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April 17, 2026
Dear Waynewood Owls,
Spring is officially in full bloom here at Waynewood Elementary, and the energy around our building this week has been nothing short of magical. One of the highlights of our week was celebrating our military-connected students during our dedicated Spirit Week. We are so fortunate to be a "Purple Star" community, and it was an honor to see our hallways filled with support for our military families. Our military-connected youth possess a unique set of strengths; they are adaptable, brave, and possess a global perspective that enriches our classrooms. They handle transitions with grace and build friendships with an open heart, teaching us all a little something about courage and steadfastness. To our military families: thank you for your service and for allowing us to be a "home away from home" for your wonderful children.
The beautiful weather also drew us outdoors for our Spring Planting Day in the courtyard. There is something truly restorative about getting our hands in the dirt, and our students were eager to help prepare our garden beds. It was a joy to watch them work together, learning about biology and stewardship in the sunshine. We are already looking forward to the harvest, and we simply can’t wait to taste the literal fruits—and vegetables—of their hard labor later this season!
I also want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible success of our PTA Spring Fling. Between the intricate face painting, the laughter echoing from the bounce houses, the fantastic music from the DJ, and the delicious variety of food trucks, it was a night to remember. An event of this magnitude doesn't happen by accident. A huge thank you goes out to our phenomenal event organizers, Meredith Morris and Lindsay Ammons. Their efforts created a space where our families could connect and celebrate, and I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we appreciate their hard work.
As more of our students take advantage of the sunny days by riding their bikes to school, I have a small safety reminder. Please encourage your children to use the bike racks provided and ensure they are locking their bikes securely each morning. This helps keep our walkways clear and ensures that their "wheels" are safe and sound until the afternoon bell rings.
We ended the week with a pop-up bouquet bar for our staff, courtesy of the PTA. Thank you to our appreciation chairs and everyone who contributed to this fun and beautiful event for our staff!
It has been a week filled with growth, gratitude, and a whole lot of fun. Thank you for your continued partnership in making Waynewood such a warm and welcoming place for every child. I hope your weekend is filled with as much sunshine and joy as we’ve shared here at school!
Sincerely,
Katie Cachine, Principal
Alyssa Bonner, Assistant Principal
This week one class from each grade level had the opportunity to come to the courtyard to participate in Spring planting day. The students were able to taste different plants growing in our beds, then got to help us prepare and plant the beds for Spring! Thank you to Juan Pablo Echeverria and Erin Schwartzman for their help to make this experience happen for our students.
In this picture, kindergarten students are preparing to plant!
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Thursday, April 30-Grades 3 and 4 Reading SOL
Friday, May 1-Grades 5 and 6 Reading SOL
Wednesday, May 6- Grade 3 Math and Grade 4 (Gagliardi, Garcia, Thompson) Math
Thursday, May 7-Grades 5 and 6 Math, Lafayette (4) Math
Thursday, May 14-Grade 5 Science
Thursday, May 28-Wednesday, June 3-Expedited Retakes
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Adjusted Elementary Early Release WednesdaysStudents will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.
The Waynewood Yearbook can be purchased directly from Lifetouch at ybpay.Lifetouch.com through Monday, April 27, 2026.
Use code 14417526 or search for “Waynewood” on the Lifetouch ordering website. The cost for a yearbook is $15.25. Lifetouch offers packages for inserts at an additional cost.
Please spread the word, yearbook sales close on Monday, April 27, 2026.
To secure your copy, order by April 27!
We do not order extra copies of the yearbook, so don't miss out!
If you have questions about the yearbook, please email Janet Laisch at jclaisch@fcps.edu.
 Next week is Earth Week! While we all work hard to protect our planet each day, Earth Week gives us a chance to learn about new opportunities and make commitments to do even more. Each day next week has a theme and we will be having spirit days to match:
- Monday, April 20 – Wildlife Day - wear nature print
- NO School Tuesday, April 21 – Zero Waste Day - wear white
- Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day - wear green
- Thursday, April 23 – Climate Change Day - wear red
- Friday, April 24- Watershed Day - wear blue
Avoid the crowded stores this year and do your back-to-school shopping from the comfort of your own home. Waynewood School is offering school supply kits for sale online through Sprout School Supplies for the 2026-27 school year. With a few easy clicks, your student(s) will be all set for back-to-school this fall, while saving you time and money.
Sprout makes back-to-school easy for parents, students, and teachers by offering customized prepackaged school supply kits. Not only do families save time and money on back-to-school shopping, but students are also prepared with the tools they need to learn from the very first day. As you know, when students are ready to learn, teachers are able to do what they do best.
Order your Spout Supply Kit online now at sproutsupplies.com using School Code WES001. The deadline to order your kit is 07/07/2026. If you have any questions, contact Jen Mellon Condon or Jenn Bradley at supplies@waynewoodpta.org.
Many parents/guardians are interested in having a role in their child’s class placement. You have the best overall knowledge of your children and their unique traits. The class placement process is approached very carefully and thoroughly. In order to provide the best environment for students, we seek input from both staff and parents/guardians. Please share your thoughts on the needs of your child by answering the questions in this form.
When completing the form, I ask that you:
• Share the qualities of a teacher and classroom environment that would best meet your child’s needs.
• Let us know if you feel that your child should be separated from another student, we will take that request into consideration. Please remember that best friends do not necessarily belong in the same instructional group.
• PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A TEACHER BY NAME. We cannot honor requests for specific teachers.
• Please do not include negative information about past teachers, as the teachers may read these forms when assisting with class assignments.
If you are interested in sharing this information, please complete the form below and submit it by May 15, 2026.
There are many factors that are considered when classes are formed. We consider the parent/guardian information when making class placement decisions, but cannot guarantee that all parent/guardian requests can be honored.
Use this Google Form to submit your feedback.
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child’s development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas: communication, fine and/or gross motor skills, self-help skills, problem-solving, and attention skills. Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) provides evaluations and services for children (0-36 months) who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and 5 years (children must be two by September 30).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process. Parents are encouraged to call 571-423-4121 with questions.
Tuesday, April 21: No School for Students (Statewide Election)
Monday, April 27-Deadline to Order a Yearbook
Tuesday, May 12: PTA Meeting
Wednesday, May 20: 3 Hour Early Release
Thursday, May 21-PTA International Night
Monday, May 25-Wednesday May 27-No School for Students
See the complete school year calendar
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