Staff at Sunrise
Valley ES "lit up blue" in support of World Autism
Awareness Day. (Photo: Annie Candell, Sunrise Valley ES)
2019-20
School Year Calendar Survey Ends Friday!
If
you haven't already taken the 2019-20 School Year (SY) Calendar Survey, please
do! Participating in this survey allows contracted employees to weigh in on the
development of the 2019-20 calendar. Parents will also be invited to take a
similar survey. Data from both groups will be used to propose the SY 2019-20
calendar to the School Board.
Please check
your FCPS email account for a message from FCPS Survey and be sure to weigh in
before the survey closes on Friday, April 13. All responses are
confidential. Questions? Please contact slwayland@fcps.edu.
Current teachers,
school counselors, and school-based technology specialists (SBTS) interested in
pursuing other professional opportunities for the 2018-19 school year may do so
during the Instructional Employees’ Transfer Window, which is open through June
29. Instructional staff interested in transferring to another school or work
location should contact principals or program managers regarding
instructional vacancies for next year and to schedule interviews.
Instead of our
former Transfair events, current teachers, school counselors, and SBTS may
attend FCPS’ Instructional Job Fair on April 28. Advance registration is required. Please read registration details.
Instructional assistants interested in transferring to another school or work location during
the Instructional Employees’ Transfer Window should also contact principals or
program managers for more information regarding instructional vacancies for
next year and to schedule interviews. Learn more.
Photo of the Week
South County HS doesn't mess around when it comes to Twin Day. One of these gentlemen is Matt Ragone, principal of South County HS. The other is his twin brother David. Can you guess who's who? See the answer at the end of the newsletter! (Photo: Matt Ragone)
Attend an FCPSOn community meeting to find out how it leads to personalized, meaningful learning
experiences for students. The next two meetings will be held tonight, Tuesday, April 10, at Marshall
HS and tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11, at Mount Vernon HS.
All meetings begin at 7 p.m. See the FCPSOn community meeting schedule. Explore an FCPSOn classroom.
Eli Martinez is the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer at the Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC). He joined ERFC in November 2017. Eli was previously an Investment Officer with the Santa Barbara County (California) Employees’ Retirement System (SBCERS). During his tenure at SBCERS, he guided investment portfolio growth and established investment processes for the $2.8 billion defined benefit plan. See why Eli joined ERFC.
2018 ERFC
Trustee Election Results
The election
for the ERFC Board of Trustees to fill one three-year term trustee vacancy
will not be conducted as planned for April 24 - 26. Section IV of Notice 4771 states that “If
only one properly processed nomination petition is submitted per trustee, the
voting instructions will be waived and the successful candidate(s)
announced.” Kimberly Adams, current vice chair of the ERFC Board of Trustees
and librarian at Mantua ES, was unopposed and will serve as an
ERFC trustee for three years beginning July 1.
#OurFCPS Faces: Grace Choi
Grace Choi is a kindergarten teacher (part-time) and literacy
coach at Herndon ES. She's also a Herndon ES parent. Grace has worked at FCPS for 16 years, but this is her first year at Herndon and in the dual role. Grace
says, “What I love most about my job is building relationships and community.
As a classroom teacher, I love getting to really and deeply know my students
and their families, and connecting their interests and backgrounds to new
learning. As a coach, I really enjoy working with teachers and growing together
in our literacy learning. And, as a parent of a student at Herndon, I love
being a part of the bigger school community.”
Principal Teresa Fennessy adds that “Grace
has had a positive influence on our school community. She works with
individual teachers to help them implement the literacy framework in their
classrooms and has been an integral part of our Literacy Team. She was even videotaped in her classroom, and
the video was shown to all of the attendees at the Literacy Symposium. Grace also designs artwork and inspirational messages on a chalkboard in the teacher’s lounge."
In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time
with family, reading, and working on handlettering and calligraphy.
She admits, “Let’s be honest, I also love going to Target and singing along
to musical soundtracks at the top of my lungs.” We're loudly singing your praises, Grace!
Be sure to use the hashtag #OurFCPS when
sharing examples of innovation, inspiration, pride, and collaboration. Check
out #OurFCPS on Twitter and Instagram.
Nominating petitions have been verified for the 2018 SSEAC election. Candidates in the following job groups ran unopposed and will therefore represent their respective groups: Group 5–Trades/Maintenance/Security, Kevin Gough; Group 6–Finance Support and Supply Operations, Dani Sayre; and, Group 9–School-Based, Karen Bryan.
Voting
for the Group
2–Central Office Clerical/Technical representative
will be on April 17-19. The
following candidates will appear on the ballot for Group 2–
Central Office/Technical: Patricia Worrall and Nataly
Mautino. All
Group 2 support employees will receive an email to vote
electronically on April 17. Employee identification numbers are needed to
cast votes.
If you have questions about this election,
please contact Sherri Burris at 571-423-3252 or visit the Superintendent’s Support Employee
Advisory Councils webpage.
Last
Chance to Register for a Virtual Trip to Hawaii–Don’t Miss Out!
Grab
some co-workers and take a virtual walk around the Hawaiian Islands by
registering for the Ola Ala Fitness Challenge! This six-week online fitness challenge, hosted by the Employee Wellness Program, will take
you and your co-workers across the beautiful islands of Hawaii. As a bonus,
participants will have chances to win Fitbits, gift cards to Amazon, Target, and
Dick’s Sporting Goods, as well as other health-related prizes. Registration
closes Friday, April 13, at 6 p.m. Get the details on the Employee Wellness website or
email fitnesschallenge@fcps.edu.
Each day of
Earth Week has a theme, and Get2Green has compiled jokes, fun facts, discussion
questions, and activities for schools to use each day. Feel free to use them in your office as well! At Willow Oaks, for example, Get2Green will be hosting
a cleanup day during Free Your Mind Friday on April 20 to pick up litter around
the building.
See Earth Day themes below. (No theme for Monday, a Teacher Work Day.)
- Tuesday, April 17–Wear yellow for Energy Day
- Wednesday, April 18–Wear blue for Water Day
- Thursday, April 19–Wear red for Consumption and Waste Day
- Friday, April 20–Wear green for Great Outdoors Day
Share how you're participating in Earth Week on Twitter by using #FCPSEarthWeek. Follow @Get2Green, too. For more information, visit Get2Green's website or contact Donna Volkmann, dovolkmann@fcps.edu, or Ali Culhane, agculhane@fcps.edu.
The Department of Defense deems every April as the Month of the Military Child (MOMC) to recognize the hard work and applaud the courage of military children. These brave youth make significant sacrifices while living a military lifestyle. Learn more about MOMC and the Purple Up! for Military Kids celebration (April 13) on the MOMC page.
Photo of the Week Answer
South County HS Principal Matt Ragone is on the right.
Staff Staples
Note: Intranet access is required to open some of the links in this email. If you're using a mobile device or working remotely, you can connect to the intranet via the Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email RequestIT@fcps.edu with questions.
Employee News is sent to all FCPS employees every Tuesday. Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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