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We are a family.
We are capable.
We are caring.
We all belong!
April 30 Title 1 Family Engagement Night: Family Game Night, 6:30
May 5 SOL Testing: Grade 5 Reading SOL
May 6 SOL Testing: Grade 3 Reading SOL
May 6 Community Peer Playdate Experience, by Reservation
May 7 SOL Testing: Grade 4 Reading SOL
May 13 Early Release Wednesday, School Ends at 1:00 p.m.
May 20 Community Peer Playdate Experience, by Reservation
May 25 NO SCHOOL: Memorial Day Holiday
May 26 NO SCHOOL: Teacher Workday
May 27 NO SCHOOL: Eid-Al-Adha Holiday
June 3 All Student Library Books Due
June 17 Last Day of School, School Ends at 2:00 p.m.
 Last week, our Bren Mar Park Peer Buddy team competed in the annual “Feet Meet” at Annandale High School.
Grade 3 Reading - Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Grade 3 Math - Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Grade 4 Reading - Thursday, May 7, 2026
Grade 4 Math - Thursday, May 14, 2026
Grade 5 Reading - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Grade 5 Math - Friday, May 15, 2026
Grade 5 Science - Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Retakes will be scheduled throughout the window.
You're invited to a fun-filled evening at our Family Game Night! Join us at Bren Mar Park for an evening of laughter, learning, and friendly competition. Bring your favorite board games from home or choose from the many we'll have available. Enjoy quality time with your family and neighbors while building literacy, math, and social skills like taking turns and good sportsmanship.
Children must have an adult accompany them throughout the event.
As we gear up for the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments, it’s natural for students (and parents!) to feel a few jitters. While we have been working hard in the classroom, your support at home can be the secret to helping your child feel confident and ready to shine.
Here are a few ways you can help your student prepare for success:
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Talk Through Any Anxious Feelings! Open up a conversation about how your child is feeling. If they seem nervous, let them know it is ok, and help them focus to the positive. Remind them that the SOL is just a way to show off everything they’ve learned this year. It’s about effort, not perfection. Start the day with a simple "I am capable," or "I can do hard things."
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Try Some Practice Items Side-by-Side! Since these tests are online, getting familiar with the platform can take the mystery out of the process. The VDOE provides practice items that mimic the SOL tests. Spend 15 minutes exploring together the "highlighter" and other tools to build confidence.
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Help Your Child with the Physical Part of Testing! Test-taking involves the brain, and a brain that is well-rested and well-fed can focus. Be sure that your child is well-rested by having a consistent "wind-down" routine 30 minutes before lights out. Avoid screens (tablets/phones) right before bed to ensure deep, restorative sleep. Help your child start the testing day right through a protein-rich breakfast helps prevent that mid-morning energy crash. Breakfast items will continue to be available at the school, too. And, try to keep the morning of the test as calm as possible. Avoid a rushed morning by getting up and leaving early to get to school and be settled before the test.
Your child has worked hard all year. Regardless of the score, we are proud of their growth and the resilience they show every day. Let’s encourage them to simply do their best!
We are thrilled to announce an exciting enhancement to our preschool programs! Starting next school year, Bren Mar Park Elementary is opening its doors to Community Peers, creating a vibrant, inclusive learning environment where children of all abilities grow together.
The Community Peer program brings together children with and without developmental delays in the same classroom. By learning side-by-side, all students benefit from a more stimulating environment that fosters empathy, resilience, and essential life skills. The program emphasizes social interaction and shared discovery.
We are looking for a few helping hands and friendly faces to join us! Children must be between 3.5 and 5 years old (must reach age 3.5 by September 30 of the current school year).
We look forward to seeing our youngest learners thrive together through this wonderful community partnership!
To express your interest in having your child considered, please complete THIS FORM and plan to attend one of our upcoming Community Peer Playdates.
Many thanks to our Bren Mar Park Parent Teacher Association (PTA) who coordinated 2 family information sessions last week called "Ready-Tech-Go." This was funded through a AT&T grant. Families came together to discuss early and elementary access to technology, ways to support families in having conversations around technology as well as ways to build resilience in children who may face technology-based challenges.
Technology connects us like never before, but it comes with risks. Learn how to help your family stay safe online. Navigating the Digital World Together, by the FCPS officer of Intervention and Prevention Services, is an interactive workshop that covers today’s most popular apps and social platforms, practical strategies for talking with children about digital safety, and key topics that support healthy online habits from childhood through adulthood.
Register to attend the workshop on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mason District Government Center.
Welcome to Quarter 4 in the Bren Mar Park Library! All of our students are becoming curious readers. I am so proud of them for trying new genres and types of reading. A quick reminder that all books are checked out to your student for one week. They should be returned the following “library day”. As we get closer to the end of the school year, reminders to return overdue books will be sent home with greater frequency. If your child has late books, you should expect to start getting emails in May.
Thank you, also, for continuing to talk with your children about the books they choose to read. Remember that a child does not have to be able to “decode” a book to borrow a book. Reading as a family is important in building strong readers.
April is National School Library Month and also National Poetry Month. Next week, all classes will participate in a grade-level appropriate version of a Poetry Slam. Students are invited to share their own original poetry or to read a poem by another poet. I cannot wait to see what they create!
After the Poetry events conclude, we will be returning to our inquiry units in grades 2 to 5. Second grade is wrapping up a garden design and planting unit focused on cooperation, local pollinators and plants, and math. Third grade is wading into the district’s resource NoodleTools as a framework for notetaking and citation. This resource will be available to them throughout their FCPS career and makes the research journey so much easier! Fourth grade is focused on a sea turtle unit that connects to their study of the oceans in Science. Fifth grade continues to study landforms, topographical mapping, and engineering principles. Their collaborative projects are coming together nicely!
Our younger learners, Kindergarten and first grade, are reading each of this year’s Virginia Reads picture books. They will vote on their preference in June! Shruthi Rao’s Kadooboo seems to be an early favorite. Ask your child which one they have liked the best so far!
April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS resources for military families.
Our graduating Bren Mar Park alumni are invited to the BMP Grad Walk on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Our annual tradition involves lots of photos with former classmates and a walk around the school where graduates are celebrated by and inspire our current Mustangs in what education has to offer! The walk is concluded with a read aloud in our school library and end-of-day visits with former teachers.
Please arrive early and with your government-issued ID to check in! Families of graduates are welcome to attend and take photos from the school lobby at the beginning and conclusion of the Grad Walk.
Please RSVP if you are able to attend.
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget before final adoption in May. This includes an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child’s development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas: communication, fine and/or gross motor skills, self-help skills, problem-solving, and attention skills. Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) provides evaluations and services for children (0-36 months) who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and 5 years (children must be two by September 30).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process. Parents are encouraged to call 571-423-4121 with questions.
During Staff Appreciation Week, Bren Mar Park Elementary School is celebrating "The Magic of Learning" by honoring every single staff member who makes a positive difference in the lives of our students. This special week is a chance to show gratitude to all of our amazing classroom, special education, English, and specialist teachers, as well as the instructional assistants, custodians, and office staff who all contribute to creating a wonderful learning environment. We invite our entire community to participate in a variety of activities to show their appreciation.
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Monday - send in a heartfelt picture or kind message for the teachers.
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Tuesday - help your teacher stay energized with a healthy snack or beverage, like the classic apple for the teacher.
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Wednesday - create a collective act of gratitude, with families asked to bring in a single flower for each of their teachers.
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Thursday - kind words will be shared with the staff, and everyone who receives a compliment will be entered into a raffle for some wonderful awards. Compliments can be shared via our online form at https://forms.gle/voXkUKUyQud2RLQY6.
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Friday - we invite our families to share a taste of their culture by bringing in a dessert from their home country for our entire staff to experience and enjoy. Please bring the dessert items to the front office, rather than sending them to your child's teacher.
As we look toward a successful new school year, we are pleased to open the Class Assignment Consideration process for families. This is your opportunity to partner with us by sharing specific insights regarding your child’s learning needs, such as requests to keep certain students together or to separate them to foster a better academic environment. While we value your input and strive to create balanced classrooms that support every student, please keep in mind that specific teacher name requests are not accepted, and we are unable to provide any final guarantees. We appreciate your trust and collaboration as our staff works diligently to find the best possible placement for every child.
The form will be open to families throughout the month of May.
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