October 2019

Especially for Parents

The Parent Resource Center (PRC)

The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Parent Resource Center (PRC) provides resources, information, and consultations to support the success of all students. Confidential consultations, an extensive lending library, and a year-long calendar of workshops are offered for parents, educators, and community members. Contact the PRC by phone, email, or visit us Monday – Friday during the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services.

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and tune into our You Tube Channel to see some of our recorded workshops. Bookmark our PRC website to stay up-to-date with all our workshops and resources.

Join Us for Our October Workshops

All workshops are held at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 100, Dunn Loring, VA, unless otherwise noted. You may register for workshops online.

• Post-Secondary Education Options: Parent Coffee & Conference

  Join FCPS Career and Transition Services to learn about post-secondary concerns for students contemplating college. Highlights will include: Disclosure, Accessing Accommodations, Disability Support Services, Differences Between High School and College.
  
  Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon and 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  Register for Post-Secondary Education Options: Parent Coffee & Conference

• From Chaos to Calm: 10 Ways to Stop Power Struggles
  Please join Celebrate Calm Founder, Kirk Martin, for a laugh-out-loud funny presentation filled with practical, concrete strategies to restore calm in your home and stop the power struggles. Perfect for parents of children ages 2-22!
  
  Get your kids to listen the first time.
  Stop defiance, disrespect, and yelling.
  Stop whining, tantrums, and sibling fights.
  Get kids off screens without a fight.
  Create stress-free mornings, homework time, and bedtime.
  
  Thursday, October 3, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon and 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  Both sessions are currently full.
  Register for the waitlist for From Chaos to Calm 10 a.m.-noon
  Register for the waitlist for From Chaos to Calm 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Mastering the Process of School: Helping Student Build Study and Organization Skills
  Executive Functioning (EF) skills, such as time-management, materials organization, planning, prioritization, and initiating and completing work, are critical for student success in school and in life. Students with executive function challenges can have difficulty fully demonstrating their knowledge and strengths.
  
  Join us for this workshop to learn: What is Executive Functioning?What strategies can I use to help my child develop stronger Executive Functioning skills?
  
  This session will both define and provide explicit strategies to help bolster these essential skills for students accessing a challenging curriculum or high-incidence support.
  
  Presented by Lindsey Thoms, M.Ed., Kathy Essig, M.Ed., and Deborah Rosen of The StudyPro.
  
  Friday, October 11, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon
  This session is full. Register for the Waitlist: Mastering the Process of School: Helping Students Build Study and Organization Skills

• Moving on to Life in the Community: A Resource Fair for Students with Disabilities
  Don’t miss this FREE Resource Fair for students with disabilities and their parents!
  Learn about vocational, residential, leisure, recreational, independent living, and advocacy options. This resource fair is for all individuals requiring ongoing employment and community support services after graduation.
  
  6:30-6:45 p.m. – Registration (Participants and Adult Service Providers)
  6:45-7:15 p.m. – Overview Presentation (Little Theater)
  7:15-8:45 p.m. – Adult Service Provider Fair/Exhibits (Cafeteria)
  
  Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 6:30-8:45 p.m., at Lake Braddock SS
  Register for Moving on to Life in the Community: A Resource Fair for Students with Disabilities

• Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse and Today’s Youth
  It can be so hard to watch someone close to you destroy themselves with drugs and alcohol. Learn how to deal with being hurt by your loved ones and how you can support them in their darkest moments.
  
  Local substance abuse expert, Sam Lucania, with support from FCPS Office of Student Safety and Wellness, will share some of his life experiences and lessons learned.
  
  Learn how to improve your ability to handle the unexpected influences in your child’s life.
  
  He will have you learn that there is indeed hope in recovery and that we can turn our lives around when we take the right steps.
  
  Learn the signs and strategies to support and help your child.
  
  Friday, October 18, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon
  Register for: Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse and Today’s Youth

• Dyslexia Open House
  Browse exhibit tables and learn about next steps for FCPS students with dyslexia.
  
  Thursday, October 24, 2019, 10-11 a.m.
  Register for Dyslexia Open House
• Helping Your Child Cope with Stress
  As parents, we want to shield our children from stress and adversity as much as possible. However, we cannot protect them from everything; everyone will face challenges in his or her life. What we can do is give them the skills necessary to face those stresses and challenges head-on, to learn from them, and to grow in strength and maturity as a result.
  
  Join Dr. Lisa Bateman, Clinical Psychologist, in this important session that will focus on:
  Recognizing stress in children
  Building resiliency skills
  The role of mindfulness and executive functioning skills
  
  Friday, October 25, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon.
  Register for Helping your Child Cope with Stress

• Future Quest: College and Career Conference for Middle and High School Students
  Future Quest is a FREE college and career conference held every two years for middle and high school students with disabilities, young adults with disabilities, their families, and professionals who work with them. The conference is organized by George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Transition Coalition. One of the largest events of its kind in Virginia, Future Quest features more than 40 workshops and 40 exhibits related to a successful life after high school.
  
  Saturday, October 26, 2019, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at George Mason University Johnson Center
  Register for Future Quest 2019

Lending Library

The Parent Resource Center Lending Library contains over 7,000 books, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children including those with learning challenges, mental health concerns, special needs, and disabilities.

Here are ten new books!

1. 1001 great ideas for teaching and raising children with autism spectrum disorders
2. 1-2-3 magic effective discipline for children 2-12
3. Hands are not for hitting
4. Límites con los adolescentes: cuando decir sí, como decir (Limits with teenagers: when to say "yes", how to say "no")
5. Mindful parenting for ADHD: a guide to cultivating calm, reducing stress, & helping children thrive
6. Screen schooled: two veteran teachers expose how technology overuse is making our kids dumber
7. The gift of failure: how the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed
8. When children grieve: for adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving, and other losses
9. When young people with intellectual disabilities and autism hit puberty: a parent’s Q & A guide to health, sexuality and relationships.
10. Yardsticks: child and adolescent development ages 4-14

Career and Transition Services

Disability Mentoring Day

The 2019 Disability Mentoring Day for FCPS students will take place on October 17 at the Fairfax County Government Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is an annual collaborative effort between the county government and FCPS Career and Transition Services. Fairfax County Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for high school students with disabilities through career exploration and job shadowing experiences with Fairfax County government employees in recognition of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Interested students should contact the employment and transition representative (ETR) at their high school for more information and an application (Deadline: October 1, 2019). Opportunities for mentoring activities through the month of October are available in the private sector as well.

Considerations for Students with Disabilities in the College Search & Beyond

Fairfax County Public School’s College Night will be held on October 21, 7-9 p.m., at Hayfield Secondary School. This annual event features an open-fair of colleges and universities in addition to workshops related to the college admissions process. Staff from Career and Transition Services and the Office of Disability Services at George Mason University will provide a workshop on "Considerations for Students with Disabilities in the College Search and Beyond" at this event. You and your student will learn about post-secondary college campus options available for students with disabilities, how to choose the right college, and legal rights and responsibilities. You can find more information about College Night at: https://www.fcps.edu/event/2019-fcps-college-night

Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference

Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference to be held October 19 at Rachel Carson Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fairfax County Public Schools will host the 2019 Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference, an educational technology conference focusing on the use of assistive technology to support all students, especially those with special needs. The 2019 RATE Conference is sponsored by Assistive Technology Services (ATS), part of the Office of Special Education Instruction in the Department of Special Services.

This year's keynote speaker is Fadel, an FCPS Post-Secondary student. Fadel will be sharing how assistive technology has impacted his life and school experiences. Breakout sessions will focus on blended learning and FCPSOn supports, reading and writing strategies, assistive technology in the early childhood classroom, communication tools, Google Apps for Education, as well as other topics. All FCPS staff and parents are invited to attend. Out-of-county teachers, support staff, and parents are also welcome. FCPS employees will receive five recertification points for attending the conference. For more information and registration visit the conference website.

Assistive Technology Services (ATS)

During the 2019-20 school year, ATS will be offering training sessions focused on the use of high-end Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Participants will learn basic programming and maintenance of the devices, as well as integration ideas. These sessions are open to both staff and parents of students using the specific devices. To register, contact the ATS Resource Teacher who supports your school. October sessions will include the following topics:

• October 7, 2019, 9 a.m.-noon, Proloquo2Go App – Leis Center
• October 8, 2019, 9 a.m.-noon, Words for Life App – Leis Center
• October 15, 2019, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., PRC Devices – Lanier Middle School
• October 16, 2019, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., PRC Devices – Lanier Middle School
• October 21, 2019, 9 a.m.-noon, Words for Life App – Virginia Hills Center
• October 28, 9 a.m.-noon, Words for Life App – Leis Center

Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Binder Review

VAAP Collection of Evidence (COE) will be available for review by parents or guardians during two windows:

• November 5-8, 2019 at the Test Distribution Center (TDC) in Springfield
• November 11-14, 2019 at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center in Fairfax

Especially for Staff Members

Assistive Technology Services

• Learning Ally School Membership Training. This training is for staff who have a Learning Ally School Membership for the 2019-20 school year. Learn how to implement audiobooks in your classroom and learn about the resources, videos, training materials, and solutions provided by Learning Ally. To register, please log in to My PLT and search for Course #SS-400203 or contact your ATS Resource Teacher. Thursday, October 17, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Graham Road Community Building

Behavior Intervention Services

Behavior Intervention Services is offering the following Academy Courses:

• Best Practices for Educating Students with High Functioning Autism. The Office of Special Education Instruction is offering this one-credit Academy course for all educators working with high-functioning students on the autism spectrum. The course of study includes an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (High-Functioning Autism) including characteristics, academic and instructional supports, social skills instruction, and behavior management. This course supports: (1) Create a Student-Centered Learning Environment, (2) Plan and Teach for Student Learning, (3) Assess Student Learning--as defined in the FCPS Best Practices for Teaching and Learning Framework. This course is open to educators serving students pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and will take place beginning on October 10 from 4:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Willow Oaks Center. To register, please log in to My PLT and search for Course #AC-2274. For more information, please call Behavior Intervention Services at 571-423-4106.   
• 1-2-3 Magic and Positive Behavior Support. This course is designed to teach pre-school and elementary staff to design positive behavior supports including specific Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions. Background information and literature is reviewed, and practical techniques are shared and practiced. Participants learn to use the 1-2-3 Magic Program and other behavior management strategies and interventions. This course supports: (1) create a Student-Centered Learning Environment as defined in the FCPS Best Practices for Teaching and Learning Framework and will take place beginning in October from 4:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Willow Oaks Center. To register, please log in to My PLT and search for Course #AC-3353. For more information, please call Behavior Intervention Services at 571-423-4106.  

ESY and Assessment

The Office of Extended School Year (ESY) and Assessment is offering Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP): Getting Started on October 14, 2019. This training is for both new and veteran teachers of students participating in the VAAP. Sign up on My PLT – Course #SS-44019.

Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Updates

• VAAP binder orders are due to the Office of Student Testing by October 4 – see testing memo 014-20.
• VAAP Collection of Evidence (COE) will be available for review by school personnel during November 5-8, 2019 at the Test Distribution Center (TDC) in Springfield. Appointment requests must be made through the school’s Assessment Coach (AC) or School Test Coordinator (STC) by October 23 – see testing memo 015-20.

Office of Special Education Instruction (OSEI) Trainings for Staff Members

During the month of October, OSEI is offering the following trainings for staff members. Registration is available in My PLT. For more information about OSEI trainings, visit: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/trainings/osei/

• Access Language Arts: Write Curriculum – Course #SS-33347
• AEPS and PreK POS for Newly Hired Early Childhood Special Education Teachers – Course #SS-22093
• Building Literacy Opportunities Using Story-Based Lessons – Course #SS-33112
• Collaborative Team Lead Trainings – Course #SS-22089
• Connecting Math Concepts – Course #SS-33247
• Corrective Reading Decoding & Comprehension – Course #SS-27050
• Fundations Level K – Course #SS-27003
• Fundations Level 1 – Course #SS-27003
• Fundations Level 2 – Course #SS-27003
• Instructional Matching for Students Accessing and Adapted Curriculum – Course #SS-33337
• LETRS: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling COHORT 1 – Course #SS-29087
• LETRS: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling COHORT 2 – Course #SS-29087
• LETRS: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling COHORT 3 – Course #SS-29087
• LETRS: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling COHORT 4 – Course #SS-29087
• Providing Resource Services in the Natural Environment – Course #SS-22096
• Read Well K-3 – Course #SS-27077
• Transmath – Course #SS-27087
• Using the Data Matrix to Monitor Child Progress in Early Childhood Class-based Settings – Course #SS-33296
• Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP): Putting it all Together – Course #SS-44019
• VMATH – Course #SS-25056

Department of Special Services

Teresa L. Johnson, Assistant Superintendent

Michael Bloom, Acting Director, Office of Special Education Instruction 

Office of Special Education Instruction