A student at Virginia Run Elementary School practices playing the recorder. March is Music in Our Schools Month, recognizing the importance of music education for all children. 

✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey Today! 

If you haven’t already, please take FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey today! Survey results will be used to develop a plan to improve family and school partnerships throughout the division to support student success. Topics include:

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

The survey is available in 10 languages. Please check your email for a message from our partner, K12 Insight, with a link to the survey or access the survey now. 

Fairfax County’s Funding of the FCPS Budget

The average amount of funds transferred from Fairfax County to FCPS was 52.6% of county disbursements from Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 to 2023. It dipped to 51.6% in FY 24. The County’s budget proposal for next year would transfer 51.4% of total disbursements. 

If the county were to return to transferring 52.6% to FCPS for the upcoming year, that would equate to $63 million more to #InvestinExcellence.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Give your feedback on the County budget. 

📚 Literacy Development for Multilingual Learners

In the Academic Matters segment of last week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared information on literacy development of multilingual learners (students who are learning the English language). Of the more than 180,000 FCPS students, over 48% have a home language other than English, and 20% are multilingual learners (as of January 2024). 

Dr. Reid emphasized that the school division’s Equitable Access to Literacy Plan applies to ALL students, including multilingual learners. She shared some of the supports that exist for these students, including new elementary language arts basal resources. View Dr. Reid’s presentation slides. 

✂️ Family Resource Center Library Named for Education Advocate

FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) has formally named its library the Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library. This honor recognizes Bussey’s legacy and commitment to education and equipping families to effectively advocate for the educational rights and needs of their children. 

The FRC helps parents, caregivers, and teachers support the success of all students. One of the ways they accomplish this is through their lending library, which contains more than 10,000 books, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating children. Learn about Dr. Bussey and the FRC. 

On a related note, FCPS observes March as Equity in Education Month. This is a divisionwide opportunity to deepen our commitment to creating a climate and curriculum where all students receive the resources they need to reach their fullest potential. 

🎤 Join a Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs 

A community conversation on the opioid crisis in Northern Virginia will be held Monday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Lake Braddock Secondary School. (Please enter through Door #14). Attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services 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 will be suitable for students in grade 6 and higher. Language interpretation services will be 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. 

🩹 Measles Is Preventable

Measles is making headlines as the number of cases nationwide has topped 40, with three confirmed cases in people living in or traveling through the National Capital Region. 

The good news is that measles is preventable through vaccination! Vaccines help teach the immune system how to defend against germs, helping to build up natural defenses. Give your child the best protection against measles with two doses of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Visit the Fairfax County Health Department’s website to find out more about measles.

🕛 Extended Hours at Immunization Clinics

To help parents/caregivers obtain vaccinations for their children, the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will offer immunization clinics with extended hours:

• Thursday, March 21, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Joseph Willard Health Center.
  Walk-ins are accepted until 7 p.m.
  
   

• Friday, March 22, 1-5:30 p.m., Annandale District Office. 
  Walk-ins are accepted until 5 p.m.

Parents/caregivers should make an appointment, but a limited number of walk-ins will be accepted. Please call 703-246-7100 to schedule an appointment. 

Learn more about vaccinating your child and find community resources to support their health and well-being. 

Note: All students enrolling in public and private schools in Virginia are required to be adequately immunized per the Code of Virginia.

🏅 Nominations Open for First Class Award for Inclusion 

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the First Class Awards. The awards are presented annually to educators, administrators, and students who support, design, and/or implement programs or activities that include students with disabilities that result in positive outcomes for all students. The ACSD will recognize award winners at the Family Summit on Saturday, April 20. 

Nominate an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools by Friday, March 22. Email [email protected] with questions.

💙 CARES of the Month Recipient Is “Selfless and Noble”

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. Carleen Troup, (pictured on the right with her nominator, Kristen Williamson), is one of the winter CARES of the Month recipients. She is a teacher at Camelot Elementary School. 

In January, one of Carleen’s colleagues suffered a medical emergency. Carleen was there “in minutes” to support her and call an ambulance. While the teacher recovers, “Carleen has been there every step of the way” and “has been a rock for her second-grade team,” according to her CARES nomination. “Teachers like Carleen, who are able to continuously support their students for the benefit of their learning and well-being — while processing their own emotions — are selfless and noble.”

Congratulations to Carleen and other winter FCPS CARES of the Month recipients:

• Judie Lieberman, Willow Oaks Administrative Center
• Kim Schauer, Hughes Middle School
• Florence Harrison, Bryant High School
• Karizma Glenn, Bull Run Elementary School 
• Lisa Bliss, Nashwa Osmani, and Courtney Mocco; Freedom Hill Elementary School
• Katelyn Bongard, Karli Eddinger, Elizabeth Murphy, and Luis Perez; Holmes Middle School

Read about all the recipients. 

Submit an FCPS CARES Nomination

Do you know an employee who deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond? Submit their story. 

Submissions are now made through the StaffConnect portal. Choose FCPS CARES from the first drop-down menu to access the appropriate form. 

🍎 Join FCPS and Inspire Our Students! 

FCPS will be holding a virtual job fair for individuals interested in teaching positions on Thursday, March 14, 5-8 p.m. 

We are seeking teachers who inspire and empower students to meet high academic standards; lead healthy, ethical lives; and be responsible and innovative global citizens. 

Register for the job fair. 

🥗 Food and Nutrition Hiring

Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will be hosting job fairs: 

• Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m.-noon, at Westfield High School
• Wednesday, March 27, 12:30-2:30 p.m., at Marshall High School
• Wednesday, April 17, 1-2:30 p.m., at the Office of Food and Nutrition Services

No registration is needed. For more information or general questions, contact FNS at 703-813-4800 or [email protected].

🚍 Transportation Services Hiring

The Office of Transportation Services will be hosting bus driver job fairs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates: 

• Wednesday, March 20, at Lorton Center
• Friday, April 19, at Lorton Center
• Thursday, April 25, at Stonecroft Transportation Center

This is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents to earn income with benefits (and bring your preschooler to work with you!), as well as for retirees, college students, or career switchers.

No registration is needed to attend. Apply today! Contact 571-423-3000 or [email protected] with questions.

🎭 Robinson Secondary School Production of Pride and Prejudice Explores What It Means to Love

The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as theater critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. 

This review of Robinson Secondary School’s production of Pride and Prejudice is written by Addie Harris of McLean High School.

Become Next Year’s School Board Student Representative

Each year FCPS students have the opportunity to apply for the position of student representative to the School Board. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity by representing the interests of the students of Fairfax County Public Schools. 

For more information on this role, please see FCPS Policy 1802. Visit the application webpage for details on eligibility, the application, and deadlines. The first step of the process is due Friday, March 22. 

What Is it Like to Serve on the Fairfax County School Board?

Rida Karim, the current student representative to the School Board, describes the demands, expectations, and rewards of the position in this short video.

🌷Calendar Reminder: Spring Break

Monday, March 25, to Friday, March 29 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. 

We wish our students, teachers, and school-based staff a happy and restful spring break! 

🗓️ Quarter End/Teacher Workday

Friday, March 22, is the end of the third quarter. Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2, are school planning and teacher workdays, respectively. There will be no school for students on these days. See the school year calendar.