Message from Mrs. Briggs

Dear Panther families, We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Purple Star Award! This designation is awarded for schools that show a strong official commitment to meeting the unique educational and emotional needs of military-connected children. We so are proud to be play a part in supporting our military families! We had a fantastic turn-out for Walk & Roll to school day this past Wednesday! Thank you to all who participated. Have a wonderful weekend. As a reminder, Monday is a school planning day. There is no school for students. Sincerely, Amy Briggs

Upcoming Dates:

First Quarter Calendar

In Case You Missed It

Last week, we held a virtual Parent Information Session on our Restorative Circles, Changes to the SOL cut scores, and changes to our SR&R. Here are the slides and recording from the presentation if you missed it. 

Volunteering

As a reminder all parents and community members are must sign up to volunteer through FCPS.  

• Returning Volunteers - Please make sure you respond to the email sent asking if you would like to continue volunteering
• New Volunteers - Please sign in here to begin the process Link

Save the Date: Parent Coffees We look forward to bringing parents together to share information related to different grade levels. This year, we will group grade levels together based on topic. We will be starting our coffees with a restorative circle to build community and get to know each other. These coffees will be more conversation and less presentation. We would love to answer questions you may have. Please fill out this form to share what questions you would like addressed at the coffees. October 21, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Grades 1 & 2) October 28, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Kindergarten) November 4, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Grades 3-6)

Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life. 

A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):

• Monday, October 19, at Spring Hill Elementary School

Registration links will be shared soon. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. 

Calling all Veterans! Nothing brings us more joy than to recognize and celebrate our Veterans! On Wednesday, November 11, 2026 we will have a Veterans Day Presentation to honor our SHES community veterans and active military.  This could be a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or cousin of students in our SHES community. All veterans/active military who would like to be part of this ceremony must sign up here by Friday, November 1st.  We would be honored to have that veteran/active military in-person to talk and answer questions from students during our assembly. Thank you for your service!

Transportation Survey

• Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School

The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools. 

The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns. 

Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15. 

Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.  

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. 

Additional 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 available. 

Picture Day Coming:  October 27, 2026

Please look for flyers coming soon about picture day; below is how to order online.  

School:  Spring Hill Elementary School 

Picture Type:  Fall

1. Go to www. strawbridge.net

2. Click "Order Pictures" and enter the following code: PX526489

Enrichment Opportunity

The William & Mary Center for Gifted Education is excited to share our upcoming Fall 2026 Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) opportunities. We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing these opportunities with your students and families who may be interested in enrichment experiences outside of the regular school day.

Our upcoming program dates are:

• October 17, 2026 – One-Day Enrichment Program
• November 7, 14, and 21, 2026 – Three-Saturday Enrichment Series

SEP offers engaging, academically challenging courses designed to encourage students to explore their interests, think creatively, and learn alongside other students who share their enthusiasm for learning.

Registration & Program Information

Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers

Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School. 

Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.

How to Get Involved

• Attend: Register as a family member or educator using the Registration Form. 
• Students Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project.
• Volunteer: Adult volunteers can sign up in Volunteer FCPS to support the event. 

Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web