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Messages from Mr. Morris
As we wrap up our first two weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to shout out our phenomenal PTA. Their hard work behind the scenes during the summer and to start our school year has been terrific.
Already this season, our PTA has:
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Welcomed New & Military Families: They hosted a New Family Popsicle Party at our Open House and provided outreach to our military-connected families. They have already begun partnering with our Family Liaison, Mrs. Grotz, to support our Family Resource Room, create a plan for volunteer support schoolwide and ensure we have snacks for students that might forget one from home.
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Supported Our Staff: They treated our staff to a kickoff breakfast earlier in August, organized volunteers to help set up classrooms during the first week back, had some extra supplies on hand for our teachers, and showered our staff with energy during our appreciation car parade. Other ways they have boosted morale was through swag purchases for our staff, including t-shirts and homemade lanyards that are quite stylish I might add! These swag upgrades ensure all our staff, new and returning, are uniting in school pride (and style and comfort, too). I’m convinced Ms. Hestmark has been coordinating her assistant principal style with her new lanyard!
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Connected Our Community: They’ve showed up ready to engage our families at both our Community Resource Fair and Back to School Night.
Their support directly impacts the warmth and strength of our school culture. Looking ahead to September, they are hosting a PTA meeting, a military-connected family coffee and a community movie night.
Thank you to everyone serving on our PTA and board, as well as to every family who contributes time, energy, and resources to the great work we do here at The Landing.
We appreciate you!
Kevin Morris, Principal
- September 7 - Labor Day Break (No School)
- September 11 - Rosh Hashanah (observance only)
- September 15 - October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 17 - Military Parents Coffee | 9:30 a.m. | Cafeteria
- September 17 - PTA Meeting | 7:00 p.m. | Library
with Special Guest - Mr. Davis, Assistant Principal
- September 21 - Yom Kippur (No School)
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11. That day is an evening-only observance day. Important events will not be held after school.
Yom Kippur
Monday September 21, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
September 11 National Day of Service
With the upcoming 25th anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit the FCPS Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
We want to share a quick reminder about daily snacks for students. Packing a healthy daily snack gives your child the quick energy boost they need to stay focused, energized, and ready to learn throughout the school day.
We are so grateful for our wonderful PTA, whose generosity allows us to keep a backup supply of extra snacks in classrooms for those days when a snack is forgotten or other student needs arise. However, please remember that what our PTA provides is more of a “safety net” to ensure all students have access to a snack each day. The snacks our PTA provides are not meant to be for all students each school day.
The primary responsibility for providing a daily snack remains with each family. We ask that you please build packing a nutritious option, like fresh fruit, veggies, cheese, or whole grains, into your family's daily morning routine. If you’d like additional support or resources for maintaining daily snacks for your child, please contact Mrs. Grotz, our Family Liaison, at mgrotz@fcps.edu.
Thank you so much for your partnership in keeping our students nourished, happy, and ready to thrive every day!
Volunteering at Stratford Landing Elementary!
We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application.
Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias.
As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
Learn more about volunteering in FCPS here.
FCPS invites new and returning military-connected families to celebrate the start of the 2026–27 school year at a Welcome BBQ. Families can enjoy food, activities, and an opportunity to meet and connect with other military-connected families from across FCPS.
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Date: September 9, 2026
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Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Location: Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015
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Registration: Register ASAP
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Contact: militaryfamilies@fcps.edu
For more events supporting military families please be sure to sign up for the FCPS News You Choose - Family Engagement - Military Families.
Each year three exceptional teachers in each state are recognized by the National Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and patriotism to their students. The VFW annually recognizes each state's top classroom elementary, junior high, and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics—at least half of the school day in a classroom environment—and promote America’s history, traditions and institutions effectively.
The VFW’s National Citizenship Education Teacher Awards (Teacher of the Year) include the following items:
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Recognition/Award at the Post level
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Recognition/Award at the District level
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Recognition/Award at the State/National level
HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION:
Please review the new rules and eligibility requirements for the 2026-2027 year here.
Download the 2026-2027 entry form here and fill it out.
Application forms and nomination packets are due to your local VFW Post by October 31st. Nomination packet should include the following: a one-page resume as a minimum or up to five pages, including the resume, as a maximum of documentation of their teaching experience (for example: resume, references, news articles, etc.) and a head-and shoulder photo of themselves, if available.
Note: Nominations can be submitted by self-submission, fellow teachers, supervisors, family members or other interested individuals.
Family Literacy Program
Free English Classes at West Potomac High School
Improve your English and learn how the school systems works to support your children's education. Your school aged children are also welcome! Classes begin Tuesday, September 22.
Dates/Times: Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Rd, Alexandria
Contact: Rosa Rapavi | rarapavi@fcps.edu
Katherine Lodge | klodge@fcps.edu
FCPS Adult and Community Education (Registration Open)
Adult ESOL Fall Term
Registration is open for the Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) fall term. Scholarships are available for adults who want to strengthen their English language skills.
HealthWorks (Available Now)
Free School Physicals
HealthWorks offers free school physicals for uninsured children ages 3 to 18 who are entering a Virginia school for the first time. Appointments include a physical exam, dental screening, hearing and vision tests, TB screening, and immunizations. Sports physicals are not available, and a parent or legal guardian must attend.
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Mark your Calendar:
September 17 - Military Parents Coffee | 9:30 a.m.
September 17 - PTA Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
Special Guest - Mr. Davis, Assistant Principal
September 22 - Dine Out with SLES (Panera!)
September 25 - Movie Night | 6:30 p.m.
October 5th - Dine Out SLES & 6th Grade
FIVE GUYS | 4:00-8:00 p.m.
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Stratford Landing ES Fall Clubs Registration is now open!
Be sure to check the Stratford Landing PTA website to explore all of our exciting upcoming clubs. This season features a fantastic variety of activities, including Chess, STEM, Garden, Drama, Pokémon, Bloom Club, and Dungeons & Dragons, with full program descriptions and payment links available directly on the PTA website. Don't let financial barriers stand in the way of joining the fun—scholarships are available so every student has the opportunity to participate! Email clubs@slpta.org with any questions.
SLES Military Parents' Coffee Meet-Up
Thursday, September 17th at 9:30am
Join our SLES Military liaison and other military parents in the cafeteria for an informal get-together for some coffee and donuts. This is a great way for new and returning military families to connect and share their military journey. If anyone is interested in purchasing the SLES Purple Up shirt.
SLES Full Membership PTA Meeting
Thursday, September 17th at 7pm
Join us for the Stratford Landing Elementary School PTA Full Membership Meeting on Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 PM in the school library to approve the PTA budget, learn about upcoming events, and explore great ways to get involved.
We are thrilled to host our newest Assistant Principal, Mr. Davis, as our special guest, so come out to say hello and get to know him! Enjoy complimentary snacks and refreshments while taking advantage of free child care provided by the Girl Scouts.
Stratford Landing ES Movie Night
Friday, September 25th
Grab your blankets and lawn chairs for a fantastic evening under the stars at Stratford Landing Elementary School’s Movie Night on Friday, September 25th! We will be showing The Super Mario Galaxy Movie! It’s the perfect opportunity to relax with neighbors, catch up with friends, and enjoy a fun-filled Friday night with the whole school community.
We’ll have Timber Pizza serving up fresh, delicious, hot pies to take care of dinner for the family. The SLES Fourth Grade will be offering candy, popcorn and drinks to earn funds for their upcoming field trip to Jamestown! Top off the night with a refreshing, icy snow cone from Kona Ice for a sweet weekend treat you won't want to miss! Field and Food Trucks/Concessions will open at 6:30pm. The movie starts at 7:15pm.
Dine Out for SLES
September 22nd and October 5th
Need an excuse to go out to eat? The perfect reason is to help Stratford Landing Elementary School! During the ‘26-‘27 school year we will be conducting “Dine Outs with SLES” and “Dine Outs with SLES and the 6th Grade”! Check out slpta.org for more details!
The September “Dine out for SLES” will take place at Panera Bread (6670 Richmond Hwy) on Tuesday, September 22nd. Online Orders: use the code: FUND4U during the hours of 6AM-9PM and Panera will donate 25% of sales to the Stratford Landing PTA. In store orders: between 4pm-8pm, please present an electronic or printed copy of the SLES/Panera Fundraiser flyer to the cashier when ordering.
The October “Dine Out for SLES and the 6th grade” will take place at Five Guys Restaurant (7622 Richmond Hwy) from 4-8pm on Monday, October 5th! Online orders: when checking out, please use the code: FGGIVESBACK. In store orders: please inform the cashier you are here for the Stratford Landing ES fundraiser. Five Guys will donate 20% of all sales that use the code or mention the fundraiser to the Stratford Landing ES 6th Grade Committee! Funds raised from “Dine Out for SLES and the 6th grade” will go towards helping the 6th grade raise money for the graduation activities planned for their final year at Stratford Landing Elementary School. Let’s come together, show them our support…and enjoy some yummy Five Guys!
School Directory Opt-Out Form Due Monday, September 14th
Everyone should have received the School Directory Opt-Out Form in their Wednesday Folder. It is due back to the school by 9/14/2026. The opt-out form is only if you DO NOT want the parent name and email addresses printed in the directory. If you have any questions, please email directory@slpta.org.
Artwork for School Directory Cover Due Monday, September 14.
All art work submissions for the directory cover are due back to your teacher by 9/14/2026. The submission must be 8" tall x 5” wide and include “2026-2027 Stratford Landing Elementary School Directory” within the art work. If you have any questions, please email directory@slpta.org.
Become a Stratford Landing Elementary School Volunteer!
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