FCPS This Week - April 25, 2024
🎉 FCPS Celebrates 2024 Washington Post Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations to Laura Senturia, a fourth-grade teacher at Colin Powell Elementary School, who has been named the 2024 Washington Post Teacher of the Year! This recognition is for educators who have exemplified excellence in their profession by inspiring learning, encouraging individual growth, demonstrating subject matter expertise, fostering collaboration, and leading by example.
Laura was selected from a group of 19 finalists teaching in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia schools. Read about the Washington Post Teacher of the Year.
🏆 Seven FCPS Students Win 2024 National Merit Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships
Seven FCPS students have been awarded corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The students are part of a group of more than 770 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. See the full list of student winners with their probable career fields.
🎷 181 FCPS Students Strike a Chord with the All-Virginia Band, Orchestra, and Chorus
One hundred eighty-one FCPS students from 24 secondary and high schools were selected to perform in the 2024 All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. See the full list of student awardees.
💡 FCPS Shines Bright With Continued ENERGY STAR® Recognition
FCPS has been selected as a 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year winner for Sustained Excellence. This award is reserved for ENERGY STAR® partners demonstrating outstanding leadership, year over year. Read about the award.
🌳 Get2Green Leader Enjoys Connecting Students With Nature
Erika Thompson (pictured above, second from left) has always loved spending time outside and growing plants. As an advanced academic resource teacher at Forest Edge Elementary School, she has found a way to combine that interest with her role as an educator through Get2Green.
As a Get2Geen leader, Erika enjoys learning more about reducing waste, recycling, and composting while helping the school become more eco-friendly. She has led classes in green activities and started a Green Team after-school club for fifth and sixth graders. Read about Erika’s Get2Green experience.
✅ Weigh in on School Health Services
The Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite FCPS parents/caregivers to participate in a survey on the level of satisfaction with health services provided to the school community. This brief survey is open until Friday, April 26.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health services and inform future planning for schools.
⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
FCPS is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Register for a forum by clicking on one of the following dates:
- Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
- Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
- Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m., virtual forum.
- Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
- Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
💙 February CARES of the Month Recipient Maximizes Impact
FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. One of February’s CARES of the month recipients is Joash Chung, manager of Tutoring Services.
“The stresses of managing a program which has grown exponentially in size and budget without growing in staff, are profound,” his nomination stated. “As a leader, Joash is always able to reflect, advise and keep his eye on the prize of helping boost student achievement and skills.”
Thank you, Joash, for looking out for our students! And congratulations to the other FCPS CARES of the Month Recipients:
- Joycelynne Jimenez-Rodriguez, Hughes Middle School
- Wilson Harvey, Justice High School
- Debra Schuman, Mount Eagle Elementary School
- Amanda Alsbaugh, Oak View Elementary School
- Emma Miller, Woodson High School
- Lorena Orellana, Blanca Chavez, and custodial staff from Lewis High School and Guery Cespedes, Alexis Rivas, Rosa Romero, and Juan Miranda from Lake Braddock Secondary School
Read about all the recipients.
🏫 Register Your Five-Year-Old for Kindergarten
Read this photo essay from Mosaic Elementary School for a glimpse of what it’s like to be a kindergartener. Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
Registering your child early helps schools prepare and ensure they have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. After determining which school your child will attend, parents/caregivers may prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. For details and language support, please visit the Kindergarten Registration page.
✅ Online Registration Is Open!
Online registration for FCPS students is officially open for the 2024-25 school year! FCPS invites new and returning (re-enrolling) families to register for students attending FCPS schools next school year. Learn about the online registration process. Contact the Office of Student Registration with questions.
🕜 Before- and After-School Care
Fairfax County Government’s School Age Child Care (SACC) program provides fun, safe, and educational care for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Care is available before school, after school, and during school breaks in select Fairfax County public elementary schools and community centers.
SACC registration is now open for the 2024-25 school year and the Camp Fairfax summer program.
🛴 The Importance of Play
Playing builds healthy minds and bodies. Discover other benefits of play and get tips for incorporating more playtime in the latest Healthy Minds blog.
🙋 Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged, attend school, and finish strong! Visit our website for attendance resources.
📞 Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
👨👩👧👦 Immigrant Family Reunification Class
A class will be held online in Spanish for immigrant families looking to reunite during challenging transitions on Saturday, April 27, 9-11:30 a.m. Register today. For more information, please contact your school’s family liaison or Sussy Tomer at [email protected].
💻 Get Virtual Help Applying to NOVA Community College
Students planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) this fall are invited to attend a virtual application session, Tuesday, April 30, 7-8:30 p.m. At this session, they can receive assistance with completing an online application for admission. Registration is required to receive the link to participate.
A government-issued photo ID is required for online applications, but not for those applying in-person at a high school or on a NOVA campus. For questions, please contact [email protected].
💊 Safely Dispose Medication on National Drug Take Back Day
Take advantage of free, convenient, confidential, and safe disposal of unused and/or expired medications on Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Safe disposal of medications prevents substance abuse, accidental poisonings, and protects the environment. Learn more and see which drop-off site is most convenient for you.
🏫 Celebrate FCPS History on Historic Schoolhouse Day
Learn about the history of Fairfax County Public Schools at Historic Schoolhouse Day, Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Six former FCPS one- and two-room schoolhouses that operated from 1870 to 1939 will be opening their doors to the community. Each location will have activities and tours.
Students and teachers with an interest in Virginia history are encouraged to attend. Find more information, including locations of the schoolhouses, on the Historic Schoolhouses of Northern Virginia website.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Theravada New Year (O Day)
In countries where Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon in April. Theravada means the teachings of the elders.
Wednesday, April 24, is designated as an evening-only observance day for Theravada New Year. See the complete school year calendar.
💜 Thank You FCPS Administrative Professionals!
Wednesday, April 24, is Administrative Professionals Day. Thank you to all the FCPS employees who support our schools and offices and keep things running smoothly. Read about Alexa Pugnetti, administrative assistant at Woodson High School, who was named the 2023 Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee at FCPS Honors.
👏 Happy Public School Volunteer Week!
It’s Public School Volunteer Week. This is a great opportunity for schools and families to honor and highlight the powerful contributions parents/caregivers provide at school and home to support student success. Thank you to all our volunteers!
Orthodox Good Friday/Teacher Work Day
Friday, May 3, is Orthodox Good Friday, and a teacher work day. Orthodox Christians commemorate Good Friday, also known as “Great Friday” to remember the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. There will be no school for students that day.
School Board Meeting Scheduled for April 25 at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m.
Topics on the agenda include:
- Strategic Plan Goal 2 Baseline Report: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered
- 2024-25 IDEA Special Education Annual Plan
- Awarding of Contracts
View the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
