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A change in the timing of Eid al-Adha, the expansion of school-zone speed cameras and approaching testing deadlines are among the updates Fairfax County Public Schools families need as the academic year comes to a close.
Eid al-Adha observance moves forward
Following a recent lunar sighting, Eid al-Adha will begin at sundown Thursday, June 5, and continue through Friday, June 6—one day earlier than previously expected.
Thursday will be an evening-only observance day, while Friday will be a full observance day. Graduations and other activities that cannot be moved on short notice will continue as planned, even though quizzes, tests, field trips and FCPS-scheduled athletic contests typically are not held on observance days.
Students who miss work while observing the holiday will receive an alternate day after Eid al-Adha to complete it.
Bus delays are possible June 6 because many transportation employees may be celebrating the holiday. Families can monitor delays through the Bus Delay Notification System or the Here Comes the Bus app.
End-of-year tasks for families
The final day of school is Wednesday, June 11, with an early dismissal. Families should check with their schools for specific dismissal times.
Before the year ends, students should return school library books and FCPS laptops, when applicable. Families also should pay outstanding MySchoolBucks balances and collect medications kept at school. A parent or guardian must retrieve medications in person.
The first day of the 2025-26 school year will be Monday, August 18. A draft calendar for 2027-28 also has been posted as part of the School Board’s preference to publish calendars three years in advance.
Ten more school-zone speed cameras coming
Fairfax County police are adding speed cameras at 10 locations, supplementing nine cameras already issuing tickets in school zones.
A 30-day warning period is scheduled to begin Wednesday, July 2, for cameras at:
- Cardinal Forest Elementary School on Forrester Boulevard
- Mount Vernon High School and Riverside Elementary School on Old Mt. Vernon Road
- Belvedere Elementary School on Columbia Road
Citations at those locations are expected to begin Friday, August 18.
Warnings will begin August 18 at seven additional locations, with ticketing scheduled to start Wednesday, September 17:
- Chantilly High School on Stringfellow Road
- Edison High School on Franconia Road
- South Lakes High School, Langston Hughes Middle School and Terraset Elementary School on South Lakes Drive
- Marshall High School on Leesburg Pike
- McLean High School on Westmorland Road
- Robinson Secondary School and Oak View Elementary School on Sideburn Road
- Stone Middle School on Braddock Road
SAT and PSAT support requests have deadlines
Every high school will administer the SAT School Day and PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, October 8, at no cost to families.
The digital SAT will be available to 12th graders, while students in grades 10 and 11 will take the digital PSAT/NMSQT.
Testing accommodations and multilingual learner supports are not provided automatically because the College Board operates the exams. Families of students with disabilities entering grades 10, 11 or 12 must submit forms to their high school by Monday, August 4, to request new or updated accommodations.
Multilingual learners entering those grades must submit support requests by Thursday, August 28.
Summer meals, learning and mental-health services
A summer resource guide offers families information about camps, activities, health and safety. Additional materials are expected to be added during the summer, while separate learning resources provide ideas for reinforcing skills and exploring new interests before August.
The summer meal program will provide free breakfast and lunch to everyone age 18 or younger. Dates, locations and serving times are expected to become available in mid-June through Food and Nutrition Services and the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder. Meals will not be served on the June 19 or July 4 holidays. Questions may be directed to 703-813-4800.
Free virtual mental-wellness consultations will be offered from June 23 through August 1. Any FCPS parent or middle or high school student may schedule a 45-minute phone or video consultation with a school psychologist or social worker.
High school students also can receive virtual therapy at no cost for concerns including anxiety, grief, behavioral or mood changes, motivation, bullying, relationships, social skills and academic stress. A guardian or designated school employee can make a referral by calling 571-749-2940 or contacting a school counselor, psychologist, social worker or director of Student Services.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board provides additional youth services, including individual and family counseling, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery assistance and intensive care. Families can call 703-383-8500 to begin the referral process.
Immunizations required for rising seventh and 12th graders
Students entering seventh grade must receive Tdap, MenACWY and HPV vaccinations before school begins. The Tdap dose must be administered at age 7 or older, and MenACWY at age 10 or older.
Parents and guardians may opt their children out of the HPV vaccine without submitting documentation to the school.
Students entering 12th grade must receive a MenACWY dose administered at age 16 or older. Families are encouraged to arrange vaccinations early because summer is a busy period for health care providers.
Boundary review meeting set for June 6
The last community meeting before summer break on the initial school-boundary scenarios will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 6, at Glasgow Middle School.
The hybrid meeting will offer child care for in-person attendees and interpretation or translation as needed. Online participants will receive a Zoom link by email within 24 business hours of registering.
Participants will be able to submit comments through an online tool, with responses displayed in real time. The collected feedback will be compiled, analyzed and posted with the Comprehensive Boundary Review materials.
Volunteer system launching next school year
A centralized volunteer management system called Volunteer FCPS is planned for every school during the 2025-26 academic year.
Parents and other community members will be able to find volunteer opportunities through the system. It also will track school visits and whether volunteers have completed background checks.
The platform is being piloted at eight schools with support from the Safety and Security, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Family and School Partnerships offices.
Students earn theater recognition
Students were honored June 2 during the Cappies of the National Capital Area gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Falls Church High School senior Colt Armstrong won the Cappie for Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical. Armstrong performed as Gomez Addams in his school’s production of “The Addams Family” and plans to study vocal performance at Carnegie Mellon University after graduation.
Herndon High School senior James Culatta also returned to the stage less than a year after an accident left him with third-degree burns covering more than half of his body. After relearning how to walk and returning to school midway through his senior year, he auditioned for and performed a lead role in “Footloose.”
Summer reading begins June 11
The Fairfax County Public Library’s Summer Reading Adventure starts Wednesday, June 11, encouraging children to read and participate in activities that can help preserve skills learned during the school year.
The Fairfax Library Foundation also will hold a free Children’s Summer Reading Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Sherwood Regional Library. Planned attractions include games, crafts, face painting, a bounce house and snacks.
School Board seeks facilities advisers
The School Board is accepting applications for community representatives on the Facilities Planning Advisory Council.
Openings are available for Braddock, Franconia and Mount Vernon district members, along with an at-large McDaniel seat. The council advises school employees and the board on comprehensive, long-term facilities planning.