Tea Time: FCPS News for July 13

The Fredericksburg City Public School Board has officially approved new start and end times for the 2026-27 school year. As we get ready to return to school, please review the updated schedule:

Preschool: No Change

Elementary: 8:55 AM - 3:45 PM

Middle: 8:05 AM - 3:05 PM

High: 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Transition Day for kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade students will be on August 11. All other students begin school on August 12. We can't wait to welcome everyone back and hope you'll take a moment to click the link below for some important back-to-school updates.

Our Preschool Programs students had a blast celebrating Independence Day with plenty of outdoor fun! They stayed cool with exciting water games, enjoyed time playing with friends, and made wonderful summer memories along the way. It was the perfect way to celebrate the season with smiles, laughter, and lots of splashing!

As a member of our AI Division Leadership Team, Lafayette Principal Dr. Jacinta Calzada-Mayronne has been exploring how LES faculty and staff can use AI tools to improve building-level processes. Dr. Calzada-Mayronne has created a Google Gem to standardize student discipline response protocols. This closed-circuit AI assistant does not use any student information. Instead, it uses uploaded resources from the Virginia Department of Education, Response-Centered Discipline protocol guides, and division protocols to help the Lafayette team recommend consistent and fair responses in disciplinary situations. She will be presenting her Gem to her faculty prior to the start of the school year. She also plans to support her team in building their own Gems to assist their workflows.

The Fredericksburg City Public Schools Food Service Program will run between Monday, June 15, 2026, and Thursday, July 23, 2026, Monday through Thursday. All children ages 1–18 are eligible to receive a meal. Children must be present in order to receive a meal and are required to eat the meal at the location where it is served. Parents are not permitted to pick up meals on behalf of their children. Please visit our website for dates and locations.

The 2026–27 Instructional Calendar reflects a thoughtful balance of instructional time, scheduled breaks, and professional learning days designed to support student success and family planning. We encourage families and staff to review the calendar as they begin looking ahead to the upcoming school year.

We know that all families can benefit from a helping hand from time to time, whether it's connecting with local services, finding activities for kids, or learning about programs that make life a little easier. Our community is fortunate to have many wonderful organizations and resources available to support families in a variety of ways. Below, you'll find information about local programs and services that may be helpful to you and your family. We encourage everyone to explore these resources—many offer valuable support that can benefit families at any stage.

We want to thank School Social Worker Cat Eicke for compiling these incredible resources and helping connect our families with the support and services that strengthen our entire FCPS community!