Hello Team FCPS!

What another fantastic FCPS week!! There continue to be so many exciting activities going on all across this amazing division. Thank you one and all for all that you do, it matters. 

Stenwood Elementary School, as well as many elementary schools across FCPS, are counting down the last days of school with an ABC Countdown! Stenwood’s kindergartners and first graders love celebrating each day with a fun theme corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. It is hard to believe we’re on the home stretch of another year — these are our best days.

They have celebrated backwards day, friendship bracelet day, hat day, and glow parties, as well as some others. These themed days help encourage attendance especially in these final weeks of school. Go Stingers!

This week, I met with faith leaders on Monday afternoon, retired teachers on Tuesday morning, and hosted the Central Office Leaders Roundtable on Friday. These meetings help strengthen relationships with members of the community and also encourage two-way communication and collaboration that improve our school division. This work matters!!

Congratulations to the Office of the Comptroller for receiving a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report from the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada! FCPS was recognized for its financial reporting work for the fiscal year ending in June 2023 and has received this certificate for 30 consecutive years. The award, the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, is conferred to organizations that demonstrate a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate their financial stories. FCPS also received a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials, which confirms the school division’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency and recognizes that FCPS has met or exceeded the program’s high standards for financial reporting and accountability. This work accounts!! ;>)

I would also like to recognize Shane Wolfe, principal of Aldrin Elementary School, for being named a Power Partner Principal of the Year Award winner by the Virginia PTA and the Fairfax County Council of PTAs! Shane was honored for having a collaborative approach that has helped increase parent engagement and created a stronger and more unified school community. His warm, welcoming attitude along with positive support for hosting ice cream socials, Culture and Heritage Nights, Book Fairs, Family Reading Nights, Career Day and Bingo has re-engaged families in school activities. Also, twice a year, as part of ‘Aldrin Reads,’ school staff pack up tables, decorations, books, snacks, and activities and go into the community where families, including siblings of all ages, can shop for an unlimited number of books, and take part in the activities. The goal is to fill Aldrin students with home libraries, but the love has spread in many ways. Congratulations Shane!

Tuesday morning, I visited Eagle View Elementary School with Principal KJ An. KJ taught at Eagle View for 10 years and was recognized as Outstanding New Principal at FCPS Honors 2023! Our first stop was a Student Council Association meeting, where sixth-grade officers and School-Based Technology Specialist Sarah Wood were debriefing about a recent slime-making event that the officers had put together. Each of the officers had different roles during the event, which was a fun opportunity for students and parents to connect and create community (and slime!). It was a responding success, with more than 200 attendees!

Next, we visited Shannon Lane and Liza Popalzai’s pre-K class. There was a lot of energy in the classroom, and I received quite a warm welcome from these young Eagles! Students were busy engaging in group learning, with one group studying a diagram to learn how to build a car track and another using a sensory table.

We also stopped by The Nest, which is a sensory room at Eagle View. It’s a place where students can request to go if they need a quick emotional reset before going back to learning, with sensory tools of varying textures, weights, colors, and levels of physicality. The Nest helps teach self-regulation skills, especially for students with emotional disabilities who are in the school’s Comprehensive Support Site program. One student explained how it works, saying that he uses the room’s interactive whiteboard to show what he’s feeling and which sensory tool he can use to help manage his emotions. He then sets a timer and when the time is up, he shows how his mood has changed. Then he’s back to class, ready to learn! As I left, KJ told me how proud she is of all of her dedicated staff members and her wonderful students. Her enthusiasm was clear; thank you for all that you do, KJ! And go Eagles!!

Wednesday evening, I joined Principal Ann Bonitatibus as the TJHSST Colonials took on the Edison HS Eagles in girls soccer. It was a great game, especially as the rain held off ;>), and the athleticism was on full display. Many athletic playoffs continue this week and I look forward to cheering our spring student athletes on as they compete. 

Thursday, I stopped by the final All-County Principals Meeting for the school year. Excitement was high about finishing strong — and starting next year even stronger! Thanks to our outstanding principals for participating. I would also like to thank the presenters, including the Office of Communications who introduced our new division wide event/calendaring tool. We have needed this for a while and look forward to what a consistent, intuitive calendar for schools and the central office will mean for FCPS and our families! This tool is scheduled to launch next school year, in conjunction with our redesigned website. Both are part of a larger effort to enhance our division’s communication efforts. This work matters!! More details coming soon!

Thursday afternoon, I visited with Delaney Brooks and her guide dog Beasley. Delaney is a junior at Chantilly High School, a journalist for Chantilly News Purple Tide, and has plans to attend university in Scotland. I spoke with Delaney about her experiences accessing disability services within our division as a blind student. We all have a lot to learn from Delaney about how we can best support our students, and I trust you’ll appreciate her candor as much as I did! I’m looking forward to sharing our conversation… Stay tuned!!

Thursday evening, we hosted a Community Conversation at Poe Middle School. One topic of conversation was building literacy skills for all of our students. Literacy doesn’t just impact a student’s performance in Language Arts class but enables them to read and write well in all of their classes as they progress through grade levels.

This is a priority for our division — not just for our youngest learners who are new to reading, but also for middle and high school students whose literacy skills were impacted by the pandemic. We also heard from a parent who’s working with their principal and other families to address chronic absenteeism in their school. This is a challenge facing school divisions all across the nation, and I’m grateful for our families’ spirit of partnership. Thank you! And thank you to our central office teams, regional assistant superintendents, principals, family liaisons, counselors, social workers, and everyone on Team FCPS helping to bolster school attendance. This work matters!! 

On Friday I attended Jackson Middle School’s production of "Matilda, Jr.," and on Saturday I got to see Franklin Middle School students perform "The Music Man, Jr." I am always impressed by the talents of our students as actors, musicians, stage design and crew, and visual artists. Participating in theater boosts middle school students' confidence, fosters creativity, improves communication skills, enhances teamwork, and provides a fun, engaging way to develop empathy and emotional intelligence. Go Tigers and Falcons! A big thank you to all who make this important work possible, it matters!!

As we get ready for summer, I am so excited to announce the Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt, a unique community event that will take you on a journey to the wonderful parks in Fairfax County. Starting on June 15, solve one puzzle or do them all! Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be challenging and accessible for all skill levels. Summer activities like these help students retain knowledge, prevent learning loss, stay academically engaged, build new skills, and get a good start to the upcoming school year. Solve the puzzles and then find clues at the parks for a final meta-puzzle. Walk, bike, and roll at our wonderful local parks with friends and family. You can learn more by going to www.solvingfun.com/fairfax. I am looking forward to the opportunity to exercise and connect ;>)

Saturday brought an opportunity to attend Guru Vandana, a teachers appreciation event hosted by our Indian community at Rachel Carson MS.  It was a great opportunity to nurture community and celebrate our amazing teachers. The students and families were so thoughtful in their appreciation for our teachers and also so generous in sharing their music, dance, food and gifts.  Learning happens best in community and I am so grateful for our community spirit, it matters. 

On Sunday I attended a graduation ceremony for the Global Leaders of Fairfax County, which is a program which helps prepare high school seniors to be leaders and change agents in our community and beyond. These young leaders have been working hard since last September strengthening their global perspective, sense of empathy, and leadership skills. Congratulations and go Class of 2024!!

I closed out my weekend activities today by attending the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Northern Virginia Black Scholars Recognition Program. It was inspiring to hear about the accomplishments of our scholars and celebrate their achievements while our community partners honor them with scholarships. Each of our graduating seniors have collegiate plans that will make a difference. We are in good hands as we contemplate our future!!

As we approach this season of celebrations and the marking of traditions long held, with proms, end-of-year parties and graduations; it is incumbent on us to remember the importance of inclusiveness and at times extending grace. This season of celebrations can also be a stressful time for those who are struggling to make ends meet or meet assessment and graduation requirements, and who at times feel isolated with their struggles and challenges. Thank you for taking that extra moment to check in on our students and one another... “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word... all of which have the potential to turn a life around." — Leo Buscaglia.

All the best and take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.

Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools