FCPS This Week e-newsletter - April 20, 2022
Incoming Superintendent Gets to Know FCPS and Community
Michelle Reid, Ed.D. will be the next superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools starting July 1.
Dr. Reid is known regionally and nationally for strong instructional leadership. Last week, Dr. Reid spent time visiting with students, staff, and community members to begin the conversation about what makes FCPS a great school division and the many opportunities to build on that foundation.
Get to know Dr. Michelle Reid.
Video: Connecting with Students and Staff
Dr. Reid enjoyed a visit to Garfield and Sangster elementary schools where she answered students’ questions, joined in a movement break, and saw a robotics lesson in action. Read about Dr. Reid’s school visits on our website and watch the video.
Video: Dr. Reid, Student Journalists Discuss Ways to Boost Student Voice and Agency
Five student journalists from elementary, middle, and high schools met with Dr. Reid to talk about the importance of student voices and how they can work together to help students succeed. “It'll be important for me to meet with groups of students to hear what you think is important because I'm here to serve you, right?” Dr. Reid told them. Find out on our website what this group of students wanted to know from Dr. Reid and watch the video.
Advocacy Groups and Dr. Reid Share in Honest Conversation
On Friday, April 15, representatives of several advocacy groups met with Dr. Reid, as well as Fairfax County School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky and Vice Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer, to discuss their concerns about the superintendent selection process. The conversation was brutally honest and, we hope, productive—a meaningful first step toward what we believe will result in a more equitable school division. Dr. Reid shared her plans to continue meeting with the community in the coming weeks and months.
All Middle Schools Will Have Recess Starting in 2022-23
At its regular meeting on April 14, the School Board voted to approve changes to Policy 2100, Student and Staff Health and Wellness, which include adding daily middle school recess starting in the 2022-23 school year, as well as changes regarding nutrition, sleep, and elementary school recess.
Say Thank You! to Your Favorite Teachers
The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week. This year, you can submit a recorded message thanking and celebrating FCPS’s amazing teachers and staff. Please submit your recording (up to 60 seconds) by noon on Wednesday, April 27.
Your video message may be selected to share with our teachers and community on the FCPS website and social media channels throughout Teacher Appreciation Week.
Surprising our teachers and staff with these messages of gratitude and support is part of the fun so keep your contribution under wraps until May.
More information and a submission form are available online. Please be aware, the submission form requires a Google account. If you do not have a Google account and wish to be part of the celebration, share your messages on social media and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Libraries Are the Heart of School Communities
In FCPS libraries, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth. Watch this video to learn how FCPS librarians make a difference.
FCPS Student Publications Win NSPA Pacemaker and CSPA Gold Crown Awards
Student journalists from four FCPS schools have been named award winners by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. See which schools received awards.
FCPS Students Take Top Honors at Virginia FBLA State Leadership Conference
Students from twelve Fairfax County public schools won first place awards at the 2022 Virginia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference held recently in Reston. More than 90 students placed in the top four in their event and qualified to compete in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Chicago in June. See who won FBLA state awards.
Five School Counseling Programs Awarded 2022 RAMP Designation
Five Fairfax County Public Schools school counseling programs have been recognized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as model programs and were awarded the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation for 2022 for successfully demonstrating how their comprehensive school counseling programs benefit all students.
See which schools received the RAMP designation.
Sherry Wilson to Join FCPS as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand has named Sherry Wilson, who currently serves as director of Human Resources in Chesapeake (Va.) Public Schools, to the role of assistant superintendent, Department of Human Resources, effective June 1. Learn more about Sherry Wilson.
FCPS Holding Instructional Job Fair on April 30
FCPS wants you to be a part of our team! We are searching for educators with a strong academic background and a passion to make a difference. To meet hiring needs in instructional areas, we are hosting a job fair on Saturday, April 30, during which networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools will be available. This job fair is open to external candidates, internal transfers, and recruitment hires. It will be held both in-person (9 a.m.to 2 p.m.) and virtually (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
More information is available online.
Multilingual Parent Podcasts: Meet the FCPS Ombudsman and Assistant Ombudsman for Special Education
In this episode, meet Armando Peri, FCPS ombudsman, and Dawn Clements, assistant ombudsman for special education. They explain their roles and responsibilities, how they help parents navigate difficult situations, and what parents can expect when they contact the ombudsman. To contact them, call 571-423-4014 or email [email protected].
Listen and subscribe:
From the Healthy Minds Blog: Teaching Children How to Accept Mistakes and Disappointment
We all want to see our children succeed. However, making mistakes and learning how to handle disappointment are valuable experiences for children. Here are some strategies from the Healthy Minds Blog for parents on teaching children how to deal with their mistakes in a healthy way.
Battle of the Buses: Diesel vs. Electric
Fairfax County Public Schools has committed to going to an all-electric school bus fleet by 2035. FCPS' first electric buses are on the road and are a hit with drivers and students. In Battle of the Buses, you'll learn the difference between a FCPS diesel school bus and an electric school bus. Watch the video—it’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22).
School Bus Driver Job Fair at Lorton Center on April 25
Fairfax County Public Schools invites qualified individuals to join our transportation team and is holding a job fair for bus drivers on Monday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lorton Center. No pre-event registration is needed to attend. Bus driver pay starts at $22.91 an hour, and drivers who meet established criteria can receive a $3,000 signing bonus.
Learn more about the bus driver job fair.
FCPS and Fairfax County Government Partnering to Provide Substance Abuse Webinars on April 20, 26, 28
Due to the rise in opioid overdoses in the Fairfax Health District (which is consistent with national and state trends), Fairfax County Public Schools has partnered with Fairfax County Government to provide educational webinars on youth substance use trends and supports. The free webinars are scheduled for April 20, April 26, and April 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Each of the three webinars will provide the same information.
The topics to be covered include:
- Most commonly used substances.
- In-depth opioid information.
- Reasons why youth use substances.
- Ways parents can support their children.
- Available FCPS and Fairfax County Resources.
- Ways students, parents, and community members can connect with support providers.
Registration for the webinars is available online.
Video: School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky’s Remarks on Our Budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
On April 12, School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky spoke to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors during a public hearing that discussed the FY 2023-27 Capital Improvement Program and the FY 2022 Revised Budget Plan. Watch the video.