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Table of Contents

• Important Dates
• A Message from the Principal
• Bryant High School Information
• FCPS News

Important Dates

Bryant High School graduates celebrate at the FCPS summer graduation ceremony held on July 29, at West Springfield High School. We are so proud of their accomplishments!

A Message from the Principal

Greetings Bryant Families!

We hope you are having a wonderful summer enjoying time with family and friends! Our team is hard at work preparing for an incredible school year, and we cannot wait to welcome our students back on Monday, August 24, for the first day of school.

This is the first of our weekly parent updates, which will arrive in your email inbox every Sunday. This newsletter is longer than normal, but filled with all the information you need to start the year. Below, you will find essential details and important dates to help your family prepare for the first day of school.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• New Student Orientation: Thursday, August 13 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• All students new to Bryant will take a tour, learn about our school community, and receive a welcome packet. School transportation and lunch will be provided for this event.
• Bryant Open House: Saturday, August 22 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Drop in to complete and submit your required beginning-of-year forms and pick up your student’s class schedule. (Note: If you cannot attend, schedules will be available on StudentVue or can be picked up on the first day of school.)
• United Community Block Party: Saturday, August 22 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• After visiting the Bryant Open House, join us out back for food trucks, games, vendors and fun for the entire family! See additional details below.

We look forward to seeing our students and families soon!

Welcome Back!

Cindy Conley

Bryant High School Information

Mark your calendars! Bryant High School is hosting an Open House on August 22 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Head over to Bryant High School at  2709 Popkins Lane in Alexandria (please enter through Door 1) for a fun-filled day. Here is a look at what we have planned:

• Teacher Meet & Greet: Come meet your teachers and get ready for the school year.
• Free School Supplies: Pick up essential supplies during our giveaway.

Overflow parking and shuttle bus available at West Potomac High School (6500 Quander Road, Alexandria).

If you have any questions, feel free to call 703-660-2000. We can't wait to see you there!

Get ready for a fantastic day of community, culture, and connection! Everyone is invited to the ALX SOUTH Block Party, a family-friendly celebration packed with activities for all ages.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
• Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Bryant High School (Parking Lot), 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306
• Admission: Free! Everyone is welcome.
• Overflow Parking and Shuttle Bus: West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road

What to Expect:

• Family Fun: Free games, crafts, activities, and entertainment for all ages!
• Live Entertainment: Enjoy music and great energy all day long.
• Food Trucks: Grab delicious bites and tasty treats.
• Raffles & Giveaways: Win amazing prizes from local businesses!

Be sure to scan the QR code on the flyer to register ahead of time! For any questions, you can reach out to cecilia.fix@unitedcommunity.org.

New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall 

As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.

The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.

The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.

It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.

Cell Phone-Free School - 8:00 am - 2:45 pm  Updated Cellphone Policy: No Phones or Devices During Lunch for High School Students Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime. Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy. This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage. To help ensure students are able to focus on academics, students will be issued a Yondr Pouch at the beginning of the school year that they will use each day. We will be demonstrating the Yondr Pouch at our Open House on August 22 from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day

Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices. 

Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. 

Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies. 

Greetings from the Health Room

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Greetings from your school Health Room! Our Health Room team is excited to partner with you in supporting the health and well-being of your student. Please keep us informed of any health concerns or medical needs your child may have so we can support them effectively throughout the school year.   

We urge you to utilize the open house date (Saturday, August 22 from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM) and time to drop off any medications your student may require throughout the school year. Please note that medications cannot be accepted without fully completed authorization forms for SY 2026-2027. Any medication authorizations from the previous school year have now expired.

Does your student have a medical condition, require medication during the school day, or need a health care procedure?

• If your student has a seizure disorder (epilepsy), please have your student’s health care provider complete the FCPS Authorization for Seizure Action Plan (SS/SE-385) and return it to the school public health nurse (PHN). This includes authorization for seizure rescue medications and procedures that may be required during the school day.
• If medication must be administered during the school day, please follow the guidelines established in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2102.

1. Have your student’s health care provider complete appropriate FCPS medication authorization forms and submit them to the school health room annually, as applicable:

•  Medication Authorization (SS/SE-63)
•  Authorization for Anaphylaxis Action Plan (SS/SE-64) for epinephrine
•  Virginia Asthma Action Plan and Authorization for Virginia Asthma Action Plan (SS/SE-65) for asthma rescue medication.

     2. Bring your student’s medications to the health room.

Does your student require a special diet or have food allergies?

•   If your student requires a modified diet and will eat school meals, please refer to the Steps to Request Dietary Accommodations. Forms are available for students who require medical dietary accommodations and those who cannot drink cow’s milk and need milk substitutes. 

Thank you for partnering with us to help keep all FCPS students healthy, safe and ready to learn. We look forward to working with you throughout the school year.

If you have any questions, feel free to call our Public Health Nurse, Kofo Williams, RN at 703-660-2000. You can also contact Email: kwilliams3@fcps.edu.

Sincerely,

Kofo Williams, PHN

Calling All Rising Seniors: Apply for the Fairfax Global Leaders Fellowship 

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community and around the world? The Fairfax Global Leaders Fellowship is now accepting applications for the Class of 2027!

Students must:

• Be a Fairfax County resident or attend Fairfax County Public Schools.
• Be a rising high school senior (Class of 2027).
• Have a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Before applying, please have your resume (.doc or .pdf) and high school transcript (.doc or .pdf) ready to upload. Students will also answer several short questions as part of the application. 

There is no cost to apply. Students admitted to the program pay a one-time $75 administrative fee to support program expenses. The fee will be waived for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals or who are experiencing financial hardship.

To apply, complete the Global Leaders Fellowship Application Form by Tuesday, September 1, at 11:59 p.m. (You must use a personal Gmail account to apply.)  

Questions? Please email apply@fairfaxleaders.com.

FCPS News

We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!

As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready! 

☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at 703-660-2000 or cmcaballero@fcps.edu if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere! 

Update Your Contact Information

Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts. 

☑️ Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. 

When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.

☑️ Learn About School Meals

Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.

☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the