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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.

Mason District Community,

Happy New Year!

Our students are nearing the end of the 2nd quarter which will officially close on January 28, 2025. Please be sure to check ParentVue and Schoology to ensure your student has submitted their assignments. Instructions can be located here. Please take this opportunity to reach out to your student’s teachers - yes even for the high schoolers - to inquire about their work habits and progress. ParentVue access will close on January 28th to allow time for teachers to complete end-of-quarter grading work.

On Monday, January 20th, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and invite the community to participate in activities to commemorate Dr. King's contributions to this nation. Please see a list of events scheduled in Fairfax County.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at [email protected]. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at [email protected] to arrange a time.

In this issue:

Mason Moments FCPS News •All-Virginia Music Honors •ParentVue Updated Closure Dates •National Merit Commended Scholars •New Chief of Safety & Security     Mason News Opportunities •Baskets for Babies •Boundary Review Virtual Meetings •Holmes Band Director and Commanders •Dual Language Immersion Lottery •Mason Crest Tiger Team •SR&R and Cell Phone Policy Survey •School Anniversary Proclamations •Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarship •Falls Church HS Renovation •Dream Project Scholarships •Bren Mar Park ES Renovation •Gap Year Fair •New Mason District Principals •Chinese New Year Festival   •Stuff the Bus School Board Work Updates •Upcoming School Board Meetings •Middle School Start Times   •Capital Improvement Program (CIP)   •Collective Bargaining Agreements  

 

Mason Moments 2024 All-Virginia Jazz Band, VMEA Senior Honors Choir, and All-Virginia Elementary Orff Ensemble

Forty-eight students representing 17 Fairfax County high schools and one elementary school have been selected for the 2024 All-Virginia Orff Ensemble, the 2024 All-Virginia Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble, and the 2024 Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Senior Honors Choir. 

Congratulations to Colt Armstrong from Falls Church High School who was selected to participate in the Senior Honors Choir.

Review the full list of selected musicians.

National Merit Commended Scholars

Six hundred ninety-three FCPS students have been identified as National Merit Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in recognition of their outstanding ability and potential for academic success in college.

Congratulations to the National Merit Commended Scholars from the Mason District:

Annandale High School - Joshua Stein, Safa Touri

Edison High School - Victoria Bujoreanu

Falls Church High School - Christopher Haase, Minh-Vien Nguyen, Isabella Phillips

Justice High School - Sofia Hemmens, Grace Rutherford, Katherine Bille, Tucker Trissell

Thomas Jefferson HSST - Jarin Earle, Tona Otoro, Malati Pandey, Michael Rodriguez, Elizabeth Thakuri, Chloe Toda, Ryan Wells

Woodson High School - Rylan Cave

Review the full list of National Merit Commended Scholars from FCPS.

Mason News Baskets for Babies

Kids Give Back joined Good Morning Washington to talk about their annual "Baskets for Babies" event. (7News)

Annandale High School student Tyson Perkins and Mason Crest Elementary School student Michael Hall were recently featured on Good Morning Washington with Kids Give Back. They presented their work with a local non-profit to promote their "Baskets for Babies" initiative. This program encourages children to assemble and distribute essential items for families with infants, teaching the importance of giving back. Tyson and Michael shared their experiences and discussed the Atoms Games, an Annandale event that builds school community and gives back to Annandale families. Watch the WJLA segment.

Holmes Band Director and the Commanders

Luis Perez, band director at Holmes Middle School (pictured above at left), has been involved with the Washington football team for nearly as long as he’s worked at Holmes. He’s in his 29th year with Holmes and 28th as a trumpeter for the Washington Commanders Marching Band. Pictured with him are two former students who are also members of the marching band. Read more about Mr. Perez's experience as a teacher and band member.

Mason Crest Tiger Team

Being the new kid in school is not always easy. At Mason Crest Elementary School, the Tiger Team is trying to make it easier. 

Mason Crest ES sees a lot of changes in their student population every year. During the 2023-24 school year, Mason Crest ES experienced a 21.7% mobility rate (a measure of the number of students moving in and out of a school during the school year), which is almost double the average mobility rate of 13.25% across FCPS.

A year ago, Monica Buckhorn, Ellyn Pearson, and Kimberley Mathews, three Mason Crest teachers, initiated the student-led welcome committee to boost community, assist new students in adapting to the school, and hopefully improve attendance rates. Read about the Tiger Team.

School Anniversary Proclamations

The School Board recently recognized three Mason District schools with proclamations in celebration of their anniversaries:

Annandale High School’s 70th Anniversary proclamation was presented at the October 24, 2024 School Board Meeting. 

Justice High School’s 65th Anniversary proclamation was presented at the December 5, 2024 School Board Meeting.

Annandale Terrace Elementary School’s 60th Anniversary proclamation was presented at the December 19, 2024 School Board Meeting.

Falls Church High School Renovation

A community meeting was held last fall at Falls Church High School to present an update on the school renovation and additions. Questions from the community were tracked and answers are now posted on the capital project website. All updates as well as historical information related to the renovation can be found on the Falls Church High Capital Project webpage.

Bren Mar Park ES Renovation

Bren Mar Park Elementary School will soon enter the construction phase and the community is invited to attend an in-person meeting to learn about what to expect as this phase of the project begins. 

The January 8th meeting which has been cancelled due to inclement weather is rescheduled for February 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

The dedicated capital project webpage will be updated throughout the process. Updates are also available through the  FCPS News You Choose subscription for this project.  Once signed up or logged in, choose the Capital Projects (School Construction) and the school's construction topic.    

Welcome, New Principals! Woodburn Elementary

Ms. Kanchana Iyer: new principal of Woodburn Elementary, effective November 18, 2024.

Ms. Iyer has held several teaching and leadership positions within Fairfax County Public Schools for over 28 years. 

Welcome to Woodburn, Ms. Iyer!

Glasgow Middle School

Ms. Lisa Barrow: new principal of Glasgow Middle School, effective January 21, 2025.

Ms. Barrow has served in various roles in Fairfax County Public Schools for over 25 years, including principal of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School from 2011 to 2016. She returns to the Justice Pyramid after most recently serving as the principal of Cooper Middle School.

Welcome to Glasgow, Ms. Barrow!

TJHSST

Mr. Michael Mukai: new principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), effective January 21, 2025.

Mr. Mukai is a TJHSST alumnus and has worked in Fairfax County Public Schools since 1995, most recently as the principal of West Springfield High School for over 10 years.

Welcome back to TJHSST, Mr. Mukai!

School Board Work Updates Middle School Start Times

On December 3, 2024, the Board received a presentation on the Middle School Start Times study during which several options were offered. Please see a summary of the options below.

The Board engaged in a robust discussion at the December 3, 2024 work session about the timing of the implementation of the changes in start times for middle schools. It’s important to note this initiative is the second part to the Healthy Start Time focus that resulted in the high school start time changes from 7:20 a.m. to between 8:00 and 8:10 a.m. in the 2015-2016 school year.  

My position, which is also supported by Dr. Prieto, the consultant procured to produce this study, remains that the Comprehensive Boundary Review and the Middle School Start Times should not be coupled, nor do I believe the Middle School Start Times changes should be implemented after the completion of the Boundary Work given the number of unknown factors associated with the Boundary Review. Furthermore, the timeline presented to the public on February 22, 2024 indicating a potential Middle School start time change implementation for the Fall of 2025 should continue to be the target.

This matter continues to be an important initiative for the Mason District community, especially given that approximately 3,500 of students in our middle schools are subject to a 7:10 am start time for three years instead of two years compared to middle schools in other parts of Fairfax County. 

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

The School Board discussed the proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the January 14th work session. View the presentation slides here. The primary concerns for the Mason District community center on the trailers and modular classrooms at Parklawn ES (pages 51, 93 and 104 of the CIP), the overcrowding at Glasgow MS (page 60 - Table 7 and page 63 of the CIP) and pending capacity concerns at Bailey’s ES and Weyanoke ES (page 52 - Table 3, pages 57 and 104 of the CIP).

This year’s CIP proposal, scheduled for a School Board vote on February 6, 2025 will confirm the following actions:

• Renovation queue (page 44 - Table 16 of the CIP)
• The elimination of Tables 3-12, given the revisions to the Policy 8130.

Visit the CIP webpage for more information.

Collective Bargaining Agreements

At the January 9th School Board meeting, the Board unanimously ratified two Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the Fairfax Education Union (FEU). This marked a significant step in the collaborative relationship between the school division and its employees. 

Key terms of the CBAs are: 

• 7% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) to salary scales in FY 2026
• 3% MSA and step increase in FY 2027 and FY 2028
• Additional step at top of all salary scales added in FY 2027 and FY 2028
• 30-minute minimum block for teacher planning time
• Continuation of extended-day contract for special education teachers
• Three days of bereavement leave separate from sick leave
• Creation of Health Care Advisory Committee to consider affordable healthcare plans

View the full announcement.

FCPS News ParentVUE and StudentVUE App – Updated Closure Dates

Based on feedback received from the school community during the first quarter, FCPS has revisited the scheduled dates for closing Gradebook and Report Card modules in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. 

Moving forward, the closing of ParentVue and StudentVue will align with the actual quarter-end dates. This change will allow students and families to view their assignments and grades until the last day of the quarter. The gradebook windows for teachers have not changed.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to set up regular alerts to automatically receive grade updates for their students 

New Chief of Safety & Security

Mr. Brian Lambert: new Chief of Safety and Security.

Mr. Lambert comes to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) as a 25-year veteran of the United States Secret Service. He most recently served as the Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations.

Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools, Mr. Lambert!

Opportunities Boundary Review Community Meetings - Virtual

Six Virtual Comprehensive Boundary Review Community Meetings are scheduled over the next month. Language interpretation is available. Each meeting is limited to 400 participants, so early registration is recommended. Register for any of the four remaining meetings by clicking on the meeting date(s) below.

• Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m. 
• Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m. 
• Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m. 
• Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.

Learn more about the boundary review process on the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage.

Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is open through Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion program for the 2025-26 school year. 

Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Interested parents/caregivers are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at the school site. The in-person meetings for French, German, Korean, and some Spanish programs occurred earlier in January. For families interested in these programs, there is still a virtual meeting opportunity on February 4th at 6 p.m. The remaining in-person meetings are listed below. 

Language

School

Date/Time

Snow Date

Japanese Fox Mill ES Jan 30, 7:00 p.m. Jan 31 Japanese Great Falls ES Jan 23, 5:00 p.m. Jan 30 Spanish Bailey's ES Jan 22, 7:00 p.m. Jan 23 Spanish Fort Hunt ES Jan 27, 6:30 p.m. Jan 29 Spanish London Towne ES Jan 21, 7:00 p.m. Jan 30 Spanish Rose Hill ES Jan 27, 6:00 p.m. Jan 28

.

Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a complete list of meeting dates listed by language. 

A virtual meeting will be hosted by the world languages office on February 4, 2025 at 6 p.m. and will include all general program information. Registration for the virtual meeting will be available on the DLI Registration webpage soon.

SR&R and Cell Phone Policy Survey

On Tuesday, January 21, middle and high school students, parents/caregivers, and FCPS Staff will receive invitations via email to participate in a survey seeking to assess community support for proposed options relating to FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), cell phone policy, and cell phone storage.

The survey will be available from Tuesday, January 21, until Monday, February 3, 2025.

Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarships

The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) scholarship is for a first-generation Latino/Hispanic student from Fairfax County Public Schools. HLA is a non-profit organization of Fairfax County Public Schools employees, retirees, former students, and residents. This year marks HLA’s 20th anniversary of offering scholarships to FCPS students. 

Application Deadline: February 25, 2025 (early submissions encouraged!)

Eligibility: FCPS graduating seniors who are first-generation college students

Application Submission: Complete the Word-based application, include required documents (Word or PDF format), and send to Jane Cruz at [email protected]. 

For questions or additional information, please contact Jane Cruz at [email protected] or (202)207-5839.

Dream Project Scholarships

Scholarship opportunity available for students born outside the United States and whose immigration status creates barriers to success in college. Details and application materials can be found on the Dream Project website. Application deadline is February 1, 2025. 

Gap Year Fair

FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 28, 6-8:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. 

This event is for high school students and families interested in learning about opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Students should register at USA Gap Year Fairs.  

Chinese New Year Festival

The 2025 Chinese New Year Festival at Luther Jackson Middle School is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

More information and discounted tickets are available on the Chinese New Year Festival website.

Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits. Now in its 14th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families and households. You can help stuff the bus at select locations beginning Saturday, January 18. 

Opportunities in the Mason District include:

• January 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Falls Church Giant (7235 Arlington Blvd)
• March 1, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Annandale Giant (7137 Columbia Pike)

Visit the Stuff the Bus webpage for all locations and a list of requested items.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• January 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
• February 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Public Hearings (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• February 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (FY26 Budget)
• February 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (2nd day for FY26 Budget, if needed)

Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)

• February 4, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
• February 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

All meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

Would you like to share your ideas and concerns with the School Board and staff?  Register HERE to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.

Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español

Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.

@masonfcps

@masondistrictsb

@MasonDistrictSB

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

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.

Mason District Community,

As we continue to focus on the capacity of facilities and their condition, please note that the School Board is scheduled to discuss these matters at the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Work Session scheduled for tomorrow, January 14. The presentation and full CIP report are included below.

The public is also invited to share comments and questions regarding Capital Improvement Projects at the Public Hearing also scheduled for tomorrow, January 14, at 6:00 pm.

I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at [email protected]. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at [email protected] to arrange a time.

Work Session and Public Hearing 

 

January 14, 2025: Work Session

10:30 a.m. School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Project

11:30 a.m. Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Gatehouse Administration Center

CIP Presentation

Draft Proposed FY 2026-2030 CIP

 

January 14, 2025: Public Hearing

6:00 p.m. Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Luther Jackson Middle School

Register to speak

Registration to speak at the Public Hearing closes TODAY at 6 p.m.

 

Both meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

The Fairfax County School Board welcomes public comment on the proposed FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program at a Public Hearing. This public hearing is scheduled to take place at the Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

The Speaker's List opened at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2024 and is now open through 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025. The Fairfax County School Board Office will notify speakers (via email) the morning of January 14, 2025.

• Register to Speak at the CIP Public Hearing (in-person or live via Zoom)
• Proposed FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program
• Information on Speaking at School Board Meetings
• Watch School Board meetings and public hearings.

Any questions, written statements, and copies of testimony may be submitted to [email protected].

Upcoming Regular School Board Meeting

The next regular board meeting will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Luther Jackson Middle School, at 7 p.m.

The Fairfax County School Board

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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.

Mason District Community,

As we head into the winter break, I wanted to provide a brief update regarding the Boundary Review process and to express my appreciation for the feedback and comments shared with me over the past few months from the Mason District community. Public input is an integral component to the Boundary Review process and I encourage the community to continue to share their perspective and concerns. 

As a reminder, the priorities set forth in Policy 8130 which drive staff activity for the boundary work are as follows:

• Access to Programming: Ensure equitable access to programs and facilities, and consider impact on school programs and populations.
• Enrollment/Capacity: Using student enrollment projections, balance available capacity and maximize efficient and effective use of school facilities for capacity utilization and program needs while eliminating or preventing the establishment of split feeders, whenever possible.
• Proximity: Promote contiguous attendance zones and maintain neighborhood groupings (to include condominium and apartment complexes) to eliminate and/or prevent establishment of attendance islands.
• Transportation: Provide for walking and busing safety, limit transportation times, and ensure efficient transportation routes with attendance area.

I also want to ensure the Bren Mar Park Elementary community is aware of the upcoming opportunity to learn more about what to expect as the school enters the construction phase of the renovation. Please see below for details.

As always, I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at [email protected]. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at [email protected] to arrange a time.

As we enter the holiday season, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful break filled with warmth and celebration!

In this issue:

Boundary Review Updates •Community Meetings •Virtual Meetings •Meeting Presentation •Feedback Opportunity •Timeline •Advisory Committee Work •Stay Engaged   Bren Mar Park Construction •Community Meeting Information   Boundary Review Updates Community Meetings

The first set of in-person Community Boundary Review meetings, scheduled in each of the six regions, included the opportunity for parents/caregivers, employees, students, and community members to learn about the process and share their thoughts and concerns. I have been encouraged by the participation of the Mason District community in the Region 2 meeting at Glasgow MS on November 18 and the Region 6 meeting at Annandale HS on December 12. 

The final in-person meeting in this round is tonight. This meeting is located in Region 1, but all FCPS families are welcome:

Wednesday, December 18
6:30-8:00 p.m. 
Madison High School Cafeteria
REGISTER

Interpretation services will be available if requested on the registration form. Registration is not required but helps with planning.

Virtual Meetings

In addition to in-person community meetings during this first phase of the boundary review, FCPS is planning to host virtual community meetings which will follow the same format as the in-person meetings. Dates are being confirmed for January 2025.

Meeting Presentation

Each community meeting followed the same format using this slide presentation.

Feedback Opportunity

Your feedback and suggestions are important. Provide feedback and comments at the link provided below to ensure the consulting firm captures your concerns in the development of recommendations to the Superintendent's Advisory Committee and ultimately to the School Board.

Feedback Form

Additional opportunities for providing input will become available as the review process progresses.

Timeline

The Boundary Review work is currently in Phase 1 which includes the initial community engagement and data collection. Following an analysis of the data, the community will again be engaged during meetings and through surveys to review draft scenarios provided by Thru Consulting. Phase 2 is expected to begin in summer 2025. The timeline below provides a complete outline of planned activities.

Advisory Committee Work

The Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee includes a minimum of two parents/caregivers or community members from each of FCPS’ 24 high school pyramids, school-based and division administrators, teachers, operational staff, and other community representatives. 

The committee members representing Mason District students are listed below. Please note that the members serve as representatives of their community and should gather feedback to incorporate in the discussions. 

Annandale Pyramid: Lucas Castanos & Jacqueline Chevalier Mosely

Edison Pyramid: Laura Huerta & Pearl Prince

Falls Church Pyramid: Lorena Katsantonis & Charla Ouertatani

Justice Pyramid: Aaron Alford & Ann-Marie Ward

Woodson Pyramid: Mark Angres, Aaron Middlekauff, & Vanessa Hall

A full listing of committee members can be located HERE.

The committee has met twice, with updates provided publicly following each meeting:

December 6th Materials

December 16th Materials

Additional information can be found on the Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee webpage.

Stay Engaged

• Visit the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.
• Review the work of the Boundary Review Advisory Committee.
• Sign up to receive the School Boundary Review newsletter.

Bren Mar Park Construction

Bren Mar Park Elementary Addition Renderings

Bren Mar Park Elementary School will soon enter the construction phase and the community is invited to attend an in-person meeting to learn more about what to expect as this phase of the project begins. 

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

6:30 p.m.

Bren Mar Park Elementary School Cafeteria

Language interpretation will be provided based on the availability of interpretation staff.  

For updates, join the FCPS News You Choose subscription for this project. 

Learn more about the Bren Mar Park ES Addition and Renovation.

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

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.

JOINT STATEMENT BY MATEO DUNNE, RICARDY ANDERSON, AND RYAN MCELVEEN REGARDING NEXT STEPS TO ADDRESS THE FCPS FOOTBALL SITUATION

As School Board Members, we are compelled to address the latest developments in the Fairfax County Public Schools football situation. To be clear, we are speaking in our individual capacities and not on behalf of the Fairfax County School Board.

We have heard the voices of our constituents. We have been contacted by countless parents, families/caregivers, and community members across the county. We have also been contacted by booster clubs for Fairfax HS, Lake Braddock HS, Robinson HS, and South County HS. One booster club stated:

We believe that athletics in FCPS should strive to bring a spirit of competitive and fair play to instill in our students a sense of confidence, trust in teammates and coaches, and above all sportsmanship. This season has chipped away at this sense of fair play . . . We must strive to restore in our student athletes faith that FCPS – from leadership down – models integrity not only in our words, but in our actions. While individual transfers to Hayfield may have been in accordance with policy – it is impossible to not recognize that a collective action took place.

A coalition of booster clubs stated that FCPS has “failed to respond with the transparency, accountability, and urgency that this situation demands” and requested an independent investigation, “accountability measures” for “individual and entities found to be responsible for misconduct or poor oversight,” and policy reforms “to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

All student-athletes deserve the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in accordance with established rules that are consistently and fairly enforced. In our opinion, our student-athletes were denied that opportunity by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Virginia High School League (VHSL) this season. We believe that FCPS failed to protect its student-athletes and maintain the integrity of its athletic program. This situation has tarnished the reputation of FCPS and disrupted the lives of countless students, families/caregivers, and community members.

In our opinion, FCPS has not accepted full responsibility for its actions and errors, and has failed to commit to a course of action that will remedy current challenges and prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. It is essential that a new direction be established for the school system.            

1. School Management:

The Superintendent has stated many times that FCPS should operate as a school system, not as a system of schools. We agree. In our opinion, this situation originated from a series of decisions made at the school level that have adversely impacted the entire school system.

Moving forward, we will advocate for:

• The establishment of a new policy to govern the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of coaches;
• Increased controls and scrutiny of the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of school-based administrators; and
• The establishment of a code of ethics and standards of conduct for FCPS leadership and school-based administrators, modeled on Federal ethics laws and regulations.

1. Student Transfers:

In April 2024, 14 football players transferred from Freedom HS to Hayfield HS. (Overall, 31 football players transferred to Hayfield HS from other schools in the DMV region.) By all accounts, the number and timing of the transfers was unusual and unprecedented. In our opinion, FCPS failed to investigate the student transfers in a timely manner.

We welcome the Superintendent’s decision to conduct a “comprehensive and independent external investigation and review of all student athlete transfers and eligibility practices across all sports and in all of our high schools.” In addition, we support the Superintendent’s decision to launch a “review of current practices in evaluating student athlete transfers both inside and outside the Division,” to include a “review and revision, where necessary, to FCPS athletic protocols and procedures.”

While we support these actions, they are insufficient to resolve the current crisis and prevent its repetition.

1. Independent Investigation:

In our opinion, FCPS conducted a flawed and limited internal investigation that was not credible—FCPS lacks the in-house resources to conduct a complex, multi-faceted, and objective investigation into its practices. Recent revelations have clearly highlighted the inadequacy of the FCPS  internal investigation.

On August 29, 2024, we voted to support a motion to “preserve the integrity of our athletic programs and provide a level playing field for FCPS athletes by directing the Superintendent to retain an outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation of all allegations arising out of or relating to the recruitment and transfer of football players to the Hayfield HS football team from high schools outside of Fairfax County, to include involuntary reassignments of FCPS personnel, improper fundraising, improper expenditure of funds, cyberbullying and social media policy violations, and residency and eligibility of players.” Unfortunately, the motion failed by 9-3.

On November 17, 2024, the City of Fairfax School Board wrote a letter to the Fairfax County School Board:

We strongly disagree with FCPS’ decision to forego an independent investigation into these allegations . . . In our view, this represents a significant oversight in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability . . . The City of Fairfax School Board urges FCPS to engage an external firm to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into this matter. Such an effort would not only uphold ethical standards but also help rebuild trust among students, families, and community members. We also request that the findings of this investigation be published to ensure transparency, demonstrate accountability, and reaffirm the district’s commitment to fairness and integrity in both educational and athletic programs.

We strongly support the City of Fairfax School Board’s call for a “comprehensive, unbiased investigation.” We agree that “an impartial investigation initiated early in the season . . . could have prevented the current situation.”

Moving forward, we will continue to advocate for a comprehensive and independent investigation, to include but not be limited to:

• The involuntary reassignment of FCPS employees;
• The alleged recruitment of football players from other schools;
• The transfer of football players from other schools;
• The residency and eligibility of the football players concerned;
• Cyberbullying and social media policy violations;
• The conduct of the internal investigation from June to August 2024; and
• The handling of this matter by FCPS leadership since February 2024.

To rebuild public trust, the School Board should select an outside law firm without t any pre-existing relationship with FCPS or the Superintendent, and the outside law firm should report directly to the School Board’s Auditor General. The outside law firm should have free rein to examine relevant data and documentation, interview relevant parties and personnel, and make appropriate recommendations to the School Board.  There should be no restrictions on the scope of the investigation and recommendations. In addition, the School Board should commit to publishing the findings of the investigation and to expedite the implementation of recommendations.

We would like to be clear on what we regard as false equivalences:

• The ongoing litigation before the Fairfax County Circuit Court is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. To date, the Court has focused only on whether VHSL complied with its rules when it enacted the playoff ban.
• The narrowly circumscribed “external review” performed by attorney Cynthia Hudson is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. The Superintendent stated publicly that Ms. Hudson was contracted “to take a look at all of the investigation notes, the Auditor General notes, the residency check notes, the registration notes, and review those and provide recommendations to [the Superintendent] on whether there was any evidence, any substantiated allegation that would require [FCPS] to take action, either a personnel action or a program action.”
• The narrowly circumscribed audit performed by the Office of Auditor General is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. The Superintendent stated publicly that the Auditor General reviewed only the allegations “around finances, use of fields, use of resources, sort of in that fraud, waste, abuse category,” which were tertiary to the core allegations of wrongdoing.

1. Freedom of Expression:

We have received reports of FCPS employees being disciplined for (or prevented from) sharing their personal views on this situation. In addition, we have received reports of FCPS restricting the lawful activities of professional journalists and student journalists.

Moving forward, we will advocate to:

• Direct the Superintendent to amend FCPS Regulation 7004.3 to enable FCPS employees to exercise their First Amendment rights and express their personal views (provided they do not speak on behalf of FCPS, do not use official time and resources, and do not infringe on the privacy rights of staff and students);
• Establish a dissent channel for dissenting or alternative views and policy proposals, modeled on the State Department’s Dissent Channel;
• Amend FCPS Policy 1106 to align with Federal laws protecting whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting an actual or apparent violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or censorship of educational data and research;
• Assign the School Board’s Office of Auditor General to receive any whistleblower disclosures and to investigate any reports of whistleblower retaliation; and
• Protect the rights of journalists to gather news and student journalists to make decisions regarding content without prior review or approval in accordance with established guidelines.

1. VHSL:

In our opinion, VHSL failed to act in a timely manner to enforce its rules. It is unacceptable that VHSL intervened on the eve of the playoffs, causing maximum disruption for our student-athletes, families/caregivers, and community members.

Going forward, we will advocate for FCPS to collaborate with VHSL to:

• Clarify VHSL rules and eliminate any loopholes;
• Require VHSL to act in a timely fashion on potential rule violations; and
• Strengthen VHSL enforcement protocols to ensure consistent and fair implementation of VHSL rules.

1. Hate Speech:

We have received reports of racist comments directed toward student-athletes and families on social media. We wholeheartedly condemn these vile remarks. Such comments are reprehensible and hurtful, and they contradict the core values of the school division. Hate has no home in our community. We will not tolerate hate in any form.

All students—whether in the classroom or on the football field—deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage all members of our community to  rise above hate and work toward a more inclusive future for everyone in our county.

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

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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.

Region 2 Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings have been scheduled in each of the six regions. All meetings will follow the same format are open to the entire FCPS community. Registration is not required but is helpful in planning for childcare and language interpretation.

Region 2 Meeting
Monday, Nov 18, 2024
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Glasgow Middle School
REGISTER HERE

 

Visit the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage for additional details and ongoing updates. 

Wolfpack Madness is Tuesday!

Justice Basketball Wolfpack Madness!
November 19, 2024
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate the new season with games, prizes, giveaways, 3pt contest, food and more! Admission is FREE. Donations are appreciated.

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

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.

Mason District Community,

The School Board approved the FY 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) on February 8, 2024. The approved CIP included an amendment which I presented to allow staff to address the capacity and temporary classrooms at Parklawn Elementary School:

"I move to amend the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to add Parklawn Elementary School to Table 4: Priority Recommended Boundary Adjustments on page 39 of the Proposed CIP with a Potential Scoping of Fall 2024/Spring 2025. This will allow staff to address the number of temporary classrooms and projected capacity deficit at the school."

At the time, Parklawn Elementary had enrolled almost 200 international students since the 2021-22 school year – an occurrence which could not have been predicted by Facilities staff. This rapid and unexpected increase in student enrollment created an urgent need at Parklawn Elementary resulting in the installation of 29 trailers.

To that end, two community meetings have been scheduled in the coming weeks to explore ways address the matter at Parklawn Elementary.  Please join us to learn more about the process and share your thoughts and comments.

 

Parklawn ES Boundary Community Meetings

Virtual Meeting: Monday, November 25, 2024
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Watch for information and Zoom links to be emailed by the school 

 

In-Person Meeting: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Parklawn Elementary Cafeteria

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

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.

Mason District Community,

Thru Consulting presented an overview of the plan for the FCPS Comprehensive School Boundary Review at the October 8th School Board Work Session. 

Community engagement and feedback is key to meaningfully informing boundary review efforts. Engagement activities will include in-person and virtual community sessions, targeted surveys, and advisory committee work sessions.

The first six in-person community meetings have been scheduled and details are listed below. I encourage you to attend a meeting to learn more about the boundary review process and provide your input.

Boundary Review Community Meetings

Community meetings have been scheduled in each of the six regions. All meetings will follow the same format are open to the entire FCPS community. Registration is not required but is helpful in planning for childcare and language interpretation.

• Region 2
  Monday, Nov 18, 2024
  6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  Glasgow Middle School - REGISTER
• Region 5
  Monday, Dec 2, 2024
  6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  Westfield High School - REGISTER
• Region 4
  Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024
  6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  Lake Braddock Secondary School - REGISTER
• Region 3
  Monday, Dec 9, 2024
  6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  Mount Vernon High School - REGISTER
• Region 6
  Thursday, Dec 12, 2024
  6:45 - 8:15 p.m.
  Annandale High School - REGISTER
• Region 1
  Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024
  6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  Madison High School - REGISTER

Visit the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage for additional details and ongoing updates. 

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

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.

Mason District Community,

Fall has arrived with shorter days and cooler temperatures - mostly! As we finish the first quarter this week, there is much to celebrate in the Mason District and to look forward to in the coming months. 

As a reminder, Daylight Saving time ends on Sunday Nov. 3rd so be sure to adjust your clocks and enjoy the additional hour.

I was pleased to witness the beautiful performance of the National Anthem by the Annandale Singers at the September 12th School Board meeting.

The Annandale Singers, under the direction of Pat Vaughn, perform at the September 12, 2024 School Board meeting.

Trio from Glasgow Middle School performed a lovely rendition of the National Anthem at the October 24th School Board meeting.

Glasgow Middle School Chorus Trio, under the direction of Caleb Caldwell, perform at the October 24, 2024 School Board meeting.

A few weeks ago, several colleagues and I joined students from Holmes Middle School to attend a Back-to-School Night Event hosted by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House. Students were invited to bring photos of their first day of school for display at the White House the following week.

It was a wonderful event with a welcome from the First Lady and the celebration of national teachers of the year.

White House Visit with Holmes Middle School for Back-to-School Night Event

Boundary Review Community Meetings are currently being scheduled for each region and will begin in November. Watch for details in the coming days for these opportunities to hear more about the process and to ensure your voice is heard.

Keep reading for more information about student successes, community events, and even more opportunities to stay involved.

I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at [email protected]. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at [email protected] to arrange a time.

In this issue:

Mason Moments   •VMEA Performances •Strategic Plan Goal 1 Report •Special Olympics Champion School •C.G. Woodson HS Dedication •Field Hockey District Champions •FCPS 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame •Excellence Awards •Federal Impact Aid Survey •National Merit Semifinalists     Opportunties Mason District News •Falls Church HS Renovation Update •National Principals Month •Student Experience Survey •Minnie H. Peyton Community Center •TJHSST Freshman Application •Fall Theatre •Student Scholarship Website •2025 Graduation Dates •Artist Teacher Exhibition   •Wolfpack Madness! School Board Work Updates •Immunization Clinics •School Board Legislative Program •Become a Special Education Teacher •Secondary Grading Practices •SEPTA Programs   •Upcoming School Board Meetings FCPS News   •Stadium Bathrooms   •Varsity Tutors       Mason Moments VMEA Performances

Mason District musicians will have the honor of performing at the Virginia Music Educators Association conference in Norfolk, Virginia next month.

Congratulations to the following Mason District ensembles selected to perform:

Glasgow Middle School Wind Ensemble

One of only two middle school ensembles invited to perform at VMEA this year! You can listen to their program at a preview concert on November 18th at 7 p.m. at Justice High School.

Glasgow Middle School Wind Ensemble

Falls Church High School Chamber Orchestra

This is the first time an ensemble from Falls Church High School has been invited to perform at VMEA. Their program celebrates AAPI composers from across the Asian Diaspora. A preview concert, combined with the Lake Braddock Symphony Orchestra, is scheduled for November 6th at 7 p.m. at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

Falls Church High School Chamber Orchestra

Special Olympics National Unified Champion School

Congratulations to Annandale High School - recognized as a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School for outstanding commitment to inclusion and the promotion of unified sport and leadership! Annandale is one of nine Virginia schools that earned this national recognition.

To achieve this distinction, Annandale High School demonstrated dedication to fostering an inclusive school environment by fulfilling 10 standards of excellence which emphasize key activities such as:

• Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where students with and without disabilities train and compete together as teammates.
• Inclusive youth leadership, promoting student voices and encouraging collaboration across diverse student groups.
• Whole school engagement, ensuring that the entire school community actively participates in creating an inclusive culture.

View the FanQuest Video of the Annandale Special Olympics team in action.

Team Introductions Video at FanQuest 2024

Field Hockey District Champions

Congratulations to the Annandale High School Field Hockey team for winning the National District Championship! Good luck to the Atoms as they move on to the Occoquan Region Tournament!

Excellence Awards

The annual FCPS Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional work performance by employees in support of the mission and vision of FCPS. Congratulations to the Mason District employee recipients of this recognition:

Equity and Cultural Responsiveness
Aida Joranko, Family Liaison at Glen Forest Elementary School

Student Achievement and Success 
Kirsten Salonga, Biology Teacher at Justice High School

Collaboration and Partnerships
The IB & POG Working Group, including Camille Burden (Glasgow MS), Darcy Malone (Poe MS), and Ellen Rogers (Belvedere ES)

Find more about the recipients of this year’s Excellence Awards.

National Merit Semifinalists

One hundred ninety-one FCPS students are among the semifinalists named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2025. All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 6,870 National Merit Scholarship awards worth nearly $26 million, to be awarded in spring 2025. 

Semifinalists advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements including a recommendation from a high school official.

Congratulations to Mason District resident Leonardo Valli from TJHSST who was selected as a Semifinalist! View the complete list of FCPS Semifinalists HERE.

Mason District News Happy National Principals Month!

Please join me in celebrating the incredible work of our Mason District school leaders!!  We are grateful for their vision, dedication, and focus in promoting the success of our students.

Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s

I was pleased to attend the renaming and dedication ceremony for the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s (formerly known as the Bailey’s Community Center).

The informative program included remarks from Willie Coleman, President of the Springdale Civic Association and Alyce Pope, great-granddaughter of Minnie H. Peyton.  

Ms. Peyton had been a long-term resident of Springdale, a historically Black community in Bailey’s Crossroads that originated as a home to freedmen after the Civil War. Minnie Peyton was affectionately known as “mom” in the Springdale community where she lived for over 50 years until her death in 1985 at the age of 96.

Fall Theatre

Hold the dates for Mason District fall theatre productions!

Annandale Theatre Company presents                                           
Peter Pan & Wendy
November 15-16
Get tickets

Edison Theatre Company presents
Peter Pan & Wendy
November 13-16
Get tickets

FCHS Spotlight Theatre Company presents
Phantom Tollbooth
November 18 - Dec 7 at multiple venues
Get tickets

Glasgow Middle School Theatre Group presents
Trouble in Paradise Junction
November 22-23

Holmes Middle School Theatre presents
Disney’s Newsie’s Jr.
Dec 6-7

Jackson Middle School Drama presents
Aesop Live!
November 14-16
Get tickets

The Wolfpack Theatre at Justice High School presents
Addams Family
November 14-16
Get tickets

Poe Middle School's Raven Theatre presents
Addams Family
January 23-25

TJ Theatre Arts presents
Antigone
November 21-23

Woodson Drama presents
Lear by Shakespeare
November 8-9 & 15-16
Get tickets

2025 Graduation Dates

 

School Date/Time Location Annandale HS June 4, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena Bryant HS (winter) Feb. 12, 2025, 11:00 a.m. Bryant HS Bryant HS May 29, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Bryant HS Cedar Lane May 30, 2025, 3:30 p.m. Cedar Lane Davis Center June 9, 2025, noon Marshall HS Edison HS June 3, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena Fairfax County Adult HS Juen 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Thomas Jefferson HSST Falls Church HS June 9, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena Interagency Alt Schools June 4, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Lake Braddock SS Thomas Jefferson HSST June 11, 2025, 9:30 a.m. Eagle Bank Arena Justice HS June 5, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena Key Center May 29, 2025, 9:00 a.m. Key Center Kilmer Center May 30, 2025, 10:00 a.m. Kilmer Center Mountain View HS (winter) Feb. 13, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Mountain View HS Mountain View HS/AIM June 3, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Centreville HS Pulley Center May 30, 2025, noon West Potomac HS Quander Road May 29, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Quander Road Woodson HS June 10, 2025, 9:30 a.m. Eagle Bank Arena School Board Work Updates School Board Legislative Program

The School Board annually adopts a legislative program and legislative priorities to inform local, state, and federal public officials and others of its positions on legislative policy and budget issues of potential importance to Fairfax County Public School students, teachers, staff, parents, and the broader Fairfax community. The program contains the School Board’s positions on state and federal issues of both current and ongoing significance.

The Board adopted the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Program at the September 26 regular meeting.

I also had the opportunity to meet with several legislators on Capitol Hill last month to discuss School Board concerns regarding IDEA funding, cybersecurity funding, mental health supports and school accountability measures.

Meeting with Representative McClellan, Representative Spanberger, Senator Kaine, and Senator Warner

Secondary Grading Practices

The Governance Committee continues its work to revise Policy 2418. Grading and assessment practices should be transparent, predictable and consistently applied across our schools.

Please review the grading policy and share your feedback. 

The Governance Committee meetings are held at the Gatehouse Administration Center and broadcast live on the FCPS School Board YouTube channel. 

FCPS News Stadium Bathrooms

At the September 12 School Board Meeting, the Board approved the contract for the construction of stadium bathrooms at 14 high schools, including Annandale , Edison, TJHSST, and Woodson. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2025. 

Varsity Tutors

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

Strategic Plan Goal 1 Report

On October 8th, the Superintendent presented the 2024-25 Goal 1 Report which focuses on availability of Pre-K programs, Kindergarten readiness and Multilingual learners (formerly English language Learners) growth.

Measurable Progress:

The actual results for the target goals established in the Baseline report which was presented in December 2023 and the target goals for the 2024-25 school year are shared below.   

• Increase the percentage of all students with Pre-K experience from 75% to 80%. All subgroups* are expected to increase Pre-K at least 5 percentage points, except for Students with Disabilities who are expected to maintain the current percentage of 90% and White students for whom the goal is from 88% to 90% or more; (Measure A) 
• SY 2023-24 results: 78% - did not meet target;
• SY 2024-25 Target: TBD
• Increase percentage of students meeting grade level expectations for reading, mathematics and executive functioning in the fall from 71% to 76% and by 5 percentage points for 8 of the 9 reported subgroups; (Measure B)
• SY 2023-24 results: 69% - did not meet target;
• SY 2024-25 Target: 78%
• Increase percentage of English Learners who meet the state criteria for growth from 45% to 50%. (Measure D of Goal 1 – page 49 of full report)
• SY 2023-24 results: 56% - met target; (page 52 - Table 26)
• SY 2024-25 Target: 59%

Goal 1 Report Highlights:

• The percentage of kindergarten students who have a Pre-K experience continues to increase, with students being served both within and outside of FCPS. 
• There are significant differences between the percentage of kindergartners with and without Pre-K experiences meeting grade level expectations in the fall. The gap between the two groups widened in SY 2023-24 when compared to the baseline.
• FCPS saw significant increases in the percentage of Multilingual learners (MLs) meeting state standards for progress towards English language proficiency overall and across multiple intersectionality groups. 

Notable Data:

• 78% of FCPS students entered with Pre-K experience.
• Of the 78% of FCPS students with Pre-K experience in the 2023-24 school year, Multilingual/English Learners continue to have the lowest rates of participation at 57%, Hispanic students at 60% and Economically Disadvantaged students at 63%; (page 16 of full report)
• Of the students entering FCPS without Pre-K experience, the data by pyramid show Mason District schools as follows: AHS pyramid: 34% (decrease of 3%); FCHS pyramid - 23% (decrease of 10%); and JHS pyramid: 31% (decrease of 10%) - (page 22 of full report)
• 69% of FCPS Kindergarten students met grade level expectations at the beginning of K for reading, mathematics and executive functioning; (page 32 of full report)
• 68% of kindergartners met grade level expectations in reading, mathematics and executive functioning in the spring, with 39% of English Learners (increase of 4 percentag points), 51% of Economically Disadvantaged students - increase of 12 percentage points; 47% of Hispanic students (+ 7 percentage points); and 44% of Students With Disabilities - (+ 4 percentage points) meeting these expectations; (page 37 of full report)

Carter G. Woodson High School Dedication

C.G. Woodson High School students and community of the former W.T. Woodson High School gathered on October 23rd to rededicate the building and reflect on history.

Based on concerns raised by students and others, the School Board voted in December 2023 to rename the school which opened in 1962 and originally named after the second-longest serving FCPS superintendent, W.T. Woodson, who led the division from 1929-1961. 

W.T. Woodson’s opposition to the desegregation of schools has since been revealed in historical documents leading to requests from the community to rename the school.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, widely considered the ‘Father of Black History Month,’ founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, the scholarly Journal of Negro History (now called the Journal of African American History), and the creator of “Negro History Week,” the precursor of Black History Month. A journalist and an educator, Dr. C. G. Woodson later became Dean of Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

FCPS 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame

The 3rd Annual FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame event was held on September 25, 2024, celebrating outstanding FCPS alumni and their contributions to the community. Sponsored by Educate Fairfax, the event also included a silent auction benefiting the Educate Fairfax Student Scholarship Fund.

This year's class of inductees spans five decades and represents a broad range of professional experience and expertise. The honorees are:

• Amanda Andere, Herndon High School Class of 1998
• Michael Batt, Marshall High School Class of 1982
• Callie Brownson, Mount Vernon High School Class of 2007
• General James R. Clapper, Annandale High School Class of 1959
• Gavin Myers, Madison High School Class of 1993
• Tony Perkins, Mount Vernon High School Class of 1977
• Sumeet Shrivastava, Robinson High School Class of 1984
• Todd Stottlemyer, West Springfield High School Class of 1984

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking parents and caregivers to complete a Federal Impact Aid Survey which is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in).  Paper copies of the form will be provided starting Wednesday, November 13 and should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

For more information, please watch this video and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page. Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account HERE to submit the survey.  

Opportunities Falls Church HS Renovation Update

Join the Falls Church HS Renovation Update Community Meeting on November 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Falls Church High School cafeteria.

Learn more about this FCPS capital project and sign up for a project-specific mailing list on the Falls Church High School renovation project webpage.

Student Experience Survey

This fall, FCPS will pilot a Student Experience Survey in select schools to better understand how students view and experience school. The ultimate goal of the survey is to elevate student voice to identify strategic improvement opportunities for FCPS. 

Mason District schools selected to participate in the pilot are listed below. Parents and caregivers of students attending these schools should have received an email notification on October 28th with information about the pilot and the opt-out process.

• Annandale HS
• Annandale Terrace ES
• Bailey’s Upper ES
• Bren Mar Park ES
• Edison HS
• Falls Church HS
• Glasgow MS
• Mason Crest ES
• Poe MS

The Student Experience Survey Pilot webpage includes additional information about the survey, links to view the surveys, and opt-out instructions.

TJHSST Freshman Application

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Freshman Application process for the Class of 2029 is now open. Applications must be started before November 13th at 4 p.m.

Find additional details and information on the TJHSST application process HERE.

NEW! FCPS Scholarship Website

In addition to Naviance, a new webpage is now available to share scholarship information with FCPS Students. High school students are encouraged to regularly review and monitor Naviance and the public website for opportunities.

Artist Teacher Exhibition

Workhouse Arts Center and Fairfax County Public Schools are proud to present the 17th Annual Artist Teacher Exhibition: Materiality. This exhibition explores how artists use materials to push boundaries, challenge perceptions, and create meaning.

Materiality features artworks in a wide variety of media by art teachers who teach K-12th grade students from Fairfax County Public Schools. Works from several Mason District teachers are on display. 

The exhibition runs until November 30 at the Workhouse Arts Center, located at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton, VA.

Mark Your Calendars - Wolfpack Madness!

Justice Basketball Wolfpack Madness!
November 19, 2024
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate the new season with games, prizes, giveaways, 3pt contest, food and more! Admission is FREE. Donations are appreciated.

Immunization Clinics

Does your child need school-required immunizations? If so, please check out the options below.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

November 18, 2-7 p.m.

Joseph Willard Health Center

Mount Vernon District Office

Springfield District Office

Middle and High School Clinics

FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.

Remaining clinics scheduled for Mason District students: 

• Annandale High School - December 11
• Falls Church High School - November 21
• Jackson Middle School - December 4
• Justice High School - November 6
• Poe Middle School - November 18
• TJHSST - December 10

Visit the Immunization Resources page for consent forms required at least one week prior to the school’s clinic date.

Become a Special Education Teacher

Become a special education teacher with FCPS! Join the informative virtual session on Thursday, November 14 to learn more about different special education positions, the pathways to licensure, and the support FCPS provides for teachers. Register for the virtual session.

SEPTA Programs

IEP Palooza and Resource Fair
November 16, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Luther Jackson Middle School
Register today!

Teacher & Staff Mini-Grants available
Application deadlines November 3 and January 31
Information and Applications

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• November 14, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)

• November 12, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

All meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are also broadcast and recorded for future viewing on the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

Would you like to share your ideas and concerns with the School Board and staff?  Register HERE to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.

Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español

Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.

@masonfcps

@masondistrictsb

@MasonDistrictSB

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.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083 | Twitter

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, [email protected]