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June 4, 2026

Deer Park Earns Top Eco Certification

EcoSchools certification represents environmental excellence for elementary through secondary schools in the U.S.  Participation in the program allows students, teachers, school administrators, other school staff, and families to get a clear picture of our current environmental practices and take action to reduce the environmental footprint. The Green Team also works to enhance healthy living practices by encouraging time outdoors, and building habits such as walking or biking somewhere when it’s safe and easy to do so.

Congratulations to our dedicated Action Team, led by Mr. Wallace, Music Teacher, Ms. Marco, Physical Education Teacher, Mr. Johnson, 3rd Grade Teacher, and the whole school community!

We are so proud of our awesome student leaders for all of their hard work to make the Green Team what it is today!

Strings and Band Concert Tonight Join us this evening for our end of year Strings and Band Concert at 6:00 p.m. in the Gym. Our student musicians have been working hard and are looking forward to sharing their music with you!

Last Fun Fit Friday Tomorrow Take one last lap around the track tomorrow morning with Principal D'Amato and friends at 8:10 a.m.  Everyone is welcome to join the fun. Fun Fit Fridays will resume in the fall.

6th Grade Performance of SHREK, Jr. Friday, June 5th The sixth grade Deer Park chorus members proudly present Shrek the Musical Jr. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria.  Please come support our students as they shine on stage!  Don't miss this celebration of talent, teamwork, humor, creativity and hard work of the cast and crew.

Bucky's Run Club 5K Bucky’s Run Club features runners in grades 3-6 who have met weekly for after school practices with Mrs. Katchmark. To celebrate their hard work and mark the end of the season, there will be a 5K run through the Deer Park neighborhood at 8:30 am on Sunday, June 7. Even if you didn’t participate in the club, we’d love to be supported by cheering fans as we go about our route. We will travel down Pamela Drive, Honsena Drive, Barrymore Drive, and then up Carlbern Drive to Woodhome before looping around and reversing our path. A huge thank you to Ms. Katchmark for leading this program!

Field Day Fun

A huge thank you to all our parent volunteers! Your enthusiasm helped make Field Day a success and so much fun for the students. 
Thank you Ms. Marco and Mr. Gaddy for all your hard work!

Family Vision Group Representative Needed

Superintendent Reid has created a Family Vision Group - a vital forum for elevating family voices and strengthening connections across the division. We need two representatives (one to serve as a backup) to attend meetings, ensure consistent communication and collaboration and advocate on behalf of the Deer Park community.

Here are the details:

• The Superintendent’s Family Vision Group meets six times in person, all sessions held in the evening, from 6-7:30pm.

• The Family Vision Group team has divided Fairfax County into four sections, called Quads. Deer Park is placed in a Quad based on where the school falls within these sections. Meetings are organized by Quad to ensure accessible locations.
• Tentative Meeting Schedule for 2026–27: All meetings are subject to change in accordance with division-wide priorities and scheduling adjustments as needed.
• Kickoff - Wednesday, September 9 -Location TBD
• Meeting #1- Wednesday, September 16 or Wednesday, September 23-Location TBD
• Meeting #2- Wednesday, November 4-Location TBD
• Meeting #3- Wednesday, January 13, 2027-Location TBD
• Meeting #4-Wednesday, March 3, 2027- Location TBD
• Full Group Wrap-Up-Wednesday, May 5, 2027- Location TBD
• https://www.fcps.edu/fcps-family-vision-group

If you are interested in representing Deer Park, please contact Assistant Principal, Heather Hitz,  or Principal D'Amato. Thank you for supporting Deer Park!

Summer Safety

As summer approaches, we want to share an important safety reminder regarding scooters, electric bikes, and other motorized vehicles being used in our neighborhood. Recently, community members have shared concerns about unsafe riding behaviors near intersections and neighborhood roads, particularly during evening hours and in areas with limited visibility.

We know many students enjoy riding scooters and bikes with friends, and we want everyone to have a fun and safe summer. We encourage families to take a few moments to review important safety expectations with their children, including:

Always wear a helmet
• Use lights or reflective/bright clothing when riding near dusk or in low visibility
• Slow down and use caution near intersections and driveways
• Stop and look carefully before crossing roads
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while riding
• Follow traffic rules and ride responsibly
• Use sidewalks when possible and appropriate

At school, we will also be reviewing safety expectations with students before the end of the year. Working together as families, schools, and community members can help prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in helping us care for our students and community.

Kindergarten Blast Off

Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony

June 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Parents and families are invited to celebrate the accomplishments of our sixth grade students and reflect on their time at Deer Park on June 11th at 9:00 a.m.  Doors open at 8:50 a.m.

Students should "dress their best" in appropriate
attire for this special day.

Health Room Reminder

All medications stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 1:25 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17th, 2026.

Medications left in the health room after that time will be discarded.

Medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian per school policy.

Medication authorization forms for next school year may be obtained from the school or online at fcps.edu/services/school-health-services

If you have any questions, please contact our Health Room Aide, Mrs. Ramakrishna at 703-802-5010.

2026 Summer Reading Lists The 2026 Summer Reading Lists feature book titles and digital media options to keep children engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer! Resources/book-lists/Summer-2026

Summer Reading Festival - June 13th

Kick off the summer on June 13^th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Children’s Summer Reading Festival! There will be games and crafts, face painting, a bounce house, popcorn and cotton candy, food trucks and more! The event will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Summer Reading Adventures
June 17th - August 19th

Summer is the perfect time to relax, explore new adventures, and discover amazing stories through books! Keep your child’s reading skills strong by reading a little every day and joining Fairfax County Public Libraries’ summer reading program. Your child can read books, track progress, and earn fun prizes along the way! Whether they love funny stories, mysteries, graphic novels, or nonfiction books, there’s something exciting waiting for everyone at the library this summer. Librarians from the Centreville Public Library will be at Deer Park on Friday, June 12^th to talk to students about the summer reading program and get them excited about reading over the summer! For more information, click here.

School Year Calendar

See the complete school year calendar 2026-2027 here,  to keep track of school holidays, breaks and observances.

* Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays

* Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observances not holidays.

* Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.

Please try to plan vacations to fall on school holidays whenever possible. 
Attendance Matters!

PTA News
www.deerparkespta.org

Leave Your Legacy at Deer Park!

Be a permanent part of our school’s history with the Deer Park Elementary Brick Fundraiser. Your personalized brick will be displayed on school grounds for years to come, creating a lasting "pathway" of support. This is an ongoing project, allowing new families and sponsors to be added for years to come!

By supporting this fundraiser, you help the Deer Park PTA fulfill its mission to work as a T.E.A.M. and turn big dreams into reality. Your contributions directly fund:

•     Learning & Fun: Assemblies, field trips, and school projects.
•     Community: Fall/Spring festivals, movie nights, and fun runs.
•     Support: Staff appreciation and vital school resources.