FCPS This Week - September 27, 2023

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future: A Community Conversation. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to:

• Glasgow Middle School on Tuesday, October 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Kilmer Middle School on Thursday, October 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m. 
• Madison High School on Tuesday, October 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (The registration link is coming soon.)

A Community Conversation is also scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Please stay tuned for details regarding the location.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. 

Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. Your voice matters! 

📜 Students Earn AP Capstone Diploma, and AP Seminar and Research Certificates

Eighty-six FCPS students earned the Advanced Placement (AP) ® Capstone Diploma, and 16 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2022-23 school year.

AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from the College Board based on two year-long AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills. 

See the full list of student awardees.

October 2 Is National Custodian Appreciation Day!

Monday, October 2, is National Custodian Appreciation Day. FCPS employs more than 1,300 custodians, field custodians, and building supervisors to maintain our more than 28 million square feet of infrastructure. Thanks to our custodial team, our students have clean, safe places to learn. 

One of our amazing custodial employees is last year’s Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee Leonard Roberts, a custodian at Bull Run Elementary School. See what makes Leonard so special.

🎖️ Blue Star Welcome Week at Frost Middle School

Approximately 600,000 active-duty and transitioning military families move each year. Blue Star Welcome Week (September 23 to October 1) is a nationwide campaign to build a better sense of community and belonging for those who serve and their families.

Julia Kim, an eighth grader at Frost Middle School, is one of the 134 military-connected students who make up almost 11% of the school's student population. She has moved eight times and has lived internationally. She is currently in her third year in FCPS and is an ambassador to help other military-connected students feel welcome at Frost. 

Read more about Blue Star Welcome Week at Frost Middle School.

Watch this Blue Star Welcome Week message from Dr. Reid.

FCPS Reaches Settlement in Juul Litigation

FCPS has settled a class-action lawsuit against vaping company Juul Labs, Inc. The money will be allocated to supporting student wellness programs across the division. Read more about the settlement.

🗓️ Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events

Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.

When scheduling trips or family events, try to use weekends and school holidays, and refer to the FCPS Calendar when planning. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence to their school. Most schools have links to their attendance email or notification systems on their homepages. If you are unsure how to report an absence, please call your school’s front office.

Watch a video with tips on understanding FCPS' school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

👟 Walk and Roll to School Day

FCPS will participate in International Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 4, as a way to promote physical activity, and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools.

Students and staff are encouraged to bike or walk to school, where safe to do so, on October 4. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Watch Marshall Road Elementary School’s bike train in action.

Get more information about Walk and Roll to School Day.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Coming Soon

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener.  

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in February or March. It addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. 

The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. Key updates to the screener this year include:

• Different versions for students in grades 3-5 and 6-12. 
• Fewer topics with more questions to provide schools and families with more data to support planning. 
• Additional questions aligned with FCPS’ commitment to educational equity.  

SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in 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 differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey. 

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 members’ contact information. Find additional information 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. The 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 how to opt your students in to this service.

🏃‍♀️ A Strong Start for Middle School Athletics

Middle school students from across the division put on their running shoes last week as cross country teams met for the first time. 

FCPS designated funding in the 2023-24 school year budget for middle school athletics to support student wellbeing at no cost to students. Cross country is being offered this fall at all middle schools. Track will follow in spring 2024.

Read about Jackson Middle School’s first cross country practice.

Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference

The 2023 Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference, sponsored by Assistive Technology Services (ATS) in the Department of Special Services, will be held on Saturday, October 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m at West Springfield High School. 

The RATE Conference focuses on strategies for using assistive technology hardware, software, and peripherals to enhance learning for all students. 

The keynote speaker is Dell McDonald, a technical support specialist in FCPS' Department of Information Technology. Dell will share how assistive technology tools positively impacted his educational experience and are an integral part of his career. Breakout sessions will focus on inclusive technology, reading and writing strategies, assistive technology in the early childhood classroom, communication tools, and other topics. 

Parents/caregivers, teachers, staff, and community members are invited to attend. 

Check out the conference webpage to register, and to view the conference schedule and session descriptions.

🏗️ Projects Funded by Recent School Bonds

Thanks to the support of Fairfax County citizens who approved the 2019 and 2021 bond referendums, projects have been funded at Armstrong, Bonnie Brae, Braddock, Bren Mar Park, Brookfield, Crossfield, Dranesville, Fox Mill, Herndon, Hybla Valley, Lees Corner, Louise Archer, Mosaic, Oak Hill, Wakefield Forest, Washington Mill, and Willow Springs, elementary schools; Cooper and Frost middle schools; and Centreville, Falls Church, Justice, Madison, and West Potomac high schools. 

Not only do our facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, from both a technological and instructional standpoint. FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that students across the division have high quality, effective learning environments.

Watch some of the ribbon-cutting celebrations. Follow the status of FCPS capital projects for updates on renovation projects. 

The 2023 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 7. Learn about registering to vote.

Free COVID-19 Tests

Every U.S. household can place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home.

Review health and safety guidance for schools to stay up to date on the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and for information on when students should stay home from school.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Staff Development Day on October 9

Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present. This year, Monday, October 9, is a student holiday and staff development day. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ Day from the National Museum of the American Indian.

See the complete school year calendar.

Gun Safety and Safe Gun Storage

Providing students and staff with a safe educational environment remains our top priority. Sadly, gun violence continues to impact schools and communities across our nation.

As you may be aware, lessons on gun safety are already built into our curriculum. However, parents and guardians, it is critical that you talk to your children about the importance of gun safety and safe gun storage in your home, and in any home that your children may visit.

Our website has gun safety resources as well as detailed information about FCPS safety and security practices in our buildings.

School Board Meeting on September 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The School Board will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m. Agenda highlights include:

• Executive Expectations. 
• Academic Matters.
• Divisionwide Comprehensive Plan. 

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