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Fairfax County Public Schools is celebrating three teams and 34 individual athletes who won Virginia High School League Class 6 championships during the 2025-26 winter season.
Among the winners was the Robinson Secondary School girls indoor track and field team. Three FCPS teams and 34 individuals also finished as state runners-up.
Family survey closes March 23
Parents and caregivers have until Monday, March 23, to complete the Family Engagement Survey about school communication, partnerships and whether families feel welcome.
Survey links were emailed March 9. Families may also participate through the FCPS website or request a paper copy from any school. The survey is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Course requests and magnet applications due March 27
A new SIS ParentVUE feature lets middle and high school families review and acknowledge students’ course requests for the 2026-27 academic year. The deadline is Friday, March 27.
After reviewing the Course Request module, a parent or guardian can select Student Info, choose Edit Information, change the Course Request Acknowledgment field to “Yes” and save the update. Families needing help should contact their child’s counselor.
March 27 is also the deadline to enter the 2026-27 elementary magnet lottery. Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Elementary and Bailey’s Upper offer enhanced programs in science, technology and the performing arts.
Community conversations scheduled for April
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will hold four Community Conversations this spring, giving residents opportunities to ask questions and offer feedback. Each event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
- Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
- Thursday, April 16, at Ravensworth Elementary School, reflecting a date change.
- Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
- Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
The meetings are open to everyone. Registration is optional but assists organizers with planning for child care and interpretation.
Reid also recently visited schools in Centreville and Fairfax City, where students explored magnets and other STEAM subjects.
Special education conference and awards
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, “Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools,” will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver a keynote address titled “The Evolution of Inclusion,” examining how ideas about inclusion have changed alongside understanding of diversity and identity. The conference will also feature breakout sessions and vendors.
Families can confirm attendance or volunteer at the event. Volunteer registration is requested by Thursday, March 19.
Nominations for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA Awards remain open through Friday, March 27. The awards recognize educators, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers and community members whose work supports students receiving special education services.
Recipients will be honored Saturday, May 2. Ceremony registration information will be announced later.
Employees build lasting connections
Bus driver Paula Langhorne and bus attendant Pam Mitchell have worked together for 16 years and known each other for more than three decades. Langhorne began her FCPS career in 1985, while Mitchell joined in 1992. Along with making safety their priority, they work to ensure students begin the day feeling welcomed and supported.
FCPS also recognized learning disabilities teacher Aaron Tenenbaum of Springfield Estates Elementary School as a December/January CARES of the Month recipient. His nominator praised his concern for students and the support he gives families of neurodivergent children.
Other recipients included Cindy Trinca of the Gatehouse Administration Center; Min-Jung Jung of Hughes Middle School; Catherine Giacomo, Noel Naylor and Melissa Snyder of Bailey’s Elementary School; Samantha Whitelaw and Megan Hook of Rose Hill Elementary School; Lynda Falkenstein of Bonnie Brae Elementary School; and Lisa Choi of Fairfax Villa Elementary School.
Schools mix practical lessons with games and service
All FCPS eighth graders visit Junior Achievement’s Finance Park each year to learn about personal finance, household budgeting and the costs of adulthood. The program supports financial-literacy objectives in the FCPS Strategic Plan 2023-30 and Portrait of a Graduate goals.
At Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, students with perfect attendance for the week earned places in the school’s first UNO tournament. The competition is one way the school is promoting regular attendance and its connection to academic success.
Keene Mill Elementary School is continuing the Helping Games, a nine-year tradition featuring a month of community-service activities. The program is designed to develop empathy, compassion, responsibility, teamwork and collaboration.
Closures, early releases and spring break
Thursday, March 19, is an evening-only observance day for Eid al-Fitr, beginning at sundown. Schools and offices will be closed Friday, March 20, for the Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz holiday.
On Wednesday, March 25, elementary schools in the Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Hayfield, Justice, Lewis, Mount Vernon, Oakton, Robinson, South County, Westfield and West Potomac pyramids will dismiss three hours early.
Friday, March 27, is the final day of the third quarter and an early-release day for students. SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable to students and parents during end-of-quarter processing from 4 p.m. March 27 until 6 a.m. April 14.
Schools will close for spring break from Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3. Monday, April 6, is a teacher workday, so students will not attend school.
School Board prepares for March 19 meetings
The School Board’s next regular business meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Agenda items include the third-quarter budget review and the awarding of contracts.
A special meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. Newly elected Braddock Magisterial Representative Tom Dannon will take the oath of office during that session.
Virginia seeks public feedback
The Virginia Department of Education and secretary of education are holding listening sessions around the state to gather ideas about supporting educators and students, building on successes and strengthening public education.
People unable to attend in person can submit feedback through a survey available until Friday, April 10.