The LCPS Letter
Updates Posted in ParentVUE, Notifications Emailed
Because Transportation continues to make updates to student transportation, parents are asked to check transportation information via ParentVUE the evening before the start of school and periodically throughout the year for any changes. Parents are also notified via email when changes that could impact their student’s transportation are made.
As we prepare to welcome students back to school, we remind families that the up-to-date 2025/2026 school calendars are posted at lcps.org/calendar. In addition to the 2025/2026 calendar, this webpage also includes A/B calendars for this school year, the 2026 graduation schedule and the current 2026/2027 school calendar. Bookmark this webpage for quick access to your student's school calendar. Be sure to check the calendar before scheduling appointments or family trips!
Please note, if you search for the current calendar, past versions of the proposed calendars and past years' calendars may still show up in your browser, as they have been searched often. This year’s calendar went through a revision, so there is more than one version that may be suggested. Please visit lcps.org/calendar for the most up-to-date calendar.
As the school year begins, now is a great time to help your student build connections and feel part of their school community.
Here are a few simple ways to support social growth:
Attend back-to-school events together.
Connect with teachers early to stay informed and involved.
Find a neighbor or friend to be a buddy on the bus or walk to school.
Play turn-taking games at home to build cooperation and sharing skills.
Practice conversation starters like “Can we play together?” or “What are you excited about at school?”
Explore after-school programs that support enrichment and friendships.
Begin each day with a positive question like “What’s one thing you’re looking forward to today?”
Reflect and Connect: (Take a moment to talk together.) What role do relationships play in reaching your goals?
National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, on Thursday, Aug. 21, serves as a solemn reminder of the profound impact of this crisis. It is also a time to honor those working tirelessly to advance awareness, education and prevention efforts in Virginia and across the nation. We, at LCPS, remind our community that we have the power to make a difference. Learn about the dangers of fentanyl, know the signs of an opioid overdose and what you can do to protect your family and community members. Awareness is one of our greatest tools to combat this deadly substance. Learn more: www.lcps.org/opioid.
As part of our efforts to provide an engaging learning experience, LCPS uses a range of digital tools and services to support instruction and enhance student learning. Beginning this 2025/2026 school year, LCPS is now required by Google to ask parents to consent, or “opt-in,” for their students to be able to access third-party applications not designed explicitly for K-12 use, which are commonly used in instruction, like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Translate.
LCPS already limits access to applications that are not required or recommended for learning to the greatest extent possible on LCPS-issued devices and student permissions vary according to their elementary, middle or high school level.
When you completed the Online Verification process for your student, there was a box to opt your student in for these third-party applications for their use in learning. Teachers are currently planning alternative resources to offer students; however, if these third-party resources are needed, parents/guardians can easily update their preferences for their student’s access. Simply return to your ParentVUE account at any time, and update the choice. The LCPS technology department is working on implementing an efficient process so that students can use these services the day after consent is received. If you have questions, please read the posted Frequently Asked Questions or visit the list of LCPS-approved software.
Last spring, a few of our schools participated in an automated attendance notification program, and it was a great success! That program is now being expanded to all LCPS schools. As a result, you may find that attendance communications or emails reporting that your student is absent from school are a little different.
Starting this school year, unexcused absence email notifications will be sent to families approximately 1.5 hours after the start of school for elementary schools and two hours after the start of school for middle and high schools.
As a reminder, if your student will be absent, please call your student’s school or report the absence through ParentVUE prior to the start of the school day.
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind parents to prioritize their student’s attendance in school. We understand that due to illness or other reasons, students may be absent from school; however, we encourage families to check the school calendar and schedule appointments or family trips during student holidays. We look forward to partnering with you to help ensure your student has a successful school year.
