FCPS This Week - May 24, 2023

Students at Navy Elementary School explore a pollinator garden in their outdoor learning lab.

Activities on Student Well-Being at Your Child’s School

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to supporting the academic, social, and emotional success of all students. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) boosts academic performance and helps students develop the skills they need to succeed at school and in life. Together with families, FCPS equips students with the skills they need to learn from their mistakes, set and achieve goals, build positive relationships, and become responsible and caring members of our global community.

FCPS also wants to share key materials with families, since they play an essential role in fostering their student’s learning. Through our newly published SEL Instructional Materials website, families can explore the resources available to schools as they plan for Morning Meeting, Closing Circle, and Responsive Advisory Meetings. Schools may choose other high-quality activities, as long as they are aligned with these practices and SEL skill development. Please contact your principal for information about particular resources used at your child’s school.

🏆 Students Win at International Science and Engineering Fair

Five students from Fairfax County Public Schools won awards at the 2023 International Science and Engineering Fair, held recently in Dallas. Read about the students and their projects.

📓 Chantilly Teacher Realizes Dream

Luc Nguyen knew in kindergarten that he wanted to become a teacher. Although he applied to districts across Northern Virginia, there was something about Chantilly High School and FCPS that made them feel like the right fit. Read more about Luc’s journey and background. 

Want to become a teacher for FCPS? Learn how!  

✅ Student Testing Results Coming Soon

Starting in late May, caregivers will receive reports for assessments their students completed this spring. Not sure what assessments your student took this year? A list of tests by grade level is available. Scores will be delivered in SIS ParentVUE, by mail, or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines. 

Some families will also receive a Virginia’s Visualization and Analytics Solution (VVAAS) Student Assessment Summary report with historical Standards of Learning (SOL) test results from 2015-2022. 

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student assessments or contact your student's school.

How to Support Your Child’s Success

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 are able to view your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessment score reports. 

Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. 

Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Update Your Contact Information in weCare@School

Within SIS ParentVUE, FCPS provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system. weCare helps manage contact and emergency medical information by allowing parents/caregivers to enter and update their children’s data online. 

That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive critical updates from the district and their child’s school through the eNotify system. FCPS uses eNotify to communicate emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent by email, text, and occasionally by phone. Learn more about updating your emergency care information.

🎓 Share Your Graduation or Promotion Ceremony Photos on Social Media

Graduation season is almost here! FCPS parents, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures from this year's graduation or promotion ceremonies on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram by tagging FCPS and using the hashtag #FCPSgrad23. We will retweet and share some of the photos.

View the FCPS high school graduation schedule, including dates, times, and locations.

🏃‍♀️ Pre-Participation Physicals for Middle and High School Athletes

Pending budget adoption, FCPS will offer middle school students a chance to participate in cross country this fall and track in spring 2024.

Any 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 are offering PPEs at a cost of $50 per student through Saturday, 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 and sports physicals.

🛶 West Potomac and Chantilly High School Students Engineer a Boatload of Fun

Using only cardboard and duct tape, 26 students from West Potomac and Chantilly high schools engineered boats and embarked on Lake Barcroft to see who could stay afloat. Read more about the race day at Lake Barcroft.

This opportunity was made possible through FCPS’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.CTE courses are available in every middle and high school in subjects including Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology and Engineering Education, and Trade and Industrial Education. Learn more about the CTE courses available at FCPS. 

🎧 Podcast on Family Resource Center

In the latest episode of “En Pocas Palabras,” hear how the Family Resource Center (FRC) provides supports for all FCPS families and school staff. Meet Mary Beth Harrison-Cunningham, manager of the FRC, and Amal Elsayed, family liaison. 

The Family Resource Center provides free library resources, confidential consultations, and informational webinars. Contact the Family Resource Center at 703-204-3941 or [email protected].   

“En Pocas Palabras” is available in Arabic, English, Korean, and Spanish. Listen and subscribe. 

A Day in the Life of a Kindergartener

Take a peek at a day in the life of a kindergarten class at Mosaic Elementary School! Kindergarten registration is ongoing at all elementary schools. Learn more on our kindergarten registration webpage. 

Charting Our Course for the Future

The School Board held a work session last Thursday where they completed the pillars of our new Strategic Plan. Also, the final survey closed last Wednesday; 8,095 participants weighed in! 

The Strategic Plan will be presented as new business at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 25. Find out where to view the Board meeting. Visit FCPS' website to learn about our Strategic Planning process.

💪 Let's Finish the School Year Strong! 

Student attendance at school is important all year long—right up to the last day of school. Attendance has an effect on student performance and on school accreditation. See how to:

• Check your child’s attendance record.
• Help your student stay engaged at school.
• Report future absences.
• Understand the FCPS school calendar.

Learn more about attendance resources.

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]. 

💐 Memorial Day Holiday

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 30. Learn about the history of Memorial Day. See the complete school year calendar.

Looking Ahead: Early Dismissal June 16

As a reminder, the last day of the 2022-23 school year is Friday, June 16, and students will be dismissed early. Check with your child's school for its dismissal time.

School Board Meeting on May 25 at 7 p.m.

The School Board will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. Agenda highlights include:

• FY 2024 Budget
• Strategic Plan
• Proposed 2023 School Bond Referendum

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