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Fairfax County Public Schools families have several major deadlines approaching, including a March 23 cutoff for the Family Engagement Survey and March 27 deadlines for course-request acknowledgments, magnet-school applications, and special education award nominations.
The updates come as FCPS celebrates a strong winter sports season in which three teams and 34 individual athletes won Virginia High School League Class 6 championships. Three teams and 34 individuals also finished as state runners-up.
Family feedback and conversations
Families have until Monday, March 23, to complete the Family Engagement Survey about school communication, partnerships, and whether parents and caregivers feel welcome.
FCPS emailed survey links on March 9. The questionnaire is also available online and in paper form at every school, with versions offered in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will also hold four Community Conversations this spring. 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.
- Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
- Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
The meetings are open to everyone. Registration is optional but helps organizers plan child care and interpretation services.
Reid recently visited schools in Centreville and Fairfax City, where students were among those exploring magnets and other STEAM subjects.
Course requests and magnet applications due March 27
A new SIS ParentVUE feature allows parents and guardians of middle and high school students to review and acknowledge course requests for the 2026-27 school year.
After logging in, families can open the Course Request module and review the student’s selections. To record an acknowledgment, they must select Student Info, choose Edit Information, change the Course Request Acknowledgment field to “Yes,” and save the update.
The acknowledgment deadline is Friday, March 27. Families needing help should contact their child’s counselor.
Applications for the 2026-27 elementary magnet-school lottery are also due March 27. Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Elementary, and Bailey’s Upper offer enhanced programs involving science, technology, and performing arts.
Special education conference and awards
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, titled “Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools,” is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver a keynote address about the evolution of inclusion, changing understandings of diversity and identity, and possible next steps for advocacy. The conference will also feature breakout sessions and on-site vendors.
Families may confirm their attendance or volunteer at the event. The volunteer sign-up deadline is Thursday, March 19.
Nominations for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA Awards remain open through March 27. The awards recognize educators, staff members, volunteers, therapists, administrators, and community members who have provided exceptional support to students receiving special education services.
Recipients will be honored Saturday, May 2. Ceremony registration information will be announced later.
Student programs emphasize money, attendance, and service
All FCPS eighth graders take part annually in Junior Achievement’s Finance Park, where they confront the practical costs of adulthood while learning about personal finance and family budgeting. The experience supports the school division’s financial-literacy goals.
At Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, students with perfect attendance for the week earned spots in the school’s first UNO tournament. The competition is one of the school’s strategies for encouraging regular attendance.
Keene Mill Elementary School is continuing its Helping Games tradition for a ninth year. During the monthlong program, students practice empathy, compassion, responsibility, teamwork, and collaboration while serving their community.
Longtime transportation partners support students
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. In addition to making safety their daily priority, the pair works to give students a welcoming ride filled with care, laughter, and personal connection.
Employees recognized for exceptional care
Aaron Tenenbaum, a learning disabilities teacher at Springfield Estates Elementary School, was among the December and January FCPS CARES of the Month recipients.
The parent who nominated him praised his sincere concern for students and said his support helps families of neurodivergent children feel that they do not have to face challenges alone.
Other honorees 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.
- Lisa Choi of Fairfax Villa Elementary School.
Closures, early releases, and ParentVUE downtime
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 students three hours early.
Friday, March 27, marks the end of the third quarter and will also be an early-release day for students.
SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable to students and parents during end-of-quarter updates 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 budget review
The School Board’s next regular business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. 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 education officials seek public input
The Virginia Department of Education and the secretary of education are holding listening sessions across the state to collect ideas about supporting educators and students, building on public-school successes, and strengthening education.
Residents unable to attend a session may submit feedback through a statewide survey until Friday, April 10.