FCPS This Week - September 18, 2024

Students with the Latinos United Students Association prepare to participate in Fairfax High School’s homecoming parade.

🏆 191 FCPS Students Named 2025 National Merit Semifinalists

One hundred ninety-one students from 19 Fairfax County public schools are among the semifinalists named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2025. See the full list of students honored. 

Access Your Child’s Intervention Plans

All FCPS schools use an approach called Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to make sure every student gets the help they need to learn. MTSS helps teachers deliver high-quality instruction for all students by providing extra time, support, and interventions as needed. Learn more about MTSS in FCPS. 

Families are partners in this process. Your child’s school will share information about their learning needs, support, and progress, as well as any interventions that are found to be necessary. 

Families can now see their child's intervention plans and progress in SIS ParentVUE. Expect progress to be updated quarterly with report card due dates. 

Find out how to log in to SIS ParentVUE and access MTSS information. 

FCPS SEL Screener: Student Survey on Well-Being

FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. 

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact your child’s school. 

Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:=

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. All Fairfax County public schools have at least one school counselor, school psychologist, and school social worker.

Please reach out to one of these staff members to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Call your school or visit their website for staff member contact information. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness. 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.

No-Cost Therapy for High Schoolers

High school students can access virtual mental health services at no cost through an FCPS program with Hazel Health. Their therapists are licensed and also trained in teen-specific challenges.

Students may be referred by a guardian or designated staff member and participate in weekly video therapy sessions. Therapists will work with students until they achieve their therapy goals, or they can help connect the family with long-term mental health services in the community if needed. 

Learn more about teletherapy for high schoolers.

Update your Child’s Immunization Records Today — It’s Required by Virginia Law!

Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. 

Please provide your child’s proof of immunization by Monday, September 30. You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record through ParentVUE using the Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet. You may also deliver records to your school’s front office. 

If your child is not yet up to date on their immunizations, but you have made an appointment to get them immunized, submit an Immunization Action Plan to your child’s school. You may also submit it through the “Student Information” section in ParentVUE. 

Once your child receives their immunizations, submit their immunization records to your school’s front office or through ParentVUE using the Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet.

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:
  

• A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
• A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
• A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations. 

🙋 How One School Dropped Chronic Absenteeism by 14%

Dranesville Elementary School’s strategic approach to promoting attendance saw chronic absenteeism drop from 20.6% to 6.9% in one year. Read some of the strategies they used to help make students — including the kindergartener above — excited to come to school.  

We All Belong at School

Each one of us is unique, and every student matters. If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please speak with a trusted adult at school. Watch this video about how everyone belongs at school. Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

💛 FCPS Trust Policy Supports Caring Culture

FCPS is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Government’s Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It 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. Please visit our Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation! 

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:

• Monday, September 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Newington Forest Elementary School.
• Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
• Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
• Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
• Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.

Events take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence

FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. 

Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice. 

🏀 Building Resilience Through Basketball: Trick Shots with Mr. Noel

Patrick Noel, a physical education teacher at Colvin Run Elementary School, discovered that by teaching basketball trick shots, his students learned a lot about determination and resilience in life. Read about how he incorporates those skills into his lessons.

📝 Weekly Reflections: Students Reporting Fewer Mental Health Challenges

In her latest issue of Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid shared some of the things she discovered this week, including results from the 2023-24 Fairfax County Youth Survey. One highlight is that students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade reported lowered levels of mental health challenges and substance use. These are the lowest rates recorded in the last 10 years. Learn more about this and Dr. Reid’s activities in Weekly Reflections. Subscribe now.

📆 Calendar Reminders

🕒 Early Release Monday on September 23 

Elementary schools in the following pyramids will release early on Monday, September 23:

Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Oakton, Robinson, and Westfield. 

View the Upcoming Events on your school's homepage to find early release dates that will impact your child. Learn more about Limited Early Release Mondays. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15) provides an opportunity to learn more about Hispanic culture. 

Fairfax Fiesta, Fairfax County’s Annual Hispanic Heritage celebration, will be held on Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Culmore Community Library. This free, family-friendly event welcomes guests of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy cultural performances and entertainment; an artisan market featuring handmade goods from local vendors; children’s activities such as face painting, crafts, and games; and cultural foods. Visit Celebrate Fairfax's website for more information.

The Fairfax County Public Library will host several events throughout the month including performances, crafts, and games. You can view a list of events on their website.

FCPS Policies, Regulations, and Notices Available Online

Virginia’s Standards of Quality require all school divisions to notify the public annually of the availability of the school system’s policies. A continuous review process ensures ongoing examination and revision of each policy, regulation, and notice as needed. View Fairfax County Public Schools policies. 

Any citizen who requests a hard copy of a directive has a right to receive it and should be provided the most current version printed from the website. The School Board office, at Gatehouse Administration Center, maintains the historical records of all directives.

Please call 571-423-1075 for more information.