Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, 10/24
Field Day!
Tuesday, 10/28
New Family/Military Family Parent Coffee
Details below!
Wednesday, 10/29
3-Hour Early Release 12:55 pm
Friday, 10/31
Book Character Day!
Friday, 10/31
End of quarter: 2-hour Early Release
ALL STUDENTS released at 1:55 pm
Monday, 11/3
No School for Students
Tuesday, 11/4
No School for Students
Election Day
Wednesday, 11/5
Fall Retake Photos. Details below!
Thursday, 11/6 - Monday, 11/10
PTA Online Auction: Accepting Donations now!
Email AuctionSangster@gmail.com
Monday, 11/10
Veterans Day Celebration at Sangster
Volunteers needed. See below!
Tuesday, 11/11
No School Veterans Day
ALL FAMILIES: COMPLETE THE SURVEY
The Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available to complete online.
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:
- Military families.
- Federally connected families.
- Families living on a military base.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the parent that registered the student with FCPS (the ‘enrolling parent’) can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.
For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.
To access the Impact Aid Form from your computer or mobile device, we recommend using Google Chrome.
Step 1: CLICK HERE or type sisparent.fcps.edu into your Chrome address bar to be taken to SIS ParentVUE. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation letter.
Step 2: After you’ve logged into your ParentVue Account, look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets’.
Step 3: Next, click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page. This will take you to the Impact Aid Survey for you to complete.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page, and see a green check next to each of their names.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please email Coretta Britt at cbritt@fcps.edu
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Collecting for Thanksgiving Baskets
 The Sangster community is partnering with local realtors to gift Thanksgiving baskets to local families in need.
Drop off for the "BlessingBaskets" will be Friday, Nov. 14, from 4:30-6:30 pm at Ledo's Pizza at Cardinal Forest Plaza.
Examples of items to donate include:
- Laundry baskets to hold the goodies
- Gift certificates to local grocery stores for turkeys
- Cans of corn, green beans, cranberries
- Cans/packets of gravy, cream of mushroom soup
- Box of muffin/biscuit mix
- Nonperishable dessert
- Other ideas: rice, beans, cereal, dog food, socks, toys, toiletries, games, laundry detergent.
Click the flier above to donate.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Nominate an Outstanding Sangster Employee!
 Nominations are due by October 29 for the outstanding Sangster employee awards. Submit a nomination for a Sangster employee who you want to recognize and celebrate by completing this form!
Kinder Mandatory Bus Safety & Evacuation Training: Oct. 27, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), mandatory bus safety and evacuation drills are required twice per school year for all students who ride a bus. This training is a requirement of the Virginia Department of Education and includes practical demonstrations and emergency exit practice.
Training will include:
- Emergency exits: Students practice using emergency exits, including the back door and roof hatches.
- Safe evacuation: The training familiarizes students with proper procedures for exiting a bus safely and quickly during an emergency.
- Safety patrol: The FCPS Safety Patrol program provides additional emergency evacuation training for participating elementary school students. This includes practicing exits for scenarios such as a bus fire or an overturned bus.
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Driver involvement: The bus driver is an active participant in all drills to guide students through the evacuation process.
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 Parent Coffee Oct. 28
Who doesn’t love coffee and pastries with friends? We’d love for you to join us for our Military Family & New Family Coffee on Tuesday, October 28, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. in the Sangster Library.
Enjoy Starbucks coffee and pastries (and awesome Sangster Coffee Mugs yours to take home) with members of our administration and staff as we get to know one another. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other military families and Sangster parents, ask questions, and learn more about our school and the support available to you.
A special thank-you to our Sangster PTA for sponsoring this event each year. All Sangster parents are welcome!
If you have any questions or want to let me know you’re attending, contact Stacy Huisman, Family Liaison, at dshuisman@fcps.edu
Book Character Day: Friday, October 31!
 To celebrate our school-wide love of reading, students are encouraged to dress up as a favorite book character on
Friday, October 31st
Students are encouraged to bring a book that includes the character they are representing. During the school day, they may be asked to share more about the character they’ve chosen.
Guidelines for Book Character Costumes
- Characters must be age appropriate and from elementary or middle- grade level books.
- Costumes may not involve blood or other horror-type elements.
- No weapons of any kind or masks that cover the entire face.
- Costumes must allow students to take care of personal needs, sit at desks, and participate in school and classroom activities throughout the day, including appropriate shoes for PE/ recess!!
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Picture Retakes on Wed., Nov. 5!
If your student missed fall picture day, or if you would like them to retake their photo, please click here to fill out the form for retakes on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
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Sangster’s Veterans Day Celebration/Volunteer Opportunity
 (Above: Ms. Sweet's class learns what it takes to be a Blue Angels Pilot during last year's Veteran's Day celebration)
We are excited to announce that Sangster Elementary will be hosting our annual Veterans Day Celebration on Monday, November 10, at 9:30 AM, and we would love for you to join us!
The ceremony will feature performances by the Sangster’s Chorus and Handbell Choir, a flag-raising ceremony, a guest speaker, and more. At the end of the celebration, we invite service members and veterans to visit their student’s classroom as guest speakers.
We have two opportunities where we need your support:
1. Our flag-raising ceremony is a beloved Sangster tradition, and we are seeking one service member (Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, Retired/Veteran) from each branch (thank you to those who have reached out from Air Force and Army, I’ll be in touch soon!) We are still in need of Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard representatives to assist with this special moment. If you're interested in participating, we would greatly appreciate your help. I can also share a video of last year’s program for reference. Email Stacy Huisman at dshuisman@fcps.edu if you’d like to volunteer.
2. Additionally, if you would like to volunteer in your student’s classroom as a guest speaker about their career to elementary age students. Please reach out directly to their teacher. Teachers will schedule you for a specific time to visit. Also, if you have a little extra time available that day, please let them know if you're willing to visit other classrooms in need of a military member to speak.
Fall Book Fair Nov. 18-21
 Sangster's Fall Book Fair will run Tuesday, Nov. 18, through Friday, Nov. 21, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 a.m. Look for more information coming home in Thursday Folders!
Math nights will coincide with the Book Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6-7:30 pm.
Hope to see you there!
25-26 Reflections Submissions Due Nov. 15! Theme "I Belong"
Do you enjoy art, music, or dance, or have an interest in writing, producing films, or taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with Sangster PTA Reflections!
Questions? Interested in judging or being part of the Reflections Committee? Email us at sangsterptareflections@gmail.com.
Submissions close November 15!
A Midsummer Night's Dream at Lake Braddock October 30-November 1
Looking for something fun and family-friendly to do with you and your family? Look no further than Lake Braddock Theatre's fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows the love story of four confused Athenians, a wacky bunch of actors preparing their play for the upcoming royal wedding, and a forest full of magical fairies who tend to disrupt the natural order of the human world.
This show is set around a PG-rating and will perform on October 30, 31 and November 1!
Those who attend on October 31 (Halloween) will be able to get a photo with their favorite cast members! Costumes are encouraged. Tickets can be purchased at lbtheatre.com. We hope to see you there!
Follow us on
@lakebraddocktheatrepresents - Instagram
The Lake Braddock Theatre - Facebook
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit the FCPS website for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school and your child’s teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Notify the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long.
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About Stacy Huisman, Sangster Family Liaison
Hello! I’m Stacy Huisman, the Family Liaison at Sangster Elementary School. I support all families—especially new families and military-connected families to help ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. As a military spouse whose husband recently retired after 28 years in the Air Force, I understand the challenges and adventures of military life. I’ve also been an advocate, journalist, and author supporting military-connected children and parents for over two decades. I share helpful resources and information in News You Choose email, but please reach out anytime if you need support—or want to share an upcoming deployment, PCS, or transition. I also serve as Family Liaison at Cherry Run Elementary, supporting both communities. I’m always available by email or phone if you need assistance.
Stacy Huisman dshuisman@fcps.edu 571-425-8339
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Military Family & Federal Family Resources and Information during Government Shutdown
Below are dozens of resources available to military and federal families during the government shutdown. Although many of the resources may not be needed at this time, it’s helpful to know where families can find support if they do find themselves in a situation of need. A comprehensive list of all resources and contact information can be found here. Please feel free to share within your community.
Military & veteran-family support
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Military OneSource – Operated by the Department of Defense, provides 24/7 confidential counseling, financial and non-medical help for service members and their families. Military OneSource
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Army Emergency Relief (AER) – For Army soldiers & families: interest-free and rapid loans in the event of appropriations lapsing / pay being delayed. Army Emergency Relief
- Operation Homefront – Non-profit supporting military & veteran families with critical financial assistance (rent, utilities, food) in the shutdown context. Operation Homefront
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Cohen Veterans Network – Offers veteran/family mental health care, stress & worry tools, etc. Cohen Veterans Network
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Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA)
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