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11/18 3-Hours Early Release -Dismissal time 12:20pm
11/19 Thanksgiving / Student Parent Luncheon
(Lunch time, Cafeteria)
11/20 Turkey Trot
Parent Coffee (9:00am, Cafeteria)
Topic: Title I Family School Compact 2026-27
11/25-27 Student Holiday-Thanksgiving (No School)
12/01 Family Science Night and Book Fair
(5:30-7:30pm, Gym/Library/Cafeteria)
12/04 Parent Coffee (9:00am, Cafeteria)
Topic: Safe Routes to School Program
12/07 Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
12/09 Interim Reports Sent Home
Winter Band and Strings 5th grade Concert
(5:30pm - 6:30pm, Gym)
12/21-01/01/27 Winter Break (No School)
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Annandale Terrace Attendance Chronic Absenteeism SIIP Goal: 9.8% or less
Chronic Absenteeism Rate as of 11/13/26: 8.8%
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 We had another busy week at Annandale Terrace with amazing things happening in every hallway and classroom! From active classroom projects to school events, our students continue to inspire us.
Thank you to all the families who joined us for our recent Parent Coffee Meeting! Our school clinic staff led an informative discussion focused on keeping our students healthy, active, and learning throughout the cold and flu season.
A huge thank you to the incredible parent volunteers who spent time in our Parent Center this week! Thanks to their hard work and organization, our collection of student clothes and winter coats is completely sorted, organized, and ready to support families in need.
Our Annandale Terrace community came together for an unforgettable Multicultural Night filled with culture, connection, and celebration!
The evening featured a delicious "Taste of Annandale Terrace," where families brought favorite dishes from their home countries for a community tasting. Attendees enjoyed lively Zumba and line dancing, and also engaged in hands-on activities like rock painting. The celebration concluded with a spectacular fashion show, where students proudly paraded across the stage in traditional attire representing their native heritages.
Thank you to all of the families, staff, and volunteers who shared their traditions, delicious food, and joyful energy to make the night such a fantastic success! And a huge shout out to the Family Engagement and Equity Impact Circle for organizing such a memorable event.
On Friday, we celebrated our Quarter 1 Cougar Pride Reward! The classroom at each grade level that earned the most Paw Praise tickets was rewarded with a special rock-painting activity. Students had a wonderful time designing and painting their own "kindness rocks" to spread positivity around our school community. Congratulations to all of our winning classes for demonstrating outstanding Cougar Pride throughout the first quarter! Keep up the great work!
 The Holiday Makers Market fundraiser is now OPEN until Nov 24! Every purchase from the online market supports our school and local artisans, all while checking gifts off your holiday list. ✅ Spread the holiday cheer with these unique, handmade gifts! Remember,15% of all school proceeds will go to support our Annandale Terrace Elementary PTA.❤️ Note: The top-selling class (with the minimum sales of $500) wins a free Craftspace CRAFT PARTY. Rally together and don’t miss out! Browse the Holiday Makers Market here: www.craftspaceva.com/market
Limited early release days for elementary schools will shift to Wednesdays for the 2026-27 school year.
Three-hour early release days for our school will include:
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
K-5 students will be dismissed @12:20pm on 11/18 to allow educators time for planning & training. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship due to the early release. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it. Complete https://forms.gle/MPsaLjGjMpv98EKZ7 as soon as possible for each of your children who are enrolled at ATES no matter you need a childcare or not. Questions? Please call the main office @ 703-658-5600.
 The Family Engagement Committee is sponsoring the Student-Parent Lunch Day on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Parents are invited to have Thanksgiving luncheon with their student during their lunch time. This event is part of increasing family engagement at ATES and providing parents an opportunity to come to the school. The price for lunch is $5.75 for all guests (Free of charge for all students in Annandale Terrace). Please complete this survey (https://forms.gle/E2E3weGq1kRVdAVH9) if you are planning to attend.
Just a few missed days of school here and there can add up. Lost learning time is an issue in every grade, from kindergarten to high school. Below are some ways to support your child:
- Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Check in with them to see if they feel connected, included, and able to take part in learning at school. If challenges are affecting their school day, contact their teachers or counselors to discuss support.
- Follow their assignments and grades in Schoology and ParentVUE. Reach out to teachers for help if necessary, and make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Encourage meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies. If you need to submit an absence, visit our attendance webpage via: https://annandaleterracees.fcps.edu/about/attendance-reporting.
Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers.
The FCPS Family Academy supports the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.
Join more than 600 families and community members for the Special Education Family Conference on Saturday, November 14 at Hayfield Secondary School.
Visit the FCPS Special Education Family Conference webpage to learn more about the opening panel discussion, the full list of breakout sessions, and the exhibitor hall list.
Still need to register for this year’s conference? Complete the Special Education Family Conference Registration Form to register, request special accommodations, and select language interpretation needs.
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the goal of implementing healthy school start times that are budget neutral, where possible, and minimize impacts on staff. Your feedback remains an important part of this conversation.
At a School Board work session on November 10, staff presented recommendations for K-12 school start times. They also shared that a survey is being sent to families and staff on Tuesday, November 17.
The survey will close on Tuesday, December 1. The School Board plans to review the results in December and take action later that month. Learn more about the K-12 School Start Times project.
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:
- Military families.
- Federally connected families.
- Families living on a military base.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the parent that registered the student with FCPS (the ‘enrolling parent’) can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.
For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 5th. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page, and see a green check next to each of their names.
For any questions about the Federal Impact Aid program, please reach out the main office at 703-658-5600.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Participate in a Family Cafe workshop to:
- Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
- Use the SEL Screener results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
- Support your child’s social and emotional development.
- Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together.
Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on:
Click on the date to register. Find additional details on the FCPS Family Academy page.
Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu.
To promote safety on school property, particularly during arrival and dismissal when cars, school buses, pedestrians, bicycles, and other traffic converge, FCPS Regulation 8610 has been updated to address motorized and electric-powered devices on school property.
Motorized and electric-powered devices — electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), hoverboards, motorized skateboards, mopeds, Segways, and similar devices — may not be operated on school property.Individuals traveling to and from school on either traditional or electric bikes, scooters, etc. should dismount them when reaching the school property line before walking them and parking them in their designated area. When leaving school, they should be walked to the school property line before being used and not ridden until they are off school property.
This regulation does not apply to wheelchairs or other mobility devices which are being used as mobility aids or as disability-related accommodations. Read more details in section 10c of FCPS Regulation 8610.
Annandale Terrace Elementary is a Title I school within Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) that utilizes the Title I grant to improve student achievement and help all students meet the objectives of the FCPS Program of Studies and the Virginia Standards of Learning. A partnership with families is essential to meeting this goal.
Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, schools that receive Title I funds are expected to collaborate with families to develop and maintain a parent and family engagement policy that describes the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning and includes a compact expressing the partnerships among staff, caregivers, and students to reach high academic goals for every student.
Title 1 Compact view is scheduled during our Parent Coffee on November 20, 2026. Please preview the compact via: Title I Family School Compact 2026-27 - ANTE.pdf
 Bring the whole family for an evening of fun, discovery and science learning!
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Date: Tuesday, December 1st, 2026
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Location: Gym / Cafeteria @ Annandale Terrace Elementary School
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Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Try different hands-on activities related to science, technology, engineering and math!
Pizza Dinner is provided to all attendees.
This event is SPONSORED BY TITLE I-A GRANT
Courtesy of The Children’s Science Center www.thechildrenssciencecenter.org
 Enjoy a fun-filled Book Fair evening with family and friends while supporting literacy and education during the FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT and BOOKFAIR on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2026 from 5:30-7:30pm.To make the Book Fair a success, we need parent volunteers! Please sign up via:
https://volunteer.fcps.edu/custom/501/opp_details/4882 or email the Librarian Assistant, Ms. Becky Powers at BLPowers@fcps.edu or call 703-658-5600. You may also contact Ms. Powers if you wish to donate money to help students who cannot afford to purchase a book.
Through Volunteer FCPS, individuals can register and search for volunteer opportunities. All volunteers need to register in Volunteer FCPS.
Visit Volunteer FCPS to view volunteering and mentorship opportunities:
- Click on “Schools” to register with a specific school.
- Click on “Programs” to register as a general volunteer with the county or with the MentorWorks program, which matches individuals with students to meet regularly throughout the year.
Register and complete a short volunteer orientation. If you’ve registered previously, there’s no need to register again, but please log in to your Volunteer FCPS account to see if you have any open tasks to complete before signing up for new opportunities this school year.
All FCPS schools use a framework called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student gets the help they need to learn.
Through MTSS, school teams provide high-quality instruction for all students, along with additional time, support, and interventions based on individual needs. Families are important partners in this process, and they will receive information about their child’s learning, needs, and progress.
Families can view their child’s intervention plans and progress in SIS ParentVUE. Progress updates are available quarterly, in alignment with report card due dates.
See directions for logging in to your SIS ParentVUE account to access MTSS information. Learn more about MTSS in FCPS.
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as a tutor. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant as a resource to families.
 A free health fair offering a variety of services, information, and resources for Mason residents including flu vaccines, hearing and vision screenings, child dental screenings, HIV tests, Hepatitis C tests, and more.
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Date: Saturday, November 14th, from 9am-12pm
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Location: James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042)
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!
The event will take place Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School. Click the date to register. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Join us for a series of family-friendly webinars designed to help you understand reading assessments, reading plans, and ways to support your child at home. Learn what assessment results mean, how reading plans guide instruction, and practical strategies to strengthen decoding, language, comprehension, and literacy skills, including support for multilingual learners.
- December 15, 2026: What Is a Reading Plan?
- February 19, 2027: How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14, 2027: Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer
Register for the Literacy Webinar Series.
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.
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join the session. Upcoming topics include:
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: a Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
 Annandale High School's PTSA will be hosting a Holiday Market on Sunday, November 15th from 10:00am-4:00pm. Join them if you are interested.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
 Please visit www.campussurvivalkits.com/ates to shop ATES customized holiday apparel. A portion of all sales benefits the Annandale Terrace PTA — support your school while you shop!
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Honoring Veterans
- E-Bike Regulation
- School Start Times Survey Coming Soon
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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