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Fairfax County Public Schools closed out the academic year on June 11 with summer learning opportunities, free meals, student honors and important updates for the 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid thanked families and community members for supporting students through study encouragement, volunteering and mentoring. The school division’s regular weekly updates will pause until August, with special editions planned for July.

Summer Learning, Meals and Activities

Families can use the FCPS Summer Learning webpage for ideas to help students explore new interests, reinforce academic concepts and remain engaged while school is out.

Summer resources for students with disabilities and their families include suggestions for physical activities, at-home entertainment, social-emotional learning and caregiver self-care. Online-safety information is also available with assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department.

FCPS will provide free breakfast and lunch through its Summer Meal Service Program to every child age 18 or younger. Dates, hours and locations are available through Food and Nutrition Services and the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder. Questions may be directed to [email protected] or 703-813-4800.

The school division and Safe Routes to School are also bringing back the Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt. Participants solve online puzzles that direct them to a Fairfax County location, where they can uncover clues for a final challenge.

Additional options covering camps, recreation, health and safety are included in the FCPS Summer Resource Guide.

Students and Schools Earn Recognition

Ten students from Edison, McLean, Oakton and South Lakes high schools and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology received 2025 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

FCPS also celebrated the Class of 2025 with a video tribute.

At Westbriar Elementary School, third graders presented original books and Benchmark writing samples to their families during an Author’s Tea attended by Reid. The event supported academic growth and stronger partnerships among families, schools and the community.

Students from South County Middle School welcomed two Honor Flights of veterans at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. It was the eighth consecutive year that students participated in the tribute.

Best Buddies International named the chapters at Glasgow Middle School and Bonnie Brae Elementary School Virginia and Washington, D.C.’s outstanding middle- and elementary-school chapters of the year.

Mount Vernon High School alumnus Tony Perkins, co-anchor of NBC News4 Today, also spoke with a Mount Vernon senior named Maverick about his education, broadcasting career and advice for students. Perkins was the first Black editor-in-chief of Mount Vernon’s student newspaper and entered the FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame in 2024.

Boundary Review Continues Without Changes for Next Year

The final community meeting for the first portion of Phase 2 of the comprehensive boundary review was held June 6. Meeting summaries and additional data were expected the following week.

No boundary changes have been proposed for the 2025-26 school year. Families can use the Boundary Explorer Tool to examine how initial draft scenarios might affect attendance areas and submit questions or comments through the comprehensive review website.

High Schools Tighten Cellphone Restrictions

Beginning in August, high school students may use cellphones and other personal devices only during lunch and before or after school. AirPods, smartwatches and similar devices are covered by the rule.

Students must keep those devices turned off and put away during classes and passing periods. The previous policy allowed high school students to use them between classes.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the change May 8 as part of revisions to the 2025-26 Student Rights and Responsibilities document. Other updates address discipline data, parent notifications, hate speech and integrated discipline training.

The first day of the new school year is Monday, August 18.

The School Board’s next regular business meeting was scheduled for Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at Jackson Middle School. The agenda included a proposed 2025 school bond referendum and contract awards. Additional meetings were scheduled for June 26, July 10 and July 17.