The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit FCPS’ Attendance web page for tips and strategies.

Early Release Mondays (All Grades)

The Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early at 1:05 pm seven times throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship because of the early release Mondays for many of our families. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it.

The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:

September 23

October 28

December 9

February 24

March 17

April 28

May 19

To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form:https://forms.gle/F4ViKFnwQDoX5YQg9 for each of your children who are enrolled at Aldrin Elementary if you have not yet done so. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after-school supervision plan for each student.

Family- Facing Curriculum (All Grades)

The Family-Facing Curriculum has details of what students are learning and when they are learning it for the following subjects:

Language Arts

Reading
Writing
Word Study

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Health

2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities (All Grades)

FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.

Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.

You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.

Benchmark Advance (All Grades)

FCPS has adopted Benchmark Advance for the Language Arts basal resource. Benchmark Advance provides 9 common knowledge-building units across K-6. The units integrate social studies, science, and literary topics. There are multiple text sets per topic, including fiction and nonfiction. The program is aligned with the State of Virginia standards and the science of reading research base, and it provides engaging learning opportunities for students to grow and thrive.

Safety Drills During the School Year (All Grades)

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.

The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.

Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.

Know Our Security Terms (All Grades)

FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.

Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.

If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Portrait of a Graduate (All Grades)

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in authentic ways and support students in the development of skills that employers are seeking for the workforce. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the Portrait of a Graduate attributes:

Communicator
Collaborator
Ethical and Global Citizen
Creative and Critical Thinker
Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual

SIS ParentVUE (All Grades)

Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE

Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.

Update Contact Information

Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.

Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.

Complete Permission Forms

Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.

Submit Absences

Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office.

Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.

Strategic Plan (All Grades)

✨ Our Commitment to Excellence, Equity, and Opportunity for Each and Every Student

As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which guides us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students. Watch Dr. Reid’s message.

Buses and Delays (All Grades)

Transportation Patience and Safety

Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.

If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office for Aldrin at @email or 703-249-7100 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.

Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Immunizations (All Grades)

Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records

Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.

You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.

If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.

Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.

The PTA Buzz Newsletter

Look for important information and updates about the Aldrin PTA events in The PTA Buzz Newsletter.

Aldrin PTA Board 2024-2025 (All Grades)

Please welcome the Aldrin PTA Board for the 2024-2025 School Year:

President- Jennifer Watson

Secretary- Erin McKenna

Treasurer- Steve Bowen

VP Communications - Amy Hawthorne

VP Family events- Pam Fraser

VP Advocacy- Gun Karagoz & Serife Idikut

VP Membership- Carla Dallas

VP Fundraising- Kristen Miller

VP At Large- Megan Nassau & Liz Kamp

PTA Volunteer Leaders Needed! (All Grades)

The Aldrin PTA runs on volunteer leaders and we need YOU so that the PTA can continue to run all of the important programs that enhance your child(ren)'s educational experiences! We need representation from all members of our diverse Aldrin community to ensure that we are fully meeting the needs of the community with our programs.

All PTA programs are volunteer-led and run. Without leadership, these programs are at risk of going away.

If you have questions or if you are interested in discussing a volunteer or leadership position, please contact Jennifer Watson at @email

Click here for the current newsletter.