National Junior Honor Society students at Stone Middle School have organized a backpack donation initiative to support classmates on the first day of school. The new academic year for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) begins Monday, August 18.
FCPS is encouraging families to prepare by registering their children, reviewing the school year calendar, ensuring immunizations are up-to-date, and signing up for SIS ParentVUE and school newsletters. Parents are also reminded to update contact information and follow schools on social media.
For student meals, FCPS has introduced a new process where students must know their ID number to receive meals. Families can use MySchoolBucks to purchase meals and apply for free or reduced-price options. Dietary accommodations can be submitted online, and menus with allergen information are available.
The Parent Digital Consent system allows families to manage permissions for various educational tools and after-school care options. Elementary parents should use this system to opt in or out of Early Release Wednesday childcare. Eight early release days are scheduled during the 2025-26 year; no instruction will occur during supervised after-school care on these days. Parents must complete the opt-in form by Monday, August 25 if they require supervision for all early release Wednesdays.
FCPS offers family information phone lines in nine languages. Calls made Monday through Friday will be returned within 24 hours by an FCPS employee who speaks the caller’s preferred language.
A new safety and routing system is being piloted on some FCPS buses this year. Dr. Michelle C. Reid discussed the program with Bus Driver Supervisor Lei Shi in her Weekly Reflections series. The technology includes real-time navigation, radio frequency ID check-ins for students, and live bus tracking for families.
Updates have been made to FCPS’ cell phone policy: high school students may not use phones during passing periods or as instructional tools; elementary and middle school students must keep devices off throughout the day; high schoolers may only use them at lunch in designated spaces.
Families are urged to ensure their children meet Virginia’s immunization requirements before August 18. Immunization records can be submitted via SIS ParentVUE or delivered directly to schools; exemptions require appropriate documentation.
Schoology continues as FCPS’s platform for classroom materials, assignments, discussions, and announcements. Parent accounts will become available after August 18 through SIS ParentVUE.
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met recently but no boundary changes are planned for the upcoming school year.
Principal Amy Briggs returns for her 34th first day at Spring Hill Elementary School—this time as principal—after previously serving in several roles at her former elementary school.
This summer’s cohort of FCPS interns completed six weeks of hands-on experience in public education administration and contributed to division projects exploring careers in public service and education.
Parents can review policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy rights, and related opt-out forms on the Annual Notice webpage.
