Weekly update for February 13, 2026

Dear CES Friends and Families,

We have had an exciting, full week of learning and engagement at Columbia ES with many special events. It has been great to see so many smiles!

Please note that schools will be closed this coming Monday, February 16th, in observance of the MLK Holiday, followed by a Teacher Workday on Tuesday. We look forward to seeing all our Cougars back on Wednesday, February 18th, which is a three-hour early release day. We appreciate your partnership in keeping these schedule adjustments top-of-mind.

Have a great weekend!

Take care,

Mike Astudillo

Proud Principal

Columbia Elementary School

FCPS Region 6 Teacher of the Year - Ms. Nevin!

We are absolutely thrilled to share some wonderful news with our school community! Our very own Ms. Rosemary Nevin has been named the FCPS Region 6 Outstanding Elementary School Teacher of the Year. This prestigious honor is a true reflection of Ms. Nevin’s unwavering dedication and positive impacdt on our students, parents, and the greater Annandale community.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved achievement. As a regional winner, Ms. Nevin is now a finalist for the 2026 Fairfax County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced on June 10, 2026. We are incredibly proud to have her on this team and wish her the very best of luck in the next round!

PTA Soup Luncheon Success!

We want to extend a heartfelt note of gratitude to the incredible Columbia ES PTA for hosting the 2026 CES Soup Luncheon earlier this week on Monday, February 9th. Walking into the conference room and seeing it filled with delicious aromas—and even bigger smiles—was the highlight of the day.

The attention to detail was exceptional. From the comforting Grandma Sue Clary's Chili and the Potato and Leek Soup to the fresh Caprese Salad and everyting inbetween, every dish was a treat. And I know many of us couldn't resist finishing lunch with the Banana Pudding. Many families participated and donated items, supplies, and food and we are truly grateful!

Thank you for your generosity and for taking such wonderful care of the staff at Columbia ES. Your support fuels our teachers, both literally and figuratively, allowing us to bring our best selves to the classroom for students.

PTA News & Notes

THANK YOU!

This was a big week with the glow run and the teacher soup lunch! The Boosterthon Fundraiser and Cougar Glow Run were both a smashing success, and we hit our fundraising goal! Photos and video will be shared out soon. See below for more details!

The teacher & staff’s soup lunch was fantastic! Thank you to all those who donated soups, salads, baked goods, and volunteer hours. The teachers loved the variety.

These events could not have happened without you. Thank you for your continued support. We truly have a special school!

PTA Meeting

Please join us on Tuesday, February 24 at 7 PM on zoom. We will be discussing Read Across America and Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We look forward to our continued partnership.

To join the meeting please use the link below:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/91903873132

Family Night Out

Chick-Fil-A (2/25)

Boosterthon Fundraiser Success!

We’re excited to share that, thanks to your incredible support, we exceeded our fundraising goal of $15,000 in partnership with Boosterthon!

This means that we will slime Principal Astudillo and Assistant Principal Boudart!—we can't wait!

Here are a few final updates: