Fox Tales

• Jan. 5-27-VALLSS Mid year Assessment Window for K-3
• Jan. 13th-Oratorical Competition Practice begins! 7:30-7:55 every morning!
• Jan. 19th-NO SCHOOL MLK Holiday
• Jan. 22- Virtual PTA Meeting-7 pm (note the date change)
• Jan. 26th- MP2 Report Card sent home in backpacks
• Jan. 27-30 Winter Math VGA for 3rd-5th graders
• Jan. 30th-MP2 Awards Assemblies for 3rd, 4th, 5th grades
• Jan. 30th- Kindergarten Alphabet Parade- 2-2:15
• Feb. 3rd-City-Wide Spelling Bee @ River City MS-6pm
• Feb. 6th- 100th day of School!!!!!! 💯
• Feb. 7th-PTA Art Auction-6:30pm
• March 26th- Author Katherine Applegate coming to Fox! Order her book!

Do something meaningful, that will make a difference in our community on Monday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr!

So many students and staff are getting sick...... 😮😷🤧🤮

Please donate containers of Clorox/Lysol Wipes and Hand Sanitizer to school. I am asking teachers to wipe down desks/table tops/back of chairs at least once per day!

Also--Please do NOT send your child to school if they are sick.

Reminder: students must be fever free without medication for 24 hours in order to return to class AND must be vomit free for 24 hours as well.

Note from Principal:*********I know as a working mom this is SO DIFFICULT. However, if your child wakes up in the morning and does not feel well, please do not give them medicine and then tell them to go to the nurse if they don't feel better.......this is spreading the HIGHLY contagious Norovirus, Covid, Flu, and the respiratory virus rapidly through the school. Please help to stop the spread!

The following activity begins January 20:

-Mad Science

Join the PTA to hear about upcoming events including the return of the school-wide FOX DANCE and a preview of the Auction; an update on the outdoor play spaces at Fox; the new state-wide school performance ratings & Fox's data with Principal Jacobs and more. Email the PTA with any questions you'd like to discuss!

Meeting link here.

It's almost time for the Fox Art Auction at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. There will be delicious bites catered by Stella's and wine curated by Celladora, Silent and Live Auctions featuring travel getaways, dining, art, cultural experiences and more, followed by our epic dessert bar, music and dancing. Tickets are available NOW

It is time to recognize students who earned Scholar Roll, Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance, Good Citizenship, Most Improved and other awards for MP2! You are invited to join us on January 30th

5th grade-8:30-9:15 am

4th grade- 9:45-10:30

3rd grade -10:30-11:15

Newbery Award-winning author, Katherine Applegate will visit Fox Elementary on Thursday, March 26. She will speak to K-2nd graders about her job as a professional children's storyteller, sharing her new picture book The Littlest Elephant: A One and Only Ruby Story.

Our local bookshop, bbgb books, is facilitating this author visit, and is offering signed and personalized copies of The Littlest Elephant with free school delivery.

To purchase a book, please visit our school's ordering page and follow the instructions at the top of the page.

To guarantee personalization and free school delivery on the day of the visit, orders must be placed by Thursday, March 12.

If you miss the initial deadline, orders can be placed until Friday, March 27. Books will be delivered to Fox the following week. Copies will be signed while supplies last.

Fox Families,

I want to share that after 35 years in education in RPS and 21 years as principal of Fox, I will be retiring at the end of this school year on June 30, 2026. This was a thoughtful and difficult decision, as Fox is truly my home, is a huge part of my life, and this community means the world to me.

I want to reassure you that Fox remains strong, stable, and moving boldly forward. I will continue to lead our school with the same commitment, energy, and love through the remainder of the school year. My priority is to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the next principal, and I will be working closely with staff and the district to prepare for next year.

Our school has endured and accomplished so much together, and I am grateful every day for the trust and partnership of our Fox families. We have a wonderful second half of the school year ahead of us, and I look forward to all we will continue to do together.

Thank you for being such an important part of our Fox community.
Fox is Love.

Warmly,

Reminder: All students should READ, or be read to, EVERY night for 20 minutes. This is part of your child's homework K-5th grade. There is ALOT of research showing how this supports your child's academic success.

Check out this article that discovered that over half of caregivers are NOT reading to their kids, and what it means for young students: https://www.the74million.org/zero2eight/why-parents-arent-reading-to-kids-and-what-it-means-for-young-students/

The application period for specialty, regional governor's schools and for admission to an out-of-zone school through the RPS annual open enrollment process for the 2026-27 school year is open.

Go to the rvaschools.net website (or the link below) for information+applications:

https://www.rvaschools.net/chief-of-staff/enrollrps/school-applications

The deadline to apply for a variety of specialty schools, programs, and governor's schools is Monday, December 1, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

The deadline to apply for for out-of-zone schools through open enrollment is Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

Please read the Parent Handbook! It is full of important procedures/policies/info that is helpful for families!

Every Fox student has HOMEWORK EVERY day. ALL students should read or be read to for 20 minutes daily! If you need some books to read at home, let your child's teacher, our school counselor, CIS worker know. We are HAPPY to have your child pick out some books to take home. Also, check out and use the "Reading Library" that is located at the front of the school.

Research shows that READING EVERY EVENING is the one thing that WILL SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

3rd, 4th, 5th grade students will have up to an additional 30 minutes of homework as well (math practice, comprehension practice, studying etc). Teachers/grade levels will communicate homework to their class.

Join our PTA!

The Fox PTA aims to realize every student's potential. We raise funds, build community, and enable valuable learning inside & outside the classroom. Together, we help Fox thrive. Become a member here.

You will find lots of information on the PTA's closed facebook group. Search for the group and ask to join! Stay in the loop of what is going on at school!

Our School Website is NOT up to date YET, and will be under construction soon. It will eventually have a lot of up to date information! In the meantime, Have you joined our PTA facebook page?

Email: djacobs2@rvaschools.net
Website: wfes.rvaschools.net
Location: 1101 Dance St, Richmond, VA, USA
Phone: (804) 780-6259
Facebook: facebook.com/WilliamFoxPTA