FCPS this Week e-newsletter - June 1, 2022
Share Your Graduation or Promotion Ceremony Photos
Graduation season is here! FCPS parents, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures from this year's graduation or promotion ceremonies on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram by tagging FCPS and using the hashtag #FCPSgrad22. We will retweet and share some of the photos.
The 2022 FCPS high school graduation schedule, including dates, times, and locations, is available online.
2023 Budget Focused on Student Success, Safety, and Staff Compensation
The Fairfax County School Board adopted the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget on May 26, which includes adjustments to support ongoing recruitment and retention efforts for a premier workforce and to ensure market competitive compensation.
Religious and Cultural Observance Days Regulation Revised
In response to a request from the School Board, FCPS has updated its regulation related to religious and cultural observance days (“O” Days).
Changes to the regulation include:
- New material can be introduced on religious and cultural observance days provided that the content is made accessible in Schoology and teachers support absent students.
- Graded assignments or activities may occur as long as there are opportunities for students absent because of a religious and cultural observance to make up the assignment or activity.
- Details are provided for days on which an observance begins at sundown (1/2 O Day).
The regulation was drafted with input from principals who were charged with making recommendations to prioritize instruction while honoring religious and cultural observances.
Students Embrace Emotional Benefits of Looming Lunches
A third-grade boy at Little Run Elementary School and a seventh-grader at Katherine Johnson Middle School have something unusual in common: they are turning to yarn to help calm their bodies and minds as the school year winds down.
Staff at the schools realized working with yarn can be a way to diversify their social-emotional learning efforts with students as they recover from more than two years of living through a global pandemic.
Board of Supervisors Recognizes Dr. Brabrand
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized FCPS Superintendent Dr. Scott Brabrand on May 24 for his service to the community.
Dr. Brabrand was appointed FCPS superintendent in June 2017. Having begun his career as an FCPS social studies teacher in 1994, he leaves behind a legacy of life-changing work in our school system.
Students Recognized for Leadership and Science and Engineering
Eight FCPS students won awards at the 2022 International Science and Engineering Fair, held recently in Atlanta.
The Hispanic Leadership Alliance—a certified employee group of Fairfax County Public Schools employees—presented scholarships to 26 students on Tuesday, May 3.
Wear Orange on Friday, June 3
The first Friday in June is recognized as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Also known as Wear Orange Day, it was first organized by students to memorialize the 2013 death of their friend and gun violence victim, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton. After her death, they asked us to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange to raise awareness.
At the May 26 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board recognized National Gun Violence Awareness Day and encouraged everyone to wear orange on June 3. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declared June 3 Gun Violence Awareness day during a May 24 meeting.
The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that firearm injury is the leading cause of death for American Children. Together with the National AAP, they also join communities across the U.S. in participating in wearing orange to increase awareness.
Information about gun violence prevention is available on our website.
Do Your Part: Mask Up!
FCPS has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases recently as the county has transitioned to the medium community level. Schools continue to apply layered prevention strategies to maintain a healthy work and learning environment. However, each of us has a responsibility to do our part to help keep ourselves, our students, and our community safe.
As we enter the final weeks of the school year, we must stay vigilant so we can all enjoy the events and milestones ahead and be ready for a relaxing and healthy summer.
Easy ways to “Do Your Part” include: staying up to date on vaccinations and boosters, considering when and where to choose to mask up, practicing good hygiene, and monitoring symptoms daily.
During a medium community level, masks are not required in FCPS buildings. However, you may want to talk with your healthcare provider about wearing masks if you or someone in your household is immunocompromised. More guidance about how to reduce your risk during medium community transmission is available on the CDC website.
Want to Be a FCPS Teacher? Join a Virtual Career Switcher Information Session on June 8
The FCPS Office of Talent Acquisition and Management will host a Virtual Career Switcher Information Session on Wednesday, June 8, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Military veterans, community members, and anyone interested in becoming a licensed Virginia teacher should attend.
The session will begin with presentations from the five approved Virginia Department of Education career switcher programs: Educate Virginia, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Troops to Teachers will also present their program offerings to military veteran attendees. The FCPS Human Resources team and substitute office will be available to conduct video chats.
FCPS' Family Return to School Survey
FCPS is interested in hearing from parents/caregivers about how the 2021-22 school year has gone for students. You have an opportunity to provide your feedback on our Family Return to School Survey which you should have received via email.
The survey is being administered by the FCPS Office of Research and Strategic Improvement, which provides objective research and data-based information back to the school division’s leadership. The survey is part of the office’s continuing evaluation of the pandemic’s impact on our school division.
We encourage all FCPS parents/caregivers to respond to the survey and share their experiences whether positive or negative. The information you and other families provide will be used, along with other data, to inform FCPS leadership about the return to five days a week of in-person instruction, and support FCPS’ efforts to make improvements that support schools, students, and staff. It will also be included in ESSER III reporting.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Due This Summer
For the past two years, the federal government has provided no-cost meals to all public school students without the need to complete the annual Free and Reduced-Price Meal application. The extension of the no-cost meals benefit to all students is expected to expire at the end of this school year, meaning families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced price meals for the 2022-23 school year.
Interested families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the first day of the 2022-23 school year. The online application will be available later this summer and accessible via the FCPS homepage.
Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes.
Summer Meal Service
No-cost summer meals will be served at all FCPS summer school locations this year. Please visit our website for updated information during the summer.
DMV Trade Jobs Fair
The Fairfax NAACP is hosting a virtual trade jobs fair for those interested in learning about building trades on Saturday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Information about plumbing, pipe fitting, sprinkler fitting, pipe welding, HVAC, carpentry, glass fitting, drywall installation, painting, or being an electrician will be covered, as well as apprenticeships. Representatives from trade organizations and unions will be in attendance. Register for the job fair online.
Tutor.com—Online Tutoring Services Summer Access
FCPS students will continue to have unlimited access to 24/7, on-demand, online tutoring support services through Tutor.com this summer. Students are able to use Tutor.com to review and/or practice in subject areas of interest or need. Students may also choose to access other tools such as practice quizzes in a variety of subject areas, as well as self-paced study courses for SAT and ACT preparation.
Details about how students can access Tutor.com through archived courses in Schoology are provided in Summer Access at Tutor.com - Online Tutoring Services. Students enrolled in summer Credit Recovery Academy, Online Campus, Online Economics and Personal Finance, and TJHSST summer courses will be able to access Tutor.com via their active summer course in Schoology.
Bullying Education for Parents
The FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention public website has been updated to include a video to educate parents on what bullying is (according to the Students Rights and Responsibilities document) and what they can expect when a bullying allegation is reported to a school administrator.
Webinar on Opioid Use Trends and Support Set for June 7
Opioid overdoses are on the rise in the Fairfax Health District, which is consistent with national and state trends. Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with Fairfax County Government to provide an educational webinar on substance use trends and supports June 7 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register for the June 7 webinar.
The webinar will cover topics including, most commonly used substances, ways parents can support their children, and available FCPS and Fairfax County resources.
Language interpretation will be available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, and Korean. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting by an ASL/Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) Team will also be provided.
Learn more about how to get help and prevent overdoses in our Healthy Minds blog.
Calendar Reminder: Last Day of School Is June 10
As a reminder, the last day of the 2021-22 school year is Friday, June 10, and students will be dismissed early. Check with your child's school for its individual dismissal time.
2022-23 School Year to Start on August 22
With the school year winding down and many families making plans for summer camps, vacations, and other activities, be sure to note that the first day of school for the 2022-23 school year will be Monday, August 22. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
