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PUMA PRESS – School News & Information: April 24, 2026

Important Dates 

• May 20th - 3 Hr Early Release 
• May 25th - Memorial Day 
• May 26th - Teacher Work Day - Student Holiday
• May 27th - Eid-al- Adha - Student Holiday

Fairfax County Public Schools 2025-2026 Standard School Year Calendar

Message from the Principal

Good afternoon Powell Puma Families-

As we move through the month, there is much to celebrate and look forward to across our school community. Classrooms continue to be filled with meaningful learning, and we are seeing students grow in both confidence and independence as we head into the final stretch of the school year.

This past week marked the conclusion of Administrative Professionals Week, and we want to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible office staff. Their dedication, organization, and care are at the heart of our daily operations. From warmly welcoming families to ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, their impact is felt in every corner of our school. We are truly grateful for all they do to support our students, staff, and community.

Looking ahead, several important events are on the horizon this month:

• Spring SOL testing will begin soon. Please ensure students are well-rested and arrive on time each day.
• Grade-level field trips will be taking place throughout the month. Be sure to check communication from your child’s teacher for details.
• Staff Appreciation Week is coming up, and we look forward to celebrating our amazing educators. We will have different opportunities for families to sign up and volunteer to give our teachers some support with their day.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are proud of the strong community we continue to build together.

Sincerely,

Catherine Han
Principal

Parent Input for Classroom Placement:

Our school team takes great care in creating balanced and supportive classroom placements for all students. We consider a variety of factors, including academic needs, learning styles, social dynamics, peer relationships, and behavioral considerations. We also work to ensure that each classroom has a positive mix of personalities and strengths to support both individual growth and a strong learning community.

Family input is valued and thoughtfully reviewed as part of this process. Please note that all information shared is kept confidential and used solely to support appropriate student placement.

To ensure the most equitable and effective learning environments for all students, we kindly ask that families do not request specific teachers. Our team works collaboratively to consider many factors, and teacher requests may not be honored.

This form will close on Friday, May 15, 2026. After this date, we will not be able to accept any additional input. Here is the link.

Thank you for your partnership and trust in this process.

Powell 2026 SOL Testing Calendar: Grades 3-6th

Support your student(s) in being successful on their SOLs with consistent and on time attendance each day! Please review the schedule below to ensure your students ready for the day! If you have specific questions, regarding testing dates contact your student’s teacher or the school test coordinators, Hope Song khsong@fcps.edu and Sanaz Hosseini shosseini2@fcps.edu 

NOTIFICATION OF TESTING AND RETEST PERMISSION FORM

State Assessments, Grades 3-8

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Students in grades 3-8 participate in state assessments each year. State assessments measure how students are learning grade level standards. Format and timing of state assessments vary by subject and grade level. See the table below. Test formats include:

• Standards of Learning (SOL) mathematics, science, and reading standardized tests with an integrated reading and writing (IRW) component;
• Ongoing local alternative assessments (LAAs) completed as part of classroom instruction in science and social studies;
• Growth assessments completed as part of classroom instruction using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for mathematics and iReady for reading.

More information about these assessments can be found on the webpage: SOL Tests in Elementary and Middle Schools (https://www.fcps.edu/node/42716). The Grade Level Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/50045) outlines the division testing schedule for required assessments at each grade. School staff will contact you with the specific dates your student is scheduled to take spring SOL tests.

The state allows elementary and middle school students who fail a spring SOL test to have another attempt before the end of the school year. Retests are not offered for the integrated reading and writing (IRW) component. Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-8. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s course grade or academic record. 

If you believe your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test, submit your decision using the Parent Digital Consent application (https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent). This application uses your SIS ParentVUE login. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE Account, you may complete and return a paper form to the school to give permission for retesting. Paper forms are available in the front office. 

If you have questions about state assessments or about SOL retesting, contact your student’s teacher or the school test coordinators, Hope Song khsong@fcps.edu and Sanaz Hosseini shosseini2@fcps.edu 

Kindergarten Orientation May 20, 2026, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Rising Kindergarten students and parents are invited to attend our Kindergarten Orientation. Families will have the opportunity to meet our Principal and our Assistant Principals, along with our Kindergarten Team who will share some ideas for how to prepare your child for school next year.

While parents meet with our staff, the rising Kindergarteners will do an activity in the kindergarten classrooms and then rejoin parents later. 

Kindergarten enrollment is in progress! If you have not enrolled your child for the 2026-2027 school year, please call the office at 571-522-6000 or email our Registrar, Regina Johnson (rljohnson2@fcps.edu) to schedule an appointment.

Do you know a neighbor with a rising kindergartner? Please encourage them to contact Colin Powell so we have accurate numbers for staffing our classes for next year!

We look forward to seeing you May 20^th , 2026 at 2 pm.

Required Immunizations

• Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th GradersThe following immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grade each school year. 

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
• To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
• To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old. 
•  As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older. 

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.

Immunization Events for FCPS StudentsFCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. 

Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available. 

Equity Award

Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity AwardNominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.  

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. 

Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage. 

Spring Fun fair

Join us for our Spring Fun Fair on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM!