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05/25 Memorial Day/ Student Holiday-No School
05/26 Teacher Workday (No School)
05/27 Eid-al-Adha/ Student Holiday-No School
05/29 Parent Coffee (9:00am, Cafeteria)
Topic: Summer reading programs
06/01 Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
06/03 SOL Window Closes
06/10 Field Day
06/11 Carnival Day
06/12 Talent Show
06/16 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony (9:00am – 10:00am, Gym)
Last day for PreK Students
06/17 Report Cards Go Home
Last day for Students
(2-Hr Early Student Release - Dismissal time 1:20 pm)
Teacher Appreciation Week is a meaningful time to recognize the dedication, care, and hard work of our educators who make a lasting impact on students every day. Teachers do far more than deliver instruction—they inspire curiosity, build confidence, support social-emotional growth, and create classrooms where students feel supported and valued.
This year’s theme, “Packing Appreciation All Week Long,” guided our celebrations as we filled the week with gratitude, surprises, and thoughtful gestures. Teachers were treated to a variety of goodies, including a visit from the Woot Woot cart, a breakfast box to start the day, and sweet treats like cookies and ice cream from Captain Cookie & the Milk Man. They also enjoyed chips and salsa from Chuy's, along with a delicious Peruvian lunch that added a special highlight to the week.
In keeping with the theme, teachers also received a fun and practical lunch bag as a daily reminder that their hard work and impact are deeply appreciated and “packed” with gratitude all year long. A huge thank you goes out to our amazing PTA for their generous support, creativity, and effort in making the week such a memorable celebration for our staff.
On Friday, we welcomed our families for the final Family Lunch of the school year. It is always such a special opportunity to see so many caregivers join their students during the school day, sharing a meal together and being part of the school community in a meaningful way. These moments help strengthen the home-school connection and create lasting memories for our students. We are grateful for the continued partnership and support of our families throughout the year, and we look forward to many more opportunities to come together in the future.
Last Wednesday, we enjoyed our Bike & Walk to School Day, a fun and active event that encouraged students and families to travel to school in healthy and environmentally friendly ways. It was wonderful to see so many students arriving with smiles, whether biking, walking, scooting, or rolling alongside friends and family.
The testing window is from April 27-June 3. Full grade level testing will take place on the following dates:
- Monday, May 18 - 3rd Grade Reading
- Tuesday, May 19 - 4th Grade Reading
- Wednesday, May 20 - 5th Grade Reading
Retakes and makeups are ongoing throughout the testing window, which closes on June 3rd.
 Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
 We still have limited yearbooks left at the moment. If you would like to order a copy, please complete the ATES 2025-2026 Yearbook order form.pdf and send it to ATES main office with the exact cash or check.
As we enter the final weeks of the school year, Fairfax County Public Schools appreciates your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success. Regular attendance plays an important role in helping students stay engaged in learning, maintain connections with their teachers and peers, and finish the school year strong.
Attending school consistently also helps students build valuable habits such as responsibility, perseverance, and daily routines that support success both in and out of the classroom.
If your child needs to miss school, please remember to report the absence. Full-day absences can be reported in ParentVUE. Families may also report absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.
If your child is experiencing challenges that are affecting attendance, we are here to help. Please contact your child’s school so staff can partner with you to provide support and resources. Learn more about attendance resources.
On Friday, May 8, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid provided an update on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget. FCPS receives the majority of its funding from the Fairfax County Government and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Fairfax County Government recently adopted its FY 2027 Budget, and at the funding levels provided, there is currently a $28 million budget gap. In addition, the state budget has not been finalized. At last Thursday's School Board meeting, the superintendent proposed adjustments that would balance the FCPS budget.
Read Dr. Reid’s message to the community for more information on the budget process and budget priorities.
On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.
This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.
High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
How the Program Works
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Download the App: Get the Box Tops for Education App on the App Store or the Box Tops for Education App on Google Play, and select "Annandale Terrace Elementary School" you want to support.
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Buy Eligible Products: Purchase participating items like Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Nature Valley, Old El Paso, Annie’s, and Paper Mate.
- Scan Your Receipt: Take a photo of your store receipt in the app within 14 days of purchase to instantly earn $0.10 or more per qualifying product.
- Earnings are sent directly to the ATES payable to "ATES PTA" twice a year (in December and April). Schools can use this unrestricted cash for anything we need, including field trips, technology, books, or sports equipment.
Visit the FCPS website or the School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
- Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
- Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
- Responses to incidents involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, object throwing, and drug policy violations.
Nominations 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.
 Paradigm FC, a nonprofit youth soccer academy, that provides a high-level travel soccer experience at no cost to families, covering all expenses including uniforms and coaching.
They are currently recruiting 1st and 2nd graders (born between August 2018 and July 2020) for their free PFC Incubator program, which selects 24 players for a year of technical training before 12 advance to our fully funded U9 travel team.
If you would like to have your student(s) to participate the tryouts, please register via
https://www.paradigmfc.org/login?redirect=/tryouts
 Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School.
Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family.
For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about family information phone lines.
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.
 Register your rising 6th graders via: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZI5ZQWBKS04NJ8_ZZ6A9DU7Z7OSK9W if you are interested.
 12 virtual free sessions of Dad's Parenting Group will be held on Tuesdays from 6:00-8:30pm from April 7th to June 30th, 2026. The classes will be taught in Spanish only. Call 703-324-7720 for the registration if you are interested.
 This camp is designed for young athletes of all skill levels to improve their game, build confidence, and have fun on the court.
Camp Details:
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Dates: July 20-24, 2026
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Location: Annandale High School (4700 Medford Dr, Annandale, VA 22003)
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Campers: Girls & Boys
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Grades: Rising 3rd - 9th
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Focus: Skill development, teamwork, conditioning, and game strategy
Register or Learn More: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbms-Ipd_FNKPPgdyOh2nNSc3dpqU0t7z5GBCftQ7jTkcOmQ/viewform?usp=header
Registration is open for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
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