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Miss Virginia Visits Haycock!
On Tuesday, October 13th, our 5th and 6th graders welcomed Miss Virginia 2026, Maddie Marchant, for a presentation on healthy choices and leadership. Maddie shared her personal experiences with celiac disease and wearing a hearing aid since elementary school, which have inspired her InvisABILITY initiative. Her message encouraged students to embrace differences, practice kindness, and recognize that not all disabilities are visible. Thank you, Maddie, for inspiring our Cougars!
Dear Haycock Families,
I hope everyone had a nice weekend and stayed warm. It looks like fall might actually be here! Please make sure your children bring coats and appropriate clothing for recess, and keep an eye on the weather.
Smartwatches, cell phones, and other personal devices are not allowed at school. If students bring them, they must be turned off and kept in their backpacks. We have been collecting devices from students, so please leave them at home or make sure they are off and put away.
Our Boosterthon Fit Games were so much fun on Friday! I saw lots of active students dancing and having a great time. Our PTA and families did an amazing job raising money. We crushed both our goal and our stretch goal! Donations are still open through Wednesday.
Our composting program is also in full swing. Students are doing a great job being leaders by composting in the cafeteria and helping reduce waste. Please remind your child to purchase only the food they plan to eat.
Please do not drop students off in the bus loop unless they are on the News Crew or are a morning patrol. All other students must be dropped off in Kiss and Ride.
Our second AAP Information Night is this Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The evening will focus on the screening process and how it works. Please join us if you’re interested in learning more.
Lastly, Friday is Mismatch Day! Have fun dressing in clothes that don’t match if you’d like. This is one of our SCA-planned spirit days.
I hope everyone has a great week!
With appreciation for your partnership,
Jeremy Ferrara, Principal jcferrara1@fcps.edu
Heather Boyd, AP HABoyd@fcps.edu
Krystal Styles, AP krstyles@fcps.edu
- Monday, October 19-Friday, October 23: Digital Citizenship Week
- Friday, October 23: SCA Spirit Day: Mismatch Day
- Friday, October 30: Storybook Character Day (no masks, no weapons, no face paint)
- Tuesday, November 10: PTA STEAM Night
FCPS Calendar: 2026-27
Keeping Our Haycock Community Safe
As our students and families travel to and from school each day, please remember to use extra caution when driving on the roads surrounding Haycock. Be especially mindful of children and pedestrians, follow posted traffic signs and speed limits, and take a few extra moments to look carefully before turning, parking, or pulling away. If you are dropping off or picking up a student during arrival and dismissal, you must use our Kiss and Ride area. Please do not drop students off at other places, as it is not safe and can cause traffic issues.
Thank you for slowing down, staying alert, and helping us keep our Cougars and Haycock community safe!
Digital Citizenship Week
Digital Citizenship is from October 19th through October 23rd. During Digital Citizenship Week, students will explore five connected topics:
- Think Critically: Evaluate information before believing or sharing it.
- Protect: Make choices that safeguard privacy, personal information, and safety.
- Shape: Understand how digital choices shape identity and reputation.
- Connect: Build respectful digital relationships and respond to harm.
- Balance: Develop technology habits that support well-being.
Our morning news show will start the discussion each day, and families are invited to continue the conversations at home.
Get2Green Opportunity
Do your part to mitigate climate change: Save trees!
Trees do an excellent job storing carbon and cooling the earth. Join in a community effort to save trees from invasive vines in Haycock Longfellow Park on Sunday, November 8th, from 2 to 4 pm. We’ll be led by trained Tree Rescuers. No prior experience or great physical strength necessary.
Supplies will be provided, but if you have garden tools and gloves, please bring them. All ages are welcome; elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult.
Everyone will meet at the Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland Street) parking lot. Go to the back of the parking lot where the dumpsters are located. We’ll have sign-in tables there. Please sign up here: Invasive Plant Removal Sign-Up
Volunteers In The Library
Hello! I'm Mrs. Cater, the librarian at Haycock! I'm excited to welcome volunteers back to the library. If you are interested in shelving books and/or helping students find books during checkout, I would love to talk with you! All parents, grandparents, and high school students are welcome for any amount of time weekly, biweekly, or monthly! It’s a great option for high school service hours! If you have any questions, you can email me at alvanhartenc@fcps.edu.
Please register to volunteer online. Here’s the link. Once registered, Nisha Bhatia, our volunteer coordinator and family liaison coordinator, will pass your name to me to contact you.
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.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: We Need You!
Register now to attend FCPS’ 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.
FCPS This Week
In 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.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! 🌎🎉
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15th through October 15th! Our FLES teachers, Ms. Martinez and Ms. Borges, created beautiful, colorful displays outside their classrooms to recognize this important month. Thank you for bringing such a festive touch to our Haycock hallways!
Boosterthon and FIT Games
We did it! Haycock raised over $52,000 for new playground equipment and a color copier for the main office. Because we far surpassed our goal, our school leaders will participate in an inflatable costume obstacle course with popsicles for studentsl!!
And there's even more to celebrate! Every registered family on MyBooster.com will receive their Great Wolf Lodge waterpark day pass by email.🐺🌊
Now's the time to check out the Reward Store on MyBooster.com (it closes on 10/21)! Students can use the points they've earned to choose rewards of their choice, and those rewards will be delivered right to our school.
As a small thank you for being part of this amazing fundraiser, we've put together a Swag Bag as a token of our appreciation for your support. We hope you enjoy it!
CLICK HERE to access your Swag Bag!
Thank you for everything you've done to support our students and our school. We couldn't have done it without you! 🎉
2026 Reflections Art Contest
Calling all Haycock artists! It’s time to get creative! Haycock students are invited to participate in the 2026 National PTA Reflections Art Contest and share what this year’s theme means to them:
“What My Culture Means to Me”
Students can submit original work in one of six categories:
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature
- Musical Composition
- Photography
- Visual Arts.
For more than 50 years, the Reflections program has encouraged students across the country to explore their creativity, express themselves, and celebrate the arts.
Entries are due Thursday, November 5. More information can be found here: Entry Form & Rules. Paper entry forms will also be available in the school library.
Questions? Contact HaycockReflections@gmail.com.
 PTA Boosterthon Fit Games!
Our Cougars had a blast participating in the PTA Boosterthon Fit Games on Friday! Students enjoyed an exciting day of movement, teamwork, and friendly competition through fun fitness activities, group games, and challenges. It was wonderful to see our Cougars staying active, cheering each other on, and showing their school spirit! A huge thank you to our PTA, families, and school community for supporting this fun-filled fundraiser and helping make it a success!
FCPS Cares
Take a moment to acknowledge and affirm a Haycock staff member when they go above and beyond in demonstrating care and dedication that ensures every one of our students is seen, heard, and valued. FCPS Cares.
 Grilling in the Chess Garden!
On Friday, Principal Ferrara fired up the grill in the Chess Garden and treated staff to hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, and more! It was a wonderful opportunity for staff to enjoy some delicious food, connect with colleagues, and unwind together. Thank you, Principal Ferrara, for bringing our Haycock team together!
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