FCPS This Week - September 4, 2024

Students at Orange Hunt Elementary School practice collaboration in a physical education class. 

🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office. 

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

• A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
• A health care 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 their religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations. 

🎤 Community Conversation with Superintendent Reid on September 9

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is hosting a series of Community Conversations across the school division. These informal conversations will provide a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ask questions about FCPS. 

The first conversation will be held Monday, September 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Holmes Middle School. Register for this event. 

Registration is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. 

🍎 Make School Attendance a Priority

As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan time away during breaks from school. 

Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. 

Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read on grade level at the end of third grade.

Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.

🎨 FCPS CARES Recipient Touches the Hearts of Students

FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents/caregivers, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. One of the CARES of the Month recipients for May is Matthew Ravenstahl, an art teacher at South Lakes High School. He is pictured above with a student in his inclusive art class. The student’s parent nominated Matt. 

“Matt’s ability to share his love of art has extended beyond the typical and touched the hearts of our special needs children,” the parent said. “Before starting in Matt’s art class, our [son] had sensory problems and did not like the feel of sticky or gooey materials. Now, he does not mind working with different textured materials and he is producing artwork displayed at local community centers. Our son’s future has more options because of Dr. Ravenstahl.”

Congratulations to Matt and the other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients:

• Jaime Villamarin Perdomo, Stonecroft Transportation Center.
• Rachel Baxter and Krissy Ronan, Marshall High School.
• Ana Mack, Sandburg Middle School.
• Ryan Nigro, Kings Park Elementary School.
• Mike Gerber, Westbriar Elementary School.
• Jackie Lake, Braddock Elementary School.

Read about all the recipients.

🖥️ How Is FCPS’ New Website Design Working for You?

FCPS recently launched our new website design! Thanks to all who provided feedback on ways to improve the central and school sites when the process started a year ago. We plan to start rolling out redesigned school sites next year. 

Now that our new central website is live, we want to know if it meets your needs. Please take five minutes to tell us what you think in this optional survey, which closes on Monday, September 16.

Responses will be anonymous. Thank you for your time.  

✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12

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. 

Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.

The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they're joining us in preschool or high school, we want our students to be set up for success.

See how Goal 1 is being put into practice. Watch the video above about pre-K.

📰 Go Team FCPS! Read Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections

In the latest issue of Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid reviews a week of meetings with school, community, and business leaders; who all work hard to help our students achieve their best. 

Dr. Reid also shared edits and updates that the Virginia Board of Education has adopted to Virginia’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). 

Read Weekly Reflections and subscribe now.

FCPS Statement on Nondiscrimination: Americans With Disabilities Policy Notice

Fairfax County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, Title IX, and pregnancy), marital status, religion, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information in its programs and activities. These protections apply to students, employees, and other members of the public.

FCPS is committed to equal access and equal opportunity in all services and employment, including its policies, complaint process, program accessibility, religious accommodations, and other equal employment opportunity matters. FCPS prohibits retaliation against individuals who report allegations of discrimination, file a formal complaint, or participate in the investigative process.

Compliance is coordinated by the directors of the following:

• Office of Employee Relations, Department of Human Resources, regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment issues. Find contact information on their website. 
• Office of Special Education Procedural Support, Department of Special Services, 571-423-4290, regarding programs and activities for students with disabilities.

For more information, visit the non-discrimination policy webpage or the non-discrimination/ADA webpage.