FCPS This Week - May 10, 2023

May is Mental Health Month. Students at Eagle View Elementary School take a break from class to feed and pet an Alpaca.

🏃‍♀️ Middle School Athletics Coming This Fall

FCPS has designated funding in the budget for the 2023-24 school year for middle school athletic activities to support student well-being at no cost to students. Pending budget adoption, this will be the first time FCPS has offered middle school students a chance to participate in extracurricular sports programs. 

Middle schools will start with cross country this fall. Track will follow in spring 2024.

Any middle school students who would like to participate in athletics will need to have a Virginia High School League (VHSL) pre-participation examination (PPE). The physical exam form must be completed and signed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Fairfax County public high schools will offer PPEs at a cost of $50 per student through June 17. Students who receive free and reduced-priced meals are eligible to receive an exam at no cost.

Learn more about middle school athletics.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!

In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at the school—a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit our website for more attendance resources. 

📝 Tutor.com Offers Live Tutoring and Test Prep

Writing help, practice quizzes, and SAT test prep are available to all FCPS students at no cost through Tutor.com. Find out how your child can get these services, in addition to 24/7 live tutoring, through their Schoology account: Elementary School | Middle and High School. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates 

The School Board will review updates to the proposed changes to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document at their regular meeting this week. The proposed changes have been updated online. The School Board is scheduled to approve the 2023-24 SR&R on Thursday, June 15. 

🥇 Thirty-Six FCPS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Winners 

Thirty-six students from nine Fairfax County high schools have been named winners of $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Scholarship winners are part of a group of approximately 2,500 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships in 2023 primarily financed by the NMSC. Read more about the awards and see a list of winners.  

🏆 Students Earn Awards at DECA International Conference

Thirty-three students from six Fairfax County public high schools earned DECA’s highest honors at the organization’s annual International Career Development Conference. Read more about the awards and see a list of winners.  

🏆 Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities Announces First Class Award Winners

The Fairfax County Public Schools Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) presented their First Class Awards at the 18th Annual Special Education Conference. The awards recognize educators, administrators, and students who support, implement, or design programs and activities that include students with disabilities and improve outcomes for all students. Read about this year’s winners. 

“Pure Imagination” at Centreville High School

This review of Centreville High School's production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka is written by Gwendolyn Eagle of Westfield High School.

The Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as 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. 

Being a “Mirror” for Students

Growing up, Tori Huynh didn’t see many people who looked like her. Now, she strives to be a “mirror and a window” for her second grade students at Camelot Elementary School. 

“I strive to foster a welcoming classroom environment that affirms students' identities,” she says. 

Interested in becoming a teacher? Learn about the process to become a teacher for FCPS. 

We Want You to Be a Part of our Team!

FCPS is searching for staff who have a passion for making a difference. A career fair will be held on Wednesday, May 17, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Gatehouse Administration Center. 

We are looking for staff to work in the following areas: payroll and accounting, human resources, transportation (school bus drivers), HVAC, plumbing, electrical, custodians, procurement and finance, food services, and (hourly) multilingual interpreters. 

The fair will provide opportunities to network and the possibility of interviewing representatives from various FCPS offices. Learn more and register for the career fair. 

School Safety and Security Presentation to the School Board

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented on School Safety and Security at the April 27 School Board Meeting. Missed the meeting? Dr. Reid’s presentation is available in Boarddocs (English only).

✅ Final Feedback Opportunity on Draft Strategic Plan

There is one week left to give input on the draft Strategic Plan. Please take our survey today, if you haven’t already. Similar to a roadmap, a strategic plan clearly defines the best route for us to take in the years ahead to reach our goals.

The survey will close Wednesday, May 17. Your voice matters! 

The School Board will discuss the draft Strategic Plan during their May 25 meeting. They are scheduled to vote on the plan during their June 15 Board meeting. Stay up-to-date on FCPS’ strategic planning process.

Providing a Safe and Welcoming Space

The FCPS Trust Policy supports a continued commitment to foster a caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families in our schools. The policy ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.

Additional information is available in multiple languages on our Trust Policy webpage. If you have questions about the policy, please contact FCPS’ Office of Professional Learning and Equity at [email protected]. Staff, students, and families can report possible Trust Policy violations to [email protected].

❤️ Thank You Teachers and School Staff!

May 8-12 is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We thank all of our outstanding teachers and staff for their dedication and support year round! 

Thank a Teacher Twice

Educate Fairfax believes teachers are the heart of our community. This year, join us in celebrating their tireless dedication to our students. 

Make a donation to Educate Fairfax through this special link, and they will honor a teacher at the same time! They will thank the teacher with a special card from you, and your donation will be used to supplement our programs, all of which impact teachers and students in FCPS—Kids in Need, Employee Recognition, Teacher Grants, and Literacy. 

Visit the Educate Fairfax website for more details. 

Student Observance Design Challenge

FCPS is looking for student-designed graphics or artwork to represent the observances that are recognized on the FCPS school year calendar for 2023-24 (PDF). 

Middle and high school students are encouraged to tap into their creativity to design visuals that accurately and positively represent the many religious observances recognized in the FCPS community. Visit the design challenge webpage for more information on eligibility and design guidelines. Submissions are due Sunday, June 11. 

Jewish American Heritage Month

May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

🩺 National School Nurse Day

National School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 10. It is a day to recognize the many contributions that school nurses make to student health and learning.  

Fairfax County Public Schools appreciates the role of School Public Health Nurses (PHNs) for their contribution to the health and welfare of all our students. Professional school nurses support the needs of students through their delivery of healthcare, contributions to local school communities, and promotion of safety, prevention, and wellness throughout the year. They are advocates who bridge healthcare and education by supporting student health and readiness to learn. School nurses are essential to our community and work tirelessly to make a positive impact in the lives of their students.  

Please join us in thanking the PHNs for their hard work and dedication to FCPS students!  

Fentanyl Awareness

Yesterday was National Fentanyl Awareness Day. In 2021, fentanyl was identified in 77.14% of adolescent overdose deaths.

FCPS continues to take active steps to address substance misuse prevention and intervention in schools. In doing so, Regulation 2151: Management of Naloxone Administration in Schools has been revised to expand the category of personnel required to be trained in naloxone (Narcan) administration, and address student administration of naloxone. The revisions to Regulation 2151 were incorporated to expand access to potentially life-saving resources should there be a suspected opioid overdose in school. 

Read the regulation to learn more about who is required to be trained in the administration of naloxone/Narcan and the guidelines surrounding authorization to carry or administer naloxone. The Fairfax County Government is hosting a series of virtual REVIVE! trainings this month (in English and Spanish). Attendees learn what to do (and not do) in an overdose situation.

School Board Meeting on May 11 at 7 p.m.

The School Board will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Agenda highlights include:

• Student Rights and Responsibilities annual review.
• FY24 Proposed ESSER III Budget. 
• FY24 Budget.
• Proposed 2023 School Bond Referendum.

See the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.