Well, it has been another beautiful fall week here in this amazing community.  It is hard to believe that we will be in November next week ;>)  There continue to be amazing moments, large and small all over this amazing division.

Fall is alive with the sound of music across FCPS! As the chill sets upon us, why not come inside and enjoy the talents of our amazing performers! Did you know that you can sort the FCPS calendar online to feature all the upcoming fine and performing arts performances? I already did the work for you, just click here! Spamalot; Frozen, Jr.; One Man, Two Guvnors; and Alice in Wonderland are just a few of the wonderful choices!

Congratulations to all our top finishers at last month’s Herndon Showcase of Bands! I truly enjoyed watching this kickoff to the marching band competition season! Each of the schools competed in groups that organize bands by size: 

• Group 1: Third place overall for Falls Church High School.
• Group 3: First place overall for South County High School.
• Group 4: Second place overall for Centreville High School.
• Group 5: First place overall for Madison High School, Westfield High School finished second, and Woodson High School finished third.
• Group 6: Third place overall for Langley High School.

Out of all of the 29 bands across the entire day, Madison won first place and Westfield won second place. Hard work pays off! 

Pictured at right are students from the Centreville High School Wildcat Marching band, led by Melissa Hall. Melissa shared that her band prides themselves on regularly seeking opportunities to perform works by historically underrepresented composers. Last spring, the band focused on raising mental health awareness as part of the “UnBroken” project, a consortium by composer Randall Standridge. The power of music transcends all barriers, and I truly believe it has the power to heal. I look forward to many more opportunities to watch our talented musicians, artists and performers, all across our amazing school division!

Congratulations to Daniels Run and Providence elementary schools for their designation as a “Virginia Naturally School” by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. This is the first time for Providence and the 14th award for Daniels Run. Pictured at right is the outdoor learning classroom at Daniels Run that features a designated monarch way station and a learning courtyard. Lori Huberman Hayes, the science resource teacher at Daniels Run, explains that every student visits the science lab, equipped with microscopes to do hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Not only is the core subject of science taught, but also the 21^st century theme of environmental literacy. Daniels Run has a courtyard vegetable/herb raised bed garden to address the Life Science Standards of Learning along with an extensive schoolyard habitat, including a pollinator garden, sponge garden, constructed wetland, and much more to support their environmental education program.  So many exciting learning opportunities…

Chrissy Brownson, the STEAM teacher at Providence shared that for many years, Providence has worked diligently to support conservation and environmental education above and beyond our standard curriculum. While their science lessons are embedded with hands-on investigations and environmental lessons reinforcing how each of our students impacts the world around them, they have also created a conservation club, cultivated outdoor learning spaces, and twice earned the National Wildlife Federation’s Green Flag Award. I know there are many schools across FCPS with designations that showcase our division’s commitment to sustainability and to being global and ethical citizens. We are cultivating the next generation of caretakers for our environment! It matters.

Students in the Lake Braddock Secondary School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, also known as JROTC , welcomed me Thursday morning and walked me to my High School Principals Association (HSPA) meeting. It’s always nice to have smiling faces to greet you to start the day! The JROTC is a four-year program of instruction that emphasizes academic preparation, citizenship, leadership, character development, and the scope and nature of the particular military service branch. Eight high schools in our division offer JROTC programs supported by the Army, Air Force, Marines, or Navy. Learn more in the FCPS Course Catalog. I continue to be so inspired by all the opportunities provide for our students. 

This past Monday evening marked my 20th Community Conversation! Thanks to Fairfax High School for hosting the event. It was a very thoughtful exchange of perspectives, particularly on how equity is incorporated into classrooms and weighing emotional and wellness supports for students against a greater focus on instruction. Finding the right balance is key to our students’ reaching their greatest potential. Tuesday night, I joined the Centreville Pyramid. A lot of our discussion centered on how we measure student success, with the understanding that students learn, and exhibit their mastery in different ways. Related to that is how we make sure parents can easily be informed about their child’s progress in order to better support them at home. Throughout this discussion, the common theme was that we all share the same goal – for our students to find success and to be prepared for wherever their paths lead them. Together, great things are possible!

This past Monday morning, I met with community member Ilyong Moon, alongside Sangshin Han, the minister counselor of education, and Kyung Tak Kang, the director of Korean Education Center, both from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, to accept the Korean government’s financial support to enhance Korean language programs in FCPS. Since fiscal year 2012, FCPS has received approximately 1.2 million dollars from the Korean government for this initiative. In FCPS, we have a rich program of world languages. We know that learning a second language is about more than communication. Learning a second language helps us appreciate and understand our own language, and opens our minds to other cultures. The Center for Applied Linguistics has also found that children who are proficient in more than one language at an early age have a better early ear for listening, more flexibility in thinking, and it has a positive impact on their intellectual growth. 

Friday morning I was invited to attend a human resources (HR) department meeting.  The entire staff was on hand to hear from Chief Operating Officer, Marty Smith as he thanked them all for the incredible amount of work they have done in getting our schools staffed for this school year.  Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Human Resources, Dr. Sherry Wilson then formally introduced the new acting director of Talent Acquisition & Management, Mitsuko Clemmons-Nazeer, and the new acting director of Equity and Employee Relations, Franklin Jones.  She also introduced the new director of Employee Labor Relations, Lydia Martinez as well as all the new team members. The Office of Employee Labor Relations is a new office to FCPS this year.  During the meeting, each office within HR gave an overview of the initiatives currently ongoing in their areas. I was impressed with the work that staff have done and continue to do every day to support all of us. It is a department that is filled with caring and committed individuals who come together to help make FCPS a great team.

Last week, I stopped by the Oakton vs. Madison girls volleyball game and met Erika Drummond and her daughter Louise. Erika gave me permission to share their story of inclusion that I hope will keep us focused on why we do what we do, and remind us that FCPS continues to inspire us and is a wonderful place to be: 

Dear Superintendent Reid, 

It was lovely meeting you this evening at the Oakton/Madison girls volleyball game. As I explained, my daughter, Louise, has significant intellectual disabilities that require her to take a majority of Category B classes. This isn't immediately apparent upon meeting her, as she has a bubbly, open and quirky personality. Even with her personality, she struggles to make friends and integrate in with her peers. (Louise's developmental age is approximately 7 years old, so understandably this has become harder every year.)  

Her 8th grade teachers at Thoreau Middle School, in particular Ms. Emily Kenny and Ms. Louisa McClanahan, saw Louise's potential to connect with her peers. Ms. Kenny helped make those connections, giving time and encouragement to let the group friendship grow. Not only did Louise get a sense of community and welcome from her gen. ed. peers, Ms. McClanahan and Ms. Kenny advocated for her to continue her social growth. 

 As Louise started her freshman year at Madison, Ms. Kenny used her experience, involvement and connections with Madison to advocate that Louise become an assistant manager to a sports team. She was generous with her time in answering my questions, as well as giving advice. Mr. John Kenny, Madison's director of student activities, placed her with the girls freshman volleyball team. While it was slightly awkward in the beginning, Louise just needed to find her place – and that she did. As the games started to be played, Louise took on the position of team motivator, the leader of cheers while in the huddle, etc. Her teammates help her with casual social cues when she shows disappointment in a missed serve, for example, and make her feel part of the team. To say that Louise is happy is an understatement –she is a member of a team – a team that accepts her, celebrates with her and corrects her in the most positive way. So much so, Louise chose to walk in the homecoming parade with the team, versus the Best Buddies group. As she explained to me, she couldn't leave her team – "the girls need her."  She walked in that parade as if she was the homecoming queen! 

So, suffice to say, with Thoreau really seeing Louise's potential, those teachers carrying on their support, even though she graduated from Thoreau, to the open and welcoming activities director at Madison, to the girls and coaches of the volleyball team -- Fairfax County Public Schools is doing it right – inclusion and acceptance at its finest. You should be proud.”

 Sincerely, 

Erika (and Alan) Drummond 

Our journey to create a new strategic plan begins and ends with Louise, her teammates, and each and every one of our unique and wonderful students. They’ve demonstrated by their actions what it means to be strong leaders and to care for others. They will lead us to the place where all students feel a sense of purpose and authentic belonging. Let’s remember to open our minds and hearts to what they have to say, and what they have to show us.  Our students continue to lead us!!

As we approach the coming week, I am mindful of all that we have to be grateful for, and the celebration of our team ....Let's enjoy the closing of October and the page that turns us toward November..."Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."  -  George Eliot  

Warmest Regards,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools