Principals' Message

Hello White Oaks Community,

We had a positive at White Oaks, marked by strong attendance at several community sessions!

On Sunday, the PTA hosted a fantastic family activity to conclude our Blue Star Welcome Week celebration. This event was a wonderful way to foster a sense of belonging for our military-connected families.

We also hosted two highly valuable AAP information sessions this week:

• Principal's Coffee: On Tuesday, Mrs. Holmes shared insights into the continuum of services, ranging from access to rigor to full-time support. It was wonderful to connect with so many of you in person!

• Virtual Session: On Wednesday evening, Mrs. Holmes led a session that deepened understanding of the referral process for full-time AAP. We had a great turnout for this virtual event as well.

  • For students who enrolled on or after January 1, 2025, the deadline for the full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) referral this fall is October 15. 

If you missed either of these sessions or have any questions about the Advanced Academic Program, please don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Holmes at blholmes@fcps.edu. 

This week was also the incredible Fall Book Fair! Thanks to the phenomenal support of Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Phillips, and our wonderful community volunteers, the fair was an overwhelming success. It was truly amazing to witness the excitement of our students as they explored the huge variety of engaging books.

In the course of the last 5 days we began a share table at White Oaks. Students were able to donate foods that they did not eat during their lunch or breakfast, instead of throwing them away. In the past week we donated 616 items to our community members and decreased the amount of trash collected.  Thank you to all who have helped to get this program started. Learn more about Fairfax County Sustainability goals. 

We prioritize student safety and recognize that health needs can evolve throughout the school year. To ensure a smooth process for managing student medication in the clinic, please use this LINK to schedule a drop-off time that works for you.

Have a POSITIVE weekend!

Melanie, Neena, & Josh

Proud Principals 

Upcoming Events

• Monday, October 13th
  • No School - Indigenous People Day
• Monday, October 20th
  • No School - Diwali 
• Friday, October 24th
  • 7:00pm: Movie Night - Back Field 
• Wednesday, October 29th
  • 1:00pm: 3-Hour Early Release
• Friday, October 31st
  • 2:00pm: 2-Hour Early Release
• Monday, November 3rd
  • No School - School Planning Day
• Tuesday, November 4th
  • No School - Teacher Workday

Get2Green Share Table

The Get2Green team will be starting a share table program in the cafeteria on Monday.  Approximately 30-40% of food ends up as food waste. In an effort to divert that, we are hoping to decrease trash and support families with food insecurity by beginning the share table.  At the end of the breakfast or lunch period, students will be able (not required) to donate any unopened food. The food will go to support students and families that have a need.  Examples of foods that can be donated are milk, juice boxes, unopened yogurts and cheese sticks, store packaged snacks, packaged cereals, and whole fruits (bananas/oranges/apples).  We cannot accept any foods in ziploc bags.  If your family is experiencing food insecurity, and would like assistance, please reach out to our Family liaison, Analia Puig  (apuig@fcps.edu | 703-923-1452).    

The Lake Braddock Choral Department will host its annual fundraising concert “Dessert on Broadway” October 23th in the Lake Braddock cafeteria. It’s a fun concert full of Broadway songs and each ticket includes a dessert! We encourage you to come when the doors open at 6:30 pm to enjoy a sweet treat and browse an amazing selection of silent auction items and raffle prizes. The concert begins at 7 pm. Tickets now available! https://lbchorus.org/dob

MAP Scores

We anticipate that MAP scores will be in the SIS ParentVUE the week of October 27th. If your school will be hosting conferences prior to publication of school reports, teachers may print out the NWEA MAP Growth family report to share with families and consider sharing the talking points below during conferences.

• Fairfax County Public Schools uses the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math assessment. This test is a screening and growth tool that helps teachers understand students’ strengths and areas for support. Students in grade 1 through Algebra 2 recently took the test. Results will be available soon in SIS ParentVUE.  

• Your child's score is compared to a large group of students from across the country in the same grade. This comparison is shown as a percentile.

• The MAP Growth test is computer-adaptive. This means the test changes for each student. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question will be harder. If they answer incorrectly, they will get an easier question.

• The results are shown as a RIT score (scale score) which helps teachers understand the concepts and skills that students demonstrated on the assessment. The RIT score may not show that a student has mastered all the content from previous grades/courses. 

• More information will be available after the second assessment. Once students take the assessment more than once it will measure growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. You can learn more about the assessment from the FCPS Public web and on the NWEA family toolkit. 

National building museum - THE BIG BUILD

Saturday, October 18 | 10 am to 4 pm

Children and adults will learn side-by-side with roofers, plumbers, designers, artisans, and more in this FREE, hands-on festival celebrating the world we design and build. Kids of all ages can explore a wide variety of unique, interactive activities from professions including plumbing, home remodeling, construction, woodworking, and many more. 

Register for the event here

LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS & EXPERIENCES

• Learn about cabin construction, woodworking, and step inside a real log cabin
• Try bridge building, mixing concrete, and hammering nails
• Climb into construction equipment at the outdoor Truck Petting Zoo

CREATIVE & DESIGN WORKSHOPS

• Contribute to a community mosaic
• Design your own paper bag home
• Experience Storytimes at 11:15 am and 1:15 pm

CAREER & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

• Explore dozens of activity booths led by professionals in the trades and STEM fields
• Girl Scouts can earn STEM Career Exploration badges

Embracing Fall

Tips for Healthy Living and Family Fun!

As we welcome the cozy fall season, it's a great time to emphasize staying active and making healthy choices for our students’ well-being. Here are some autumn tips:

• Enjoy Fall's Harvest: Encourage your child to try seasonal fruits and vegetables. Cooking together can be fun; try making cinnamon apple slices or roasted sweet potatoes!
• Get Outdoors: Take advantage of the cooler weather by planning activities like hiking, biking, or visiting a pumpkin patch. Enjoying nature promotes fitness and family bonding.
• Stay Hydrated: Keep hydration a priority! Remind your child to drink water regularly. Practice Mindful Eating: With the holidays coming, help your child eat mindfully by enjoying meals slowly and listening to hunger cues. Cooking together can encourage them to try new foods.
• Be a Role Model: Show your children healthy eating habits by making nutritious choices and staying active as a family. Your example will inspire them to follow suit.

Let’s make this fall fun and healthy! Wishing you all a joyful and active season!

Fall Field Day is coming!!

Field Day is a little over a week away (Tuesday, October 14) and we have had many parents offer up their time to help run stations. We still have many spots open for more volunteers. Remember that in FCPS volunteers are required to register with the county before offering your time. To register, please click this link. You need to sign up for a level 2 volunteer status. Let’s make this a memorable Field Day!! Use the links before to sign up for a Field Day spot.

Upper Grade Field Day Sign-up

Lower Grade Field Day Sign-up

PTA Corner

Important Surveys

SEPTA Committee Survey:

Your White Oaks PTA - SEPTA Committee is planning goals and priorities for this school year and we would like your perspective and feedback so we can improve you and your students experience within our community! Your responses will be anonymous. If you're interested in joining the SEPTA committee this year, please reach out separately to: woes.septa@gmail.com - Thank you for your participation and partnership!

Please note: The deadline to provide feedback is October 15th

https://forms.gle/quHRyQb7UT4rKLDg7

After School Clubs Survey:

We have some fun clubs in the works for this winter but we need your input to help us coordinate our offerings. Please submit feedback regarding the club(s) your student(s) would participate in for the winter session and days of the week that are most convenient. Your answers will guide our planning.

If you're interested in joining our after school club committee please contact: wopta.club@gmail.com - Thank you!

Please note: The deadline to provide feedback is Sunday, October 19, 2025

https://forms.gle/S8zHJsWUcE36sjPJA

FREE FAMILY MOVIE Night and Stargazing!

Join us on Friday, October 24th at 7:00 PM: Our second movie night will be a special screening of Coco on the White Oaks Elementary School grass area!!