|
Hello MUES Families,
Staff are back on contract and busy getting ready for our Mustangs to return to school on August 24th! Please check your mailbox as my "Welcome Back to School" family letter was sent out this week. Please take a few minutes to read over it as it will provide you important information to help you and your Mustang successfully prepare for the start of the new school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the main office for support or email me.
MUES New Family Meet & Greet
If your family is new to the McNair Upper community (new families coming from Coates ES, other schools in FCPS, out of state, out of country, or rising 3rd graders), I invite you to join Mr. Credle, Assistant Principal, and myself for our annual MUES New Family Meet & Greet, which will be held on Monday, August 17th at 1:00 PM. Please check-in at door #1 (our main school entrance) where the office team will direct you to the cafeteria for our time together.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Your Proud Principal,
Mrs. Goddin
MMGoddin@fcps.edu
 |
|
- August 17th: New Family Meet & Greet
- August 20th: Open House
- Enhanced Autism Communities: 10:30-11:00 AM (This is the correct time. In my "Welcome Back to School" family letter, the time published is incorrect.)
- 3rd Grade: 11:00-12:00 PM
- 4th-6th Grade: 1:00-2:30 PM
- August 24th: First Day of School!
- September 3rd: Back to School Night
- Session #1: 5:30-6:15 PM
- Session #2: 6:15-7:00 PM
|
 Below are some new announcements and updates for you to read through.
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready!
☑️ Be First-Day Ready!
The first day of school, Monday, August 24, is just around the corner! Check out these back-to-school tips to make sure your child gets off to a great start.
Also find out what will be new this school year.
☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our main office at (571) 982-1700 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere!
☑️ Update Your Contact Information
Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
☑️ Update Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy.
When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
☑️ Learn About School Meals
Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.
☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.
Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Personal Electronic Devices Update
On July 16, 2026, the Fairfax County School Board passed Main Motion #6 regarding student use of personal electronic communication and computing devices during the instructional day.
Under the new requirement, students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices, during the instructional day. Students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities.
The requirement includes the following exceptions:
-
Students may use a non-FCPS-issued personal device when the use of that device is explicitly required or permitted as a necessary accommodation in the student’s Individualized Education Program or Section 504 Plan.
-
A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for a student enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software application that is not available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
A new Schoology Study and Support Hub is available for students in Schoology. This space was developed by the FCPS Educational Technology Team with input from students. It is designed to provide essential study tools and academic support resources directly to our learners.
Students can log in to Schoology and read their Schoology announcements or watch this video on the support hub for more information.
 Below are some friendly reminders for you to read through.
You can access school supply lists for all of our grade levels by visiting our school's website at: https://mcnairupperes.fcps.edu/.
Please scroll down to the middle section until you see the icon titled, School Supply Lists 26-27.
This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a division-wide 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.
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 McNair Upper's early release Wednesdays below:
- October 21st
- December 2nd
- February 10th
- May 5th
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.
 McNair ES PTA Updates & Back-to-School Announcements
-
Free School-Wide Parent Directory: Join the brand-new Honeycomb Parent Directory to easily find classmates, message parents, and organize carpools or playdates. It is 100% free and open to all McNair families (PTA membership not required). Join here: https://hcirl.app.link/RNHx6akxI2b?_p=c71529c39f0a7af1ea1990ffe8b1
-
2026–2027 PTA Memberships & Pre-Orders: Support our students and staff by joining or renewing your PTA membership today! Options include:
-
Family Membership ($60): 2 adult memberships, stickers, magnet, early competition sign-ups, and a McNair insulated lunch bag.
-
Adult Membership ($35): 1 adult membership, sticker, magnet, and early competition sign-ups.
-
Teacher/Staff Membership ($15): 1 staff membership, sticker, and priority access to classroom supply grants.
-
Reduced Dues Pre-Order ($15): Discounted pre-order for families on free/reduced lunch or facing financial need (confidential honor system). Email board@mcnairespta.org for the private link.
-
Join or Renew Here: https://mcnairespta.givebacks.com/shop?category=25434
-
Volunteer Opportunities: We are running with a small, nimble team this year and need your help with newsletters, social media, events, welcoming new families, corporate partnerships, or flexible tasks you can do from home. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.mcnairespta.org/volunteer
|
