GKES Knightly Notes Newsletter

Hello Glenkirk Families,

We are thrilled to announce that Glenkirk Elementary School has been awarded the 2026-2027 Purple Star Designation by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)! This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. At Glenkirk, our students and staff take great pride in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families, and we are especially proud of the support we provide to those who serve our nation. Additional information about this exciting achievement can be found below.

Parent-Teacher Conferences for all Golden Knights will take place on or around November 2. These conferences provide families and teachers with an opportunity to connect, celebrate successes, and discuss student progress so far this school year. If you have not yet received information about scheduling a conference, please contact your child's teacher.

Our PTO continues to work hard to create enriching and engaging opportunities for our students and families. The Boosterthon Fundraiser kicks off next week, with our Fun Run scheduled for October 30. We encourage all families to register at MyBooster.com and help support our school community. We also hope you'll join us for our Chuck E. Cheese Spirit Night on Thursday, October 22, and our annual Fall Festival on Saturday, November 7. Additional details about these events can be found in the PTO section below.

Lastly, I am excited to welcome back our Knight Watch program! This unique opportunity invites adults from our community to spend a day volunteering at Glenkirk and serving as positive role models for our students. Information about how to sign up was recently shared with families via email and can also be found below. We would love to welcome you into our school and hope you will consider spending a day in the life of a Golden Knight. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are helping our Golden Knights learn, grow, and shine!

Sincerely,

Matthew Meyer

Principal

October 22

Boosterthon Fundraiser KICK OFF - Register on MyBooster.com

PTO Chuck E. Cheese Spirit Knight

October 30

End of the First Quarter

Boosterthon Fun Run

November 2

No School for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 3

No School for Students - Teacher Workday & Election Day

November 7

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - PTO Fall Festival

November 10

6 p.m. - Teacher/Parent Advisory Council (TPAC) Meeting - Virtual via ZOOM

6:30 p.m. - PTO Meeting - Virtual via ZOOM

November 11

NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day Holiday

November 12

Quarter 1 Report Cards Available in ParentVUE

November 13

Picture Retake Day

November 25-27

NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Monday, October 19: Day 5

Tuesday, October 20: Day 6

Wednesday, October 21 Day 7

Thursday, October 22: Day 8

Friday, October 23: Day 1

THIS WEEK'S CONVERSATION

Building Confidence

Parent Message: Confidence grows when children recognize their strengths and keep trying new things.

Conversation Starter: "What is something you are proud of this week?"

Strategy: Each evening, share:

1. One thing you did well
2. One thing you worked hard on
3. One thing you want to keep improving

Affirmation: "I believe in myself and my abilities."

We are proud to share that Glenkirk Elementary School has been awarded the 2026-2027 Purple Star Designation by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). This prestigious recognition is awarded to schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families through programs, resources, and practices that help them successfully transition, connect, and thrive within the school community.

As a first-time recipient of the Purple Star Designation, this honor is especially meaningful to our school community. It reflects our dedication to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for military families and recognizes the intentional efforts of our staff to ensure every student feels valued, connected, and empowered to succeed. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve those who sacrifice so much in service to our nation and remain committed to supporting our military-connected students and families for years to come.

Get Ready for Red Ribbon Week, October 26-30! We’re looking forward to a fun-filled week as we celebrate the power of making healthy choices and being our best selves. Students are invited to participate in our daily spirit days and activities throughout the week. Check out the attached flyer for all the details!

Glenkirk Elementary, in coordination with Northern Virginia Family Services, will be participating in the Fall Food Drive to benefit needy families in our local area.

The Food Drive will run from October 26 through November 13. We will be collecting non-perishable food items. Some possibilities include: rice, flour, sugar, stuffing, soup, canned fruit, cooking oil, peanut butter, jelly, applesauce, pasta, cereal, canned vegetables, and pancake mix. (Please check best by or expiration dates before donating).

All food donations can be brought to school with your child and our classroom student council representatives will collect and organize the donations. Thank you for supporting families in our local area.

Wednesday October 21 at 5:00 PM in Buckland Mills Library

This information session is for families who are interested in learning more about Buckland Mills' schoolwide IB Program and are interested in applying through the Specialty Program in PWCS.

They are welcoming applications from families from Alvey ES, Glenkirk ES, Gravely ES, Haymarket ES, Mountain View ES, and Tyler ES for rising 1,2,3,4,5 graders

Register for the Zoom Session by clicking the link: REGISTRATION LINK

For more information, visit the PWCS Specialty Programs website.

As more parents drive their children to and from school, we are seeing increased vehicle traffic and congestion around our school crossings. We ask everyone in our community to help us keep students, Crossing Guards, and motorists safe. Please slow down, stay alert, and follow the directions of our Crossing Guards. The number one responsibility of a Crossing Guard is the safe passage of students. When students need to cross, our Crossing Guards must stop traffic as necessary to allow them to safely cross the roadway. Once the students are safely across, our guards make every reasonable effort to move traffic in all directions and help reduce the backup before exiting the roadway. However, Crossing Guards are not traffic-control officers. Their primary responsibility is pedestrian safety.

We understand that waiting in school traffic can be frustrating, especially during busy arrival and dismissal times. We ask motorists to remain patient and never enter an intersection, proceed through a crossing, or make a turn until directed to do so by the Crossing Guard. Ignoring a Crossing Guard's direction because you are in a hurry can create a dangerous situation and could result in a collision or, worse, someone being seriously injured.

Please remember:

🚗 Obey posted speed limits, especially in school zones.

🛑 Stop when directed by a Crossing Guard and remain stopped until instructed to proceed.

Do not park in NO PARKING Zones.

👀 Stay alert and watch for children entering the roadway.

⏳ Be patient. A few extra moments can make all the difference.

🚸 Never drive around or disregard a Crossing Guard who is actively controlling a school crossing.

Our Crossing Guards are out there every school day, in all types of weather, doing their very best to protect our children while helping traffic move as safely and efficiently as possible.

We all share the same goal: getting every child across the street safely. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and commitment to keeping our school communities safe.

Prince William County Public Schools is excited to announce that the Virginia Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education has initiated SNAP in Schools outreach to students and families in Virginia. SNAP provides food benefits to eligible families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. To learn more or to apply for SNAP benefits, please visit www.commonhelp.virginia.gov/

We are thrilled to share that Glenkirk Elementary has earned the Distinguished rating through the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) updated School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF).

Schools across Prince William County demonstrated strong performance and growth based on 2025-26 data, and Glenkirk stood out with an overall score of 97.38 out of 100. Even more exciting, this is the highest score among ALL PWCS elementary schools! This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our students, staff, and families. Thank you for partnering with us to make Glenkirk a place where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

To learn more, families can visit the PWCS webpage on Understanding Virginia's School Performance Ratings.

Families may also review the Glenkirk Elementary School Summary Report from VDOE to explore the many performance indicators used to measure our school's success.

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS! 🏆

For families who are new to our school, Knight Watch is a volunteer program that encourages positive adult role models to spend a day supporting our school community.

We welcome any positive adult role model who is interested in volunteering and making a difference in the lives of our students.

How to Sign Up:

To participate this school year, please complete the Knight Watch Parent Volunteer Guidelines Acknowledgment Form using the link below:

🔗 Knight Watch Parent Volunteer Guidelines Acknowledgment – Fill Out Form

Upon receipt of this form, you will receive a sign-up genius to choose your day for Knight Watch.

What Does a Typical Knight Watch Day Look Like?

✅ Volunteer hours are 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
✅ Assist with student arrival, hall monitoring, classroom visits, lunch, and recess
✅ Lunch is provided
✅ Enjoy guaranteed time in your student's classroom

✅ Reserved parking spot in the first row

Knight Watch is a great opportunity to support our school, build positive relationships with students, and be actively involved in your child's educational experience.

We look forward to welcoming our Knight Watch volunteers!

BOOSTER Fun Run is Coming! It’s time! You can sign up your student for our Glenkirk Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $24,000 for dry-erase resurfacing, student enrichment, and PTO general fund. Signing up is easy and comes with a fun prize for your student!

⭐️ Sign Up On MyBooster.com ⭐️

Thank you for being a part of our Glenkirk community and helping us make a difference for our students. We are grateful for your support! Follow our social pages for fun progress updates in the coming weeks.

Our school is working toward a BIG goal and Great Wolf Lodge wants to celebrate with us! Registered families will have the chance to earn some awesome rewards. Log in to mybooster.com today and share your student’s donation page with your whole pack. Just for receiving their first donation, students can earn their very own Wolf Ears!

Key Dates to Remember:

💻 Registration opened - 10/8/2026

🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 10/22/2026

👟 Event Day – 10/30/2026

We will also need volunteers during the Fun Run to help cheer on students and help with any school-wide incentives they earn. Click on the Booster Fun Run Volunteer Sign up link to volunteer.

ONLY VOLUNTEERS SIGNED UP HERE WILL BE ALLOWED ON CAMPUS AS VISITORS FOR THE FUN RUN ON OCTOBER 30.

Attn: 5th and 2nd grade families:

🚨🥔 WE STILL NEED LOTS OF HELP to make our first Staff Appreciation Luncheon a success! 💚💛

There are still quite a few items needed for our upcoming Baked Potato Bar, and we would greatly appreciate your help!

Our 5th & 2nd Grade families are up first to help us treat our amazing Team Glenkirk teachers and staff!

📅 Wednesday, October 21st 🥔 Baked Potato Bar

This luncheon is always a BIG hit with our staff, so let’s make sure we have everything we need to give them a great lunch!

👉 Please click the sign-up link and consider donating an item! Every contribution helps! Thank you for helping us show Team Glenkirk how much we appreciate them! 💚💛

Glenkirk Staff Lunch Sign Up - Hosted by 5th & 2nd Grade Families

🎃 Glenkirk ES PTO Spirit Knight is getting SPOOKY! 👻🍕

Join us for a Boo-Tacular Spirit Knight at Chuck E. Cheese!

📅 Thursday, October 22nd

⏰ 3:00–9:00 PM

Come out for an evening of pizza, games, Halloween fun, and supporting Glenkirk Elementary! Be sure to mention Glenkirk ES when ordering, and 20% of everything purchased will be donated back to our school!💚

BONUS HALLOWEEN FUN: Kids who wear a school-appropriate costume will receive 500 FREE e-tickets!

Plus, TEACHERS & STAFF EAT FREE! Just show your school ID to receive a FREE meal + Ticket Blaster experience!

Bring the family, wear your costumes, and come have some Halloween fun with your Glenkirk friends while raising money for our school! 🎃🐭🍕👻

We hope to see you there! 💚💜

🍁Fall Festival: Join us Saturday, November 7 from 10 AM–2 PM for the Glenkirk PTO Fall Festival. Enjoy carnival games, inflatables, Touch-a-Truck, vendors, food trucks, and plenty of fall family fun. Mark your calendar and come spend a fun fall day with the Glenkirk community!

Pre-order wristbands now for just $3 each for children ages 3-18 (under 3 and adults are free)! Wristbands include access to games and prizes, inflatables, and face painting and will be $5 at the gate, so order early and save. Pre-order by November 5: www.glenkirkpto.org/fallfestival

We are also currently seeking event Sponsors and community businesses that would like to participate in the Vendor Fair. Please help us spread the word or consider signing up if you run a business. Learn more and sign up: ​​​2026 Fall Festival Sponsor-Vendor Letter.pdf

📣 Spirit Wear: If you didn't get a chance to order yet, no worries! The online store will remain open year-round with rolling monthly deliveries. Shop any time at https://stores.athletesmark.com/glenkirk/shop/home.

For select designs/sizes in PTO Inventory, PLUS car magnets, castle stickers, shoe charms, and more visit the PTO webpage and order any time for in-school delivery: https://www.glenkirkpto.org/s/shop

🌟 Memberships: You can join any time, all year! We encourage you to contribute in any way you feel comfortable and able, whether that's just becoming a Member, attending meetings, supporting a fundraiser, volunteering your time, or all of the above. The first step is completing the Membership Form , and then paying Dues on the PTO website. The first 100 paid Members will receive a FREE calendar highlights magnet and all Members have voting rights on important matters brought by the Board including our annual budget, special spending requests, and Officer elections.

The Glenkirk PTO is not a program or department of the Prince William County Public Schools, but an independent organization which has obtained the approval of PWCS to support its schools, students, teams, programs, and extracurricular activities. All funds raised by Glenkirk PTO must be used for approved school purposes.

If your child will be arriving/dismissing as a car rider, please take a few moments to review the Kiss & Ride expectations to ensure staff and student safety. Drivers are reminded to drive slowly and follow all traffic laws in our school zone and be aware of your surroundings. Please yield to all walkers/pedestrians in the crosswalks and adhere to our Kiss & Ride procedures listed below in the morning and afternoon:

1. The first bell rings at 8:35 a.m. Car riders should remain in vehicles until the bell rings to avoid congestion with student walkers at the front door.
2. Please have your kiss & ride number tag visible for arrival and dismissal along with your valid ID. Car rider staff may ask to verify both the tag number and ID at any time. All families utilizing the kiss & ride lanes should have a Glenkirk number tag hanging from your mirror. Please contact the front office if you need a number tag.
3. Drivers should not exit their vehicle as this causes traffic to back up. Drivers that need to help their child out or into their vehicle should pull up past the playground.
4. Students should exit the vehicle on the right (curb) side of the vehicle. No students should be dropped off from a vehicle in the left lane.
5. No students should be dropped off from a parking spot/middle parking lot unless escorted into the building by a parent/guardian.
6. Drivers should remain in the right lane to drop off. Please DO NOT drive in the left lane unless you are exiting the parking lot after you have dropped your child.
7. AM arrival - The final bell rings at 8:45 a.m. Students arriving after 8:45 a.m. will need to be signed in by an adult in the front office.
8. Please refrain from cell phone use (calls and texting) while in the kiss & ride line.

We thank all families for your attention to these procedures to keep our students and staff safe.

All students are expected to attend the entire school day when school is in session. If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the office by emailing gkes-attendance@pwcs.edu and your child's teacher. Please include your child's name, grade, teacher and reason for absence. Parents/guardians are encouraged to use ParentVUE on the day of an absence or in advance of a planned absence. Submitting absences directly in ParentVUE will help expedite your student's attendance to update quickly and help reduce those attendance office-generated alerts.

Students are marked unexcused if parents do not inform the school their child is out.
PWCS is increasing the amount of parent letters to be mailed regarding your child’s attendance. Letters will be generated after a certain amount of absences/tardies are accrued.

For dismissal changes please continue to use the attendance email: gkes-attendance@pwcs.edu and include your child's teacher. Be sure to include the student's name, dates, as well as the contact telephone numbers and reference the word DISMISSAL CHANGES in the subject line of your email message.

For additional information regarding PWCS attendance requirements, please visit PWCS Attendance Guidelines.

The Glenkirk procedures for student use of cell phones and smart watches is aligned with the PWCS Wireless Communication Device Usage Guidelines. The expectations for our Golden Knights include:

• All cell phones and personal electronic communication devices must be turned off and stored away and may not be used at any time within the school building or on school grounds or during any instructional periods regardless of location, including field trips.
• Students are permitted to use their cell phones and personal electronic communication device(s) while on school buses, while in parent/guardian vehicles, and before they enter or after they exit school grounds.
• Dual-purpose watches may be worn but must have wireless/cellular features turned off (e.g., in airplane mode).
• All students are issued PWCS laptops/iPads and will be unable to utilize personal laptops/tablets during the bell-to-bell school day.

In the event parents/guardians need to get a message to their child during school hours, please call 703-753-1702 and our office staff can relay the message to your child's teacher.

Bell Schedule:

Students may enter school on our first bell at 8:35 a.m. and will be tardy after our second bell at 8:45 a.m. Dismissal begins at 3:25 p.m.

Attendance & Dismissal Procedures

• All students are expected to attend the entire school day when school is in session.
• If your child is unable to attend school, please send a message through ParentVUE
• Students are marked unexcused if parents do not inform the school their child is out.
• PWCS is increasing the amount of parent letters to be mailed regarding your child’s attendance. Letters will be generated after a certain amount of absences/tardies are accrued.
• All dismissal changes need to be submitted in writing/email no later than 3:00 p.m. Please send dismissal changes to gkes-attendance@pwcs.edu and your child's teacher.

QUICK LINKS:

Prince William County Schools

Glenkirk Elementary School

ABCs of Glenkirk

Glenkirk Elementary Facebook Page