FCPS This Week - Week of January 11, 2023
A student at Cedar Lane School practices his soccer moves on a new futsal court made possible by an Ignite Partnership and FCPS Facilities and Transportation Services.
Woodson Graduates Return to Begin Teaching Career
For four teachers at Woodson High School, the route to becoming a teacher looks very different. But they now share a common bond: teaching together at the school from which they graduated. Read about their journey to teaching.
Have you considered becoming a teacher? Learn more about how to shape a rewarding, inspirational, lifelong career.
Superintendent to Announce 2023-24 Proposed Budget
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will present the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Proposed Budget at the School Board meeting on Thursday, January 12, at 7 p.m. Dr. Reid’s presentation, as well as other budget documents, will be available after she presents to the School Board.
See the complete regular meeting agenda (English only). The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and on the FCPS website.
Recordings of School Board meetings and work sessions can be viewed on the FCPS YouTube channel. To watch School Board meetings dubbed in Spanish, you can visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.
If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the Board clerk. Find your School Board member and how to contact them on the School Board Members webpage.
Salad Bars Returning to Elementary Schools
The Office of Food and Nutrition Services is excited to begin adding salad bars back to elementary schools as a part of lunch service this month. The goal is to reach all 142 elementary schools before June 2023.
Salad bars encourage students to build nutritious and delicious meals each day. Students are able to select a salad bar lunch or fruit and vegetable sides paired with an entree. Salad bar offerings include student favorites such as: apple slices, baby carrots, bananas, hard boiled eggs, broccoli, corn, cucumber slices, grapes, orange slices, salad greens, shredded cheese, and lunch meats.
COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan Meetings for Families of Students with Disabilities
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to implementing a plan for COVID-19 compensatory education as part of its obligation to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. Please join us at an informational meeting for parents/guardians and other stakeholders:
Visit our website to see what language interpretation services will be available at each meeting and to learn more about the COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan.
Five FCPS Students Among Nation’s Top 300 Teen Scientists
Society for Science (the Society) announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023 (STS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Five of the 300 scholars are students in Fairfax County public schools: one from McLean High School and four from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The scholars will be awarded $2,000, and their schools will be awarded $2,000 for each enrolled scholar.
Read more about the award and see who was named a finalist.
Why Do We Need a Strategic Plan?
The Strategic Planning process is well underway, with the Community Forums beginning in less than three weeks. But why do we need a new strategic plan?
Similar to a roadmap, a strategic plan clearly defines the best route for us to take in the years ahead to reach our goals. Our students are preparing for careers that don’t exist today. In order to keep pace with these needs, we need to rethink our plans for the future—and how we will best serve our students for this new era.
Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for more information on opportunities to be involved in this exciting work.
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 23. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Parents who are interested in the DLI programs in FCPS are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at their school site. Meetings will begin Wednesday, January 11. Get more information on DLI programs and registration.
Plan for the 2023 FCPS Gap Year Fair
FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Wednesday, February 1, at West Springfield High School from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This event is for high school students and parents/caregivers. Representatives from more than 40 programs offering gap year opportunities will be on site.
Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event. For more information, visit USA Gap Year Fairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the Gap Year Fair will be held on Thursday, February 2, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Attend a High School Academy Open House
FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that can prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will have opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, and/or internships with local businesses.
Learn more and find the calendar of Academy Open Houses.
Tutor.com for Test Prep
Did you know Tutor.com can help with more than just homework? This free, on-demand tutoring service also offers a comprehensive range of resources that include exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time, and if they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor through voice or chat options for help. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com website.
Cappies Review of Wendy and Peter Pan at Oakton High School
A number of FCPS high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are 15 Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
This review of Oakton High School's production of Wendy and Peter Pan is written by Alexander Perry of Lake Braddock Secondary School.
Webinars in January for Parents/Caregivers
The Parent Resource Center will present the following webinars in January:
- Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We Are All Neurodiverse? on Thursday, January 12, at 6:30 p.m., and Friday, January 13, at 10 a.m.
- Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood on Friday, January 20, at 10 a.m.
- Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning on Tuesday, January 24, at 10 a.m.
Click on the links above for more information or to register.
FCPS Family Math Week
The Parent Resource Center will host Family Math Week January 9-13. Families can log in from home for stories, games, and math activities in English and Spanish. Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way.
Calendar Reminder: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service Opportunities
FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. FCPS is excited to collaborate again with Volunteer Fairfax for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service, Saturday, January 14, to Monday, January 16. This service opportunity helps empower individuals and strengthens communities while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Volunteer Fairfax will host several ways for the community to get involved including volunteer activities for students and adults of all ages. To learn more about the MLK Jr. Weekend of Service and specific service activities, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s website.
Calendar Reminder: Quarter End
As a reminder, Wednesday, January 25, is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Thursday, January 26, for a staff development day and Friday, January 27, for a teacher workday. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
How to Partner or Volunteer with Schools
FCPS Business and Community Partnerships is happy to work with local businesses and organizations to help support our schools and students. Through its Ignite Partnerships, the team establishes valuable long-term relationships in the community. Please contact Jay Garant at 571-423-1225 or Kathy Ryan for information. Learn more about Business and Community Partnerships by subscribing to their monthly newsletter.
Support Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement of Greater Washington (JA) is a public/private nonprofit collaboration between FCPS, educators, businesses, and volunteer mentors who come together to inspire, guide, and teach students how to be financially capable and ready to take on their futures.
Eighth graders at FCPS have an opportunity to build their financial literacy at JA Finance Park. Talk to your students’ social studies teacher to find out what day your student is visiting. Parents can sign up online to volunteer.
Business professionals are also encouraged to volunteer to work with students. If interested, please contact Caitlin Hennessy.
Opportunities for Volunteers 55+ Years Old
Ignite Partner GrandInvolve is recruiting older adult volunteers to provide classroom assistance with reading, event support, math, materials preparation, and other important tasks that a teacher might request. This all-volunteer led program facilitates volunteer opportunities in 25 of FCPS’ Title I elementary schools.
If you or someone you know would like a rewarding experience with flexible hours and an engaging variety of responsibilities, consider volunteering with GrandInvolve. Learn more and complete their interest form.
