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October 21st- 3hr Early Release - Dismissed at 1 pm
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October 30th- End of First Quarter, Two-Hour Early Release
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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!
Fall is officially in the air! As the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves change colors, we are reminded of how quickly the school year is moving along. It's hard to believe we are already nearing the end of October!
Our Pumas have been busy learning, growing, and building connections in their classrooms. It has been wonderful to see our students settling into their routines, taking on new challenges, and demonstrating all the ways they are growing as learners and as members of our school community.
With the cooler weather arriving, we want to remind families to send students to school with jackets or other appropriate layers, especially as our students continue to enjoy outdoor recess and activities. Please also consider labeling jackets, sweatshirts, and other belongings so we can help reunite lost items with their owners!
As we approach the end of the first quarter, we encourage you to check in with your child about their learning. Ask them what they are proud of, what has challenged them, and what they are looking forward to learning next. These simple conversations help students recognize their growth and build confidence in themselves as learners.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for all the ways you support our Powell community. We are grateful to work alongside you to make each day a meaningful one for our Pumas.
Wishing all of our Puma families a wonderful fall weekend!
Warmly,
Catherine Han
Principal
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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! |
Puma Families, please help us recognize the Outstanding Staff Members at Powell Elementary using this link. You can nominate individuals in the following categories:
- Teacher
- New Teacher
- Principal
- New Principal
- School Professional Staff Leader
- Educational Services Employee
- Resource Teacher and Special Education Department Chair and Multilingual Learners Department Chair, After-School Specialist, Assessment Coach, Instructional Coach, School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Reading Specialist, Safety and Security Specialist, Social Worker, Speech Language Pathologist, School Counselor, Systems of Support Administrator, or other employee paid as a Resource Teacher who serves in a non-instructional or administrative role in the school
- Operational Services Employee
- Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant, Student Information Assistant, Finance Technician, School Finance Assistant, Student Services Assistant, Registrar, Custodian, Building Supervisor, Operating Engineer, Food Services staff, Instructional Assistant, Family Liaison, Public Health Training Assistant, Safety and Security Assistant, and all hourly employees*
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. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
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.
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
The make-up picture day is schedule for 11/12/2026.
What to expect on picture day
- Any student wishing to have a retake should bring their original picture package to exchange for the retake image.
- When an order is placed online, the parent/guardian will receive a camera pass via email. This can either be printed or texted to the student and brought to picture day. The photographer will photograph the printed camera pass along with the student.
- If a student is not able to print their camera pass, that is not a problem. We will match up the student to their order manually in the production process.
- A parent may order from the flyer up until 24 hours after picture day. After 24 hours, the online ordering access may close. This will allow our imaging team to "Pull" all orders submitted and match them with the students photographed.
- When pictures are returned to school, all students that purchased pictures will receive their prepaid package. Any student that was photographed but did not order a package, will receive a "Proof" (PX) of their picture that was taken on picture day.
All proof packages offer parents a second opportunity to order prints. All orders are subject to shipping and handling costs of up to $8.50 and will be shipped directly to home.
Access School Picture Day Flyer and Web Banner
Access our secure site by clicking here: www.pictureportal.org or copy and paste this into your Chrome browser. Google Chrome is the required browser to run this site.
If you do not have your login information, on the login screen you can click Forgot Password to have your password reset and emailed to you. • Click on Photo Events on the left menu
- Find the event for your upcoming picture day (school pictures, class groups, etc.)
- Click the View (first icon) to download the Flyer or to resend the email for your web banner link
Feel free to contact your Sales Representative with any questions that you may have about picture day.
It's that time of year again for one of our community's favorite fall events - the Chantilly High School Haunted House! Along with the Haunted House, there will be games, face painting, and refreshments for sale. Proceeds benefit the Chargers Field Hockey, Girls Lacrosse & the Swim & Dive programs. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 at the door). To order your tickets, log on to www.CHSHauntedHouse.com
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:
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Please Return 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. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
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.
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.
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 VaccinationThe 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:
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Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
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Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
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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.
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.
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
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Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS using the Volunteer Registration Form by Wednesday, October 28. FCPS staff volunteers will receive MyPDE credit.
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Student Volunteers: Complete the Student Volunteer Interest Form by Wednesday, October 28. Students who volunteer will receive volunteer hours.
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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. Students serving in these roles will receive service hours. Sign up by Friday, October 30.
Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu
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.
Join us for dancing, crafts, games, and lots of fun! Optional performance at the varsity basketball game on Dec. 7th at 7:30 p.m.
- Grades: K–8
- Date: December 5
- Time: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Location: CVHS cafeteria
- Cost: $65
Register here: Scan the QR code.
November 14 | 5:30–9 p.m.
- Pajama party
- Arts & crafts
- Glow night
- Pizza, juice, and snacks
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/cvhsdance
You can also scan the QR code.
Cost: $30 for the first child; $15 per sibling
Location: Centreville Dance Academy, 6031 Centreville Crest Ln., Centreville, VA 20121
For: Children ages 5 and up who are potty trained
Please notify the organizers during registration of any dietary restrictions.
FCPS NewsIn 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.
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