Fairfax County Public Schools

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Office Assistant Linda Mach works in the main office at Annandale High School.

🎉 30 Years of Great Beginnings

Great Beginnings is celebrating its 30th anniversary! The Office of Professional Learning would like to interview teachers who can share their stories about the enduring impact Great Beginnings has had on their time in FCPS. To share your story, please upload a short video by Tuesday, April 2. 

Videos can include descriptions of relationships with Great Beginnings mentors or peers when you were a new teacher, your experience as a new teacher, your leadership journey, or other relevant stories.

We will select some individuals for a longer interview based on their video submissions. Contact Julia Braxton with any questions.

🧘 New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces

FCPS has created a regulation to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. Regulation 1502: Expectations for Meditation and Silent Reflection Space Accommodations provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time and for students to leave school for religious activities.

These spaces are designated areas within a school or on school premises for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students requesting to miss instructional time on a regular basis. View Regulation 1502 for more information.

FY 2025 Budget: Addressing State Funding

As mentioned in last week’s Employee News, the School Board adopted FCPS’ FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Meeting our budget needs becomes more of a challenge with underfunding by the state, using staffing formulas that continue to result in school districts not receiving the actual support needed for excellent public education. A staffing formula is the method for calculating the number of positions that need to be assigned to meet program needs.

Did You Know?

In July 2023, the bipartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study of Virginia’s K-12 funding formulas. The report found that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and many of Virginia’s neighboring states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Learn more about the JLARC study. Visit our website to view FCPS’ budget development timeline.

💚 Thank You, Social Workers, for Removing Barriers

It’s National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help students succeed by working to improve their social, emotional, and behavioral wellness. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the division. Read about Elizabeth Romeo, school social worker at Lorton Station Elementary School.

Submit FCPS CARES Through StaffConnect

The Employee Recognition team is now processing FCPS CARES submissions through the StaffConnect platform. The goal is to provide a more efficient and contemporary user experience. 

Nominators will continue to visit the FCPS CARES page to make their submissions. However, instead of completing the web form directly on the page, users will get a link to submit through StaffConnect. The existing notification and recognition process will remain. To submit an FCPS CARES, please visit StaffConnect.

Classroom Management Session for New Teachers and Teacher Trainees

The Office of Professional Learning is offering the third session in the Spotlight Series on Classroom Management for new teachers and teacher trainees. This session will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 6, 5-6:30 p.m. It will focus on how to respond to classroom behaviors. You may still participate if you did not attend previous sessions. 

Please register in MyPDE for the March Spotlight Series session.

Win a Scholarship for ASCD Conference in Washington, D.C.

The ASCD Annual Conference — a one-of-a-kind event that brings together educators from across the globe — will take place Friday, March 22, through Monday, March 25, in Washington, D.C. Attendees can choose from dozens of sessions on the most critical topics affecting the future of learning, such as creating equitable learning environments and leading through change. Connect with education experts who can guide you in improving academic outcomes for all students.

A limited number of scholarships are available to cover the registration fee for the conference. To apply, submit a short application by Friday, March 8. 

The goal of the scholarship program is to increase the number of educators from historically underrepresented backgrounds attending our events and to also support educators who work in under-resourced schools. Educators in the Washington, D.C., area and surrounding regions will be prioritized.

💊 2023 Flexible Spending Account Filing Deadline Is March 31

If you participated in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2023, you have until Sunday, March 31, to submit claims for your 2023 FSA expenses. You can file your claims through your Optum account. Find instructions for filing a claim on the Flexible Spending Accounts webpage.

Standard rollover provisions apply. No dependent care spending account funds may roll over to 2024, and $610 is permitted to roll over for your 2024 healthcare FSA.

Rate Decrease for FCERS Optional Life Insurance Participants

Employees enrolled in employee-paid Fairfax County Employees’ Retirement System (FCERS) Optional Life insurance coverage with MetLife will see a slight decrease in their payroll deduction amount starting with the biweekly paycheck on Friday, March 8. No action is needed; this change will occur automatically. This does not apply to Virginia Retirement System (VRS) participants enrolled with Optional Life coverage with Securian.

Employees who wish to elect, change, or cancel Optional Life and/or Spouse and Child(ren) Dependent Life Insurance should visit the Life Insurance webpage. Life insurance beneficiary updates should be made via the MetLife MyBenefits website. Please visit the Updating Your Beneficiaries webpage for more information.

☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m.  

Due to this timing overlapping with some dismissal times, schools should reiterate the importance of safe viewing practices. FCPS safety guidelines do not permit direct viewing of the sun even with protective eyewear and encourage the use of indirect (projection) viewing devices, including solar boxes and pinhole projectors. A one-page document with safe viewing practices and instructions for how to make these devices with students will be shared with K-12 science teachers in Schoology groups.

Schools are encouraged to share the Solar Eclipse Resources with their communities to access safe viewing practices. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.

Retirement Ceremony Scheduled for May 1

FCPS’ annual celebration for retirees and their guests will be held Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m., at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The evening will begin with an hors d'oeuvres reception followed by a ceremony where Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, the Leadership Team, and the School Board will recognize retirees for their years of dedicated service. 

Invitations will be mailed in the coming weeks. Those planning to retire should submit their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) as soon as possible. 

For more information about this event and past ceremonies, visit the Retirement Ceremony webpage. Please contact [email protected] with questions.

✅ Family Engagement Survey Now Open

FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open for all parents/caregivers. Emails were sent to families on Sunday, March 3, by our independent partner, K12 Insight. 

Please encourage families to participate! Feedback will be used to develop a plan to improve family and school partnerships throughout the division to support student success.

The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by schools to fill out a paper survey or for support with completing the survey online. A link to the survey and additional information are available on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.

🍎 Become a Special Education Teacher 

Are you a paraprofessional who is interested in becoming a special education teacher? FCPS and James Madison University (JMU) are hosting an online information session on Thursday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about joining the FCPS cohort and course requirements for becoming a special education teacher. 

The JMU program leads to dual licensure in about two years.  Paraprofessionals with an associate’s degree or more than 60 college credits should complete this form to receive an invitation for the session.

⏰ Correction: Middle School Start Times

In last week’s Employee News, we shared that Prismatic Services, Inc. presented an analysis of middle school start times to the School Board. We also wrote that Prismatic was awarded a contract in September 2023 to explore adjusting start times for middle schools to 8 a.m. or later, beginning in the fall of 2025.

We incorrectly stated that “the change must be budget-neutral and not affect other school start times.” We should have stated that any change to middle school start times should continue to have high schools start after 8 a.m. We apologize for the error.

📅 Calendar Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Begins

Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., when daylight saving time begins!

First Full Day of Ramadan

This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. In Islam, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day while striving to increase their spirituality, through prayers, charity, and good deeds. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.

March 11 is a religious and cultural observance day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on observance days, however, tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be scheduled. See the school year calendar.

School Board Meeting Scheduled for March 7 at 7 p.m.

The School Board will hold its next business meeting on Thursday, March 7, at 7 p.m. 

Topics on the agenda include:

• Fiscal Year 2024 Third Quarter Budget Review
• Elementary Language Arts Basal Resources

View the complete agenda.

Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.

Staff Staples

• Calendars
• Classifieds
• Employee Wellness Program
• FCPS CARES
• Human Resources
• Job Openings
• People on the Move
• Savings for Staff
• Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

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Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you! 

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The Dunne Dispatch - 03/01/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

On February 8, the Superintendent presented her proposed budget to the School Board. In my first newsletter, I shared my budget priorities, and they remain the same: academic excellence, school safety and security, mental and behavioral health support, workforce compensation, and fiscal responsibility.

The Superintendent proposed a $301.6 million increase in the FCPS budget (from $3.5 billion to $3.8 billion), to include $254 million in additional funding from the County and $42.2 million in additional funding from the State. I applaud the Superintendent for focusing the proposed budget on the essential needs of our diverse student population and talented workforce. In recent years, the proportion of students requiring additional support has increased substantially. Since FY 2020, the percentage of students receiving special education services has increased from 14.7% to 16.3%, ESOL services from 19.3% to 21.0%, and Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) from 30.7% to 36.9%. Meanwhile, there is a regional and national teacher shortage, and FCPS is losing talented educators to surrounding jurisdictions because it does not offer competitive compensation. To address these challenges, the Superintendent focused her proposed budget on increasing workforce compensation (with a 6% raise for all employees) and continuing investments in support for students requiring special education services, ESOL services, and FRM. Importantly, the proposed budget is aligned with the Strategic Plan and consistent with the constitutional obligation to provide “an educational program of high quality,” which will help to advance strategic and systemic goals.

While I agree with the direction of the proposed budget, I disagree with some of the choices reflected therein. First, the proposed budget does not propose any reductions in operating costs. By contrast, the Board of Supervisors proposed to reduce their operating costs by $33.82 million. I have already identified multiple avenues by which FCPS could reduce its operating costs, which would liberate funding to dedicate to priorities such as increased workforce compensation.

Second, the proposed budget includes a 6% across-the-board pay increase. I support the proposed pay increase, but I disagree with the manner in which it is proposed to be allocated. Across-the-board pay increases are simple to administer but do nothing to resolve inequities in compensation, wherein some employees are at (or near) market and others are far below market. The modern best practice is to develop a compensation strategy, determine which positions are being paid below market (and to what extent), determine which positions are most critical to the mission of the organization, and allocate the funding accordingly. I believe FCPS should limit the raise to employees on the frontlines of serving our children—school principals, teachers, and staff (from cafeteria workers to bus drivers). From personal conversations and public testimony, our frontline employees are working far in excess of the hours for which they are paid, and they are making great sacrifices for our children. It is time to recognize and reward their above-and-beyond efforts. I also believe FCPS should establish above-market compensation for special education teachers, teachers in Title I schools, and other hard-to-fill positions. For example, approximately one-third of our special education teacher workforce consists of long-term substitutes or provisionally licensed teachers. We must act with urgency to resolve this crisis. I supported a motion to include increased compensation for special education teachers in the proposed budget, but the motion did not pass. The Superintendent has proposed to fund increased compensation through year-end funding.

Third, I strongly support the Superintendent. We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber and vision leading our school system at this critical moment in time. She has recruited an incredible team to lead FCPS to new heights, and I am grateful for their service. That being said, I respectfully oppose any pay increase for the Superintendent and her senior leadership team. The Superintendent is paid about the same amount ($380,000) as President Biden ($400,000), and some FCPS officials are paid more than the Secretary of Defense ($221,000) or senior civil servants ($191,900).I made a motion to exclude the 25 highest-paid employees from any pay increase, but it did not pass

Going forward, I will work with my colleagues to collaborate with the Board of Supervisors and seek to reduce our reliance on property taxes to fund our public schools. During the February 27 Joint Budget Work Session with the Board of Supervisors, I raised the point that property taxes are regressive and have a disproportionate impact on low-income families and people living on fixed incomes. Last year, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), which performs policy analysis for the State Legislature, published a study finding that the State had underfunded public education by billions of dollars. According to the JLARC study, the State should increase its funding to FCPS by $568.7 million, which would enable FCPS to realize its priorities while reducing or eliminating the need for further property tax increases. I am hopeful that the State will provide additional funding this year to begin to remedy the years of underfunding.

 

I encourage you to share your thoughts about the proposed budget for FCPS. FCPS will adopt its final budget on May 23. Supervisor Dan Storck and I will hold a joint town meeting on the advertised budget on March 13, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. (click here for the Zoom link). In addition, you can speak at public hearings or submit written comments.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

In the Community

• On February 7, I met with constituents and the leadership of the Fairfax County Council of PTA (FCCPTA).

• On February 10, I spoke at the Annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting hosted by Supervisor Dan Storck. I spoke to Mount Vernon residents about the Superintendent’s proposed budget FCPS's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and what is at stake for our schools.

• On February 10, I attended the “Reading Opens the World” event organized by the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, First Book, and Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services who gave away 40,000 FREE books to Fairfax County families and educators.

• On February 27, I attended an exciting game between the West Potomac High School’s Varsity Boys Basketball Team and Oscar Smith High School in the Quarterfinals of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 State Tournament. Congratulations to the Wolverine Nation on a successful season. I look forward to cheering on the Hayfield Varsity Boys Basketball Team as they take on South Lakes High School in the VHSL State Semifinals on Friday, March 1.

• On February 24, I attended the Gum Springs Black History Program. What a great opportunity to wrap up the month-long celebration of Black History Month. This was a chance to meet residents and hear from elected leaders and community advocates about local history as well as ongoing work in the area. I absolutely enjoyed watching 85-year old Betty Graves recite Maya Angelou's famous poem "Still I Rise" from memory! You can also watch Ms. Graves here. 

On the Board

• On February 8, the School Board voted to approve the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program(CIP), which governs the construction and renovation of public schools. I advocated for the Superintendent to evaluate whether FCPS is utilizing best practices for construction procurement and management. I have identified multiple avenues by which FCPS can reduce construction costs and timeframes. Because the CIP does not address infrastructure, I made a motion, which was passed unanimously by the School Board, to establish an inventory of infrastructure requirements. This enables FCPS to prioritize infrastructure investments and ensure dollars are allocated based on need.
• On February 22, I attended the Governance Committee meeting to provide input on potential changes to the FCPS School Boundaries Policy. The School Board is planning to adopt a revised policy in the next few months. Following adoption of the revised policy, there may be plans to implement the first county-wide adjustment of school boundaries in approximately 40 years.
• On February 22, Superintendent Reid presented on innovative STEM and STEAM initiatives taking place in our schools. I asked for more transparent information about the presence and effectiveness of STEM and STEAM initiatives in Mount Vernon district schools. 
• On February 22, consultant firm Prismatic Services presented on Middle School Start Times. Read more about the presentation and School Board Member comments on this topic. I shared my priorities and raised questions for FCPS staff and the consultants to consider as we begin the process to examine what is best for our students and families. I believe that any changes to start times must factor in the impact on after school activities and must align with after care programs and other services families rely on to support their children. 
• On February 24, I attended the Facilities Planning Advisory Committee's (FPAC) Retreat. The retreat provided a forum to leverage the expertise of citizen volunteers who are subject matter experts in the areas of Construction Contract Methods; Infrastructure Funding Methods; and Public/Private Partnership Opportunities. The featured guest speaker from a neighboring school system provided insight and lessons learned to consider as we continue to develop the long-range vision for FCPS school facilities and infrastructure needs. In addition to its annual report, FPAC made plans to provide the School Board with key memos and recommendations regarding asset management, renovation projects, as well as proposed revisions to the renovation queue. During the retreat, FPAC members also discussed ways to advise on the development and implementation of updated boundary policies.
• On February 29, I chaired the Comprehensive Planning Development Committee meeting. The committee was joined by Superintendent Reid and Janice Szymanski, Chief of Facilities Services and Capital Programs. We reviewed and discussed proposed updates to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. We were also briefed on school safety and security, the renovation queue, and updated school infrastructure assessment and tracking plans. 

Working for You

• At the request of a constituent, I worked with FCPS officials to ensure school buses did not block recycling bins at a local shopping center.
• I met with representatives from the County to review a plan to redesign Laurel Crest Drive between SIlverbrook Drive and Douglas Fir Drive to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety near Laurel Hill Elementary School.
• I am grateful to the Mount Vernon District Police as well as family and school leaders from Hollin Meadows Elementary School for allowing me to join their efforts to address ongoing safety concerns that impact students in our schools and the surrounding community. Student safety is one of my top priorities. I look forward to updating you on this partnership in the weeks ahead. 
• I continued to support and advocate for families who want their students to remain in the school communities where they have established relationships with their peers and educators. When dealing with student registration and transfers, my first priority is to minimize any academic or social disruption to students to the greatest extent possible. 
• At the request of a constituent, I asked FCPS staff to brief me on the options and implications of establishing a bi-weekly pay structure for staff. It is my understanding that neighboring districts offer this for their employees. As consumer costs, inflation, and interest rates rise, receiving a paycheck every two weeks may help minimize financial stress for our staff during these challenging times.

Celebrations and News from Our Students and Local Schools

Mount Vernon District Students

• West Potomac High School Wrestling has three wrestlers who qualified for States. Congratulations to the following wrestlers: Jeremiah SeGraves, 2nd place, 150lb; Lawson Richkowski, 3rd place, 113lb; and Gabriel Titus, 4th place, 138lb.

• Congratulations to West Potomac High School Girls Basketball players for earning All District Honors. Congratulations to Olivia Jones, 1st Team; Cassady Dunn, 2nd Team/All Defense; and Jayla Alford, Honorable Mention. 

• Mount Vernon High School Winter Guard placed 1st out of 11 guards in their division at their first competition of the season at Forest Park High School. We also celebrate four band students who participated in the 2024 VBODA All-District 10 Band. Congratulations to Mary Hammond, Hannah Hamilton, James Gilliam, Michaela Dresch!

• Congratulations to Mount Vernon Choral Students Savonne Clark, Olivia Durden, and Godwin Mensah for their amazing performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the School Board meeting on February 8.

• Congratulations to Silverbrook Elementary School Spelling Bee Winners. I understand it was a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S competition! Congratulations to Primary Grades Runner Up Yasmine and Primary Grades Winner Rowan, who will represent Silverbrook at the school level. I also congratulate Upper Grades Runner Up Charlotte and Upper Grades Winner Adeline, who will represent  Silverbrook at the district level.

• Celebrating South County Alum Oren Burks. From the halls of South County High School to football's biggest stage, congratulations to South County Alum Oren Burks, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Mr. Burks faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on February 4. In addition to excellence on the field, Mr. Burks also promotes excellence in the community. He is a representative of the Players Social Justice Council, a group of 49ers athletes who unite to find ways to elevate marginalized groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more about how this South County alum is making a difference in his local community. 

Mount Vernon Staff and Schools

• Congratulations to Mount Vernon District's newest National Board-certified teachers:
  • Kathryn De Ville, Woodley Hills ES Generalist/Early Childhood
  • Alicia St Jean, Mount Vernon HS Social Studies-History/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
  • Rosaleen Sypher, Laurel Hill ES Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood

National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.

The National Board Certification program in FCPS began over 20 years ago, and more than 500 FCPS teachers have achieved this prestigious certification. FCPS is ranked in the top five for both new National Board-certified teachers and current National Board certification candidates in the state of Virginia. FCPS ranks in the top 30 school districts nationwide for the number of National Board-certified teachers, with over 300 active National Board-certified teachers currently supporting students and schools.

Alerts and Reminders

 

Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. If you own a gun:

(1) Use a gun lock.

(2) Keep the gun unloaded and locked up in a storage case.

(2) Lock the bullets in a place separate from the gun.

Children in Crisis: If you or your child are in crisis:

(1) Text NEEDHELP to 85511;

(2) Call 1-800-273-TALK;

(3) Call 911; or

(4) Visit 988 Lifeline online

 

Mental Health Support: FCPS provides high school students with access to teletherapy at no cost to families. Learn more online. Please contact your school counselor or social worker to access these services.

Upcoming Events and Activities

✅ Look for the FCPS Family Engagement Survey

On Sunday, March 3, parents/caregivers will receive the FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate. Your feedback will help inform and improve practices to best support our students. The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.

Conversations will also take place in other schools around the County:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Mateo Dunne  |  Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

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Extended School Year (ESY) Services Program

We are excited to inform you that information regarding the Fairfax County Public School Extended School Year (ESY) services program is now available on our ESY web page.

ESY services are provided to students with disabilities, whose individualized education program (IEP) team has determined they require a program of special education and related services in excess of the regular school year.

• The ESY direct, class-based program will take place from July 1 – July 26, 2024. 
• Specific information about direct, class-based ESY including sites, bell schedules, feeder schools, and FAQs are also posted on the ESY web page.
• If you have questions about whether your child requires these services, please reach out to your child’s special education case manager. 
• If you have any additional questions, please reach out to [email protected].  

Additionally, if you know of someone who is interested in working to support ESY, all staffing positions were advertised on February 14, 2024, and can be found on our ESY Teacher Employment Opportunities web page. 

Office of Special Education Instruction

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The Bridges to Success Networking Career and Education Fair will take place at the National Museum of the United States Army on March 6, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

This event is open to transitioning service members, military spouses, dependents, and veterans looking to pursue their career and education goals.  Participants will have the opportunity to connect with career enhancement programs, certification programs, post-secondary institutions and employer-sponsored internships and fellowships.  With a variety of exhibitors, attendees can explore diverse pathways to success.  

For more information or to register for the event, please visit Bridges to Success.   To connect with FCPS resources, please email [email protected].

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Virtual Gathering for Military-Connected Families

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) values the unique experiences and perspectives of our military-connected families and students.   

Family and School Partnerships invites military-connected parents and guardians to attend a special virtual gathering to connect directly with FCPS staff and community members, learn about valuable resources, and share their experiences within FCPS. 

This interactive session will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, from 7-8 p.m. Please register for this event to receive the Zoom link and meeting invitation.  

For more information about the gathering and/or military-connected resources, please email Meredith Ayala, Family Partnerships Specialist, Military-Connected Youth & Families, at [email protected] or [email protected].

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Sully District Budget Town Hall with Supervisor Kathy Smith is Tomorrow!

Please join Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2025 Budgets and take your comments. Details of the Fairfax County budget can be found here. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY25 Budget, please send an email to [email protected] with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject. Detailed information about the FCPS FY25 Budget can be found on our website.

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024  Time: 7 - 9 pm EST Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151 

Supervisor Smith and I look forward to your participation!

Contacting Me

To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.

Use this link to sign up for my Newsletter and follow me on Facebook.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Email: Seema Dixit | Phone: 571-423-1085  

Staff Aide: Shaheen Khurana | Phone: 571-423-1072

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Teacher Alyssa Credle leads a literacy lesson with her kindergarten students at Garfield Elementary School.

📅 2024-25 Employee Calendar Now Available

Last year, FCPS added holidays to the 260-day work calendar as part of its compensation package and in alignment with changes made to the student calendar. The 2024-25 Employee Calendar will include the same number of paid holidays as the 2023-24 calendar, which had four additional paid holidays.

These holidays will include:

• Friday, July 5
• Thursday, October 3 (Rosh Hashanah)
• Friday, November 1 (Diwali)
• Monday, March 31 (Eid al-Fitr)

View the 2024-25 Employee Calendar.

☑️ School Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2025 Advertised Budget

The School Board voted to adopt the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Advertised Budget last Thursday.

The Advertised Budget prioritizes the school division’s most urgent needs, including providing employees with competitive compensation, so that each and every student has access to the world-class education they deserve.

The budget is closely aligned with FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which seeks a strong academic start for our youngest students and prepares our graduates for a thriving future. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. View the news release.

Do You Know Where FCPS Funding Comes From?

The majority of FCPS funding is requested from the Fairfax County government, which generates its revenue from real estate and personal property taxes. The Commonwealth of Virginia provides the next largest source of revenue to FCPS through state aid and sales tax. The rest of the funding comes from a variety of sources, including federal aid and tuition for non-county residents. (Numbers above represent the FY 2025 proposed school operating fund in millions.)

FCPS does not have the authority to impose taxes and may only charge fees where the Commonwealth of Virginia has granted specific authority.

🏫 Happy Public Schools Week!

Public Schools Week is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents, and community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools. Thank you for being a major part of what makes our schools amazing!

🕵️ Complete Your Cybersecurity Mission in MyPDE by March 22

Please complete the mandatory cybersecurity training by Friday, March 22. In this exciting, interactive, 15-minute training, you will gain essential knowledge and skills to bolster your cybersecurity defenses at home and at FCPS. Go to MyPDE to start your cybersecurity awareness mission!

🏃 Empowering Students Through Middle School Sports

Witness the transformative power of middle school sports, as FCPS students share their experience with participating in school athletics for the first time. Watch this video to discover how these no-cost programs provide an important pathway for students of all backgrounds to explore their athletic passions. Access to and participation in extracurricular activities are part of Goal 2 and Goal 4 in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

📦 A C.A.R.E. Package on Accessible Learning Materials

The Department of Special Services is excited to share a C.A.R.E. Package! Find out how to Curate Accessible Resources for Everyone to support Universal Design for Learning. In this first C.A.R.E. package, learn about immersive readers. 

Join the Conversations on Accessible Learning Materials Zoom channel to share ideas, ask questions, and receive additional resources. Complete this Google form to provide feedback. Post on X (Twitter), add #FCPSKeepCALM, and tag @accessible_fcps.

Look for monthly C.A.R.E. packages on accessibility topics. Find accessibility information on the Hub and view the Accessibility in FCPS page for more resources.

💬 How Hayfield Elementary Is Improving Attendance and Belonging

Teachers at Hayfield Elementary School were recently asked to review data from the biannual Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener given to students in grades three through six. They looked for students in each class who reported that they didn’t feel like a part of their school’s community. 

Teachers were challenged to have daily two-minute chats with the students — about anything except school — for 10 consecutive days. Find out how teacher Nicole Johnson, pictured above, connected with one of her students, who now feels as if she belongs

👩‍🔬 Building a Foundation for Future Careers

In the Academic Matters segment of last week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid addressed how STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) and computer science are building the foundation for our students’ future careers. Access to STEAM and computer science is part of Goal 4 in the 2023-30 Strategic Plan. View the presentation slides or watch the presentation.

🎤 Join a Community Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs

A community conversation addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools will be held Monday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Please enter through Door #14. 

All attendees will receive a free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.   

This discussion will provide families, staff, and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. The material discussed is suitable for students in grade 6 and higher. Together, as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and sometimes fatal substances.

Language interpretation services are available as well as American Sign Language accommodation. Childcare and transportation will also be provided, as needed. Learn more about the event and register online.

💜 Purple Up! on April 17 to Support Military Families

Join our community and turn FCPS purple on Purple Up! Day, Wednesday, April 17. Wear purple in recognition of our 14,000 enrolled military-connected students. 

Purple Up! T-shirts are available for purchase through Friday, March 8. 

Note: Shipping and handling costs are per delivery address. Schools and offices may want to consider arranging bulk orders.

📜 George Mason University Education Leadership Info Sessions

George Mason University’s Education Leadership (EDLE) Program is hosting information sessions for summer and fall applicants. FCPS educators interested in pursuing leadership and earning licensure in administration and supervision can earn a master’s degree or graduate certificate in formats designed to fit the busy schedules of working professionals.

Several program options are available, including a cohort specifically for FCPS educators and in-person, online, and hybrid options. 

Register on the EDLE website to attend an information session:

• Virtual Information Session: Tuesday, February 27, 4:45-5:45 p.m.  
• In-Person Information Session: Thursday, March 7, 4:45-5:45 p.m., at Gatehouse Administration Center, Rooms 4050/4051

The summer 2024 application deadline is Monday, May 6. Classes begin Monday, May 13. Contact the EDLE office with questions at [email protected] or 703-993-3633.

⏰ School Board Exploring Middle School Start Times

At the February 22 School Board meeting, Prismatic Services Inc. presented an analysis of middle school start times including background information and community engagement plans. 

In September 2023, Prismatic was awarded a contract to explore adjusting start times for middle schools to 8 a.m. or later, beginning in the fall of 2025. The change must be budget-neutral and not affect other school start times. View the presentation slides.

🍼 Expectant Parent Workshops

The Office of Benefit Services offers a virtual workshop on how to prepare and plan for child-related leaves on Tuesday, March 5, 10-11 a.m.

Register for the workshop. Space is limited to 50 participants. All workshop materials, including the presentation and handouts, will be posted to the Expectant Parent Workshop webpage.

🥝 Register for Colorful Choices Challenge

Kick-start a healthier lifestyle with Colorful Choices, a four-week wellness challenge focusing on incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. Log daily servings in a virtual blender for points, aiming for a variety of colors. The challenge takes place Monday, March 4, to Sunday, March 31. The last day to register or join a team is Friday, March 8.

Drawings will take place weekly and at the end of the challenge for individual and team prizes.

Two-Week Supportive Foods Program

Prefer a shorter healthy eating program? Wellbeats is sponsoring the Supportive Foods Program to look at foods and nutrients that support various aspects of our health including immunity, metabolism, brain function, digestion, sleep, and skin health. Join the short webinars to learn about specific foods and recipes to incorporate into your daily meals. 

Select “Programs” in your Wellbeats Wellness account and sign up for the Supportive Foods Program today. For more information, contact [email protected].

Healthy Weight Series

Explore effective weight management in a four-part Healthy Weight webinar series. A Kaiser Permanente health educator will lead 45-minute sessions focusing on goal setting, healthy eating, and exercise tips. 

For questions, email [email protected].

📅 Calendar Reminder: First Full Day of Ramadan

This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.

March 11 is an O day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on these days, however, tests, quizzes, field trips, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.

Stay tuned for a new FCPS regulation with guidance on accommodating student meditation and silent reflection during the school day.

March 5 Presidential Primary — Student Holiday/School Planning Day

The Fairfax Board of Elections requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the safe and efficient administration of the 2024 presidential primary election. March 5 will be a holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day for teachers. 

Central offices and school offices will remain open. See the employee calendar and the school year calendar.

Staff Staples

• Calendars
• Classifieds
• Employee Wellness Program
• FCPS CARES
• Human Resources
• Job Openings
• People on the Move
• Savings for Staff
• Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email [email protected] with questions. 

Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you! 

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Our Monthly School Board News Message from Ilryong Moon

It's great to be serving again, my sixth term, on the Fairfax County School Board. I welcome you all to our monthly newsletter and thank all of you for the warm welcome and encouraging words you've shared with me since the start of the year.

As an immigrant from a working-class family in post-war South Korea, I cherish everything that public schools did for me. I look forward to continuing my work on the School Board, ensuring our children grow into happy and successful adults.

I'd like to draw everyone's attention to one of the most important issues we face every year -- ensuring our Superintendent has the budget she needs to operate our school system effectively and for our teachers to deliver, to our students, the best education. I'm pleased to announce our School Board has now approved her proposed budget to send to the County Executive.

This year, the budget focuses on excellence and competitive compensation. Our students deserve the very best teachers preparing them for their glorious futures. To attract top talent, we must have the resources to recruit and retain the best educators. We are building a culture to deliver careers in education that are fulfilling and draw into Fairfax County our best college graduates, not only in education and the core subjects but also those who possess career, technical, and trade skills for our ever-expanding course catalog of Career and Technical Education offerings.

I urge you to watch the School Board meetings and Dr. Reid's presentations, in particular, to learn about our schools' priorities for the upcoming year. I will be working with my School Board colleagues and our County Board of Supervisors to ensure our school system is fully funded and remains not only the best in Virginia, but recognized around the Country as a model for other systems to follow.

Please follow all of the School Board and Board of Supervisors budget activities. Once we have our final budget from the County Board of Supervisors, participate in the public hearings to make your thoughts known regarding what's important to you that we bring into our schools.

I also welcome Chris Lewis, who will be working closely with me as my Staff Aide and helping with community engagement, as well as fielding questions and comments directed to me and ensuring that your questions are answered.

To read more about me, visit my Web page or to connect with me, use the link at the bottom of the page labeled Contact: Ilryong Moon.

All the best,

Ilryong Moon

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• March 7, 7pm - Regular School Board Meeting
• March 19, 10:30am - Work Session, Strategic Plan Goal 5
• March 21, 7pm - Regular School Board Meeting

All public School Board meetings (above) are broadcast live and available to the public on several platforms:

• FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11),
• FCPS YouTube Channel, and
• FCPS website

If you miss the live broadcast of any School Board Meeting or Work Session, you can also watch archived broadcasts:

• FCPS YouTube channel (English), and 
• FCPS en Español YouTube channel (dubbed in Spanish)

Dates and plans are always subject to change. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information, please review the latest version of the 2023-2024 School Board Annual Work Calendar.

Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget Focuses on Educational Excellence and Competitive Compensation

Last week, our School Board adopted Dr. Reid's proposed budget and it will now be sent to our County Executive where he'll continue working with the Board of Supervisors to determine the final budget for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Dr. Reid's now-adopted budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 focuses on excellence and providing students an equitable education in an inclusive and respectful environment, where access, opportunity, and achievement are available to all.

The budget also prioritizes competitive compensation to attract and retain a world-class workforce.

The FY 2025 Proposed Budget totals $3.8 billion, an increase of $301.8 million, or 8.6%, over the FY 2024 Approved Budget. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. Key highlights include:

• Supporting students academically by maintaining existing class size formulas and providing necessary support to all students.
• Retaining and attracting world-class educators with a 6% market scale adjustment.
• Strengthening student well-being outside of the classroom with expanded athletics offerings, additional athletic trainers, and enhanced stipends for fine and performing arts.
• Continuing initiatives including expansion of inclusive preschool, adoption of green initiatives, and funding assistant director of student activities positions previously funded with ESSER III.

Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities to be addressed at the end of FY 2024.

Here are some links you'll find useful to stay engaged with the budget process:

• Here's the presentation on the FY2024-2025 Advertised Budget
• Stay up to date on the latest news regarding the budget
• Keep up with FCPS’ budget development process

School Board Citizen Advisory Committees

Community members interested in serving on School Board Citizen Advisory Committees can contact School Board Members expressing interest at any time. Advisory Committee appointments generally are for one school year and begin in September and continue through June. 

If you'd like to know more, visit the School Board Committees page and review the list of citizen advisory committees and their missions. If you would like to serve, please reach out to me or to your Magisterial District School Board member to express interest.

And finally... Happy Lunar New Year of the Dragon Stay In Touch / Connected

I encourage all of us to stay connected with our elected officials. As one of your At-Large School Board Members, I work on your behalf to ensure our students have the best educational outcomes!

If you're unsure how to engage with other elected officials, here are two resources to help you find your elected representatives and stay informed of the Board of Supervisors public meeting schedule (especially while we continue to work through the budget process -- we need your input):

• Board of Supervisors Meeting Calendar
• Find my elected officials (Supervisor, Delegate, Senator, etc.)

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Contact: Ilryong Moon | 571-423-1089

Staff Aide: Chris Lewis | 571-536-9296

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Sully District Budget Town Hall with Supervisor Kathy Smith is next Thursday!

Please join Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2025 Budgets and take your comments. Details of the Fairfax County budget can be found here. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY25 Budget, please send an email to [email protected] with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject. Detailed information about the FCPS FY25 Budget can be found on our website.

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024  Time: 7 - 9 pm EST Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151 

*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Supervisor Smith and I look forward to your participation!

Contacting Me

To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.

Use this link to sign up for my Newsletter and follow me on Facebook.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Email: Seema Dixit | Phone: 571-423-1085  

Staff Aide: Shaheen Khurana | Phone: 571-423-1072

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Greetings from Your FCPS Braddock District School Board Member

Hello! I am honored to continue to serve on the Fairfax County School Board, but in a new capacity! I am so proud and privileged to represent the Braddock District on the board through 2027! For those who are new to me - hello, and I look forward to getting to know you! While serving at-large, representing the entire county, was gratifying, I am pleased to now represent the Braddock District where I have lived, worked and raised my children since 2001. My children are thriving in college and beyond because of the education they received in FCPS, and that is what I want for each and every child.

A little about me: Previously, I served as an at-large School Board member from 2020-23, including a term as Board Chair and a term as Board Vice Chair, among other roles.

In addition, I am a lawyer, college professor, and advocate whose passion lies in ensuring that our schools are safe and inclusive with an excellent education for each child. My journey began through supporting my child with a disability, but what I learned through his journey applies to everyone: that every child comes to FCPS with unique talents and needs. Our job is to foster those talents and meet those needs so every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and succeed.

I have learned from my own experiences as a parent that advocating for your own child in public schools is a complex and often overwhelming undertaking, and I bring that perspective to my daily work as a school board member.

Being a representative of a geographic district means I’m shifting my focus from the entire county to you - my Braddock constituents and the 22 schools that lie within the Braddock boundaries. I would like to ask you to partner with me in this effort by letting me know what is important to you, as well as sharing the specific successes and challenges that your children and families face as part of this vibrant community. Invite me to your events and share with me your thoughts so I can better serve you!

I have a new staff aide, Bill Farrar, who is a Braddock district resident and FCPS parent, and he and I have many plans for outreach to the Braddock community - so stay tuned for opportunities to be heard and get involved. In the meantime, below is more information about Bill. Bill’s email is [email protected] and you can always reach me at [email protected].

In the meantime, I thank you for all you do to support our children, teachers and schools. I take this job and my obligation to you seriously. And I feel strongly that I want to serve the school system and community that set my own children on their paths to success.

Please see below for more information on school board and FCPS news:

As always, I am here to serve you! Please feel free to reach out to Bill or me anytime!

All my best,
Rachna

February is Black History Month

It’s often said that Black history is American history. The story of our country, and that of Fairfax County, is inextricably entwined with the stories of Black people – not only the endless accomplishments and contributions, but the systematic marginalization and disenfranchisement which sadly continues today.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. 

During Black History Month and always, it is critical that even as we as a school system embrace steps forward – such as the recent renaming of a school building once dedicated to the memory of a segregationist to instead honor the father of Black history, Carter G. Woodson – that we not only invoke Mr. Woodson’s name but live up to his legacy.

I challenge everyone in the FCPS community to commit with me to celebrate diversity, support the Black community’s histories, tradition and culture, understand the on-going struggle for human rights, and commit to ending racism and discrimination in our community and beyond.

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month. Read the School Board’s Black History Month proclamation.

Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Focuses on Recruiting and Retaining Quality Educators

We are in the midst of budget season! We will vote on our advertised budget at our regular business meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22 - you can come to the meeting, watch the live stream, or watch later on YouTube. More information here: https://www.fcps.edu/school-board/school-board-meetings 

Budget Documents:

Here is a link to the budget documents: Budget Documents | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu)

Here is my synopsis of the budget and process, in case this is helpful to you. 

What is the Budget Process?

1. Dr. Reid presented her FY25 advertised budget at the Board meeting on Feb. 9. This is our “ask”, since our funders haven’t yet passed their budgets, so our total revenue is unknown at this point. Our budget timeline follows the federal government, which means our fiscal year starts on July 1 each year.
2. The Board of Supervisors will pass its budget in May, which includes the amount of money they plan to transfer to the schools.
3. The state then will pass its budget, finalizing our funding amount from the state.
4. Once we know the funding amount we will receive from our funding sources - the School Board will pass our FY25 budget later in May.
5. We will allocate year end funds in July. Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities the Superintendent has recommended to be addressed at year end. 
6. Depending on when the state passes its budget, we may have to address additional state initiatives at a later date.

Who Funds FCPS? 

• FCPS does not have the authority to raise our own revenue, so we rely on our county, state, and federal partners to fund our schools. 
• Approximately 19% of our funding comes from the state, which has underfunded public education according to the bipartisan JLARC study. See Rpt575-3.pdf (virginia.gov)
• A few findings from the JLARC study - Virginia school divisions receive less K-12 state funding per student than the 50-state average and the regional average, which equates to a loss of approximately $1,900 per student. Many neighboring states spend more per pupil, including West Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. The current state funding formula - the SOQs - dramatically underestimates the actual costs of public education, as evidenced by the fact that the SOQ formula provided $6.6 billion less than what was spent by local school divisions in FY 2021.
• Approximately 70% of our funding comes from Fairfax County. Due to state funding formulas that result in significant local funding requirements to Fairfax County, we thank our local taxpayers and the County Board for their strong support for our schools! We know strong schools drive a strong economy - often people and businesses move here for the schools and great county services. Traditionally, schools have received 52.6% of the county budget, similar to other school systems. Last year, FCPS received closer to 51.5% of the overall county budget and this year, according to the Washington Post, County Executive Bryan Hill’s proposed budget gives 49% of the total proposed budget to the schools. See - https://wapo.st/48j1OKE 
• About 10% of our budget comes from the federal government, mostly through grants, contracts with the City of Fairfax, and a few other funding sources.

What is Our Budget Ask? See FY-2025-Proposed-Budget-Presentation.pdf (fcps.edu) and FY-2025-Proposed-Budget.pdf (fcps.edu)

Our focus this year is on educating our students, compensating our teachers and continuing the work of providing a world class education experience, with strong academics, meeting each child’s needs, expanded access to athletics and support for the arts, and ensuring we continue the multi-year initiatives in which we have already invested time and resources. 

• Approximately 86% of our current budget is allocated to instructional programs and instruction remains our focus in the FY25 Advertised Budget.
• Given the significant teacher shortage crisis, our primary focus is providing competitive compensation. The budget includes a 6% compensation increase, which is in alignment with our surrounding jurisdictions. We have to remain competitive, or we will keep losing teachers and staff to our surrounding areas, especially since it is often less costly to live in nearby counties.
• The second largest focus of the budget is student educational needs - maintaining class sizes and addressing the growing enrollment and growing percentage of students who have higher support needs. Students with higher support needs are a significant portion of our increase in enrollment and a larger percentage of our overall student population in comparison to previous years. 
• This is a needs-based budget, as required by state law. It is also a bare bones budget required to recruit and retain our best teachers and provide students with the education they need in this era of increased costs, higher expectations on school systems, and greater student needs. We cannot continue to provide a world class education without world class teachers. Currently, we rank 4th in compensation in comparison to our surrounding jurisdictions.
• FCPS is not proposing major new initiatives this year to respect the increased pressure on real estate taxes and in deference to the county’s fiscal forecast and revenue projections. We are also committed to continue to look for efficiencies and are committed to fiscal responsibility. If we want Fairfax County to remain a premier school system, in the future we must consider initiatives to support that such as expanding STEAM programs, greater access to CTE and advanced academics, enhanced security measures, increasing counseling support, and preparing students for the jobs of the future, even more important in an AI world. There is much work to be done and together we can keep our excellent schools strong and our county a place for all to live, work, and play comfortably.
• Capital Improvement Projects (renovations) are funded separately through bond funding (see CIP below)

Want to have a say?

I welcome your thoughts and feedback as we move through this process. Please email me at [email protected].

Since the majority of our funding comes from the county and the state, if you would also like to participate in those budget processes, here are some options:

Fairfax County’s Budget Process:

Provide your input in one of several ways:

• Online, email, voicemail: https://bit.ly/42LRjye
• Text feedback: FY25Budget to 73224
• Attend district budget town halls in March
• In person, phone, recorded video at April 16-18 public hearings

Virginia's  Budget Process Information: 

• More information on the state’s budget process: https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/virginiaStateBudget.php?secid=22&activesec=4#!hb=1&mainContentTabs=0&content=0,includes/contentTemplate.php%3Ftid%3D56%26ctype%3Db%26cid%3D108 
• Link to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee page if you would like to follow along: https://sfac.virginia.gov/index.shtml 
• Link to the House Appropriations Committee Page if you would like to follow along: https://hac.virginia.gov/welcome.htm 

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Thomas Jefferson HS Admissions Policy to Stand

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday let stand an appeals court decision upholding the admissions policy for the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), ending a three-year legal challenge by a group that claimed the policy was unfair.

The Fairfax County School Board adopted the plan in late 2020 to address the shortcomings in an admissions system that persistently drew students from just a handful of the County’s middle schools and resulted in classes that lacked the socioeconomic and geographic diversity seen in the other schools. The plan raised the minimum GPA and class size, guaranteed every middle school a certain number of seats, and eliminated the standardized tests and application fee that had long been part of the admission process.

Read FCPS' full statement on this matter.

Introducing Our New Braddock District Staff Aide

I am pleased to introduce my new Braddock District School Board Staff Aide Bill Farrar (he/him/his). As my right hand, Bill will be responsible for constituent relations, community outreach, research, coordinating my calendar, serving as liaison with the administration and schools, and other duties.

Bill has a long background in strategic communications, local government, non-profit advocacy and higher education. He lives in the Braddock District with his wife and son who attends an FCPS elementary school in the Braddock District. He also has two adult sons who live in Richmond and Asheville, N.C., and a new grandson. Please feel free to reach out to Bill at [email protected] with district concerns, or just to welcome him to my office!

Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Bravo for FCPS' Performing Arts Programs

From left, School Board Members Ryan McElveen (at-large), Marcia St. John-Cunning (Franconia), Ilryong Moon (at-large), Karl Frisch (chair, Providence), Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Braddock).

If you are seeking quality performing arts in Fairfax County, look no further than our own high schools and secondary schools for the finest talent anywhere!

I had a fantastic time at Fairfax Academy's opening night production of "Cry Baby the Musical!" with my fellow board members (above), as well as at recent performances of “Something Rotten” at Lake Braddock Secondary School and Matilda The Musical Jr. at Robinson Secondary School.

The dancing and singing were phenomenal, the comedic timing impeccable, the acting, costumes and sets first-rate, and the energy infectious. I felt like I was on Broadway - these shows were that good! Congratulations to all performers, faculty and the countless others who had a hand in these amazing productions.

School Board Approves FY2025-29 Capital Improvement Program

Link to CIP: Proposed-FCPS-FY-2025-29-CIP.pdf

What are Capital Projects?

• Capital projects include new school construction and/or repurposing of existing buildings, capacity enhancements, facility renovations, and site acquisitions.
• The FCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP) annually reviews current student membership analysis and facilities data to identify future capacity needs and capital requirements. Capital projects include new school construction and/or repurposing of existing buildings, capacity enhancements, facility renovations, and site acquisitions.
• The proposed FY2025-29 CIP outlines plans for:
• New school construction at Dunn Loring Elementary School.
• Renovations and capacity enhancements at schools across the division.
• Other projects and long-range planning include new construction and repurposing projects such as an early childhood center, as well as a western high school, renovations, and site acquisition.
• Project design and planning reflect current research and best practices regarding safe and effective learning spaces for students, and serve as a reflection of FCPS’ desire to continue to serve all students.

Funding

• Estimated funding shown in the CIP assumes general obligation bond sales of $205 Million (M) in FY24. Beginning in FY25, the general obligation bond sales will increase an additional $25M to $230M. This funding was increased through the Joint CIP Committee of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the School Board.
• The FY2024-28 five-year capital requirement totals approximately $1.4 billion. Funds approved in the 2021 School Bond Referendum and previous referenda will address approximately $470M of the five-year requirement leaving a balance of approximately $935M unfunded and awaiting future bonds.
• Our funding for renovations comes on taxpayer-approved bond referendums to fund its Capital Improvement Program. We thank Fairfax County voters for approving the 2023 School Bond Referendum. 

Renovation Queue

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes a ranked renovation queue of schools. FCPS has experienced atypically high construction costs over the past two years as a result of inflation and supply chain issues. The School Board’s policy has a goal to renovate school buildings every 20-to-25 years. The renovation projects are funded from a finite amount of money available by the County’s sale of general obligation bonds after voter approval of school bond referendums. The current renovation cycle is 42 years.

The current approved CIP renovation queue is expected to have projects funded for either planning and design or construction by 2031. The new renovation queue is in the initial stages of development. A professional consultant is engaging stakeholder groups for help with establishing the criteria by which facilities will be evaluated and prioritized. This will include a facility condition assessment and an evaluation of the buildings. Once completed, future CIPs will include the new proposed renovation queue for School Board approval.    

Financial and Environmental Sustainability

The Asset Management Program and Environmental Sustainability are also highlighted in the CIP:

• The Asset Management Program is responsible for conducting and capturing asset inventory of facilities-related equipment at schools and offices to identify the division's infrastructure backlog and future funding requirements.
• Environmental Sustainability includes FCPS initiatives to proactively address climate change and environmental sustainability.
• These programs are aligned with the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force (JET) goals to demonstrate how the division is aligning its policies and procedures to achieve carbon reduction.

Congratulations to FCPS' Own GRAMMY Winner Annie Ray!

Kudos to Annandale High School Orchestra Director Annie Ray, who was selected as this year's recipient of the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award!

Ray, who was named FCPS' Outstanding Secondary School Teacher in 2023, attended the star-studded awards event in Los Angeles on Feb. 4 to receive the honor and rub shoulders with some of the music industry's top artists and producers.

“Most of all I want to thank my students to whom this award actually belongs,” she said. The love of making music has been our unity and community. Thank you all for allowing me to guide you in this, I am humbled to accept this award for you all.”

FCCPTA Leading Community Engagement

Thanks so much to the wonderful Parent Teacher Association representatives from the Braddock District and others who were so gracious to meet with me this month at the Fairfax County Council PTA School Board Meet & Greet. I always gain so much from these conversations and am amazed at the talent and passion of our volunteer leaders!

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© 2023 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer  |  Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

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Purple UP! T-Shirts Available for Purchase

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child and on Purple Up! Day! 

This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 17. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! t-shirts are available for purchase now through Friday, March 8, 2024 here. The shirts highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,000 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! 

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at [email protected]. 

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FCPS Purple Up! T-Shirts Available for Purchase

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child and on Purple Up! Day! 

This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 17. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! t-shirts are available for purchase now through Friday, March 8, 2024 here. The shirts highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,000 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! 

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at [email protected]. 

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First Grade Teacher Alexis Hopkins teaches a literacy lesson at Lake Anne Elementary School.

Supreme Court Decision Regarding TJHSST

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand an appeals court decision upholding the admissions policy for the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), ending a three-year legal challenge. Read FCPS' statement.

🏫 School Board Approves Capital Improvement Program

The Fairfax County School Board approved an annual update to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that includes new school construction and/or repurposing, capacity enhancements, and renovations.

These projects are detailed in the Fiscal Year 2025-29 CIP, which also illustrates FCPS’ alignment with the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force’s (JET) goals with the inclusion of more Net-Zero Energy (NZE) building practices.

New construction of Dunn Loring Elementary School is designed to provide additional capacity in the Dunn Loring, Falls Church, and Tysons areas. Other projects include renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools, as well as capacity enhancements at Justice High School. Information about all capital projects will be posted on project webpages on the FCPS website. Read more about the approved CIP.

☑️ School Board to Adopt Fiscal Year 2025 Advertised Budget

This afternoon, the School Board held a work session focused on compensation strategies to attract and retain employees, and market comparison data for surrounding school divisions. View the presentation (PDF). The board will adopt FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Advertised Budget at its regular business meeting on Thursday, February 22, at 7:30 p.m. 

As a reminder, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented the FY 2025 Proposed Budget to the School Board on February 8. This needs-based budget prioritizes competitive compensation for employees’ hard work and dedication, and supports FCPS’ unwavering commitment to success for each and every student.

Learn more about the budget. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.

🚌 Going Above and Beyond: Thank You School Bus Drivers!

February is Love the Bus Month, and February 22 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. FCPS employs more than 1,800 drivers who transport an estimated 131,000 students safely to and from school each day. Our drivers and attendants take pride in being the first FCPS face students see in the morning and the last one they see before heading home for the evening.

Driver Synnethia Pacheli, pictured above, knew exactly what to do when she witnessed an accident earlier this school year. Read more about her and the extensive training our school bus drivers receive before getting behind the wheel on the Employee Blog. 

Thank you Synnethia, and all our school bus drivers, for the work you do every day and for safely transporting our students!

Family Engagement Survey to Open March 3

FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer our third Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Sunday, March 3, to Friday, March 22. Our families' feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools. Topics include:

• Welcoming environment
• Communication
• Student success
• Advocacy
• Family and school partnerships
• Community partnerships

The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. 

Parents/caregivers will receive the survey link via email from K12 Insight on March 3. A public link will be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will also be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.

🍎 Apply to Be a Great Beginnings Facilitator!

Applications are now being accepted for the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool. Great Beginnings program facilitators lead a variety of professional learning opportunities for new teachers and those who support them. Facilitators receive recertification points and are paid for planning, facilitation, and professional development. 

To be a part of the pool, candidates must have at least five years of teaching experience, with at least three of those in FCPS (by the end of school year 2023-24). Potential applicants may view the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool advertisement (PDF) for more information. 

Applicants must submit their application, a current resume, and request a recommendation from their supervisor by Friday, March 8.

Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.

Great Beginnings Learning Series Continues

The Great Beginnings Quarter 3 Learning Series will be offered Tuesday, February 27, to Thursday, February 29, 5:15-6:45 p.m., with different sessions occurring each night. All sessions will be presented virtually via Zoom.

Learn about the Quarter 3 Learning Series sessions and register. You may register for one session each day.

📝Get Paid to Support Divisionwide Curriculum Development 

School educators looking for an opportunity to support divisionwide curriculum development this summer, collaborate with other educators, and get compensated for their contributions should look for an email from Instructional Services and Special Services on Monday, March 4. The email will include a link to a database of summer curriculum development projects.

Projects will begin in late June through July and vary in length. Projects may be virtual, hybrid, or in person. 

Interested teachers are encouraged to apply online by Friday, March 22. Please email questions to [email protected]. 

Note: Summer Curriculum Development projects are contingent upon adoption of the FY 2025 Approved Budget.

💭 Share Your Thoughts About Schoology

The Instructional Services Department will be conducting voluntary, anonymous surveys on the use of Schoology from Monday, March 11, to Friday, March 22.

To hear from all stakeholders, four surveys will be sent to:

• Elementary students (grades 3-6) through the Schoology App Center.
• Secondary students via email from Naviance.
• School-based professionals through eNotify.
• School leadership (principals, APs, DSAs, and SBTS) through eNotify.

Your feedback will inform our use of Schoology and help us improve our processes, communication, and professional learning. Instructional Services will also conduct focus groups for families. 

Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.

🥝Learn How to Make Healthy Food Choices on the Go!

A hectic day can easily derail healthy eating goals, but you can stay on track even if you are busy. Join the Healthy Food Choices on the Go webinar Wednesday, February 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m., for guidance on improving your food choices no matter where your day might lead you. 

Find additional Employee Assistance Program (EAP) events on the Hub EAP page and recordings of previous webinars on the Recorded EAP Workshops page. For more information, email [email protected]. 

Heart Disease and Its Solutions Workshop

Dr. Monica Aggarwal, a cardiovascular expert, will deliver a webinar about heart disease: What it is, how to test for it, what makes us prone to it, and practical ways to lower our risk. This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 22, at 3 p.m. Register to attend.

Learn more about the Full Plate Living Program.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Hiring Event This Saturday

Do you know someone who has an interest in education? Encourage them to attend FCPS' Instructional Job Fair on Saturday, February 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Participants can network and take advantage of interview opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair. Register today.

Rate Decrease for FCERS Optional Life Insurance Participants

Employees enrolled with employee-paid Fairfax County Employees’ Retirement System (FCERS) Optional Life insurance coverage with MetLife will see a slight decrease in their payroll deduction amount starting with the Friday, March 8, biweekly paycheck. No action is needed; this change will occur automatically. This does not apply to Virginia Retirement System (VRS) participants enrolled with Optional Life coverage with Securian.

Future enhancements are coming to the employee-paid FCERS Spouse and Child(ren) Life Insurance coverage. Stay tuned for details.

Employees who wish to elect, change, or cancel Optional Life and/or Spouse and Child(ren) Dependent Life Insurance should visit the Life Insurance webpage. 

Life insurance beneficiary updates can be made via the MetLife MyBenefits website. Visit the Updating Your Beneficiaries webpage for more information.

✨ Excellence, Equity, and Opportunity for Every Student

At FCPS, we believe that learning happens best in community. When we have equally high expectations for every student, we all benefit. Excellence, equity, and access to opportunity are essential for achieving success in all aspects of life. Together, they foster growth, development, and high achievement for all students as they prepare for a world yet to be imagined. 

Read more about how FCPS strives to ensure excellence, equity, and opportunity for every student.

📅 Calendar Reminder: March 5 Presidential Primary — Student Holiday/School Planning Day

The Fairfax Board of Elections requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the safe and efficient administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.

March 5 will be a holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day for teachers. 

As outlined in Regulation 4421, School Planning Days are directed by school-based administrators to devote time to school improvement efforts, such as collaboration around data, common assessments, and responsive instruction. 

Central offices and school offices will remain open. SACC will remain open, as it is on other professional work days.

See the complete school year calendar. See the employee calendar.

📰 Free Online Classifieds for Employees

The FCPS Online Classifieds — which is for employees only and also on the Hub — is a free way for staff to post ads for personally owned items that they are seeking to buy, sell, or give away. It's also a great tool to help an employee look for someone to share a ride to work, find a roommate, or rent real estate. 

FCPS’ Online Classifieds system is completely self-service and allows users to post new ads, or update or renew existing ads at any time. View rules and frequently asked questions. For more information, contact Andy Grunig.

Staff Staples

• Calendars
• Classifieds
• Employee Wellness Program
• FCPS CARES
• Human Resources
• Job Openings
• People on the Move
• Savings for Staff
• Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email [email protected] with questions. 

Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you! 

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Mason District Community,

I hope that all is well as students begin the second semester. Please be sure to connect with your child’s teachers to discuss your child’s progress and foster a productive rest of the school year. This newsletter is to inform the Mason community of the improvement plans developed by each school along with the strategies designed to help realize the goal of increasing student academic achievement. 

This year, schools are required to develop a goal or outcome in the area of Reading in support of Strategic Goal 3, Academic Growth & Excellence.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s School Innovation and Improvement Plan (SIIP), please contact your child’s teacher and/or principal to discuss the implementation of each strategy and the impact on your child’s instruction.

Each school’s comprehensive SIIP is available on their website.

Elementary Schools

 

•Annandale Terrace •Mantua •Bailey's Primary •Mason Crest •Bailey's Upper •North Springfield •Beech Tree •Parklawn •Belvedere •Sleepy Hollow •Braddock •Timber Lane •Bren Mar Park •Westlawn •Camelot •Weyanoke •Columbia •Woodburn •Glen Forest      

Middle Schools

 

•Glasgow •Jackson •Holmes •Poe    

High Schools

 

•Annandale •Justice •Edison •Thomas Jefferson •Falls Church •Woodson

 

Elementary Schools

Annandale Terrace Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, 66% of students in grades 1 - 3 will demonstrate progress on their reading typical growth target as measured by the reading iReady compared to 57% of students' reading typical growth target in June 2023.

• Strategy 1: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. (HLP 2, 5)
• Strategy 2: Strengthen systematic and explicit writing instruction and provide opportunities to write throughout the day. (HLP 4)
• Strategy 3: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, 60% of students in grades 1 - 5 will demonstrate progress on their math typical growth target as measured by the math iReady compared to 50% of students demonstrating math typical growth target in June 2023.

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 2: Increase teacher’s implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.

Science

Outcome: By June 2024, the grade 5 science SOL pass rate will increase from a 40% unadjusted pass rate (Spring 2023) to a 50% unadjusted pass rate. The intent to reduce the failure will also increase the science SOL adjusted pass rate from 72% to 77% of 5th grade students passing the science SOL test.

• Strategy 1: Increase content and/or pedagogy knowledge in science for all teachers (advanced, general, ESOL, SPED).
• Strategy 2: Expand the type and frequency of formative assessments to evaluate progress throughout units.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By June 2024, Annandale Terrace will reduce the chronic absenteeism rate to below 15% resulting in achieving a level 1 for chronic and absenteeism according to the Absenteeism Data dashboard as compared to 19.8% chronic absenteeism rate from June 2023.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.
• Strategy 3: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.

Bailey’s Primary Elementary

Reading by 3rd Grade

Outcome: By Spring of 2024, the number of PreK - Grade 2 students who will meet the spring reading screener benchmark will increase from 44% to 59% as measured by the LLS/PALS/iReady assessments.

• Strategy 1: Improve daily, systematic, explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block. (HLP 2)
• Strategy 2: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5
• Strategy 3: Expand use of independent practice with a variety of texts (e.g., decodable, nonfiction, fiction) and meaningful tasks (e.g., Lexia, writing about reading). (HLP 2-4)

Mathematics

Outcome: By Spring of 2024, the number of PreK - Grade 2 students who will meet the spring math screener benchmark will increase from 45% to 60% as measured by the EMAS/iReady assessments.

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 2: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-24 school year, we will reduce our school’s chronic absenteeism rate to 15% or below as evidenced by our school’s chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students, and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.

Bailey’s Upper Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the number of third grade students demonstrating expected within year (typical annual) growth as measured by the iReady will increase by 10% (from 50% to 60%).

• Strategy 1: Improve daily, systematic, explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block. (HLP 2)
• Strategy 2: Increase interdisciplinary opportunities to build language and SEL skill development across content areas and throughout the school day. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 3: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)
• Strategy 4: Increase opportunities for Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction for English language learners not on grade level for reading.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the number of students demonstrating expected within year growth as measured by the iReady will increase by 12% (from 48% to 60%).

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers' implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 2: Increase teachers' implementation strategies related to Shift 4: from show and tell to share and compare.
• Strategy 3: Increase students' self-efficacy around the ability to be successful in mathematics.

Equitable Access and Opportunity

Outcome: By June 2024, Bailey’s Upper Elementary School of the Arts and Sciences will move up one level on the continuum in the 2 areas of Committed Professionals and Find/Identify as measured by the Implementation Rubric for Young Scholars.

• Strategy 1: All third grade teachers will use Level IV curriculum materials to plan and differentiate instruction.
• Strategy 2: All 3rd and 4th grade students will receive the E3 Mathematics curriculum.
• Strategy 3: Advanced Academic curriculum resources will be used at all grade-levels in Science and Social Studies.

Beech Tree Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, 75% of students in grade 3 will pass the Reading SOL (unadjusted). The percentage of English Language Learners who pass will increase by 10% (to 52%).

• Strategy 1: Expand use of conversation structures to increase academic talk and build relationships among students. 
• Strategy 2: Increase interdisciplinary opportunities to build language and SEL skill development across content areas and throughout the school day. 
• Strategy 3: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk.
• Additional Learning Environment Strategy: Access to Rigor - Provide responsive instruction (supports and scaffolds) within rigorous Tier 1 learning opportunities.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, 75% of students in grades 3-5 will pass the Math SOL (unadjusted). The percentage of English Language Learners who pass will increase by 10% (to 53%).

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 2: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Additional Learning Environment Strategy: Access to Rigor - Provide responsive instruction (supports and scaffolds) within rigorous Tier 1 learning opportunities.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-24 school year, we will reduce our school’s chronic absenteeism rate to below 15% as evidenced by our school’s chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 3: Develop community partnerships to promote engagement opportunities for increased student attendance.

Belvedere Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students in grades 1-3 demonstrating expected screener within-year growth in Reading as measured by iReady will increase by at least 5 percentage points to 67% or more. 

• Strategy 1: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. 
• Strategy 2: Expand access to evidence-based tier 1 instruction as well as intervention for students demonstrating risk in a multi-tiered system of supports.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students demonstrating expected screener within-year growth in Mathematics as measured by iReady will increase by at least 5 percentage points to 66%.

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 2: Increase content knowledge for all teachers (advanced, general, special education)

Student Attendance and Absenteeism Rates

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we will reduce our school's absenteeism rate to below 15% as evidenced by our school's chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn. 
• Strategy 3: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.

Portrait of a Graduate (POG)

Outcome: By June 2024, students will identify an approaches to learning skill (ATL) and grow at least one level in the area of claim of growth as measured by the POG POL student rubric.

• Strategy 1: Each grade level (K-5) will give students' a choice of three ATL skills as a focus.
• Strategy 2: At the end of grade level units of inquiry, students will reflect on claim of growth, share the evidence, and reflect.

Braddock Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, 79% of students, Grades 1-3, will demonstrate expected screener within-year growth in Reading as evidenced by iReady. This would reflect an increase in 10 percentage points from the 22-23 SY data (69%):

• Grade 1: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 68% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch goal.
• Grade 2: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 68% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch goal.
• Grade 3: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 78% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch goal.

• Strategy 1: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences.
• Strategy 2: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk.
• Strategy 3: Improve daily, systematic, explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, 72% of students, Grades 1-5, will demonstrate expected screener within-year growth in Math as evidenced by iReady. This would reflect an increase in 10 percentage points from the 22-23 SY data (62%):

• Grade 1: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 79% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch.
• Grade 2: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 58% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch.
• Grade 3: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 76% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch.
• Grade 4: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 81% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch.
• Grade 5: At the EOY 23-24 SY, 100% of students will make growth on their iReady Scale Score and 62% of students will make their typical growth goal and/or stretch.

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 4: from show and tell to share and compare.
• Strategy 2: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Additional Learning Environment Strategy: Cultivate a classroom culture of thinking by promoting curiosity, centered on student thinking, and planning for relevant and enriching learning experiences.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the current 2023-2024 school year, BES will have reduced our previous school year's chronic absenteeism rate by 10% from 25% to 15% as evidenced by our school’s Chronic Absenteeism Data.

• Strategy 1: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.
• Strategy 2: Understand root causes of student absenteeism. Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.

Bren Mar Park Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of ELL students demonstrating on-grade level reading ability will increase from 26% to 50% as measured by iReady assessment.

• Strategy 1: Improve use of interactive read a louds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 2: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5)
• Strategy 3: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of English Language Learners will meet Spring screening benchmark in math as measured by iReady, VMAS assessments will increase from 34% to 60%.

• Strategy 1: Schedule ESOL teacher for regular push-in ELD instruction during math instructional time.
• Strategy 2: Continue increasing implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 3: Increase consistent use of teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.

Wellness

Outcome: By June 2024, chronic absenteeism rates will decrease from 21.7% to no more than 16% as measured by student attendance data reports.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.
• Strategy 3: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.

Camelot Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students in grade 3-6 demonstrating on-grade level reading will increase by at least 5 percentage points overall and for the Black, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learner, Hispanic and SWD subgroups as measured by the Spring SOL.

• Strategy 1: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5)
• Strategy 2: Increase impact of tier 2 interventions for students demonstrating risk by using FCPS-recommended programs and practices with fidelity (e.g., Lexia, UFLI). (HLP 5)
• Strategy 3: Improve daily, systematic, explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block. (HLP 2)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students in grade 3-6 passing the SOL in math will increase by at least 5 percentage points overall and for the Black, Economically Disadvantaged, English Learner, Hispanic and SWD subgroups as measured by the Spring SOL.

• Strategy 1: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 2: Increase systems of support during the school day, after school and summer to help students achieve success in mathematics.
• Strategy 3: Schedule ESOL teacher push-in ELD instruction during math instructional time.

Wellness

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-24 school year, we will reduce our school’s chronic absenteeism rate to below 15% as evidenced by our school’s chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.

Columbia Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the percent of 3rd grade students with disabilities who pass the reading state assessment will increase by 10 percentage points as measured by the reading SOL/VAAP.

• Strategy 1: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)
• Strategy 2: Increase impact of tier 2 interventions for students demonstrating risk by using FCPS-recommended programs and practices with fidelity (e.g., Lexia, UFLI). (HLP 5)
• Strategy 3: Expand access to evidence-based tier 1 instruction as well as intervention for students demonstrating risk in a multi-tiered system of supports. (HLP 1-5)

Mathematics

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year students with disabilities will improve by 10 percentage points as measured by the end of year Math SOL.

• Strategy 1: Increase systems of support during the school day, after school and summer to help students achieve success in mathematics.
• Strategy 2: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.

Portrait of a Graduate

Outcome: By the end of SY23-24, all students will demonstrate a 25% increase in understanding of reflection skills and a 25% increase in ability to demonstrate resilience during a difficult task as measured by a pre- and post-assessment.

• Strategy 1: Classrooms will aim to achieve 100% of ST Math postcards by the end of 23-24 school year.
• Strategy 2: Utilizing Lexia pre-test data, students will identify a number of weekly units to complete in order to meet EOY goals.
• Strategy 3: Collaborative teams will align content knowledge and skills with POG attributes and skills. 

Glen Forest Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the number of first - third grade students demonstrating expected within year (typical annual) growth as measured by the iReady will increase by 10% (from 50% to 60%).

• Strategy 1: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)
• Strategy 2: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the number of students demonstrating expected within year growth as measured by the iReady will increase by 13% (from 47% to 60%).

• Strategy 1: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 2: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 3: Targeted EMAS intervention will be provided for Kindergarten students who are below the Fall benchmark.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By June 2024, the chronic absenteeism rate at Glen Forest Elementary School will decrease from 24% to 15% as evidenced by our school's chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Develop community partnerships to promote engagement opportunities for increased student attendance.
• Strategy 3: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

Mantua Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of English Language Learners in grades 1-3 who are reading at grade level will grow by 7 percentage points, to 30%, as measured by iReady and Oral Reading Fluency.

• Strategy 1: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. 
• Strategy 2: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing).
• Strategy 3: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. 

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of all students who make a year's growth based on iReady will increase by 5 percentage points, to 61%, as measured by the iReady screener.

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers' implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking. 
• Strategy 2: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.

Wellness

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students in grades 4 and 5 who answer favorably to the domain of relationship skills will increase by 5 percentage points.

• Strategy 1: Teachers will implement Tier 1 SEL lessons during the school day.
• Strategy 2: Clinical Team will implement Tier 2 SEL groups on a regular basis.
• Strategy 3: Increase family engagement and partnership.

Mason Crest Elementary

Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, 75% all 3rd graders will demonstrate on grade level reading ability as measured by passing or passing advanced on the end of course Reading SOL or VAAP reading test.

• Strategy 1: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3).
• Strategy 2: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. (HLP 2, 5)
• Strategy 3: Expand access to evidence-based tier 1 instruction as well as intervention for students demonstrating risk in a multi-tiered system of supports. (HLP 1-5)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, English Learners will improve from 49% to 60% passing as measured by the end of course Math SOL in Grades 3-5. (Approximately 20 students.

• Strategy 1: Increase systems of support during the school day, after school and summer to help students achieve success in mathematics.
• Strategy 2: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 3: Increase teachers’ implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-24 school year, we will reduce our school’s chronic absenteeism rate to below 15% as evidenced by our school’s chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students, and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.

North Springfield Elementary

Mathematics

Outcome: By June of 2024 the percentage of students passing the Math SOL (Grades 3,4,5) will increase from 58% to 75%.

• Strategy 1: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 2: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 4: from show and tell to share and compare.
• Strategy 3: Increase students' self-efficacy around the ability to be successful in mathematics.

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June of 2024 the percentage of 3rd grade students passing the Reading SOL will increase from 66% to 75%.

• Strategy 1: Improve daily, systematic, explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block. (HLP 2)
• Strategy 2: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5)
• Strategy 3: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3)

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: We will decrease our absentee rate to 10% or less for the 2023-2024 school.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Develop community partnerships to promote engagement opportunities for increased student attendance.

Social and Emotional Learning

Outcome: Grades 3 -5 Tier 1 students will increase SEL scores in the area of coping and decision making to at or above the FCPS average growth when comparing the fall 2023-2024 and the spring 2023-2024 screeners by June 2024.

• Strategy 1: SEL is currently embedded in daily routines and structures. In addition, teachers will implement lessons from the FCPS SEL curriculum weekly throughout the school year.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen our staff's knowledge of SEL and resources available to support mental health across our school community.
• Strategy 3: Recognizing the connection between SEL competencies and digital citizenship, we will increase opportunities for students, staff, and families to learn how to support digital citizenship competencies.

Parklawn Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of all students demonstrating expected within-year growth in reading as measured by the iReady assessment will increase by at least 5 percentage points to 67%. By June 2024, the percentage of English learners demonstrating expected within-year growth in reading as measured by the iReady assessment will increase by at least 5 percentage points to 63%.

• Strategy 1: Increase the impact of tier 2 interventions for students demonstrating risk by using FCPS-recommended programs and practices with fidelity (e.g., Lexia, UFLI). (HLP 5)
• Strategy 2: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. (HLP 2, 5)
• Strategy 3: Increase use of data (e.g., iReady, CORE, PASS, PRF, WIDA) to plan instruction and monitor progress for students demonstrating risk. (HLP 2-5)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of all students demonstrating expected within-year growth in math as measured by the iReady assessment will increase by at least 10 percentage points to 59%.

• Strategy 1: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 2: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 3: Increase systems of support during the school day, after school and summer to help students achieve success in mathematics.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: Parklawn ES' chronic absenteeism rate will decrease from 20.5% (tier 2) to 14.9% (tier 1) by the end of the 2023-2024 school year as measured by our school's chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 2: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.
• Strategy 3: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

Sleepy Hollow Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, 55% of students in grade K-5 will have met PALS, and iReady Spring benchmark, a 10% increase from 2023.

• Strategy 1: Improve daily, systematic, xplicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, and morphology in the core language arts block. (HLP 2)
• Strategy 2: Classroom teachers, reading specialists, R2 Title 1 Resource Specialist, Special Education teachers.
• Strategy 3: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. (HLP 2, 5)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the SOL pass rate in Math for All students in grades 3-5 will increase from 61% (126/208) to 70% (140/208) for the metric annual pass rate for Mathematics.

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 2: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 4: from show and tell to share and compare.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of 2023-24 school year the student absenteeism rate at Sleepy Hollow will decrease from 23% to 14% (9% decrease) within the current academic year, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to benefit from consistent and uninterrupted education.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Understand root causes of student absenteeism. Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.
• Strategy 3: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

Timber Lane Elementary

Reading

Outcome: By Spring 2024, the percent of English Learners grades 1-3 demonstrating progress in language acquisition will increase by 5 percentage points, as measured by the WIDA, from 29% to 34%.

• Strategy 1: Expand access to evidence-based tier 1 instruction as well as intervention for students demonstrating risk in a multi-tiered system of supports. 
• Strategy 2: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing).
• Strategy 3: Increase use of WIDA tools and rubrics to support language development.

Mathematics

Outcome: By Spring 2024, increase unadjusted pass rate on the math SOLs to at least 70%; our Economically Disadvantaged students passing the Math SOL will increase from 56% to 61%; English Learners passing the Math SOL will increase from 39% to 44%; Students with Disabilities passing the Math SOL will increase from 42% to 47%; and Hispanic students passing the Math SOL will increase from 53% to 58%.

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 2: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.

Academic Growth & Excellence

Outcome: By Spring 2024, unadjusted science SOL scores will increase to at least 64%.

• Strategy 1: Increase opportunities for students to develop and apply disciplinary literacy skills of reading, writing, critical thinking, and discourse across content areas. This will be monitored during weekly grade level CLTs, interdisciplinary CLTs, leadership meetings and weekly coaches' meetings.
• Strategy 2: Expand the type and frequency of formative and summative assessments to evaluate progress throughout units.
• Strategy 3: Expand opportunities to meaningfully integrate science in and across content areas to include literacy skills, mathematical skills, and global context.

Outcome: By spring 2024, all students in grades K-6 will complete a POG Presentation of Learning in which they reflect on 2 POG attributes and will be scored using the Rubi rubric.

• Strategy 1: School leaders and/or teachers enact structural choices (ex: occasional designated times or modified schedules; portfolio format/type) that support evidence collection. This results in students having a dedicated location to store evidence of their learning aligned to POG skills.
• Strategy 2: Teachers will design and facilitate inquiry-based opportunities that elevate student voice and increase student engagement.

Westlawn Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: By the end of SY 23-24, 100% students in grades 1-6 will meet their within-year growth target on iReady Reading and 50% or greater of students in grades 1-6 will meet their stretch growth target on iReady Reading.

• Strategy 1: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 2: Expand use of conversation structures to increase academic talk and build relationships among students. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 3: Increase use of WIDA tools and rubrics to support language development. (HLP 1-4).

Mathematics

Outcome: By the end of SY 23-24, 100% students in grades 1-6 will meet their within-year growth target on iReady Math and 64% or greater of students in grades 1-6 will meet their stretch growth target on iReady Math.

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.
• Strategy 2: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: The number of students who are chronically absent for the 23-24 school year will decrease to less than 10%.

• Strategy 1: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

School Selected Strategies

Outcome: By June 2026, in an effort to increase student access to instruction, behavior referrals will reduce by 50% as measured by the referral database.

• Strategy 1: Teachers will consistently implement Responsive Classroom structures to positively impact student social and emotional learning.
• Strategy 2: Install schoolwide systems to ensure a student learning environment within which children feel a sense of belonging, significance, and fun.

Weyanoke Elementary

Mathematics

Outcome: By the end of SY 23-24 60% of all students will demonstrate expected screener within-year growth in math (iReady).

• Strategy 1: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 4: from show and tell to share and compare.
• Strategy 2: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.

Reading by 3rd Grade

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students who are English Learners, grades 1-3, demonstrating expected screener within-year growth in Reading will increase by at least 6 percentage points as measured by Spring iReady.

• Strategy 1: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)
• Strategy 2: Increase use of WIDA tools and rubrics to support language development. (HLP 1-4)
• Strategy 3: Expand use of skills-based grouping to ensure students demonstrate mastery of foundational skills. (HLP 2, 5)

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we will reduce our school's chronic absenteeism rate to below 15% as evidenced by our school's chronic absenteeism data.

• Strategy 1: Increase opportunities for personalized early attendance outreach.
• Strategy 2: Use Talking Points as a way for EL families to report student absences.
• Strategy 3: Understand root causes of student absenteeism.  Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.

Woodburn Elementary

English Language Arts

Outcome: Ensure students are making sufficient progress to be on grade level in English Language Arts. By June 2024, the percentage of grades 1-3 students who demonstrate progress in language acquisition, as measured by WIDA, will increase by at least 10 percentage points. (From 46% in 2023 to ≥56% in 2024)

• Strategy 1: Improve use of interactive read alouds for building knowledge and vocabulary through texts that affirm students' lived experiences. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 2: Increase interdisciplinary opportunities to build language and SEL skill development across content areas and throughout the school day. (HLP 1, 3)
• Strategy 3: Increase intentional use of scaffolds, supports and extensions in whole group settings (word recognition, language comprehension and writing). (HLP 2-4)

Mathematics

Outcome: By June of 2024, the percentage of English Language Learners in grades 1-6 meeting expectations in the iReady "Numbers and Operations" domain will increase by 10%.

• Strategy 1: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.
• Strategy 2: Increase teachers implementation strategies related to Shift 8: from looking for correct answers towards revealing student thinking.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By June 2024, our chronic abseenteism rate will decrease from 18.7% to below 15% as measured by district dashboard.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.

 

Middle Schools

Glasgow Middle School

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students who did not pass the Reading SOL and demonstrated growth, will increase by 25% ( this is an increase from 24% to 49% growth) By June 2024, the percentage of students who pass the Reading SOL will increase from 54% to 75%. By June 2024, the percentage of special education students who pass the Reading SOL will increase 10% or from 29% to 40%. The SOA pass rate for SWD will increase 7% from 32.89% to 39.6%.

• Strategy 1: Effective use of the engagement model as a structure for student learning.
• Strategy 2: Increase the frequency of formative integrated reading and writing tasks (i.e. reading responses, annotations).
• Strategy 3: Plan and implement a Reading Boot camp specifically for special education students who scored 350-399 on the 2023 Reading SOL.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the number of students who are taking Algebra for the 2024-2025 school year will increase by 10% from 41% to 51%. This would be increasing the enrollment by about 55 students. By June 2024, the overall SOL scores of students with disabilities  in math 6 and math 7 will increase by 15%.

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of the Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 2: Increase school communication about open enrollment to ensure all school staff (including elementary schools) communicate a shared message around open enrollment and mathematics course pathways.
• Strategy 3: Improve academic advising processes to encourage students to open enroll in Math 7 Honors or Algebra 1/H.

Science

Outcome: ELL pass rate will increase from 8% to 18%. Pass rate for all students will increase by 10% as measured by the Science 8 SOL.

• Strategy 1: Increase opportunities for students to develop and apply disciplinary literacy skills of reading, writing, critical thinking, and discourse.
• Strategy 2: Develop tier 3 vocabulary through explicit vocabulary instruction and small group lessons.
• Strategy 3: Expand the type and frequency of formative assessments to evaluate progress throughout units.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we will lower chronic absenteeism from 24.6 (Level 3) to 20% (Level 2).

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Develop community partnerships to promote engagement opportunities for increased student attendance.
• Strategy 3: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.

School Selected Strategies

Outcome: By the end of 2023-2024 school year, our school will utilize Responsive Advisory Meetings (RAM) and restorative practices effectively to create a caring and empathetic school culture, increasing schoolwide scores on the Supports and Environment Domain of the SEL screener by 5%; from 54% (Spring 0f 2023) to 59% (average middle school Score in FCPS).

• Strategy 1: Partner with teacher leaders to develop Responsive Advisory Meeting (RAM) lessons aligned to VDOE SEL standards and deliver those lessons schoolwide with fidelity.
• Strategy 2: Implement the Restorative School Project.
• Strategy 3: Conduct Tier 2 Restorative Practices Attendance or Tardy Circles twice a year with progress monitoring.

Holmes Middle School

Math Gap

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students with disabilities passing the math SOL will increase from 26% to 47%.By June of 2024 the percentage of all students passing the Science 8 SOL will increase from 58% (unadjusted) to 68% (unadjusted), reflecting a 10% increase. 

• Strategy 1: Increase systems of support during the school day to help students achieve success in mathematics.
• Strategy 2: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 3: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.

Algebra

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of ELs who will reach proficiency on the Spring 2024 benchmark assessment (MI) will raise from 7% (2023) to 17% (2024).

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of the Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction. 
• Strategy 2: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.
• Strategy 3: Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.

Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students with disabilities passing the Reading 6- 8 SOL will increase from 32% (68/211 students in 2022-23) unadjusted to 37% (a minimum of 63/169 students 2023-2024) unadjusted (reflecting a growth of 5%). 

• Strategy 1: Utilize small groups and intervention to increase opportunities for students who need more practice to master standards.
• Strategy 2: Increase the frequency of formative integrated reading and writing tasks (i.e. reading responses, annotations).
• Strategy 3: Increase the frequency of formative integrated reading and writing tasks (i.e. reading responses, annotations).

Science

Outcome: By June of 2024 the percentage of all students passing the Science 8 SOL will increase from 58% (unadjusted) to 68% (unadjusted), reflecting a 10% increase. 

• Strategy 1: Increase frequency of student learning experiences that are inquiry-based and hands-on.
• Strategy 2: Increase opportunities to develop tier 3 vocabulary through inquiry-based learning, followed by explicit instruction.
• Strategy 3: Increase opportunities for students to develop and apply disciplinary literacy skills of reading, writing, critical thinking, and discourse.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By June of 2024 the percentage of all students passing the Science 8 SOL will increase from 58% (unadjusted) to 68% (unadjusted), reflecting a 10% increase.  

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn. 
• Strategy 3: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community. 

IBMYP

Outcome: By June 2024, all students will make progress on IB rubrics in each subject area: By at least 2 points (if BOY is below a 5); By at least 1 point (if BOY is above a 5).

• Strategy 1: Establish foundation of IB Learner Profiles and ATL Skills.
• Strategy 2: Assessment with IB Rubrics.
• Strategy 3: Educators will create a student-centered learning environment using the MYP Unit Planners in collaborative teams and through professional learning and inquiry.

Jackson Middle School

English Language Arts

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students meeting Spring RI benchmark of proficient or above will increase by at least 5 percentage points (to 58% for all students, 26% for SPED students, and 10% for EL students).

• Strategy 1: Increase the frequency of formative integrated reading and writing tasks (i.e. reading responses, annotations).
• Strategy 2: Increase the frequency of formative and summative assessments that include integrated reading and writing tasks.
• Strategy 3: Increase explicit teaching of writing and grammar.
• Strategy 4: Engage students in co-constructing ways to foster positive relationships.

Mathematics

Outcome: By June 2024, the percentage of students passing the mathematics SOL will increase by at least 10 percentage points (to 72% for all students, 37% for SPED students, and 28% for EL students).

• Strategy 1: Improve teachers’ implementation of the Framework for Engaging & Student-Centered Mathematics Instruction.
• Strategy 2: Utilize small groups and intervention to increase opportunities for students who need more practice to master standards.
• Strategy 3: Increase teacher implementation of explicit instruction and other components of effective mathematics intervention.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By June 12, 2024 the number of students deemed chronically absent at Jackson MS will decrease by at least 5 percentage points for the 2023-2024 school year, as compared to the 2022-2023 school year which ended with 19.9 % chronic absenteeism. Therefore, our goal is that no more than 14% of Luther Jackson Middle School's students will be chronically absent for 2023-2024 school year. We were projected to be at 22% chronic absenteeism at the end of 2022-2023, and ended the 2022-2023 school year at 19.9% chronic absenteeism.

• Strategy 1: Conduct check-ins with at-risk students.
• Strategy 2: Target Tier 2 Connections with Families and Students.
• Strategy 3: Partner with teachers and parents about importance of school attendance and to encourage attendance for at-risk students.

Poe Middle School

Accreditation

Outcome: Poe will achieve full accreditation by June 2024. Specific areas of focus are Science, Mathematics Special Education, and Language Arts Special Education performance.

• Strategy 1: Relevance – Explore and use various resources and supports to develop and implement culturally relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Communication – Use conversation structures to increase academic talk between students.
• Strategy 3: Assessment – Utilize a variety of formative and summative assessments which align to the intended rigor of the essential standards.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Poe staff will utilize Tier 1 programming and targeted interventions to reduce chronic absenteeism from 26% in the 22-23 school year to 19% or lower.

• Strategy 1: Structures – Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Root Causes – Understand root causes of student absenteeism. Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.
• Strategy 3: Family Partnerships – Strengthen messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school.

High Schools

Annandale High School

HS Performance in Coursework

Outcome: At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, students served through special education annual pass rate on the Reading, Math and Science SOL will increase to 52% from 42%, and ELs annual pass rate will increase to 45% from the current rate of 35%.

• Strategy 1: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Increase student course success through Tier 2 interventions.
• Strategy 3: Expand culture of shared responsibility where collaborative teams ensure the learning of every student.

HS Progression to Advanced Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of ELs demonstrating language acquisition growth according to VDOE growth measures will increase from 48% to at least 58%.

• Strategy 1: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Ensure that ELs are enrolled in grade level courses with non-EL peers.

Dropout Rate

Outcome: For the 2024 cohort, the dropout rate will decrease to 3.9%, a 5% reduction from the 2023 cohort rate of 8.9%.

• Strategy 1: Increase the collective responsibility of ALL staff in supporting school-wide On-Time Graduation efforts (i.e. PD around mindset, cultivating belonging, positive interactions with students).
• Strategy 2: Educate students, families, staff and community around various pathways to graduation and completion and post-secondary options (for example, alternate diploma and completion options, alternate sites, available base-school adjustments, GED, etc.).
• Strategy 3: Designate and optimize a graduation team focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of graduation requirements with high frequency.

Rate of Discipline Disproportionality

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Annandale High School will reduce discipline disproportionality for students who are English Learners from high (3.82) to moderate (2.82) as evidenced by 2023-24 discipline data.

• Strategy 1: Establish a positive and affirming schoolwide and classroom culture conducive to student engagement.
• Strategy 2: Utilize an MTSS framework to establish and organize a schoolwide continuum of proactive behavior and wellness supports.
• Strategy 3: Implement required Tier 1 SEL and PBIS practices using time protected by the master schedule and lesson plan expectations.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of SY23-24, our chronic absenteeism rate will be at or below 19%, a five percentage point reduction from the 2022-23 rate of 24%.

• Strategy 1: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.
• Strategy 2: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Develop community partnerships to promote engagement opportunities for increased student attendance.

College, Career, and Civic Readiness Index (CCRI)

Outcome: Annandale will increase from 61% CCRI rate to 71% by the end of the 23-24 school year.

• Strategy 1: Carefully review academic records and cumulative updates for newly-enrolled students to gain CCCRI experiences (i.e. academic advising for AP/IB/DE, HQWBL, CTE completer and credential, Service Learning).
• Strategy 2: Embed HQWBL and Service Learning Experiences into content courses and ensure teachers have training for capturing those experiences in the gradebook.
• Strategy 3: Designate and optimize a CCCRI team (can be combined with the graduation team) focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of CCCRI and graduation requirements with high frequency.

Edison High School

Growth and Performance in Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 SY, students with disabilities and English Learners will increase their annual pass rate within English, Math, and Science SOLs by 10%. 

• Strategy 1: Expand the use of accessible assessments based on students' individual needs.
• Strategy 2: Expand a culture of shared responsibility where collaborative teams ensure the learning for every student.
• Strategy 3: Strengthen differentiation by designing and implementing effective scaffolds.

Evidence of Progression Towards or Successful Completion of Advanced Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 SY, the success rate (final grade of C- or above) in advanced courses of SWD and English Language Learners will increase by 10% within those individual subgroups.

• Strategy 1: Increase instruction that focuses on student growth rather than meeting minimal proficiency standards.
• Strategy 2: Ensure that English Language Learners (EL) are enrolled in grade-level courses with non-EL peers.
• Strategy 3: Monitor student data and use data to determine the need for intervention and additional support.

Chronic Absenteeism

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Edison's chronic absenteeism rate will improve from 20.9% to 17% by the end of the school year.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school.  Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving, and self-regulation, all of which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 3: Use Talking Points as a way for EL families to report student absences.

Falls Church High School

Growth and Performance in Coursework

Outcome: By the end of SY 23-24, 100% of students (Grade 9-12) will have earned sufficient cumulative credit to advance to the next grade level.

• Strategy 1: Increase student course success through Tier 2 interventions.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.

Evidence of Progression Towards or Successful Completion of Advanced Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Falls Church High School will increase student success in honors courses by 20% based on last year's results (an increase of 9.6% overall from 48% to 57.6%). Additionally, students in the English Language Learner or Special Education cohort will increase success in honors courses by at least 20% at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

• Strategy 1: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase enrollment in AVID (and/or other CSP programs) at participating schools.

Students on Track for Graduation at the End of 9th Grade

Outcome: In 2023, the dropout rate was 10.6%. We will reach the goal of 6% (minimum 9%).

• Strategy 1: Designate and optimize a graduation team focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of graduation requirements with high frequency.
• Strategy 2: Ensure that communication to EL families is in a language and form they can understand.
• Strategy 3: Develop transition program with tiered supports for newly-enrolled students (i.e. mentor programs, student and family education).

Student Attendance and Absenteeism Rates

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Falls Church High School will reduce chronic absenteeism from 23.7% to 15%.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Strengthening messaging to staff, students and families around attendance to school. Each stakeholder should be able to understand how daily attendance matters, not only for academic success, but because school offers an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills such as listening, paying attention, problem-solving and self-regulation, all which are needed to grow and learn.
• Strategy 3: Understand root causes of student absenteeism. Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.

Disciplinary Disproportionality and Recidivism

Outcome: By the end of SY 23-24, the risk ratio for all sub groups will be less than 2.0.

• Strategy 1: Utilize an MTSS framework to establish and organize a schoolwide continuum of proactive behavior and wellness supports.
• Strategy 2: Ensure all adults have the professional knowledge and capacity to value diversity, promote inclusion, and utilize culturally responsive practices.
• Strategy 3: Integrate consistent analysis of discipline data disaggregated by subgroups (race/ethnicity, SWD, EL, FRM).

Growth and Performance on State/National/International Assessments in Math

Outcome: 70% of students with disabilities (unadjusted) will score pass or pass advanced on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen Tier 1 instructional and intervention practices to best support foundational gaps in Algebra 1 standards.
• Strategy 2: Intensive 1-1 tutoring & Small group tutoring.
• Strategy 3: Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 teachers will use standards-based grading to better communicate student performance and to better identify areas of strength and needs with the curriculum.

College, Career and Civic Readiness Index (CCCRI)

Outcome: By June 2024, the 2024 cohort will have a CCCRI calculated rate of 84.5%

• Strategy 1: Increase the collective responsibility of ALL staff in supporting school-wide On-Time Graduation and Academic and Career Planning efforts to include CCCRI (i.e. PD around mindset, cultivating belonging, positive interactions with students).
• Strategy 2: Carefully review academic records and cumulative updates for newly-enrolled students to gain CCCRI experiences (i.e. academic advising for AP/IB/DE, HQWBL, CTE completer and credential, Service Learning).
• Strategy 3: Designate and optimize a CCCRI team (can be combined with the graduation team) focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of CCCRI and graduation requirements with high frequency.

Justice High School

Growth & Performance in Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the SY2023-24, 100% of students at Justice will demonstrate increased proficiency in Tier 1 Instruction as measured by teachers ensuring access, engagement, and high expectations for all students. Proficiency Goal:70% of students with disabilities will score pass/advanced on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment and 90% of economically disadvantaged students will score pass/advanced on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment. Growth to Proficiency Goal: 100% of students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students will meet their growth target on Math Inventory. 

• Strategy 1: Expand culture of shared responsibility where collaborative teams ensure the learning of every student.
• Strategy 2: Expand learning that fosters student voice and choice to support student growth and agency.
• Strategy 3: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.

Evidence of Progression Towards or Successful Completion of Advanced Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the SY 2023-2024, 100% of students at Justice will have succeeded in 1 or more AP/IB/DE or other 1.0 weighted course or earning CTE finisher status by the end of high school.

• Strategy 1: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Expand learning that fosters student voice and choice to support student growth and agency.

Students on Track for Graduation at the end of 9th Grade

Outcome: By the end of the SY 2023-24, our dropout rate for the Cohort Year of 2024 will be at or below 9%.  

• Strategy 1: Designate and optimize a graduation team focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of graduation requirements with high frequency.
• Strategy 2: Identify and support seniors in need of tier 3 supports or interventions so they can successfully earn a passing grade in courses and or earn verified credits needed for graduation.
• Strategy 3: Increase outreach to students in the 2024 graduating cohort who are listed as potential dropouts and/or those who have indicated that they would like to dropout of school.

Student Attendance & Absenteeism Rates

Outcome: By the end of the SY 2023-24, our Chronic Absenteeism rate will be at or below 20%.

• Strategy 1: Strengthen school team practices to monitor attendance data and determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 2: Understand root causes of student absenteeism. Strengthen programmatic responses to attendance barriers.
• Strategy 3: Create a school culture of engagement & belonging for students and families. Every staff, student, and family will feel safe and connected to the school community.

College, Career & Civic Readiness Index (CCCRI)

Outcome: By June 2024, the 2024 cohort will have a CCCRI calculated rate of 84.5%.

• Strategy 1: Increase the collective responsibility of ALL staff in supporting school-wide On-Time Graduation and Academic and Career Planning efforts to include CCCRI (i.e. PD around mindset, cultivating belonging, positive interactions with students).
• Strategy 2: Designate and optimize a CCCRI team (can be combined with the graduation team) focused on analyzing, tracking, and monitoring student data relating to students' successful progress and completion of CCCRI and graduation requirements with high frequency.

Thomas Jefferson HSST

Growth and Performance in Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, 100% of 9th grade students scoring below proficient on the initial Math Inventory will demonstrate proficiency on the end of year Math Inventory assessment. 

• Strategy 1: Expand culture of shared responsibility where collaborative teams ensure the learning of every student.
• Strategy 2: Increase student course success through Tier 2 interventions.

Successful Completion of Advanced Coursework

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, all students who have grades lower than a B in ELA classes at first quarter will improve by at least one grade level (i.e. C+ to B-). 

• Strategy 1: Increase development of literacy skills and habits of mind across disciplines.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Expand learning that fosters student voice and choice to support student growth and agency.

Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, 100% of students will indicate that they experience TJHSST to be a positive school climate with an academically-focused culture, which includes peer-to-peer trust and teacher-student trust.

• Strategy 1: Increase student awareness and understanding of Academic Integrity.
• Strategy 2: Engage staff in cultivating an academically-focused culture that fosters teacher-student trust.

Woodson High School

Special Education Mathematics

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Woodson High School students with disabilities (SOL takers) will increase the annual SOA pass rate from 70% to 75% for math (SOL takers).

• Strategy 1: Strengthen differentiation by designing and implementing effective scaffolds.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase student course success through Tier 2 interventions.

ESOL Access and Opportunity

Outcome: By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, 90% of the Woodson High School English Learners with LEP level 1-4 enrolled in advanced courses (HN, AP, DE) will succeed in the course with a C- or higher grade.  In addition, the percentage of students with LEP level 1-4 enrolled in an advanced course for the 2024-2025 school year will increase from 25% to 30%.

• Strategy 1: Improve student engagement through consistent rigorous and relevant learning experiences.
• Strategy 2: Monitor student data and use data to determine need for intervention and additional support.
• Strategy 3: Increase instruction that focuses on student growth rather than meeting minimal proficiency standards.

Portrait of a Graduate Presentation of Learning (POGPOL)

Outcome: By the end of SY23-24, students will participate in POG POL through advisory, with scores entered into RUBI.

• Strategy 1: Expand opportunities for students to regularly learn about, apply, and reflect on POG skills aligned with course content.
• Strategy 2: Students will create a portfolio of POG artifacts in Schoology.
• Strategy 3: Students will complete self reflections quarterly in their advisory classes and POG POL rubrics will be entered in RUBI at the end of the year.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

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Dear Community Members,

Being two months into my second term on the School Board, I am so energized about the work ahead, the focus of the School Board, and my community connections that continue to blossom!

This month as Vice Chair, I helped bring two full-day retreats to our new School Board. This was time well spent getting aligned on the responsibilities and opportunities before us. To this point, this week the School Board began work to review the FCPS boundary policy – see below for more information. We also adopted the Capital Improvement Plan that’s critical for planning about class size and facilities needs.

Additionally, this month I’ve visited academic events happening at Forest Edge Elementary, Flint Hill Elementary, Sunrise Valley Elementary, and Herndon Middle School - plus attended athletics at South Lakes HS and a performance by the Herndon High School Step Team! I had the best seat in the house for hearing Rachel Carson Middle School students perform the National Anthem at our School Board meeting. I cheered along with many for two amazing Madison pyramid educators, as well as the FCPS Grammy-winning music educator. I also helped bring clearer information to parents and families about the middle and high school course selection process that’s critical right now. Whew! Good thing that February this year has an extra day! 😉  

In this newsletter, 

• School Board Updates and Recent Work
• Superintendent Academic Matters
• February Is...
• Upcoming School Board Meetings
• Hunter Mill Happenings
• Additional Information Including Student Opportunities
• Job Opportunities
• Contacting Me

Recent Work Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget Presented

The Superintendent has proposed her budget for the 2024-2025 school year (Fiscal Year 2025). The School Board now reviews the proposal, hears public input about it, and will vote to send an "advertised" budget forward to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who have the ultimate authority to fund public schools. The work will culminate in May with an adopted budget, that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

The FY 2025 Proposed Budget prioritizes competitive compensation for all Fairfax County Public Schools employees by investing $170.7 million to provide a 6.0 percent compensation adjustment for all employees and $55.3 million for the recurring cost of a 2.0 percent compensation supplement adopted by the Virginia General Assembly during FY 2024. Competitively compensating our staff in Northern Virginia is essential to recruit and retain the best educators and operational staff. In a time of staff shortages for many positions in public education, I support this compensation investment.

The budget includes $46.6 million to maintain existing class size formulas and provide necessary support to students — all students. Of the $46.6 million investment, $7.8 million is needed to cover an increase of 1,749 students compared to the FY 2024 projection. The balance of funding, $38.8 million, will provide additional support to students as indicated by free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education services, or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services.

The FY 2025 Proposed Budget also designates funding of $7.1 million for the continuation of multiyear initiatives. These initiatives include expansion of inclusive preschool, environmental initiatives adopted by the Joint Environmental Task Force, and implementation of a modernized human resources system that will support core operations for the entire division. To improve student wellbeing outside of the classroom, multiyear initiatives also include additional certified athletic trainers, enhanced fine and performing arts stipends, and expanded athletic offerings. Special education daily contract extensions, which were supported by federal ESSER III funds, and funding for the safety and security screening program are priorities for use of FY 2024 yearend funds.

The proposal also would add boys volleyball and girls wrestling to every high school in the next school year! I'm very happy for the many students and adults who championed boys volleyball this past year.

It is important to note during this budget process that FCPS continues to navigate the chronic underfunding of public education by the Virginia General Assembly and Governor. As you may recall, Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) studied Virginia’s K-12 Education Funding in a report released in 2023. Among other findings, the study verified that Virginia school divisions receive less funding than the 50-state average and the regional average. FCPS has had to work diligently to identify creative solutions and the Commonwealth must modernize our funding formulas and support Virginia school divisions with financial reporting and budgeting.

FCPS' budget consists of more than numbers. It is also a record of past decisions and a spending plan for the future. The budget reflects FCPS’ priorities and is a communications document that informs stakeholders about FCPS’ values and goals.

The School Board is scheduled to vote to adopt the Advertised Budget on Thursday, February 22. Read more about the proposed budget. Keep up with FCPS’ budget development process.

 Capital Improvement Program and School Boundary Policy

I voted in support of the Proposed FCPS Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the February 8 School Board Meeting. The CIP passed, as amended, along with two follow-on motions that I proposed during the vote - to direct the Superintendent to find solutions for larger-than-desired class sizes and long renovation timelines. This includes exploring untapped funding opportunities that could be used to more quickly pay for renovations. 

Information about all capital projects will be posted on project webpages on the FCPS website. Read more about the approved CIP.

The Board is undertaking a holistic review of Policy 8130, the school boundaries policy, in response to concerns from the community on a host of issues over the years,  including temporary classrooms (trailers), instructional program locations, overcrowding, and transportation needs. The Board discussed this need at its scheduled February 13 public forum, prior to its Work Session that day. The Board authorized its Governance Committee to begin working with the Superintendent to update the policy via publicly scheduled meetings. No specific school boundary changes will be discussed, and in the future, any boundary changes would involve robust community engagement as part of the process.

Executive Expectations

The School Board voted to amend the Executive Expectation process found on page 14 in the Strategic Governance Manual and resume its use. Additionally, we voted to amend the Executive Expectations process and details found on pages 1, 3, 5, and 14-31 in the Strategic Governance Manual to align it instead with Executive Limitations.

Academic Matters  How School Counselors Support Student Success

During Academic Matters at the February 8 School Board Meeting, Dr. Reid recognized National School Counseling Week (February 5-9). She discussed counselors' roles, how they support academics, college and career paths, and social-emotional wellness. School counselors' work supports all five pillars of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Learn more about the role of school counselors in FCPS.

February Is... Career and Technical Education Month 

By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school including Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology and Engineering Education, and Trade and Industrial Education. Since this is an elective, course offerings may vary by school. Learn more on the CTE website.

Black History Month 

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. 

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History Month. 

Lunar New Year: February 10

Chúc mừng Năm Mới! Wishing good fortune to those in our community who celebrate Lunar New Year! This year's Lunar New Year artwork was created by Marshall High School student Kerstin Q. For those in many East and Southeast Asian countries, including Pacific Islanders, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year and is all about ushering in luck & prosperity with family.

I'm looking forward to attending and speaking at the beloved annual Chinese New Year Festival sponsored by the Asian Community Service Center. The festival will take place on Saturday, February 17, from 10am-6pm, at Luther Jackson Middle School! 

Love the Bus Month 

February marks the month-long celebration of Love the Bus, a time to show gratitude towards the dedicated professionals who ensure the safety of students on their journey to and from school. This initiative is a meaningful way to recognize the diverse group of individuals who make the yellow school bus experience possible for students. 

Upcoming School Board Meetings 

• Tuesday, February 20, 12:30pm: Forum
  • Addressing student meal debt
• Tuesday, February 20, 1:45pm: Work Session
  • Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget
• Thursday, February 22, 6:30pm: VHSL Fall Student Recognition
• Thursday, February 22, 7:30pm: Regular Meeting
  • Middle school start times, Strategic Plan, Fiscal Year 2025 Advertised Budget 

Accessing Board Meetings 

The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.

Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.

For Spanish speakers, watch recorded School Board meetings or to watch live during the Regular Meetings on YouTube, you may visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code.

  Hunter Mill Happenings  Achievement Assembly at Forest Edge ES

Forest Edge Elementary School hosted a first-ever “Achievement Assembly” – one for younger grades (Pre-K-2) and one for older grades. I joined so many parents and families in the building to celebrate achievements at the half-year mark – including growth in reading and math achievement, attendance, community-mindset, and more. My favorite award was given by celebrity custodian, Mr. Jose, for the best-mannered class in the cafeteria – it was a Kindergarten class!  

Buzzing with Academic Excellence: Elementary Spelling Bees

From “wag” to “stitchery”, the Flint Hill Elementary School spelling bee was genuinely delightful to watch!

Thirty of the school’s youngest students - in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 - participated in this Scripps spelling bee that is hosted by the Flint Hill PTA!

The students were patient throughout with great sportsmanship. Ultimately the top three students were from second grade, and the winning word - “stitchery” - was a 5th grade level word!

Over at the Sunrise Valley Elementary School spelling bee, about fifty students ranging from the youngest scholars to the seasoned 6th graders, converged for the thrilling event.

The Fairfax County Spelling Bee happens on Sunday, March 17.

Thank you to both PTAs, volunteer judges, and principals Younger and Montiquilla for being so supportive of these young learners.

From Student to Staff: A Dogwood Success Story 

Ms. Aisha Farooq, an FCPS alum, is now working to help students in the same classrooms she once was taught in. Throughout her time as an FCPS student, Aisha worked hard, with the help of her mom and teachers to meet her IEP goals and navigate significant health challenges. Now, a young adult, Aisha participated in the STEP program at South Lakes HS, which offers job training for students with IEPs. 

This year, an opportunity arose for a position in the very same classroom at Dogwood ES that Aisha completed her STEP training in. Ms. Janelle Ali, the classroom's teacher knew that Aisha was the right person for the job, sharing that "her story is a testament that early intervention works and the importance of building relationships."

All Kids Bike Initiative Visits Hunter Mill

Cunningham Park ES and Marshall Road ES were recently invited to participate in the All Kids Bike initiative, thanks to a generous grant from HDR, an engineering firm.

All Kids Bike is a non-profit organization that is on a mission to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten PE class. The All Kids Bike Kindergarten Learn-to-Ride Program is a 24-fleet of bikes, pedal conversion kits, 2 steel rolling storage racks, helmets, one teacher instruction bike, and online curriculum training, which is everything needed to teach kids how to progress from balance to riding a bike in 8 lessons.

  Listen to Student Artists Explain Their Work

David, a senior who attends South Lakes High School, created and submitted an art piece to the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. He describes his art as a “diversionary” piece. It’s an award winner, and now a reproduction hangs at Dulles International Airport. 

At first glance, the image seems orderly. A person, head in hand, at a desk thinking. Like many workspaces, there’s an adjustable lamp and a brightly lit computer screen, and entering the room is a fair amount of light and shadows. But take a closer look. Is the worker thinking or bothered? 

Learn more about this piece from the student-artist.

  FCPS Teams Win Five of Seven Top MATHCOUNTS Awards

Student teams from Fairfax County Public Schools won five of the top seven awards in the Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS competition, held recently at Chantilly High School. The regional competition combines the Fairfax, George Washington, and Northern Virginia Chapters of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers.

Congratulations to Cooper MS student Kevin S. for being part of the winning Fairfax Chapter team!

Read more about the winners.

Outstanding Hunter Mill Staff 

Meg Brinkhuis, librarian for Cunningham Park ES, has been named the FCPS Region 1 Teacher of the Year!

 

Alice Whitener, a school counselor at Madison HS has been named the FCPS Region 1 Outstanding Professional Employee! Now that's a great way to celebrate National School Counseling Week!

  Superintendent Community Conversation at Terraset ES

Join Dr. Reid at Terraset Elementary School on Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30pm, for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Friends of Reston Library Makes Generous Donation 

The Friends of Reston Regional Library (FRRL) recently presented $100,000 to the Fairfax County Public Library. The generous donation will be used to support the children's collection. 

A well-supported library is the heart of a thriving community and I'm grateful for the commitment of FRRL to making that vision a reality!

Additional Information of Interest High School Music Teacher Wins a GRAMMY

Annie Ray, Annandale High School Orchestra director, whose work with children with disabilities has drawn praise, won the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Ray, the 2023 Fairfax County Public Schools Outstanding Secondary School Teacher, attended the star-studded GRAMMY ceremony in Los Angeles to officially receive the honor. Read about Annie Ray and her win and watch her official GRAMMY interview.

Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge

The Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 10:45 a.m., at Hayfield Secondary School. The event features a public tasting of student dishes and demonstrations from two local celebrated chefs. 

The student challenge at the heart of this event is to create healthy, delicious, and culturally diverse school menu items that meet USDA guidelines. Entries will be judged by a panel including celebrity chefs, school food professionals, and local food producers. The public is invited to vote for their favorite dish. 

Chefs Najmieh Batmanglij and Chris Morgan of Joon restaurant will offer a demonstration at 11:15 a.m. The public tasting of student dishes begins at noon. 

Student created dishes from this annual event have been featured on school menus throughout the Greater Washington Region. It is free to attend, but registration is required.

Food and Nutrition Updates

Starting in March, FCPS will introduce new and exciting menus that will offer more hot options and parfaits at breakfast, and new items at lunch such as Sweet Thai Chili Chicken Wings and Asian-Inspired Dumplings. Also in March, FCPS cafeterias will display new menu cards on each food service line that provide detailed information on the included food group(s) and information to assist students in knowing which food items meet their cultural and philosophical dietary preferences. This aids students in making informed decisions on the foods they choose to eat. The Menu Card Poster will share how to read the menu cards.

  Teen Job Fair: March 2

Fairfax County's Teen Job Fair is at Chantilly High School on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 from 11:00am to 1:00pm and on Saturday, March 9th at West Springfield High School. The fairs are open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume.

Student registration is free and open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume.

Business registration is also free and open to any organization providing positions for students. Free table space and a complimentary table covering will be provided to registered businesses and organizations to advertise their available positions. The full list of participating businesses from last year's Teen Job Fair Series, is available for viewing.

Academy Open Houses 

Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses. Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.

Open House Details

• Fairfax County Firefighting Program - March 4, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Spring Village Construction - February 17, 12-2 p.m.
• Spring Village Construction - March 2, 12-2 p.m.

Science and Engineering Fair Judges Needed

The Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Saturday, March 16, at Robinson Secondary School. 

Each year 250 judges are required to evaluate science fair projects in a wide variety of categories ranging from plant sciences to robotics. Ideally, those volunteering to serve as category judges would hold an advanced degree or possess extensive academic and/or professional experience in their selected STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) category.

Members of the general public are invited to attend the science fair open house at Robinson Secondary School on Sunday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.

Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps and Learning Programs

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

CTE programs are available for students currently in grades K-5 to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas; and for students currently in grades 6-11 to explore CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration.

E-IFTA and IFTA are weekly arts camps for students in grades 2-11. E-IFTA is for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. IFTA allows older students to select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage or E-IFTA webpage to register.

Programs are also available for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement, earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program, or recover one high school course credit through the Credit Recovery Academy. 

FCPS’ free online class for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provides FCPS middle and high school English Learners the opportunity to continue developing their academic, reading, and writing skills in online discussions with an ESOL teacher. 

Find session dates, registration links, and registration deadlines on FCPS summer programs.

Kindergarten Registration: It's as Easy as 1-2-3

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

1. Determine eligibility. 
2. Identify your local school. 
3. Gather documents. 
4. Fill out forms. 
5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host.

Many schools are currently planning kindergarten orientations, so make sure you don't miss out!

Read more about the registration process.

💻 Register Your Child Online

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. 

When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in.

Upcoming Family Resource Center Events

• Behavior Solution Series for Elementary and Secondary Families – Join FCPS Behavior Intervention Services staff for help encouraging positive communication and behavior at home. Webinars will be held at 10 a.m.
  • Elementary Webinars:
    • Taming Tantrums and More, March 15
  • Secondary Webinars:
    • Proactive Strategies for Effective Communication, April 19
    • Taming the Teen-Aged Brain, Friday, May 31
• How to Handle Disappointing Grades: Ways to Uncover the Reasons Behind Your Child’s School Performance and How to Help- Join Ann Dolin for new strategies to tackle these sticky situations while preserving your relationship with your child. February 23, 2024, 10-11:30 a.m.
• FBA/BIP Essentials for Families- Does your child have concerning behaviors at school? Did you know that there is a process to identify and support your child at school? February 29, 2024, 6:30-8 p.m.

• How can students participate in mathematics throughout high school in a way that is relevant to and supportive of post-secondary and career interests? During a virtual session on March 8, 10-11:30am, mathematics graduation requirements and how to support students in navigating the various course offerings currently available in FCPS will be discussed. Register for Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings

NVSWCD College Scholarship

NVSWCD is offering a $1,000 scholarship to graduating high school seniors or college freshman pursuing a degree in natural resource conservation or a related field. NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 1. Learn more and apply for the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship.

Youth Conservation Camp for HS Students

Applications are now open for Youth Conservation Camp, held July 14-20 on the Virginia Tech campus. This one-week program will focus on forestry, soil, aquatics, and wildlife to teach high school students more about the natural world. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply and may receive a partial scholarship from NVSWCD. Applications are due Friday, April 26. Learn more about Youth Conservation Camp, including how to obtain an application and contact NVSWCD with questions.

Job Opportunities

• Visit the 2024 Summer Program Administrative page for Summer Learning Administrative opportunities.

• Visit the Operational Gateway for all Operational jobs.
  • View the most recently posted operational jobs.
• Visit the Administrative Gateway for all Administrative jobs.
  • View the most recently posted administrative jobs.
• Visit the Current Job Openings web page for all posted positions.

Help Students Achieve Their Dreams — Teach for FCPS!

Save the date! Attend an instructional job fair on Saturday, February 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Network and take advantage of interview opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair. Register today.

Contacting Me

I prioritize responses to Hunter Mill constituents, so please be sure to identify yourself as such if you contact me. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.

To contact me, it is most helpful to please use the official School Board contact form via my website (click "Submit a Question"). This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. Thank you for your cooperation.

Best,

 

Was this email not addressed to you? Sign up for my newsletters here!

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Melanie K. Meren |  Phone: 571-423-1082 | Facebook | Twitter

Emma Heisey, Staff Aide, 571-423-1070, [email protected]

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Hello, Springfield

I am so excited to have a moment to introduce myself to all of you! My name is Sandy Anderson, and I am the new School Board representative for the Springfield District. You can read more about me here, but please know that I am so excited to serve all the residents of the Springfield District. I truly believe that our schools are the greatest resource we have in Fairfax County, and I am proud to serve all of you in this new role! 

As I round out my first 45 days or so in office, I have been fortunate to participate in both the Capital Improvement Plan process and the initial discussions surrounding the budget for this year. I have had meetings with all the Regional Assistant Superintendents who serve our Springfield schools, and I have spent time getting to know more about the issues that are important to Springfield through meet and greets, phone calls, and conversations! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever have a question or need help finding out more information.  

I have also had the opportunity to work to get to know my colleagues better through two School Board retreats and one with the Board of Supervisors. Sharing time with all of them has renewed the faith I already had in the public servants from Fairfax County. We have some amazing people fighting hard for us!

I hope these monthly newsletters will be an easy way to keep in touch and let you know more about what’s going on around FCPS. 

I will be in touch soon! 

Sandy Anderson

 

This newsletter includes information on the following issues:

• Upcoming School Board Meetings
• School Board Work
• FCPS News
• Superintendent Updates
• Springfield District Scene
• Student Opportunities
• Community News
• Family and Student Resources
• Quick Links

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• February 20 at 12:30 - Forum: Meals Debt
• February 20 at 1:45 p.m. - Work Session: Fiscal Year (FY) 25 Proposed Budget
• February 22 at 6:30 p.m. - Recognitions: VHSL Fall Champions

• February 22 at 7:30 p.m. - Regular Meeting: FY25 Advertised Budget, etc.
• February 27 at 3 p.m. - Joint Budget Work Session With Board of Supervisors
• March 7 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: Elementary School Language Arts Basal Resources, etc.
• March 19 at 10:30 a.m. - Work Session: Strategic Plan Goal 5 Baseline Report and Student Rights & Responsibilities

• March 21 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: FY24 Third Quarter Budget Review, etc. 

Please note that times and topics are subject to change.

The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

For Spanish speakers, to watch recorded School Board meetings, or live during regular meetings, visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code below.

Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español

Para ver las reuniones de Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las Reuniones Ordinarias en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.

Visit the Community Participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.

Are you interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.

If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the board clerk. Find your School Board member and how to contact them on the School Board Members webpage.

School Board Work Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget

The School Board held a work session on February 13 to discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Proposed Budget that focuses on excellence and providing students with an equitable education in an inclusive and respectful environment, where access, opportunity, and achievement are available to all. The work session focused on providing an overview of the Proposed Budget and additional details regarding enrollment growth and investments in students requiring additional support.

The FY 2025 Proposed Budget totals $3.8 billion. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. Key highlights include:

• Supporting students academically by maintaining existing class size formulas and providing necessary support to all students. 
• Retaining and attracting world-class educators with a 6% market scale adjustment.
• Strengthening student well-being outside of the classroom with expanded athletics offerings, additional athletic trainers, and enhanced stipends for fine and performing arts.
• Continuing initiatives including expansion of inclusive preschool, adoption of green initiatives, and funding assistant director of student activities positions previously funded with ESSER III.

Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities to be addressed at the end of FY 2024. 

The Board will continue their discussion at a work session on February 20.

The School Board is scheduled to adopt the Advertised Budget on Thursday, February 22. Read more about the proposed budget. Keep up with FCPS’ budget development process.

  2025-29 Capital Improvement Program

On January 9, the newly elected School Board held its first work session on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Facilities staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2029 CIP, a planning and fiscal management tool used to coordinate the location, timing, and funding of capital projects over five years. The FCPS CIP is updated annually to reflect changing conditions within our schools and communities and builds upon the previously approved program of capital expenditures. This includes the development of a five-year membership projection set, facility capacity evaluations, and potential solutions, an annual update to the schedule and funding of capital construction cash flow, and a facilities management program.

At the February 8 regular meeting, the School Board voted to approve the proposed 2025-29 Capital Improvement Program, as amended. Staff are working hard to alleviate and find solutions for the schools with the most acute capacity deficits given our fiscal constraints and the length of our renovation queue. The quality of school facilities impacts student learning, and our students deserve a high-quality educational environment. I will continue to advocate for decisions that support both Springfield facilities as well as all our school buildings around the county! 

In addition, I was pleased to second a motion by Mount Vernon District School Board Representative Mateo Dunne to direct Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid to present to the Board more information about the way we are tracking vital infrastructure needs across our facilities. 

View all amendments on Boarddocs.

Watch the full meeting.

View the work session.

 

Proclamations

I was pleased to support and bring (Custodian and Food and Nutrition Services Employees) the following proclamation at the Board’s February 8 regular meeting.

• Black History Month
• Custodians and Food and Nutrition Services Appreciation

And, I was also honored to support the proclamation for Michelle Leete at the Board’s January 25 regular meeting.

 

School Board Leadership Confirmed

The Fairfax County School Board’s leadership has been confirmed for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year. Karl Frisch (Providence District), the board's current vice chair who has been acting as chair since January 1, was elected chair. Meanwhile, the board elected Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill District) as its new vice chair at its January 11 regular meeting. Additionally, recently elected board members were confirmed for various committee assignments.

Read more about the board leadership and watch the meeting.

FCPS News 🎓 View the 2024 FCPS Graduation Schedule

The Class of 2024 graduation schedule has been finalized! See graduation dates, times, and locations by school.

 

Safe Students, Safe Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools believes that academic success is built on the foundation of a safe learning environment. This includes physical safety, and mental health and wellness. 

FCPS has a comprehensive approach to safety that involves physical security measures, online monitoring by security staff, and crisis intervention support. We created the Safe Students, Safe Schools Brochure (PDF) to enhance your awareness of potential hazards and to equip you with practical tips. Visit our website for more information.

 

👮‍♂️ Building Relationships and Increasing Safety Every Day

February 15 was School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day. The SROs who work in Fairfax County public schools are sworn police officers with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). 

Every middle, high school, and secondary school in Fairfax County has at least one assigned SRO. They work in the schools to maintain safety; provide a safe and positive learning environment; and promote mutual respect between law enforcement, school security staff, school administrative staff, students, and their families.

SROs assist school administrators in developing school crisis and emergency management response plans. They also work to prevent crime and participate in educational opportunities like drug awareness and gang prevention. Learn more about Fairfax County SROs. 

Officer Brian Sehrer, pictured in this story, was selected as Officer of the Month by FCPD in December for his outstanding SRO performance at Frost Middle School. 

“He has done an amazing job partnering with our local school community and conducting outreach at six of our feeder elementary schools,” said Principal Anthony Harris. “He constantly seeks to build relationships with our students. You can often find him in the halls, the cafeteria, or hosting students in his office.”

Thank you Officer Sehrer, and all our SROs, for the work you do in our schools every day. 

 

🔭 Judges Needed for the Technology Student Associations and Science and Engineering Fairs

The Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held on Saturday, March 16, at Robinson Secondary School.

Each year 250 judges are required to evaluate science fair projects in a wide variety of categories ranging from plant sciences to robotics. Ideally, those volunteering to serve as category judges would hold an advanced degree or possess extensive academic and/or professional experience in their selected STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) category.

Judges are also needed for this year’s Technology Student Association’s Northern Regional Fair on Saturday, March 2 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

At the fair engineering students from across Virginia’s Northern Region compete in events from robotics, flight, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), structural design, video gaming, and more. 

Background knowledge of the event or projects is optional. Judging begins at 8:30 a.m. and judges will be provided breakfast and lunch.  

Complete this simple form if you’re interested in being a judge.

Fairfax County Science and Engineering Fair Open House

Members of the general public are invited to attend the science fair open house at Robinson Secondary School on Sunday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.

  Student Interns Learn Life Skills on the Job

Curtis (above) is an FCPS senior who is trying something new. Curtis has autism and attends Cedar Lane School, which provides smaller class settings for students who require additional support. He’s also now an intern at Brooke Rental Center in Vienna.

Curtis’ mother says she wanted to be sure that Curtis obtained work experience. For some students with special needs, however, the typical teenage after-school job can be trickier to navigate successfully.

Cedar Lane offers employment assistance programs for teens at their school. The students work as unpaid interns, monitored by school staff, who are picking up real-world skills for successful employment. Read more about the Cedar Lane internship program.

 

Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools

Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts. 

If you are interested in sending your student to an elementary magnet school program, consider attending a school-based information night at Hunters Woods Elementary School, Bailey’s Primary Elementary School, or Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. 

Information nights will provide an opportunity to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and transportation.

Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12. Learn more about the schools, their programs, and locations.

 

🥁 Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps and Learning Programs

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

CTE programs are available for students currently in grades K-5 to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing; and for students currently in grades 6-11 to explore CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration.

IFTA and E-IFTA are weekly arts camps for students in grades 2-11. E-IFTA is for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. IFTA allows older students to select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education, music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage or E-IFTA webpage to register.

Summer Learning

Programs are also available for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course required for graduation, earn a high school course credit through the Online Campus Program, or recover one high school course credit in the Credit Recovery Academy. 

A free online class for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provides FCPS middle and high school English Learners the opportunity to continue developing their academic, reading, and writing skills in online discussions with an ESOL teacher. 

Find session dates, registration links, and registration deadlines on the FCPS summer programs webpage.

 

New Food-Sharing Guidelines

FCPS Get2Green has announced new food-sharing guidelines to help schools reduce waste and help address food insecurity. Food sharing reduces waste and allows students to donate unopened and uneaten food to classmates or a local food bank or food pantry. Food sharing can reduce food waste in the cafeteria and help address food insecurity concerns

The new guidelines add a process for schools to host share tables to share food within a school. There is also an updated Memorandum of Understanding for food sharing with external partner organizations and safety guidelines for ensuring healthy practices. Explore the updated FCPS Food Sharing Guidelines.

 

💻 Check Schoology for Teacher-Referred Tutoring

Through Schoology®, all FCPS students have year-round, 24/7, no-cost access to on-demand tutoring through Tutor.com. 

A new Teacher-Referred Tutoring program feature provides targeted support and extends student learning. Teachers can now refer students for tutoring with their specific needs already identified. Students can get extra support — on their own schedule — and reinforce their in-class learning.

Encourage your child to click the Tutor.com icon in Schoology for homework help, concept review, writing support, and test prep.

Look for session referrals from students’ teachers on the Tutor.com portal homepage.

 

🔌 FCPS to Receive $16 Million to Buy More Electric Buses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of two applicants in Virginia to receive more than $17.1 million through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program’s Grants Competition. Fairfax County Public Schools was selected to receive $16.5 Million to purchase 42 electric school buses. 

FCPS was the first school division to acquire electric buses in 2019. With the help of this EPA grant, our electric bus fleet will more than double.  

FCPS has one of the largest bus fleets in the United States, transporting more than 141,000 students on over 1,600 buses each day.

Superintendent Updates National School Counseling Week

During the Academic Matters segment of the School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid recognized National School Counseling Week. School Counselors are vital to supporting our students in terms of academics, college and career aspirations, social-emotional wellness, and more. Their roles are also in direct support of each of the five goals of our 2023-20 Strategic Plan, as you can see below. 

1. Strong Start: Pre-K-12  - Support relationship-building, managing transitions, and building academic, social, and emotional skills that contribute to being ready to learn. 
2. Safe, Supported, Included, & Empowered - Contribute to the creation of a school culture where students and families are engaged, students attend regularly, students participate in meaningful extracurricular activities, and discipline disproportionality is reduced. 
3. Academic Growth and Excellence - Encourage student mindsets with a positive attitude towards learning, self-confidence in one’s ability to succeed, belief in the ability to achieve high-quality results and outcomes, and removing barriers. 
4. Equitable Access and Opportunity - Advocate for every student to access high-quality and rigorous programs (K-12) and utilize the MTSS framework to identify students in need of support and intervention. 
5. Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation - Prepare students for a wide range of career pathways, starting in elementary school, through academic and career exploration and planning.

 

Academic Advising and Advanced Coursework Selection

During the Academic Matters segment of the January 25 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented information on FCPS’ academic advising and advanced coursework selection. Advanced coursework is one focus of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 3, Academic Growth and Excellence. We have an abundance of advanced coursework options available through open enrollment for our middle and high school students:

• Each middle school offers numerous Honors level courses across content areas 
• Each high school offers Advanced Placement (AP)  International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or Dual Enrollment (DE) courses 
• FCPS practices open enrollment making advanced course options accessible to all students

Beyond empowering students to pursue their personal interests, exposure to rigorous and college-level coursework through AP, IB, and/or DE participation is correlated with increased high school and college graduation rates and enables students to earn college credits while still in high school. As you can see below, we continue to invest in removing the roadblocks between our students and their opportunities for advanced coursework. 

Investing in College-Level Opportunities 

FCPS invests in opportunities for our high school students to experience rigorous, college-level coursework and exams.

• The first six AP and IB exams are funded for any student enrolled in an AP/IB course. 
• Students who receive Free and Reduced Meals do not pay AP/IB Exam fees for any additional exams beyond the first six. 
• FCPS Dual Enrollment (DE) courses, available in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), are available at no cost to FCPS students

 

Graduation and Dropout Rates

During the Academic Matters segment of the January 11 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared the latest data on graduation and dropout rates.

For both graduation and dropout cases, she presented five-year trends from 2019 (pre-pandemic) until 2023. 

Graduation Rates

The five-year, on-time graduation trends are consistently above state outcomes. Our rates have also improved more than two percentage points since 2019, compared to Virginia’s improvement of less than .5 percentage points. Looking at specific demographic groups, Hispanic students saw the greatest five-year increase in graduation rates. We are also pleased to see that central supports put in place for nine of our high schools resulted in 2.2 times stronger gains in graduation rates compared to Fairfax high schools not identified for additional supports. It is important to measure what matters to validate that we are putting energy behind programs that work, and we are glad to see these efforts have proved to be successful.

Graduation Rates: Five-year trends for Fairfax and Virginia

• Fairfax graduation rates show consistent performance above statewide outcomes for the past four years.
• FCPS graduation rates have improved more than 2 percentage points since 2019, compared to Virginia’s improvement of less than 0.5 percentage points.
• Slightly lower rates since 2021 result from the loss of statewide graduation flexibility, originally introduced during the pandemic.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reported graduation rates in the graphic above as of September 7, 2023.

Dropout Rates

Dropout rates look at students who did not successfully earn a diploma, GED, certificate of completion or did not remain enrolled. We have significantly reduced our dropout rates over the five-year trend from 7.3 to 5.5 and now we are closely aligned with statewide rates. Our goal is always zero, and we will continue to work on this measure. 

Dropout Rates: Five-year trends for Fairfax and Virginia

• Although FCPS is outperforming the state on graduation outcomes, FCPS dropout rates have been higher than statewide levels for each of the past five years except 2022.
• FCPS can celebrate a significant reduction in dropout rates over the past five years of nearly 2 percentage points.
• As with graduation rates, the loss of pandemic flexibility has impacted some students contributing to higher dropout rates. 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reported dropout rates in the graphic above as of September 7, 2023.

  Lighthouse Schools

The FCPS Department of Information Technology (DIT) launched a new professional development program in collaboration with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) for schools to leverage innovative, technology-based practices to reach their School Innovation and Improvement Plan (SIIP) goals. 

All middle and high schools were invited to apply for participation in the pilot program. Future expansion of the program, based on funding, envisions adding schools across all grade levels on an annual cycle ensuring participation from all regions and all school levels through the implementation of the FCPS Strategic Plan.

This pilot program cohort will include the following schools:

• Madison HS (Region 1)
• Herndon MS (Region 1)
• McLean HS (Region 2)
• Bryant HS (Region 3)
• West Springfield HS (Region 4)
• Frost MS (Region 5)
• Lewis HS (Region 6)

During this year-long program, schools will design innovation goals tailored to their unique communities and in support of their School Improvement and Innovation Plan goals. Schools will continue learning and growing together throughout the spring and summer of 2024. This work will be crucial to student success in the years to come, as AI continues to adapt and be further integrated into our daily lives.

  

Instructional Job Fair 

Fairfax County Public Schools wants you to be a part of our team!  We are seeking educator talent with strong student engagement skills and a passion for having a positive influence on our school communities. We are hosting a job fair on Saturday, February 24, 2024 (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.) at Lake Braddock Secondary School.  There will be networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair.

Register to attend no later than Friday, February 22, 2024. 

During our February 3, 2024 Job Fair, over 150 offers were extended to qualified candidates! You could be next!

 

Food and Nutrition News

Starting in March, FCPS will introduce new and exciting menus that will offer more hot options and parfaits at breakfast, and new items at lunch such as Sweet Thai Chili Chicken Wings and Asian-Inspired Dumplings. Also in March, FCPS cafeterias will display new menu cards on each food service line that provide detailed information on the included food group(s) and information to assist students in knowing which food items meet their cultural and philosophical dietary preferences. This aids students in making informed decisions on the foods they choose to eat. The Menu Card Poster will share how to read the menu cards.

 

🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3 …

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

1. Determine eligibility. 
2. Identify your local school. 
3. Gather documents. 
4. Fill out forms. 
5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host.

Many schools are currently planning kindergarten orientations, so make sure you don't miss out!

Read more about the registration process.

💻 Register Your Child Online

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. 

When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in.

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

1. Determine eligibility. 
2. Identify your local school. 
3. Gather documents. 
4. Fill out forms. 
5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host.

Many schools are currently planning kindergarten orientations, so make sure you don't miss out!

Read more about the registration process.

💻 Register Your Child Online

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. 

When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in.

Springfield District Scene

Something smells fishy in classrooms at Centreville Elementary School. Since the start of the school year, students have worked together to raise trout, hatching them from their eggs. Their goal is to release them in a Virginia stream come spring. It’s a dynamic, hands-on lesson that uniquely applies STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning.

It’s part of a program called Trout in the Classroom, taught in cooperation with the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Centreville started taking part in the program about 15 years ago.

The elementary school now has five tanks and raises many more fish. The students take full responsibility for maintaining them. At the beginning of the school year, they cleaned each tank three times and assembled the water filters and the chillers that maintain the water temperature. After filling the tanks, students tested the pH levels in the water every week. When the trout eggs arrived in late September, the students picked out the “non-viable” eggs that contained fish that wouldn’t survive when they hatched.

Trout in the Classroom helps align students with many of FCPS’ Portrait of a Graduate goals: by raising the trout independently, the students learn effective communication and collaboration skills. They also develop critical thinking skills when any issues with the tank force them to problem-solve.

Read the full news article.

 

Congratulations to Centreville High School’s eSports Team for winning the VHSL eSports Fall League of Legends Championship! Centreville staff member Tad Rauluk leads the team.

 

Chantilly Academy students took advantage of some very cool field trip opportunities to further their learning in their fields of study.  Air Force JROTC students took a trip to the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, WV where they heard from Airmen who shared their experiences in the service and had the unique opportunity to ride on a C-17. Awesome!

 

Fairfax High School’s John King received a Champion for Automotive Education award from the Champions for Automotive Education, a partnership between DARCARS and The Automotive Dealer Education Institute. Mr. King was awarded a new electric car to help educate students on maintaining and repairing electric vehicles. Way to go!

 

Congratulations to Johnson Middle School’s Ananya Aiyer! Ananya and her robotics teammates from Gear Shifters will be heading to Sydney, Australia in July 2024 as one of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) LEGO Robotics teams representing the United States at the FLL Asia Pacific Open Championships (APOC)! The Gear Shifters have clinched the first-place overall championship out of 59 teams in the highly competitive FIRST LEGO League (FLL) DC/Virginia States Championship, which took place on December 10, 2023.

This year's FLL theme entailed combining art and technology to create a masterpiece sharing passions and hobbies. Gear Shifters identified a real-world problem and developed a possible solution and competed with LEGO-based robots of their design.

The FIRST leagues provide a platform for students to engage with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines in a hands-on and competitive environment.

 

Shout out to Lake Braddock Secondary School’s Diana Leppert for winning the USA Shooting Virginia Junior Olympic State Championship! She beat 80 other competitors from all over Virginia to win the match with the highest score overall and the highest for gender. Diana will represent Virginia at the 2024 Junior Olympics held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. This is also a historic moment for Lake Braddock as it is the only time in history that the reigning National Champion and a State Champion are from the same family in the same year. Congratulations Diana and the Leppert Family!

 

Congratulations to the Oakton High School Marching Cougars, for being chosen as the winner of Metallica's inaugural marching band competition, For Whom the Band Tolls! Members of the band Metallica, a heavy metal group formed in the 1980s, chose the overall winner from among five finalists. 

The Marching Cougars were selected as the best in the small high school category by a panel of professional marching band judges. They will be awarded $15,000. 

Read more about the competition. 

 

When Tiffany Hitz was in high school, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a music or math teacher. In the end, a practical decision helped her decide. “As it turns out, there are not a lot of math education scholarships and there are a lot of music scholarships … especially if you play the French horn,” she said. It’s a decision that she doesn’t regret. And she continues to perform as a French horn player. 

Tiffany is now the director of the middle school band at Robinson Secondary School. She continues to learn and practice music, hoping that her students will see how much she loves music and that she is still learning and growing as a musician and a teacher. 

Tiffany is pictured below with her college band director, who recently presented her with an award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. 

Read more about Tiffany and what inspires her as a teacher in the Employee Blog.

 

A special shout out to South County High School Principal Dr. Kambar Khoshaba for taking part in a recent national principal’s association discussion at the White House. The discussion focused on school safety, with a focus on eliminating firearms in schools. Following the opening remarks by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona led the discussion about the importance of keeping firearms out of schools. Additionally, principals shared their experiences with active shooter situations in their schools. The message among the principals was clear; communities must prioritize storage of firearms with cable locks, trigger locks, and lock boxes, and keep a focus on responsible gun ownership.

 

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson HSST’s Computer Team Club for taking the top two places at Widener University’s 16th Annual High School Programming Contest! 

On December 6, 2023, General David Thompson, the Vice Chair of the U.S. Space Force came to speak to nearly 200 TJ students. He explained the Space Force and how it works as a military branch. 

The main emphasis of his talk was about how important space exploration and space research is to our country's future, and how they depend on today's students to become the future leaders in STEM.

 

Congratulations to West Springfield High School senior Caleb Quiroga, one of two Virginia high school students named to the U.S. Senate Youth Program! Caleb was selected to spend a week in Washington, D.C., March 2-9, viewing the American government in action alongside Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The experience will include policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, and officials from the U.S. Departments of State and Defense as well as directors of other federal agencies. 

Students may participate in meetings with the president and a Supreme Court justice. A $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in government, history, and public affairs, is also awarded. 

The United States Senate Youth Program was established in 1962. In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors.

Learn more about the United States Senate Youth Program.

 

Congratulations to Woodson High School’s eSports Team for winning the VHSL eSports Fall Rocket League Championship! The team is led by Woodson staff members Michael Kuykendall & Johnny Shu.

  Filling Another Free Food Fridge

Greenbriar East Elementary School is officially receiving fresh food to help meet food needs for students after school, on weekends, and during breaks.

The Free Food Fridge (FFF) program was generously developed and is supported by Ignite Partner Western Fairfax Christian Ministries or WFCM which started the effort of installing and filling commercial refrigerators in schools in October 2021.  

This is the 12th Free Food Fridge in an FCPS location and WFCM now supports 600-700 students weekly with fresh food — valued at about $200,000 over the school year. 

Thank you WFCM and your generous supporters, for your continued partnership. This addition means more fresh fruits and other perishables for students. 

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries welcomes your support and donations and offers this list of their current pantry needs.

 

35 Teachers Earn or Renew Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Congratulations to the 35 FCPS teachers who recently achieved or renewed their certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Initial certification and renewal of National Board Certification is a multi-year process requiring teachers to compile and submit a portfolio documenting their high-quality instruction, ability to differentiate, and demonstrating how their practices continue to align with the Five Core Propositions of Accomplished Teaching in their certificate area. 

FCPS ranks in the top 30 school districts nationwide for the number of National Board-certified teachers, with over 300 active National Board-certified teachers currently supporting students and schools. 

Kudos to the following teachers of Springfield District students!

Earned

Lake Braddock Secondary School - Lindsay Rusnak

Rocky Run Middle School - Rachel Grover

Thomas Jefferson HSST - Suzette Henry

Union Mill Elementary School - Amy Landsman

Renewed

Fairfax High School - Anne-Marie Hanapole and Greta Sridharan

Frost Middle School - Christina Russell

Johnson Middle School - Charles Burts and Michelle Wright

Mount Vernon High School - Alicia St. Jean

Orange Hunt Elementary School - Lauren Chunn

Robinson Secondary School - Tiffany Hitz

Rocky Run Middle School - Jamie Sawatzky

Sangster Elementary School - Magno Sartorio

West Springfield High School - Florina Abott

 

Schools Receive FCPS School Communications Awards

Fairfax County Public Schools presented 11 schools with awards for outstanding school communications at the School Communicators Conference held on January 26. 

The 2023 Awards of Communication Excellence celebrate the creation of excellent websites, newsletters, and social media content that informs and engages readers. The winners are examples of the substantial talent that exists among the community of FCPS school communicators.

Congratulations to the following Springfield District Schools!

Newsletters

Schools were judged on their main family newsletters sent through GovDelivery. They were judged for consistency, engagement, creativity, metrics, and accessibility. 

• Chantilly Academy - Consistently, this academy has fantastic, engaging photos of its programs. 

Social Media

These awards are being presented to schools that post frequently, consistently, and creatively; follow best practices, and engage their followers. 

• Fairfax Academy - For the Fairfax Academy social media accounts, Amy Hard focuses on bringing surprise, fun, branding, and creativity to content. She posts consistently, creates fun reels (some she is in herself), and is diligent about highlighting the diverse programs and people across the Academy. 

Read the full list of winners.

 

Parent Teacher Associations Awarded Grants

Ten Fairfax County Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) and Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSA) were awarded grants from the National PTA during the fall 2023 grant cycle. The awards total $12,500 and will support schools and families in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math, health and wellness, and digital safety.

Congratulations to the following PTAs and PTSAs!

Chantilly High School PTSA - Tobacco Prevention Campaign Grant sponsored by The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Kings Park/Kings Glen Elementary School PTA - PTA Wellness Fairs With Walmart Grant

Waples Mill Elementary School PTA - PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! Grant supported by AT&T

Read the full list of grant winners on the Fairfax County Council PTA website.

 

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register for Community Conversations

Join Dr. Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School. (I’ll see you there!)
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Student Opportunities

Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools not assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parents or guardians before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity. Families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.

 

📄 2024 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair

I am pleased to co-sponsor the Annual Fairfax County Teen Job Fair which focuses on students and young job seekers who are looking for a variety of employment opportunities; full-time, after-school, seasonal positions, internship opportunities, and volunteer positions. The fairs have allowed thousands of teenagers to get in front of employers and for our employers to find talented Fairfax County students to fill their positions. 

This year, the fairs will take place on two Saturdays in March.

• Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Chantilly High School -  11 a.m. - 1 p.m.*
• Saturday, March 9, 2024,  at West Springfield High School -  11 a.m. - 1 p.m.*

*Final workshops will end at 1:30 p.m.

The fairs are open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resumes. Student registration is free and open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume. Business registration is also free and open to any organization providing positions for students. Free table space and a complimentary table covering will be provided to registered businesses and organizations to advertise their available positions. Participating businesses must provide positions for students at the fair; soliciting without offering positions is not permitted.

 

Fairfax County Summer Camp Registration is Open

Registration for Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) spring and summer camps is open, via Parktakes. For 2024, FCPA will not be offering a discount for early registration for camps. In addition, camp waitlists will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2 to help FCPA staff optimize the process for filling camps.

Explore the 2024 Camp Guide to see the complete listings (and all the details) for upcoming camps. The publication outlines key background information, including key dates, extended care information, and all the 2024 camp locations. It also provides all the details you need for each camp listing organized by season and then camp type.

On FCPA’s Camps website, find the Camp Search to browse offerings by keyword and location and download the Camp Spreadsheet to filter and sort camps in Excel by child’s age, the week, the type of camp, and the location. FCPA also provides a Camp Planner Sheet to help track camp choices and collect Catalog IDs of all your top choice camps to make registration easier and quicker.

Questions may be directed to the FCPA camps team at [email protected]. 

 

💻 Inspirigirl Computer Science Classes for Girls

Inspirigirl is a Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHSST) that provides free computer science classes, workshops, and events for students with a focus on encouraging girls to participate in computer science.

They are holding free Winter 2024 virtual computer science classes throughout February and would like to invite your students to register and learn about computer science. All students are welcome, and they offer various coding courses for all different age and level groups.

Classes are free thanks to their teaching volunteers. Register in advance.

 

Career Exploration Event

In February, school divisions across the region will team up with Virginia Ed Strategies to host the annual Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo event. This Northern Virginia regional event will allow high school students to connect virtually and in person, with more than 60 local industry professionals from in-demand career fields. 

The purpose of these FREE career exploration events is to provide students with opportunities to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce today. 

The in-person Career Expo and Job Fair event will be held on Saturday, February 17, from 1 - 4 p.m., in the North Hall of the Dulles Expo Center. 

Students should register on the Instruction 2 Industry Events Page.

 

Inspire Summer 2024

Send your rising 10th-12th grade student to the University of Virginia Northern Virginia this summer! Applications for Inspire Summer 2024 are now available. Whether it's college essay writing, coding, or forensic science, they offer a diverse range of courses. Go beyond the curriculum with exciting topics that introduce new concepts and build on existing knowledge.

One and two-week classes are offered in-person or online from June 17 - July 26, 2024.

Seats are limited and the priority deadline is February 23, 2024. Apply now.

 

FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge How can young people be a part of the solution to increase awareness about the risks of fentanyl?

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) wants you to pitch your idea that educates youth in your community about fentanyl and fake pills and prevents overdose. Your idea could include any innovative ways to reach youth on this topic like social media posts, vlogs, podcasts, video journals, etc. In this Challenge, we are seeking the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths.

These are the facts:

• Among adolescents aged 10-19, from 2019 to 2021:
• Monthly drug overdose deaths increased by 109%. 
• Deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyls increased 182%. 
• About 90% of these deaths involved opioids and 84% involved illicitly manufactured fentanyls.
• Counterfeit pills were present in nearly 25% of these deaths.
• Two-thirds of those who died had one or more potential bystanders present, but most didn’t provide an overdose response (many bystanders were in another room or didn’t know that drugs were being used).
• Criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills, and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills. They are made to look just like prescription drugs such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), and alprazolam (Xanax®); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®).
• 7 out of 10 fake prescription pills (seized by the DEA) contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
• Xylazine (often known as “tranq”), is a central nervous system depressant and animal tranquilizer that has been showing up in combination with fentanyl and has been involved in a growing number of overdose deaths.

Learn more about the FentAlert Challenge here. Submissions are due February 26, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET.

 

🔬 Children’s Science Center Summer Camp Internship

The Children’s Science Center is accepting applications for summer interns ages 16+ for their 2024 Science, Technology, and Engineering STEM) Summer Camp (June 17-August 16, 2024). Interns will work closely with elementary-aged students conducting hands-on STEM activities. Interns will also have the opportunity to develop their own STEM programming for camp students.

Find more information and apply by Friday, March 1, 2024, by 5 p.m.

 

🤖 Chantilly High School Technology Student Association Tech Fair

The Chantilly High School Technology Student Association is holding a Tech Fair on Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Chantilly High School cafeteria (Enter through door 11). Join them for slime, elephant toothpaste, ozobots, strawberry DNA, and more! The entrance fee is $5. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

 

Sorensen Institutute’s 2024 High School Leaders Program

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is seeking civic-minded students from across Virginia to apply to the 2024 High School Leaders Program (HSLP). The HSLP is a two-week summer program designed for Virginia high school students who have a passion for public service and leadership. The HSLP curriculum covers the foundations of public policy and effective civic engagement while connecting students with peers of different backgrounds and philosophies from around the state. Admitted students live on Grounds at the University of Virginia, attend field trips, and network with current leaders in Virginia's public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The online application for the 2024 HSLP is open through Monday, March 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Supplemental Materials (transcript, resume, and up to two letters of recommendation) are due Friday, March 29, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

To learn more or refer a candidate, visit the High School Leaders Program (HSLP) | Cooper Center or contact Sorensen Community Relations and Program Recruiting Assistant, JaVori Warren, at [email protected].

 

💦 Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District College Scholarship

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) is offering a $1,000 scholarship to graduating high school seniors or college freshmen pursuing a degree in natural resource conservation or a related field. NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships.

Learn more and apply for the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 1, 2024.

 

Lake Braddock Bruins Summer Sports Camps

Lake Braddock Secondary School is offering summer sports camps for athletes of all ability levels in grades 3-12. Sports include baseball, basketball, dance, softball, and volleyball. Athletes will be grouped by age and skill in their respective sports. Camp staff composed of coaches, alumni, and current players will provide a balanced program of instruction in fundamentals and game competition.

Find more information, including the registration link, on the Bruins 2024 Summer Camps web page.

Questions may be directed to Paul Agner at [email protected]. 

 

🏀 Chantilly High School Girls Basketball Camp

Register online for Chantilly’s Girls’ Basketball camp for ages 7-14 at Chantilly High School this summer. The cost is $200 per camper for one session or $360 per camper for both sessions. 

• Session 1:  June 24 - June 28, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Session 2:  July 8 - July 12, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Each camper will receive a complimentary t-shirt.  Please contact Josh Regan, Chantilly High School Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, with any questions.

Community News February recognizes… Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.  Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History Month.

Black History Month Celebration

Fairfax County’s Black History Month Celebration will be held on Friday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m., at the Government Center. This year’s theme is The Value of Telling Our Stories. It will include performances, activities, discussion, and light refreshments. Visit the county’s website for details.

Throughout the month, Fairfax County Public Libraries will host several events celebrating Black history including movie screenings, lectures, and musical performances in-person and online. 

Career and Technical Education Month

By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school including Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology, and Engineering Education, and Trade and Industrial Education. Since this is an elective, course offerings may vary by school. Learn more on the CTE website. 

CTE also offers summer programs for students to explore their programs.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Dating violence is a pattern of harmful behaviors that can be used to exert power and control over a dating partner. This can happen in different ways, including physical violence, emotional and verbal violence, sexual violence, financial control, and digital violence. Many teens experience some form of intimate partner violence even before graduating from high school.

The purpose of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about the impact of dating violence on youth, educate young people about healthy relationships, and encourage the community to get involved to disrupt cycles of violence among teens. 

Learn more about teen dating violence.

Enroll now!

Lunar New Year   Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, February 14, is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It marks the beginning of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. Many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services, at which churchgoers receive ash on their foreheads. Ash Wednesday derives its name from this practice.

Read more about Ash Wednesday on Britannica.com.

This artwork, created by Liberty Middle School and Springfield District student Mikayla D., was selected as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students. Way to go Mikayal!

Presidents Day

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 19, for the Presidents Day holiday. Learn more about Presidents Day on Britannica.com. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 20.

See the complete school year calendar.

Connect FCPS Calendars to Your Personal Calendar

You can subscribe to FCPS calendars so updates and new events will automatically be added to your Outlook or Google calendars. Subscribe to “All Calendars” or specific types of events, including holidays, featured FCPS events, School Board meetings, fine and performing arts events, or religious and cultural observances.

Public Schools Week

Public Schools Week, February 27-March 3, is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents & community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools.

Family and Student Resources What Families Can Do to Fight Drug Misuse

FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.

What can families do?

• Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. 
• Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success. 
• Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage. 
• Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors. 
• Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”

Visit our website for more information.

 

📝 Tutor.com Can Help With More Than Homework

Tutor.com can help with more than just homework! This on-demand tutoring service also offers a comprehensive range of resources that include exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests at no cost to families. 

Students can take practice quizzes at any time. If they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor for help through voice or chat options. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com webpage.

 

💲 FAFSA Is Open: College Access Fairfax Can Help

Over the next two months, College Access Fairfax will offer several programs on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA), and finding and applying for scholarships. Visit the College Access Fairfax website for details.

In addition, College Access Fairfax staff members are available for virtual one-on-one help sessions to complete the FAFSA/VASA. Email [email protected] for an appointment.

The FAFSA is now available. Any college-bound high school senior — regardless of income — who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete a FAFSA form. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to work with their students to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and forms. Then, create an FSA ID and fill out the FAFSA.

The VASA application has yet to open but should be available in late January for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. To help determine which aid option is right for you, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.

 

🏫 College Partnership Program

The College Partnership Program (CPP)  is a college success program offered by FCPS. This program is designed to support students interested in exploring, applying to, and enrolling in college. CPP helps students prepare for college through monthly meetings and information sessions which provide academic counseling, completing college and scholarship applications, SAT preparation classes, and college visits. 

CPP was created to help students who face additional barriers to achieving their higher education goals, which include:

• Students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S.
• English language learners
• Economically disadvantaged students
• Students with disabilities

Students of all backgrounds and experiences (grades 8-11) are encouraged to apply. The application is open until March 15, 2024.

For more information, students should contact their school counselors or CPP advocates.

 

🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child’s bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus —  almost in real-time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

 

Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!

Ombuds staff members engage with families, students, and staff to offer resources to improve the experience of every FCPS community member. They work as an independent, confidential resource that can help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.  

The ombuds is available to: 

• Share strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home.
• Help resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace.
• Provide ideas to strengthen parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings.

Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.

Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints may call 571-423-4014, email [email protected], or visit the Ombuds webpage, where you may Submit a Question.

 

Special Education Resources for Families

Fairfax County Public Schools has the following resources available to assist families of students with special needs: 

• The Office of Special Education Procedural Support helps staff, families, and students with the implementation of and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended. 

• The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Sign up for their newsletter. Contact the FRC at [email protected] or call 703-204-2941.

• Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, provides information and support to caregivers and students regarding special education and Section 504 services. Contact the Ombuds Office by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing [email protected]. 

Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has updated the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. This state guide was developed to help those involved in special education including families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students.

 

Jill’s House Virtual Parent Support

Are you ever excited, delighted, or amazed by what your child with disabilities has done and you don't have someone to share it with who "gets it"? Do you wish you could get some validation or appropriate response from people after sharing how incredible you have found a certain situation involving your child with special needs?  Please join the Jill’s House VIrtual Parent Support Group on February 26, 2024, from 7 to 8 p.m., to share those experiences with others and we promise to engage at all the right places and cheer you on! 

To receive the meeting link, please contact Deonne Snare at [email protected]. 

 

Building Trust With Your Teenager

Raising teenagers can present lots of new challenges even for seasoned parents and caregivers. It may feel like there is an overnight transformation from a loving child to a barely recognizable teen who is equal parts moody, impulsive, and reclusive. And while it’s normal for kids to pull away from their parents and test the limits of their independence, this can be a time that parents struggle to relate to them.

It’s important to remember that trust is the foundation of any strong relationship. Fairfax County Parenting Education Programs (PEP) offer tips on building a trusting relationship with your teen. 

Read more on the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Community Corner webpage.

 

Register for Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

The FCPS Family Resource Center (PRC) is offering free webinars. Some amazing upcoming options are focusing on Behavior Solutions, Transition Planning for Students in Special Education, How to Handle Disappointing Grades, and more!

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The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

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Dear Sully District Families and Community Members,

I hope everyone is getting settled into the second semester. Spring will be here before we know it!

At our February 8th Regular meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid proposed a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 focused on competitive staff compensation and strengthening student academic supports. I welcome you all to attend the in-person Sully District Budget Town Hall on February 29th from 7-9 pm at Rocky Run Middle School, where Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and I will discuss this FY25 Budget and hear your comments. Please see town hall details below.

The Board also approved the FY2025-29 Capital Improvement program. In addition to the new Western high school, I have continued ongoing conversations with staff for possible solutions to alleviate overcrowding in our high schools and have made it clear to my colleagues and the Superintendent that the residents of the Sully District deserve better solutions.

Inside this newsletter:

• Feb 29th: Sully District Budget Meeting with Supervisor Kathy Smith
• Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget Focuses on Educational Excellence and Competitive Compensation
• FY 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan Approved
• Student Opportunities

• Volunteers Needed: Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC)

I welcome your feedback, observations, suggestions, questions, and celebrations. I look forward to seeing you at our budget town hall and other school events in the upcoming weeks!

In partnership,

Seema Dixit Sully District Budget Town Hall with Supervisor Kathy Smith

Please join Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2025 Budgets and take your comments. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY25 Budget, please send an email to [email protected] with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject.

Detailed information about the FCPS FY25 Budget can be found on our website and also detailed below.

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024  Time: 7 - 9 pm EST Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151 

Supervisor Smith and I look forward to your participation!

Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget Focuses on Educational Excellence and Competitive Compensation

At last week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid proposed a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 that focuses on excellence and providing students an equitable education in an inclusive and respectful environment, where access, opportunity, and achievement are available to all. 

The FY 2025 Proposed Budget totals $3.8 billion. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. Key highlights include:

• Supporting students academically by maintaining existing class size formulas and providing necessary support to all students. 
• Retaining and attracting world-class educators with a 6% market scale adjustment.
• Strengthening student well-being outside of the classroom with expanded athletics offerings, additional athletic trainers, and enhanced stipends for fine and performing arts.
• Continuing initiatives including expansion of inclusive preschool, adoption of green initiatives, and funding assistant director of student activities positions previously funded with ESSER III.

Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities to be addressed at the end of FY 2024. 

The School Board is scheduled to vote on adopting the Advertised Budget on Thursday, February 22. Read more about the proposed budget. Keep up with FCPS’ budget development process.

School Board Approves Capital Improvement Program

The Fairfax County School Board approved an annual update to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that includes new school construction and/or repurposing, capacity enhancements, and renovations.

These projects are detailed in the FY 2025-29 CIP, which also illustrates FCPS’ alignment with the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force’s (JET) goals with the inclusion of more Net-Zero Energy (NZE) building practices.

Information about all capital projects will be posted on project webpages on the FCPS website. Read more about the approved CIP.

In summary, the CIP is a document filled with data and information regarding our county wide view of capital spending for the near term, primarily the next 5 years. Our Facilities staff is working hard to alleviate and find solutions for the schools that have the most acute capacity deficits given our fiscal constraints and the length of our renovation queue. The quality of school facilities impact student learning and our students deserve a high quality study environment. I will continue to advocate strongly to make progress on capacity enhancements, renovations, and especially site acquisition for the new Western High School in our district.

Student Opportunities

Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.

Girls Who Code Free Virtual Summer Programs

Ready to shape your future and join an empowering sisterhood? Become a coder this summer with Girls Who Code @girlswhocode!

Girls Who Code’s free virtual Summer Programs empower you to build skills, community, and a professional network for your future, in the ways that work best for you. Choose your adventure with two free programs:

1. Curious to create your own computer games? In the two-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), you’ll learn how to design your own games using p5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding. Join classmates and a dedicated Teaching Teams in live virtual classrooms hosted by industry-leading companies like MetLife, Bank of America, Logitech, and Synchrony. There are three rounds to fit your schedule: June 14 to June 28, July 8 to July 19, and July 29 to August 9. SIP is for current 9th-11th grade girls and non-binary students with beginner or intermediate coding experience, including program alums. Eligible students can even apply for a $300 SIP Student Grant and laptop and hot spot access!

2. Excited to explore the biggest topics in tech at your own pace? The six-week Self-Paced Program offers tracks in Web Development, Cybersecurity, and – new for 2024 – Data Science + AI! From July 1 to August 9, you get to decide how and when to build your coding skills, and you can always ask questions in the Discord server or optional Student Hours.The Self-Paced Program is for current 9th-12th grade girls and non-binary students with beginner to advanced coding experience, including program alums.

Apply by March 22, 2024. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to level up your coding skills, kickstart your future, tap into lifelong career support, and have fun along the way!  Need help? Learn more with the program flyer, webinars, or FAQs, or email at [email protected]. #coding #girlswhocode 

NVSWCD College Scholarship

NVSWCD is offering a $1,000 scholarship to graduating high school seniors or college freshman pursuing a degree in natural resource conservation or a related field. NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 1. Learn more and apply for the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship.

FentAlert: Empowering Youth for Safer Choices - SAMHSA Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge

How can young people be a part of the solution to increase awareness about the risks of fentanyl?

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) wants you to pitch your idea that educates youth in your community about fentanyl and fake pills, and prevents overdose. Your idea could include any innovative ways to reach youth on this topic like social media posts, vlogs, podcasts, video journals, etc. In this Challenge, we are seeking the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl, especially the hidden dangers of fake pills and other contaminants that can lead to drug overdose deaths. Learn more about the FentAlert Challenge here. Submissions are due February 26, 2024 6 p.m. ET.

Sorensen Institute's 2024 HS Leaders Program

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is seeking civic-minded students from across Virginia to apply to the 2024 High School Leaders Program (HSLP). The HSLP curriculum covers the foundations of public policy and effective civic engagement, while connecting students with peers of different backgrounds and philosophies from around the state. Applications are due Monday, March 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Click here to apply and learn more about the HSLP.

Volunteers Needed: Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC)

Are you interested in serving as our Sully District representative on the FPAC committee? Please see details below. Thank you! 

Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC): FCPS encourages individuals with experience in construction, engineering, architecture, land use planning, development, demographics, government operations, and financing to apply. FPAC advises and informs FCPS staff and the School Board in the development of comprehensive, long-term plans for facilities needs, such as creative financing and construction strategies, scope of renovations, and school closures and new schools.

The link to the news article is here and the application link is here. The deadline to submit your application is February 26th, 2024.

To learn more about FPAC, please view their website.

Contacting Me

To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.

Use this link to sign up for my Newsletter and follow me on Facebook.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

Email: Seema Dixit | Phone: 571-423-1085  

Staff Aide: Shaheen Khurana | Phone: 571-423-1072

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The Dunne Dispatch - 02/15/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors: 

Every other week, I will circulate a list of school and related community events. The purpose of this listing is to connect the schools with the community, and vice versa. I believe that strong schools make strong communities, and strong communities make strong schools. Even if you do not have children attending FCPS, I encourage you to attend public events at our schools.

Also if you have any school or related community events you would like me to include in my calendar email, please submit them here for consideration.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

FCPS Events and Activities

Save the Date: Mount Vernon District 2024 Graduation Dates

It is not too soon to mark your calendars for our spring 2024 graduation ceremonies. See below for a listing of graduation dates for Mount Vernon District schools. 

• Bryant High School & AIM: Wednesday, June 5, 4 p.m., Bryant High School
• Edison High School: Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
• Hayfield Secondary School: Monday, June 10, 9:30 a.m., Eagle Bank Arena
• Lewis High School: Monday, June 3, 7:30 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
• Mount Vernon High School: Tuesday, June 4, 9:30 a.m., Eagle Bank Arena
• Quander Road School: Thursday, May 30, 3:30 p.m., Quander Road School
• South County High School: Monday, June 10 at 2 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena
• West Potomac High School: Tuesday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena

Visit the FCPS website for a complete list of Class of 2024 Graduations.

Family Webinar – Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings, March 8, 10:00 am - 11:30 am

How can students participate in mathematics throughout high school in a way that is relevant to and supportive of post-secondary and career interests?

During this virtual session, mathematics graduation requirements and how to support students in navigating the various course offerings currently available in FCPS will be discussed.

Students and their families may start thinking about what course pathways are available beginning in middle school. Join us to learn more.

March 8, 2024, 10:00 am -11:30 am

Register for Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings

Presented by Jennifer Allard FCPS High School Math Specialist and Erin Sylves FCPS Math Specialist. Questions? Contact the Family Resource Center: 703-204-3941 or [email protected]

Hayfield Pyramid

Hayfield High School Athletics

Gunston Elementary School Science Fair, February 29

Mount Vernon Pyramid

Woodley Hills Elementary School Scholastic Book Fair, March 11-15

The Woodley Hills Elementary School Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon!  The fair will be set up on March 8 and open for shopping from March 11-15.  More information is forthcoming. In the meantime, Woodley Hill families, please consider volunteering at this important fundraiser. They need help decorating, setting up, working at the fair during school hours, and packing up at the end of the week. Questions? Please feel free to send an email to: [email protected]

Mount Vernon High School International Night, March 1 

Save the date!!!!  The Class of 2025 Presents: MVHS International Night 

More information coming soon regarding volunteer opportunities and food donations!!!

Fort Belvoir Primary and Upper School Food Market, February 23, 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm

South County Pyramid

South County High School Athletics

South County MS Theatre Presents Matilda!

Join us for the story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Performances are on Feb 16th at 7pm and Feb 17th at 1 and 7pm. Tickets are 8$ and found through Etix:

Laurel Hill Elementary School International Night, February 23

SIlverbrook Elementary School, March 8

West Potomac High School Pyramid

West Potomac High School

• February 21: Class of 2024 Chipotle Restaurant Night, 4:00 - 8:00 pm, Richmond Highway
• February 22: Class of 2024 100 Day Celebration
• February 28: West Potomac Academy Open House

Other Schools Mount Vernon Students Attend...

Edison High School Hosts For Parents Only - Parent Presentation on Trends in the Drug Culture, February 29 

Many challenges and responsibilities come with being a parent, and having to address a difficult topic with your child, such as drug culture, trends and identifying signs of substance use, can be stressful. Drugs and drug paraphernalia is now being disguised as common everyday items out in plain sight, to go unrecognized by parents or other adults. The Substance Abuse Prevention Program wants to provide families with information so they will be able to recognize drugs and drug paraphernalia as well as the signs of drug-use. This presentation will equip caregivers with the information needed to have real and meaningful dialog with their children concerning these issues. 

The Substance Abuse Prevention Program is hosting a presentation on February 29, 6:00pm at Edison High School to provide information on the trends in drug culture, which has created innovative ways to hook children. After the presentation, there will be time to ask questions or to receive more information as well as a Narcan Training provided by a member of the Community Services Board.

Cameron Elementary School Cheetah Fun Run, February 29

Save the date for Cameron Elementary School's Cheetah Fun Run! On February 29, students will have the chance to run and participate in this fundraiser that will support our outdoor classroom.

Mount Eagle Multicultural Night, March 7, 6 pm

Mount Eagle Elementary School will host its Multicultural Night on Thursday, March 7 beginning at 6pm. Members of the Mount Eagle community are encouraged to mark their calendars and begin planning how they would like to contribute. Organizers would love for you to share about your home culture.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Mateo Dunne  |  Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

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A sixth grade Chinese class at Oak Hill Elementary School celebrates Chinese New Year with a dragon dance led by (from left to right) Physical Education Teacher Gregory Germain, Chinese Teacher Yajuan Jiang, a student, Principal Kelly Durso, and Chinese Teacher Lucy Chen.

Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget Focuses on Competitive Compensation and Educational Excellence

At last week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid proposed a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 that prioritizes competitive compensation. 

The proposed budget totals $3.8 billion. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. 

Key highlights of the proposed budget include:

• Retaining and attracting a world-class workforce with a 6% market scale adjustment. 
• A market cyclical review of school-based office positions.
• An ERFC Legacy Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) to allow eligible employees to continue working beyond their retirement eligibility while continuing to accumulate retirement benefits. 

Special education daily contract extensions, funding for the safety and security screening program, and late buses to support academics and activities at middle schools are several of the priorities to be addressed at year end.

The School Board held a budget work session today and is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. this evening. The hearing will be available on YouTube and Channel 99. The board will vote on the Advertised Budget on Thursday, February 22. Read more about the proposed budget. Visit FCPS’ Budget Development Calendar webpage to keep up with the budget process.

🎤 Save the Date: Employee Conversations With Dr. Reid

Your voice matters, and Dr. Reid wants to hear from you! A series of Employee Conversations with the superintendent will be held this spring across the school division. Events are planned for the following dates:

• Wednesday, April 3, 6:30-8 p.m., Fairfax Villa Elementary School.
• Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8 p.m., Braddock Elementary School.
• Monday, April 8, 4:30-6 p.m., South County Middle School.
• Monday, April 15, 4:30-6 p.m., Frost Middle School.

Click on the location above to register. These events are an opportunity to share your thoughts and ask questions. Reach out to Dr. Reid at any time by submitting a question via the superintendent’s webpage or emailing [email protected].

❄️ Make Sure You Receive Emergency/Weather Text Messages

If you are not currently receiving text messages from FCPS regarding weather delays and other critical operational messages, please follow the process below: 

1. Log in to UConnect.
2. Click Bookmarks > Employee Self Service > Personal Information > Contact Numbers.
3. Click Add.
4. On the Detail section, click Contact Type, then select Cell Phone.
5. Enter your cell phone number in the Phone Number field.
6. Enter the Start Date or leave on the default date (today’s date).
7. Click Update.

Note: In addition to email and text messages, FCPS weather delays and closings are posted on Twitter, Facebook, FCPS.edu, and school websites, and announced on local media broadcasts.

💙 CARES of the Month Recipient Helps Student Realize Dream

FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. One of the November CARES of the Month recipients was Charles Cornwell, pictured at right, auto collision services teacher at Edison High School. 

“Mr. Cornwell taught his students how to take an old beat-up truck and turn it into my son’s dream truck and make it ready for him and his grandfather to show in Ocean City. Mr. Cornwell stayed after school many days to help my son achieve his dream, this is not something that is required of a teacher. This will be something my son will always carry with him and a memory that he and his grandfather will always cherish all due to Mr. Cornwell.”

Congratulations to Charles and other November FCPS CARES of the Month recipients:

• Eric Fleming, Instructional Programs Support Center
• Kathleen Moskowitz, Herndon Elementary School
• Emily Velez and Diane Quezada-Bin, Falls Church High School
• Trevor Echols, South County High School
• Denisse Stein, Stone Middle School
• Rosemond Nkansah, Lane Elementary School

Read about all the recipients. 

Do you know an employee who deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond? Submit their story.

We 💗 FCPS Families

FCPS is home to many families who have multiple members working for the district. Read this Employee Blog feature to learn about some who are dedicated not just to their families, but also to FCPS — such as Steven and Susanna Smith, pictured above with their children at Greenbriar West Elementary School.

Are You or a Family Member Interested in Becoming a Teacher?

Attend an instructional job fair on Saturday, February 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Network and take advantage of interview opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair. Register to attend.

🧾 W-2s Have Been Delivered!

W-2s for 2023 are now available in UConnect. You will need to opt-in for W-2 Web Delivery to access your form online. For instructions on opting in, please see the FCPS Online W-2 Access Guide (PDF).

Take advantage of the new W-2 Web Delivery to print, download, save, and copy your W-2. For employees who did not opt in before January 5, their W-2s for 2023 have been mailed to the address on record as of December 29, 2023. If that address is not up to date, please update it in UConnect now. Any W-2s returned to FCPS will be re-mailed to the new address.

If you do not have access to UConnect or have not received your 2023 W-2 in the mail, please complete a W-2 Reissue Request Form (PDF). The fastest way to get a W-2 replaced is online. The Office of Payroll Management will process reissue requests in the order they are received.

For more information, visit FCPS' W-2 Tax Form webpage.

📬 IRS Form 1095 Arriving in Early March

FCPS employees and retirees who were enrolled in FCPS health plan coverage (or who were eligible for coverage but did not enroll) will receive IRS-Form 1095-C in early March. Form 1095 provides information regarding your health insurance eligibility and enrollment.

While the information on this form may assist with preparing your tax return, the Internal Revenue Service has stated you will not need to submit it with your tax return. You should keep the form for your records with other important tax documents.

If you have questions regarding how this form impacts your tax return preparation, please check with your tax professional. For other questions, please contact the Office of Benefit Services at 571-423-3200 and select Option 3 to speak with a representative.

💊 2023 Flexible Spending Account Filing Deadline Is March 31

If you participated in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2023, remember that you have until Sunday, March 31, to submit claims for your 2023 FSA expenses. You can file your claims through your Optum account. Find instructions for filing a claim on the Flexible Spending Accounts webpage.

Standard rollover provisions apply. No dependent care spending account funds may rollover to 2024, and $610 is permitted to roll over for the health care FSA.

FCPS Retirement Ceremony Scheduled for May 1

After years of hard work and dedication, FCPS celebrates our retirees’ careers, legacies, and accomplishments at our annual retirement ceremony, We Honor You — Celebrating Your Service to FCPS. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m., at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The evening begins with an hors d’oeuvre reception followed by a recognition ceremony with the superintendent, Leadership Team, and School Board.

Those planning to retire should submit their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) as soon as possible. Invitations will be mailed in mid-March to those who retired after the spring 2023 retirement recognition and to those who plan to retire before December 31, 2024. Please email questions to [email protected].

🍎 Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool

Great Beginnings Program facilitators lead a variety of professional learning opportunities for our new teachers and those who support new teachers. Our facilitators receive pay for their planning and facilitation, professional development, and recertification points. 

To be a part of the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool, candidates must have at least five years of teaching experience with at least three of those in FCPS (at the conclusion of the current school year). 

For additional eligibility requirements, role descriptions, and information about the application process, view the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool advertisement (PDF). Applications will be open through Friday, March 8.

👮 Building Relationships and Increasing Safety Every Day

February 15 is School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day. The SROs who work in Fairfax County public schools are sworn police officers with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).

Officer Brian Sehrer, pictured above, was selected as Officer of the Month by FCPD in December for his outstanding SRO performance at Frost Middle School. Learn more about him and the role of SROs on the Employee Blog.

Thank you Officer Sehrer, and all our SROs, for the work you do in our schools every day.

🥗 Colorful Choices Wellness Challenge

Discover how nutritious eating can be both fun and beneficial with the four-week Colorful Choices Wellness Challenge! This program will take place from Monday, March 4, to Sunday, March 31. Each day, participants will log fruit and vegetable servings in a virtual blender, aiming to include a variety of colors for points. 

This engaging program offers tips on creating flavorful, nutritious meals, and snacks. Registration is open Wednesday, February 14, through Friday, March 8. 

Drawings for prizes will take place weekly during the challenge and at its completion. Teams with the highest active participation can win five Nutribullet Pros.

Earn up to $100 with 2024 Wellness Rewards

Our annual Employee Wellness Incentive program is open for participation for employees subscribing to FCPS healthcare plans with Cigna or Kaiser Permanente. 

Click the appropriate link below for simple steps to redeem a gift card worth up to $100:

• Cigna Redemption Guide (PPT).
• KP Incentive Reward Guide (PDF).

If you have questions about the Wellness Incentive Program, please email [email protected] or visit the FCPS Wellness Incentive Program HUB page.

Sharing Culture and Wishing Every Young Person Well

Sara Tae has worked in the Family and School Partnerships office for more than 18 years. In her role as a cultural outreach liaison, she enjoys supporting families and the community by providing connections and resources. 

Sara has led many cultural initiatives and was the inaugural Korean podcaster for the FCPS Multilingual Family Podcast. Learn more about Sara's work — and her favorite Lunar New Year traditions — in this Employee Blog.

How School Counselors Support Student Success

During Academic Matters at last Thursday’s School Board Meeting, Dr. Reid recognized National School Counseling Week. She discussed counselors’ roles, how they support academics, college and career paths, and social-emotional wellness. School counselors' work supports all five pillars of the 2023-30 FCPS Strategic Plan. View Dr. Reid's presentation.

📅 Calendar Reminder: Presidents Day (Holiday)

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 19, for the Presidents Day holiday. 

Presidents Day is a time to honor and remember the birthdays and achievements of the country's most distinguished leaders, and to reflect on the role of the president in shaping the nation’s history and development. 

See the complete school year calendar. See the employee calendar.

Staff Staples

• Calendars
• Classifieds
• Employee Wellness Program
• FCPS CARES
• Human Resources
• Job Openings
• People on the Move
• Savings for Staff
• Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email [email protected] with questions. 

Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you! 

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SIBSHOPS

 

SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs! 

The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:

• Meet other siblings in a relaxed setting.
• Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
• Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
• Play games and have fun!

March 2, 2024, 9 a.m.- noon at Providence Community Center

Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services

View the individual event page if you would like to Add to Your Calendar.

Register for: SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs! 

 

FCPS Family Resource Center
Web | Email: [email protected] | Phone: 703-204-3941