A Message from our Administrators
Dear Hunt Valley Families,
We are three weeks into the school year and I am so excited for what this year will bring. Our students and staff have been working hard to maintain the momentum of success from our 2025-26 school year. Each year we have a theme with a motto that brings us together and grounds us in our work. We are maintaining the same theme and motto as last year: We Handle Hard Better. All it means is we are willing to try and give our best effort when we encounter something difficult. We will maintain a positive attitude, ask for help when needed, never give up, and when we see others in need, we are kind, caring, and helpful. At times, handling hard things requires a community of people who will cheer you on, support you, and show acts of kindness. As I think of this, I think of an event that happened 25 years ago, today, that changed many lives and our nation in many ways. The DC Metro area was directly impacted by tragic events of that day. It is hard to believe that Sept. 11, 2001 was 25 years ago, because I am sure for many of us who witnessed it or were directly impacted by it, it feels like it was yesterday.
As we remember that day, we remember it as a difficulty time in our country's history. Many people lost their lives, and many families and communities were deeply affected. We honor the brave firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, military members, and everyday people who helped others during that difficult time. In the days that followed, people across the country came together to support one another and show kindness. As we remember what happened on September 11th, let us practice courage, respect, compassion, and kindness. Even small acts of caring can make a big difference. Together, we can help make our school and community stronger.
Warmly,
Keieownna Johnson, Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
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Mark Your Calendar
September 12th--HVES HVES Wellness Fair and Fun Run
September 14-18th--Book Fair
September 15th--School Picture Day
September 30th--3-hour Early Release Wednesday
October 2nd--Fall Festival
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Picture Day
Strawbridge Photography will be here on Tuesday, September 15. To pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click Order Pictures and enter the following code: PX519047
FLE Parent Preview Night
Families of fourth, fifth ,and sixth grade families are invited to the optional parent preview night for Family Life Education on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5:00 - 5:30 in Room 102.
Blue Star Welcome Week
Families, please join us for Blue Star Welcome Week at Hunt Valley Elementary, September 28 - October 2! Each day will celebrate and welcome our new military and civilian families:
- Monday: Wear blue for Blue Star Day
- Tuesday: Wear stars and/or stripes
- Wednesday: Camouflage Day
- Thursday: Wear something representing a special place
- Friday: Wear HV spirit wear or blue and white
AAP Fall Newsletter
Advanced Academic Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
- FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Eric Kopacz, School Testing Coordinator, at epkopacz@fcps.edu by September 30.
- Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Ashley Huntley, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: September 24th at 6pm in the HVES Cafeteria. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: October 30th at 6pm in the HVES Cafeteria. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
- For more information, please contact Ashley Huntley, AART, at arhuntley@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
Talking Points
All Hunt Valley families are automatically enrolled in Talking Points to receive teacher and school communications when they give the school an active cell phone number per parent.
Families who use the TalkingPoints app can turn on ‘Share messages’ to change their conversation with a teacher into a group message. When you and other family contacts share messages, you see the same messages from the teacher, as well as all responses from each other. Please note that while shared messaging is turned on, you cannot send a private message to the teacher through TalkingPoints - messages go to everyone who is sharing messages for the student. You can turn off shared messaging at any time. *This feature is only available on the App Version of Talking Points.
Directions: In the Mobile App
Step 1: Tap the 'Settings' tab.
Step 2: Select the student you want to share messages for.
Step 3: Tap the 'Share messages' toggle.
A dark purple icon appears next to other family contacts who are using the app and have shared messaging turned on. When you turn on shared messaging, you will begin to share messages with any other contacts who have the dark purple icon next to their name.
Having trouble with shared messaging?
- If the other family contact(s) are using the app, but have a light purple icon, this means that they have not enabled shared messaging yet.
- If the other family contact(s) have 'Invite to app' next to their name, they are currently subscribed via text message. Tap 'Invite to app' to send them an invitation to download the TalkingPoints for Families app. Once they log in, they can follow the instructions in this article to turn on shared messaging.
- If you do not see any other family contacts listed, your messages cannot be shared. Contact your school to make sure all family contacts are added under the same student listing
Don't have the App? Download the Talking Points for Families App from the Apple or Google Play store.
Early Release Wednesdays
⏰ Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools
Limited early release days for elementary schools will shift to Wednesdays for the 2026-27 school year.
Three-hour early release days for our school will include:
- September 30
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
Read more about the reasons for early release and the proposed early release dates.
A Message from our Health Room
Welcome back to the new school year! As your child returns to school, please take a moment to review the following important health information:
- If your child is experiencing symptoms or you're unsure whether they should attend school, please refer to our when to stay home guide.
- If your child has any new or existing health conditions (such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures, or vision concerns), please complete the Health Information Form to help us support their needs.
- If your child requires medications or medical procedures during school hours, you can find all necessary forms and additional resources on our Hunt Valley Health Room website.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns — contact Ms. Berst, our School Health Aide, at 703-913-8810, or Ms. Monterrosa, our School Nurse, at jmonterrosad@fcps.edu.
Wishing your child a healthy and successful school year!
NEW Visitor Check-in System - Raptor Safe App Setup
Hunt Valley ES has a NEW Visitor Check-in System. Downloading and registering on the Raptor Safe App is not required, you can still use your driver’s license in the building, but this is faster.
What is Raptor Safe?
Raptor Safe is a free mobile app designed to make school visits and student dismissals both faster and more secure. By using the app, you can create a Raptor Passport, which allows you to check in at the school entrance by simply scanning a QR code. A new QR code is generated each time so no screenshots.
A few notes for registration in the app: no code is needed so skip that step and foreign id's and passports can be used (as long as they are in English).
Setting Up Your Account
Getting started is straightforward. Here is the play-by-play:
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Download: Search for "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Verification: To keep the community safe, the app will ask you to scan your driver’s license and take a live selfie to verify your identity.
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Privacy: Don't worry about that selfie—it is used only for the initial verification and is not stored in the app.
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Stored Info: The app only keeps necessary details like your name, date of birth, the photo from your ID, and the last four digits of your license or passport.
Quick Tips for Users
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No Passwords to Memorize: The app uses your mobile phone number to log you in. You’ll receive a one-time code via text each time you need to access your account.
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Need Help?: If you run into any technical snags, you can find troubleshooting guides at raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/.
Raptor Safe FAQ Sheet
Make Lunchtime Special!
Come enjoy lunch with your child and help support our cafeteria during lunchtime. Sign up today for this special opportunity to connect, create memories, and lend a helping hand!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2EA6FECF8-51771041-lunch
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.
Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.
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