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Sandburg Community, your students did wonderful the last couple of days with our change of morning routine. Throughout the week, our staff introduced specific procedures to students and reminded them of key safety expectations related to this change.
Key Changes for Student Arrival
Please note the following important changes to our morning arrival routine:
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No More Holding Areas: Students no longer report to the gym or auditorium ("holding areas") upon arrival.
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Direct to Class or Cafeteria: After successfully navigating the new weapons detection system, students should report directly to their first class of the day or to the cafeteria for breakfast.
We understand that any change to the daily routine can take some adjustment, and we appreciate your support as we navigate these transitions together. Our goal is to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for every student at Sandburg Middle School.
*Important Note for Kiss & Ride: You may want to consider arriving earlier to avoid longer lines and congestion.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the main office.
Thank you again for your partnership and support as we work to increase safety for our entire school community.
The Parent Teacher Association is a great way to learn more about what's going on at Sandburg, meet families, and share ideas. The PTA will share information throughout the year on our webpage. You may purchase a membership here.
If you are interested in serving as a board member on the PTA for 2025-2026 or if you have questions, please contact Sarah Hansen at PTAatCSMS@gmail.com.
Sandburg hosted an information session on the TJ Admission process in early October. Students may apply if they meet the following criteria:
✔️ Currently in 8th grade
✔️ Enrolled in Honors Algebra I or a higher-level math course
✔️ Taking science honors and at least one other honors course(e.g., English, Civics, or identified as a Young Scholar)
✔️ Earned a 3.5 GPA or higher (7th grade + first quarter of 8th grade)
✔️ Passionate about STEM
Please see additional requirements by visiting the website below. If you meet the eligibility requirements you may begin your application on Monday, October 20, 2025. Upon submission of your application it will be reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements. You will then be scheduled to complete the Student Portrait Sheet and the STEM Problem-Solving Essay on Saturday, January 24, 2026 (see link for other dates and information). For more information, visit TJHSST Freshman Application Process | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu).
In response to the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of our community, students in grades 7-12 are offered the opportunity to take the World Languages Credit By Exam (WLCBE). The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages.
This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and fulfill the world languages requirements for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/graduation-requirement-resources/graduation-diploma-seals/seal-of-biliteracy.
For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit our website: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.
Students interested in signing up for the exam should contact their school counselor. The deadline to apply is Friday October 17th and NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Please visit our website to see the list of available languages: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.
 You can email Ms. Karla McGhee (kemcghee@fcps.edu) for any questions you may have with subject as "Picture Day Question".
Students arriving after 7:30 am must check in in the Main Office (Door 1). Students who arrive late must have a written excuse from their parent/guardian to receive an excused tardy pass, if the parent/guardian has not called prior to the student’s arrival. Parents/Guardians do not need to accompany their child into the building if they have called or sent a note explaining the late arrival.
If a student needs to be dismissed for an appointment before the end of the school day, they must bring in a note from their parent/guardian stating the reason and time of dismissal, unless the parent/guardian has made previous arrangements by phone or online. Parents/Guardians must still come into the building to sign students out and show ID.
- To arrange a same-day early dismissal during school hours, a parent/guardian should call 703-799-6131
- For early check out, parents/guardians must come into the Main Office, provide their driver’s license or other form of government issued photo ID and sign the student out. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up the student, this should be included in the note or message from the parent/guardian even if they are on the emergency care card.
To avoid being blocked in by buses and Kiss-N-Ride traffic, students should be picked up no later than 1:30 pm. Anytime after that, we ask that you wait until dismissal for your student.
When phones can be used:
- Before first bell at 7:30 am
- After the last bell at 2:15 pm
Student Expectations:
- Phones are off and stored between 7:30 am - 2:15 pm
- Phones may be stored in a backpack, locker, or pencil bag
- AirPods, earbuds, headsets, etc. must be off and stored
- Smartwatches may be worn, but texting, internet, and call features must be off
- Phones are never allowed in restrooms or locker rooms
To be a Panther in Pursuit of excellence, all students will be expected to
- Be Safe
- Be Prepared
- Be a Kind Communicator
- Be Goal Directed
Families must reapply each school year for free and reduced lunches. All free and reduced lunches from 2024-25 have expired. If you need assistance applying for free and reduced lunch, please reach out to our Family Liaison, Ana Amelunge at 571-395-6076
Sandburg is not a CEP school therefore students and parents must qualify for cost free and reduced meals. You can go to the FCPS Free & Reduced-Price Meals website to start filling out the application in English or Spanish. We do not want families to have unexpected bills for lunch charges. Any questions about lunch accounts can be answered by Sandburg’s Cafeteria Manager, Sabrina Clarke at 703-799-6100
This year we have a robust offering of clubs for your child(ren). A couple items are required for your child(ren)’s participation.
When you register you will also be filling out to forms, one acknowledging access, policies and risk for the After-School Program, and the other is related to your family’s Army Connectedness. Army Youth Programs in Your Neighborhood (AYPYN) provides much needed funding and support for Middle School After-School Programs. To continue this partnership, we must document the number of Army-connected youth enrolled in our program. If you qualify as Army-connected, as described below, please email Jamaal Carter (jlcarter3@fcps.edu) and include your child(ren)'s names
The question looks like this and has only one response item:
- Army-connected youth in After-School
- If a parent/guardian is actively serving in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve or National Guard,
- a civilian working for the Department of Army,
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OR the student is a Gold Star family member?
(You DO NOT need to be Army-connected to participate in the After-School Program.)
Below is the link for our After School page found on the school’s website which includes club schedules, frequently asked questions and expectations for our students.
https://sandburgms.fcps.edu/student-life-activities/after-school-program
We communicate daily through Talking Points. Clubs will be confirmed each day and whether they will take place, or if there are any cancellations.
Transportation for After School Program:
For those students who ride the school bus to and from school, late bus transportation is provided. The bus stops are typically not the same as the regular school bus stop. The buses are consolidated to eight buses for our After School Program. Please go to Parent Vue to see your child’s bus route. You will see the letter LR in front of the number. LR stands for Late Run.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact, Mr. Carter, at jlcarter3@fcps.edu
At Sandburg Middle School, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students.
Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe.
These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care.
We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click “Learn More”, and then “Sign Up”. After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application.
Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.
We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school.
As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
At Sandburg Middle School our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used.You can find more information about approved digital resources in FCPS here: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/digital-resources.
Don’t have a SIS ParentVUE Account? Use the link to this Google Consent Form to complete a similar consent process.
We encourage you to complete the parental consent for digital resources form as soon as possible, as your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission. Please reach out if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.
Parents and caregivers can view important information in SIS ParentVUE such as student attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores. Watch this video if you would like help creating a ParentVUE account.
You will keep the same ParentVUE account until your student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same account. An app is also available for Apple and Android devices.
If you already have an account, be sure to update your phone numbers and/or email addresses (in the Parent/Guardian section), so your child’s school can send you important information. Learn more about SIS ParentVUE or call your the Student Services Office at 703-799-6100.
We know that as a parent or caregiver, you play a critical role in your child’s education. The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by the school division to help you support your child’s needs and learning at home.
The Family Academy also includes information about resources to help ensure your child has what they need to succeed. Check out some of the upcoming Family Academy sessions:
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Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (available in English and Spanish)
- Loving Solutions
- Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council
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Family Resource Center Webinars on topics including: How to Prepare for School; Building Collaborative Relationships Between Caregivers and Educators; Worried Parents, Anxious Kids; and What Families Need to Know About Drugs for Their Students with Disabilities.
Visit the Family Academy catalog for more information on these sessions and to register to attend.
The following is a list of our major schoolwide dates for FCPS & Sandburg Middle School
Diwalli- October 20, 2025
Picture Day Make Up's- October 30 & 31
End of Quarter 1- October 31, 2025
School Planning Day- November 3, 2025
Teacher Work Day- November 4, 2025
Veterans Day- November 11, 2025
Thanksgiving Holiday - Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28
The entire 2025-2026 FCPS Calendar can be found here.
The CSMS Calendar can be found here
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