A Message from our Administrators

Dear Hunt Valley Community,

Our students have enjoyed the warmer weather and recess outside this week! Please be mindful as you walk on school grounds as the county has planted some grass seed on the hill by the playground. We ask that no one walks on the straw/hay so that the grass can grow!

Our 3-6 grade students will start SOLs next week! It is important for students to get a good night's rest, eat a hearty breakfast and come to school on time on the days that they are testing. For specific dates, please see the schedule below. 

In this week's News You Choose, you will find a link to a Google Form for parent input about class placements for the 2025-2026 school year. Input must be submitted by the deadline, Friday, May 16, 2024, to be considered. We will not accept late requests. We will not accept requests for specific teachers. 

Our SCA and Green Guardians Club are hosting Earth Day this Saturday, April 26th from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. They have planned activities, crafts, vendor visits and other stations. We hope that you are able to attend!

Please see below for information about:

• SOL testing schedule
• Autism Acceptance Month
• Month of the Military Child
• Earth Day
• Parent Input for the 2025-2026 School Year
• Military-Connected Family Support
• Irving PTA needs officers
• World Book Drive and Family Literacy Fair
• Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
• Protect your child from measles
• Cameras Installed on School Bus Stop Arms
• Career Day--Presenters needed
• Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
• VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
• Spotlight on the Arts Day--May 3rd
• The Comprehensive School Boundary Review Process Explained
• Immunizations
• Updating Emergency Contacts
• Varsity Tutors

We hope that everyone has a wonderful break!

Sincerely,

Keieownna Hightower, Principal

Chrissy Gibbs, Assistant Principal

Keith Hirsch, Interim Assistant Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Happy Administrative Professionals Week!

This week we celebrated our fabulous front office team; Nani Carr, Ann Rodriguez, Lisa Dumond and Cynthia Youssef (pictured above). Our school would not function without them, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication to Hunt Valley!

Mark Your Calendar April 26--Earth Day Celebration April 28-May 23--SOLs for grades 3-6 May 9--PTA Spring Festival May 12--3-hour Early Release

Autism Acceptance Month

April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 44 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.

Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS resources for military families. 

Parent input for class placement

As the 2024-2025 school year comes to an end, we are in the process of planning for next school year. One of our important tasks is to determine class placements for the 2025-2026 school year. Our school staff works collaboratively to plan teacher and student assignments. A variety of factors such as student personalities, friendships, and academics are considered as we create new classes.

Hunt Valley families have an option to assist in placements by providing insights about their child(ren). Please be mindful of the following:

• We will not accept requests for specific teachers. 
• Input must be submitted by the deadline, Friday, May 16, 2024, to be considered. We will not accept late requests.

The deadline for any correspondence regarding the next school year is Friday, May 16th via this Google Form

Military-Connected Family Support

FCPS welcomes all of our new and returning military-connected families throughout the year! Whether your family is moving permanently to the school district or living here for a short time, our schools and support staff welcome you and will be able to assist with your transition into and/or out of our district. 

Visit the FCPS Military Families webpage and sign up to receive the Military Families newsletter. Follow FCPS Military Families accounts on Facebook and Instagram for support and resources throughout the year. If you have any questions, please email the FCPS Family and School Partnerships team.

Irving Middle School PTA Secretary and Vice President Needed 

The WIMS PTA is looking for a Secretary and a Vice President for the 2025–2026 school year. These are key roles that help shape the PTA’s work to support students, staff, and families. Learn about the roles here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OKiRO1ti0lNTwDhJOjuIIDd_78IWBlfT/view?usp=sharing Submit your nomination here: https://forms.gle/7Td41pg5eaf5Mpek7  Questions? Email us at: irvingptanomcommittee@gmail.com

Register here

For more information, please contact David Walrod at dpwalrod@fcft.org

Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March. The screener provides information on their SEL skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how much their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. Families who do not have an active ParentVUE account will receive their results via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the SEL Screener Results Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.

Protect Your Child from Measles: What You Need to Know

Measles cases continue to rise in the U.S. About 1 in 5 people who get measles end up in the hospital. Measles can cause severe complications like a lung infection (pneumonia), brain inflammation (encephalitis), and possibly death, even with medical care. Symptoms of measles typically include:

• High fever (may spike up to 104°F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• A rash that appears around 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. The rash typically starts on the face and spreads down the body.

The best way to protect a child from measles is by getting two doses of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. 

If you are unsure of your child's vaccination status or your personal vaccination status, talk to your health care provider. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources.