|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Greetings Laurel Ridge Families,
What an incredible week it has been at Laurel Ridge! We enjoyed seeing our talented 5th & 6th grade students perform in the Winter Band Assembly at school and look forward to a future evening performance for families. I also want to extend a huge "Lion’s Roar" of thanks to our wonderful PTA for hosting such a fantastic Chili Cook-off and Bingo Night. The sense of community was palpable, and our staff especially enjoyed the Plinko competition during the day—it was a wonderful way to boost morale and bring some extra smiles to our team!
With a significant snowfall in the forecast for next week, the excitement in our classrooms is reaching a fever pitch. While we wait to see what the weather brings, this is a perfect time for some seasonal learning. If we do get those snowflakes, I encourage you to head outside for some "Snow Science." Have your child catch flakes on a dark piece of paper and use a magnifying glass to observe the symmetry of the crystals or track the "melt rate" of different sized snowballs brought inside. It’s a wonderful way to turn a winter wonderland into a hands-on laboratory.
As we wrap up this week, please stay tuned for the important county weather-related announcements. Thank you for your continued partnership and for making Laurel Ridge such a special place for our children to grow.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Megan Counts
Laurel Ridge Elementary Principal
|
Upcoming Laurel Ridge Events
Wednesday, January 28 - 2 Hour Early Release 1:55pm
Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30 - Student Holidays
Tuesday, February 3 - PTA meeting
Wednesday, February 4 - Body Safety Parent Session (Virtual)
Monday, February 16 - Holiday Presidents' Day
Tuesday, February 17 - Student Holiday
Wednesday, February 25 - 3 Hour early Release 12:55pm
Friday, March 20 - Holiday Eid al-Fitr
Wednesday, March 25 - 3 Hour early Release 12:55pm
Friday, March 27 - 2 Hour early Release 1:55pm
Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 - Spring Break
Monday, April 6 - Student Holiday
Friday, April 10 - Student Holiday
Wednesday, April 29 - 3 Hour early Release 12:55pm
Wednesday, May 20 - 3 Hour early Release 12:55pm
Monday, May 25 - Holiday Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 26 - Student Holiday
Wednesday, May 27 - Holiday Eid al-Adha
Wednesday, June 17 - Last Day of School 1:55 Dismissal
|
STEAM Update
Hello families and guardians,
Beginning in the 3rd quarter, all students in grades 1-6 will begin bringing their computers from their classroom to STEAM during their typical weekly STEAM time. This shift is being made in order to:
- support student access to digital learning tools, like Lexia, ST Math, Exact Path, Summit K12, and more, throughout the day.
- make student access to computers and technology resources for STEAM activities consistent throughout all grade levels and days of the week.
We believe that this small change in in-school technology procedures will support all students as they learn, explore, and grow. This will not impact students' availability to bring devices home at the end of the day if they choose to do so and have a signed device agreement.
|
Upcoming Family Café Sessions
The Family Café Series is a special time for families to come together to learn about important topics that support their child’s growth and learning. These fun and helpful sessions keep families informed and involved in their child’s education—mind, body, and heart.
At Family Café, we believe families are important partners in helping children succeed. We’re excited to learn and grow with you!
Upcoming Family Café Sessions:
The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
Technology connects us like never before, but it’s important to know how to stay safe while using it. This family workshop provides hands-on learning about internet safety to inform families of:
- Today’s popular social sites and apps used by students
- Effective strategies to engage youth in discussions regarding internet safety
- Seven primary topics to discuss with youth that will remain important from kindergarten through adulthood
Join FCPS Intervention and Prevention Services to learn how your family can build healthy, secure, and positive habits online together.
Interpreters and Childcare available.
Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
Join us to explore Career Pathways, Academies, and the wide range of courses and certifications available in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
We will be highlighting the various career and technical education courses available to middle and high school students in FCPS. This session will include information about available career pathways, specialty programs, and career academy opportunities.
Interpreters and childcare will be available.
For more information please contact the Family and School Partnerships Office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu
 |
|
Preorder Your Yearbook!
Sales for our 2025-26 yearbook are open!
If you would like a copy of the 2025-26 Laurel Ridge Yearbook, preorder here: yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 29286.
Yearbooks cost $22 and will be sent home with students the last week of school.
|
Kindergarten Registration:
It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
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 call Laurel Ridge at 703-426-3700.
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.
Prepare for Winter Weather
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.
Winter Resources for Families
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.
FCPS App
More News and Updates on-the-Go With the FCPS App
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates including weather announcements.
-
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.
|
|
