August 12, 2009

Next Issue: September 9

Deadline for Articles: Wednesday, September 2

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

Superintendent Dale Stresses Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders Today at Leadership Conference; Mary Arwood and Deborah Metzker Named Spillane Leadership Award Winners

Superintendent Dale's address at this year's Leadership Conference stressed preparing tomorrow's leaders today and included his goals for the 2009-10 school year. Look for more information in his back-to-school message, which will be videostreamed in late August and will be broadcast on closed Channels 85 and 86 from August 24 to 28 and from August 31 to September 4. In addition, Mary Arwood and Deborah Metzker were named this year's winners of the Robert R. Spillane Leadership Award. (get details)

Changes Coming to 403(b) Savings Plan

As of September 1, FCPS will partner with new 403(b) vendors—Great-West Retirement Services and TIAA-CREF—and will retain its incumbent vendor VALIC to provide tax-deferred savings options. Contracts with all other vendors will end December 31. (get details)

SchoolScene Bloopers"SchoolScene" Bloopers

Take a look at these gaffes and guffaws from the 2008-09 season of "SchoolScene." (watch video)

Fall Academy Catalog Available Online August 21; Registration Begins August 25

The FCPS Fall Academy catalog will be available online beginning August 21. Online registration will be available beginning August 25 at 4 p.m. (date updated). All employees must register through MyPLT. (get details)

Books 24x7Books 24x7 Offers Free Access to Thousands of Business, Software, and Technology Titles

Books 24x7, part of eLearnIT, offers free access to the complete unabridged contents of thousands of the latest and best business and technology books. (get details)

About Our People

Read about your colleagues' accomplishments. (go)

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

Read the second installment of a two-part newsletter article from the Fairfax Schools Bulletin in 1970, which features an interview with a 98-year-old retiree, Minnie Beckwith, who began teaching in FCPS in 1894. (get details | part I)

People on the Move

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

Recently Updated School Board Directives Posted Online

Recent changes and additions to School Board directives that have been made effective within the last 45 days can be found online. (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)

Other News and News of Continuing Interest

  • The Great Beginnings Summer Institute will be held August 24 to 27 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary. School, cluster, and department staffs should avoid scheduling conflicting activities for new instructional employees during this time period.
    (get details)

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

  • 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)

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

Ravensworth Elementary to Move to Cluster VI

Ravensworth Elementary is moving from Cluster III to Cluster VI effective August 2009. (get details)

Supergram's September Schedule

The next two issues of Supergram will be posted on September 9 and September 23, with article deadlines of September 2 and September 16 respectively. The regular schedule of first and third Wednesdays will return in October. (get details)

Communications Corner: FamilyGram Going Electronic Starting This Fall

FamilyGramAs a result of budget cuts, FCPS' FamilyGram newsletter will no longer be offered as a print publication and will only be available online starting with the 2009-10 school year. However, the number of issues will increase from three to four. Information on the new editorial and production schedule is available on FCPSnet. (get details)

Fall ACCESS Catalog Available Online August 31; Registration Begins September 1

The FCPS Fall ACCESS catalog will be available online beginning August 31. Online registration will be available beginning Sepember 1. (get details)

School Board and Leadership Team to Test Skills, Wills

Looking for a different kind of entertainment? Then head to Robinson Secondary School on August 28 at 7 p.m. for the first test of skills and wills as the School Board and Leadership Team members compete against each other in basketball and volleyball. (get details) 

Register Now for Fall ACE Classes

Fall ACE ClassesRegistration is under way for September-December 2009 classes offered by the Office of Adult and Community Education (ACE). Course offerings may be viewed at www.fcps.edu/aceclasses, and most classes may be registered for online. The course catalog, ACE Classes, has been mailed to residents and is also available at Fairfax County public libraries and ACE registration centers. You may also now subscribe to the new
e-newsletter, ACE On Point, and choose among 22 topics of interest about which to receive news.

Call for Coaches

The latest position openings are posted. (go)

SchoolSceneThis Week's Best of "SchoolScene"

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 Schools and Centers
The number of schools and centers that FCPS students will attend in the 2009-10 school year. This includes 139 elementary schools (grades K-6), 19 middle schools (grades 7 and 8), three middle schools (grades 6-8), four secondary schools (grades 7-12), 21 high schools (grades 9-12), nine special education centers, three alternative high schools, and 48 alternative programs and learning centers.

Quote to Note

"If you want happiness for a lifetime—help the next generation."

Chinese proverb