Family Engagement Survey Opens March 13

Our Family Engagement Survey is coming to your email the afternoon of Sunday, March 13. Please participate—your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students.

Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, and better social skills and behavior.

FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer the survey, and it will be available in eight languages. For more information, please watch this short video from Superintendent Brabrand and visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage. Your voice matters!

Claudia McDowell Named 2022 National School Social Worker of the Year

Claudia McDowell, a school social worker at Lynbrook Elementary School, has been named the 2022 National School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) for her commitment to the profession and for positively impacting the lives of the students, families, and staff of the communities she serves. McDowell will receive the award during the SSWAA National Conference held April 6-9 in Chicago. 

Learn more about Claudia McDowell.

School Social Workers in FCPS

March 5-12 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites.

Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.

Three FCPS Schools Selected for 2022 First Amendment Press Freedom Award

Three Fairfax County public schools—Chantilly High School, Marshall High School, and McLean High School—are among 18 schools nationwide selected as recipients of the 2022 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. This is the eighth consecutive award for Chantilly High, the fifth consecutive award for McLean High, and the first award for Marshall High.

The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach, and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content.

Reliable Sources: Langley High Students Separate Fact from Fiction Amid Ukraine Conflict

Langley High School political science teacher David Kuhn says he knows “enough to get out of the way” when teaching students in real-time about the heart-breaking events in Ukraine.

Kuhn pushed students in his fall semester political science elective to study international relations theories on post-Cold War conflict and varying perspectives on whether Russia was likely to invade the former Soviet state. Now, as tanks roll through Ukraine, he’s encouraging his class to process the devastating developments through the careful consumption of information. 

Kuhn spoke to WUSA 9 and NBC Washington about teaching his students about the conflict in Ukraine and how he had to update his curriculum. Eliot Waxman, a government teacher at Oakton High School, also had to quickly pivot and change his curriculum, and spoke to Fox 5 about how he is keeping his students up to date on current events as history unfolds. 

Teen Job Fairs Help Students Make the Most of Opportunities

Fairfax County high school students looking for their first part-time job, summer and seasonal job opportunities, or who want more information about potential career pathways, are invited to attend one of two upcoming teen job fairs and resume building workshops. Local businesses and agencies will be on hand to offer a range of opportunities including part-time employment, internships, and volunteer work for prospective students.

Volunteer opportunities and resume building workshops will also be available for younger students. The job fairs will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. at West Springfield High School, and Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Chantilly High School. 

Registration for the job fairs is available online.

Eid al Fitr Shifts to May 2 in Accordance with Lunar Calendar, AP Exam Schedule Remains Unchanged

The dates of some religious and cultural observances are determined by the lunar calendar, which shifts the dates following lunar cycles. Eid al Fitr, the holiest day of the Islamic year, based on the lunar calendar, is one of those observances. This year, Eid al Fitr has shifted from Tuesday, May 3 to Monday, May 2. This means that the approved holiday date on our School Year calendar will also now be Monday, May 2.

Now that the FCPS calendar includes days and observances that shift with the lunar calendar, there may be adjustments going forward. We will make updates and communicate any changes as quickly as possible. Learn more about FCPS’ religious and cultural observance days on our website.

The current Advanced Placement (AP) exams - Chemistry, Spanish Literature, Japanese Language, and U.S. Government - set for May 2 will continue as scheduled as these dates are set by the College Board. If any student has any concern about this exam schedule due to the change in the observance of Eid al Fitr please encourage them to speak with their principal about their options.

2022 Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair Is March 9-20

The 2022 Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held in a hybrid format and will feature winning science and engineering projects from high school students representing private and public schools in Fairfax County. 

This Science Fair will feature a combination of virtual and in-person events. This year’s schedule includes:

• March 9-15: Virtual Category judging using zFairs.
• March 9-17: Virtual Special Awards judging using zFairs.
• March 19: Grand Prize nominees invited for in-person judging. Student nominees will be notified by March 17 (registered Grand Prize judges, Grand Prize nominee students, and volunteers only).
• March 20: Hybrid Awards Ceremony (invited students and parents, and invited dignitaries. Members of the public will be able to watch via FCPS Channel 99 and by livestream.).

Get more information on the Regional Science and Engineering Fair. 

Back-to-School Pediatric Immunization Clinic on March 12

The State of Virginia requires immunizations for entry into kindergarten, 7th grade, 12th grade, and when transferring into FCPS. The Fairfax County Health Department will be offering a special immunization clinic for Fairfax County students to complete their school vaccine requirements (the COVID-19 vaccine is not a required vaccine). 

The clinic will be held on Saturday, March 12, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Annandale District Office, 7611 Little River Turnpike, #400-E, Annandale, VA 22003. Appointments are required.

To make an appointment, call 703-246-7100.

Tying Community to Schools: Holistic Support Helps Students and Families Find Success

Glasgow Middle School, Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, and Walt Whitman Middle School are the first FCPS schools to implement a Community Schools model, meaning they benefit from partnerships with local organizations to provide well-rounded support and resources. 

The goal is to improve student learning, create stronger families, and form healthier communities. The school buildings become centers of the community and are open to all, even outside of standard school hours. 

Learn more about the Community Schools model and how it benefits students and families. 

Watch the School Board work session discussion on this topic from February 22.

Fight Hunger in Our Neighborhoods by Helping Stuff the Bus on March 19

On Saturday, March 19, Stuff the Bus will be collecting non-perishable food donations at 18 locations throughout Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. Help fight hunger and feed hope in our community by donating. For updates, including donation locations, most requested food items and more, visit the Stuff the Bus website.

National School Breakfast Week

National School Breakfast Week celebrates the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success. This year’s theme, “Take Off with School Breakfast,” reminds parents and stakeholders that a healthy school breakfast helps ensure students’ academic success in school so they can “take off” and reach their goals. 

This school year, all students in FCPS are eligible for free breakfast, and as a result, our schools are serving an average of 45,000 breakfasts per day, compared to an average of 30,000 pre-COVID. 

StreamIn/CheckIn Available for Students in COVID-19 Isolation

StreamIn/CheckIn has been in place since the fall to help make sure students are able to access their classes when absent due to COVID-19. Recent changes to health guidance lead to adjustments to the StreamIn/CheckIn option. 

This option is now available only for students who are isolated (COVID positive) due to COVID-19. These students may be out of school for up to 10 days. Participating in StreamIn/CheckIn helps them be ready to jump back into classes without missing a beat. For more information, visit our website.

Multilingual Parent Podcasts: Making the Transition to High School

When teenagers move from middle school to high school, a world of opportunities opens up. High school offers new courses, new friends, new activities, and new responsibilities. In this podcast, hear about these new opportunities in your teenager’s life and how parents can be supportive in the transition. The FCPS College and Planning Website offers some helpful information for parents and students. 

The podcast infomercial is about the upcoming Family Engagement Survey, which opens on March 13 and invites parents to express their opinions on school operations.

Listen and subscribe:

• Spanish podcast. 
• Arabic podcast. 
• Korean podcast. 

From the Healthy Minds Blog: Assisting Children in Developing a Healthy Self-Esteem

Self-esteem and self-concept gradually develop over time, beginning at a very young age. As children grow and develop, they begin to examine their abilities, become more independent, and assimilate information and feedback from others. Self-esteem can be defined as the evaluation of self, and it includes feelings of overall happiness and satisfaction, as well as how important one feels. Support from others is deemed important in children's development of a healthy self-esteem. 

The Healthy Minds Blog has some tips and strategies that parents and teachers can implement to build self-esteem and prevent a low self-concept in children. 

Registration Open for 2022 Special Education Conference

This year’s conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions supporting the conference's theme: Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing. Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now open online.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Lisa Cullins, A Conversation About Compassion Fatigue.
• Marlo Keller, Exceptional Family Member Program Pathways: Navigating the Halls of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) School Move.
• Ann Dolin, Less Policing, More Parenting: How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments.
• Dr. Lisa Bateman, Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges and How to Support Children in Asking for Help. 

Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register. 

Don’t Forget to Spring Forward! 

This Sunday, March 13, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark.

Help your child stay safe by having him or her wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run or dart into the street or cross between parked cars.

Highlights of Our Strategic Plan Goal 1: Student Success

During the School Board work session on March 8, staff presented highlights of this year’s work connected with the division’s Strategic Plan Goal 1: Student Success. Achievements include:

• Narrowing gaps in access and opportunity, especially by
  • Providing students with access to technology
  • Increasing participating in elementary school advanced academic programs
  • Reducing opportunity and access gaps for traditionally underrepresented groups
  • Improving equitable participation among student groups in Algebra I by 8th grade.
• Pass rates for reading and mathematics were higher than the state average.
• All student groups met or exceeded the goal for Virgina on-time graduation rates.
• Prekindergarten experiences continued to have a positive effect on kindergarten skills.

Visit BoardDocs for the complete presentation or watch a recording of the work session on our YouTube channel. Presentations on all of the Strategic Plan goal areas will take place over the next few weeks.

Reminder: School Board Meeting on March 10

The School Board will hold a regular business meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7 p.m. See the complete regular meeting agenda. The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and on the FCPS website. Agenda highlights include:

• Recommended changes to the Strategic Governance Manual 
• FY 2022 3rd Quarter Budget Review
• Updates to Student and Staff Health and Wellness Policy
• Approval of K-8 Science Basal Instructional Materials

If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the board clerk.

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