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Dear Thoreau Families,
As our nation observed Veterans Day this week, I want to send a heartfelt Thoreau MS thank you to all the veterans in our Eagle community. Your service, dedication, and commitment to keeping our nation safe mean so much to our school and families. We are deeply grateful for the sacrifices you and your loved ones have made to protect our freedoms.
A special thank you to our Director of Student Services, Rebecca Aguilar, for organizing a wonderful breakfast to celebrate our military-connected Thoreau families. It was an honor to celebrate together and present our new Purple Star award.
Sincerely,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
- Date & Time: Monday, November 23rd at 9:30 AM
- Audience: All TMS Parents & Guardians
- Agenda Highlights:
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Celebrate Our Staff: Kick things off with our "Gratitude Leaf" activity to recognize meaningful experiences with staff members.
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A Shared Direction: Learn about our updated school mission and vision.
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The Data Behind Belonging: Review recent student belonging and Social-Emotional Learning data.
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Proactive Inclusion in Action: Learn about current programs and practices championing inclusion and equity at Thoreau.
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Table Group Discussions: Share your perspectives and feedback to help shape our school culture.
Click Here to RSVP (Light refreshments will be provided)
Friday, October 30th marks the end of the 1st quarter. The Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE will be unavailable from Friday, October 30th at 4:00 p.m. through Monday, November 9th at 9:00 a.m. On Monday, November 9th, 1st quarter report cards will be visible in SIS.
During the week of November 9-13, 2026, we celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive. We appreciate the hard work of Thoreau’s school psychologist, Rosemary Brient. Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists.
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.
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.
What a season for our Thoreau Cross Country team! Our student-athletes showed tremendous dedication, perseverance, and teamwork throughout the fall, with countless moments worth celebrating. One of our biggest accomplishments came at the October 17 meet at Stone Middle School, where Thoreau earned first-place team finishes across all four divisions! Our runners continued that momentum on October 24, earning first place in both boys' divisions and another first-place finish in Girls B.
At the championship meet, Benjamin French delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 7th overall in the Boys Championship race with a time of 10:39.3! We also celebrated impressive individual growth throughout the season. Between our October 17 and October 24 meets, Orla Helsley improved her time by an incredible 3 minutes and 22 seconds, Emily Hubbard shaved off more than a minute, and Theodore Hermansen and Thomas Nguyen each improved by over 30 seconds. These are just a few examples of the progress our athletes made through consistent effort and determination.
But what made this season special wasn't simply the placements or personal bests. It was watching our runners encourage one another, push through tough practices, build confidence, and discover what they could accomplish. From our fastest finishers to those celebrating their own personal milestones, every athlete contributed to the success and spirit of this team.
We are incredibly proud of how hard our student-athletes worked, how much they improved, and the resilience they demonstrated along the way. Congratulations to all our Thoreau runners on a memorable season.
GO EAGLES! 💙🦅
After-school programming continues next week, Monday through Friday.
Please review our weekly schedule for clubs, activities, athletics, and academic support opportunities. Remember to check the schedule each week, as club meeting days and program offerings may vary.
A Few Reminders
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Stay Connected on Schoology: Students and families should continue checking the After-School Program Schoology Course for club descriptions, weekly schedules, and the latest updates.
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Registration & Attendance: Students must have an After-School Registration Form on file before participating and must sign in each day they stay after school.
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Have a Plan: Before staying after school, students should know which activity they are attending, make sure their family is aware, and have a plan for getting home.
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Support Our Students: Thank you to everyone who has supported our After-School Program and Cross Country team so far! Families and community members can continue supporting our students throughout the year through our After-School Snacks Amazon Wishlist.
Activity & Club Highlights This Week
Beauty and the Beast Auditions | Monday–Friday, both sessions
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Monday–Thursday: Blackbox C-107
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Friday: Dance auditions in the cafeteria (email invitation only)
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Mythology Club | Tuesday, November 17, Second Session in Eagle Hall
- Explore Greek and Roman mythology through stories, games, creative activities, and student-led discussions. Students will also learn about connections to literature, culture, and history.
- Pizza and prizes provided!
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Support Club | Every Wednesday, First Session in B113
- A space for 7th and 8th grade students to connect, support one another, and learn strategies for navigating middle school and life at Thoreau. Students can share experiences, build connections, and explore potential opportunities to earn service hours.
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Help us spread a little extra kindness this Thanksgiving! The Peer Helping Class is collecting non-perishable canned and packaged foods to help local families prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. Every donation makes a difference!
How to Donate: Students can drop off donations in their College Team's collection box in the cafeteria now through November 20th.
A Little Friendly Competition! 🏆 The College Team that collects the most donations will win a special surprise, so let's see which team can give the most!
For questions, please contact Mrs. Turner or Mrs. Gallagher.
Thank you for helping us make Thanksgiving a little brighter for families in our community!
All picture day photos are now available for families to view and order!
Restorative Justice in Fairfax County Public Schools. Build understanding. Repair harm. Strengthen relationships.
Friday, November 20, 2026
10 - 11:30 AM
How can restorative practices help when conflict happens at school?Join us for an engaging webinar to learn about restorative justice practices in FCPS and how they may support students and families. We will explore:
- What restorative justice looks like in FCPS
- Potential benefits in discipline and conflict situations
- Ways restorative approaches can support students and families
Register here
⛄ VYI Winter Wrestling Registration Open
VYI Wrestling is for boys and girls in elementary and middle school of all ability levels. The Winter wrestling season runs November through February with practices typically M/W 7-8pm for K-3rd graders and 7-8:30pm for 4-8th graders. An online parent's meeting will be held the week before the first practice. The first practice will be Monday November 9th at Madison HS. Financial aid is available.
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