News Items for Use in School, Department, and Office Newsletters and Other FCPS Publications

These articles are provided as a service from the Department of Communications and Community Outreach (DCCO). They can be used in any FCPS or PTA publication. For more information or to suggest an article idea, contact the curator below. This page is updated monthly during the school year.

Note: If you would like to be notified when new content has been added to this page, sign up to receive information from the Keep in Touch (KIT) Plus system and select the PTA, PTSA, PTO Information option.

New Articles for May:

Fairfax County School Board Approves Appointment of Dr. Karen Garza as Superintendent
Melissa Porfirio Named FCPS 2013 Teacher of the Year; Tim Thomas Named FCPS 2013 Principal of the Year
New FCPS E-Newsletter: My FCPS - Community
FCPS Makes Recommended Family Life Education Instructional Materials Available for Community Review
All Fairfax County High Schools Make Washington Post's List of Top High Schools in U.S.
Free Kinship Respite Day to Be Held May 18 at Gum Springs Community Center
Tip Sheet for Parents: Help Teens Learn to Make Responsible Decisions

Fairfax County School Board Approves Appointment of Dr. Karen Garza as Superintendent

The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Karen Garza as the Division Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2017.

"I humbly thank the Fairfax County School Board for this wonderful opportunity," said Dr. Garza. "I pledge to be responsive and accountable to all FCPS stakeholders and will work tirelessly in support of the efforts already underway to provide FCPS students a world-class education. As superintendent, I plan to be very visible. The best part of my day will be when I'm in schools to be with children and to better understand the needs of our schools."

For the past four years, Dr. Garza has been the Superintendent of the Lubbock Independent School District, which serves approximately 30,000 students in Lubbock, Texas. Prior to her role in Lubbock, Dr. Garza served as the Chief Academic Officer of the Houston Independent School District, the seventh largest school district in the country. As Chief Academic Officer, the district's second position to the Superintendent, Dr. Garza was responsible for both instruction and facilities for more than 200,000 students.

"I’m thrilled that we have been able to finalize the appointment and contractual arrangement with Dr. Garza,” said Ilryong Moon, Fairfax County School Board Chairman. “Several of us had the opportunity to visit Lubbock earlier this week and all of us came away extremely impressed with the community’s observations regarding Dr. Garza’s tenure as its superintendent. She comes to Fairfax County with a deep commitment to openness and engagement and is eager to work collaboratively in the best interest of all students. As Dr. Garza knows, the bar is set high in Fairfax County. The Board looks forward with great excitement to working with Dr. Garza as it builds upon past successes and moves forward in a new era for FCPS.”

The School Board will begin planning a series of transition activities and public meetings for Dr. Garza before she begins her tenure as FCPS Superintendent on July 1.

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Melissa Porfirio Named FCPS 2013 Teacher of the Year; Tim Thomas Named FCPS 2013 Principal of the Year

Melissa Porfirio, first grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary School, and Tim Thomas, principal of Westfield High School, have been named the 2013 FCPS Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year, respectively.

Porfirio has taught at Crestwood since 2005. She will represent FCPS in Virginia’s Teacher of the Year competition; the winner will be announced in fall 2013. Porfirio has also won the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award for educational excellence, which is presented annually to a teacher from each school division in the Washington metropolitan area. The goals of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards are to recognize excellence in teaching, to encourage creative and quality instruction, and to contribute in a substantive way to improving education in the Washington area. The award includes a $3,000 prize, which Porfirio will receive at a recognition ceremony in April.

Finalists for the 2013 FCPS Teacher of the Year are Debra DeMaria of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Elizabeth Galinis of Hayfield Secondary School, Penny Kelly of Falls Church High School, Jeff LeLoup of Forestville Elementary School, and Morgan Occhuizzo of Fairfax Villa Elementary School.

More information about Porfirio's award is available at http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2211.

Thomas began his career in FCPS in 1992 as a Spanish teacher at Centreville High School. He became assistant principal at Centreville in 2000, then moved to Westfield to serve as assistant principal in 2002, a position he held until being named principal in 2006. Thomas is also the recipient of the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award. He is one of 21 principals— representing the public school systems in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and private schools—selected by the Washington Post for the award.

Evan Glazer, principal at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, was a finalist for the FCPS 2013 Principal of the Year award.

More information about Thomas' award is available at http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2210.

New FCPS E-Newsletter: My FCPS - Community

Do you know a member of the community without children in school who wants to know more about what's happening in Fairfax County Public Schools? If so, there is a new e-newsletter for them called My FCPS - Community. All issues are available online at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/pubs/myfcps/community/index.shtml, and readers can also subscribe through Keep in Touch Plus (https://signup.blackboardconnect.com/fcps/Default.aspx) to be notified when a new issue has been posted.

FCPS Makes Recommended Family Life Education Instructional Materials Available for Community Review

Recommended Family Life Education (FLE) lesson objectives and media to support instruction are now available for community review until Monday, May 20. Select lesson objectives addressing abuse are being recommended for grades 6-10 and grade 12 in the emotional and social health and human growth and development units. Media is being recommended for the grades 7-9 emotional and social health unit. All recommended instructional materials are available online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/hpe/fle.shtml.

Reviewer comments may be emailed to FLEcomments@fcps.edu. All comments are shared with School Board members at the conclusion of the community review process. Community access to computers is available at public libraries and all Fairfax County Public School libraries during regular hours of operation. Community members wishing to use their local school’s computers are encouraged to make an appointment with the school’s librarian to ensure access to a computer.

For more information, call the FCPS Office of Professional and Life Skills at 571-423-4550.

All Fairfax County High Schools Make Washington Post's List of Top High Schools in U.S.

All eligible Fairfax County high schools* have been designated among the most demanding public schools in the country and are featured in the 2013 Washington Post list of more than 1,900 top U.S. high schools.

The Challenge Index measures public and private high schools’ ability to challenge their students. A school’s ranking is determined by dividing the number of college-level tests given by a school to all its students by the number of graduates for that year. The index is designed to identify schools that challenge average students.

* Note: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which serves students across the region, was not included in the list because of its selective admissions process. It is recognized in a separate group titled “Public Elites.”

The complete list of America's most challenging high schools is available at http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2013/list/national/.

Free Kinship Respite Day to Be Held May 18 at Gum Springs Community Center

For all relatives raising a child or children for another family member—you deserve a break! On Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gum Springs Community Center in Alexandria, you can drop off children ages 3 to 12 (who are residents of Fairfax County or the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church) for a day of fun. Children will be entertained and engaged in free activities, with lunch and snacks provided. There is no charge, but advance registration is required by May 14.

More information, including how to register, is available at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/documents/2013RespiteDayFlyerPDFformat.pdf.

The Kinship Respite Day is sponsored by the Kinship Care Committee of Fairfax County.

Tip Sheet for Parents: Help Teens Learn to Make Responsible Decisions

The ability to make good decisions is one of the most important qualities of a responsible child—and it is a skill that improves with practice.

Teens must make decisions every day. Some are as trivial as what to eat for breakfast. Other decisions can have serious life consequences, such as: How do I deal with peer pressure to try alcohol, tobacco, drugs? How important are good grades? What about education after high school?

Three Steps Parents Can Take at Home

Give your teen practice making decisions every day. He or she can select vegetables for dinner, gifts for family birthdays, or the color to paint his or her room. Ask yourself, "Could my child decide this for himself or herself?" Whenever possible, say to your teen, "You decide."
Let your teen live with the consequences of his or her decisions. Don't be quick to shield him or her from the results of his or her decisions. Running out of money the day he or she gets his or her allowance—and doing without the rest of the week—can teach him or her more about making good budget decisions than you can ever tell him or her.
Talk about the results of your teen's decisions. Ask him or her to talk about what happened as a result of his or her choices: "I decided to spend time with friends right after school and now I don't have time to do my homework before bedtime." Or, "I studied an hour every day for my math test and I got an A!" Help your teen see the connection between his or her decision and what happened.

Note: Copyright 2013. Reprinted with permission from the Parent Institute. Additional tip sheets and other resources for parents and families can be found on the Family and School Partnerships website at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/resources/publications/index.shtml.

Registration Continues for FCPS 2013 Summer Programs

Registration is open for the following Fairfax County Public Schools summer camps: Institute for the Arts (IFTA), Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA), and Tech Adventure Camp. General information and links to individual programs and registration are available online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/summer/index.shtml. Transportation is included in the tuition for all three camps. Students should register for programs based on the grade they are in during the 2012-13 school year.

Details on each program follow:

Institute for the Arts (IFTA) will be held July 8-August 2 at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Designed for students currently in grades 6 through 11, IFTA allows students to create, perform, experiment, and explore—all in various music and art venues. Class placement assessment may be required for some courses. More at http://www.fcps.edu/is/finearts/ifta.shtml.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) will be held July 8-19 at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Designed for students currently in grades 3-5, E-IFTA offers participants a total immersion in the arts as they rotate through classes in dance, drama, music, and visual art. More at http://www.fcps.edu/is/finearts/eifta.shtml.
Tech Adventure Camp will be held July 15-26 at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For students currently in grades 5-7, this camp allows students to explore careers and technology by rotating through eight areas including graphic design, automotive technology, culinary arts, television production, robotics, and digital photography. More at http://www.fcps.edu/is/cte/events.shtml#techadventurecamp.

In addition, FCPS will offer several other summer learning programs to provide academic and enrichment opportunities for students in all grades. Visit www.fcps.edu/summer for more information, including registration dates, fees, and eligibility.

Adult and Community Education (ACE) programs including Foreign Language Experience program (FLEX), Culinary Adventure Camp, Language Immersion Camp, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) admissions test prep, SAT test prep, study skills, and driver education. Held at various locations.
ESOL Math – For FCPS high school English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) students who are in FAST Math and want the opportunity to build the math skills necessary to be successful in Algebra 1. Held at Lake Braddock Secondary School July 8-26. Registration begins May 6.
Online ESOL – For current middle and high school ESOL students who want to continue developing their fiction and nonfiction reading and writing skills in an online classroom with an ESOL teacher. Held July 8-26. Registration begins May 6.
Extended School Year (ESY) Learning Communities – Services for identified students with disabilities in accordance with their individualized education programs (IEPs).
Fashion Camp – Students currently in grades K-8 explore fashion trends and create their own personally-styled outfits, jewelry, and accessories. Runs July 8-12.
Online Campus – For credit recovery, acceleration, and enrichment for middle and high school students. Runs July 8-August 6. Registration begins May 6.
SOL Remediation – For FCPS high school students who passed an SOL course but did not pass the SOL test. The sessions are for students who score between 375 and 399 on the SOL test.
SOL Test Only – This program is for FCPS seniors who plan to graduate by August 30 and passed an SOL course but failed the SOL test. Held at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Registration begins May 6.
TJHSST Summer Technology Institute will be held July 15- August 9 at Woodson High School. Students currently in grades 7 and 8 are introduced to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through week-long sessions that allow them to explore a STEM topic of interest.
TJHSST Academic Summer School will be held July 8-August 8 at Woodson High School. Current TJHSST students and incoming freshmen choose from a variety of courses for academic credit.

Morning Attendance Calls and E-Mails Now Being Used for Middle and High School Students

To increase student safety and inform parents or guardians in the event that their child(ren) did not arrive at school as expected, FCPS will begin using the Keep in Touch (KIT) attendance system, starting March 18, to send a morning attendance telephone call and e-mail to middle school and high school parents or guardians between 10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. each day.

Messages will be sent based on attendance data as of 9:30 a.m. You may receive an additional phone call if your child is reported absent for additional class periods or all of the school day.

If you have any questions, contact your middle or high school.

Parents may view and update their child's emergency and contact information online through weCare@School, a feature of FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) using a Parent View account. Parents may also direct requests to update student contact information to the student information assistant at their child's school.

Thirty-Six FCPS Schools Earn 2013 Virginia Index of Performance Awards

Thirty-six Fairfax County public schools have earned a 2013 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) award for advanced learning and achievement from Governor Bob McDonnell and the Virginia Board of Education. The awards recognize schools and divisions that exceed minimum state and federal accountability standards and meet or exceed a number of performance indicators.

Rocky Run Middle School was one of two schools statewide that received the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest VIP award presented. This award is a recognition of schools that have met all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and achieve excellence goals for elementary reading, enrollment in Algebra I by the eighth grade, high school graduation, enrollment in college level programs and attainment of advanced diplomas, increased attainment of career and industry certifications, and participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Schools and divisions can also earn bonus points for other performance measures, including the Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard.

Eighteen Fairfax County public schools received the 2013 Board of Education Excellence Award, a recognition of schools and divisions that have met all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and have made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunities. Schools receiving the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence are: Canterbury Woods Elementary, Chesterbrook Elementary, Colvin Run Elementary, Cooper Middle, Floris Elementary, Great Falls Elementary, Greenbriar West Elementary, Haycock Elementary, Hunt Valley Elementary, Longfellow Middle, Louise Archer Elementary, McNair Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Spring Hill Elementary, Thoreau Middle, West Springfield Elementary, Westbriar Elementary, and Wolftrap Elementary Schools.

Seventeen Fairfax County public schools received the 2013 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award, a recognition of schools that have met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and are making progress toward designated goals. Schools receiving the Distinguished Achievement Award include: Camelot Elementary, Forest Edge Elementary, Fox Mill Elementary, Franklin Middle, Franklin Sherman Elementary, Frost Middle, Kent Gardens Elementary, Kings Glen Elementary, Mantua Elementary, Oakton Elementary, Olde Creek Elementary, Springfield Estates Elementary, Stratford Landing Elementary, Sunrise Valley Elementary, Vienna Elementary, Westgate Elementary, and Willow Springs Elementary Schools.

Additional information about the program is available online at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/va_index_performance_awards/index.shtml.

Important Immunization Requirement: Do You Have a Student Entering Sixth Grade Next Year?

If yes, he or she may need a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Sixth grade students cannot begin school in September without documentation of having had either the Tdap booster or documentation of having had a tetanus-containing vaccine within the past five years. Parents or guardians of current fifth graders should check their child’s immunization records.

If your child is 11 years old, he or she should get the Tdap immunization, and documentation should be provided to the school.
If your child is 10 years old, he or she may receive the Tdap vaccine, Boostrix, which is approved for 10-year-olds, or he or she may wait until the 11th birthday to receive the vaccine approved for 11-year-olds.
However, if your child’s 11th birthday is after September 3, 2013, and he or she is entering the sixth grade, your child must have a medical exemption from the doctor stating when he or she will receive the Tdap in order to attend school.

Documentation, such as a signed and dated immunization record from the physician, stating that your child has received this immunization must be provided to the school registrar as soon as possible. You may start sending in your documentation now to your school’s registrar while your child is still in the fifth grade to ensure that he or she meets this requirement before the first day of school in the fall.

Fairfax County Public Schools tracks compliance with this state requirement and students who do not meet the requirement before September 3 will not be able to start school.

Students can receive immunizations required for school at any Fairfax County Health Department immunization clinic. Information about health department clinic locations and hours can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/hdclinicsite.htm.

More information about immunization requirements and exemptions can be found in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2101 and on the FCPS website.

If you have any questions, contact Lorraine Trouton, health services specialist, Department of Special Services, at 571-423-4402 or Lorraine.trouton@fcps.edu.

2013-14 Kindergarten Orientation and Registration

Will your child be five years old by September 30? If so, contact your child's school to make arrangements for kindergarten enrollment. Most schools begin getting information together in late March or early April for parents of incoming kindergartners, and many host an orientation or open house. Forms and other information about registration are available at http://www.fcps.edu/parents/start/kindergarten.shtml.

Please note that most kindergarten orientations are usually scheduled between mid-March and the end of June. It's best to check the school's web page or to contact the school directly for any specific information about kindergarten in 2013-14.

For more information about kindergarten, go to http://www.fcps.edu/is/earlychildhood/kindergarten/index.shtml.

FCPS Resiliency Program: Creating “Bounce Back” Kids

Every child has the inner strengths to be resilient. A new program by FCPS provides parents with the resources to build an environment of safety nets and help their children focus on their strengths to “bounce back” from adversity.

The new resiliency program builds on existing areas of focus for FCPS: bullying prevention and intervention, depression and suicide awareness, and crisis situations. Everyone faces life’s difficulties but many researchers have found that the growth of technology and social media has exposed children to increasing and more far-reaching pressures than in the past. They can include serious family and personal struggles, everyday challenges in the classroom, the intense need to succeed, and strained and confusing relationships with peers and parents.

The resiliency training that FCPS psychologists, social workers, and counselors have participated in has expanded to outside the classroom by providing information for parents to be aware, be informed, and know how to access resources to build resiliency in their children.

The web-based resources feature how parents can build on their children’s inner strengths to deal and rise above adversity with humor, creativity, persistence, and flexibility. Resources also include information on how external forces like the presence of a caring adult, clear and established boundaries, setting and meeting expectations, and mentoring or volunteering can help a child build resiliency.

For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/dss/ips/resiliency/index.shtml.

Register Now for Spring 2013 Adult and Community Education Classes and Grades 1-12 Summer Offerings

Registration is under way for spring 2013 and summer classes for students currently enrooled in grades 1-12 offered by Adult and Community Education (ACE). Course offerings may be viewed at www.fcps.edu/is/ace, and registration may be completed online.

The course catalog, ACE Classes, has been mailed to residents and is also available at Fairfax County public libraries and at the Plum Center in Alexandria.

Kinship Care Guide and Resources Available to Relatives Raising Children

Kinship care is increasing as a result of family challenges where the biological parents are no longer able to care for their child. Fairfax County Public Schools, in partnership with other Fairfax County departments and agencies, offers services and programs for grandparents and other family members raising children.

Kinship care families come from all geographic, economic, educational, and racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Nationwide, the number of kinship care families is growing, with more than six million children in the U.S. currently being raised by grandparents and other relatives.
In Fairfax County, according to the 2000 Census, approximately 5,000 households identified themselves as having a grandparent or other family member raising children.

For more information and resources, including a Kinship Care FAQ Quick Guide and a listing of local support groups, go to http://www.fcps.edu/cco/fam/programs/kinship.shtml.

FCPS Debuts New Facilities Dashboard Website

The FCPS Office of Design and Construction recently launched an enhanced online Facilities Dashboard with information about capacity and enrollment, facilities and sites, and pyramids and programs.

The dashboard was originally created in 2009 and focused on capacity, utilization, and facilities. The enhanced dashboard has added information about student transfers, special education, Advanced Academic Programs, and temporary classrooms.

Key features include current and five year projected enrollment, design and program capacity, enrollment by grade size, elementary average class size, and out-of-boundary students. The dashboard also provides each school’s square footage, property size, number of classrooms, square foot per student, construction date, number of trailers, and feeder school information by pyramid.

For more information, visit http://www.fcps.edu/fts/dashboard/12-13dashboard.html.

2013 Graduation Schedule Now Available

The 2013 graduation schedule is now available online at http://www.fcps.edu/news/grad.shtml.

Help Prevent the Spread of the Flu and Other Diseases

This is the time of year when we expect to see an increase in the number of influenza and other respiratory infections in our community. While influenza is not unusual for this time of year, there are a number of things that you can do to protect your child and others.

To help control the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses:

Encourage your child to adhere to standard disease prevention recommendations. Children should use tissues and be taught to dispose of them properly. They should cover their mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough into their upper sleeve, not their hands. Hands should be washed regularly with soap and water for 15-20 seconds. Alcohol-based sanitizers may be used with supervision when soap and water are not available. Children should also avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
At home, routinely clean and disinfect surfaces that are high contact areas. Regular household cleaning products are adequate. Always follow label instructions when using any disinfectant. If chlorine bleach is used, mix ¼ cup chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of cool water.
Talk to your medical provider about flu vaccination for your child. Vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu. It is recommended that all children aged 6 months through 18 years of age receive the flu vaccine. It is not too late to get a flu vaccine for this season.
Monitor your child for signs of illness. Symptoms of flu include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur, and are much more common among children than adults.
Contact a doctor if your child shows symptoms of influenza. Consult a doctor if your child develops a fever (100°F. orally, or 102°F. rectally) and chills, cough, sore throat, headache, or muscle aches. Treatment may be available if sought early in the illness.

Please do not send any child experiencing influenza symptoms to school. To prevent spreading the illness to others, keep ill children home and away from others until the child has been symptom-free and without a fever for at least 24 hours.

If your child has been sent home from school or excluded from school because of influenza-like-illness, we again request that your child remain at home until 24 hours after symptoms cease. This will ensure that the spread of this contagious disease is limited as much as possible.

For more information about influenza, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/flu/.

If you have any questions, contact your school nurse or the Communicable Disease Epidemiology unit at 703-246-2433.

Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Plans

Due to inclement weather or other emergency situations, it may be necessary to close schools for the entire day, to open schools late, or to close early.

Parents are urged to make arrangements now for the care of their children when schedule changes are made (and to provide for the rare situation when it is necessary to close an individual school because of a power failure or other circumstances). Children should know where to go if a parent will not be home.

Decisions on schedule changes are made after careful study of the best information available from many sources including weather services, the highway department, the police, and FCPS transportation staff members who are out checking the roads. FCPS will make every effort to decide, before 4:30 a.m., whether to close or delay schools and will begin communicating the decision once it is made. The 4:30 a.m. decision time is a goal. Weather conditions can deteriorate after 4:30 a.m., which means that it may not be possible for FCPS to meet that goal. While no sources dealing with weather predictions can be infallible, decisions are made with one overriding consideration—the safety of all students—those who ride buses and those who walk to school each day.

FCPS has several schedules set up to deal with inclement weather; these are put into effect when conditions threaten the safety of children who are walking or riding school buses to schools. These schedules are:

(1) Keep schools closed. (2) Open two hours late. (3) Close two hours early.

In every case of a schedule change:

Tune in to local radio and television stations (including cable Channel 21, a channel programmed by FCPS), which are notified as soon as a decision is made.
Check www.fcps.edu.
Check Facebook (www.facebook.com/fcpsva) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/fcpsnews).

Do not phone the school or one of the stations for this information. To receive this information via e-mail, sign up for the FCPS Keep in Touch (KIT) e-mail notification system. (See article on how to subscribe and how to update your Keep in Touch information or go to www.fcps.edu/kit/.)

For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/news/weather.shtml.

If you want to learn more about how FCPS administrators decide to delay or close schools during inclement weather, you can check out a short video, which is available online by going to http://dl.ebmcdn.net/fcps/mp4/schoolscene/2012/ss10_snowdaze2012.mp4.

Please note: FCPS schools are open unless information is posted or sent that indicates schools are closed, opening late, or closing early. During an emergency closing situation in which other local school systems are closed or delayed and FCPS is open on time, the crawl for local TV stations WJLA (ABC 7) and NewsChannel 8 will indicate "No Report" for FCPS.

Keep Your Emergency Contact and Health Information Up-to-Date by Using weCare@school

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring a safe and secure climate in all its facilities. FCPS is pleased to announce the continuation of the weCare@school (weCare) online emergency care information service for parents and guardians who have registered to access FCPS 24-7 Learning (also known as Blackboard) at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/fcps247.shtml. Parents should use weCare to update their information annually at the start of school and thereafter whenever changes to the health or contact information occur during the course of the school year.

weCare allows parents to use a secure web-based option for keeping their child’s emergency care and health information current. For example, if a parent needs to change an emergency contact number or update his or her child’s medical condition(s), accessing weCare in FCPS 24-7 Learning provides a quick, easy, and secure method for doing so. Keeping emergency contact information current also ensures that FCPS will be able to contact you, in case of an emergency such as a school closing or delayed opening, through the Keep in Touch messaging system, found at http://www.fcps.edu/kit/.

Parent online access is just one of three major weCare components. Once a parent updates his or her child’s information using weCare, the school’s student information assistant reviews the submission and confirms the information before the student information database is updated. Additionally, weCare has a mobile component that provides first responders with access to emergency care information via handheld wireless devices.

For additional information about weCare, go to http://www.fcps.edu/news/wecare.shtml.

Telephone Parent Information Line Available in Seven Languages

Parents who speak Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line to help them learn general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.

The Parent Information Line numbers are:

Arabic—571-423-4952
Chinese—571-423-4953
Farsi—571-423-4954
Korean—571-423-4951
Spanish—571-423-4950
Urdu—571-423-4955
Vietnamese—571-423-4956

A parent may call at any time, leave a message in his or her language, and receive a return phone call in that language from an FCPS staff member within 24 hours Monday through Friday.

Using the Keep in Touch (KIT) Notification System

FCPS has an electronic notification system known as Keep in Touch (KIT). KIT has two services: KIT Basic (automatic enrollment) and KIT Plus (subscription).

KIT Basic has automatic enrollment because it draws contact information from the student information system (SASI/iSIS) and the employee (Lawson) databases. Contact information for KIT Basic may be updated at the school or through weCare@School, a feature of FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) - http://www.fcps.edu/fcps247.shtml. FCPS central offices and schools use KIT Basic to provide families and employees with three types of messages—attendance, emergency, and outreach—via e-mails and phone calls.

KIT Plus is a subscription service for students, community members, and citizens interested in news, events, and updates from FCPS. Subscribers may select from the following topics:

Adult and Community Education (ACE) classes and news.
Current issues (budget, boundary studies, summer programs).
Delayed openings and school closings.
FCPS job opportunities.
Magnet schools and advanced academic programs.
My FCPS - Employees (newsletter) - replaces Supergram.
My FCPS - Family (newsletter) - replaces Familygram.
My FCPS - Community (newsletter)
News releases and media tips.
PTA, PTSA, PTO information.
School Board news and updates.
Special education services.
Summer programs.
Visual and performing arts.

In addition to these topics, KIT Plus subscribers may also receive announcements from up to five schools of their choice. KIT Plus is a self-subscribing, -updating, and -unsubscribing service. FCPS families and employees may receive announcements from both KIT Basic and KIT Plus.

For more information, or to subscribe, visit http://www.fcps.edu/kit.

Are You Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

Mentoring in Fairfax County Public Schools occurs throughout the entire school system and at all levels. According to data from the 2010-11 school year, a total of 172 mentoring programs are in place in FCPS: 118 elementary school programs, 21 middle school programs, and 33 high school programs. These data also indicated that approximately 5,500 students in FCPS were being mentored.

If you are interested, consider several factors, including the age and number of young people you want to work with—elementary, middle, or high school-age children; one youth or several. (There is a difference between mentoring a child one on one versus coaching a group of young people). Also, consider the setting that you may want to mentor in, such as a school, the community, or a business.

For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/dss/ips/ssaw/mentorworks.

New Videostream File Format Compatible With Mobile Devices

FCPS' online streaming of Fairfax County Public Schools news stories, otherwise known as videostreams, has been upgraded to a new file format. As a result, videostreams require either QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/) or Windows Media Player (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-media-player) for playback, depending on your computer settings. In addition, the new videostreams are compatible with mobile technology and can be viewed on many Blackberry, Droid, iPhone, and iPad devices.

More information is available at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/tv/index.shtml

FCPS Expands Social Media Outreach

Fairfax County Public Schools has expanded its use of social media, adding Flickr and YouTube to its existing presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Parents, students, employees, and citizens can view videos featured on FCPS cable TV Channel Red Apple 21 on YouTube by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/FairfaxCountySchools; the site is updated periodically.

The FCPS Flickr account features photos from the schools with a focus on events and activities featuring students. New photos are added to the Flickr page at the end of each month. To view the photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/55818873@N06/

FCPS has more than 30,000 followers on Facebook, where up-to-date news and information, including emergency school closing information, can be found. New entries are added to the Facebook page daily during the five-day work week. To follow FCPS on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/fcpsva and select Like at the top of the page.

Over 11,000 people follow FCPS on Twitter (@fcpsnews), where news briefs and helpful information for parents and citizens is posted. To follow FCPS on Twitter, visit http://www.twitter.com/fcpsnews and click on Follow.

Citizens can also receive FCPS news and information by subscribing to the school system’s Keep in Touch e-mail messaging system (http://www.fcps.edu/kit), or by subscribing to RSS (really simple syndication). To learn more about RSS, visit http://www.fcps.edu then click on the orange RSS logo on the right side of the page. Links to all of FCPS' social media sites can also be found on the FCPS home page.

FCPS Invites Businesses, Community Organizations to Explore Five Ways to Partner With Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools is encouraging local businesses and community organizations to check out five ways to partner with the school system in an effort to support students individually and on a larger scale.

FCPS announces the Give Me Five! initiative, offering a number of ways for businesses, organizations, and individuals to benefit students and schools:

Mentor a child. Mentors commit to working with a student for one hour, once a week, throughout the school year and are placed with a student close to the mentors' homes or offices. Training and support is offered to all potential mentors.
Partner with a school. A business or organization can establish a partnership with one school and have the option to expand the relationship to mutually benefit both partners. Some schools have had the same business partner for more than 20 years.
Serve as a systemwide partner. Partnering at the school system level can affect students throughout FCPS and often targets a specific curricular focus that can enhance a business’s workforce development.
Support an existing partnership. Individuals, companies, and organizations can donate items, volunteer, or provide funding to any number of existing partnerships and programs.
Develop or advance an educational initiative. Initiatives come from inside and outside the school system, support cutting-edge learning, and help develop future employees.

For additional information about partnering with FCPS, contact Jay Garant at 571-423-1209 or jpgarant@fcps.edu. For more information about serving as a mentor, contact Shelley Prince at 571-423-4403 or rrprince@fcps.edu.

Visit http://www.fcps.edu/cco/bcp/index.shtml for more information about business and community partnerships in FCPS.

Alternate Transportation Plans

In case of emergencies such as road closures, accidents, or weather-related road problems, drivers may use safe transportation-approved alternate locations to pick up or drop off students. Drivers will return children to their schools:

If there is no safe transportation-approved alernative stop.
If the driver has any other concerns regarding the safety of releasing a student at a regular stop.
If a child expresses concern, for any reason, about getting off of the bus.

Walker Safety Tips

Parents should plan a walking route to school and choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings. Parents are responsible for selecting their children’s walking routes to and from bus stops, schools, and home. Parents are also responsible for providing supervision that is appropriate for their child’s age, maturity, and conditions on the route. Parents should be encouraged to outfit their children with reflective clothing.

Students should cross streets at controlled intersections and in crosswalks where available. Students should not cross in the middle of a street unless the crossing is supervised by a crossing guard or a police officer. Before crossing, students should look both ways before stepping off the curb. Students should always pay attention for turning vehicles. Students should be encouraged to turn off personal stereos (iPods) while crossing intersections.

Students who walk to and from school should be encouraged to walk with other students. Walkers should go directly home after school and never take shortcuts. Elementary students should avoid parks, vacant lots, fields, and other places where there aren't many people, and, if they are unable to walk home safely, they should return to the school.

It is important to note that school system staff members do not assess all possible walking routes, supervise those routes, or guarantee the safety of any particular route. Staff members provide general safety information to school communities and respond to requests for specific information and advice when practicable. Staff members also assess routes for unusual hazards when concerns are brought to their attention.

Parents: Sign Up Now for FCPS 24-7 Learning

All parents, legal guardians, and foster parents of FCPS students are eligible to receive their own user accounts for FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard). Since the program was made available to parents in March 2007, more than 29,000 parents have already signed up for their own accounts.

Registration provides several benefits. With their own accounts, parents no longer have to share account information with their children in order to visit their online class sites in FCPS 24-7. An account, which provides access to the Parent View page in FCPS 24-7, allows parents to directly access all their children’s class sites from this one location. This allows parents to view class announcements and materials shared with students and, in most cases, provides a direct link to each of their children’s teachers’ FCPS e-mail addresses for easy communication. Please Note: By updating your child's emergency contact information in FCPS 24-7 you are also updating your account information for messages from the Keep in Touch (KIT) Basic message system.

weCare@school and Family Connection Tools Included

Additionally, registration provides access to the weCare@school and Family Connection tools. weCare@school provides parents a secure capability to review and electronically update each child’s emergency data information. Parents who take advantage of this service can now only update those fields that require a change, such as contact phone information or home address, without manually completing a new form. This up-to-date information can be rapidly included in the FCPS student information system and allows each school’s first responders to electronically access this information should the need arise.

Family Connection, a planning tool for high school students, enables high school parents to:

View their students’ GPAs and SAT and ACT test scores.
View their students’ resumés and postgraduation plans.
Research colleges and view acceptance histories from their high schools.
View additional career and college counseling resources from their schools and FCPS.

Signing Up Is Easy

To sign up for an FCPS 24-7 Learning account, parents need only complete a simple two-step process. First, they register online through FCPS 24-7 Learning. The site can be accessed by either selecting the FCPS 24-7 Learning link on the FCPS public web site or by going directly to http://fcps.blackboard.com and entering parentreg as the username and newuser as the password.

This login provides access to step-by-step instructions, a toll-free number for assistance, and the online registration form. After completing the online registration, which requires school directory-type information and a valid e-mail address, parents receive a validation code that must be taken to one of their children’s schools in order to validate and enable the account.

Schools provide opportunities for both registration and validation at parent-oriented activities such as Back-to-School Nights, orientations, and other activities. They also have the ability to support walk-in validation requests. As a courtesy, it is best to call the school ahead of time for walk-in validation.

The registration and validation process is a one-time requirement. No annual update or other update or additional registration is required while parents have students enrolled in FCPS.

Parents are encouraged to contact their children’s schools to find out their plans for registration activities and validation opportunities over the coming months.

Parent Resource Center Tutor and Speech Clinician List

The FCPS tutor list, which can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/resources/tutors.shtml, contains names of individuals who have contacted the Parent Resource Center (PRC) to offer services. The PRC in no way recommends or guarantees certification or costs of individual tutors. The list is a service provided by the PRC, but parents are responsible for contacting and working with the tutors. The listed FCPS speech clinicians are those who are licensed to provide services privately to clients. The PRC cannot make specific recommendations or guarantee certification, licensure, or costs.

If you have questions, call 703-204-3941 or visit the PRC at 2334 Gallows Road, room 224. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Satellite locations are open part-time at Aldrin and Hayfield Elementary Schools.

For more information about the Parent Resource Center, go to http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/about.shtml.