Message from Mrs. Briggs

Dear Panther families,

This week, we held a virtual Parent Information Session on our Restorative Circles, Changes to the SOL cut scores, and changes to our SR&R. Here are the slides and recording from the presentation if you missed it. 

We hope you can join us for our first Parent University of the school year! 

The Topic is: 

Helping Our Kids (and Ourselves) Through Worry….

We are excited to kick of our Parent University sessions with a talk on anxiety.

Suzanne Cooper, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice and a mom. She spent several years working with children and their families and now focuses on helping adults understand their triggers and thus learning how to break long-standing patterns. Suzanne through her talk will explore how anxiety moves between parents and kids, and why loving responses like reassurance can sometimes keep worry going. Parents will leave with fresh insight and practical strategies to try at home. Don’t forget to join us Friday, October 9^th’2026 at 9am. The talk will commence following the monthly PTO meeting.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

Wear Red, White, & Blue on Monday to honor our military families!  This week we are celebrating Blue Star Welcome Week, a time dedicated to recognize and support military families in our community. We thank all members of the military for their service and recognize the sacrifices they face by serving our Country. Thank you!

Upcoming Dates:

First Quarter Calendar

Safety Corner-Student Check-out

In order for us to ensure that every child dismisses safely, we cannot allow students to be checked out after 3pm and cannot allow for changes in transportation past 2:15pm. 

Save the Date: Parent Coffees We look forward to bringing parents together to share information related to different grade levels. This year, we will group grade levels together based on topic. We will be starting our coffees with a restorative circle to build community and get to know each other. These coffees will be more conversation and less presentation. We would love to answer questions you may have. Please fill out this form to share what questions you would like addressed at the coffees. October 21, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Grades 1 & 2) October 28, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Kindergarten) November 1, 2026 Parent Coffee, 9am (Grades 3-6)

Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life. 

A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):

• Monday, October 19, at Spring Hill Elementary School

Registration links will be shared soon. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. 

Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings. 

Olympiad Division A

Division A Science Olympiad participation (3-5th Grade)

Does your kid love science? Olympiad Division A is a science competition that allows for fun, creativity and solving problems.  Olympiad Division A is an inter-school science competition for 3-5th graders. 

• What is Science Olympiad?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0cWfooiZ6s&list=PLNfKWIQKVCp4
• Enrollment form linked here: https://forms.gle/4qoFQqREiBNpfE4P9
• Event rules and guide linked here: https://www.virginiaso.org/events-a
• Contact meghahirani@gmail.com to learn more.

Picture Day Coming:  October 27, 2026

Please look for flyers coming soon about picture day; below is how to order online.  

School:  Spring Hill Elementary School 

Picture Type:  Fall

1. Go to www. strawbridge.net

2. Click "Order Pictures" and enter the following code: PX526489

Enrichment Opportunity

The William & Mary Center for Gifted Education is excited to share our upcoming Fall 2026 Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) opportunities. We would greatly appreciate your help in sharing these opportunities with your students and families who may be interested in enrichment experiences outside of the regular school day.

Our upcoming program dates are:

• October 17, 2026 – One-Day Enrichment Program
• November 7, 14, and 21, 2026 – Three-Saturday Enrichment Series

SEP offers engaging, academically challenging courses designed to encourage students to explore their interests, think creatively, and learn alongside other students who share their enthusiasm for learning.

Registration & Program Information

Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers

Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School. 

Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.

How to Get Involved

• Attend: Register as a family member or educator using the Registration Form. 
• Students Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project.
• Volunteer: Adult volunteers can sign up in Volunteer FCPS to support the event. 

Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web