Dear Families,

As we approach the month of Ramadan, we would like to acknowledge and offer our support to the families in our community who will be observing this important time.

To accommodate students who are fasting during the school day, we will provide a separate, quiet location during lunchtime. This space will be supervised by an adult and available to students who prefer not to be in the cafeteria while fasting.

To ensure a smooth and manageable experience for all students, we kindly ask families to consider the following:

1. Consistent Fasting Schedule: Due to the logistical challenges of accommodating individual fasting/prayer schedules, we ask that students who plan to fast do it consistently for the entire month. This will help ensure that students have the necessary space and staff to provide proper supervision.

2. Younger Students’ Participation: Based on past experiences, we’ve observed that students in grades Kindergarten through 3^rd grades face difficulty with fasting. We ask families to carefully consider this when planning fasting for younger children.

3. Individual Decision: Fasting is a personal decision, and we encourage parents and guardians to assess their child’s readiness and ability to manage the fasting period throughout the school day.

We noticed in previous years that some students expressed a desire to fast after observing a friend participating. To help ensure students’ well-being and preparedness, we ask that families discuss and make this decision together prior to the beginning of Ramadan.

4. Fasting and Prayer Decision If you would like your child to participate in fasting and/or prayer, please complete this google form by February 12, 2026. All students who participate must have permission from a parent or guardian

While we deeply want to support our families, we must also ensure that fasting within the school environment remains manageable for all involved. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your ongoing support.

From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026