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October 23, 2026

Dear Elementary Families,

We are off to a strong and productive start this fall! Thank you for your continued support. During our first early release Wednesday, students and staff transitioned smoothly into the adjusted schedule, allowing our educators to collaborate and focus on student learning goals.

Thursday's Literacy Night was another highlight. Families read together, modeled reading strategies, and celebrated a love of books and learning. These shared experiences strengthen the important connection between home and academic achievement.

On Friday, we celebrated our monthly Schoolwide Closing Circle. We gathered as a school community to pause, reflect, and celebrate. These moments matter. They give students a chance to feel seen, heard, and connected to something bigger than themselves. It is always powerful to watch our students listen to one another and share their voices.

Looking ahead, we invite you to join us for a Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid on Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m.

As we conclude the first quarter on Friday, October 30, we will celebrate with our Storybook Character Parade. Please note that student dismissal that day will be at 2:00 p.m.

Finally, the nomination window for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards is closing soon. Please take a moment to nominate a staff member. You don’t need to answer every question; submitting a nomination is a meaningful way to show your appreciation.

Thank you for partnering with us to build a strong academic foundation for every child. Enjoy your weekend!

With appreciation,
Principal Clarke & Assistant Principal Barry

Our Annual Storybook Character Day & Parade

Once upon a time, Beech Tree Elementary brought storybook characters to life! 

We are thrilled to celebrate Storybook Character Day on October 30th! We invite all students to dress up and join in on the FUN!  Students are encouraged to use their creativity to dress in a school appropriate, storybook character costume.  Student costumes can be bought or homemade. Costumes may be elaborate or simple. Make sure to bring a book with you! Please no masks.

Families are welcome to join us on the front sidewalk at 9:30 AM to watch our Beavers parade around the bus loop and celebrate our superstar Beaver readers! (weather permitting)

Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings. 

• Oct. 26 | Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid Community Conversations
  Beech Tree Cafeteria Door 2 at 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 27 | Full-Time AAP Identification 6:00 p.m. Beech Tree Library
• Oct. 30 | End of Quarter, 2 Hour Student Dismissal 2:00 p.m.
  Beech Tree Book Character Day Parade will take place at 9:30 am (weather permitting)
• Nov. 2 | Teacher Workday-No School
• Nov. 3 | School Planning Day-No School
• Nov. 6 | Beaver Tail Gate 5:00 pm- 6:30 pm 
  * Rain Date Nov. 13*
• Nov. 18 | PTA Meeting 6:30pm Location Cafeteria
• Nov. 19 | Thanksgiving Luncheon at Beech Tree
  (Schedule Coming Soon)
• Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving Holiday; Schools & Offices Closed

Full-Time AAP Identification

Tuesday, October 27^th at 6pm in the Beech Tree library. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.

For more information, please contact Nadya Abu-Rish, AART, at nkaburish@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website

Entering the Building

To help keep our school community safe, we are updating our front door procedures.

When you ring the doorbell, a staff member will greet you and ask for your name and the reason for your visit. Please wait to be admitted, and do not enter behind another visitor.

If you are dropping off an item for a student, please label it clearly with the student’s name and teacher’s name.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Your partnership helps us keep our school safe and welcoming for everyone.

Encouraging Regular Attendance

Regular attendance is a good habit to establish in childhood. It can lead to greater success in high school, college, and careers. Teachers and students miss your child when they can’t make it to school. If you or your family need support, please reach out to your school's front office. We are here for you! 

If students miss too much school, school staff may reach out to the family to partner with them on addressing barriers to regular attendance. Visit the FCPS website for attendance resources.  

Please Complete Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is how we ensure we receive all the resources available to us from the federal government. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.  

Register for ParentVUE

Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.

Maintain Access to Your Child’s Grades and Assignments: Download the New ParentVUE App

New ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile apps launched in July. Be sure to download the new app before winter break. After that time, you will need to use the new mobile app or a web browser to access ParentVUE or StudentVUE.

For instructions on installing the new apps and learning more about the updated login process, visit ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile app resources. If you need assistance, please submit a Parent Support Request.

The Importance of the Flu Vaccination

The annual flu vaccine is the most effective way to protect your child from getting sick and to prevent the spread of illness within our classrooms. Staying up-to-date with your child's flu vaccination helps:

• Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
• Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
• Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.

Upcoming Flu Shot Events

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will be taking 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.

Help Your Student Stay Focused and Engaged Without Digital Distractions

Please remind your student that personal electronic communication or computing devices should be off and personally stored (i.e., in backpacks) for the duration of the school day: bell to bell.

This includes personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices. Students can only use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. There are exceptions for students with disabilities and those enrolled in specific courses.  

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call the school’s front office. Learn more about the FCPS cellphone policy and device policy. 

Annual Special Education Family Conference: Breakout Session Information Available

Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, taking place on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School. 

More than 20 engaging breakout sessions have been designed to support, inform, and inspire our community. Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage to explore the lineup of presenters, titles, and session descriptions. Complete the Special Education Family Conference Registration Form to secure your spot and let us know about any childcare, language interpretation, or accommodation needs. 

Get Involved Today! Volunteer and Student Participation Opportunities

• Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS using the Volunteer Registration Form by Wednesday, October 28. FCPS staff volunteers will receive MyPDE credit.
• Student Volunteers: Complete the Student Volunteer Interest Form by Wednesday, October 28. Students who volunteer will receive volunteer hours.
• Student Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project. Students serving in these roles will receive service hours. Sign up by Friday, October 30.

Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.

Dates for Early Release Wednesdays

Early Release Wednesdays Beech Tree will have a total of four early release days throughout the school year. Students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.

Preschool Students will follow their regular Wednesday schedule. 

Early release Wednesdays for Beech Tree ES are:

• December 2
• February 10
• May 5

👉 Afterschool Form for the 2026–2027 School Year

Beech Days

Beech Day=Lunch Visits

Beech Days (Open Days in YELLOW):

These are the days you can come to school and have lunch with your student:

• October: 26, 27, 28 29
• November: 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 30
• December: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 17, 18
• January: 4, 5, 6. 7. 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27
• February:  2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
• March: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 31
• April: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Lunch Schedule

Unavailable Days Due to Wednesday Early Release (in RED):

These are the dates where Beech Days are unavailable because of early release closures:

• December 2
• February 10
• May 5

There will be no Beaver Beech lunch days in May due to SOL testing, which may alter daily lunch schedules. 

• Beech Days will return during the month of June.

We encourage family members to enjoy the same lunch as their child, whether it's a packed lunch or from the school cafeteria. To maintain the integrity of our meal program, we kindly request refraining from bringing fast food options.

On the day of your child's scheduled lunch, please arrive 5 minutes early to sign in at the office. Our staff will direct you to the cafeteria. As you depart, please remember to check out at the office. For those opting to purchase lunch from the cafeteria, adult pricing is $5.50 and the price for non-FCPS students under the age of 18 is $3.75, payable in cash. For more details on lunch options, please click here.

FCPS News/In Case You Missed It

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• • Literacy Resources
  • Return Your Impact Aid Survey
  • Download the New ParentVUE App

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 

Beech Tree School Information

Hours:  9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:05 a.m. for arrival)

Attendance Line:  703-531-2626

Attendance Email: BeechTreeElem.Attendance@fcps.edu

School Registrar: Sandra Merino (703) 531-2620

Family Liaison: Milkis Flores (703) 531-2601

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3401 Beechtree Lane, Falls Church, VA 22042  | Main Phone: 703.531.2600
Attendance: 703.531.2626 | Web | Twitter