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Dear Mantua Families,
Our 3rd-grade students ventured into Washington, D.C. this week to explore the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. They observed ancient fossils, rare gems, and the beauty of ocean life!.
On Friday evening, we hosted the annual Mantua PTA Science and Engineering Fair, where students across grade levels showcased innovative projects and taught us so much through their curiosity and creativity. From discovering the best way to store bananas, to learning about the science behind snowboarding, to understanding why it is so important to take our shoes off in the house, our students truly impressed us with their creativity, research, and enthusiasm. Thank you to all the families, volunteers, and judges who helped make this event such a success. A special thank you to our parent volunteer who has championed this event and helped grow the program so much over the past four years at Mantua. Be sure to check out the photos and participation chart from this year’s fair below!
In celebration of Pi Day, our 6th graders had their annual PIE Day! They celebrated with some yummy treats while exploring the mathematical significance of π. Great classroom instruction truly involves many layers of learning!
Our annual PTA Read-a-Thon has concluded, and we congratulate our entire student body for their participation in cultivating the foundation for a lifetime of great reading. Congratulations to the classrooms with the most minutes logged: Ms. Yates, Ms. Norton, Ms. Jeche, Ms. Kaplan, Ms. Smith, Ms. Lemke, Ms. Peck, and Ms. Neely!
- This upcoming week, we have our March Limited Early Release on Wednesday with dismissal at 1:05 PM. Please check that your child’s dismissal plan is updated in PickUpPatrol.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Take good care,
Ms. Shannon, Mrs. Vaughan, Ms. Maurer
March 18: Limited Early Release Wednesday, Dismissal 1:05 PM
March 19: Religious and Cultural Observance, Eid al-Fitr
March 20: Student Holiday, Nowruz, and Eid al-Fitr
March 27: End of the Quarter, 2-hour early release
March 30-April 3: Student Holiday, Spring Break
April 6: Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
April 10: School Planning Day, Student Holiday
April 14: Classroom and Group Photo Day (rescheduled)
April 15: Family Culture Night, 6 to 7:30 PM in the gym
April 21: Special Election Day, Student Holiday
April 22: Limited Early Release Wednesday, Dismissal 1:05 PM
Kindergarten Orientation, 2 to 3 PM
April 28: AAP Orientation Night, more details to come!
Weekly Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight is our way to recognize Mantua's incredible staff! Each week, we recognize a group of staff members. Check them out on Mantua ES Instagram. This coming week's featured staff members are 1st grade teachers and staff: Ms. Hopkins, Ms. Jeche, Ms. Schenk, Ms. Johnson and Ms. Jackson.
Please use the Spotlight Submission Form to share a positive message with them. We will share the messages with them at the end of next week.
Thank you for helping us make Staff Spotlight a fun and engaging way to celebrate our school community. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support!
Learn About Kindergarten at Mantua
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten.
There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today!
Mark your calendars for Kindergarten Orientation, April 22 from 2-3pm!
Contact our registrar, Mergie Kakouris, at 703-645-6300 with any questions.
Family Culture Night
We are so excited for our celebration of Family Culture Night 2026, which will be held next month on Wednesday, April 15th. This annual cultural celebration invites students from all grade levels to share a little about their family culture by decorating or creating a flag as part of a class activity.
Please talk with your student about what they would like to create. The flag can reflect a state, country, or any aspect of your family’s traditions and home culture. Students will begin creating their flags during art class starting next week.
We look forward to learning more about your family’s cultural traditions.
Thank you so much in advance. If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs. Incer (mrincernunez@fcps.edu)
National Women’s History Month
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.
Woodson Baseball Little League Night
Woodson v Robinson (@ Woodson HS)
Thursday, April 9th
Recommended Arrival Time: 5:30
Game Time: 6:30
All Little League players enter free with a paying adult!
Woodson Football Youth Camp
Join Woodson football players & coaches for a fun non-contact football camp at Woodson High School.
All experience levels welcome!
July 13 – July 17 | Ages: 6 – 14 | $275 Per Player
**Pizza Lunch Included in Registration Fee*
Registration
Contact: Joe McBride (JAMCBRIDE@FCPS.EDU)
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
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Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
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Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
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Monday, April 20, Westgate Elementary School.
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Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Phones Off, Learning On
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students focus, learn, and engage. When students put their phones away, they have more face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers and more opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Please remind your child that:
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Cell phones and personal devices (earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
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Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our front office at 703-645-6300. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Please check with the host of your child’s after-school activities on the event status, as not all activities can be safely held that day.
Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.
County Seeking Budget Input
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. They are currently reviewing the county’s 2027 Fiscal Year Advertised Budget and are considering possible adjustments before the final county budget is adopted in May. Provide the county with feedback on how you would like your tax dollars spent by completing this survey.
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open through Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Linda Shannon, Principal LCShannon@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
Michele Maurer, Assistant Principal, Mkmaurer@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Administrative/Finance Assistant SLPalomino@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, MBKakouris@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, FFinaish@fcps.edu
Judy Toy, Office Assistant, JPToy@fcps.edu
Avril Donat, Office & Library Assistant Andonat@fcps.edu
Kathy Van Dyke, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher kkvandyke@fcps.edu
Maria Regina Incer, Family Liaison, mrincernunez@fcps.edu
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