February 27, 2026 - Gunston Gazette
Gunston Gazette - February 27, 2026

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Kristen Rucinski - Principal        Ashley Nelson - Assistant Principal     

March 3rd: Rhythm is Gonna Get'Ya Performance

March 4th: Ernie Eagle Awards Ceremony

March 20th: All FCPS Schools are closed

March 23rd: Kindergarten Orientation

March 25th: 3 hour Early Release

March 26th: PTA Meeting

March 27th: End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour Early Release

 

Gunston Gazette

 Letter from the Principals

Dear Gunston ES Community,

With a full heart, I am writing to share that I will be leaving Gunston Elementary School, as I have accepted an opportunity to serve at a school closer to home. My last day at Gunston will be March 6th. This decision was made with careful thought, as my time at Gunston has been both professionally and personally meaningful.

Serving as your assistant principal has been an incredible honor. Gunston has strengthened my leadership, deepened my understanding of instructional excellence, and reinforced my commitment to building a positive, student-centered school culture. The foundation I have gained here will guide my work moving forward, and I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me as a leader.

I am proud to have been a Gunston Eagle. Thank you for your trust, partnership, and dedication to our students. It has been a privilege to be part of such an exceptional community, and I will always value the relationships and lessons from my time at Gunston.

With Gratitude,

Ashley Nelson

circle ernie

Ernie Eagle Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, March 4th

In order to best accommodate all the students and families with limited interruptions to the instructional program, these are our times for our next ceremony:

9:00 am - 9:30 am   Kindergarten & Grade 2

9:35 am - 10:15 am   Grade 1 & Grade 3 (Updated Time) 

1:45 pm - 2:10 pm   Grade 5

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm   Grade 4 & Grade 6

 

raptor picture

New Visitor Management System

New Visitor Management System

We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry. For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.

Nuevo Sistema de Manejo de Visitantes a las Escuelas

Nos entusiasma anunciar que nuestras escuelas están ahora usando el nuevo sistema “Raptor Visitor Management System”, VMS. Esta actualización forma parte del compromiso que nuestras escuelas y FCPS mantienen con la mejora de la seguridad escolar y con la simplificación del proceso que deben seguir los visitantes a las escuelas. El sistema VMS garantiza que ningún visitante esté en el registro de delincuentes sexuales.

Para la mayoría de los visitantes, la experiencia como usuarios será la misma que ahora tienen cuando se anotan en la oficina principal de cualquier escuela.

Si tiene preguntas, o necesita asistencia con el nuevo sistema, por favor contacte a nuestra oficina principal. ¡Gracias por su colaboración haciendo nuestras escuelas más seguras!

PTA News

Next PTA Meeting will be Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please join us! 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3236608793?pwd=RF69mhfFopHSUu3kEZBm7Y3yt73zv0.1&omn=87273931486

Meeting ID: 323 660 8793

Passcode: Gunston

It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!

Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. 

Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, in the spring. Eligible children can be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps schools prepare and ensure they have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and complete registration forms as soon as possible. Kindergarten Orientation will be held on Monday, March 23rd from 4:30PM - 6:30pm.  More details forthcoming!

FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, please visit the FCPS Registration webpage. 

Community Conversations

  • Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on: 

Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

  • Spanish:Conversaciones con la Comunidad: Comparta su Opinión con la Dra. Reid
  • Siendo una líder que sabe escuchar, la Dra. Reid considera muy importante conectarse e involucrarse con miembros de la comunidad en toda la división escolar. Sus reuniones Conversaciones con la Comunidad representan oportunidades para que comparta sus ideas y opiniones y para que haga las preguntas que tenga. Los eventos se realizarán en estas fechas, durante la primavera (de 6:30 a 7:30 p.m. a menos se notifiquen cambios):

Se ofrecerán servicios de Cuidado de Niños y de Traducción. Estos eventos están abiertos para todas las personas. Visite la página de participación comunitaria de la superintendente para que encuentre la información más reciente.

School Breakfast Week

  • Celebrating the Power of School Breakfast

Multiple studies show that school breakfasts are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers. 

This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback. 

Would you like to know what’s for breakfast? Nutrition Services has printable menus available. 

  • Celebrando el Poder del Desayuno Escolar

Múltiples estudios han demostrado que el desayuno escolar es importante para la salud general de los estudiantes, para mejorar sus dietas y para combatir la inseguridad alimentaria. Los estudiantes que desayunan en la escuela consumen más frutas y fibra que los que no lo hacen.

Esta Semana Nacional del Desayuno Escolar, los Servicios de Alimentación y Nutrición de FCPS (FNS, por sus siglas en inglés) quiere recordarles a las familias, que ellos se dedican a ofrecer comidas que son sabrosas, saludables, sostenibles y enfocadas en los propios estudiantes. En respuesta a sugerencias de los estudiantes, este año se han lanzado nuevas cómidas.

¿Quiere saber qué hay para desayunar hoy? Los Servicios de Nutrición tiene disponibles menús imprimibles.

pre-K

Pre-K and Early Head Start

  • Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs 

FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County. 

  • Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
  • Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.  

If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

 

Programas para Pre-K y de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia 

Los programas para Pre-K y de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia proveen experiencias educativas tempranas de alta calidad a niños que califiquen para ellos, que enfrenten factores de riesgos económicos y educacionales, que estén entre las edades de 6 semanas a 4 años, y que vivan en el Condado de Fairfax. 

  • Los programas para Pre-K priorizan aquellos solicitantes de 4 años de edad, pero también acepta solicitudes para niños que cumplan 3 años antes del 30 de septiembre del mismo año.
  • Los programas de Atención Integral para la Primera Infancia están ubicados en tres escuelas primarias; Clearview, Crestwood y Dogwood, y acepta solicitudes de cupo desde el embarazo y hasta los 2 años de edad.

Animamos a las familias a solicitar cupos lo más pronto posible; el espacio es limitado y se otorga basado en el nivel de necesidad, no en el orden de llegada.

Las solicitudes se aceptan de forma online, por email, por correo, o en persona en la oficina del programa en la dirección 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.  

Si tiene preguntas acerca del proceso de solicitud o sobre el estatus del suyo, por favor llame en inglés al 703-208-7900, o en español al 703-208-7901.

Cell Phone Policy Reminder

Help Keep Gunston Elementary Phone-Free!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (AirPods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool.

FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including consequences for cell phone policy violations and exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans. 

If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office at 703-541-3600. 

¡Ayúdenos a Mantener Gunston Elementry Libre de Celulares!

Por favor, recuérdale a su estudiante que los teléfonos celulares y dispositivos personales (como airpods, earbuds, audífonos, u otros aparatos conectados a internet) deben estar apagados y guardados durante todo el día de clases (del timbre de entrada hasta el de salida). Los teléfonos celulares tampoco están permitidos para ser usados como herramienta instruccional.

La política de FCPS sobre teléfonos celulares ayuda a los estudiantes a mantenerse enfocados, seguros e involucrados en la escuela. Visite nuestra página web de la política sobre teléfonos celulares para que encuentre más información y respuestas a las preguntas comunes, incluyendo también las consecuencias a las violaciones a la política sobre teléfonos celulares, las excepciones dadas a estudiantes que tengan alguna enfermedad o que estén en planes IEP/504, y más. 

Si necesita contactar a su estudiante durante el día de clases, por favor llame a nuestra oficina principal al 703-541-3600. 

Summer Learning

Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students

Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. 

Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps

Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes. 

New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.

Transition Fair for Students in Special Education

Planning for Life in and After High School for Students with IEPs

Families, caregivers, and educators of elementary and middle school students receiving special education services are invited to join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school. 

The transition fair will take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Luther Jackson Middle School. 

Ensuring the success of our students with disabilities after high school is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.

An exhibitor fair will include teachers and representatives from CTS high school courses, career academies, age 18-22 programs, and transition services for students with disabilities. This event also includes a presentation with a brief overview of transition services and a student/parent panel sharing firsthand experiences. Register in advance. 

MS transition