New Families
🐝 Welcome New Families to Escuela Key!
Have questions about getting ready for the new school year — or what to expect during the year? You're not alone! These FAQs come directly from real questions families have asked over email and WhatsApp in recent years.
Last updated: August 2025
📌 Top 4 Before the First Week
- Confirm your child’s dismissal plan (bus/walker/car/Extended Day) and fill out the backpack tag.
- Log into ParentVUE and ParentSquare; verify contact info.
- Label water bottle, lunchbox, and outerwear; send a pencil case on day one.
- Add the PTA Digital Calendar to your phone/computer.
📌 General Questions
🕗 School Hours
Day: 9:00 AM–3:50 PM (Early Release: 1:30 PM)
Morning Recess: 8:30–8:50 AM (no recess on first day / inclement weather)
🎒 Helpful Tips for Families New to Escuela Key
✅ Kinder & 1st Grade
Special checklist of “good-to-know” items for your first days and weeks.
View checklist: English · Español
☀️ Summer Playdates
Casual meetups for incoming students and families before school starts.
We’ll post next school year’s dates in late spring.
📚 Start Here
Skim the FAQs below for info that applies to everyone gearing up for the year.
❓ Back-to-School FAQs
📅 First Day of School
- K–5: Monday, August 25, 2025
- VPI/Pre-K: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
🎒 Supplies
- Order a Sprout Supply Kit (delivered to classrooms) or bring items from the grade-level supply list.
- Extra kits available for families needing assistance.
- Label water bottles, lunchboxes, and outerwear.
🚸 Arrival & Dismissal
- Arrival: Students enter by 8:50; day begins 9:00.
- Dismissal: 3:50 PM (Early Release 1:30 PM).
- Backpack Tag: Fill in dismissal method and attach to backpack.
- Car Riders: Use Kiss & Ride · Watch short video.
- Biking: Racks near drop-off area & Door A1 · Join the Bícibus!
- Buses: Stop info appears in ParentVUE before school starts; office issues a bus pass if riding a different bus.
📞 Attendance, Tardy & Dismissal Changes
- Absences: Call 703-228-4212 or 703-228-8477 or report in ParentVUE (“Report Absences”).
- Tardy (after 9:00): Walk child to Front Office and sign in.
- Early pickup / change in dismissal: Email EscuelaKeyAttendance@apsva.us + your teacher (ideally by noon).
🕖 Extended Day
- Available Day 1 (Pre-K/VPI begins Day 2).
- Before 7:00 AM · After until 6:00 PM.
- Door D12 for drop-off/pick-up (near McDonald’s on Glebe Rd).
- Peanut-free snacks daily; bring a refillable water bottle.
- Questions: key.extendedday@apsva.us
🍎 Meals at School
- Breakfast starts at 8:30 AM in the cafeteria; lunch during scheduled period.
- Students need their APS Student ID (PIN) (find it in ParentVUE) to purchase meals.
- Manage accounts via MySchoolBucks.
- View monthly menu: Escuela Key Menu.
- Apply for free/reduced meals if eligible.
💻 Technology Support
- APS Tech Help: APS Technology/Devices page.
- Key-specific: paul.maniscalco@apsva.us.
- Ask in your grade-level WhatsApp group.
📣 Stay Informed
- APS & Escuela Key: Official messages via ParentSquare & ParentVUE.
- PTA: Events, enrichment, volunteer updates.
- Visit the Stay Connected page.
