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Staff Appreciation Week - May 4 to May 8
Join Us in Thanking Our Amazing Staff
 Staff Appreciation Week is coming soon! From May 4–8, we’ll celebrate our amazing team with the theme: “Aloha, Key Center Rockets — We Appreciate You!”
Our staff works hard every day to support and care for our students. This is a special time to show how much they mean to us. We hope your family will join us in making this week extra special!
How families can help (all optional of course!):
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Donate (optional): Support the PTA plans for treats and activities using this link.
- In addition, feel free to have your student in the daily themes:
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Monday (May 4): Wear ocean blue or Key Center spiritwear
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Tuesday (May 5): Send a kind card, note, or artwork
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Wednesday (May 6): Bring one flower
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Thursday (May 7): Send cleaning wipes or tissues
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Friday (May 8): Wear island gear for the dance
Every small act helps our staff feel appreciated. Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible people who make Key Center such a special place!
National School Nurse Day
 National School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 6. This special day honors the important work school nurses do to support student health and learning.
Fairfax County Public Schools recognizes and values the role of School Public Health Nurses. They care for students’ health needs, help keep our schools safe, and promote wellness all year long. School nurses also connect health and education, helping students stay healthy and ready to learn. Their work makes a lasting difference in our school community.
We are especially grateful for our outstanding school nurse, Jeannette Mitchell, who supports our Key Center students each day. Please join us in thanking her for her care, compassion, and strong commitment to our students’ well-being. She too will be acknowledged along with our staff through the various events planned next week by our PTA Executive Board for Staff Appreciation Week.
School Lunch Hero Day- May 1st
 Friday, May 1st is School Lunch Hero Day! We would like to share a big thank-you to our wonderful cafeteria helpers, Sonia and Kanet. They work hard each day to prepare healthy meals and make sure every student’s needs are met. They take extra care to support our students and help make lunchtime a positive experience.
Their kindness, smiles, and encouragement help create a warm and welcoming space in our cafeteria. We are so grateful for all they do!
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
 May is here, and it brings a special time to recognize the important work of our speech therapists Aimee Rand, Katie Huynh and Rachael Ackerman. During National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we celebrate their dedication to supporting our students.
Our therapists provide high-quality speech services that help students build communication skills. They support students in finding their voices, expressing their needs, and connecting with others. Their work helps our students grow in confidence and better navigate the world around them.
We are grateful for their care, patience, and commitment to our school community.
 During National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we also want to express our appreciation to two valuable members of our school team: Teacher of the Hearing Impaired, Tara Skahill and Audiologist, Sheila Moore-Neff. They work with our students with hearing impairments and their classroom teams to ensure that they are supported in accessing their environment and educational services.
Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and thank you for all that you do!
Key Center Goes Green for Earth Week
 We had a wonderful week celebrating Earth Week at Key Center!
During our April Get2Green meeting, students learned about pollinators and why they are so important for life on Earth. They explored how pollinators help plants grow and why we need to take care of our environment. They also learned about the new Pollinator Garden planned for the area near Door #9.
A group of students got their hands dirty during our first planting of the 2026 season. We planted flowers by the school doors to help attract pollinators and make our school a more welcoming place for them.
We also enjoyed a special visit on Arbor Day from Susan Farmer of the Fairfax Tree Commission. She shared an engaging program about the importance of trees, and students had the opportunity to help care for White Elm seedlings.
Please visit the Key Center Facebook page for pictures of our Earth Week activities. We are proud of our students for helping our school grow greener this Earth Day!
Ordering is Open for the 25-26 Key Center Yearbook!
 This school year has been full of special moments, big smiles, and wonderful memories. Make sure you capture them all!
Yearbooks are available now for the low price of just $10.
Order deadline: May 15, 2026
Order online: Key Center PTA Givebacks Store
Order your copy today. We can’t wait for you to enjoy looking back on this great year!
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th Graders
The following immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grade each school year.
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Immunization Events for FCPS StudentsFCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
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. Additional immunization resources are also available.
Ombuds
 Our Office of the Ombuds Is at Your Service!
Ombuds staff engage with FCPS staff, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Ombuds staff do not make or change decisions, policies, or regulations. They do not take sides, and they do not provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may submit a question.
Resources
 Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Summer Camps
Therapeutic recreation adapted summer camps are designed for individuals with disabilities, ages 6 - 21. Recommended for campers who benefit from close supervision and moderate to maximum support with personal care, recreation participation, and/or social skills.
Learn more about camps near you!
Click here for FCPS camps
Click here for Fairfax County camps
Medicaid and Social Security Success Sessions
May 22, 2026
Fairfax office of The Arc of Northern Virginia
Experienced attorneys Claire Kelly and Elizabeth Gray will provide free, personalized small-group sessions to help you confidently complete your Medicaid application.
For more information and to register, click here.
Workshops and Webinars
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about other resources.
Key Center PTA
 Not yet a member of our PTA? We would love to have you join! You can also support Key Center by volunteering with our PTA or making a donation through our Educate Fairfax site.
Key Center PTA Membership
Key Center PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Key Center PTA Donations
Upcoming Dates
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May 25
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Memorial Day - Holiday
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May 26
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Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
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May 27
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Eid al-Adha - Holiday
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June 17
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Last Day of School - 2 hr Early Release
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