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March 18 Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
We had a wonderful time at the PTA’s Sock Hop on Friday—thank you to all of our families who came out to support and help make the evening so much fun for our students! We have included some photos from the event
As we look ahead, please remember that this Friday is a school holiday in observance of Eid al-Fitr. We extend warm wishes to all of our families who celebrate and hope your day is filled with joy, reflection, and time with loved ones.
Upcoming Dates
Now - Friday, March 27th - SCA Sock Drive
Thursday, March 19th - Kindergarten Book Character Parade
Friday, March 20th - Eid-al-Fitr Holiday (No School)
Wednesday, March 25th - 3-hour Early Release
Friday, March 27th - End of Quarter
- 2-hour Early Release
Monday, March 30th - Friday, April 3rd - Spring Break
Monday, April 6th - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
Thursday, April 9th - Centreville Pyramid Art Show
Friday, April 10th - School Planning Day (No School for Students)
- Unified Sports @ CVHS
Saturday, April 18th - Military Family Field Day @ Annandale High School
Monday, April 20th - Friday, April 24th - Book Fair
Tuesday, April 21st - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
Wednesday, April 22nd - 6th Grade Panoramic Photo (new date)
- Evening Book Fair & Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, April 29th - Kindergarten Orientation
See the complete school year calendar
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled. Principals and directors of student activities may adjust event start times and entry points to ensure clear separation between student activity areas and polling spaces.
Employees should check their email for a message from the school division (sent Wednesday, March 11) with additional details.
Sock Donation Drive
UMES Kindness Club and SCA are collecting NEW socks for women and children (sizes birth to teen) from now - March 27th. There is a sock donation box in the front lobby at UM. The socks will be donated to the organization "Women Giving Back" who help women and children in crisis in Fairfax County at the end of the month.
GET2GREEN Supports the Birds!
This month, the fifth grade Get2Green team met with fourth grader teacher, Mr. Harrison, who guided them through the process of building birdhouses. Working collaboratively, students learned to use the tools and constructed sturdy, welcoming homes for local birds.
2026 Family Engagement Survey
Do you have 10 minuets before March 23?
FCPS families, your feedback helps us understand what is going well in your child's school and where we can improve. Take 10 minutes to complete the Family Engagement Survey today. It is available in many languages. Your responses are confidential.
Complete the survey today: https://bit.ly/FESURVEY2026
FCPS Impact Awards
Want to highlight a contribution that transforms student lives? Want to nominate an employee at Union Mill for a cash award?! Nominations will be taken starting April 1st for individual or team Impact Awards.
Information about this awards program, including nomination categories and steps for nomination can be found here.
Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School. During this no-cost, in-person event, families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore, connect to resources and other families, and participate in afternoon sessions.
FCPS families are invited to register to attend this year’s conference. Childcare, accommodations, and language interpretation are available.
Families are also invited to register to serve as an event volunteer by Thursday, March 19. Volunteer hours will be awarded to student volunteers.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.
Centreville Pyramid Art Show
Save the Date!
Join us on April 9th from 4:30 - 6:30pm at Centreville High School to see the amazing 2D and 3D artwork created by our wonderful artists from Union Mill Elementary and other nearby schools. There will be family activities and food as well.
KAST (Kids are Scientists Too)
 KAST (Kids Are Scientists Too) is a national non-profit STEM education program aimed at exposing young students in local elementary schools to STEM topics with the hope of instilling a life-long joy of science.
THE PROGRAM
KAST is completely free for the parents of our elementary school students! KAST goes above and beyond what is required by the state to give students access to a more intensive scientific education. We rely on the high school population at each KAST branch to keep the organization running and teach students.
LESSONS
An after-school KAST session is about an hour long. Each session begins with an engaging lecture followed by an activity such as an experiment. The lesson concludes with a short review to ensure each student fully understood the material.
If you are interested, please submit the following form
If you have any questions, contact us at kast.cvhs@gmail.com
Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians
The Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in March:
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
- Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
- Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Family Orientation (for military families)
- Mind in the Making: Making Connection and Critical Thinking
There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including reducing parent stress and anxiety, parenting neurodivergent kids, why smart kids struggle, and a countdown to kindergarten.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.
Summer Camp Fairfax Registration Opens Soon!
Registration for Summer Camp Fairfax is now open through the Fairfax County Park Authority. These camps offer a wide variety of fun and engaging experiences for children, including outdoor adventures, sports, arts, science, and more.
Many camps fill quickly, so families are encouraged to explore options and register early to secure a spot. It’s a great way for students to stay active, make new friends, and keep learning all summer long! For more information, visit: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps
Kindergarten Registration and Orientation
Online Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online access. Details are available here: Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Online Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current families can register their new student through their existing ParentVUE account. (No need to register students returning to UMES.)
Our Registrar, Catherine Dubas, is happy to process registrations directly, as well. Please contact her at cmdubas@fcps.edu and be ready to provide your family’s address and rising kindergartener’s date of birth. Catherine will respond with registration details and documents necessary to start the process.
Spring registration puts you on the list for school communications, so don’t wait!
Early Release Wednesdays
The Centreville Pyramid, which includes Union Mill Elementary, will have the following three-hour early release Wednesdays. On these days, students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. This time allows for our staff to plan, collaborate and grow professionally.
Thank you for your help in making these days smooth and enjoyable for everyone!
Additional information can be found on the FCPS Early Release Wednesdays webpage.
It's Time to Order a Yearbook!
Hurry, hurry! The deadline to order your 2025-2026 yearbook is almost here! Families may place orders at www.buytheyearbook.com with school ID# 732149. Yearbooks are $16.49 each.
Don't miss your chance to order a yearbook as there will not be extras available at the end of the year.
The deadline to order is April 15, 2026.
UMES PTA
UMES Sock Hop Recap
On Friday night, the PTA hosted over 100 guests for a Sock Hop dance in the gym at Union Mill! Attendees were encouraged to wear their craziest socks to help celebrate World Down Syndrome Day coming up on March 21 and/or 50s attire and dance the night away! DJ Chris Smith kept the crowd moving and shaking in the gym while volunteers helped serve guests pizza and snacks in the cafeteria, offered face painting, and a chance to get of their feet in between songs! For anyone needing a quiet space to take a break, a quiet room was offered with sensory toys and fidgets. Overall, our first Sock Hop at Union Mill was a success and we look forward to making this an annual giveback event (free!) to our Union Mill school community! Thank you to our volunteers on Friday and to all our families who attended!
Have feedback for next year’s event? Please email pta@unionmillpta.org.
Chick-Fil-a Spirit Night – TONIGHT!
Join us from 4:00 - 8:00 PM for a Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A! Head to the Fair Lakes location and mention the Spirit Night when placing your order or use code BEARS when ordering online.
Dave & Buster’s Power Cards FUNraiser
It’s last call for our Dave & Buster’s Power Cards sale! Purchase a $10 or $20 Power Card by March 20th and support Union Mill PTA programming and initiatives plus have some fun with your family and friends! Power Cards can be used ANYTIME at ANY LOCATION! 50% of every purchase will be donated back to Union Mill PTA! Your cards will be distributed on March 27th in Friday Folders.
Purchase your Power Cards here.
Volunteer for the 2026/2027 PTA Board
Are you interested in serving on the board or in a volunteer position? The 2026/27 Board will create next year’s budget, programs, and events. Get involved! Reach out by April 15 - we will build our 2026/27 officer slate in April and vote in May. All the details can be found in the Union Mill Messenger newsletter.
Click here to read the Union Mill Messenger.
Garden Club Updates
Spring is arriving in our school garden! Our flower beds are starting to bloom, and Garden Club will be meeting again in April as we continue caring for the garden and exploring the plants growing around us. Students will enjoy hands-on activities while learning about gardening, pollinators, and nature.
You can also support our school garden and PTA by shopping our Spring Flower Fundraiser. Order seeds and bulbs online and they will be delivered directly to your home. The PTA earns 50% of each sale to support school programs. Thank you for helping our garden and our school community grow!
You can order here.
Fairfax County SEPTA Awards
The Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) supports students receiving special education services, their families, and the educators who help them thrive through advocacy, resources, and community connection. Nominations are now open for the 2026 SEPTA Awards, recognizing the outstanding educators, staff, volunteers, and community members making a difference in the lives of students across Fairfax County.
Click here to submit a nomination or learn more.
Box Tops for Education
We are a Box Tops for Education school! All you have to do is download the app and scan your printed receipts or upload your digital receipts. Shopping at Walmart? Just connect your account, no scanning required!
Click this link to get started and use code P7R07LNQ!
Updated UMES PTA Calendar of Events
View our updated calendar of events here.
Visit us at unionmillpta.org, follow the PTA on Facebook @UMESPTA and email us anytime at pta@unionmillpta.org.
Union Mill Hours
Bell Schedule
Doors open at 8:35 am. Students should be in class by 8:45 am.
Students are dismissed at 3:30 pm.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday - 8:15 am - 4:15 pm
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