Karen Corbett Sanders's Newsletter
Dear Families,
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were
able to enjoy time with your family. It is hard to believe that we are
in the final stretch until Winter Break! I would like to use this
opportunity to reflect on the achievements of our students and the relentless
dedication of our teachers, staff, and parents. Our schools would not be the
same without all of your efforts. As we approach the Winter Break, and get ready to close out 2017
and enter 2018, I want to wish everyone a very joyful and blessed Holiday
Season and a prosperous 2018!
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Fairfax
County School Board have adopted a joint social and racial equity policy
called One Fairfax. The School Board adopted the One
Fairfax policy at its meeting on Nov. 20. The Board of Supervisors adopted
One Fairfax at its meeting on Nov. 21. This
policy represents the commitment by both boards to consider equity in our
decision-making and in the development of future policies, programs and
services. One Fairfax offers a framework—or
“lens”— for the county and schools to look intentionally, comprehensively and
systemically at barriers that may be creating opportunity
gaps across the county.
For more information, visit the county's One
Fairfax webpage.
On November 16, The Virginia Board of Education approved revisions
to the standards schools must meet for state accreditation and the requirements
students must meet to earn a high school diploma. For schools, the revisions to the board’s Standards of
Accreditation are designed to encourage continuous improvement for all schools
while placing increased emphasis on closing achievement gaps between student
groups and providing a more comprehensive view of school quality.
For students, the revised regulations reduce the number of Standards
of Learning (SOL) tests they need
to pass to earn a diploma. The new standards also implement the “Profile of a
Virginia Graduate,” a set of expectations that includes increased emphasis on
developing critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration
and citizenship skills, in addition to academic achievement in English,
mathematics, science and history. The
profile of a Virginia Graduate aligns with Fairfax County’s Portrait of a
Graduate.
The new diploma requirements would take effect with students
entering the ninth grade next fall (class of 2022). Course requirements for
both the Advanced Studies Diploma and the Standard Diploma would remain the
same but the number of required verified credits would be reduced to five (one
each in English reading, English writing, mathematics, science and
history/social science). In addition, schools would be required to provide
opportunities for students to learn about career options aligned with their
interests in their own communities and elsewhere.
Under the revised standards, schools — beginning in 2018-2019 —
would be rated as either “Accredited” or “Accredited with Conditions” based on
performance on multiple school quality indicators. New indicators would include
progress made by students toward proficiency in English and mathematics,
achievement gaps in both subjects, absenteeism and dropout rates. Schools that
fail to implement state-required improvement plans could be rated as
“Accreditation Denied.”
To learn more, please visit the Virginia
Department of Education website.
Please join the Fairfax County Special Education PTA this Sunday,
December 10 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair (Barnes and Noble Fair
Lakes - 12193 Fair Lakes
Promenade Dr, Fairfax, VA 22033) to celebrate
Inclusive Schools Week. Special Guest Readers include FCPS School Board members Jane
Strauss, Dalia Palchik, Karen Corbett Sanders and Student Representative Niharika Vattikonda!
Come and enjoy music performances, bookmark
making, and face painting!
Can't make it to a store that day? Visit BN.COM/bookfairs to support the book fair online from
12/10/17 to 12/17/17 by entering Bookfair ID 12214219 at
checkout!
When Fairfax County Public
Schools are closed for the spring, summer and winter breaks, RECQuest
offers an engaging, healthy and affordable recreation program for children to
learn, play and serve. Activities include team sports, games, arts and crafts,
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming, service
projects, cultural field trips and much more! Free nutritious lunches and snacks
are served.
To learn more and to register, please visit:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/recquest.htm
FCPS wants you to be a part of our team! We are searching for educators with a strong academic background and a passion to make a difference. To meet increased hiring needs we are hosting a job fair during which we will be interviewing for all instructional areas. Our fair will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018.
To be considered for an invitation, you must:
Step 1: Review the qualifications for the area(s) which you are interested.
All applicants chosen for employment with Fairfax County Public Schools must meet Virginia Department of Education’s licensure requirements. By the contract start date for the position you are chosen, you must have or be eligible for a Virginia license appropriate to the position for which you are hired. See Virginia routes of licensure to learn more.
Step 2: Apply online
- Go to Instructional Job Opportunities to search for jobs
- Under Search instructional opportunities, type 2018-2019 in the text box and click "Search"
- To review the details of the job, click the position title
- After viewing the description, click "Apply to job"
Step 3: Complete the TeacherInsight (for teaching positions only)
First-time applicants for FCPS teaching positions are required to complete the TeacherInsight, an online interview. You will receive an e-mail with more details about the TeacherInsight once you complete and submit the online application.
Selected applicants will be extended an invitation to interview at the fair, via e-mail. If you are selected, you will receive an e-mail no later than five days prior to the fair.
Questions should be directed to the FCPS Department of Human Resources at 571-423-3000.
Alfred Street Baptist Church invites you to attend the 16th Annual HBCU College Festival on Saturday, February 10, 2018 starting at 8:00 am at the GAYLORD NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER – 201 Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, MD 20745.
- Over 70 Colleges and Universities will be represented
- Some schools will offer instant admission, conduct on-site interviews, and waive application fees
- Seminars for students, parents, and guardians
- Band auditions (Must pre-register and bring your own instrument)
The HBCU College Festival is FREE, but everyone must register.
December 18, 2017 - January 01, 2018 - Winter Break
January 25 - Second Grading Period Ends
January 26 - Student Holiday
January 29 - Student Holiday
The
next School Board Meeting will be held on December 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at
Jackson Middle School. Information
about upcoming meetings and agendas can be found here.
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