RAVENS' NEST 09/17/2026

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Upcoming Events

Sept 21 NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur

Sept 30 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday, Gr K-6, Dismissal at 12:20 PM

Oct 12 NO SCHOOL - Indigenous Peoples’ Day / School Planning Day

Link to the 2026-2027 FCPS School Year Calendar

A Message from the Administrative Team

Dear Ravensworth Families,

It has been so exciting this week to see our students engaged in lessons, activities, and composting in the cafeteria! Our military connected students in Grades 1-6 had their first Purple Star Ambassadors Meeting this week with their sponsor Ms. Bowen. The Ambassadors will help with welcoming, touring, and providing support for all our new students who join our community throughout the year. Tomorrow, Friday, is a designated SCA Spirit Day. Please encourage your child to wear their favorite Ravensworth shirt or school colors to celebrate our community. Monday is a school holiday for the Jewish Observance of Yom Kippur.

We are grateful for all the work you are doing to ensure our students are at school every day, ready to learn, and eager to learn.

Sincerely,

Shannon Mueck and Amy Heiman

Celebrate Ravensworth Friday September 18th

The Student Council Asociation is sponsoring “Celebrate Ravensworth” for September. Please encourage your child to wear Ravensworth colors (Blue and Yellow) or wear a Ravensworth shirt next Friday, September 18^th. You can help us to “Celebrate Ravensworth” by asking your child about what they love about school, their friends, specials, activities, etc.

Review and Sign the SR&R by September 30

The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.

We ask that families please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to your child’s school.

Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.

Parent Rights and Opt-Out Information

Fairfax County Public Schools has released the 2026-27 K–12 Opt-Out Booklet, which explains parent, guardian, and adult student rights and provides forms to opt out of surveys, directory information releases, student images or voices, programs, and other activities.

Opt-out requests must be completed annually. Please review the sections that apply to your child’s grade level. Completed forms may be returned to your child’s school or submitted online through the Parent Digital Consent system.

The booklet is also available in other languages. If you have no objections, no form needs to be signed or returned.

Transportation Changes

To submit a change in transportation or dismissal for a student at Ravensworth Elementary School, please follow these guidelines:

1. Fill Out the Online Form

For any planned temporary or permanent adjustments, complete the official Ravensworth ES Transportation Change Form.

Daily Deadline: The digital form must be fully submitted before 1:00 p.m. on the day of the change.
Playdates/Going Home with Friends: If your child is going home with another family, both families must fill out their own separate transportation forms detailing the change and letting the school know if they will be dismissed as walkers or via kiss and ride.
No Extra Bus Riders: Requests for a child to ride a different school bus home with a friend will not be approved. Buses operate near seating capacity and cannot accommodate extra riders for playdates.

2. Contact the Office for Late or Urgent Changes

If you miss the 1:00 p.m. cutoff or have a last-minute dismissal emergency, do not rely on the online form. Instead, contact the school directly:

Main Office Phone: 703-426-3600 (Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Changes of Transportation will not be accepted after 3:00 p.m.
Attendance Line: If the change involves a late arrival or early checkout, you can also report it through the Ravensworth Attendance Line at 703-426-3636.

Soaring Ravens

We are starting a new student recognition program at Ravensworth. Staff members can nominate students to be recognized for outstanding behavior, effort, improvement, and kindness. Students’ names will be featured on our school news show, and families will receive a Talking Points message. We look forward to celebrating all the wonderful things our Ravens are doing!

Elementary Early Release Wednesday

Elementary schools in the following pyramids will release three hours early on Wednesday, September 30:

Annandale, Edison, Falls Church, Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, Lake Braddock, South Lakes, West Springfield, and Woodson.

Find out more about limited early release Wednesdays.

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take 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. Additional immunization resources are also available.

School is better when your child is here!

we do understand that some days, they may feel unwell. Learn more about which symptoms are okay at school (like sneezing or sniffles), and when your child should stay home (if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, for example).

Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and, if possible, let them know how long you think they will be out.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their school so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school public health nurse.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to the front office of your school. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.

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 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 Amy Heiman, Assistant Principal and School Testing Coordinator, at amheiman@fcps.edu by September 30.

Families are invited to attend our AAP information meeting, led by Andrea Trumbull, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) on Monday, September 28^th at 8:45AM. We will discuss the following:

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

For more information, please contact Andrea Trumbull, AART, at astumbull@fcps.edu, or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.

Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians

The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following programs, webinars, and workshops will take place in October:

Early Literacy Programs
Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Family Orientation (for military families)
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)

There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including Navigating Section 504, How to Get Kids to Open Up to You, the Nuts and Bolts of the Special Education Process, Introduction to Dyslexia, and Transition Planning for families of individuals with disabilities.

Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.

Community Conversations With Superintendent Reid