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In This Issue
Spring Break
Schools and school offices will be closed March 30 to April 3 for spring break.
Monday, April 6, is a teacher work day and there will be no school for students. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break!
Register for VIP Summer Camp Today!
Register today for the VIP Summer Camp which will be hosted at Rachel Carson Middle School from July 1st to July 30th.
VIP Camp is for rising 7th and rising 8th grade students attending Carson, Hughes, Herndon, Longfellow, and Cooper Middle School. Camp costs $100 and includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation. Activities include basketball, soccer, cooking, theatre, STEAM, and weekly field trips.
Please contact Liana Shivers at lshivers@fcps.edu if you have any questions.
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 703-904-4887 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.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, 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. on:
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.
2026 Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
2026 Awards Recognizing Special Education Supporters
Nominations are open for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Awards, which recognize educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support students receiving special education services. The annual program celebrates individuals across Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, support, and student success.
Honorees may include teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers, and other community members who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families. Nominations are open through Friday, March 27, and can be submitted online.
Award recipients will be recognized at the SEPTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, where families, educators, and community members will gather to celebrate those helping build more inclusive and supportive school communities. Registration details for the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Access Schoology to Support Your Child
Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology.
Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.
Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.
Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.
Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter.
View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
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