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Dear Thoreau Families,
It was a busy and exciting week at Thoreau! We kicked off WIDA testing for our multilingual students, held a Rising 7th Grade Activities Fair, and hosted a Rising 8th Grade Parent Coffee for our Spanish-speaking families. We value these opportunities to connect with our families and help our future Eagles prepare for success at Thoreau! In other exciting news, two new murals have been added to create an even more welcoming environment. See the photos below!
Ramadan Observance
Ramadan begins on February 28th and ends on March 29th. We will provide designated spaces away from the cafeteria for students who are fasting during lunch. Students who need a fasting space during Ramadan may use the library during their assigned lunch period.
We expect students using the alternate lunch location for fasting to follow library rules, be respectful of the supervisor and show respect for students wishing to have a space conducive to reflection. Activities will be provided for students if they desire.
Meditation and Silent Reflection Rooms
These rooms are primarily for student use outside of instructional time, such as the end of the day. Students are only permitted to use these rooms during instructional time when all other options have been exhausted and a student's needs cannot be met without impacting instruction.
If a student requires the use of these rooms regularly during instructional time, parents/caregivers must provide written permission. Please use this Google Form to request permission for your child to utilize the meditation and silent reflection space during instructional times.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, FCPS students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28, 2025 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day. These meal kits will be charged to student meal accounts based on their usual meal eligibility status. Meaning if a student regularly qualifies for meals at no cost, the Student Fasting Meal Kits will be at no cost. If a student is paid status for breakfast and lunch, their student account will charged a breakfast and lunch.
School meal kits will provide complete, healthy meals that include protein, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and whole grains—just like the meals served at school. The food will be kept cold so it stays fresh, and you can heat it at home. The meals are made to fit different food preferences.
Here's how it works:
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Parents/Guardians: Fill out a Fasting Meals Request Form for each week your child will pick up school meal kits.
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Student Pick-up: Students can pick up one breakfast meal kit and one lunch meal kit at the end of the school day.
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Who can get a meal kit? Any student who is fasting can get a meal kit. If a student gets lunch or breakfast at school, they can't get a meal kit that day. Only students can pick up the meal kits – no adults.
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When? These meal kits are only available from February 28 to March 28, 2025 at the end of the school day.
Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions.
As you all know, we are experiencing a high level of students who have been out sick. Additionally, Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department. The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
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Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
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