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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
 Welcome Back to School
Dear Sully District Families and Community Members,
There is a unique magic in the air at the start of every school year—the joyful energy of students reconnecting with friends and teachers, eager to begin a fresh chapter together. I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our dedicated custodians, teachers, administrators, and staff whose hard work made our schools so beautifully prepared and welcoming for everyone's return.
Even before the doors opened for the first day, that vibrant back-to-school spirit was felt all across the Sully community. The annual Chantilly Pyramid Magic School Bus brought big smiles as teachers and staff from Chantilly High, Rocky Run Middle, and Franklin Middle rode through neighborhoods to greet elementary students and share school supplies. Open houses were bursting with enthusiasm and warm smiles, and we were especially thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of FCPS’s newest school in over a decade!
Monday, August 24th officially launched the 2026–2027 school year, and as always, it was one of the highlights of my year! Visiting Westfield, Bull Run, and Powell, I was delighted to see hallways filled with bright expressions, eager anticipation, and the wonderful feeling of students settling into their new classrooms to start their journey.
Seeing our school communities vibrant and thriving once again is truly inspiring. As everyone settles into their daily routines, I look forward to visiting more classrooms, connecting with our PTAs, and partnering with our families to support every student in having a wonderful, successful year.
In partnership,
Seema Dixit
Sully District School Board Member
Please click on the image below to view my back-to-school video message for the new school year.
Inside this Newsletter:
School Visits & Events
The Annual Chantilly Pyramid Magic School Bus
On August 13th, I had the pleasure of catching up with the Chantilly Pyramid Magic School Bus and its wonderful crew at the Lees Corner Elementary School stop. It was heartwarming to see teachers and staff from Chantilly High School, Franklin Middle School, and Lees Corner Elementary School welcoming families and handing out backpacks filled with school supplies, snacks, and plenty of back-to-school cheer.
Thank you to Dr. Goodloe, Mr. DeRusso, Ms. Sloan and to all of the teachers and staff of the Chantilly pyramid who help make this special tradition possible and ensure our students are excited for the year ahead!
Introducing Skyview High School
What an exciting and historic day for Fairfax County Public Schools and the Sully District as we celebrated the grand opening of Skyview High School!
It was an honor to address everyone in attendance as we recognized this enormous achievement. In a remarkably short time, FCPS purchased the facility, prepared it for students, hired an outstanding team, and completed one of the largest boundary processes our school division has undertaken in decades.
This incredible milestone was possible because of collaboration, thoughtful conversations, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for our students. My heartfelt thanks go to our FCPS leadership, school administrators, teachers, support staff, facilities and construction teams, transportation employees, families, and community members who worked tirelessly to ensure that Skyview was ready to welcome students on the first day of school.
Skyview High School is proof that great schools are not defined by their buildings, but by the people inside them. Skyview’s first class of Aviators are the pioneers—the first to walk the halls, create new traditions, lead new organizations, and build a school culture defined by kindness, excellence, inclusion, and school spirit. You will fill Skyview’s classrooms with curiosity, its hallways with friendships, its stages with creativity, and its campus with memories that will last a lifetime.
Congratulations to the inaugural classes of Skyview High School. Your future is taking flight, and it begins this school year!
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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL VISITS
I absolutely love visiting our schools on the first day! The air is always filled with positive energy and excitement, as teachers and staff welcome students to a new school of possibilities. To all teachers and staff, students and families in the Sully district, I wish you a joyful, successful, and inspiring school year!
Westfield High School
It was great welcoming our Bulldogs back on Monday! The band and cheerleaders were a great touch, playing the fight song as students were dropped off. The excitement filled the halls and classrooms as teachers and students introduced themselves and prepared for the year ahead! Thank you to Principal Norris, our teachers, administrators, and staff for creating such a warm and welcoming start to the school year.
Wishing every Westfield student a successful year filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities.
Bull Run Elementary School
A wonderful first day at Bull Run Elementary!
It was especially meaningful to welcome students and families back to a school that holds such a special place in my heart—where my own journey as an FCPS parent and PTA leader began.
Thank you to Principal Marotta, our dedicated teachers and staff, and all the families who brought so much energy and excitement this morning. Wishing our Bull Run students a joyful, successful, and inspiring school year!
Powell Elementary School
I caught up with Dr. Reid at Powell Elementary on the 2nd day of the school year and the back to school energy continued! It was inspiring to see the students already engaged with their teachers and classmates!
After a warm welcome by Ms. Han and a wonderful group of 6th graders, we then went on a tour to see what students were already up to. The Powell Pumas did not disappoint!
We saw first graders learning to write their ABCs, brand new Algebra workbooks already on the desks, groups of students smiling and chatting as they collaborated on getting-to-know-you assignments, and the newest Pumas learning the ins and outs of school. The excitement and positive energy was wonderful!!
Many thanks to the amazing teachers and staff at Powell Elementary! Your energy and positivity is catching! I wish you all a wonderful school year full of joy, success, and inspiration!
Updates & Reminders
Back-to-School To Do in SIS ParentVUE
Are you working your way through back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
- Update your contact information in ParentVUE so you don't miss critical communications from your school and FCPS. Click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
- Submit daylong absences by clicking “Report Absence.”
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Opt In/Opt Out: At-Home Student Devices Grades 1-6
New this year, families can opt out of having student laptops sent home with their student.
- If you do not want your student to bring their FCPS-issued device home, please toggle the Opt-Out button to a check mark and confirm by pressing Save Selection.
- If you would like your student to bring their FCPS device home, no toggle action is needed. Confirm by pressing Save Selection.
Students whose families opt out will continue to have access to an FCPS-issued device during the school day. Please reach out to your student’s teacher to understand expectations for homework and any learning activities that may require access to technology outside of the school day.
New & Noteworthy
High School Crossing Guards
I share the concern many families have expressed regarding the recent elimination of 13 crossing-guard positions serving our FCPS high schools. Student safety remains our absolute priority, and I understand the anxiety this transition causes for families navigating busy intersections.
On Tuesday, August 25th, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Executive to collaborate with FCPS and the Fairfax County Police Department to urgently assess the impact of this decision and identify potential solutions. Please know that every member of the School Board is monitoring this situation closely; I will continue to keep our community informed as new information becomes available from the County Executive and Board of Supervisors.
In the meantime, we ask that you partner with us in discussing these essential safety practices with your students to ensure our school zones remain secure:
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Prioritize the bus: Kiss & Ride lines create significant congestion during peak hours. If an established bus route is available to your student, I encourage you to utilize it. (Information regarding bus route exceptions is provided below.)
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Plan extra time: Please allow for additional travel time to ensure students are not rushed during arrival and dismissal.
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Utilize safety infrastructure: Always use marked crosswalks and strictly obey all traffic signals.
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Stay alert: Remind students to stow phones and earbuds to remain fully aware while crossing.
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Be visible: Encourage students to look both ways and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
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Report concerns: Promptly notify a school administrator or me if you observe unsafe conditions.
I am deeply committed to monitoring this situation and will provide updates as they emerge. Your partnership in keeping our students safe is invaluable, and I welcome your ongoing questions and feedback.
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New Exception to Ride the School Bus Procedure
Starting this school year, a new electronic system is in place to submit a request for an Exception to Ride the School Bus, replacing the previous paper-based process, providing expedited review and response.
There are a few circumstances this year where submitting an Exception to Ride is helpful, such as high schoolers who no longer have a Fairfax County crossing guard to help with their walk to school, and students whose zoned school has changed, but are taking advantage of the phasing option to finish at their original school. This Exception to Ride allows students in those circumstances and others to ride a nearby bus if there is room.
To apply for an Exception to Ride, go to the FCPS Facilities and Transportation Forms webpage, then complete and submit form TR-52 directly from that page.
After selecting "Yes" in the "Are you the Parent or legal Guarding" drop-down menu, another drop-down menu will appear asking the Type of Request.
There are three options to choose from. If your circumstance is similar to the ones outlined above, you can choose "Other" as your option.
Once submitted, your request is entered into a new tracking system and monitored by the Office of Transportation Services. Once a decision is made, parents/guardians will automatically receive an email notification of the outcome. If approved, the email will include the student's bus assignment and transportation information.
Football Game Safety and Security Update
As we prepare for another exciting fall sports season, FCPS is implementing additional safety and security measures at all varsity football games.
Security Screening: All spectators will undergo security screening using the same weapons detection technology introduced in our high schools last school year.
Standardized Bag Policy: To support a safe and efficient entry process, the following items are not permitted:
- Backpacks
- Purses
- Fanny packs
- Tote bags
- Outside food and beverage
- Sporting equipment (balls, bats, sticks, etc.)
- Any item prohibited by FCPS policy deemed a safety concern by event staff
Approved Bags:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”
- Small clutch bag no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”
- Medical and diaper bags permitted but subject to inspection
Plan Ahead: These measures are intended to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students, families, and community members. Attendees are encouraged to arrive earlier than usual to allow additional time for security screening and entry.
We look forward to a safe and exciting fall football season!
SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
The Sully Schedule
Elementary School Back to School Nights
Each school's name below is linked to their information page listing the dates, times and details of their Back to School Nights. Please check these regularly as times may change.
Brookfield ES: Tuesday, September 15th
Bull Run ES: Tuesday, September 15th
Centre Ridge ES: Wednesday, September 9th
Centreville ES: Tuesday, September 15th (Grades PreK - 2nd)
Thursday, September 17th (Grades 3rd - 6th)
*Crossfield ES: Tuesday, September 15th (Grades K - 2nd)
Tuesday, September 22nd (Grades 3rd - 6th)
Cub Run ES: Thursday, September 17th
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