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Spring has sprung with longer days, warmer weather and the beginning of the last quarter of our school year! There are many important things that happen in FCPS during this time of year. Our School Board will be making final budget decisions and we are conducting our search for the next FCPS Superintendent.
Our students will be taking year-end tests including SOL, AP and IB exams and, of course, the last quarter is also filled with celebrations, performances, recognitions, and many “last” milestones including prom and, most importantly, graduation.
With this mix of weighty and spirited events, I encourage parents to be observant and communicate with your student. Be aware of their testing schedules and be certain your student is sleeping enough, eating well and talking about any stressors they are feeling.
Take this time to celebrate your child’s accomplishments and delight in the many year-end festivities in our schools. Volunteer at field day or bake cupcakes for the year-end picnic; watch a soccer game or a tennis match; attend a play, or a chorus, band or orchestra concert! After a year of hard work, it’s time to celebrate your student’s growth and achievements! Enjoy!
Volunteers Needed
Please contact jkinney@fcps.edu if you are interested in representing the Lee District in either of these two short term committee positions:
1. Math Basal Textbook Adoption Committee
The Math Basal Adoption committee will review and recommend instructional materials for use in grade K-12 mathematics courses. The committee composition will be 50% teachers and 25% each school-based administrators and community members. Meeting dates are scheduled for: July 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 4:00 to 9:00 pm.
2. 2017 Citizen’s Bond Committee
The 2017 Citizen's Committee for the Bond is again seeking appointees for a committee that promotes community support for a school construction bond. General tasks of the committee include communing support for the bond to Home Owner Association boards, other chambers and organizations and distributing information electronically and in print (yard signs, shirts, stickers, Facts booklets). Typically the committee meets about 10 times from July to November.
 GrandInvolve-- Changing the World --One Child at a Time
We Need You! Join us in GrandInvolve - a program which facilitates volunteer
opportunities in Fairfax County's Title I schools. GrandInvolve recruits 50+ adult volunteers who are interested in mentoring, providing reading and math tutoring, as well as assisting in the classroom.
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We are currently seeking volunteers for Mt Vernon Woods Elementary School, 4015 Fielding Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Ms. Carolyn Hyman, school counselor, can be reached at CMHyman@fcps.edu or (703) 619-2800.
For more information about GrandInvolve or other volunteer opportunities, please contact: GrandInvolve@gmail.com
In 1994, the School Board established an annual $1,000 scholarship to honor Laura Ashley Piper, a former student representative to the School Board and a 1987 graduate of Robinson Secondary School. Ms. Piper was an Air Force Academy graduate and a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. She was killed in action over northern Iraq in April 1994.
Every high school may nominate one senior student and a selection committee of staff from Department of Special Services and one Board member selects the winner. The award will be presented at the June 8 School Board meeting.
Fairfax County Public Schools is dependent on three sources for its annual funding in the following percentages: federal government – 5%, state funding – 23%, and county funding primarily from real estate property tax – 72%. Over the past few years, the Board of Supervisors has increased our school funding but these increases have not kept up with 4 major expenses: enrollment growth, employee salaries, retirement system increases, and the rising cost of healthcare. So, in order to balance its FY2018 budget, FCPS still has to make cuts in many areas.
We are currently at a 26.7 million dollar gap. Our Board is working hard to make sure this deficiency has the least negative impact on our staff and educational programs.
This year our advertised budget has an emphasis on keeping teacher pay competitive within the DC metro area and is one that will maintain resources in the classrooms for our students. In short, the ultimate goal is a budget that will maintain the continued excellence you have come to expect from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Find out more about the FY 2018 Budget: FY 2018 Budget
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts with the School Board, sign up to speak at the Public Hearing on May 16. Registration begins on May 2, 2017. Citizen Participation
The Board will vote on the Advertised Budget on May 25.
Edison High School
Friday, June 16
2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena
Hayfield Secondary School
Friday, June 16
4:30 p.m. Hayfield SS
Lee High School
Monday, June 19
2:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena
Mount Vernon High School
Friday, June 16
2:00 p.m. MVHS
TJHSST
Saturday, June 17
7:00 p.m. Eagle Bank Arena
West Potomac High School
Wednesday, June 21
9:30 a.m. Eagle Bank Arena
Looking ahead to the 2017-18 school year, be sure to note that the first day of school will be Monday, August 28. 2017-18 School Year Calendar
Plan on attending these awesome performances at your community schools:
Edison High School
“HONK!” 17 SPRING MUSICAL INFORMATION
May 4, 5, 6 at 7pm
May 6 at 2 pm
“LES MISERABLES”
May 4-13, 2017 (Multiple Performances)
Mount Vernon High School
Disney’s “HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL”
May 4, 5, 6 at 7pm
May 6 at 2pm
West Potomac High School
“BILLY ELLIOT”
April 27- 29 and May 4, 6 at 7 p.m.
“ROCK THRU the AGES” A Student Rock Cabaret
June 3, July 20-22 at 7 p.m.
Twain Middle School
“Get Smart”
April 28, 29 at 7:00 p.m.
April 29, 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Many teens think parents aren’t very good listeners. Here are some ways you can become a better listener (and teach your teen by example):
• Pay attention. If your teen wants to talk, give your undivided attention.
• Be open to discussion of any subject.
• Stay calm. Teens have opinions. You may not always agree. But if you want your teen to talk to you, be prepared to hear whatever he or she has to say.
• Be courteous. Use the same tone of voice that you would use with your spouse or a coworker.
• Avoid making judgments. You may not approve of all your teen does. But listen to his or her point of view.
• If you disagree, do it in a loving way. After you’ve heard your teen, you have the responsibility to give your viewpoint. You will be more effective if you can show love and respect even while disagreeing with your teen’s point of view.
• Encourage positive self-worth. Help your teen develop a sense of what he or she does well. Encourage him or her to take part in after-school activities, which can often help develop their sense of worth.
• Hold family meetings once a week. Give everyone in the family a chance to work out problems together.
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