|
|
You are here: Fairfax County Public Schools > About FCPS > Services
FCPS operates three cable TV channels. Two channels--Red Apple 21 and Community Classroom 25-- are available to all Cox Communications subscribers in Fairfax County and all Comcast Cable Communications subscribers in Reston. Channel 21 provides the community with information about the programs, services, and goals of the school system. Channel 25 provides enrichment and instructional programming for children and adults.
In addition, many FCPS television programs have been videostreamed (made available for viewing online and can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/cable.htm. A program guide, Fine Tuning, is available on the FCPS web site.
The Office of Community Relations provides information about the schools to parents, school employees, community members, and businesses; keeps school employees informed about the community they serve; and is the school system’s public response center. Other functions include:
For information about any school system issue, call 571-423-1200, or check this web site.
A variety of nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and à la carte offerings are served by 1,300 food service employees to about 145,000 school customers each day in every school. In addition to publicized lunches, the following are available daily:
• chef salads, yogurt, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunches.
• milk, ice cream, and other limited à la carte items that meet nutrient standards for fat, saturated fat, and added sugar.
• snacks for kindergarten students (small fee required).
• lunch and snacks for School Age Child Care (SACC) students and FECEP (Head Start) students.
• vending services.
• breakfast is available in 156 schools and centers.
Parents may purchase breakfast and lunch for their children by the month, week, or day. Parents may specify how payments are to be used by their children–meals only or meals and à la carte. Bar code cards are used for prepayments in most elementary schools, and students enter their personal identification numbers (PINs) in middle, high, and secondary schools and some elementary schools.
Free and reduced-price lunches are available to students unable to pay the full price of meals according to criteria based on household size and income. Applications are mailed to all households in August. Applications translated into Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, Urdu, and Arabic are available in schools.
Requests for food substitutions for students with special problems, such as allergies, require doctors’ statements.
For daily menus, check cable television (Channel 21) or visit the lunch menu web site. The list of ingredients for all food items served in the school cafeterias is available on the web site.
Nutrient information for all food items served is posted in school cafeterias. Daily menus are available online, or check
cable television (Channel 21).
For more information, visit the food
and nutrition services web site.
Annual Health Screening
Vision and hearing screening of all kindergartners, third graders, and newly enrolled Fairfax County students is conducted each fall by the public health nurse, clinic room aide, and clinic volunteers. This is only a brief screening; parents should continually be alert to identify vision or hearing difficulties that indicate need for examination by a specialist.
Health Services
Health services in the school, including the administration of medication and modified first aid, are performed by the clinic aide and office staff members. According to state regulations, the clinic staff may provide care only for minor illnesses and injuries. If the student’s condition requires more attention, the parent will be contacted.
Medication at School
Students may take medication at school, including throat lozenges and nasal spray, under strict adult supervision and in accordance with School Board guidelines. Forms authorizing the school to administer medication are available in the school office or online.
With a parent or guardian’s signature and a physician’s signature, prescription and over-the-counter medication may be stored in the clinic and given as needed throughout the school year.
With a parent or guardian’s signature only, over-the-counter pain relievers for muscle aches and headaches may be stored in the clinic and administered at school. Any other over-the-counter medications may be given for up to ten consecutive school days with the parent or guardian’s signature. Beyond ten days, a physician’s signature is required.
Food Allergies at School
To provide a safe educational environment for a student with severe food allergies, schools, parents and guardians, physicians, and the student must work together. The school public health nurse will work with the family and the physician to develop a school health care plan for the student. Parents or guardians enrolling a student with severe allergies should contact the school principal as early as possible so that a safe plan can be instituted.
More information on the school health program can be found at www.fcps.edu/ss/StudentServices/StudentRegistration/healthservices.htm.
The Fairfax County Health Dept. provides a variety of affordable health services and programs to families throughout Fairfax County. The programs have different age, income, citizenship, and residency requirements. Among the services offered are:
Health programs available include:
For more information on Health Services, call 703-246-2411 or visit the Health Department web site.
The Office of Community Relations produces and maintains the Fairfax County Public Schools web site, which contains extensive information about the school system and links to external sources, such as the Virginia Department of Education. (Free Internet access is available at Fairfax County libraries. The web address is www.fcps.edu). Links on the home page will direct you to school calendars, lunch menus, current news, academic programs and individual school web pages. Information about school closings, due to inclement weather or for other reasons, is also posted on the web page. A link to the Keep in Touch system (www.fcps.edu) where citizens can register to receive school closing announcements and more via e-mail is available on the web page.
Keep in Touch is a service that allows employees, parents, and others interested in emergency messages and other information about the school system to receive updates via e-mail. Users can also elect to receive messages on cell phones and other text message devices. Participants can set up individualized profiles and receive the most up-to-date information as soon as it is available. To sign up, visit the FCPS web site at www.fcps.edu and choose “Keep in Touch” on the left hand side. Or use the direct link at Keep in Touch.
This handbook, Familygram (for parents),Fine Tuning (weekly cable programming guide), Supergram (for school employees), Newswire (articles for use in school newsletters), and FCPS periodicals on such issues as substance abuse prevention, testing (including Virginia Standards of Learning tests), social studies, special education, career education, and technology can be obtained at any school or Fairfax County library or accessed through this web site.
The Fairfax County Community and Recreation Services Dept. schedules athletic programs in schools and on school grounds after school hours, on weekends, and during vacation periods. For more information, call 703-324-4FUN(4386). The Fairfax County Park Authority conducts classes throughout the year and summer Rec-Pac in schools. For more information, call 703-222-4664.
Business, military, and government organizations in Fairfax County have formed partnerships with individual schools that are linked to school improvement plans. Activities include mentoring for students, training for teachers, career day programs, and tutoring.
FCPS operates a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week security force. Security personnel:
• provide daytime security patrol of elementary and middle schools and nighttime patrol of all FCPS buildings.
• work closely with the Fairfax County police and conduct building security inspections and assessments.
• serve as the central communications center after normal business hours and can be reached at 703-764-2400.
• help principals develop and evaluate critical incident and security plans.
Many school documents are translated into the languages most represented in the school system. Interpreters are available for conferences, assessments, and other
school functions.
Parents who need the services of a language interpreter for school purposes should contact the local school to arrange for these services. Schools and offices will contact Language Services in Student Registration to arrange for translation and interpretation services.
Hearing impaired parents who require the services of a sign language or oral interpreter or cued speech transliterator for parent-teacher conferences and other school-related functions should notify the school office of the date and time of the meeting.
The school system owns and operates one of the nation’s largest school bus fleets, consisting of over 1,500 buses that transport over 110,000 students to and from school each day. For answers to questions regarding specific student transportation situations, call the appropriate transportation section:
• Local school.
• Special education, 703-446-2050.
• Lorton administrative office, 703-446-2000.
• Training center, 703-714-5665.
• After-hours emergency number,
703-764-2400.
The use of school facilities by community groups is encouraged. To arrange to use a school, contact the principal. For more information, call 703-246-6943.
FCPS has one of the largest and most versatile volunteer programs in the country. Citizens are urged to participate by contacting the nearest school or office.
DISCLAIMER: This web page contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network. FCPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages.
Last update:
July 30, 2007
Curator: Nancy Moy, Nancy.Moy@fcps.edu