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January 23, 2026
Dear Waynewood Owls,
There is a certain electricity in the air this afternoon that only comes with a "Snow Day" forecast. Walking through the hallways, I overheard many students whispering about their plans to ensure the snow arrives in full force. I gave our Owls some very important "homework" involving wearing pajamas backwards, flushing ice cubes down the toilet, and sleeping with a spoon tucked under their pillows. I encourage everyone in the family to join along in a snow dance tonight at bedtime! As a veteran of many winters here at Waynewood, I can tell you these traditions are a vital part of the elementary school experience.
As we look ahead to the coming week, please keep a close eye on your calendars. Wednesday is the end of the second quarter, and if we are in school, there is a two hour early dismissal. Additionally, there will be no school for students on Thursday and Friday to allow our staff time for professional development and grading. With the potential for inclement weather, many of our students are bringing their school-issued devices home with them today. We kindly ask for your help in reminding your child to treat these devices with care and, most importantly, to ensure they return to school with their chargers as soon as we are back in the building.
If the weather permits us to be in session this Wednesday, it promises to be a deeply meaningful day for our community. Our SCA has dedicated the day to a special spirit theme: Tough like Taylor. We are coming together to honor, support and celebrate one of our very own students who is showing incredible bravery in a fight against Leukemia. We invite everyone to wear pink (Taylor’s favorite) and orange (for Leukemia Awareness) to show our collective strength and love. We will reschedule this Spirit Day if Wednesday is a snow day.
In other news, if you’ve noticed some extra activity on our roof lately, it’s because construction on our new solar panels officially began this week! We are excited to see Waynewood moving toward a more sustainable future.
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible PTA for the delicious cookies delivered to the staff lounge today. It is small gestures like these that make our teachers feel truly valued and energized.
As the Saturday night storm approaches, I hope you are able to lean into the excitement with your children. There is something truly magical about a child’s belief that they can "conjure" a snow day through sheer force of will and a few ice cubes. Whether we are building snowmen or just enjoying a cozy morning inside, I hope the coming days bring your family rest, laughter, and a bit of winter wonder.
Stay warm and stay safe!
Sincerely,
Katie Cachine, Principal
Alyssa Bonner, Assistant Principal
Allison Ovalle, Assistant Principal
Device Care & Safety
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Transport: Students should keep their devices inside their backpacks whenever they are traveling to and from school.
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Environment: Please store devices in a cool, dry, and secure location. Keep them away from food, drinks, pets, and younger siblings.
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Temperatures: Do not leave devices in a car, as extreme heat or cold can cause permanent damage.
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Charger Returns: Chargers must be returned to school once classes resume. Please note that the replacement cost for a lost charger is approximately $30.00.
Troubleshooting at Home
If you run into any technical issues, please refer to our online support guides first:
Lightspeed Parent Portal: Parental Controls
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation or any other introductory events our school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, please contact Sherry Hope, student information assistant at chope@fcps.edu
Try Online Registration
Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. When registering, parents will create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter weather. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
- Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here’s how it makes life easier:
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Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events.
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No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly. There’s no password to remember, and no login is required.
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Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates including weather announcements.
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Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.
To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app or download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Save the date! Waynewood PTA has several fun and exciting events coming up soon!
Spelling Bee – Thursday, February 5 Register here for the Spelling Bee
Bingo Night - Thursday, February 19 More details coming soon!
Math Kangaroo is Coming to Waynewood! Math Kangaroo's International Math Competition is coming to WWES on March 19, 2025 from 4:30-5:45 PM!
Find more information here
Wednesday, January 28-2 hour early release, Last Day of 2nd Quarter, Tough Like Taylor Day (Wear Orange or Pink)
Thursday, January 29-No School for Students, Staff Development Day
Friday, January 30-No School for Students, Teacher Work Day
Thursday, February 5-Spelling Bee
Wednesday, February 11-Community Flyer Day
Monday, February 16-No School (George Washington's Birthday)
Thursday, February 19-BINGO Night
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