The LCPS Letter
It is time to register kindergarten students for the 2025/26 school year! Registering a student for kindergarten can be completed in just five steps:
Determine eligibility
Identify your home school
Gather documents
Complete online pre-registration
Schedule an in-person appointment
February is Love the Bus month, a special time to recognize the iconic yellow and black bus and the incredible dedication of our Bus Drivers, Bus Attendants, and Transportation Staff who ensure our students' safe commute to and from school every day! We encourage you to join in on this nationwide celebration of these hardworking individuals in any way you like!
Here are some ways to show appreciation:
🎉 Thank your Bus Driver and/or Attendant – A quick 'thank you' goes a long way to brighten anyone's day!
✍️ Encourage students to write notes or make cards expressing their gratitude to their Bus Drivers and/or Attendants and personally hand them to them as an added touch!
📣 Black and Yellow Day: Students can show some bus pride by wearing black and/or yellow every Friday this month!
💡 Any other way you want to show some love!
Let’s come together to show our heartfelt appreciation for everyone who plays a vital role in getting our students to school safely and efficiently regardless of weather, road closures and other inconveniences that arise. Thank you for your support in making Love the Bus Month a meaningful celebration across Loudoun County and the Nation at large!
The LCPS Annual Family Survey is coming your way on February 24th! As the largest and most impactful feedback tool conducted by Loudoun County Public Schools each year, this survey plays a critical role in shaping the future of our schools. The insights gathered help assess the learning environment and guide plans for the upcoming year. Your voice matters. We want to hear from you to make the best decisions for ALL students.
The parent/family survey is quick and easy to complete—it will only take a few minutes of your time. On February 24th, look for an email from Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence containing a unique link to the survey. Families with children enrolled in multiple schools (elementary, middle, high or program) will be asked to complete a survey for each school.
For more details, visit the Stakeholder Surveys 2025 Information webpage. If you don’t receive a survey email by February 25th, please reach out to research@lcps.org for assistance.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping us create the best learning environment for our students! Together, we can make a difference.
Get ready for the spring sports season with this FREE virtual panel hosted by the LCPS Athletics Department and top local experts: Concussions Uncovered: What Parents Need to Know From Diagnosis to Return to Play. This engaging and informative webinar is designed for parents and student-athletes to learn how to recognize, manage, and recover from concussions safely.
Key Topics Include:
Recognizing concussion symptoms and when to seek professional help
Supporting student-athletes’ recovery in school and at home
Understanding return-to-play protocols and baseline testing
Date: February 13, 2025 | Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. | Virtual
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from experts, ask questions, and gain tools to help your student-athlete stay safe.
Register today: https://bit.ly/SpringInova
(After registering, a Zoom email confirmation will be sent. Check spam/junk folders if not received.)
Is your student interested in learning more about post-graduation options available through the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. service academies? Attend Military Night on Tuesday, February 18, 6-8 p.m., at Independence High School (23115 Learning Cir, Ashburn)! Representatives from U.S. military branches and service academies will be available to answer questions. In addition, information sessions on the service academy's admissions process, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and the enlistment process will be held.
LCPS students in kindergarten through grade 12 are invited to participate in the Student Environmental Action Showcase to be held on Monday, March 25 at the Academies of Loudoun. This event, coordinated by the Loudoun Environmental Education Alliance, the GREENetwork and LCPS, invites students to share their work on sustainability-minded projects in their schools and communities. This showcase strives to amplify youth voices in environmental problem-solving by showcasing to a real-world audience how students have meaningfully contributed to environmental stewardship in Loudoun County. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places in elementary, middle and high school categories. See the Loudoun Environmental Education Alliance website for more details and to register.
Nicotine pouches, such as Zyn, On!, Rogue and Velo, are currently very popular with teens and young adults. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that sales of nicotine pouches increased from 126 million units in August 2019 to 808 million units in March 2022.
Nicotine pouches contain pre-portioned amounts of nicotine powder that can be discreetly placed between the lip and gum. Nicotine pouches typically contain more nicotine than tobacco products – for example, one 6mg nicotine pouch equals 2-3 cigarettes. Nicotine pouches can be sold in a round tin that contains 15-20 nicotine pouches. The use of such nicotine pouches can lead to nicotine addiction, sore gums and mouth and nausea.
Nicotine also impacts brain development in adolescents, as well as raises blood pressure and heart rate, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and contributes to health problems like lung issues and impaired wound healing. However, because the teen body is still developing, it is easier for adolescents to become addicted to nicotine. Research has shown that the perceived rewarding effects of nicotine are enhanced in teens, and sensitivity to the actual adverse impacts of nicotine is decreased.
Student Assistance Specialists (SAS), who are school-based mental health specialists with expertise in addressing substance use, provide instruction and support to students to prevent and/or intervene in substance use. During their presentations, they address the dangers of tobacco and nicotine and educate students of the addictive nature of these products.
If you think your teen is using nicotine pouches or other cigarette alternatives, the SAS at your student’s school can help provide guidance to prevent continued use. For more information, please visit the LCPS website to learn more about SASs and the SAS assigned to your student’s school. We also encourage parents/guardians to learn the facts about nicotine pouches and other substances and talk with their teens, by reviewing such resources as this flyer from the Truth Initiative.
As the weather keeps us guessing—one day crisp and cool, the next downright chilly—it’s the perfect time to embrace the season and create lasting memories with family and friends. Whether you're looking for an engaging indoor activity or a reason to bundle up and step outside, LCPS has you covered with fun, interactive experiences that spark curiosity and connection.
Explore the Out My Window video series, where you and your family can observe and reflect on the changing seasons. Head outdoors for a Winter Watch Scavenger Hunt, turning a brisk walk into an adventure. Or bring nature a little closer by making a Bird Feeder Craft, a simple way to enjoy wildlife from the comfort of home.
These activities not only inspire meaningful conversations but also bring a little extra joy to the season. Check out the videos and activity outlines—plus even more family-friendly ideas—at lcps.org/Familysel. After you try an activity, let us know what you think! Share your experience!
Students can use your help! Loudoun Education Foundation's Fueled program reaches more than 40 schools in Loudoun County, and we need items to stock our in-school pantries. Please consider hosting a snack or hygiene drive with your office, neighborhood, school, team, or organization. Your generosity enables us to serve students in tangible ways, and we appreciate your continued support. Find easy steps and a downloadable flyer to host your own drive on the LEF Fueled webpage.
The Loudoun County Environmental Commission is calling for nominations for the third annual Environmental Excellence Awards, honoring individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and educators in Loudoun County for their leadership on environmental issues. Please take this opportunity to inspire others by drawing attention to actions taken by you, your friends and community members! Past winners have included projects such as supporting community recycling services, engaging students as young naturalists, and volunteering in stream protection efforts. Learn more and submit your nominations at loudoun.gov/environmentalawards. The deadline to submit nominations is March 1.
