2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

• January 28: End of 2nd Quarter - 2-hr Early Release at 2:05pm
• January 29: Student Holiday (Staff Development Day for Staff)
• January 30: Student Holiday (Teacher Workday for Staff)
• February 16: No School, President's Day
• February 17: : Student Holiday (Teacher Workday for Staff)

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Message from Principal Vereb 

Reflections from the Hive: Honoring Legacy, Strengthening Systems, and Planning Ahead

This week at Herndon Elementary was grounded in purpose and forward momentum. From honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to strengthening the systems that support our students and planning for the future of our growing school, our hive remained focused on what matters most—students, relationships, and continuous improvement. Below are several highlights from the week.

Honoring Legacy and Values

We began the week reflecting on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Across classrooms, students engaged in age-appropriate learning focused on his leadership, service to others, and the importance of treating one another with respect. These conversations reinforced the values of empathy, responsibility, and community that guide our work each day at Herndon Elementary.

Instructional Focus and Student Support

On Tuesday, I joined our Regional Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jameile Choice, for classroom visits in the upper grades. These visits provided valuable opportunities to see teaching and learning in action, engage in reflective dialogue, and align our instructional practices with division priorities.

In addition, our MTSS team met to take a deep dive into student data. This work reinforces our commitment to using data intentionally to identify needs early, provide targeted supports, and monitor progress for all learners.

Leadership, Attendance, and Systems Work

Our Guiding Coalition met this week with a focused lens on chronic absenteeism. Together with our grade-level leaders, we examined patterns, discussed root causes, and aligned next steps to ensure students are present, engaged, and connected to school each day.

I also had the opportunity to meet with our School Board Member, Robyn Lady, to discuss markers for success as I begin my tenure as principal of Herndon Elementary. These conversations help ensure alignment, transparency, and shared expectations as we move forward.

Facilities, Growth, and Intentional Design

As we plan for renovation and continued growth, our Leadership Team reviewed School Specialty classroom designs to support thoughtful furniture selection and the creation of intentional learning spaces. These decisions are centered on how physical environments can best support student engagement, collaboration, and well-being.

Connection, Learning, and Looking Ahead

I continued one-on-one meetings with parents and staff—conversations I committed to during the interview process. These meetings remain an important way to listen, learn, and build trust within our community.

At the division level, I attended the all-county principals meeting (ACPM), learning alongside more than 200+ principals and center administrators about how FCPS is positioning itself as a leader in the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare students for a rapidly changing workforce. I also learned more about the superintendent’s budget presentation to the School Board, which outlines priorities and planning for the year ahead.

Finally, on Friday, I attended the William & Mary Education Recruiting Fair as we actively plan to hire a new teacher in every grade level in preparation for welcoming more than 190+ new students in SY 2026–27.

I am grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and collaboration that define our school community. This week reflected a strong balance of honoring our values, strengthening our systems, and planning thoughtfully for the future.