Panther Press: Summer Edition! July 26, 2026

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Kindergarten Playdate is July 31st!

Kindergarten Playdate

Kindergarteners are invited to a Summer Play Date! Join us at the Parklawn Elementary playground on Friday, July 31 from 10:00-11:00 am, weather permitting. Meet new friends and enjoy a popsicle. We hope to see our kinders and their caregivers there!


Popsicles on the Playground: August 12

We invite all of our Parklawn Panthers, PreK-5, to Popsicles on the Playground! This is a great chance to reconnect with one another as we look forward to a new school year. Thank you for having a parent/care giver join your child for this event on Thursday, August 7 from 3:30-4:30 pm, weather permitting. We hope to see you there!

playground

Parklawn Family Reunion is Friday, August 21!


Parklawn Family Reunion

We are looking forward to welcoming all of our students and families during our Family Reunion! Our Meet the Teacher/Open House event is being held on Friday, August 21. For parking purposes, we suggest families come during the following times:

Last names A-K: 12:00-1:00

Last names L-Z: 1:00-2:00


School Supply Lists

The grade level school supply lists for grades K-5 are available on the Parklawn Elementary webpage: https://parklawnes.fcps.edu/academics/school-supply-lists


Meals for Students Available Through August 21

 Two children eating lunch in a cafeteria.  “School Is Out, Meals Are In!” . Text on the right reads “Find meal sites in your area.”

No-cost meals will be provided to students on a first-come, first-served basis through Friday, August 21, at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on site while eating their meals.


New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall

This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school. 

Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.

All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.

Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.


Early Release Wednesdays 2026-27

early release wednesday

FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four. 

Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students. 

Please view the dates for our school’s early release Wednesdays below:

  • October 21
  • December 2
  • February 10
  • May 5

Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.


Give Your Kids a Strong Start: Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs

FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children ages 6 weeks to 4 years living in Fairfax County with economic and educational risk factors. 

  • The pre-K program prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30. 
  • Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and parents/guardians of children 6 weeks to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. However, space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first come, first served basis. Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail (printable application), or in person at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).


Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:

  1. Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
  2. If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
  3. Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.

Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date. 

Where to Receive Immunizations

If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events. 

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.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster. 

Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.

Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.

Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.


New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28

On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.


Upcoming Dates

calendar

July 31: Kindergarten Playdate, 10-11 am

August 12: Popsicles on the Playground, 3:30-4:30

August 21: Parklawn Family Reunion/Open House 12-2 pm

August 24: First Day of School!


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