FCPS This Week - June 5, 2024
A student at Floris Elementary School takes the wheel of a (parked) Metro bus at Big Truck Day.
End-of-Year Reminders for Families
The end of the school year is one week from today! Please see some important reminders below:
- Remind your child to return all school library books and FCPS laptops.
- Check your child’s MySchoolBucks account and pay any balances.
- Pick up any medications your child has been taking at school. A parent/guardian must pick them up in person.
- Bookmark the 2024-25 school year calendar to be ready for next year.
Please contact your child’s school with any questions.
🎓 Afghan Refugee Samiullah Conquers Challenges to Graduate
Afghan refugee Samiullah did not have the easiest path to graduation. Samiullah — whose family left Afghanistan after his father survived being kidnapped by the Taliban and detained for months — began his American public school experience in 2020. He has overcome every challenge in his path: not knowing how to use a computer but having to learn virtually, learning English, and passing Standards of Learning tests (SOLs).
This week, Samiullah graduated! He plans to attend Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in the fall. Read about his journey.
🧡 Wear Orange to Raise Awareness of Gun Violence
The first Friday in June — this year, June 7 — is recognized as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Also known as Wear Orange Day, it was first organized by students in 2013. Information about gun violence prevention is available on our website.
🌱 Growing and Empowering Little Graduates
Whether working as leaders at the SMART Board or singing a song about the “-er” suffix to the tune of “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” Tara Klibansky’s first grade students at Bucknell Elementary School are engaged, confident, and learning.
They’re not only absorbing the basics of their academic curriculum but also learning the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) foundations that are thoughtfully woven through her lessons and teaching methods. Read more about what inspired Tara to become a teacher and how she makes POG an organic part of her teaching.
🍎 Become a Teacher!
Know someone interested in becoming a teacher? If so, let them know about our job fair on Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m.-noon, at Oakton High School. Registration is required to attend.
📈 SOL Scores Posted in SIS ParentVUE
Families can find Standards of Learning (SOL) reports for spring testing in the SIS ParentVUE Documents section on or before the last day of school. Log in to your ParentVUE account to access the following:
- For all students, the official SOL Score Report with overall and reporting category performance for all spring tests.
- For students in grades 3-8, the SOL Growth Parent Report shows performance over time for state reading and math tests completed this school year.
Visit the FCPS website for additional information about spring assessment reporting practices and timelines.
Create a SIS ParentVUE Account
If you do not already have a SIS ParentVUE account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you can view your student’s attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment score reports.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Last Chance to Review Family Life Education Materials
The recommended Family Life Education instructional materials are available for community review through Monday, June 10, at 4:30 p.m. View details and a feedback form.
🩹 Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Immunizations are required for all students entering 7th and 12th grades this fall. Visit FCPS’ Immunization webpage to learn about the required vaccines.
Parents/caregivers should ask their private healthcare provider or the health department to review their student's immunization record to ensure their student has received these required immunizations.
It is important to schedule immunizations early in the summer, as seventh grade students must submit documentation of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines before they begin school in August. Students in the 12th grade must submit documentation of the Meningococcal vaccine.
Get more information on all student immunization requirements.
Inova Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs
Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children 5 years old and older with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at summer health fairs for children who are on Medicaid or are uninsured. The clinics will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates:
- Saturday, June 29, at ICC-Children - Manassas
- Saturday, July 20, at ICC-Children - Herndon
- Saturday, August 17, at ICC-Children - Falls Church
Appointments are required; no walk-ins will be allowed. Please call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.
Support Still Available for Seniors Applying for College Financial Aid
College Access Fairfax will hold free clinics throughout the summer at various locations in the county to help parents and students complete or correct the FAFSA or VASA financial aid forms. Clinics are currently scheduled on:
- Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Fairfax High School.
- Tuesday, June 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Apple Federal Credit Union in Fairfax Corner.
- Wednesday, June 26, 6-8 p.m. at Sully District Government Center.
- Wednesday, July 10, 6-8 p.m. at Mason District Government Center.
Both the student and a parent/guardian must attend the clinic. Applicants should bring a laptop to all clinics except Fairfax High School. Spanish translation will be available.
For more information, to register for a clinic, or to request a one-on-one appointment, please visit College Access Fairfax’s website. These services are free of charge.
Summer Mental Wellness Resources
Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations
This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 2. Forty-five-minute phone or videoconference consultations are available with a school psychologist or school social worker.
- Parents of students in any grade level can request a consultation to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
- Students in middle or high school can request a consultation to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.
We encourage all families to take advantage of this service. Request a consultation or call and leave a message at 703-503-2520.
No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students
Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to talk about and work through concerns such as:
- Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
In order for students to participate, caregivers must give permission for FCPS to share basic demographic information with Hazel Health in ParentVUE, and they must provide consent for their student to access therapy services.
Students can then be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or contacting an FCPS school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services.
Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
🌞Summer Activities
⚾ Enjoy Our School Grounds This Summer
School blacktops, playgrounds, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, and tracks are available for use by individuals (not organized groups) without being scheduled.
Please keep the following in mind when using these facilities:
- Use is allowed from dawn to dusk, except during school hours or when being used for school activities or other scheduled programs.
- Facilities must be shared with anyone else who wishes to use them.
- Please leave the facilities as you found them. Remove waste or debris from the property.
Visit our Availability, Fees, and Hours webpage for details on using school grounds and facilities. See our Community Use webpage for information on reserving facilities and to see a list of items prohibited in school buildings, on playgrounds, and on fields such as pets, alcohol, and fires. Groups interested in formally reserving school facilities should email [email protected] or call 571-423-2340.
Summer Fun for All: Summer Camps and Adapted Recreation
The Family Resource Center (FRC) has a list of dozens of summer camps including general camps, camps for students with a variety of needs, and camps for children of military personnel.
They’ve also prepared a list of adapted resources, sorted by activity, that are inclusive for children and adults of various physical abilities.
Learn more by calling 703-204-3941, emailing [email protected], or visiting the FRC's webpage.
📖 Adventure Begins at the Library This Summer!
The Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) understands the importance of summer reading. Reading and participating in engaging reading activities throughout the summer are two effective ways to help students retain skills they learned in school this year.
The Summer Reading Adventure kicks off on Wednesday, June 12. Join the adventure and register today!
Children’s Summer Reading Festival
Fairfax Library Foundation will celebrate FCPL’s annual summer reading program with two free Children's Summer Reading Festival events:
- Woodrow Wilson Library: Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Chantilly Regional Library: Sunday, August 18, noon-3 p.m.
Families can enjoy games, crafts, face painting, bounce houses, snacks, a DJ, and other activities.
Family Fun, All Summer Long!
Fairfax County Public Library also offers free family fun all summer long. Activities include animal presentations/petting zoos, Dinoman Dinosaurs, ArtSplash, Rocknosceros, Kaydee Puppets, and other fun events. View a full calendar of events.
Caribbean American Heritage Month
During June, FCPS celebrates the rich diversity of immigrants of Caribbean heritage and honors the many contributions they have made to our nation. More than 8.5 million individuals in the United States were born in the Caribbean or are of Caribbean ancestry. Learn more about Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Pride Month
In the month of June, we recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who are fighting to live freely and authentically. We stand with those facing an ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice. This Pride Month, we reaffirm and uphold the dignity of LGBTQIA+ people. Each individual in our school community should feel valued for who they are. Visit our LGBTQIA+ Student Resources and Supports webpage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
📅 Last Day of School Is June 12
As a reminder, the last day of the 2023-24 school year is Wednesday, June 12. Students will be dismissed early. See the complete school year calendar.
📰 Last Issue of FCPS This Week for the 2023-24 School Year
The last scheduled weekly issue of FCPS This Week will be Wednesday, June 12.
