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RAVEN REPORT
This week we welcomed many of our new families who are joining us from non-pyramid schools. We have many students next year joining us from Belvedere, Weyonake, Bren Mar, Hayfield ES, in addition to our pyramid feeder schools like Braddock, Annandale Terrace, Mason Crest, and Columbia. Families and students had an opportunity to meet our admin team and tour the school. Families shared how excited they were to be at Poe and loved the community feel of our school. It is one of my favorite things about Poe too!
I can’t believe we have ended another quarter here at Poe MS. Was it just me or did this third quarter fly by? Between SOLs and field trips and end of year items, the school year will be over before we know it. So, as we prepare for this last quarter, let’s make sure that your students are here each day and ready to learn.
I wish you all a wonderful Spring break and much needed rest!
Follow us on Social Media: To see the latest from Poe MS follow us on Instagram at @poeravensfcps!
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Important Dates |
3/30-4/3: Spring Break
4/6: Teacher Workday (no school for students)
4/8: Parent Advisory Meeting (5:00-6:00 Library)
4/10: School Planning Day (no school for students)
4/14: Annandale Pyramid Art Show (Annandale High School 6:00pm)
4/17: Parent Coffee (9:30-10:30 Raven’s Nest)
4/17: Heritage Night (6:00-7:30 Cafeteria)
4/18: Community Clean Up Day (8:00am-12pm Poe MS)
4/21: Special Election Day (no school for students)
4/23, 4/24, 4/25: Raven Theater- Spring Musical
4/29, 4/30: Band Concert (7:00-8:00pm)
4/29: Reading 8 SOL (different bell schedule)
5/ 6: Reading 6 & 7 SOL/Science 8 SOL (different bell schedule)
5/13: Math SOLs (different bell schedule)
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Raving Ravens |
Congratulations to our Advanced Soprano/Alto chorus, the Golden Echoes. They achieved a superior rating at their Assessment on Monday. State Assessment is an important event where ensembles perform prepared pieces for a panel of judges and are evaluated on musical performance, technique, and ensemble skills. Our students worked hard preparing for this performance and represented Poe Middle School with focus, professionalism, and strong musicianship!
FRED Cards: Here’s what people are saying about our amazing staff. Below are some of the highlights from the recent FRED Cards that were submitted. The person’s name is who is being highlighted followed by what was said about them by a colleague. I will continue to highlight them in each Raven Report so keep them coming!
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Lisa Lambert: "Thank you for bringing joy to ELA8! I'm happy you're back and grateful to have you back on the team. Thank you for bringing positivity and openness to learn our new structures for CT!"
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Michelle Minor :"Thank you for modeling the "Talk, Read, Talk, Write" reading strategy for our CT! I'm so bummed that I Your classroom, I know that the teachers will have found it beneficial in learning how to create access to challenging text. Thank you for holding high expectations for all our kiddos. :)"
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Kristine Hays: "On behalf of the 8th Civics team, I would like to thank you for helping to organize the cafeteria and the students for the Finance Park trip. Your help was invaluable."
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Activities |
Turnpike Classic Basketball Event: We are excited to share an upcoming opportunity for our students to participate in the Turnpike Classic Basketball Event between Poe Middle School and Holmes Middle School.
The event will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Holmes Middle School (6525 Montrose St., Alexandria, VA 22312) and will feature a boys basketball game and a girls basketball game between student teams from each school.
Students currently in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at Poe Middle School will have the opportunity to try out for the Poe team that will compete in this event.
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.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
Production Camp is a four-week summer theatre intensive for students in grades 6-11. Students in performance or technical theatre tracks rehearse, design, and build a musical in a collaborative atmosphere. The show is presented to the public at the end of camp.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
VIP Camp is Almost Here!: We’re excited to announce that VIP Camp will be returning for another year for any rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders (attending Glasgow MS, Holmes MS, Jackson MS, Kilmer MS Poe MS, or Thoreau MS) and will be held at Glasgow Middle School (4101 Fairfax Pkwy, Lincolnia, VA 22312)!
Registration Opens: March 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (link will go live then)
Be sure to mark your calendars — spots may fill quickly!
For any questions, please contact Mr. Harsh (pgharsh@fcps.edu)
Heritage Night:
Forest Hollow 5K & Fun Run:This family-friendly community event is helping raise funds to improve the Forest Hollow pool parking lot, a space where many neighborhood kids gather for swim team practices, summer programs, and community events. The event is designed to be fun and welcoming for all ages, and we expect many local families to attend.
Hillbrook Community Cleanup: Join us on April 18 from 9am-12pm to clean up our community. To celebrate Earth Day we will be cleaning and refreshing our important community spaces and help keep these spaces safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.
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Important Information |
Weeks 4: March Madness Attendance Competition Update
- Congratulations to the RAMS team for winning the last week of the March Madness Attendance Competition with the lowest percentage of absences for the week (6.09%)
- Congratulations to the HORNETS team for winning the entire March Madness Attendance Competition with the overall lowest percent of absences for the competition (6.40%)!!!
- All Rams advisories will be called to the cafeteria at the beginning of Advisory on Monday 4/13 to pick up their prize.
- All Hornets advisories will be called down to the cafe on Friday 4/17 to enjoy breakfast burritos from Anita's
2026 Special Education Family Conference: Rescheduled: The 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to April 18, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Marshall High School.
A new conference registration form is now available. Participants are asked to register again using the updated form, as previous registrations have expired.
Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage.
SOL Saturday Bootcamps: Your child is invited to attend our Saturday SOL Review days beginning in April. The purpose is to help prepare our students for their upcoming SOL test in all content areas. Transportation will be provided along with breakfast. Please complete this form by selecting the dates your child will attend and whether you will need transportation.
Google form with Spanish/English
FCPS Commitment to Weather Safety: At FCPS, the safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our highest priority — no matter the season. In extreme cold, we monitor National Weather Service (NWS) guidance, adjust outdoor activities, and ensure our buildings are warm and secure. In extreme heat, we modify or cancel outdoor activities, use on-site measurements to guide athletic decisions, and promote hydration and cooling breaks.
FCPS has plans in place to provide guidance during severe weather, including storms, flooding, and tornadoes. Decisions are informed by industry best practices, weather alerts, and a commitment to keeping our school community safe and healthy year-round. Read more about weather safety, including the differences between an advisory, watch, and warning.
Provide the County Government With Feedback on Its Budget: About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May. Opportunities to provide feedback to the county include Budget Town Hall Meetings airing on Channel 16 on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., (Springfield District) and Friday, April 10, at 6 p.m., (Franconia District).
You can also provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Tuesday, April 14, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak.
Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
Discover What’s New on the Menu: FCPS is excited to bring new and flavorful menu items to students while continuing to meet the high nutrition standards you trust. The school division’s registered dietitian team has developed standards to make school meals healthier while still tasting great.
Here’s what students can look forward to:
- New globally inspired dishes that offer exciting flavors from around the world.
- Fresh ingredients like whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based options.
- Scratch-made items like homemade granola.
- Vegetarian options, like the meatless Philly melt, which are available alongside classic favorites.
Our goal is to provide balanced, safe, and flavorful meals that support students’ learning, growth, and overall health.
Want to know what’s on the menu? Food and Nutrition Services has menus available.
We Want Your Feedback! Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire: On Monday, April 6, parents and guardians of Poe MS will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.
Topics covered in the survey include:
✅ Instructional leadership
✅ School climate
✅ Management (human resources and organizational)
✅ Communication and community relations
✅ Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
✅ Professionalism
The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and feedback!
Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year: As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Please contact Brig Carrie for support or assistance. To access this feature:
- Log in to your ParentVUE
- Navigate to the Course Request
- Review your student’s course request list for next school year.
- To complete the acknowledgment, click Student Info in the left menu.
- Click Edit Information.
- In the Course Request Acknowledgmentfield, update the acknowledgment field to Yes.
- Click Save Changes.
Families have until Friday, March 27, to review and acknowledge course requests via this new feature.
Visit the FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage for more instructions and screenshots of this process.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid: As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
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