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November 21, 2025
Dear Waynewood Owls,
Another wonderful week has flown by here at Waynewood Elementary, filled with community spirit, beautiful music, and a whole lot of gratitude!
One of the highlights of this past week was our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. It was truly special to see our cafeteria and gym filled with so many parents, guardians, and special guests joining our students for the meal. The warmth and joy in the room were palpable, and it felt like the perfect start to the holiday season. A huge thank you goes out to Morgan and Jamie Jones for their incredible efforts in organizing this massive undertaking, and to our dedicated Assistant Principal, Alyssa Bonner, for her meticulous collaboration and planning. Our cafeteria staff also did an amazing job. They served hundreds and hundreds of meals in a short period of time. Their hard work made it a truly memorable event.
We also celebrated the musical talents of our students this week at the West Potomac Pyramid Concert! Our 6th-grade choir did an absolutely amazing job, showcasing their beautiful voices alongside students from all the other elementary, middle, and high schools in the pyramid. It was a proud moment for us, and it was especially rewarding to see so many Waynewood alumni who are now thriving in the middle school and high school choirs. Thank you to our exceptional music teacher, Ben Reigner, for preparing our students so well for this collaborative performance.
Looking ahead, get ready to lace up your sneakers! The Gobbler Gallop is tomorrow, Saturday, November 22nd. Please note the race will happen rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. We have some serious competition this year, as those speedy runners will be vying for frozen turkeys for the fastest in each age group! We extend our deepest thanks to the race organizers, McCaughan Andrukonis, Whitney Klinke, Aaricka Oliver, Kristi Wuellner, for the tremendous amount of work that goes into planning and executing this fun community event.
And speaking of running, our incredible Girls on the Run group has their celebratory 5K race this Sunday! They have been diligently practicing and preparing, and we know they will give it their all. They truly exemplify perseverance and teamwork. A big shout-out and thank you to Head Coach Natalie Thomas and all of the fantastic volunteer coaches for their dedication to these wonderful girls.
Finally, the Waynewood staff felt the love this week when our PTA set up a delicious popcorn bar for us. Their thoughtful gesture brightened our day and we are so grateful for their ongoing support and generosity.
Please remember that next week is a short one due to the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no school for students from Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th. Therefore, you will not receive a newsletter from me next Friday.
As we head into this time of reflection and thanks, I want to share how incredibly grateful I am to be the principal of Waynewood Elementary and a part of this amazing, supportive community. It is our families, students, and staff that make this school a truly special place every single day.
Wishing you all a wonderful, restful, and safe Thanksgiving filled with joy and good company!
Sincerely,
Katie Cachine, Principal
Alyssa Bonner, Assistant Principal
Allison Ovalle, Assistant Principal
Waynewood's Girls on the Run Club is running in their celebratory 5K this weekend. Girls on the Run is a program for 5th and 6th grade girls at Waynewood that uses running and physical activity to help participants build confidence. It also empowers them to develop healthy habits and recognize their own strengths. We know our girls will have a great run at their 5K! Go Waynewood!
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Schools and offices will be closed November 26 to 28. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Classes will resume on Monday, December 1. See the complete school year calendar.
Happy Friday! Overdue notices were emailed to families earlier this week. Please help your child find their overdue books so they can be returned as soon as possible. Books can be returned to the book drop in the front lobby, classroom bins, or to the library directly. Thank you – have a nice weekend!
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Kathryn Adams (khadams@fcps.edu) no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Kathryn Adams (khadams@fcps.edu).
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by our school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
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