FCPS This Week - October 30, 2024

Carter G. Woodson Smith, great-great nephew of Carter G. Woodson, holds up an image of his ancestor at the rededication ceremony of Woodson High School. Carter Smith is a student at Greenbriar West Elementary School. Read more about the Woodson High School rededication below. 

Community Gathers for State of Our Schools Event

Community leaders heard from Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and other Leadership Team members at the inaugural State of Our Schools. The event was sponsored by Educate Fairfax and featured student presentations and performances — including one by Franklin Middle School, pictured above. Visit the State of Our Schools webpage to view video highlights. 

💪 Sharing Our Success

We invite you to look back at the 2023-24 school year and relive some of our greatest moments. See how our amazing students and staff excelled last year, and together, contributed to making FCPS a premier school division. 

🗳️ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to complete a Federal Impact Aid Survey as soon as possible. The form is available in ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in).

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Register for ParentVUE

Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child. 

Upcoming Family Academy Events

You are an important part of your child's education! The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings. 

🖥️ Free Webinars for Families

In November, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

• Supporting siblings of children with disabilities for middle school siblings (in-person event).
• 5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown and Stop the Shame Cycle.
• Language Arts and Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities.
• Executive Functioning Skills (presented in Arabic).
• Helping Teens Develop Coping Skills and Emotional Intelligence.
• Starting the Conversation About Drugs.

Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage.

Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair

This event is for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities who will need continued support after they leave FCPS. Families will learn about supported employment options, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential living options, travel training supports, advocacy, and funding. 

The Moving on to Life in the Community resource fair will take place Wednesday, November 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Fairfax High School. Interpretation will be provided using Microsoft Translator on supported devices. Staff will be available to help participants as needed. 

✨ Fostering trusting partnerships with families is included in Pillar B of the FCPS Strategic Plan: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships. 

🎉 Woodson Community Celebrates New Namesake

The Fairfax County School Board voted last year to rename Woodson High School for Carter G. Woodson, who is widely considered the “Father of Black History.” Carter G. Woodson, a journalist and an educator, later became dean of Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences. 

Hundreds of C.G. Woodson High School students and families, local leaders, Woodson pyramid principals, Dr. Reid, Woodson's family members, and alumni and teachers gathered this week to rededicate the building, honor the school’s new namesake, and reflect on history.

🍎 FCPS Celebrates Farm-to-School Week

In her latest Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid shared how some schools celebrated Virginia Farm to School Week. This observance highlights the importance of students having access to locally grown food in cafeterias, preschools, and summer food programs; while enhancing educational opportunities in school gardens, student farms and land labs, classrooms, and cafeterias. Read more in Weekly Reflections. Subscribe now. 

✨ Ensuring access to healthy food so students can successfully engage in school is part of the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe Supported, Included, and Empowered. 

🎬 Licht, Kamera, und… Action: Dual Language Immersion Student Reaches German Movie Stardom

While Tamino Beba attends class in Fairfax County, thousands of people more than 4,000 miles away are watching the West Springfield High School freshman on the silver screen. Tamino just made his acting debut in the German movie, “Woodwalkers,” and his education in Fairfax County Public Schools prepared him to work on the foreign film set. Read more about Tamino and FCPS’ German Dual Immersion program. 

2023 Fairfax County Youth Survey Reports Lower Substance Use, Fewer Mental Health Challenges

In the Academic Matters section of the October 24 School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed the results of the 2023-24 Fairfax County Youth Survey. The Fairfax County Government conducts the survey, which covers topics such as substance abuse, mental health, physical health and nutrition, and bullying and aggressive behavior. 

The survey found that most students reported no use of any substances. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use continued to decrease in 2023. This year’s rates were the lowest since 2010, and are lower than those reported nationally for most substances. Students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade also reported lowered levels of mental health challenges (rates of stress, sadness, and markers of mental health crises). Read more about the Youth Survey. 

2024 Youth Survey Coming Up in November

The 2024 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be given to students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 between Tuesday, November 12, and Friday, November 22. Parents/caregivers will be notified by their child's school of its plans to administer the survey and given the opportunity to opt their student out of the survey. 

Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage to review the opt-out forms. There, you can also find more information and translations of the parent letter.

📚 Opportunity to Review Social Studies Classroom Resources

FCPS is adopting social studies instructional materials for the 2025-26 school year. Part of the process for selecting new resources is a public review of the materials being considered, which is taking place until Thursday, October 31. See how to view the materials online or in person. 

All community feedback will be shared with the School Board before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.

🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Quarter End/Early Release, Diwali/Día de los Muertos and All Saints Day, Student Holidays

Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter and a two-hour early release for students.

Friday, November 1, is a holiday for Diwali, Día de los Muertos, and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed.

Schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5 (Election Day), for a teacher workday.

☀️ Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour! 

See the complete school year calendar.