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In This Issue
SCA Spirit Week
Students are invited to join us for SCA Spirit Week next week from Monday, March 16, to Friday, March 19.
• March 16 – March Madness: Wear your favorite sports jersey.
• March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day: Wear green to celebrate.
• March 18 – Jump Into Spring: Brighten the day by wearing spring colors.
• March 19 – Cozy Up for a Long Weekend: Wear your pajamas.
We're looking forward to seeing students creativity and school spirit!
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Night Hawk Schedule Update
Please note the following changes to the after-school schedule for this week:
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After-school will be held on Monday, March 16 and Thursday, March 19.
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After-school is canceled on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Liana Shivers lshivers@fcps.edu for more information.
Planning Meeting: School Dance and 8th Grade Celebration
Join us today, March 17 from 6pm-7pm via Google Meet to help plan our upcoming School Dance and 8th Grade Celebration.
We’d love your ideas and support.
These traditions thrive because of you. Help us continue the School Dance and 8th Grade Celebration — donate today.
- School Dance here
- 8th Grade Celebration here
Business Sponsorship Opportunities
Our PTA welcomes local businesses who would like to support our students. As a thank-you for your contribution, your business will be featured in the PTA's school newsletter and highlighted on their social media platforms.
Please email info@hmspta.com for more information.
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.
Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year
As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Please contact 703-904-4800 for support or assistance. To access this feature:
- Log in to your ParentVUE account.
- Navigate to the Course Request module.
- Review your student’s course request list for next school year.
- To complete the acknowledgment, click Student Info in the left menu.
- Click Edit Information.
- In the Course Request Acknowledgment field, update the acknowledgment field to Yes.
- Click Save Changes.
Families have until Friday, March 27, to review and acknowledge course requests via this new feature.
Visit the FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage for more instructions and screenshots of this process.
County Seeking Budget Input
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. They are currently reviewing the county’s 2027 Fiscal Year Advertised Budget and are considering possible adjustments before the final county budget is adopted in May.
Provide the county with feedback on how you would like your tax dollars spent by completing this survey.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
Connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
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Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
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Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
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Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
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Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Phones Off, Learning On
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students focus, learn, and engage. When students put their phones away, they have more face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers and more opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Please remind your child that:
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Cell phones and personal devices (earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
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Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our front office at 703-904-4800. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Family Engagement Survey Closes March 23
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers received a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link has also been posted on the FCPS website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Gwyneth's Gift: Parent Volunteers Needed
Gwyneth's Gift, a non-profit organization, is coming to Herndon Middle School on Wednesday, March 25 and on Thursday, March 26 to teach our 8th grade students hands-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
If you are available to volunteer a couple of hours, please reach out to Kevin Fowle at ktfowle@fcps.edu. Any time you can offer is greatly appreciated!
New Date: Special Education Family Conference
Please note that the 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA).
We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your flexibility.
Updated conference information, including event details, is available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage.
Rooted in Resilience, Echoes of Excellence: FCPS’ Second Annual Black History Month Celebration
The spirit of heritage and the promise of the future filled the air at Carter G. Woodson High School as FCPS held its second annual Black History Month Celebration with the theme, Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence. This year’s event was especially significant as it coincided with the 100th anniversary of the movement that became Black History Month.
Students from across the division took center stage as the true "echoes" of this excellence. The program featured student-led Moments of Pride that connected local and national history to contemporary achievements. A spirited keynote speech was delivered by Vernon Walton, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Vienna. Another highlight of the night was the FCPS Black Excellence video tribute.
Read more about the Black history event.
Fairfax County Health Department Measles Update
Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects 9 out of 10 people who are exposed, if unvaccinated or not immune. It has been in the news lately due to cases in Northern Virginia and among people who have traveled through local airports.
If your spring break or summer plans include traveling abroad or to an area in the United States with high measles activity, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages you to ensure your family is protected. Children 12 months and older should have 1 or 2 doses before traveling. Depending on your specific travel plans, your health care provider may also advise you to vaccinate infants 6 to 11 months old. Read more about these recommendations.
VIP Summer Camp July 1st - July 30th
Get ready for the Values in Prevention (VIP) summer camp! The Northern Fairfax VIP camp will be held at Rachel Carson Middle School from July 1 through July 30 for the following schools:
- Herndon Middle School
- Cooper Middle School
- Langston Hughes Middle School
- Longfellow Middle School
- Rachel Carson Middle School
Camp costs $100. Registration opens at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17.
Questions? Contact Liana Shivers at lshivers@fcps.edu.
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
Production Camp is a four-week summer theatre intensive for students in grades 6-11. Students in performance or technical theatre tracks rehearse, design, and build a musical in a collaborative atmosphere. The show is presented to the public at the end of camp.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
Summer Boys' Basketball Opportunities from Herndon High School
Is your student interested in leveling up their basketball skills? Join Herndon HS Hornets for their boys' basketball camps for your 2026 summer. Families on the waitlist will receive priority registration access, including early bird pricing available through April 1st, 2026.
Sign up here today!
Questions? Reach out to ahamilton@fcps.edu.
Referees for Intramural Sports Needed
Referee Herndon Middle School After-School Program intramural games!
We are looking for energetic folks to referee the following sports: Basketball, Futsal**, and Volleyball on Thursdays, 3:15 to 4:50 PM. Choose your preferred sport, and help support our student-athletes while keeping the games fair, positive, safe, and fun! This is a paid opportunity.
Interested? Contact Liana Shivers at lshivers@fcps.edu or 703-904-4819.
**Preference for futsal will be given to referees bilingual in Spanish & English.
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