|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
In This Issue
May
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
1 | Math SOL
1 | Track Team Dinner
2 | Track and Field Meet, Westfield HS at 8:00 AM
6 | National School Nurse Day
8 | Science 8 SOL
9 | Track and Field Meet, Marshall HS at 8:00 AM
13 | Reading SOL
16 | Track and Field Meet, Oakton HS at 8:00 AM
|
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
|
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is about more than awareness. It’s about showing up for one another. It provides a chance to stand with your community and show that no one struggles alone. Everyone is invited to speak up against mental health stigma.
Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.
|
Jewish American Heritage Month
May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
|
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 Students
FCPS, 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.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
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.
FCPS Family Cafe: Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
Join Family and School Partnerships to explore career pathways, academies, and the wide range of courses and certifications available in FCPS.
This virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will highlight the various career and technical education courses available to middle and high school students in FCPS. Currently, there are more than 160 Career and Technical Education (CTE) course options available to students. Many CTE programs include industry credentials, work-based learning, and career and technical student organizations, allowing students to develop the skills needed to be successful in future education, training, and careers.
Register in advance for Career Pathways to receive the Zoom link. Email FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu for more information or call 703-204-4300.
Strategies to Help Children Stay Safe Online
Technology connects us like never before, but it comes with risks. Learn how to help your family stay safe online. Navigating the Digital World Together, by the FCPS officer of Intervention and Prevention Services, is an interactive workshop that covers today’s most popular apps and social platforms, practical strategies for talking with children about digital safety, and key topics that support healthy online habits from childhood through adulthood.
Register to attend the workshop on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mason District Government Center.
Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, bringing in their FCPS laptop fully charged, and that the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on the following scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
-
Math: May 1
-
Science 8: May 8
-
Reading: May 13
If you have any questions, please reach out to our School Testing Coordinator, Melissa Sobchak, at msobchak@fcps.edu. Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
Calling All 8th Grade Parents: Get Involved at Herndon High
As you prepare for your student’s transition to Herndon High School this fall, we invite you to get involved in a meaningful way. Nominations are now officially OPEN for the 2026–27 Herndon High School Sports Boosters Board of Directors.
We’re looking for thoughtful, dedicated parents who want to support our student-athletes and help carry this incredible mission forward. Serving on the Board is both an honor and a rewarding way to connect with the school community from day one.
Please consider submitting a nomination for yourself or another parent.
Reston Flag Football: Players and Coaches Needed
We’re thrilled to share that this season is already one for the record books with over 500 players registered across the league! Thank you to our amazing families and community for helping make this one of our biggest and most exciting seasons yet.
As we finalize team rosters, we’re just a few players away from rounding out several divisions and ensuring balanced, competitive teams. Here’s where we still have openings:
Boys Divisions
Girls Divisions
-
Grades 1–3: 4–14 players needed
-
Grades 4–6: 10 players needed
-
Grades 7–8: 10 players needed
-
High School: 10 players needed
We’re also in need of a few more volunteer coaches, especially in our upper and girls divisions. Coaching is a rewarding way to support our players and help make the season a success.
If you know friends, neighbors, or classmates who may still want to join, please encourage them to register as soon as possible so we can finalize teams and schedules: https://restonseahawks.org/
Scheduling Update
-
Girls divisions and upper boys divisions will most likely play Friday evenings (6–10 PM), with a few exceptions
-
Boys Grades 1–2 and 3–4 will play Saturday mornings (9–11 AM)
We’re looking forward to another fantastic season—thank you for being part of it!
Start an Unskippable Conversation With Your Teen
When was the last time you talked to your teen about fentanyl and overdose? Learn how to start an Unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
Access Schoology to Support Your Child
Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology.
Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.
Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.
Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter.
View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
| 
