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Back-to-School Checklist

  • We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!

As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready! 

☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at lebreeden@fcps.edu or call 571-226-4400 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere! 

Update Your Contact Information

Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts. 

☑️ Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. 

When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.

☑️ Learn About School Meals

Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.

☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:

  • Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
  • Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
  • Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.

Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.


Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

With the app, you can:

  • View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
  • Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
  • Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
  • Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
  • Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.


Help Make the Magic Happen: Become a Room Parent!

room parent

Support teachers, connect families, and build community by volunteering as a room parent. You do not need to be available during school hours. The commitment is approximately two to three hours per month, and often less.

Room parents help organize and coordinate families for classroom tasks and events and assist with communication.

Get involved, make memories, and support our school! To volunteer, visit tinyurl.com/PSroomparent.

For questions, contact Leigh Buckley Altice at 703-350-3334.


New ParentVUE Mobile App Launched July 28

On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app became available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.


Student IDs/Bus Tracking

New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall 

As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.

The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.

The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.

It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.


Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:

  1. Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
  2. If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
  3. Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.

Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date. 

 

Where to Receive Immunizations

If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events. 

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster. 

Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.

Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.

Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.


New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day

Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices. 

Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. 

 

Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.


Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools 

This year we will have four 3 hour early release days at the elementary level. Pine Spring releases students at 12:30 PM on 3-hour early release days. We ask that you indicated your plan in ParentVUE before August 18th. For additional information, please visit https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/safety-and-transportation/limited-early-release-wednesdays.

Pine Spring three-hour early release days will be:

  • September 30
  • November 18
  • January 13
  • April 7

Kindergarten Playdate- August 22nd

Playdate

Image description: The flyer features green decorative lines and an illustration of four smiling children playing together on a playground structure with a slide and zip line.

Incoming kindergarten families, get ready to press start on an amazing year at Pine Spring! The Pine Spring PTA invites you to our Kindergarten Playdate, where our newest Bobcats can meet new friends, explore the playground, and begin their journey of “leveling up” for school.

This is a perfect opportunity for children to meet new friends and for parents and caregivers to get to know one another before the first day of school!