Photos
of the Week
In this week’s
photos, see creatively decorated pumpkins, a math scavenger hunt, and students
making connections during the morning greeting. Also, check out some photo
galleries on Facebook that feature students and staff members dressed in
costumes.
Next Community Conversations Meetings with Dr.
Brabrand to Be Held November 8 at Hayfield Secondary School, November 14 at
Irving Middle School
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand is
hosting five Community Conversations this fall to hear what students, parents,
employees, and members of the community are thinking about and what issues are
important to them. Brabrand welcomes citizens to attend and take part in any of
the upcoming sessions that are convenient for them.
The meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by
discussion and questions from the audience from 7 to 8 p.m. The next meetings
will be held on Wednesday, November 8,
in the Lecture Hall at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, and on Tuesday, November 14, in the Lecture
Hall at Irving Middle School.
See the complete list of Community Conversations.
School Bond Referendum to Be on November 7 Ballot
A
school bond referendum will be on the general election ballot Tuesday, November 7.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents of Fairfax County may vote
if they are 18 years or older on Election Day and have registered to vote 22
days prior to the election (by Monday, October 16, at 5 p.m.).
The building and renovation of schools is not financed through the
school system’s operating funds, but through bonds. Similar to an individual or
a family obtaining a mortgage on a residence to spread the cost of home buying
over a number of years, bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements
over a number of years.
Get more information about the school bond referendum.
Calendar Reminder: November 6
and 7 Are Student Holidays; SIS Gradebook Module Closed November 3-8
Schools
will be closed for students on November 6 for a school planning day and
November 7 for a teacher
workday. Classes will resume on November 8. See the 2017-18 calendar.
Also, the Student Information System (SIS) Gradebook module will be closed starting at 4 p.m. today (November 3), through 6 a.m. on November 8 while teachers complete report cards.
From the Healthy Minds Blog: Improving Homework
Time with a Consistent Daily Routine
While the
start of a new school year is often exciting, the return of homework is
typically not. Homework may quickly turn into a struggle for students–and their
parents. In fact, this is one of the primary concerns of parents every year,
with many parents reporting that their child’s homework has actually become
their own. However, this can be avoided with a consistent daily homework
routine.
Try these
strategies to ease the stress of homework time.
About Healthy Minds
Healthy
Minds is a new
blog for parents, educators, and community-based providers who are interested
in supporting student mental health and wellness. It represents a collaboration
between FCPS’ Office of Intervention and Prevention Services and the Prevention
Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
It is part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, which is designed
to reinforce emotional wellness in youth and families. More mental health
resources and emergency services information are available online.
David Lee Reynolds, Jr., Named a Semifinalist for Grammy’s
Music Educator Award
David Lee Reynolds, Jr., music teacher at
Vienna Elementary, is one of 25
semifinalists nationwide for the 2018 Music Educator Award, to be presented
by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.
Reynolds has served as a professional educator at Vienna Elementary
School for 17 years. From flash mobs and National Anthem engagements, to
performing at the Verizon Center, Vienna Elementary students have demonstrated
success on multiple levels under his direction. His tradition of an annual
farewell song for the sixth grade class has been ongoing since 2001.
The 2018
Music Educator Award is designed to recognize significant and lasting
contributions to the field of music education and is open to any music teacher
in the United States from kindergarten through college.
Learn more about David Lee Reynolds, Jr.
Video: A STAR Is Born
at Hayfield Secondary School
Advanced Information Systems students at Hayfield
Secondary School participate in Virginia STAR (Student Training and
Refurbishment), a program that teaches students about computers while also
providing opportunities to give back to families in need. Through connections
with the Fairfax County government, FCPS students can apply for IT internships
to gain hands-on experience working in an information technology career field. Watch the video.
2017 Impact Aid
Student-Parent Survey
The increasing federal presence in our area and the
significant tax exemptions available to federally connected personnel,
businesses, and agencies, has permitted Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to
be eligible for federal Impact Aid grants.
Impact Aid programs and grants are designed to assist
local school districts that enroll federally connected students. The grants
from these programs will become a part of FCPS' general operating budget and
are critical to ensuring that all children in FCPS receive an excellent
education. FCPS anticipates receiving about $3,000,000 annually in Impact Aid
funds.
FCPS uses the Student-Parent Survey to identify federally
connected students and to support our request for Impact Aid resources.
Beginning October 31, the survey will be distributed to all FCPS families.
For each school-aged child in your household, please
complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school by November
8. If sections 2 through 4 of the survey do not apply to you, just sign, date,
and return the form by the due date. FCPS staff will process the information
with the utmost confidentiality. To ensure complete accuracy, please use the
pre-filled survey that was sent home with your child. If it is not available, the form is available
online at https://www.fcps.edu/impact.
If you need more information regarding the Student-Parent
Survey, call 703-329-7655 to speak with an FCPS Department of Information
Technology staff member. Additional information about Impact Aid Programs and
grants is available on the U.S. Department of Education's website at DoED
Impact Aid Programs.
Lake Braddock Secondary School Students’ Winning Chicken Shawarma
Recipe Lands on FCPS Lunch Menus This Week
This week, students in all FCPS schools had the opportunity
to dine on an award-winning, student-created dish—chicken shawarma—during lunchtime.
A student team from Lake Braddock Secondary School took top
honors at the fifth annual Culinary Challenge and Wellness Expo, sponsored by
FCPS partner Real Food for Kids, back in March. Their chicken shawarma recipe,
made of spiced marinated chicken rolled up in a flatbread, topped with fresh
vegetables, and drizzled with yogurt sauce, appeared on school menus November
1-3.
Learn more about the chicken shawarma recipe.
Attendance Matters, Because Absences Add Up!
It is important that your child attends school every day
FCPS is in session, unless they are sick or need to be excused for a specific
reason. Students who miss ten percent or more of the school year (eighteen days per
school year, or nine per semester) are less likely to succeed academically than
students who attend school regularly. Contact your child’s school if he or she
will be out for a day or longer. School or central office personnel will reach out
to you when your child’s attendance becomes a concern. It is everyone’s job to
ensure that all FCPS students are present, engaged, and accounted for daily. Get more information about attendance policies.
Two members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council pose with the #OurFCPS frame after a recent meeting.
#OurFCPS:
Together It’s Possible
So
many great things happen in FCPS every single day. Share the awesome examples
of innovation, creativity, collaboration, and pride in your school and
community by using the #OurFCPS hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
FCPS
Nondiscrimination-Americans With Disabilities Policy Notice
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) 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 also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other
designated youth groups. FCPS is committed to equal access and equal
opportunity in all services and employment; to include 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 Equity and Employee Relations,
Department of Human Resources, 571-423-3070 or TTY 711, regarding equal
employment opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment issues.
- Office of Special Education Procedural Support,
Department of Special Services, 571-423-4290, regarding programs and activities
for students with disabilities.
For more information, go to http://www.fcps.edu/ada.shtml.
Quick Links:
|
