The LCPS Letter
As the first year of the R.I.S.E. Academy comes to a close, Principal Dr. Fredericka Mack reflects on the program’s successes and lessons learned. R.I.S.E. Academy, designed to support high school students in recovery from substance use disorders, has shown the importance of a compassionate, structured community in helping students thrive. A key takeaway from year one is that recovery requires consistent support, understanding and connection, especially for students navigating substance use recovery while pursuing their education. As the program prepares to enter its second year, R.I.S.E. plans to expand family engagement, increase community outreach and strengthen external collaborations. Learn more about the R.I.S.E. Academy's first year.
LCPS is Truckin’ Into Summer with Dulles Town Center! Truckin’ Into Summer, to be held Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Dulles Town Center parking lot outside the Cheesecake Factory, is a family-friendly event that invites kids to climb aboard, explore and meet the vehicles that keep our community moving. An LCPS school bus will be available for students to explore, helping soon‑to‑be kindergartners get comfortable with their first big ride. Families can also gather information about kindergarten registration for the 2026/27 school year. Visit the Dulles Town Center website for more details.
LCPS will be providing free meals this summer for students ages 18 and younger* at several locations throughout Loudoun County. LCPS provides this free service to our families through participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program. The Summer Food Service Program provides funding for free meals to children during the summer months, when schools are closed, to ensure children retain access to nutritious meals when school is not in session.
Like all federally funded programs, there are certain requirements LCPS must follow, including:
All meals must be consumed at the school or site location.
Food cannot be taken off-site.
Meals cannot be picked up by a parent or guardian to bring home.
Please see the list of dates and locations for the Summer Meal distribution.
*Along with children ages 18 years and younger, Summer Food Service Program regulations, 7 CFR 225.2, also define children as persons over 18 years of age who are determined by the state or local educational agency or a local public education agency as having a mental or physical disability and who participate during the school year in a public-school program established for the mentally or physically disabled.
Virginia SUN Bucks help eligible families with the cost of groceries during summer break when most schools are not in session. The SUN Bucks benefit can be used to purchase groceries like fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and meat at grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other places that accept SNAP EBT benefits. Each school-aged child who meets the program requirements will get a one-time payment of $120. Your child is automatically enrolled in Virginia SUN Bucks if they receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits or participate in income-based Medicaid or if they received free or reduced-price meals at school during the 2025-2026 school year through the National School Lunch Program. The Virginia Department of Social Services will begin issuing benefits on a rolling basis starting in June 2026. See Virginia SUN Bucks for more information.
School Pantries Enjoy Fresh Produce Thanks to LEF Partnership
Thanks to the Loudoun Education Foundation's partnership with the Bainum Family Foundation, several in-school pantries have enjoyed fresh produce for the past two school years. LEF's Fueled team works closely with the farmers at the locally owned and operated Bainum Foundation Farm near Middleburg, to deliver green beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash and other organic produce to in-school pantries.
Potomac Falls High School staff shared that the fresh vegetables — especially the peppers — became a favorite snack among students this school year. Thank you to Bainum Family Foundation for expanding our students' access to fresh, delicious food.
LCPS uses an online platform called Peachjar to share electronic flyers from LCPS departments, schools, community partners and local organizations. Flyers are emailed every Tuesday. Families can also view all flyers from the past month on the Peachjar Flyerboard. These flyers include information about upcoming school and community events, programs and opportunities. Be sure to take a look!