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Friends,
As we continue to navigate these difficult times, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. With no doubt, the challenges faced by our community, state, and country are numerous and daunting. However, similar to other organizations, FCPS leadership has been developing plans to outline the path moving forward and determine how our schools will function. The preliminary proposals of Return to Learn will be presented during the School Board work session on May 11th. We hope you are able to join us.
On a positive note, digital access difficulties appear to have subsided and delivery of synchronous teacher-led instruction has been consistent during the past week across FCPS. Yesterday alone, FCPS recorded over 298,000 attendees in more than 34,000 Blackboard sessions launched. We are optimistic in our efforts to refine the manner in which students engage in distance learning until the end of the school year.
I wish to express my gratitude to our teachers and staff for their continuous work and support for our students and to wish all educators a Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
 
FY21 Budget Public Hearing
The School Board will hear remarks on the FY 21 Advertised Budget at a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, May 12, beginning at 5 p.m.
Registration is now open for community members that want to speak at this public hearing. Click here to sign-up.
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Nathan Onibudo
Elected Student Representative
to the School Board
Nathan Onibudo, a junior at South County High School, has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1, 2020. Find out more about Nathan and his priorities in this news release.
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Kindergarten Registration for 2020-21
If your child will reach his or her fifth birthday on or before September 30, 2020, he or she is eligible to attend kindergarten in the Fairfax County public school that serves your address. To register your child:
- Find your neighborhood school by entering your address in the FCPS Boundary Locator.
- Complete the online packet of registration forms. If you require a paper copy, please call your school or the central registration office,
- Gather your supporting documents—proof of residence in the school boundary, a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate, parent/guardian photo ID, and any custody orders, if applicable. A certificate of physical exam and immunization will be required before the student starts school, but is not required for registration.
- Call your school to notify staff of your intent to register your child and instructions will be provided regarding next steps. School contact information is listed in the Schools Directory.
Families who need language support may contact the central registration office.
Parents who choose to delay enrollment in kindergarten by one year are required to notify the school in writing of their intent.
Principal Selection Process
Two Mason District schools are currently undergoing the process of selecting a new principal - Glasgow MS and Sleepy Hollow ES. While the school closures have delayed the process, we expect to resume where we left off by mid-May. The process will include the same steps that were used prior to our closure. To date, both Glasgow and Sleepy Hollow communities have had the opportunity to engage in the community meeting and provided input and names to serve on the interview panels. The next steps include the interviews and recommendation to the School Board. The remainder of the process will be completed virtually.
Special Education
The Department of Special Services (DSS) will be providing a regular electronic newsletter to provide you with updates, information, tips and ideas to support you and your family during the school closure. Archived newsletters and additional information can be found on the Special Education Update webpage.
FCPS Middle School After-School @ Home
FCPS Middle School After-School has put together a number of virtual after-school activities to engage middle school students in the arts, music, STEM, physical fitness, cooking, games, puzzles, literature, and more – things students can do at home.
FCPS students can access these virtual after-school activities by joining the "FCPS MS After-School @ Home" Google Classroom.
The classroom code is: t673w7v.
Once your student has joined the classroom, there are a variety of topics they can choose from in the "Classwork" tab. We hope your students enjoy this site, and that it helps them actively pursue their interests during this time of social distancing.
If you or your student have ideas for other activities, please email your After-School Program Specialist or use the "FCPS MS @ Home Interest Form" located on the classroom home page.
Budding Journalist
Spencer, a third grade student in Monica Rabil’s class at Bailey’s Upper Elementary has been creating The Bupper Roar Newspaper each day. The budding journalist and publisher has chosen this as his student choice activity from the FCPS learning packets. School-based technology specialist and news liaison Nicole Cassidy says, “We love his creativity, initiative and how he is keeping his classmates informed!”
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Safe Medication Disposal
As we shelter-in-place, there remain safe and convenient ways to dispose of unwanted, expired and unused medications that may be piling up in homes. Proper disposal of medications prevents misuse and accidental poisoning, protects children, the water supply and the environment. Please read about options on the Fairfax County website.
On-Demand Programming for PreK - 6th Grade
Parents of PreK through 6th grade students, the video resources on our Distance Learning YouTube channel continue to grow. You can still watch these programs on Red Apple 21 (check your local listings), but we also want to be sure families can access this programming on-demand. These videos are intended to support the essential standards and learning packets that are being addressed for the rest of the year. Videos on Demand
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Class of 2020
FCPS Class of 2020, check out the site created just for you, packed with information and resources to help solidify your plan for next year. Find out what it means to #celebrateyourplan: https://t.co/3b44sF859R (requires FCPS Google Login)
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Glen Forest Boundary Study Update
Thank you to parents, staff and community members who attended the Glen Forest boundary adjustment planning meetings and to those who provided comments via email. We’ve received very helpful feedback and are preparing a number of scenarios to bring back to the community when it is possible to do so safely.
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The dates and the format for community meetings are yet to be determined due to the school closure for COVID-19. The goal is to implement a boundary change upon completion of the boundary process, therefore it is important to note there will be no boundary changes for fall 2020. We are working collaboratively with colleagues from Fairfax County to remain informed on land use and planning decisions for future development and we will continue to provide updates regarding the process as new information becomes available.
Self-Directed Online Economics and Personal Finance (EPF)
The Self-Directed Economics and Personal Finance course requires students to complete work without direct teacher instruction. The course is available for rising 9th grade through rising 12th grade students.
As of the morning of April 28, 2020 there are 5,758 students registered for summer EPF self-directed course. There are between 20 and 30 students registering each day.
Registration is open until June 12th. Students have until July 31 to complete the course.
Family Resource Update
Food Services
Fairfax County Public Schools continues to help distribute meals throughout the county. As of May 5, 2020, over 720,000 meals have been served.
Visit the Food Resources for Families webpage for up-to-date information on locations and times for meal distribution. You can also use the Fairfax County interactive map to find community meal distribution sites, food pantries, and other related services.
Technology
As of May 1, FCPS has distributed 17,164 laptops and 1,216 MiFi devices to ensure students have access to technology and reliable internet. If your student is in need of a laptop, please check with your student's school.
Justice HS Students - Finalists
For the second year in a row, Justice High students were selected as finalists in the Fairfax County Office of Family Services annual “Shark Tank” design competition. Five Justice HS projects will be included in the 2021 competition.
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Students had been preparing for the event months in advance, creating technology innovations that would engage senior citizens in recreational and lifestyle activities. Read about the students and their projects. |
Internet Assistance Programs
Several companies are helping families in need during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the companies offering assistance programs are Comcast, Cox, and Verizon. Here you will find a Complete List.
SAT & ACT Testing Update
What is the impact on SAT administration? The College Board is canceling the June 6, 2020 SAT administration. The College Board will provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5. Read more at CollegeBoard.org.
What are the impacts on ACT administration? In addition to three previously planned fall/winter 2020 national test dates in September, October and December, ACT will also offer a remote proctoring option for the ACT test, allowing students to take the test at their home on a computer. ACT will launch the test-at-home option in late fall/early winter 2020 as part of its national testing program. The fee waivers ACT provides to students from low-income homes will apply to the at-home testing option, and ACT is considering other ways to address access and equity issues. Read more at ACT.org.
No SOL Testing in the Fall
Students will not have to take the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in the fall upon their return to school. Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction announced the decision on April 24th along with promises for swift action on other waivers for students, teachers and schools. See the VDOE release for more information.
A seventh grade student at Frost Middle School created the drawing above as a tribute to his father and other medical professionals serving on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. The school shared the drawing on Twitter.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© 2020 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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