Halley Days of Cheer & Winter Teacher Appreciation: Hornet Happenings Week of Dec. 15th

HORNET HAPPENINGS Dec. 15th

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Lets' Countdown the Days to

Winter Break in Style!

Friday is Teacher Winter Appreciation Day

Show your teacher (specialists and instructional assistants as well) some winter cheer on Friday! Show how much you appreciate all of their care and hard work by bringing in thoughtful winter treats, trinkets, and cards.

Let's show our Hornet appreciation!

Mark Your Calendar!

Wednesday, December 17th, 3 Hour Early Release 1:05 pm.

Monday December 22nd to Friday January 2nd, Winter Break (Student Holiday)

Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. See the complete school year calendar.

It's Almost Time for Halley's Annual Spelling Bee

We are so excited for this fantastic opportunity to participate in the 2025- 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Grade level spelling bee: Tuesday, January 13th during school hours.
Top 4 finishers in each grade level (1st-6th) will advance to the Halley Elementary School-wide Spelling Bee: Thursday, February 19th from 6:00-8:00 pm.
The school champion will advance to the Fairfax County Spelling Bee: Sunday, March 22nd at 2:00 PM at Lake Braddock Secondary School.
The county champion will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee held in late May, 2026.
Students have a new way to study by downloading Word Club for free in the App Store or Google Play Store.
See the rules here: Spelling Rules

Return the permission slip that came home in Friday folders to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, January 9^th

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

students smile in their winter jackets on the blacktop

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

Full-Time AAP Referral Deadline

Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15

Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form (translation below) to Christy Talley at cmtalley@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.

Each year, families can submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.

Next Steps for Parents

Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Christy Talley at cmtalley@fcps.edu.

At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.

At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)

Attendance Is Important Every Day!

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break, which can impact your child’s learning. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Check out our attendance resources.

Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

All School Year Long: Halley Spirit Wear

Show your Halley spirit all year long! Our Spirit Wear Store is open 24/7 with tons of new gear and styles for everyone.