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Dear Mantua families,
Our 5th grade students walked, ziplined and explored their way through Hemlock Overlook Regional Park late last week! This trip supports their biology and science curriculum and exposes them to the diverse habitats of plants and animals in the forest. Our students had such a great time and the weather was beautiful! We also celebrated our military connected families with our very special Blue Star Welcome Week Movement Monday! We had a great turnout and a surprise appearance from Rocky the Raccoon! We’ve shared pictures below.
For the week ahead:
- We want to remind families of Fall Picture Day on October 6! Every child will be photographed, so please send your child dressed for their individual photo.
- The Mantua PTA annual Run for Rocky fundraising event begins October 5! Fundraising continues through October 23rd, see details below. We have also listed the event schedule for you for October 16th, which is the Run for Rocky student event.
We wish you a wonderful weekend!
Take good care,
Linda Shannon, Michele Maurer and Colleen Vaughan
 
October 6: Fall Picture Day for all students
October 12: School Planning Day, student holiday
October 16: Mantua PTA Run for Rocky event, schedule below
October 30: End of the Quarter, 2 hour early release at 2:05 PM
November 1: Daylight Savings Time ends, move clocks back one hour
November 2: School Planning Day, Student Holiday
November 3: Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
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Custodian Appreciation Week
We are so grateful for our custodians and the tremendous work they do day in and day out! From shoveling snow to cleaning up lunch, our custodial team works so hard and so well! Our custodial team, Michelle Lopez Avalos (supervisor), Maria Romero, Maria Hernandez and Nabih Estafanous, are pictured here.
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Mantua Family Engagement Survey
At Mantua, we value our partnership with families and want to create opportunities for us to learn and grow together.
This year, we are planning quarterly Family Workshops to provide opportunities for families to learn more about our school, FCPS programs, and ways to support student success. Workshops will be offered both in person and virtually, depending on the topic and family interest. Some sessions may also include breakout discussions to allow families to connect, ask questions, and share ideas.
We would love your input!
Please complete this brief survey to help us identify the topics that are most interesting and useful to your family. Your feedback will help us plan workshops that reflect the needs and interests of our Mantua community. This survey should take less than 5 minutes of your time.
Thank you for being our partners in learning!
Run for Rocky Mantua PTA Fundraiser
Get ready for one of the most exciting and cherished events at Mantua Elementary School — Run for Rocky! The 2026 World Cup-inspired theme is: Ready, Set, Goal! This fantastic fundraiser, hosted by the Mantua PTA, is a fun run around Mantua's track that brings together students, families, and community members for healthy fun, school spirit, and community connection. Funds will go towards playground upgrades, updated and flexible classroom furniture, beautifying our outdoor spaces, new books, staff appreciation items, the PTA wish fund, fun social events, upgraded technology and learning resources, and much more! Families and friends can support the run by making a donation in recognition of their student(s), or by pledging a student for every lap they run. Run for Rocky detailed flyers were sent home in Tuesday folders.
Join us for our Run for Rocky event on October 16! See you child’s run schedule below:
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9:25 – 10:25 AM
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6th Grade
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10:50 – 11:50 AM
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5th Grade
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11:00 – 11:30 AM
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Preschool AM
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12:40 – 1:40 PM
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4th Grade
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1:45 – 2:45 PM
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2nd Grade & 3rd Grade
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2:50 – 3:50 PM
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Kindergarten & 1st Grade
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3:00 – 3:30 PM
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Preschool PM
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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.
National Ombuds Day
Office of the Ombuds staff engage with families, students, and staff to offer resources, assist in settling conflicts, and raise concerns to improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
The ombuds is available to:
- Share strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home.
- Help resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace.
- Provide ideas to foster parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings.
Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit the Ombuds webpage to submit a question.
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:
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver Survey
As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
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
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers
- FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.
Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
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Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.
Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.
Twice-Exceptional Students
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage. The page also links to the Special Education Handbook.
New information and printable flyers are available under Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.
For more information, please contact Jen Howard at jhoward1@fcps.edu.
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
Jen Howard, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, jhoward1@fcps.edu
Maria Regina Incer, Family Liaison, mrincernunez@fcps.edu
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