Partnership Update - March 2023

Student Produced Album Drops in May

Trilogy Sound Studio is days away from being Fairfax County Public Schools  newest Ignite Partner. Brought aboard by West Potomac Academy’s Music & Composition Tech Teacher and Career Experience Specialist, Trilogy is already delivering on promises to help students compose, engineer and market their music.

In May there will be a partnership agreement signing ceremony and listening party for the release of the student’s “album.” Will it be a trilogy?

Sneak a Listen

Here’s a link to listen to one of the student produced songs: COLD, by FivetwoFive. Stay tuned – pun intended – for more on this partnership.

The Thrill of an Outstanding Ignite Partnership 

The Children’s Science Center, FCPS Ignite Partners for 5 Years, recently presented a Family Science Night at Weyanoke Elementary School in Annandale.

Fantastic student faces and dynamic hands-on STEAM activities that wowed fill this short video, which does more to explain the value of partnerships than we can. Have a look!

This school year, the Children’s Science Center will support 18 Title I schools in FCPS with Family Science Nights. A world-class science center is coming to Northern Virginia. Thank you Children’s Science Center!

The ROI of Partnering

Partnering with Fairfax County Public Schools makes good business sense. From workforce development, to networking, to cause marketing, supporting your community schools pays Return On Investment (ROI) dividends.  

Regarding workforce development, a partnership can help your business or not-for-profit develop your existing workforce and your future workforce.  

Developing Your Existing Workforce

• Partnerships need strong leaders and so do organizations. 
• Task a few employees with leading a partnership and see who shines. The skills needed to lead a partnership include managing up and down, communications, logistics and more. 

Measurable ROI: Document employee retention and employee promotions through leadership development.

Developing Your Future Workforce

• Engaged businesses and community groups can help students acquire the skills specific to the employer's needs.
• Helping potential future employees understand the pathways to your careers (credentialing or degrees) and modeling the critically important soft skills can shorten the time between training and working.

Measurable ROI: Document the number of FCPS students you train and hire.

This newsletter and our Ignite Partnership’s Value Proposition demonstrates and outlines the public relations and marketing gains that can come from being an Ignite Partner.  An Ignite Partnership can drive sales and/or increase client engagement. 

FCPS Hall of Fame

Educate Fairfax is delighted to present the second annual FCPS Hall of Fame to honor distinguished alumni of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Educate Fairfax, its staff and board, believes that our vibrant and successful school system contributes to a great quality of life here in Fairfax County. By highlighting amazing graduates, we are drawing the connection that tomorrow’s stellar community leaders, business owners, and servant leaders are currently students in our schools right now.

Educate Fairfax is here to make sure all of them have a path to success.

This year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees will be announced later this month. The celebration will be April 19, 2023, and tickets are available through this link. To learn more, please visit the Educate Fairfax website.

FCPS Strategic Planning: How Are We Doing? 

Since last fall, thousands of community members, families, students, and staff have contributed to FCPS’ strategic planning process by participating in focus groups, planning teams, community forums, and surveys. 

We are now midway through that process. As business and community leaders living and working in our county, we would like you to provide feedback on the first round of draft goals and other elements. Please complete this survey at your earliest convenience. Your input will help us know whether we are headed in the right direction—one that will help ensure a thriving future for every Fairfax County Public Schools student and ultimately our community.

Please visit our website for more information. Thanks in advance for your time!

Preparing the Veterinary Sciences Workforce

At Edison High School Academy, students in the Veterinary Science program, students are preparing to enter a variety of avenues of the animal care field, such as in a veterinary hospital, grooming facility, or kennel. 

Educational topics in the two level program include: 

• body systems and nutrition
• disease prevention and parasitology
• hospital procedures and preventative care
• aseptic techniques 
• first aid 
• euthanasia
• performing office functions
• and more

Leadership training opportunities are also provided to promote the development of a well-rounded, effective member of the workforce.

You can read the course descriptions at the academy’s course website, including learning about associated career pathways. 

What’s an Academy?

A high school academy is a center within an existing high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that integrate career and academic preparation. FCPS has 6 High School Academies and each welcomes business and community partners.

To learn more about high school academy course offerings, visit any of the six High School Academy websites.

• Chantilly Academy
• Edison Academy
• Fairfax Academy
• Falls Church Academy
• Marshall Academy
• West Potomac Academy  

School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar

The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years in February. 

The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12. 

Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one factor, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process.

Learn more about the approved calendar.

Our Partners and the FCPS Trust Policy

As our valued partners, we hope that you will understand and support the tenets of the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Trust Policy, which has been added to all Ignite Partnership agreements. 

The Trust Policy affirms that students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.

In alignment with Fairfax County’s Trust and Confidentiality Policy, the trust policy confirms the School Board’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming space for all students and their families. 

Learn more about FCPS’ Trust Policy on our website.