Can you believe it? The start of the 2026–2027 school year is just around the corner! With less than three weeks until students return, our staff is hard at work preparing for another incredible year of learning, growth, and fun at Hybla Valley Elementary. We hope all of our Huskies and their families have had a wonderful, relaxing summer filled with time to recharge and make special memories. We are so excited to welcome back our returning students and staff and extend a very warm welcome to those who are joining the Hybla Valley family for the first time. Kindergarten through sixth grade students will begin school on Monday, August 24, and our PreK students will begin on Thursday, August 27. As the first day approaches, we encourage families to begin easing back into the school routine by helping students get to bed a little earlier each night so they are well rested and ready for a successful start to the school year.
We also look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming back-to-school events! PreK Orientation will be held on Friday, August 21, from 1:00–2:00 PM, followed by our Schoolwide Open House on Friday, August 21, from 3:00–4:30 PM. These events are a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers, visit classrooms, and get excited for the year ahead. Be sure to also save the date for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 24, from 5:30–7:00 PM, when families will have the opportunity to learn more about classroom expectations, curriculum, and ways to partner with us throughout the school year. We can't wait to see everyone soon and kick off another amazing year of learning together. Go Huskies!
What is your background, Ms. Watson?
I am a dedicated educator with 21 years of experience across various school divisions and levels. In 2020, I joined FCPS as a Technology Education instructor and am a passionate advocate for STEM education.
What roles have you held?
I have served as a STEAM resource teacher, an evening administrator for the FC Adult High School, and a GED instructor at the Plum Center. I am an executive board member of the Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education and served as State Advisor for The Virginia Technology Student Association.
What are your degrees and accomplishments?
I hold master's degrees in Adult Education (Central Michigan University) and Administration (University of Richmond). I am a recipient of the Marshall O Tetterton Award.
What are you most excited about as you join the husky pack?
I am thrilled to join the Hybla Valley community and am most excited about working with students, staff, and families to foster a love for learning and innovation!
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school.
The new transportation system includes upgraded mobile tablets to improve route navigation. Starting during the first few weeks of school, every student who rides a school bus will use their ID card to tap when boarding and exiting the bus. These simple taps will help the FCPS Office of Transportation (OTS) know which students are on which school buses, improving safety and efficiency for one of the largest public school bus operations in the country.
 Later this fall, a new app will launch to replace Here Comes the Bus. The new app will not only provide real-time updates on their child’s school bus location, but families will have access to real-time information about when their child boards and exits the school bus. More details on the app will be shared soon!
Together, the tablets, student ID cards, and the new app create a more connected transportation experience for students, families, drivers, and schools.
What Families Need to Know
The student ID cards are an important part of how the new bus navigation system will work. When a student taps onto a school bus, the system checks them in on that bus. The system does not track the student’s location; it tracks the location of the school bus that they have tapped onto. As the student exits the bus, they tap themselves out.
If a student forgets or loses their student ID card, bus drivers can use the tablets to manually check-in and check-out students when they board and exit the bus. Families will be encouraged to contact their school right away to get a replacement student ID card should this be the case.
Students who do not typically ride the school bus will still receive an ID card. In addition to student identification, the ID cards are designed to support additional school services over time, such as school meals and field trips. These new initiatives will be announced as they are launched.
As we approach the first day of school, FCPS will continue to share important updates with families about the new student ID cards and when the new bus app will become available.
Please contact the FCPS Office of Transportation with any questions.
Three-hour early release will continue for the 2026-27 school year. The biggest difference is that the day of the week will change from Monday to Wednesday. A survey of steering committee participants showed that 83% voted in favor of moving the early release to Wednesdays. The main reason is due to the significant number of school holidays that fall on Mondays. Learn more about early release Wednesdays for Elementary Schools.
Reminders:
1) K-6 Students can dismiss at 1:05 PM or 4:05 PM on early release Wednesdays. Parents and guardians will need to let the school know what time they'd like their students to go home.
2) All PreK students dismiss at 4:05 PM on early release Wednesdays.
Please remind your students that all personal electronic devices, including cell phones and AirPods, must be turned off and stored in their backpacks throughout the entire school day. Students who do not comply with this expectation will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R).
August
21 - PreK Orientation 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM in the Library
21 - Open House 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
24 - First day of school for K-6 students. Doors open at 9:10 AM.
27 - First day of school for PreK students. Doors open at 9:10 AM.
September
4 - Labor Day Holiday, school closed - no classes
7 - Labor Day Holiday, school closed - no classes
21 - Yom Kippur Holiday, school closed - no classes
24 - Back To School Night 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
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