FCPS This Week - August 7, 2024
Congratulations to all our summer graduates!
We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!
As summer winds down, our schools and staff are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms.
1. Is Your Child Registered Yet?
If you are new to FCPS and have not registered your child for school yet, please do so as soon as possible. Schools are planning playdates, screenings, teacher visits, and back-to-school nights for students to get to know their teachers and each other. Register soon so you don’t miss out!
2. Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child.
Once you have activated a SIS ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Obtain information about students in the same family through the same SIS ParentVUE account. You may also access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Contact Information
Be sure you receive important information from your schools. Update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.
4. Update Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services.
Remember to request your child’s immunization record and bring that to your school’s front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
5. Prepare for Meals at School
Parents/caregivers need to provide their students with money to purchase meals at school, send them with a packed lunch, or apply (and be approved) for free and reduced-price meal benefits. School breakfast for students costs $1.75. Lunch is $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for middle, secondary, and high school students.
Apply for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
The application for free and reduced-price meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Paying for Lunch With MySchoolBucks
The best way to purchase meals and additional food items is to use MySchoolBucks. If you have not already, set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account today.
With MySchoolBucks, you can add money to the account automatically as needed, and families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account. Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for more information.
Be ready on the first day of school by setting up your child’s MySchoolBucks account and helping your child learn their PIN. Food and Nutrition Services staff will email you your child’s PIN. Your school’s front office staff can help with any additional questions.
6. Save the Date: Back-to-School Nights
The schedule for back-to-school nights is available by region: Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Region 5, and Region 6. Don’t know your school’s region? Click on “School Profile” on your school’s website.
🔖 Bookmark the School Year Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked with an orange “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.
Note: Some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift and the calendar may be adjusted.
7. Read On!
Keep reading this issue of FCPS This Week for more news and information from Fairfax County Public Schools. Watch for a new issue on Wednesdays when school is in session. Also, be sure to follow FCPS on Facebook and Instagram.
📅 Start Strong: First Day of School, #FirstDayFairfax
The first day of school is Monday, August 19. Parents/caregivers, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures and videos from the first day of school on social media using the hashtag #FirstDayFairfax. We will share some of the photos on the FCPS Facebook and Instagram pages.
Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update
As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.
The Early Release Mondays Steering Committee held its first meeting on July 29. Topics included supervision of students, transportation logistics, schools’ master schedules, and setting the afternoon schedule for school staff.
Family Survey
Parents/caregivers of elementary students: You can help us with planning. Please watch your email for a short form from your school asking if you plan for your child to return home at the early dismissal time on the first two early release Mondays. Your response will help us plan activities for students who need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.
We understand that families are eager for more details. Thank you for your patience, as we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. View the list of early release dates and other information.
🏆 Celebrating Our Students
In July, 10 FCPS graduates from the class of 2024 were named winners of college-sponsored scholarships by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They join the original group of college-sponsored award recipients announced in June.
Five teams and 17 individuals won Spring 2024 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 championships in their respective sports. Six teams and 18 individuals were state runners-up.
Six teams and 11 individuals won 2023-24 Virginia High School League (VHSL) academic championships and six teams and eight individuals were state runners-up. There were also 22 publications recognized in the Trophy class category of the VHSL Media Championships. Read more about our winners.
FCPS.edu Has a New Look!
Have you visited fcps.edu lately? Take a look around our newly redesigned site. Improvements were made with users in mind. Thank you to the many community members and staff who provided feedback during the redesign process. This was truly a collaborative effort!
Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships
Our website redesign project was completed with FCPS Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, & Community Partnerships in mind. To build trusting partnerships with families, we share the responsibility to be transparent about our policies and procedures and provide families with important information and resources to support their child’s success. Visit the new fcps.edu today!
Building a Brighter Future, Together: FCPS Family Academy
The FCPS Family Academy promotes connections and collaborations between families, educators, and the community. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships in support of each and every student’s success.
We know that as a parent or caregiver, you’re important in your child’s education. The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by Fairfax County Public Schools to help you support your child's needs and learning at home.
The Family Academy also includes information about resources available to help your student succeed. Learn more about the FCPS Family Academy.
Free Workshops for Families
Parents and caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).
In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar webpage.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. 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.
💻 Hazel Health: Virtual Therapy for High School Students
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.
✏️ Help Students Who Need School Supplies
Educate Fairfax is excited to continue its yearly campaign to support FCPS students. Thanks to business partnerships and the community, Educate Fairfax helps students begin the new school year prepared for academic success.
This year, Educate Fairfax will provide basic supplies to thousands of students in need, from school supply kits and backpacks to gift cards for essentials such as food and basic hygiene items.
Every donation through Educate Fairfax goes directly to students in need and is tax deductible. Thank you for any support you can offer to our students.
✅ Karl Frisch Re-Elected Fairfax County School Board Chair; Sandy Anderson Elected Vice Chair
Fairfax County School Board confirmed its leadership for the 2024-25 school year at its July 11 regular meeting. Karl Frisch (Providence District) was re-elected chair, and Sandy Anderson (Springfield District) was elected vice chair. Learn more about your School Board leardership, whose terms run until December 31, 2027.
Preparing Kids to be Safer Online
Fairfax County Government will present an online workshop featuring simple tips to help parents navigate the digital age and help their children be more safe online. The workshop, which will be held Thursday, August 8, at 6:30 p.m., will be led by an expert in digital violence. The event is free, but registration is required. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Contact Nora Nieto with questions.
