from left to right:

Shana Curtis, Assistant Principal - Contact for Pre-K, KG, 1st Grades - Email is skcurtis@fcps.edu 

Alexandra Bowman - Contact for Special Education, 2nd and 5th Grades - Emial is akbowman@fcps.edu

Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Principal, dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu

Cali Loewenberg, Assistant Principal - Contact for PAC, ECCB, LEAC, UEAC, 3rd and 4th Grades - Email is cmloewenberg@fcps.edu