Deer Park Elementary News and Information November 13, 2025

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Early Release Wednesday November 19th

Dismissal at 12:25 p.m.

Your child will follow the dismissal procedure (staying or leaving early) that was indicated at Back to School Night. For student safety, please do not make any last minute changes to your child's dismissal plan.

Students receive lunch daily, including early release days.

Find out more about Early Release Wednesdays here! We have 5 more early release Wednesdays this school year.

Bucky's Thanksgiving Barbeque Bash

When: November 20th (rain or shine)

Time: During your child's regular lunch time

Menu: Grilled 100% beef hot dog, chips, water and dessert treat

We hope you can join us for this FREE fun event for our families.

10:40-11:10 - First Grade
11:10-11:40 - Second Grade
11:40-12:10 - Sixth Grade
12:10-12:40 - Kindergarten
12:40-1:10 - Third Grade & Enhanced Autism
1:10-1:40 - Fourth Grade
1:40-2:10 - Fifth Grade

We would love to have volunteers to help with our hot dog cookout on Thursday, Nov 20th. Easy things like refilling snacks and sides and wrapping the hotdogs in foil as they come off the grill.

If you would like to join the fun, please sign up here!

Fun Fit Friday!

Join us on the track tomorrow for some fresh air and exercise to start your day!

Students in all grade levels (PK-6) are welcome to participate, as well as parents and teachers!

See you on the track at 8:10 a.m.

Our last Fun Fit Friday will be December 5th and will resume in the spring!

Deer Park is a happy place to learn and grow!

Check out all the activity at
Deer Park:

October/November Deer Park!

Federal Impact Aid Survey

Thank you to all of the parents who have already completed the Federal Impact Aid Survey online! The electronic version is available in ParentVue through January 31, 2026.

Please check your child's Thursday folder today for the pre-printed paper copy now available for you to complete, sign and return to your child's teacher as soon as possible.

The Federal Impact Aid Survey. provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Find step by step instructions here. Thank you for your support!

Check out Superintendent Dr. Reid and the Ft. Belvoir Garrison Commander, Colonel Stewart, explaining the importance of the survey! Federal Impact Aid Survey

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming November 17-21!

Create a Book Fair eWallet for your child NOW so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently!

It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Students with an eWallet will be entered into a drawing to win a poster! Start here:
Scholastic Bookfair

Sale Hours:
11/17 and 11/18 are preview days only
11/19: 9:00 to 1:00
11/20: 9:00 to 3:20 (shop during Bucky's BBQ)
11/21: 9:00 to Noon

Bucky's Bonus Books

Hello Deer Park Families!

The book fair - along with Bucky's Bonus Books (BBB) - is coming up next week! Volunteers are needed to help students select books as well as to set up and clean up.

For those who are unfamiliar, Bucky's Bonus Books (formerly known as the Free Book Fair) is held by the PTA in conjunction with Deer Park's book fair twice a year. The PTA collects gently used books year-round through book drives at school and community donations. During the buying days of the book fair, every student at Deer Park receives a free, new-to-them book of their choice from Bucky's Bonus Books.

This PTA initiative supports literacy and equity with $0 cost but it requires manpower! If you enjoy interacting with your student's class and/or love books, this should be fun for you! I am generally present for all time slots so no one will be working alone. Please consider volunteering to help next week. In the description for each time slot, it says which classes will be visiting during that time.

Bucky's Bonus Books sign up

Thank you so much for the continuing support of Bucky's Bonus Books!

Kim Graham

kim.graham@gmail.com

Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Deadine

Deadline to submit Full Time AAP referral forms – December 15^th, 2025

Important Advanced Academics Program Links:

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) | Fairfax County Public Schools

Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Forms | Fairfax County Public Schools

Attendance Matters

Every Day Is a Stepping Stone to Success

Our school goal is to have at least 90% of our students consistently present.

We are currently sitting at 92.4%, which is up from our last update of 88.6%! Way to go Deer Park! Keep up the great work.

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career.

Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to our school.

Attendance Line: 703-802-5011
Attendance email: Deerparkelem.Attendance@fcps.edu

Visit the FCPS' Attendance Webpage for resources on attendance.

Comprehensive Boundary Review

The Boundary Explorer Tool closes Friday, November 14th. This community feedback will then be shared with the Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee as they prepare their recommendations for Dr. Reid.

Visit the FCPS' Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.

Resources for Families Impacted by the Govt Shutdown

Apply Anytime for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year.

If your income changes — for example, due to a furlough, layoff, or job loss — you may become newly eligible. Once approved, your benefits stay active for the rest of the school year and for the first 30 days of the next school year.

Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school receive free breakfast and lunch every school day. It’s a great way to make your food budget go further and save time from packing meals. Learn more about FCPS Food and Nutrition.

Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.

Find more community resources available to families.

PTA News
www.deerparkespta.org

Reflections

It is that time of year again for the Reflections Art Contest. The 2025 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Reflections Art Program is a National PTA-sponsored contest that encourages students to express themselves through six different arts categories based on the theme "I Belong". Students can submit their interpretation of the theme in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. More details to come but no time like the present to begin creating!!

Enter contest here!

Bucky's BBQ Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers to help coordinate our hot dog cookout on Thursday, Nov 20th. Easy things like refilling snacks and sides and wrapping the hotdogs in foil as they come off the grill.

Membership

Let's hit 150 this year! Your annual membership gives the PTA the ability to help kids dream big — even yours! And the best part? No extra obligations required!

Let's get signed up for the PTA