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Dear Lee District Families and Staff,
Thank you parents, caregivers and teachers for your continued engagement in asking questions. I know this is a difficult decision for everyone.
To help you with the enrollment process, FCPS has produced two videos that we hope will help you complete the enrollment process which has been extended to Wednesday, July 15.
The first video explains step by step how to complete the enrollment form.
The second video provides a brief overview of what school will look like when in-person and virtual classes resume.
The enrollment decision you make for your student needs to primarily take into account any health and safety concerns you may have about in-person learning. If you have specific questions about your child, you can also contact your child’s school for assistance.
Yesterday, the School Board revised the 20-21 school year calendar, delaying the first instructional day for students from Tuesday, August 25 to Tuesday, September 8. The delay will give school administrators added time to plan schedules and staffing assignments for both virtual and in-person instruction. It also allows teachers additional professional development and planning time when they return in August. Although we have delayed the start of school until Sept. 8, the final day of school in June 2021 will remain the same - June 11.
Teachers, there is an important Staff Town Hall today at 2:00 pm. See the specific details below and you are encouraged to submit your questions in advance or call-in.
Please continue to review the Frequently Asked Questions for staff and families as these are updated often.
Our first priority continues to be the health and safety of our students and staff. Although we would all like to return to school buildings this year, we must follow the current guidance from public health officials that we open schools with social distancing in place in classrooms, on buses, and other shared spaces.
In case you missed the Superintendent's Town Hall on Monday, July 6, click here to watch the questions and answers. There was also a Spanish language Town Hall that you can click here to watch.
Thank you for your continued understanding and patience as we work out the details for this fall.
-Tammy
TODAY: Staff Town Hall - Friday, July 10
Superintendent Brabrand knows that staff have many questions about reopening schools and the upcoming school year.
Dr. Brabrand is hosting a Staff Town Hall on Friday, July 10, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm to answer questions from staff. He will be joined by health officials and members of the FCPS leadership team.
If you would like to submit a question ahead of time, please email your questions to ReturntoSchool@fcps.edu. If you would like to call in during the town hall meeting call 1-800-231-6359.
You can view the Town Hall on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 or watch the livestream on the FCPS website.
We encourage you to continue to review our Frequently Asked Questions for staff and families as we are updating them often.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Monday, July 14 at 1:30 pm
Special Electronic Work Session
Wednesday, July 15 at 4:00 pm
Special Electronic Lee High School Renaming Community Meeting
Wednesday, July 22 at 4 pm
Special Electronic Public Hearing - Renaming Lee High School
Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 3 pm
Special Electronic Forum Topic
Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 3:30 pm
Special Electronic Regular School Board Meeting
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For agenda, handouts and virtual meeting access, click here.
Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually at https://www.fcps.edu/tv/ch99.
REMINDER: Community Meeting for Lee District Residents - Wednesday, July 15
The Fairfax County School Board has voted to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School, and will gather community input prior to voting on the new name on July 23. The new name will go into effect with the start of the 2020-21 school year.
Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand submitted his recommendations for a new name for the school as new business at the School Board’s business meeting on June 23 at which time a one-month public comment period began.
Brabrand’s recommendations include the following:
John Lewis (U.S. Congressman), Barack Obama, Mildred Loving, Cesar Chavez, Legacy, and Central Springfield.
The School Board has the final say on the new name and can consider the superintendent’s recommendations or choose a different name.
School Board vice chair and Lee District representative Tamara Derenak Kaufax said, “We are grateful for the feedback provided by the community during this process. We have carefully considered their input, and will be moving forward with the name change at Lee High School. As I stated in February when this process began, Confederate values are ones that do not align with our community. I have seen the pain and hurt that these names have inflicted on friends, colleagues, and community members. Our schools need to be places where all students, staff, and members of the community feel safe and supported.” Derenak Kaufax and at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra initiated the name change.
The community meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm. The meeting will be held virtually via Blackboard Collaborate. If you wish to participate virtually in the community meeting, please register to have a link sent to you. Register for Community Meeting. Registration for this community meeting will be limited to Lee District residents; however, there will be a public hearing for any other interested participants, see below.
The community meeting format will include an update on the process and then collect feedback from the community on the Superintendent’s name recommendations. Community members will be asked to work virtually in breakout rooms to discuss the recommendation and provide their thoughts on whether they support any of the recommended names or if they have another name they prefer for the school. The feedback will be collected at the end of the meeting, transcribed and posted online. It will be shared with the School Board and the Superintendent.
The School Board Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm and will be held virtually. If you would like to speak at the public hearing, sign up will open at 6:00 a.m. on July 8. Sign up to speak.
Community members can also share their input by emailing comments to Region3admin@fcps.edu.
The School Board will take action on the new name of Lee High School on Thursday, July 23 during its regular meeting at 3:30 pm. The new name of the school will go into effect at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
We invite you to attend the community meeting and public hearing to provide your input. Information about the renaming process is also available online.
Hayfield Secondary School Student Named State Winner of Graduation Speaker Contest
Hayfield Secondary senior Alexandra Wong has been named a state winner of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine's "Everybody's the Graduation Speaker" contest that recognized the top graduation speeches from graduating Virginia high school seniors. Wong wrote the speech back in January intending to present it at Hayfield's in-person graduation ceremony. When the ceremony was cancelled, she realized the advice in her speech is still applicable in these circumstances, so she submitted it and won. Her speech is available to view online.
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Welcome Our Newest Principal at Mount Vernon High School
JoVon Rogers, who currently serves as the acting principal at Mount Vernon High, has been appointed a principal of Mount Vernon High, effective Wednesday, July 1. Rogers began her career in education in 1995 as a classroom teacher. She taught in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County school districts in Maryland, then joined the staff at Riverside Elementary. Rogers became one of the first instructional coaches in Fairfax County at Riverside and from there, worked as an assistant principal at both Riverside and Island Creek Elementary. She served as principal at Gunston Elementary for six years, then worked as acting associate principal at Hayfield Secondary prior to coming to Mount Vernon High. Rogers co-leads FCPS’ professional development for aspiring principals and has provided professional development on a national scale through her collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She has earned National Board Certification and, in FCPS, the Superintendent’s Excellence in Equity Award in 2019, the Hayfield Pyramid Principal of the Year Award in 2018, and the Outstanding First Year Principal Award in 2014. Rogers earned her bachelor of science in psychology and her master of arts in teaching, elementary education, from Morgan State University in Baltimore. She holds the administration and supervision certification (PreK-12) from the FCPS Accelerated Certification Cohort IV in partnership with the University of Virginia.
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Important Immunization Requirement: Do You Have A Student Entering Seventh Grade This Year?
If yes, your student may need a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis).
A Tdap booster is required for all students entering seventh grade. Parents or guardians should ask their private healthcare provider, or the health department, to review their student's immunization record to ensure that their student has received the Tdap booster. Students who have received a Tdap booster at age seven or older will meet the school immunization requirement for Tdap and will not need another dose prior to entering seventh grade. Seventh grade students cannot begin school in August without documentation of the Tdap booster.
More information on the Tdap booster is available online.
FCPS Cares–Going the Distance
Since schools and offices physically closed in March, countless FCPS staff members have put in a herculean effort to support students, parents, and their FCPS colleagues during this challenging time. Please join us in applauding employees who have been recognized for going the distance! Also, thanks to the parents who nominated an employee(s) for FCPS Cares. Staff members listed on the FCPS Cares–Going the Distance page are chosen from among FCPS Cares submissions.
From the Healthy Minds Blog—Social and Emotional Learning
Over the last few months, most students have proven to be resilient learners equipped with necessary social and emotional skills to handle the distance learning world and manage new life stressors related to COVID-19. While faced with handling “big” feelings like worry, anger, or confusion, students have found ways to cope with stress and connect with others for support ... all while social distancing.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), defines social and emotional learning (referred to as SEL) as “how children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”
Learn the five core competencies of social and emotional learning and how to try them at home.
School Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers Are Available During the Summer
Need to speak with a counselor? Any FCPS parent may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student. Consultations provide an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s emotional well-being during their time away from school. Student consultations will provide support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions during this unprecedented and challenging time.
Note: Parent consultations are available for all grade levels. Student consultations are only available for middle and high school students.
Schedule a phone consultation online. You may also leave a message at 571-423-4276.
Family Resources Update
Total Meals Served Since March 14: 1,725,336 (through July 8)
USDA and VDOE have approved meal service at all existing food distribution sites (including bus routes) over the summer months. Food and Nutrition Services will continue to monitor data and community feedback to adjust grab and go delivery points as needed. Meal distribution information is kept current on the FCPS website.
College Board and ACT Testing
FCPS is working closely with the College Board and ACT on all options to support our students. Because of this unique and unprecedented national emergency, school divisions across the nation are facing the same challenges with these important test administrations, and colleges are well aware of the situation. We will continue to collaborate with College Board and ACT to explore any possible options once school buildings are available for hosting. College Board and ACT have been posting updates related to the cancellations due to Coronavirus on the following pages: https://pages.collegeboard.org/natural-disasters and https://www.act.org/
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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