Ravens' Nest 8/10/26

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Upcoming Events

Aug 20 Kindergarten Open House, 3:00-4:00 PM

Aug 20 New Student Orientation, 3:30-4:00 PM

Aug 20 Grades 1-6 Open House, 4:00-5:30 PM

Aug 24 First Day of School!

Kinder Parent "Boo Hoo & Yahoo Welcome", 8:35-9:15 AM

Sept 4-7 NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Weekend

Sept 9 Back to School Night, 5:30-7:00 PM

Sept 30 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday, Gr K-6, Dismissal at 12:20 PM

Link to the 2026-2027 FCPS School Year Calendar

Principal’s Message to Families

Dear Ravensworth ES Family,

It was incredible to see so many of our students and families at our Popsicles on the Playground this week. Thank you for taking the time to join us. We loved hearing all about the camps, vacations, family time, and activities you all have been enjoying. Thank you for sharing these memories with us.

Last week, our PTA hosted their first meeting and volunteer appreciation celebration in the gym. Our PTA’s commitment to all our students and staff is remarkable. We would not be the “Distinguished” school we are without your hard work, support, and value for education.

We look forward to everyone’s return at our Open House, on August 20^th from 3:00 – 5:30 PM. Parents/Guardians, you will be receiving an email from our front office staff on Monday, August 17^th sharing your child’s teacher’s name and classroom number, so you will know prior to Open House. Parents of bus riders will be receiving an e-notify from transportation with bus route information on August 14^th.

It is going to be a great new School Year 2026-27!

Sincerely your Admin Team,

Shannon Mueck and Amy Heiman

In this Edition:

Ravensworth ES Back to School Events
Signing up for Parent VUE/SIS
New Student ID Cards for Bus Riders Coming this Fall
The Online/Verification Update Packet - Early Release Wednesdays Selection
Free and Reduced-Price Meals/Summer Meals
Pre-K Registration
FCPS Military Family Orientation

Open House - Thursday, August 20th

Please join us Thursday, August 20th, from 3:00 – 5:30 PM for our Ravensworth ES Open House. This is a time for students and families to informally meet their teachers, drop off school supplies, and explore their new classroom.

3:00 Kindergarten Open House
3:30 Orientation for New Students & Families to Ravensworth, Grades 1-6 (cafeteria)
3:30 Grades 1-6 Open House

First Day of School - Monday, August 24th

Monday, August 24^th is the first day of school for students. We are excited to welcome our students back! Doors open at 8:25 AM. School begins at 8:35 AM and dismissal begins at 3:20 PM. During the first day of school, guardians may walk students to their classroom door.

Kindergarten Parent Boo Hoo and Yahoo Welcome Coffee

Ravensworth ES will be hosting a Boo Hoo and Yahoo Welcome Coffee for our Kindergarten Parents in the cafeteria from 8:35AM-9:15 AM on the first day of school. Guardians are invited to connect with each other and Ravensworth administration and staff during this time.

Back to School Night -

Wednesday, September 9th, 5:30-7:00 PM

Ravensworth ES’s Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 9th, from 5:30-7:00 PM. Come join us to learn more about your child's teachers, school day, and instructional programming. More details will be shared in future newsletters.

New Student IDs for Bus Riders –

Coming 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 for 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.

The Online Verification/Update Packet –

Please complete by August 14th!

As we prepare for the new school year, we are working toward 100% completion of student re-enrollment forms for every family before school begins. The annual re-enrollment packet, known as the Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet, includes the early release Wednesdays selection.

Early Release Wednesday Childcare Selection

This year, we will have a total of four early release Wednesdays, where students in grades K-6 dismiss at 12:20 PM. Please view the dates for RES’s 2026-2027 early release Wednesdays below:

September 30
November 18
January 13
April 7

While we anticipate that most students will be dismissed at 12:20 PM on limited early release Wednesdays, we recognize that some families may require childcare. These students will be supervised by school-based staff. No new instruction will take place as after-school care is strictly supervision.

The early release Wednesday childcare selection serves as a yearlong commitment for all four early release Wednesdays.

Families may complete the Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet electronically through ParentVUE, or by downloading the paper forms from the FCPS website and returning them to the school office. All re-enrollment forms should be completed by August 14th.

Steps to Complete Early Release Wednesday Childcare Selection

Log in to ParentVUEor the ParentVUE app
Click “Online Packets” or “Online Registration” in the app
Scroll down and select “Online Verification/Update”
Make Your Early Release Wednesday Childcare selection. This is a yearlong commitment for all four Early Release Wednesdays.
Click to submit the packet.

Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.

Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.

The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.

Give Your Kids a Strong Start:

Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs

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

The pre-K program prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30.

Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and parents/guardians of children 6 weeks to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. However, space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first served basis. Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail (printable application), or in person 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).

New ParentVUE Mobile App

A new ParentVUE mobile app will is now available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.

Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Military Family Orientation

Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and Thursday, August 13, 2026

Military families new to FCPS or moving to FCPS soon may attend this interactive presentation. Families will learn about:

FCPS programs, school staff, and digital resources
Strategies to support student success
Early enrollment for military families
The Military Interstate Compact

This virtual presentation will be held via Zoom on Tuesday August 11, 2026, from 6-7 PM., and Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM. Please fill out the Military GTK registration form to sign up and receive the Zoom link.

Join the Ravensworth PTA – Family membership is just $20!

PTA Spirit Wear Store – Shop All Year Long!

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