SCHOOLHOUSE NEWS - March 6

Scholastic Book Fair | Volunteer at Hayfield | Family Engagement Survey

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Calendar
National Women's History Month
Coinless Scholastic Book Fair
Register Today to Volunteer
NEW Visitor Management System (VMS)
SEL Screener
Family Engagement Survey
Measles
Kindergarten Registration, Orientation, and Virtual Workshop
Purple Up! T-shirts
Summer Learning
Community Events and Activities

March 8 - Daylight Saving Time Begins (Spring Forward)
March 9 - 13 - Scholastic Book Fair
March 11 - Deadline to order Purple Up! T-shirts
March 13 - Pi Day Dress Up
March 18 - Spring Picture Day (class photos)
March 20 - Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr (No School)
March 25 - 3 Hour Early Release | 12:20 p.m.
March 25 - Kindergarten Orientation | 2:00 p.m.

See the complete school year calendar

National Women’s History Month

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)

Sunday, March 8
2:00 a.m.

Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!

Coinless Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school March 9th through the 13th! Students, families, and teachers are all invited to shop for new books and fun learning items.

Book Fair Hours:

Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Students will preview the Book Fair on Monday, March 9 and bring home a wish list of books they would like to buy. We strongly recommend using eWallet. We will not be accepting personal checks or coins. Balances for cash payments will be rounded to the nearest dollar.

Parents and family members may visit anytime during the week to shop and credit cards may be used by adults only. Adults may also take their child out of lunch to shop together. Volunteer Here!

Support Classrooms

Teachers will create eWallet accounts to purchase books for their classroom libraries. They will share their links if you would like to donate. Any amount is appreciated and helps provide books for students for years to come.

We always need volunteers to help with shopping and working the cash registers. The more help we have ensures the children can get their books.

For more information about the fair, volunteering, or setting up eWallet, visit:
https://app.smore.com/n/j4gr6 Thank you for your support and generosity!

Register Today to Volunteer

With Spring Field Trips coming up, we need to make sure all chaperones are registered in the Volunteer FCPS system. There have been some changes to the requirements of volunteers. All Hayfield Elementary volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. Field Trip volunteers should select Level 2.

Go to Volunteer FCPS and select Field Trip Chaperone – All Grades (or select the grade if an opportunity is active) to create your profile. You must complete the next steps before your application can be accepted.

Watch the orientation video
Select OK at the bottom of the window (do not close the window)
Fill in and submit the application

Once you have completed those 3 steps, your application will be approved by Marily Grotz, Family Liaison, and your registration will be complete. It may take a few days to receive confirmation. For opportunity specific questions about the Volunteer FCPS registration process please email mgrotz@fcps.edu.

Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at Hayfield Elementary School. All volunteers are required to be registered.

Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

New Visitor Management System

We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.

For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.

But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school.

If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!

SEL Screener

The Social and Emotional Learning SEL Spring Screener window has officially opened and will be open until March 27th. The screener will be administered to all students in grades 3 through 6 unless the student has opted out. For more information, please visit FCPS’ Social Emotional Screener site.

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener/notification-letters

Family Engagement Survey

Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9

FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.

Survey topics include:

Welcoming environment
Communication
Student success
Advocacy
Family and school partnerships
Community partnerships

The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.

Measles

Fairfax County Health Department Measles Update

Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects 9 out of 10 people who are exposed, if unvaccinated or not immune. It has been in the news lately due to cases in Northern Virginia and among people who have traveled through local airports.

If your spring break or summer plans include traveling abroad or to an area in the United States with high measles activity, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages you to ensure your family is protected. Children 12 months and older should have 1 or 2 doses before traveling. Depending on your specific travel plans, your health care provider may also advise you to vaccinate infants 6 to 11 months old. Read more about these recommendations.

Kindergarten Registration

Learn About Kindergarten at Hayfield Elementary

Our kindergarten open house is being held on Wednesday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m. to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school.

We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten.

There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! For more information, contact our Student Information Assistant, Jailene Acevedo, by phone at 703-924-4507 to set up an appointment.

FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, please visit the FCPS Registration webpage.

Countdown to Kindergarten - Virtual Workshop

Friday, March 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register here

Is your preschooler heading to kindergarten this fall? Join FCPS Family Resource Center for Countdown to Kindergarten, a virtual event designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition!

During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support your child's smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Purple Up! T-shirts

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Hayfield Elementary are gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!

This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military.

FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS!

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.

Summer Learning

Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students

Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps

Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.

New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.