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Dear Sully District Families and Community Members,
Spring activities and athletics have officially kicked off and the excitement in our schools is palpable. Longer sunlit days and warmer temperatures are on the horizon, and I'm all charged up for a fantastic spring! 🌷☀️🌱
The School Board approved the FY 2026 Advertised Budget, on February 20 which prioritizes the school division’s most urgent needs, including providing employees with competitive compensation. FCPS ranks fifth among eight neighboring districts for master’s level new teacher salaries and seventh for midpoint and maximum teacher salaries. We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.
This budget anchors FCPS as our nation’s education destination by keeping the needs of students, families, and taxpayers top of mind. It is fiscally responsible, cutting more than $50 million while investing in excellence — not just for FCPS but for all in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young people, dedicated educators and support staff, and a thriving economy. The budget totals $4 billion – a net increase of $297.1 million, or 7.9%, over the FY 2025 Approved Budget.
The budget now resides with our funding authority, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who will determine if the proposed amount will be fully funded. I am grateful to the County Executive and the Board of Supervisors for their support and look forward to our continued collaboration during the budget process.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date and learn about opportunities to provide feedback.
💬 Share Your Input on the County Budget
The Fairfax County government presented its Fiscal Year 2026 Advertised Budget Plan to the Board of Supervisors on February 18. The community is invited to share feedback through an online survey, email, phone calls, or by attending county Budget Town Hall meetings.
I welcome you all to attend the in-person Sully District Budget Town Hall on Monday, March 10th, 2025 from 7-9 pm at Rocky Run Middle School, where Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and I will discuss this FY26 Budget and hear your comments. Please see town hall details below.
The School Board also voted to approve the Proposed FCPS FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is a working budget document that shows timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools. Several of the schools that Sully District students go to our have recently been renovated, are under renovation, or in the process to begin soon. See Renovation Queue Status - Sully District Schools below.
Inside this newsletter:
March is #WomensHistoryMonth and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the wide-ranging, pivotal contributions of women and their impact to society. This year's theme is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations". It celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership, shaping the minds and futures of all generations. From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots movements to global initiatives, women educators and leaders have played a pivotal role in nurturing minds and inspiring transformative action.
I want to especially celebrate the women making history in our schools, including my colleagues in the School Board Office and on the FCPS Leadership team—approximately 75% of our nation’s teacher workforce is made up of women. I honor their passion, hard work and resilience. Please join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history with the many events being hosted by womenshistorymonth.gov.
Finally, I welcome your feedback, observations, suggestions, questions, and celebrations. Don't hesitate to reach out to me through this School Board contact form or you can call or email me. I look forward to seeing you in our schools in the upcoming weeks. Enjoy this beautiful time of the year! 🦋🍀
In partnership,
Seema Dixit
Sully District Budget Town Hall with Supervisor Kathy Smith is Monday, March 10!
Please join Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2026 Budgets and take your comments. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY26 Budget, please send an email to [email protected] with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject.
Detailed information about the FCPS FY26 Budget can be found on our website.
When: Monday, March 10, 2025
Time: 7 - 9 pm EST
Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall
Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
Supervisor Smith and I look forward to your participation!
School Visit to Oak Hill Elementary School!
School Board members Seema Dixit and Kyle McDaniel visit Oak Hill Elementary School!
What a great visit to Oak Hill Elementary School on February 19, 2025 with my colleague Kyle McDaniel, Member At-Large! It was a wonderful opportunity to observe how students are learning and engaging with the world around them in authentic ways. I am so appreciative of the efforts of our teachers, librarians, food, custodial and support staff who are all truly inspiring in their dedication to our students. Thank you Principal Durso for taking the time to showcase all their work in SPED, AAP, STEAM, early literacy and the Chinese FLES program. I am always grateful for the insights you and your staff share with me to help inform my ongoing policy and budget work. Go Wolves!! 🐺
Sully District Happenings
2025 Peace Awards - Student Changemakers!
2025 Peace Awards of Fairfax County - Inspiring FCPS Student Winners!!
Congratulations to all the 27 proud recipients of the 2025 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County!
The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County began in 2006 to encourage everyone to think more about peace as both a means and an end, and to recognize young people who work as peacemakers.
So proud of the amazing and inspiring Sully District student recipients! Their projects are highlighted below:
Jayden Lee, Centreville High School. Jayden Lee established a Centreville High School chapter of Amnesty International in which club members learn about and advocate for human rights. He is also the vice president of the school’s Liberty in North Korea club which supports North Korean refugees through advocacy and fundraising. As the president of the school’s UNICEF club, he helps to organize fundraisers that assist children in poverty and promote awareness of their needs.
Nila Elangovan, Chantilly High School. In the summer of 2024, Nila Elangovan created a non-profit organization called The N-Lighten English Tutoring Program to help underprivileged students in grades 5-8 who struggle with the fundamentals of English reading, writing and speaking. Nila notes that extra tutoring help has traditionally been something that only well-to-do families could afford, and she wanted to be able to provide free tutoring help to those who faced financial barriers.
Mountain View High School, Julia DeVera. When she was 11 years old, Julia DeVera was diagnosed with alopecia areata, a disease that affects people of all ages, genders, and racial and ethnic backgrounds. She has used her experience to become an advocate for better awareness of mental and physical health. Last summer, Julia was trained as a legislative liaison for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, spreading the word on Capitol Hill.
As an artist, she uses her skills and talent to create works that represent the struggles associated with the disease. She has also taken on the role of youth mentor to help younger students understand that they do not have to be afraid or hide. She tells them, “You don’t need to be fixed, cause you’re not broken.”
Isaac Rodriguez, Oakton High School. Isaac Rodriguez’s love of fishing and respect for the sport when done with care for the environment motivated him to establish the Oakton Fishing Interest Club in his junior year.
The club collects donated fishing equipment and plans to post signs near the fishing ponds encouraging attention to the environment. Isaac hopes that the club will encourage other students to fish and experience the inner peace that can come from fishing and being outside on the water.
Westfield United Sports, Caroline Elson, Lilly Wilson, Charlie Ewell, Blake Sanders, Joey Wyatt, Westfield High School. Westfield Unified Sports works to promote community-building and inclusiveness between Westfield’s general student population and students with disabilities, who often feel isolated or alienated from the other students. Unified Sports promotes understanding and inclusiveness through a shared participation in sports. In its second year as a club at Westfield, the mission of United Sports is to provide training and athletic competition in a variety of sports for students of all abilities. The hope is that participation in this program will create unique teammate bonds through sports experiences just like any other sports team, and promote inclusion, acceptance and understanding that everyone is different and brings value to our club and to sports.
TJ Send-a-Smile Club, Yusra Wahidi, Claire Guo, Hasset Bekele, Maria Peralta, Marla Wisniewski, Sahra Abrar, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Dedicated to supporting their school and wider community and building positive relationships with established groups and individuals, the TJ Send-a-Smile Club uplifts and empowers others by sending smiles and messages of compassion and solidarity.
Club members have found numerous opportunities to provide practical and emotional support to others, including people with breast cancer, younger students at nearby elementary schools, the TJ bus drivers, women at a nearby shelter, and Moroccan citizens after a devastating earthquake. In the words of the club’s leaders, “A smile is a universal language of care and connection. Our mission is to share that connection and bring light to those who need it most.”
Full list of FCPS Student Awardees. #givepeaceachance #TheFutureIsBright
Congrats to all our 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Awards winners!
The 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Awards program has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students in grades 7-12 a total of 809 awards for outstanding artwork, including 210 Gold Key awards, 235 Silver Key awards, and 364 Honorable Mention awards.
Artworks were submitted and judged in categories including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, design, architecture, jewelry, fashion, film and animation, mixed media, and art portfolios.
There are many, many Sully District students among the awardees. Congratulations to all of them!! A complete list of FCPS winners can be found here.
Rachel Carson Middle School School Counselors win RAMP Award!
Congrats to Rachel Carson Middle School Student Services Department who has received the prestigious RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) Award! The RAMP designation is awarded to schools whose counseling programs align with the criteria set in the America School Counseling Association National Model. The award recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and creating an exemplary educational environment.
This is a notable distinction from ASCA and a truly great accomplishment for the department. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students' success!! Our student counselors play an indispensable role in nurturing the academic and personal growth of our students.
Sully District PTA/PTO/PTSA/PTSO Leaders Virtual Meeting is March 19th!
Dear Sully District PTA, PTO, PTSA, and PTSO Leaders,
I invite you to join me for a virtual meeting to discuss updates on the Fairfax County School Board's Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and other topics. This session will provide insights into our financial planning, infrastructure projects, etc. and offer a platform for you to share your questions and concerns.
Meeting Details: Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 from 7- 8 pm EST. A ZOOM invite/link will be sent.
Please email my staff at [email protected] directly for additional information.
Capital Improvement Planning - Sully District Impacts
The School Board voted to approve the Proposed FCPS FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is a working budget document that shows timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools.
Several of the schools that Sully District students go to our have recently been renovated, are under renovation, or in the process to begin soon. Renovations at Oak Hill ES, Rocky Run and Hughes MS, Oakton HS and Sunrise Valley ES have been completed while Brookfield ES, Lees Corner ES and Crossfield ES are in progress. The complete list of renovation status of our schools can be found below.
One of the CIP issues I have consistently highlighted is the overcrowding of several high schools our district's students attend and the need to alleviate that burden. Unfortunately, this has been a long-time issue that has not been adequately addressed in past years and epitomizes the need for more comprehensive CIP planning in FCPS. The quality of school facilities impact student learning and our students deserve a high quality study environment. I will continue to advocate strongly to make progress on capacity enhancements, renovations, and site acquisition for the new Western High School in our district.
Renovation Projects
Approximately 93 percent of the total five-year funding requirement is allocated for the renovation of existing school facilities. This is a significant expenditure that reflects both the age of the facilities and the commitment of the
FCSB to ensure that all schools are able to accommodate current educational programs. Ideally, renovations should occur on a 20- to 25-year cycle in accordance with FCSB Policy 8258 to protect capital investment. Based on current construction costs and future estimates, this is now a 41-year cycle. The renovation program is funded and executed according to the 2008 renovation queue, approved by FCSB in 2009. The table below includes Sully District schools in the renovation queue and their status.
Renovation Queue Status - Sully District Schools
In summary, the CIP is a document filled with data and information regarding our county wide view of capital spending for the near term, primarily the next 5 years. Our Facilities staff is working hard to alleviate and find solutions for the schools that have the most acute capacity deficits given our fiscal constraints and the length of our renovation queue. Renovating existing facilities is necessary to enhance safety, modernize learning spaces, and boost energy efficiency to elevate educational quality and student well-being. Additionally, constructing new schools addresses the increasing student enrollment in rapidly growing areas of the county. This comprehensive approach ensures every student benefits from a safe, accessible, and innovative learning environment, in alignment with our broader commitment to excellence in education and the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Superintendent Reid's Academic Matters
At the February 20th School Board meeting Superintendent Reid provided a Strategic Plan update on Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence. The specific measures she highlighted were having all students read on grade level by third grade; having all students complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade; and successful completion of advanced coursework in high school. FCPS is working hard to achieve these goals. Why is this important? By the end of third grade, students begin moving away from “learning to read” and towards “reading to learn,” where reading becomes a tool to gain and apply knowledge in a range of subjects. Without strong reading skills in place, it’s hard for students to absorb and apply what they’re learning in their other classes. Research has also linked reading on grade level to students moving on to advanced coursework, on-time graduation, and college enrollment.
For Algebra 1 completion, students who take Algebra 1 by eighth grade have greater access to higher level math and science courses in high school, as well as higher test scores in both math and language arts and better attendance in middle school. And for advanced coursework, FCPS students can pursue a range of advanced courses while in high school, including college-level courses such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Dual Enrollment (DE), advanced courses that carry a 1.0 weight, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that lead to a completer status (more on this below). National research has also linked completion of advanced coursework to college enrollment and completion, as well as higher career earnings. And our hard work is getting results! You can see some key takeaways in the slide above, as well as the steps we are taking to continue improving.
In the Academic Matters section of the School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Career and Technical Education (CTE). Some of the CTE programs offered by FCPS include:
- Teachers for Tomorrow.
- Residential construction.
- Student auto sales.
- Firefighting.
- Summer camps and enrichment programs.
- Online courses.
These programs allow our students to earn industry credentials that give them a leg up in their future careers. In the 2023-24 school year, students earned 14,323 credentials that are valued at over $740,000. Wow! During Superintendent Reid's presentation she shared this amazing video that provides more examples of our CTE classes, such as Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology and Engineering Education, Trade and Industrial Education, and JROTC.
70th Annual Regional Science Fair - You're Invited!
The 70th Annual Regional Science Fair will take place at Robinson Secondary School the weekend of March 21-23.
The fair is open to the public on Sunday, March 23, 1-3 p.m., during the Open House. Community members are invited to see the project displays and congratulate our high school student participants.
Visit the science fair webpage for more information.
Oakton High School Juniors Tackle Oral Cancer Challenge
So proud of our Sully District students and schools!! Juniors Aniketh Bandlamudi, Lauren Kim, Vishal Manikanden, and Malek Swilam have dedicated months to developing an app that may help spot signs of oral cancer. This type of cancer is often only discovered in advanced stages when the chances of survival are diminished.These students bonded as members of the robotics team at Oakton High School. Now, four friends are taking on a challenge that they hope will save lives. The students, all 16 years old, are seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Apple Store for an app to be marketed as a wellness tool. They hope their invention will eventually be accessible to billions globally and revolutionize cancer detection. Read more about the students and their invention.
✨ Their work illustrates Goal 5 of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation.
Student Opportunities
Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools not assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parents or guardians before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity. Families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
NOAA Students for Zero Waste Week
Students are inviting their local communities to "Go Green and Think Blue" by joining them in the annual Students for Zero Waste Week campaign. During this campaign, students focus on reducing land-based waste in order to protect the health of local marine environments. These young leaders are raising awareness of how single-use plastic and other types of litter affect the health of local watersheds, national marine sanctuaries, and the ocean. In addition, some schools are looking at ways to reduce their energy use on campus with hopes of raising awareness of how the burning of fossil fuels also impacts the health of the ocean. All PreK-12 schools are invited to participate in this free campaign! Interested schools can choose one week (or more) during the campaign period to designate as their Zero Waste Week. Learn more about Zero Waste Week on the NOAA website.
Reference: FCPS Get2Green Website | Newsletter sign-up
Fairfax County Spring Watershed Cleanup 2025
Help keep trash and debris out of waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Join The Nature Conservancy and the Fairfax County Park Authority for a clean up! Register for the Fairfax County watershed cleanup date and location that works for you.
Reference: FCPS Get2Green Website | Newsletter sign-up
Youth Conservation Camp for HS Students
Applications are now open for Youth Conservation Camp, a week-long summer camp sponsored by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This year’s camp will be held July 13-19, 2025 on the Virginia Tech campus. This program will focus on forestry, soil, aquatics, and wildlife to teach 9th-12th graders more about the natural world with hands-on experience with conservation professionals. NVSWCD offers financial assistance and nominates campers in this selective program. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sunday, April 20. Learn more about Youth Conservation Camp, including how to obtain an application and contact NVSWCD with questions.
Reference: FCPS Get2Green Website | Newsletter sign-up
Interest Form for 4-H Embryology Program
Interested in participating in Fairfax County 4-H’s Embryology program to raise eggs to chicks? Express your interest in participating in the 4-H Embryology program here.
Reference: FCPS Get2Green Website | Newsletter sign-up
NWF Photo Contest
The prestigious National Wildlife® Photo Contest celebrates wildlife, habitats and the natural world, with an emphasis on conservation and ethical photography honoring the well-being of animals in the wild. In keeping with the National Wildlife Federation’s critical work combating climate change, protecting wildlife and connecting people with nature, the National Wildlife Photo Contest inspires millions of NWF members and supporters to care about wildlife and to act on its behalf. EcoSchools U.S. encourages aspiring young photographers and conservationists, ages 13-17 to share their best images of wildlife and wild lands—from around the world and their own backyards—in the Young Nature Photographers category. For free registration, use the code ECOSCHOOLSUS. Learn more about the NWF Photo Contest and apply.
Reference: FCPS Get2Green Website | Newsletter sign-up
Applications Open: Girls Who Code Summer Programs
GWC 2025 Summer Programs Application is officially open! 🎉
Our Summer Programs help high school girls and nonbinary students build coding skills, explore career pathways in tech, and connect with a supportive community–no program fees or prior coding experience required!
Students can choose their own adventure with two exciting program options:
🚀 Summer Immersion Program (SIP): Spend two weeks designing computer games in live virtual classrooms while making friends, getting practical college and career advice from industry leaders, and exploring a future career in tech. Eligible students can apply for a $300 SIP Student Grant plus laptop and hotspot access!
🧭 Pathways: This flexible, six-week program lets students learn at their own pace with step-by-step video tutorials. Participants explore hot topics in tech like artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and web development, with opportunities to apply new skills to real-world projects and get career insights from tech industry pros.
👉 Ready to apply? Submit the Summer Programs Application to start your adventure!
Questions? Learn more at one of our upcoming webinars, or email us at [email protected].
NVSWCD College Scholarship
Fairfax County high school seniors or college freshmen are eligible to receive a $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship from NVSWCD. This scholarship supports studies related to natural resource conservation and invests in the talented youth of Fairfax County. NVSWCD’s Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship award winner will also be submitted to the VASWCD Educational Foundation committee for review and may be eligible to receive one of four $2,000 state-wide scholarships. Apply by Tuesday, April 1. Learn more and apply for the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship.
American Youth Climate Summit is March 29
🌍🌱The American Youth Climate Summit will be held on Saturday, March 29, at American University. This event is designed to empower students to tackle climate challenges and build a sustainable future through inspiring keynote talks, interactive workshops, and networking with leaders in the field.
This summit is a great opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of climate issues, develop leadership skills, and take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. You can register here.
Mental Health Resources for Families
This month's theme: Mindful March
Let's pause, breathe and notice, so we can respond more mindfully.
Go to Action for Happiness for ideas to help you take action for a happier and kinder world.
Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Feeling super stressed? Worried about a friend's mental health—or your own? Get tips to help manage your emotions and see what to do if you are in crisis.
Mental Health and Resiliency
Helping students to manage stress, make better choices, and develop healthy habits.
FCPS Family Resource Center
Staff is available by phone 703-204-3941 or email [email protected] to help! Offers free workshops, consultations, a lending library, and more to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities.
No Cost Virtual Therapy for High Schoolers
Teletherapy services are available for all FCPS high school students at no cost. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Hazel Health’s highly qualified therapists specialize in working with teens. Learn more on FCPS’ teletherapy webpage.
Find out more about the Hazel Health mental health services available for all FCPS high school students: https://bit.ly/3UAQyVe.
George Mason’s Center for Community Health
George Mason University’s new Center for Community Mental Health (9900 Main Street, Fairfax) provides evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive therapy and testing services to those in need, regardless of income. The Center sees children as young as age 5, and works with community members of various ages, including addressing the mental health needs of veterans.
The center’s Emotional Help Line provides free, anonymous, confidential support in both English (703-215-1898) and Spanish (703-914-3878). The line is open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Learn more on the Center's website.
Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs
Looking for a job or volunteer opportunity? Students are invited to attend the 2025 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series and Career Building Workshops kicking off Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Springfield High School and on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Chantilly High School from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At each fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. During the fairs, students will also be able to attend career-building workshops like Resume Building and Interviewing 101. Most positions at the fair are geared toward students age 16+, but some opportunities for younger students may be available with parental consent. Registration is free here and at the fairs.
For more information, or to register, please visit the Teen Job Fair webpage.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Tuesday, March 11, 10:30am - All Day Work Session
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Thursday, March 13, 7pm - Regular Meeting
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Thursday, March 27, 7pm - Regular Meeting
Please note, times and topics are subject to change.
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.
Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.
The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
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.
Contacting Me
To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
Use this link to sign up for my Newsletter and follow me on Facebook.
Quick Links
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
Email: Seema Dixit | Phone: 571-423-1085
Staff Aide: Shaheen Khurana | Phone: 571-423-1072