FCPS This Week - February 13, 2025
Students in Chantilly Academy’s medical assistant class show off their handmade Valentine’s Day cards to be given to adults and children who are seriously ill, homebound, or in long-term care.
🎨Students Earn 809 Awards in Regional Scholastic Art Contest
The 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Awards program has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools 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. See the full list of awards.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.
Read this letter from the health department which includes the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness, it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit our Attendance webpage for guidance.
Continue Your Public Service Journey at FCPS
Looking for job opportunities or a career path supporting education? Join us on Wednesday, February 19, from 6-7:30 p.m., for a job and career information fair.
FCPS offers a wealth of opportunities for professionals transitioning from federal and state government roles into the public education sector. A dedication to public service could make you a strong candidate for both educational and operational positions. By joining FCPS, you can continue making a meaningful impact while embarking on a new career in public education.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree, you can become provisionally licensed to teach in just a few weeks. Beyond teaching, FCPS offers a variety of operational roles in departments such as finance, human resources, safety and security, food service, transportation, and facilities.
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will open the information session. Chief Human Resources Officer William Solomon and other FCPS HR leaders will talk about all the exciting opportunities available at the school division. Attendees can visit tables where they can learn more about open positions, as well as salary, benefits, and retirement plans.
Learn more about the job and career fair and employment opportunities with FCPS. A registration link and information on the location are coming soon.
🐻 It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps schools prepare and ensure they have the necessary teachers and resources in place on the first day of school.
After determining which school your child will attend, families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. FCPS offers support and resources to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more details and support in other languages, visit the Registration webpage.
✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
♥️ Students Share Love Through Handmade Valentines
At Waynewood Elementary School, kindness isn’t just a lesson — it’s a way of life. On January 24, students put their hearts into action by creating handmade Valentine’s Day cards for people facing serious health challenges. Through a partnership with Valentines by Kids, students crafted messages of love and encouragement for individuals who are ill, homebound, or living in long-term care facilities. Read more about the valentine project at Waynewood.
✨ Growth in Portrait of a Graduate skills — like ethical and global citizens and collaboration — are part of Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Going Above and Beyond to Help Students Find Their Passions
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. By enrolling in a CTE course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment.
There are academies at six FCPS high schools. An academy is a center within an existing high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that successfully integrate career and academic preparation.
Cassandra Deedy (pictured above with a student) serves as the counselor at Edison Academy. Part of this role is to inform students, parents, and high school counselors about academy offerings. Learn more about Cassandra and her work.
✨ Evidence of progression toward or successful completion of advanced coursework (including Career and Technical Education) is part of Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. It is administered twice a year so students can share perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements they can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
✨A positive school climate and feeling safe, supported, included, and empowered, are part of Goal 2 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
🥣 Feeding Students’ Bellies, Minds, and Hearts
In the latest issue of Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid highlighted the second grade team at Cunningham Park Elementary School. Teachers had students make Stone Soup to help them connect to their Benchmark Advance language arts unit.
Just like the hungry traveler in the story the students read, teachers had each student contribute one ingredient to make delicious soup together. The unit teaches students about the power of working together in a community. Read more in Weekly Reflections.
📊 Few FCPS Students Contribute to “Nation’s Report Card”
In the Academic Matters section of the February 6 School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), which is also called “The Nation’s Report Card.” It was developed as a measure of the educational achievement and progress of students in fourth and eighth grade.
According to NAEP, 30-40% of students are proficient in reading and math in the fourth grade, and less than 30% in eighth grade. However, only 1.8% of FCPS students are included in this sample.
Based on SOL data, about 75% of FCPS fourth graders and 76-79% of our eighth graders are proficient in reading and math. Read more in Weekly Reflections.
✨ Growth and performance on assessments in reading and math are part of Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
📍 Comprehensive Boundary Review: Next Steps
This week, FCPS completed its final community boundary review meeting for Phase 1. Thanks to the more than 2,500 staff, families, and community members who shared their perspectives. Your engagement ensures that our work remains inclusive, transparent, and impactful.
The comprehensive boundary review remains in Phase 1 through the spring as data collection and analysis continue with the consultant. During this stage, we will assess current boundaries and develop draft boundary scenarios guided by community input. At this time, no boundary changes have been proposed.
Next steps include identifying key themes to shape the boundary scenarios. Draft scenarios will be shared for further community feedback in Phase 2
Please stay informed and involved! Visit the FCPS Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage and sign up to receive the School Boundary Review newsletter. If you have any additional questions or comments, please complete this form. Thank you for your continued participation in this process!
Breaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms
Families like you have told us what they want: challenging academics, safe, supportive schools, and great teachers!
Did you know that more than 85% of our budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based. This is higher than neighboring school districts.
We are currently in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.
Next Step in the Budget Process
The Fairfax County School Board will conduct a work session on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget on Tuesday, February 18. Learn where to watch School Board meetings.
🏗️ Annual Capital Improvement Program Update Approved by School Board
The Fairfax County School Board approved the annual update to the FCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at their regular board meeting last week. A CIP is a working budget document that shows the timing and costs of improvements to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools. These projects can include things like the renovation of Louise Archer Elementary School’s courtyard, pictured above. Learn more about planned improvements.
📐 Families Invited to Review Potential Math Resources
FCPS will begin using new mathematics instructional resources for the 2025-26 (secondary) and 2026-27 (elementary) school years. A committee of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet to review materials submitted by vendors through a competitive request for proposals process. The community is also invited to review materials and provide comments.
Resources may be accessed on the FCPS Mathematics webpage starting Friday, February 14.
Hard copies of instructional materials will be accessible in person beginning Friday, February 14, as well. Members of the public can view them Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr., Suite 100. In-person public review will not be available on Tuesday, February 25; Thursday, February 27; Tuesday, March 11; and Wednesday, March 12.
Feedback can be submitted through a digital form. All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with the Fairfax County School Board members before the board votes in spring 2025.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Presidents Day (Holiday)
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for the Presidents Day holiday. See the complete school year calendar.
Connect FCPS Calendars to Your Personal Calendar
You can subscribe to FCPS calendars so updates and new events will automatically be added to your Outlook or Google calendars. Subscribe to “All Calendars” or specific types of events, including holidays, featured FCPS events, School Board meetings, fine and performing arts events, or religious and cultural observances.
Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series
All students are invited to attend the 2025 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series and Career Building Workshops sponsored by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity in collaboration with FCPS. The series kicks off Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at West Springfield High School. It will also take place Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Chantilly High School.
At each fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. They can also attend career-building workshops like Resume Building and Interviewing 101. Most positions at the fair are geared toward students over 16, but some opportunities for younger students may be available with parental consent. Please visit the Teen Job Fair webpage for more information and to register.
