School Board Franconia District | Fairfax County Public Schools

July Newsletter

School Board Franconia District2 weeks 1 day ago

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Dear Franconia Residents/Estimados Residentes de Franconia,

I hope that you and your family are enjoying your summer and recharging your batteries.

I’m looking forward to attending the FCPS Leadership Kickoff this week, as we start to get ready to welcome staff and students for the 2024-2025 school year.

For now, make the most of your summer break, stay cool, and find joy in your summer reading list.

Below please find resources for you and your family.

Kind Regards/Bondadosamente,

Marcia St. John-Cunning

Franconia District School Board Member

Summer Meal Service Program

As part of its efforts to ensure children have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Fairfax County Public Schools is pleased to announce it will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program.

Find a location and times to get food.

INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs

Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children ages 5+ with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at summer health fairs for children on Medicaid or who are uninsured. The clinics will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates:

Saturday, July 20, at ICC for Children - Herndon
Saturday, August 17, at ICC for Children - Falls Church

Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be allowed. Call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.

Mount Vernon Pyramid Resource Fair FCPS Presenting at Smithsonian Education Summit

The Smithsonian 2024 National Education Summit hosts several exciting free presentations.

The session on Nurturing Multicultural Voices Through Art is a result of a decade-long collaboration between the Fairfax County Public Schools Office for ESOL Services’ Family Literacy Program, National Portrait Gallery, and Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology. Workshop participants of all ages have used museum objects, artmaking, and storytelling to explore issues of migration, belonging, and community-building, while developing empathy, confidence, self-expression, and self-advocacy. You will learn about the research and results of these programs and leave with a Smithsonian Learning Lab toolkit of resources and activities designed to foster in multigenerational English language learners’ important skills including visual literacy, public speaking, creative writing, art appreciation, collaborative learning, and advocacy.

Registration to the summit is free!

This session is scheduled virtually Tuesday, July 16 from 12:00 -12:50pm.

Mental Wellness Consultations

This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 2. Any FCPS parent or secondary student will have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference.

Parents of students in any grade level can request a consultation to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
Students in middle or high school can request a consultation to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.

We encourage all families to take advantage of this service. Request a consultation or call and leave a message at 703-503-2520.

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students

Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as:

Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss.
Anxiety, worry, fears.
Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships.
Academic stress.

In order for students to participate, caregivers must give permission for FCPS to share basic demographic information with Hazel Health in ParentVUE, and they must provide consent for their student to access therapy services.

Students may then be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. Refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or contacting an FCPS school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services.

Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

School Board Meetings

Public participation is the foundation of a healthy democracy. I invite you to tune in or attend FCPS School Board meetings. Visit BoardDocs for meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, July 18, 7:00 pm: Regular School Board Meeting

How to Watch Live

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

How to Watch Recordings

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

How to Attend In-Person

Regular School Board Meetings take place at Luther Jackson Middle School.
Work Sessions and Forums are held at Gatehouse Administration Center.
Public Hearings are scheduled around the county.

How to Speak at a Regular Board Meeting

Visit the community participation webpage and fill out the form.

Helpful Links

Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.

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.

E-mail: Marcia St. John-Cunning | Phone: 571-423-1081

Staff Aide: Mara Kaiser Braunger | Phone: 571-279-1691

Community Conversation About Elementary School Early Release Mondays

School Board Franconia District1 month ago

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Dear Franconia Residents/Estimados Residentes de Franconia,

FCPS is planning a calendar change for elementary school students next year so teachers can be trained in the new “Science of Reading” elementary literacy curriculum. The recommendation is to create seven “early release Mondays."

You have two opportunities to provide input:

A Community Conversation with Dr. Reid is scheduled to take place at Woodlawn Elementary School on Tuesday, July 2 at 6:00-7:00 PM. This will be a hybrid event with language interpretation and childcare available as needed. Please register online.

You may wish to apply to participate on the Steering Committee for this initiative, which is open to administrators, educators, and families. If you want to apply, please complete this form for consideration by Friday, June 28.

For elementary schools in the Edison HS, Hayfield SS, Lewis HS, Mount Vernon HS, South County HS, and West Potomac HS pyramids, the planned dates for “early release Mondays” are: September 16, October 21, November 18, February 10, March 10, April 21, and May 12.

You may submit your questions or feedback to [email protected] or to me directly.

Kind Regards/Bondadosamente,.

Marcia St. John-Cunning

Franconia District School Board Member

E-mail: Marcia St. John-Cunning | Phone: 571-423-1081

Staff Aide: Mara Kaiser Braunger | Phone: 571-279-1691

FCPS School Boundary Policy Review

School Board Franconia District2 months ago

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Dear Franconia Residents/Estimados Residentes de Franconia,

I hope that you all are gearing up for a relaxing holiday weekend!

I’d like to thank those of you who reached out to me about the FCPS Boundary Policy 8130 that you may have read about in another board member’s newsletter. I want to clarify the process we've been engaged in and clear up potential confusion.

The School Board engages in regular cyclical reviews of all its policies. For some time, the Governance Committee has been reviewing and updating Policy 8130 to address a range of community concerns including instructional program locations, overcrowding, temporary classrooms (trailers), and transportation.

The FCPS School Board sets policy and the Superintendent and her team implement it. When the Board or one of its committees reviews a policy, that signals the starting place to begin a rigorous process to achieve a desired goal. The policy review is not the endpoint.

I value your input. The following outlines how the process works and how you can participate when any policy is taken up for consideration – including Policy 8130.

What’s Happened So Far?

The current Board has taken over where the previous Board review left off to address critical community concerns, and the Governance Committee began reviewing Policy 8130. You can find historical and current boundary information and work on BoardDocs and learn more about this policy review.

It is important to note that it has been close to forty years since FCPS took a comprehensive look at boundaries. Since then, our county has grown, programming requirements have changed, and population shifts have occurred.

The Fairfax County School Board’s Governance Committee is still in the review stage of Policy 8130.

What’s Next?

Once the Governance Committee's review is complete, it will send its proposed draft to the full Board. The Board will hold a meeting called a Work Session where the full Board discusses the proposed policy changes. Like Regular School Board meetings, School Board Work Sessions are open to the public and available via the FCPS live stream and on the School Board Meeting YouTube channel.

During a Work Session, the Board determines the policy's next steps. If the Board decides to move the proposed policy changes forward, the updated policy will then be brought for a vote at a Regular School Board meeting.

If the policy passes with a majority of votes at a Regular School Board meeting, the Board hands the baton to the Superintendent, who will use the updated policy to review and propose any future changes to school boundaries. As part of this work, robust public engagement will occur.

The Superintendent will then return to the Board with her recommendations.

As someone whose entire career has focused on engaging families and communities in FCPS, I value hearing everyone’s voice.

Scheduled Governance Committee Meeting

The Governance Committee is scheduled to continue work on Policy 8130 at their June 18, 2024 Committee Meeting. The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public at the Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA.

I look forward to continued dialogue with you as we move through this critical strategic process to ensure equitable access to programming, reduce student transportation times, promote facility and transportation efficiency, and provide capacity relief.

Kind Regards/Bondadosamente,

Marcia St. John-Cunning

Franconia District School Board Member

E-mail: Marcia St. John-Cunning | Phone: 571-423-1081

Staff Aide: Mara Kaiser Braunger | Phone: 571-279-1691

FCPS Updates and News

School Board Franconia District2 months 4 weeks ago

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Dear Franconia Residents/Estimados Residentes de Franconia,

Every day, I meet extraordinary students, educators, staff, and parents who share their rich experiences as part of the FCPS community. I am honored to serve as your voice.

As we head into the season of graduations and other student transitions, I wanted to make sure you are aware of an important transition FCPS is undertaking to roll out a new K-6 language arts program across the district.

Starting in the fall of 2024, FCSP will be teaching the Benchmark Advance core literacy curriculum. Learn more about the comprehensive selection process. The FCPS School Board approved purchase of this basal instructional resource this spring. This is a meaningful advancement to standardize our language arts education for our earliest learners.

I applaud the teachers, staff, and community members who participated in the selection process and look forward to the students' benefit.

Kind Regards/Bondadosamente,

Marcia St. John-Cunning

Franconia District School Board Member

Go See a Musical This Weekend! Edison HS Theatre The Addams Family - School Edition

Don't miss this heartwarming, blood-tickling romp with everyone's favorite gothic family. Join Edison HS Theatre as the Addams Family navigates their children growing up and learning to find their place in a bright, beautiful world. How revolting!

Showtimes.

Thursday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

Hayfield Dramahawks Les Miserables - School Edition

Join the theatre actors and performers from Hayfield SS for another classic Broadway experience.

Showtimes

Thursday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 9, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 11, 7:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

Lewis HS Lancer Theatre The Wedding Singer

Based on the 1998 film, this romantic comedy is set in the 1980's. It is a musical with a fun and energetic pulse, and off-beat humor. Note: Mature language and themes.

Showtimes

Friday, May 3, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 5, 2:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

West Potomac HS Theatre Kinky Boots

Beyond the Page Theater company is thrilled to announce its spring musical production of Kinky Boots in collaboration with FCPS Pride! This 2013 Tony award-winning musical is a sensational show that celebrates diversity, acceptance, and the power of self-expression.

Note: This musical contains strong language and mature content.

Showtimes

Thursday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 3, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 1:00 p.m. (Drag Brunch before show at 12:00 p.m.)

Saturday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

Academic Matters 💡Apply for Early Learning for Children Six Weeks to Four Years Old

The FCPS PreK and Early Head Start program is accepting applications for SY 2024-25. FCPS PreK and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying income-eligible children ages six weeks to four years living in Fairfax County. Watch this video to learn more (also available in Spanish).

Pre-K prioritizes children who turn 4-years-old by September 30 and also accepts applications for 3-year-old children.
Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools - Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood - and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Space is limited and based on income and educational risk factors, not first come, first served. Applications are accepted online, by email ([email protected]), or in person at FCPS’ Leis Center location in Falls Church. For questions about your application or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

⏰It's Kindergarten Registration Time!

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us plan, so that we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.

We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.

🗭 Middle School Start Times - Virtual Date Added!

Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

FCPS is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Register for an in-person forum by clicking on one of the following dates:

Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.

A virtual forum will be held on Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m. That registration link will be available soon.

While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.

📋How to Get Help Filling Out the FAFSA

According to recent news reports, as many as 30% fewer graduating seniors have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many schools rely upon this form to grant students financial aid award letters.

Families who have questions or persistent issues filling out the FAFSA might consider scheduling a free appointment with our partners at College Access Fairfax. Email [email protected]. All FAFSA help provided by our school or College Access Fairfax is free.

School Board Meetings

Public participation is the foundation of a healthy democracy. I invite you to attend or tune in to watch on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), on the FCPS website, or on FCPS on YouTube

Upcoming

May 7, 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Work Session - FY2024 Advertised Budget and Strategic Plan Goal Baseline 4 Report
May 9, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting - Student Rights & Responsibilities
May 14, 6:30 p.m. - Public Hearing - Budget
May 15, 6:30 p.m. - Public Hearing - Budget (if needed)

Recent Regular Meetings

April 25, 2024

April 11, 2024

E-mail: Marcia St. John-Cunning | Phone: 571-423-1081

51 minutes 37 seconds ago

Franconia District Member - Marcia St. John-Cunning - Recent Updates

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