Superintendent's Weekly Reflections
Hello Team FCPS!
I want to start my notes this evening with a 'thank you for your service' to all Fairfax County Public Schools staff and community members who are veterans and have served this amazing country. Secondly, I would like to thank those who are family members of veterans as I understand the sacrifice this entails. Thank you!!
Some great news this week, 48 students representing 17 Fairfax County high schools and one elementary school have been selected for the 2024 All-Virginia Orff Ensemble, the 2024 All-Virginia Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble, and the 2024 Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Senior Honors Choir! The students will rehearse and perform with other premier musicians from across the state from Tuesday, November 19, through Saturday, November 23, in Norfolk. The performances are free and open to the public.
Students throughout Virginia went through a rigorous audition process to audition for positions within these ensembles. Participants will rehearse with nationally recognized conductors and collaborate with fellow musicians during the event. Congratulations to all those who were chosen for this prestigious honor!! The Thoreau Middle School Symphonic Band will be performing at the VMEA Conference on November 22 in Norfolk. Only two middle school bands were selected from the entire state! Congratulations to Band Director Patrick Smith and all the Golden Eagles!
Congratulations are also in order to Spring Hill Elementary School, which was recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School at a ceremony on Friday at the U.S. Department of Education, and was commended as an Exemplary High Performing School based on high achievements in reading and mathematics during the 2022-23 school year! Spring Hill is among eight schools in Virginia and 356 schools in the country receiving the honor. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes high-performing schools and schools making exemplary progress toward closing achievement gaps.
In addition, sixth grade students from Mosaic Elementary School (pictured above) performed the national anthem at the ceremony, Under the direction of David James, 25 of Mosaic Elementary School’s 6th grade chorus members represented the commonwealth of Virginia, performing for the National Blue Ribbon ceremony in Washington D.C. on November 8. The event honors National Blue Ribbon schools across the country, of which Mosaic was a recipient in 2022. This year’s ceremony was headlined by U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona. April Bowles, of Mosaic Elementary School, had the honor of reading his introduction. The students were able to meet with Dr. Cardona following their performance. A recording of the performance can be viewed here.
Last week, a fun Shakespeare in the Park event was held at Van Dyck Park in the City of Fairfax. The three schools involved were Fairfax High School, which performed Much Ado About Nothing; Woodson High School, which performed Lear (more about this below); and Robinson Secondary School, which performed A Midsummer Night's Dream (pictured above). This event came together largely due to the efforts of Fairfax students Kat Pascual, Libby Hansen, Naomi Bautista, and Raymond Walker. They reached out to other schools and the City of Fairfax to acquire a space, date, and time for the performances. Since so many schools in FCPS were doing Shakespeare fall productions, they thought it was a great idea to collaborate and share their work with each other. Shakespeare can be extremely challenging, and they wanted to have a space to show off their work as well as support each other in their classical theater journey. Our students will continue to lead us!
On Monday, I visited Annandale Terrace Elementary School during the Annandale Pyramid math professional development session. It was inspiring to see second grade teachers from across the pyramid collaborating on the upcoming math unit, sharing strategies, and adapting resources specifically to support our multilingual learners. Katie Niehoff, the elementary math resource teacher at Annandale Terrace, facilitated a dynamic session that fostered insightful discussions and highlighted effective approaches for engaging all students in math. Witnessing the dedication and teamwork among educators was truly energizing.
I also had the opportunity to visit Columbia Elementary School as part of the professional learning session, where I was welcomed by Assistant Principal Sarah Boudart and School-Based Technology Specialist Shannon Dumont. I observed a session in the library with fourth grade teachers from the Annandale Pyramid. Led by Math Resource Teacher Shea Hestmark, the workshop focused on exploring resources and strategies for their upcoming math unit. This collaborative effort brought math teachers together to ensure alignment and strong math instruction from kindergarten through twelfth grade, in direct support of Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Strong Start: Pre-K-12. This work matters!
Please join me in welcoming our new Chief Safety and Security Officer Brian Lambert to Team FCPS!! The Office of Safety and Security provides overall guidance, direction, and support to the safety, health, and security programs, including federal (and Commonwealth of Virginia equivalent), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programs. Safety and Security also develops, implements, and monitors student and employee health and safety programs; monitors and standardizes chemical purchases; and implements necessary hazardous waste disposals. In a district as large as ours, you can imagine that they are very busy! We are so blessed to have such a great department taking care of us.
Friday morning, the Governor of Virginia held a press conference to highlight the public release of approximate modeled school-level data based on the new Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) School Performance and Support Framework. The released data purports to show how schools would have performed if the new framework had been in place this fall, based on 2023-24 student performance. Both the framework itself and this data are unclear on several levels. The modeled data looks at past assessment results and does not account for changes in assessments or cut scores for new reading and math standards that will be in effect beginning in Spring 2025. This makes it difficult to use past performance as a reliable indicator of how students might perform on the new assessments.
Team FCPS, along with division staff around Virginia, continue to work to build understanding around the new state accountability system. Unfortunately, the released data is yet another aspect of the school performance model that remains a challenge for school divisions. The framework is a work in progress as the Virginia Department of Education rolls out ongoing updates in the details of its accountability changes. Within FCPS, we will continue to focus on the goals, metrics, and equity commitments within our Strategic Plan. We will also continue to celebrate that all our schools are accredited.
Wednesday, I attended a meeting with the Family Vision Group for Quad 1 at Langston Hughes Middle School. The Family Vision Group cultivates a community where respect and civility are the cornerstones of every conversation, and where active listening and open-mindedness lead the way to meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding.
On Thursday evening, I held an Employee Conversation at Dogwood Elementary School. I really appreciate the parents, caregivers, and employees who attend these events to ask questions and share their feedback about our schools with me. The next Employee Conversation will be on Tuesday, November 19, at Laurel Ridge Elementary School. Registration is encouraged, but not required. It does help us plan. You can register here. I hope to see you!
I stopped by Hayfield Secondary School Thursday, where students and staff planted a field of 100 American flags in partnership with the Disabled American Veterans to honor local veterans and raise critical funds to support our nation’s ill and injured heroes. Hayfield raised $1,310, which is 304% more than the average fundraiser for this event! Sara James, Hayfield's Civics collaborative team lead, and the Civics Department spearheaded this service-learning project with their students after concluding their Citizenship Unit.
Their goal is to continue teaching our next generation about the sacrifices made by our service men and women while making connections between true patriotism and citizenship in action. Roxanne Seftas, Hayfield Social Studies department chair, and Civics teachers and co-teachers Evan Becker, Ingrid Sanchez, Heather Demers-Keller, and Virginia Rotteveel, military, and family life counselor, displayed outstanding teamwork while supporting students in creating a beautiful display of American flags honoring our veterans! The flags will remain on display throughout Veterans Day weekend for the entire Hayfield community to enjoy. Go Hawks!!
And on Thursday evening, I stopped by the PTA meeting at Rocky Run Middle School. I’m thankful to the PTA for inviting me, and the face-to-face discussions served as a vital bridge between myself and Rocky Run parents, fostering a deeper understanding of county policies and visions. The question and answer session was particularly impactful, allowing parents to voice their concerns and gain clarity on important issues, especially regarding school safety.
Friday morning I attended a Veterans Day celebration at Silverbrook Elementary School. As someone who grew up in a military-connected household, I have deep appreciation for those who have served in our armed forces. I was honored to join Silverbrook students and staff to say thank you to all in our FCPS community who’ve served our country, including their very own Principal Pamela Simpkins!
We were able to recognize many military veterans at Silverbrook alone, including Army Reservist and Kindergarten teacher Romnick Fallejo, Special Education Teacher and Air Force veteran TaShawn Ehlers, and Strings Instructor Abner Mondoloka, who is both an Army veteran and reservist, as well veterans assisting our students in other ways, including Audiologist and Army veteran Sheila Moore, High impact Tutor and Navy veteran Heather Moxey, and Public health Nurse and Air Force veteran Melissa Ford. Go Seahawks!!
The dedication of our veterans who continue to serve our country in a new way — by helping our students — underscores what it means to commit to a lifetime of service. Learning happens best in community!
As we celebrate Veterans Day across FCPS, I am proud to announce that 38 more schools have been named as Purple Star Schools for their efforts to support military-connected students and their families. We now have 96 schools – almost half of the district – that have achieved the Purple Star designation! Go Team FCPS!! You can learn more about my visit to Silverbrook, as well as my goal for FCPS to achieve Purple Star Division status by 2026-27, with 100% of our schools being designated as Purple Star Schools, by watching this video. Thank you to all our Veterans!!
Also on Friday at Gatehouse Administration Center, we were treated to a student performance by the Stone Middle School Varsity Jazz Ensemble. This is a group of advanced student musicians that meet regularly after school to learn more about this uniquely American style of music. The work these students do is in addition to their regular band and orchestra performances, and they perform regularly at school concerts and community events. They have earned superior ratings and finished in second place at the Chantilly Invitational Jazz Festival for the past two years. Go Panthers!!
Later Friday, I had the honor of speaking to some of the brightest upcoming leaders from our great Commonwealth of Virginia at the annual Virginia High School League Student Leadership Conference. Hosted by West Potomac High School, hundreds of knowledge-seekers attended the two-day event filled with guest speakers, breakout sessions, a pep rally, and attendance to our very own West Potomac football game. Go Wolverines!!
At FCPS, and throughout my career, I have seen first-hand how students can be the change that they want to see. Stay curious, stay hungry, and your determination will get you far! As Jane Goodall once shared, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Looking forward to all that our students will do…
Friday evening, I stopped by the International Jubilee at Fox Mill Elementary School. The Jubilee celebrates the rich diversity of cultures within the Fox Mill school community and promotes understanding and appreciation among its students and families. It is so inspiring to spend time with our students, staff, and families; this work matters.
As Allie Greene, a teacher at Fox Mill ES shared; “ The Fox Mill Elementary School International Jubilee, organized and hosted by the FMES Equity Committee on November 8th, was a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity that brought families and community members together for an unforgettable evening. The event showcased a stunning array of traditions, and the over 20 countries represented offered food samples from around the world, allowing attendees to taste and experience different cultures firsthand. Five talented performance groups captivated the audience with their spirited dances and demonstrations, providing a lively and engaging showcase of global artistry. The Jubilee was not only a feast for the senses but also a meaningful reminder of the rich cultural heritage within the school community.“ It was great to be included. Go Foxes!!
I finished Friday evening by attending the Oakton HS and Chantilly HS football game hosted by Oakton HS. Oakton Principal Jamie Lane and I spent time on the sideline and enjoyed a great game. I am so proud of our student athletes as they compete. I also want to share how proud I am of all those who are part of our Friday Night Lights. In particular, the Oakton HS dance team was amazing in their half time performance as was the cougar marching band. Go Cougars and Chargers!
Saturday morning, Thelma and Louise joined me to celebrate at the Herndon High School Homecoming parade. Go Hornets!! It is always a good time to be a part of our amazing community. We have so much to be grateful for!!
Saturday afternoon, I attended the performance of Lear at Woodson High School. I continue to be reminded of the incredible power of participation for each and every one of our students. The theatre program among many programs continues to be a powerful platform for our students and our collective thinking.
I have not really always understood the Shakespeare plays :>) yet I remain so inspired by the performance(s) of our students. As I attend and listen closely, I am moved by the narrative shared. In this play, I am reminded that hurt people hurt people and it matters how we treat one another. Go Cavaliers!!
Last week, I shared that the first set of Boundary Review Community Meetings will begin this month. Registration is now open! Be sure to view the schedule on our website and attend a meeting if you can. Also, you can sign up for our new School Boundary Review newsletter to get the latest information on this important – and long overdue – process.
For this week’s segment of Advancing Literacy, we’re celebrating National Family Literacy Month! Each November, National Family Literacy Month recognizes the vital role that our families have in helping their children become confident readers and writers. Our new Literacy Resources for Families webpage includes different ways that our families can support literacy development at home, including resources through Benchmark Advance Family which align directly to our new Language Arts curriculum.
One of the simplest and most important ways to encourage children to become strong readers is by reading books aloud with them. This not only helps develop literacy skills, it also encourages a lifelong love of reading. And — especially with the weather we’ve been having lately — there’s nothing cozier than snuggling up with a nice book and a warm blanket!
Thank you to everyone who’s shared how Benchmark is being implemented in your classrooms and schools for our Advancing Literacy segments — keep sending your creativity and enthusiasm my way! Go Team FCPS!!
Finally, as tomorrow we will celebrate Veterans Day, I would ask each of you to pause sometime during that day to think about and thank those who have served our country so valiantly, and remember the many sacrifices made on our behalf. It is so true that we are free because of the brave. And from a former Commander in Chief, let's remember "We are of course a nation of differences. Those differences don’t make us weak. They’re the source of our strength." -- Jimmy Carter
Take good care,
Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
