Lightridge students prepare Thanksgiving meal

This Thanksgiving, Lightridge High School Family and Consumer Science students prepared full holiday meals for LCPS students and families who are experiencing homelessness. The Lightridge students applied their culinary skills to create a traditional feast while learning teamwork, problem-solving and service. The students prepared more than 70 meals, which were distributed by LCPS staff to LCPS families currently living in hotels. In total, more than 1,000 of our students receive services through the LCPS McKinney-Vento program, which ensures educational rights and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Read more about this activity, named Cooking Up Hope.

LCPS recently shared the 2025 state and federal accountability and accreditation results for all of our schools. All LCPS schools are fully accredited under Virginia’s accreditation system, which focuses on safe and healthy learning environments, teacher licensure and other Standards of Quality. Accreditation and accountability give families a more complete picture of school performance and help guide decisions about instruction, supports and resources. Read more about LCPS school performance results.

The Loudoun County School Board held a final public hearing on Monday, Dec. 8, to review the Ashburn and Dulles North elementary attendance zones and provide the opportunity for community comment. The School Board is scheduled to take action at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16. At that time, the Board will consider motions to adopt or modify one of the plans currently under review. Plans under consideration are:

Additional details, including maps, data, a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document that has been updated throughout this process, as well as a similar running School Board Q&A document, are available on the Fall 2025 – Ashburn & Dulles North School Attendance Zone Change Process webpage. Adopted changes will take effect in August with the start of the 2026/27 school year.

In alignment with Policy 8655: Student Personal Device Use, currently under review by the School Board, LCPS has partnered with Bark, a leading technology provider for monitoring children’s devices. Potential updates to the policy, if passed, are expected to take effect when students return from winter break on Monday, Jan. 5. The LCPS partnership with Bark is designed to help families manage screen time and support student safety online. As part of the collaboration, families can receive a 20% discount on Bark by ordering the app online and entering the code LOUDOUN. For ongoing support, families are encouraged to sign up for Bark’s newsletter or join their Facebook group. Please note: Bark is intended for personal devices only and is not applicable to devices purchased or issued by LCPS. For more information, visit lcps.org/bark.

With the Teachers for Tomorrow program, previously called Teacher Cadets, LCPS gives future teachers a jumpstart in studying education! Teachers for Tomorrow participants earn college credit and gain hands-on experience in an elementary or middle school classroom. The goal for our Teachers for Tomorrow program is to have LCPS alumni return to work for us following college graduation. If you know a rising junior or senior who is interested in learning more, be sure they talk to their school counselor!

In this week's LCPS Podcast, check out the latest episode of DEIA: Better Together and learn how LCPS is exploring the link between professional learning and student success. Co-host Everette Callaway, DEIA Specialist, is joined by Tanisha Holland, Director of Talent Development, and Lauren Sprowls, Supervisor of Leadership Development, to discuss how LCPS is building pathways for continuous learning, supporting classroom teachers and cultivating strong leaders. They unpack what it means to take a learner’s stance as educators, expanding access to professional growth, empowering teachers to lead with confidence and shaping schools where every student can see, feel and experience excellence.

The LCPS Podcast brings you behind the scenes with educators and students to explore trends shaping K–12 education and incredible moments you won’t find anywhere else. New episodes drop every Thursday. Find the LCPS Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeart Radio. Check out the LCPS Podcast webpage to listen to this week's episode and to catch up on episodes.

Watch this video with Superintendent Aaron Spence sharing how decisions to close or delay school openings are made. See how you can stay updated on weather-related changes and find more information on the LCPS Inclement Weather webpage.

Winter break is a time most students eagerly anticipate, yet, for some, the transition back to school after a break can be challenging. This struggle is developmentally normal and not uncommon. Students who experience school anxiety or anxiety-based school refusal may find their worries intensify as the break comes to an end. To support your child, we’ve included tips to help ease the transition back to school.

Maintain routines, schedules and expectations as much as possible during break. Help prepare for a smooth transition back to school by continuing regular routines during break, including consistent morning habits, evening wind-downs and appropriate sleep schedules. Also, continue enforcing time limits on electronics so returning school isn’t pitted against unlimited screen time.

Anticipate anxiety and plan for it. Children who have made progress in consistently attending school may struggle initially after returning from break. Children who were already struggling may struggle more following the break. A temporary backslide does not mean your child is getting worse or losing skills – it’s normal and expected. Consistency, patience and continued expectations of school attendance and engagement are critical.

Set the expectation that school attendance is expected. Avoid extending holiday breaks and make sure your child returns to school on the first day back, with everyone else. This first day can be the hardest, and everyone is feeling some degree of anxiety. If your child expresses concern or anxiety related to returning to school, normalize this fear and share with them that you believe they can face their fears. They can be anxious AND brave. Focus on self-efficacy (“you can do this”) rather than reassurance (“you’ll be fine.”)

Seek support. Your child’s Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT) is an excellent resource for planning a smooth return after the winter holiday. For more information, see school anxiety, avoidance, and refusal webpage.

Looking for engaging, creative ways for students to explore technology and coding? Check out these awesome activities, organized by grade level:

Kindergarten to Grade 2: Get Moving with Code!

Code.org: Dance Party: Students use drag-and-drop blocks to program characters to dance while learning basic coding concepts like sequencing and events.

Grade 3 to Grade 5: Move to Make Music!

Body Synth: Simply turn on the webcam and your body becomes the instrument! Different motions (arms, legs, etc.) trigger different sounds or notes, showing how movement creates music.

Grade 6 to Grade 8: Coding Meets Creativity!

Tynker Hour of Code: Word Magic: Students type words and watch as the program creates pictures or animations based on what they write. This introduces them to Natural Language Processing (NLP) and how AI turns language into action.

Grade 9 Grade 12: Intro to AI & Movement!

Hour of AI Project: Fruit Fighter: Students play a fun coding game where they slice virtual fruit by moving their hand in front of the camera. Learn how computers can track movement (computer vision) and use it to control actions in a game.

Which grade level activity are you most excited to try? We'd love to see what you and your child create! Share their experiences and projects during CS Week and beyond on social media using the hashtag #LCPSCSEdWeek.

Eligible families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced meals for the 2025/26 school year. All information provided in the application is confidential and used only to determine eligibility for the meal program. There are two ways to apply:

Visit the Free and Reduced Meal Application webpage to complete the application online.
Paper applications are available at your student’s school or can be downloaded at: lcps.org/freeandreduced. Once the application is complete, return it to your student’s school, or scan and email to freeandreduced@lcps.org.

Eligibility

If a family receives benefits from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or are Medicaid recipients with a household income that meets the USDA National School Lunch Program guidelines for free or reduced-price meals, their student may automatically qualify for free meals. If a student has been automatically enrolled in the free and reduced meal program, the student’s family should have received an eligibility letter/email from LINQ School Nutrition before the start of the school year. Families who have already received an approved eligibility letter should not submit another application. Families are advised to keep a copy of the letter to provide to third parties (CASA, YMCA, Internet Benefits, etc.) for the extra benefits if they wish to participate. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Every week, more than 2,000 LCPS students depend on the Loudoun Education Foundation's Fueled program for nutritious meals through weekend meal bags and in-school pantries. Our partners include large companies, small local businesses and individuals who donate funds or pack meal kits for families. Amazon’s film crew recently spent a day with the Fueled team, capturing the heart, urgency and humanity of this work. Watch the mini-documentary, meet the people behind the program, and please donate to meet the need at loudouneducationfoundation.org/donate.

Families are invited to attend an upcoming information night to learn more about the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, which begins in kindergarten. DLI, offered at Potowmack Elementary and Sanders Corner Elementary, fosters bilingualism, biliteracy and cultural competence. All Loudoun County residents with a rising kindergartener may express interest in having their child participate.

Dual Language Immersion Information Nights

Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Moorefield Station Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Arcola Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Leesburg Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Sanders Corner Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 27 at Sully Elementary

All information night sessions will start at 6 p.m. Register to attend. For more information, see the LCPS Dual Language Immersion webpage.

Kindergarten Connection: Moving from Early Childhood Special Education to Kindergarten with an IEP
Thursday, Dec. 11 -- tonight! -- 6:30-8 p.m., LCPS Administration Building
Middle School Connection: Moving from Elementary to Middle School with an IEP
Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, Noon. Register to receive the webinar link
The Problem with Perfectionism
Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30-8 p.m., LCPS Administration Building. Register to attend.
How Families Can Review Their Student’s Course Plan for Next School Year: A Course Planner Webinar
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6-7 p.m.; Virtual – Save this Webex Link to access the webinar

See the LCPS Events and Meetings Calendar for more events and workshops.

Winter break starts Monday, Dec. 22 and continues through Friday, Jan. 2. We look forward to seeing all of our students back in school on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026!
Calendars for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 school years are posted on the LCPS website. Please check the school calendars before scheduling vacations or other student absences.
The 2026 LCPS graduation schedule is posted on the LCPS website.

One LCPS Spotlight: Reading Program Initiatives

At the Tuesday, Dec. 2 School Board meeting, the One LCPS Spotlight highlighted Reading Program Initiatives at Harper Park Middle School. Check out the recording from the Dec. 2 School Board meeting and hear from staff and students about a variety of targeted strategies that are driving steady growth in literacy outcomes.

School Board Summary and Meeting Schedule

Read a summary of the School Board's Dec. 2 meeting. At its meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, the School Board approved the employment contract and assessment instrument for its Division Counsel as presented and discussed in closed session. The next regular School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 16. All School Board meetings are live-streamed. The full meeting agenda will be available on the Loudoun County School Board website (under Meetings).

Policy Review

LCPS policies are reviewed every five years per the Code of Virginia. During this process, LCPS asks for input from advisory committees, stakeholder groups and the community at large. Please see the Policy Review webpage for more details.

Loudoun County Public Schools

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Lightridge Students Prepared Thanksgiving Meals for LCPS Families in Need Lightridge Students Prepared Thanksgiving Meals for LCPS Families in Need

LCPS Shares School Performance and Support Framework Results LCPS Shares School Performance and Support Framework Results

School Board Anticipated to Take Action on Rezoning Plans at Dec. 16 Meeting School Board Anticipated to Take Action on Rezoning Plans at Dec. 16 Meeting

LCPS Partners with Bark for Safe Monitoring of Student Devices LCPS Partners with Bark for Safe Monitoring of Student Devices

Teachers for Tomorrow Earn College Credit and Gain Hands-on Experience Teachers for Tomorrow Earn College Credit and Gain Hands-on Experience

LCPS Podcast: The Link Between Professional Learning and Student Success LCPS Podcast: The Link Between Professional Learning and Student Success

How LCPS Makes School Closing Decisions How LCPS Makes School Closing Decisions

Planning for Winter Break and Returning to School Planning for Winter Break and Returning to School

Tech Fun for Every Grade! Tech Fun for Every Grade!

Eligible Families Can Apply for Free and Reduced Meal Program Eligible Families Can Apply for Free and Reduced Meal Program

Video Spotlights LEF’s Fueled Program and Collaboration to Support Students Video Spotlights LEF’s Fueled Program and Collaboration to Support Students

UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

Discover the Dual Language Immersion Program Discover the Dual Language Immersion Program

More Events to Support Your Student More Events to Support Your Student

CALENDAR REMINDERS CALENDAR REMINDERS

Upcoming LCPS Holidays and Calendar Reminders Upcoming LCPS Holidays and Calendar Reminders

SCHOOL BOARD NEWS SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

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