What's New With Keep in Touch for 2009-10

FCPS has an electronic mass notification system known as Keep in Touch (KIT). There are two types of KIT messages.

KIT Basic has automatic enrollment because it draws contact information from the student information system (SASI) 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). Employees update their contact information through UConnect. FCPS central offices and schools use KIT Basic to provide families and employees with three types of messages—attendance (new this year), 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
• News releases and media tips
• PTA, PTSA, PTO information
• School Board news and updates
• Special education services
• Supergram (employee newsletter)
• Volunteer opportunities

In addition to these topics, 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 www.fcps.edu/kit.

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Registration Begins September 15 for Fall Leadership Seminars

Online registration through MyPLT for fall Leadership Seminars begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15. Information about the Leadership Seminars as well as articles written by FCPS colleagues will be available inside the online magazine, the PLA Compass, which will also be available starting on September 15 at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/Leaders/Programs/Leadership_Seminars.htm.

The goal of the PLA Compass is to provide direction, instruction, and inspiration for current and aspiring school-based and central office administrators, teacher leaders, and school teams within FCPS. Each issue has an overall theme; the theme for the fall-winter issue is Closing the Gap. For more information, contact Janet Kabel at janet.kabel@fcps.edu or at 703-204-4013.

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Learn About Potential Career Opportunities as a Cued Speech Transliterator for the Deaf; Introductory Classes Start September 23

Cued speech is a visual system of communication that allows a deaf person access to spoken language. In FCPS, cued speech transliterators accompany deaf students in general education classes and extracurricular activities. Two series of training classes will be held at Canterbury Woods beginning Wednesday, September 23, at 4:30 p.m and 6:30 p.m.

These free ten-week courses (90 minutes each week) will serve as an introduction to the field. A great need exists for new cued speech transliterators (possibly starting at US-17) in Fairfax County Public Schools. Registration is available through MyPLT. For more information, contact Beth Blair at beth.blair@fcps.edu.

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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Information Meetings Start September 24

Several information meetings about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process will be held this year from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in training room 1 at Dunn Loring Center, 2334 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, VA 22027. The dates are:

• Thursday, September 24, 2009.
• Wednesday, October 21, 2009.
• Wednesday, November 18, 2009.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
• Monday, January 25, 2010.
• Monday, February 22, 2010.
• Monday March 22, 2010. 

The NBPTS seeks to establish and maintain high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. A candidate for NBPTS certification undergoes an assessment process that includes four portfolios of the teacher’s work and six assessment center exercises.

NBPTS certification is available in the following fields for secondary teachers: English/language arts, math, science, social studies, career and technical studies, health education, music, foreign language, physical education, and art. Generalist certificates, as well as art, music, and physical education certificates are available for elementary school teachers. Certificates are also available for teachers of students with exceptional needs (students birth to 18+), library media (students 3 to 18+), and for teachers of English as a new language (ages 3 to 18+), literacy: reading-language arts (ages 3 to12), and school counseling (ages 3 to18+).

Fairfax County Public Schools has over 300 teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Virginia Department of Education and FCPS offer stipends, dependent on budget availability, to teachers who attain NBPTS certification.

Registration is via MyPLT. If you need additional information about NBPTS, contact the mational board program manager, Patty Dimetres, at patricia.dimetres@fcps.edu.

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Fulbright Teacher Exchanges Available for 2010-11 School Year; Application Deadline Is September 25

Overseas teacher exchange opportunities are available for the 2010-11 school year. FCPS participates in the school year direct exchanges. Other short-term exchanges are not supported by the school system due to the impact on instructional programs. In addition to meeting the Fulbright eligibility requirements, applicants must have taught three years in FCPS prior to the exchange year.

Opportunities and other eligibility requirements vary by country. Information and applications are available from the Fulbright Teacher Exchange at 202-464-3825 or by e-mail at fulbrightcte@aed.org. The application is also available at http://fulbrightteacherexchange.org/cteapplication.cfm. All applications must be approved by FCPS prior to submission.

All FCPS applications must be submitted to the Department of Professional Learning and Accountability, Dunn Loring Center, attn: Patty Dimetres. Applications must be received no later than Friday, September 25, to meet the Fulbright deadline. Applications will then be submitted by FCPS directly to Fulbright. 

If you need additional information about the Fulbright exchange program, call 703-204-3934 or e-mail Patty Dimetres, program manager, Department of Professional Learning and Accountability, at patricia.dimetres@fcps.edu.

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Fall Academy Catalog Posted Online; Registration Now Open

The FCPS Fall Academy catalog is available online at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/catalogs.htm. Online registration is now open.

All employees must register through MyPLT. Follow these steps to use My PLT for the first time:

• Go to http://www.fcps.edu/plt/MyPLT/index.html.
• Click on the LOGIN button.
• Type your FCPS domain name in the username field.
• Type the same domain name in the password field.
• Click on the LOGIN button.
• You will be prompted to type a new password with a maximum length of 8 characters.

If you have problems with your user name or password, contact the IT Service Desk at 703-503-1600 or ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu.

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Ravensworth Elementary to Move to Cluster VI

With the recent School Board decision to change the attendance pattern of feeder schools to Annandale, all students from Ravensworth Elementary will attend Lake Braddock Secondary School for middle and high school beginning fall 2010.

Ravensworth parents of rising seventh graders have been given the option to apply for a student transfer for the 2009-10 school year. For this reason, Ravensworth will be moved from Cluster III to Cluster VI effective August 2009. The transfer of Ravensworth to Cluster VI allows the school to facilitate the transition to the Lake Braddock pyramid.

For more information, contact Leslie Butz at 571-423-1160.

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