Bonnie Brae ES: Family Newsletter (Sept. 11)

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Hello, Scottie families!

We will hold Back-to-School Night this upcoming Thursday, September 17, from 6-7:30 PM for all grade levels. A reminder that Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for teachers to share information with parents and caregivers, and is not an event for students. Bonnie Brae teachers and staff are looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Please see the section below for specific BTSN session information.

Enjoy your Friday evening, and have a great weekend.

Morgan Birge, Principal

Raegan Hanson, Assistant Principal

Rose Stephens, Assistant Principal

Family. Relationships. Success.

September 14-September 18 - Wayfinder Spirit Week (see below for information)
September 17 - Back-to-School-Night (all grade levels), 6-7:30 PM

A few amazing highlights that happened this week...

Student holding a leaf to see light through it

One of our Scottie scientists shared a big discovery at Kiss and Ride: a leaf so thin and delicate that you could see the sunlight glowing through it.

Student sitting at a table working on a paper assignment

First grade students learned the importance of protecting their digital footprint and making safe, responsible choices online.

map of where to park, enter and exit kiss and ride, and where to cross Sideburn

Arrival & Dismissal Safety-No Double Parking on Sideburn Road, Remain in Vehicles at Kiss & Ride

The safety of our students, parents, and staff continues to be our top priority. Please see below for reminders of important safety procedures implemented here at Bonnie Brae during arrival and dismissal.

When departing the Kiss & Ride loop, please only turn right onto Sideburn Road
Only utilize parking along Sideburn Road that is designated for parking. “Double parking” is not permitted by Fairfax County and is a safety hazard to arriving/departing students and families.
U-Turns on Sideburn Road are prohibited by Fairfax County
When utilizing Kiss & Ride, all occupants should remain in vehicles and wait for Bonnie Brae staff to assist students as needed

Back-to-School Night for All Grades: Thursday, September 17

All parents/guardians are invited to join their child's teacher at Bonnie Brae on Thursday, September 17 to learn about their child's classroom experience, grade level curriculum, and other important school year details. There are two slots offered so parents and caregivers can attend multiple teacher sessions if necessary.

Session 1: 6:00-6:40 PM (classrooms)

Intersession: 6:40-6:50 PM (parents switch classes and/or visit with specialists in the library)

Session 2: 6:50-7:20 PM (classrooms)

Wrap-up: 7:20-7:30 PM (parents have the opportunity to visit with specialists in the library)

FCPS - Welcome Back to School 2026

View the welcome back messages from our Fairfax County School Board Members: Tom Dannan (Braddock District Representative), Sandy Anderson (Springfield District Representative), and Robyn Lady (Chair, Dranesville District Representative). Click on each image below to view the videos.

Tom Dannan, Braddock District Representative

Sandy Anderson, Springfield District Representative

Sandy Anderson, FCPS School Board Member

Robyn Lady, Chair, Dranesville District Representative

Next week is Wayfinder Spirit Week!

Monday, September 14: Empathy Day

Wear yellow.

Tuesday, September 15: Collaboration Day

Class matching day - the class decides what will be worn.

Wednesday, September 16: Adaptability Day

Wear mismatch clothing.

Thursday, September 17: Purpose Day

Dress as a future career/goal.

Friday, September 18: Self Awareness Day

Wear Bonnie Brae spirit wear or blue and white.

School Picture Day is Coming

Fall Picture Day is Thursday, September 24. All students will have their individual picture taken (class pictures occur in the spring).

Families can pre-order pictures online. Online ordering should be completed by Thursday, September 24.

Families who pre-purchase pictures will receive their picture packages at school (or online if a digital package was purchased) approximately two-three weeks after our Fall Picture date.

For more details, please visit our Fall Picture Day webpage.

Questions about ordering? Email underclass@vosphoto.com.

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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:

Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January 2026 may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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 Raegan Hanson, School Testing Coordinator, at rnhanson@fcps.edu by September 30.

Families are invited to attend our AAP Family Information Parent Coffee Meeting led by Larissa Sheehan, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) and other Bonnie Brae teachers supporting Advanced Academics on October 2, 2026, from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Bonnie Brae Library . Below are the topics to be discussed:

AAP Continuum of Services: Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
Full-Time AAP Identification: Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.

For more information, please contact Larissa Sheehan, AART, at ltsheehan@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.

The Importance of the Flu Vaccine

As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the health and well-being of our students continues to be one of our priorities. Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:

Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.

Upcoming Flu Shot Events

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will be taking 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.

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.

Reporting Discrimination or Harassment

FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.

Fall Club Registration Coming Soon

This fall, the PTO is excited to offer a variety of after-school clubs, including soccer, kickball, edible art, jewelry-making, balloon animals, adventures in STEM, creative writing, karaoke and more! Keep an eye on your Tuesday folders and the PTO website for details.

Registration for our teacher-led clubs will open Tuesday, September 22 at 7 PM and close Friday, September 25 at 10 PM. Registration for our company-led clubs – Silver Knights Chess, KidCreate and Acting For Young People – will open sooner and be run through their individual websites, so please check them out after receiving the flyers in your Tuesday folder.

Clubs will begin the week of October 5. Questions? See the FAQ section on the PTO website or contact us at afterschool@bonniebraepto.org. We look forward to a wonderful session of clubs!

PTO Movie Night!

Join us for Movie Night on Friday, September 25, hosted by the Bonnie Brae PTO.

Movie: Toy Story 5 starts at 7 PM
Concessions: Open at 6:30 PM
- pizza, candy, popcorn, and chocolate
Where: Outside on the Lawn

Bring a chair, and enjoy a movie under the stars with your best Bonnie Brae friends! Volunteer here. See you under the stars!

***This is not a drop off event. Guardians must be present with children.***

September 21 - Yom Kippur (no school)
September 23 - PTO Meeting, 6-7 PM (Bonnie Brae Library)
September 24 - Fall Picture Day (individual photos only)
September 25 - PTO Movie Night, 6:30-9 PM (front of school lawn)
October 2 - AAP Family Information Parent Coffee Meeting, 8:30-9:30 AM (Bonnie Brae Library)
October 12 - School Planning Day (no school for students)
October 13-October 22 - Book Fair
October 16 - PTO Fall Festival
October 21 - Three-Hour Early Release Wednesday, 12:15 PM
October 21 - PTO Meeting, 6-7 PM (Bonnie Brae Library)

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FCPS Standard School Year Calendar

Bonnie Brae Hours - Office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Instructional 8:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.