July 15, 2009

Next Issue: August 12

Deadline for Articles: Wednesday, August 5

Thank you for working to provide a quality education for all children in FCPS.

Spring 2009 Outstanding Performance Award Winners Announced

The spring 2009 winners of the FCPS Outstanding Performance Award have been announced. (get details)

First Year Award WinnersSpotlight: First-Year Principal of the Year and First-Year Teacher of the Year

Learn more about Carole Kihm and Tara Murphy, this year's First-Year Principal and First-Year Teacher of the Year award winners.
(watch video)

New Cluster Assistant Superintendents

Dr. Dale is pleased to announced that Marty Smith, Scott Brabrand, and Fabio Zuluaga will be the new assistant superintendents for Clusters I, IV, and VIII, respectively. (get details: Smith | Brabrand | Zuluaga)

FCPS Wins 10 Publications and Electronic Media Contest Awards From NSPRA

Fairfax County Public Schools has received 10 awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) in its 2009 Publications and Electronic Media Contest, which includes an Award of Merit for Supergram in the internal electronic newsletter category. (get details)

Improve Your People SkillsBooks 24x7 Featured Title: 151 Quick Ideas to Improve Your People Skills

Culled from the study of human behavior, relationships, and communication, this guide offers tested and true ideas that will help you be more effective, efficient, and in control of your relationships with people. (get details)

Employee Assistance Program Available to FCPS Staff Members

The employee assistance program (EAP) is a service available to FCPS staff members in need of help with personal and/or family problems. The program provides short-term confidential counseling and makes referrals (as appropriate) to outside providers, community resources, and support groups. (get details)

People on the Move

Learn who has been promoted, recently hired, or transferred to a new location. (get details)

FCPS Online Classifieds System Free for Employees

Online ClassifiedsThe FCPS Online Classifieds system is a free way for employees to post ads for personally owned items that they are seeking to buy, sell, rent, or give away, to find a roommate, or to share a ride to work. (get details)

About Our People

Read about your colleagues' accomplishments. (go)

Other News and News of Continuing Interest

  • The Department of Professional Learning and Training (PLT) is now accepting proposals for fall-winter leadership seminars. The deadline is August 11. (get details)

  • As of May 1, Express Scripts added insulin and some diabetic supplies to its maintenance medication list. This list represents prescription drugs that Fairfax County Public Schools medical benefits participants must obtain through Express Scripts’ home delivery service. (get details)

  • Total compensation statements for 2009-10 will be distributed electronically and will no longer be mailed to employee residences this summer. 
    (get details)

  • The 2009 winners of the FCPS Best of the Web contest have been announced. (get details)

  • Online registration through MyPLT for summer Leadership Seminars and ACCESS courses is now open. (get details: Leadership Seminars | ACCESS)

  • Effective September 1, the annual VRS Member Benefit Profile statements will be made available online only. (get details)

Honors Grade Point Weight Changed

The grade point weight for honors classes will change starting this fall based on a recommendation from Dr. Dale. (get details)

FCPS Included in Computerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT 2009

Fairfax County Public Schools has been named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology for 2009 by International Data Group's Computerworld. (get details)

Supergram's August Schedule

The next issue of Supergram will be posted on August 12, with an article deadline of August 5. The first issue in September will be posted on September 9, with an article deadline of September 2. (get details)

Communications Corner: Back-to-School Publications Being Delivered Now

PublicationsEven though the first day of school is almost two months away for the standard calendar schools, the FCPS warehouse is already hard at work delivering the publications needed for the start of school, such as the opt-out forms, 2009-10 Handbook, and others.

To help ensure a smooth start to the school year, be sure to designate a room in your building where the publications can be kept together and make sure that all summer staff members are aware of the designation, so that everything can be located when needed later.

Online Registration Now Open for 2009 Leadership Conference

Online registration through MyPLT is now open for the 2009 Leadership Conference, to be held August 5 at Hayfield Secondary.  (get details)

Minnie BeckwithThe History of FCPS: Teacher Recalls Lunch Pails, Slate Boards (Part I)

A two-part newsletter article from the Fairfax Schools Bulletin in 1970 features an interview with a 98-year-old retiree, Minnie Beckwith, who began teaching in FCPS in 1894. Look for the second installment in the August 12 issue. (get details)

Call for Coaches

The latest position openings are posted. (go)

InsightThis Week's "Insight"

To view a promotional clip from this week's show, click here. Some of this week's stories include:

Important Notice for Supergram Article Submissions

Article submissions for Supergram should be sent to Andy Grunig at andy.grunig@fcps.edu. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, Grunig can be reached at 571-423-1212. Please Note: The Career Quest (formerly Job Opportunities) publication and web pages are provided by the Department of Human Resources.

FCPS by the Numbers

Number of Students
The projected number of students who will be enrolled in FCPS schools for the 2009-10 school year, an increase of 5,189 from 2008-09. FCPS is the 12th largest school system in the U.S. and the largest in Virginia and in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Quote to Note

"What do I want to take home from my summer vacation? Time. The wonderful luxury of being at rest. The days when you shut down the mental machinery that keeps life on track and let life simply wander. The days when you stop planning, analyzing, thinking, and just are. Summer is my period of grace."

Ellen Goodman