December 18, 2025

December 18, 2025

From the Principal’s Pen

Dear Laurel Hill Families,

We are excited to share that Laurel Hill has been recognized as On Track under Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). This rating, based on data from last school year, shows that our school is meeting or exceeding expectations set by the state around student performance. To learn more about this status, please see the official letter here.

We hope that the winter break provides all of our students, staff and families an opportunity to rest, reset, and re-engergize, bringing more joy to the lives of others! Enjoy this time with the people you love doing the things you love!

Happy Holidays and Happy Winter Break!

Sincerely,

Janice Dalton, Principal

Thmeaka Traylor, Assistant Principal

Addison Smith, Assistant Principal

Save the Date

Dec 22-Jan 2 Winter Break

Jan 19 Martin Luther King, Jr Day, No School

Jan 28 Quarter Ends/2-hour Early Release

Feb 16 Presidents Day-No School

Feb 17 Teacher Workday/No School

Feb 25 3-hour Early Release Wednesday- School ends 1:05pm

2025-26 school year calendar

❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Health Highlights

As we approach flu season, to keep your family safe, the Health Department recommends the following:

Monitor your child and keep them home if sick. Watch for signs of illness in your child. If your child has a fever or severe cough, keep them home. They should stay home, except for medical visits, until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication, feel better overall, and are able to participate in school activities. After they return to school, parents may choose to have them wear a mask at school and during other indoor activities for 5 days after symptoms improve. This will further reduce the chance that they may spread illness to someone else.
Get your child tested. Consider getting your child tested for respiratory illness if they are sick. You can get COVID-19 tests to use at home, and testing for flu can be done by your healthcare provider.
Teach your child to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Have your child use a tissue to cover their mouth and nose when they cough and sneeze. Throw tissues in the trash after use. If they do not have a tissue, they should cover coughs and sneezes with their upper sleeve.
Remind your child to avoid touching their face, like eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Improve your air quality at home. If it’s not too cold, open doors and windows or move activities outside to get fresh air.
Get vaccinated. Vaccines are highly recommended to protect your child from COVID-19 and the flu. Updated vaccines available each fall are needed for the best protection to prevent serious illness.
Talk to a healthcare provider about treatment. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns, especially if they have a chronic illness or take long-term medications.

Critical Attendance Information

Please let us know if your child will be absent or arriving to school late.

Report all absences through:

Online: Parent Vue

Email: LaurelHillElem.Attendance@fcps.edu

Call Attendance Line: 703-551-5353 (24/7 Recorded Line)

https://laurelhilles.fcps.edu/about/attendance-reporting

If we are not notified by 9:30am, it is possible that you will receive an automated attendance call from the County.