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Aug 21- Kindergarten Playdate @ 8:30-9:00 AM
Aug 21- Open House @ 9:00-10:00 AM
Aug 24- First Day of School
Sept 2- Back to School Night @ 6:00 -7:30 PM
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Dear Washington Mill Students and Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We hope your summer has provided time to relax, recharge, and create lasting memories with family and friends. As we prepare to welcome students back into our classrooms, we are filled with excitement for the opportunities that a new school year brings.
This year, we proudly embrace our school motto: Every Voice. Every Strength. Every Student. These words reflect who we are as a school community and what we value most. Every child has a unique story to tell, talents to share, and the ability to make a meaningful difference. Our mission is to ensure that every student feels valued, challenged, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Thank you for entrusting us with your children. We are honored to partner with you and can't wait to make this an incredible school year together.
With appreciation and excitement,
Brad Bennink, Principal, blbennink@fcps.edu
Tara Pensiero, Assistant Principal, TNPensiero@fcps.edu
Jasmine Piernas, Assistant Principal, jmpiernas@fcps.edu
We’re excited to welcome our newest Wolves and their families to our Kindergarten Play Date before Open House! Join us on Friday, August 21, from 8:30–9:00 a.m. on the school playground for a fun opportunity to meet classmates, make new friends, and get comfortable before the first day of school.
After the play date, families are invited to head inside at 9:00 a.m. for Open House, where you'll meet your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, and learn more about the exciting school year ahead.
We can’t wait to welcome our newest Washington Mill Elementary families! Be sure to check out the flyer below for more details.
Washington Mill Elementary is excited to welcome our students and families to Open House on Friday, August 21, from 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Open House is a wonderful opportunity for students to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and become familiar with their new learning environment before the first day of school. Families will also have the chance to connect with staff, ask questions, and begin building strong partnerships that support student success throughout the year.
We look forward to welcoming everyone as we kick off another great school year—together, we grow, learn, and lead! Please see the flyer below for additional details.
Join us for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Washington Mill Elementary! This in-person event is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with teachers and learn about the exciting year ahead.
During the evening, teachers will share important information about classroom routines, daily schedules, curriculum, school supplies, student supports, and ways families can partner with us to ensure a successful school year. Whether you're new to Washington Mill or returning for another great year, Back to School Night is an important opportunity to build strong home-school connections.
We look forward to seeing you as we work together to help every student grow, learn, and lead. Please see the flyer below for additional details.
Join the Mount Vernon community for Pyramid Schools Night at the Mount Vernon High School Varsity Football Game on Friday, August 28, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mount Vernon High School Stadium!
All Mount Vernon Pyramid students in grades K–8 receive FREE admission when accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket. During halftime, students from each Pyramid school will be recognized as they participate in a special Spirit Walk on the track.
Come out to show your school spirit, connect with families from across the Mount Vernon Pyramid, and help cheer on the Majors as they take on Hayfield. We look forward to seeing our Washington Mill Wolves and their families for a fun evening of community and school pride! Please see the flyer below for additional details.
We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready!
☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at 703-619-2507 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Contact Information
Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
☑️ Update Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy.
When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
☑️ Learn About School Meals
Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.
☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.
Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.
¡Estamos entusiasmados por recibir a todos de vuelta en la escuela!
Mientras el verano llega a su fin, nosotros nos preparamos para darles la bienvenida a los estudiantes en nuestros salones de clase. ¡Revise esta lista para que se asegure de que su niño está listo para el primer día!!
☑️ Inscríbase en SIS ParentVUE
Tenga acceso a los récords de asistencia, calificaciones y tareas asignadas a su estudiante, cuando lo necesite a través de SIS ParentVUE. Contacte al registrador de la escuela llamando al 703-619-2507 si necesita un código de activación. Conozca más sobre SIS ParentVUE.
Actualice su información de contacto
¡Asegúrese de que pueda recibir información que es importante! Actualice sus números telefónicos y direcciones email haciendo clic en “Mi Cuenta” y revisando lo que aparece en la sección “Verificación/Actualización Online”. En este formulario, usted también puede actualizar los récords de vacunación, la información de salud y los contactos de emergencia.
☑️ Revise las Vacunas y los Récords de Vacunación
Las vacunas son obligatorias para todos los estudiantes que van a la escuela en Virginia. Este es un paso importante para protegerlos de ciertas enfermedades y mantenerlos saludables.
Cuando le ponga alguna vacuna a su niño, recuerde pedir una copia de su récord de vacunación y entréguela en la oficina principal de la escuela o envíela a través de SIS ParentVUE lo más pronto que le sea posible. Encuentre más información en la página web de FCPS.
☑️ Conozca más sobre las Comidas Escolares
Las familias deben darles dinero a sus estudiantes para comprar comidas en la escuela o enviarles un almuerzo preparado en casa. Como alternativa, pueden solicitar los beneficios de comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido, sujetos a aprobación.
☑️ Ponga el Calendario del Año Escolar en sus Favoritos
Asegúrese de poner en sus favoritos el calendario del año escolar de FCPS para que esté al tanto de los días feriados escolares, las vacaciones y las fechas especiales religiosas y culturales:
- Los días marcados con una “H” azul, son feriados para los estudiantes. Las escuelas estarán cerradas esos días.
- Los días marcados con una “O” naranja son días de observancia religiosa y cultural (o tardes, si solamente se marca medio día). Habrá clases esos días, pero ciertos eventos que no puedan reprogramarse, podrían no realizarse esos días.
- Los días marcados con las letras TW, SD, y SP en color rosa son feriados para los estudiantes, pero son días de trabajo para maestros y personal escolar.
Por favor, note que algunos días feriados o fechas especiales como Eid al Fitr, podrían cambiar y el calendario sería ajustado.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Este otoño llegarán Nuevas Tarjetas de Identificación para los Estudiantes que usan el autobús.
Como parte del compromiso continuo de fortalecer los programas de protección y seguridad mediante múltiples medidas, FCPS implementará un nuevo sistema de identificación estudiantil para los estudiantes que utilizan los autobuses escolares.
La implementación de estas identificaciones constituye una medida de seguridad adicional para los 130,000 estudiantes que utilizan el autobús escolar cada día. El sistema ayudará a garantizar que los estudiantes aborden el autobús correcto, suban y bajen en la parada correspondiente y que únicamente los estudiantes autorizados utilicen nuestros autobuses.
Las tarjetas de identificación se proporcionarán a los estudiantes que utilizan el autobús. Se espera que estos estudiantes pasen su tarjeta por el lector al subir y bajar del autobús. Las tarjetas no rastrean la ubicación ni los movimientos de los estudiantes. La única información disponible será el momento en que un estudiante pase su tarjeta al subir o bajar del autobús. Al igual que la aplicación Here Comes the Bus, una nueva aplicación permitirá a los padres y/o tutores seguir el recorrido del autobús escolar.
En el futuro, es posible que el programa de identificación se amplíe para incluir otros usos, como el acceso a servicios en bibliotecas y el pago de comidas. Conozca más sobre el nuevo sistema de transporte y las tarjetas de identificación estudiantil.
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Get Ready for the New School Year With the FCPS App! | | 
