September Update
Dear Sully District Families,
I hope you and your family have enjoyed these summer months and had the opportunity to spend some relaxing time with family.
As we are nearing the beginning of this new school year on September 8, I know that many of you are anxious about the virtual start. In my own family, we have had to spend time planning how we will have 5 FCPS students and 1 college student learning in their own space. We talked about the importance of being comfortable, minimizing distractions, and creating a space where their supplies are easily accessible. Although I share your concerns and understand that this year will look very different from years past, I want to let you know that our teachers, faculty, and staff have been working very hard to ensure a smooth start to this new year.
Below, I have included the following information and resources that you may find helpful as we enter the new 2020-21 academic year:
- Parent Technology Help Desk
- Return to School Frequently Asked Questions
- Special Education Resources
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Student Attendance
- FCPS Library Resources
- Public Library Resources
- Parent Resource Center
- Planning Ahead for In-Person Return to School
- Virtual Orientation
- Google Classroom, Padlet, Flipgrid
- Introduction to Schoology
- Update from the Superintendent's Technology Council
- Town Hall Meetings with Superintendent Brabrand
- Healthy Minds Podcast
This July, the School Board conducted its reorganization meeting and I was elected to serve the Board as the Vice-Chair. Dr. Ricardy Anderson, Mason District Representative, was elected Chair. I look forward to working with Dr. Anderson, the Superintendent, and my colleagues to further our joint work in this coming year.
I hope you will join me tonight at my joint town hall,
Stella
Joint Town Hall Meeting - August 31
Please join Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen and me for a Town Hall discussion on August 31, 7:00-8:30pm. You can access the link HERE: or paste the link below into your browser:
https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/78dc00ba622f47f8a3aac14d64849d76
FCPS Launches New Parent Technology Help Desk, Readies Students and Families for Virtual Learning
To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, Fairfax County Public Schools is launching a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective Monday, August 24. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered by staff 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If the help desk is unable to solve the issue on the phone with the parent or guardian, they will enter a ticket on the parent’s behalf and the request for help will be transferred to the appropriate FCPS team.
Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and a interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS also has existing parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages, that can assist with general questions about FCPS.)
FCPS has also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents and guardians to request technology help directly.
Get more information about the new Parent Technology Help Desk.
Return to School - Frequently Asked Questions for Families
Frequently asked questions and answers about the Fall 2020 Return to School Plan can be found on our website: https://www.fcps.edu/returntoschool/return-school-questions-and-answers.
For additional information pertaining to the 2020-21 School Year, click HERE.
Special Education Resources
The Special Education Return to School webpage has been updated and includes the latest information for families.
Additional supports for our special education community can be accessed through these resources:
Student Attendance for the 2020-21 School Year
FCPS welcomes new and returning families for the 2020-21 school year. Our September 8 virtual opening poses some interesting challenges, so we hope this will help families understand the new attendance routines.
In Virginia, public school students aged 5-18 are required to attend school regularly. That is true whether FCPS is offering distance learning or in-person instruction. Teachers will take attendance during learning sessions and ensure that all students are counted. Parents can assist with this process by doing the following:
- Ensuring that their student(s) logs in to classes on time, and throughout the day.
- Calling or emailing the school attendance line if their student(s) are unable to participate.
- Communicating any concerns to the school, such as difficulty logging in or having access to FCPS classes.
- Reporting any hardship, such as student illness or any issue that might prevent the student from participating regularly.
- Returning phone calls or emails when notified that their student(s) did not participate that day.
- Ensuring that your student(s) submit activity logs as directed.
If your child is unable to login to live, face-to-face online instruction with their teacher, the teacher will be recording the class and posting the video within Blackboard/Google Classroom so it can be viewed at a different time. The video can also be used to provide review for all students.
If a parent calls and indicates their student will not be there for a certain class period, they are excused for the class period. Accessing the material later will not change the status of the absence.
If there is no parent contact, and the student failed to log in, the student is unverified for that class period. FCPS bases attendance for secondary students on “present” one or more periods of the day, and reports which periods a student did not appear in class.
FCPS staff members will work with parents to ensure that the transition to virtual learning is as smooth as possible. Help us to help you set your students up for success.
More information about attendance is available online.
Library Resources in FCPS
FCPS provides access to many print and digital products for all of our students, PreK-12 and their families, to support research, learning, and recreational reading. Browse our collection of online databases and eBooks by visiting https://www.fcps.edu/resources/library. Log in information is available from your school library.
Other resources include:
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eBook Highlight - MackinVIA: MackinVIA is the FCPS eBook and audiobook platform. Users can download the MackinVIA app from the iOS and android app stores to read or listen on their mobile devices, or log in to fairfax.mackinvia.com using their FCPS network username and password. Also, users on a school-issued computer can search for the MackinVIA app shortcut. In all cases, be sure to log in to the FCPS blue bar with your network credential, NOT the Follett prompt.
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How to Navigate MackinVIA: Take a look at a four minute video demonstrating the features of MackinVIA.
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Digital Book Licenses: Most FCPS purchases are limited to single-user licenses by publishers. That means that if a copy of a book is checked out, other users can make a request to place it on hold, but only one person may engage with the book at a time.
Public Library Equity Access Pass
As part of the One Fairfax initiative, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), and FCPS Library Information Services have partnered in the Library Equity Access Pass (LEAP) pilot program.
On October 1, 2020 the LEAP program will go division-wide, providing FCPS PreK-12 students with public library checkout privileges for books automatically, without the need to register for a physical library card. Student names and ID numbers will be provided to FCPL through an automated data download. Families who do not wish to participate can select the opt-out for LEAP in the 2020-21 SR&R document.
Participating in the LEAP program provides:
- The ability to check out up to three public library books at a time. At any FCPL library branch, students or parents simply share their name and indicate they are an FCPS student. A virtual account exists, and identification is not required.
- Lost or overdue books will not be charged a fine or replacement fee. However, only three books can be on a virtual account at a time.
- Checkouts are limited to physical books. eBooks and public library digital resources cannot be accessed through this account. Students are welcome to establish a standard public library card for full access.
The Fairfax County Public Library is open for Express services and offers curbside services.
The FCPS Parent Resource Center provides access to information and resources to support the success of all students. They host a variety of free seminars and have a wealth of free resources, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. In addition, they are available via phone or email for consults. Check them out!
prc@fcps.edu 703-204-3941
Webinars for Families and Educators 2020-2021
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Registration Register online here. Registration will be open approximately one month before the workshop date. Registrants will be provided a link by email on the morning of the webinar
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Information Webinars are from 10:00 -11:30 am or 6:30 – 8:00 unless otherwise noted. All Webinars will be recorded and can be accessed at the Parent Resource Center YouTube Channel.
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Tutor Lists and Free Resource Guides Contact us via phone or email to get the list of available tutors. Additionally, we have free resources on topics such as: Executive Functioning, Parenting & Basic Needs, Adults with Disabilities, Mind in the Making, Mental Health, Fairfax County Government Resources, Military Connected Resources, Kindergarten Readiness, Adapted Sports and Recreation, and many more.
September
- Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (9/1/20) p.m.
- Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (9/11/20) a.m.
- 10 Ways to Stop Power Struggles & Start Motivating Your Kids (9/18/20) a.m./p.m.
- Setting the Stage for Behavior: Routines, Procedures, & Expectations (9/24/20) 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Planning Ahead for Our In-Person Return to School
At the School Board work session on Tuesday, August 18, Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand provided the preliminary metrics FCPS will use to decide when to return to cohort (more information below), hybrid, or full in-person learning. These include:
Virginia Department of Health Metrics
- The number of new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population.
- The percentage of tests that are positive (PCR test percent positivity).
- Rate of Covid-19 outbreaks.
- Percent of Covid-19 cases among healthcare workers.
- Rate of emergency department visits for coronavirus-like illnesses.
- Rate of confirmed Covid-19 intensive care unit hospitalizations.
- Percent of hospital beds currently occupied.
- Number of hospitals reporting trouble acquiring personal protective equipment.
Operational Metrics
- Ability to staff the health room with a public health nurse or student health aide.
- Classroom teachers available for in-person learning.
- Available staff on-call to monitor in-person learning (including substitutes).
- Administrative staff available for in-person learning.
- Transportation staff available.
- Food and nutrition managers available.
- Custodial staff available.
Finalized metrics will be shared with the School Board in September.
Cohort Learning Groups
FCPS has identified groups of students that are most in need of returning to in-person learning and hopes to bring them back using a phased-in approach (one group every two weeks) beginning in September. They include:
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Group 1: Preschool autism and preschool class-based students, English learners with limited or interrupted formal education, and limited Adult and Community Education classes including English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), workforce training, and behind-the-wheel driving classes.
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Group 2: Key Center and Kilmer Center students, secondary and elementary students who access the adapted curriculum, elementary comprehensive services sites, new English learners and PreK and kindergarten students.
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Group 3: First and second grade students and Burke School elementary school students.
View the complete School Board Return to School work session: Part I | Part II
Virtual Orientations Underway
Parents and students should plan to attend a virtual orientation with their teachers and school staff prior to the first day of school, September 8. Each school will schedule the virtual orientations and communicate the dates and times to families. The goal is to make the student transition to virtual learning as smooth as possible and to reduce any anxiety leading up to and on the first day of school.
The virtual orientations will give families the opportunity to:
- Build relationships with school staff and community.
- Meet the teacher(s).
- Participate in an overview of how virtual learning will work, such as basic expectations on logging into students’ FCPS Gmail accounts to access virtual classroom links, and how to use Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, GoogleMeet, and Schoology.
- Get more information about how to prepare for the first day of school.
After school starts, each school will also have a virtual Back to School Night to further orient families to the virtual learning environment. Back to School Night will provide an overview of the curriculum and provide clear expectations related to attendance, grading, and student supports.
New Videos Feature Help with Google Classroom, Padlet, Flipgrid
As students prepare for the virtual start to the school year, parents are encouraged to learn some of the technology applications their children and classrooms may be using this fall by viewing videos posted here. The list will be continuously updated. Additionally, we have learned that theChildren's Science Center is doing a free parent session to support virtual learning on August 29 and September 1.
This week, two new videos have been added to the Virtual Learning Tips and Tricks playlist on YouTube.
Padlet Tutorial: Padlet is an online bulletin board for students to post and collaborate. Jenn Choumil, biology teacher at McLean HS, created this resource for parents to better understand how the app works.
Flipgrid Screencast: The Deer Park ES school-based technology specialist is back to demonstrate how to use Flipgrid to make a screencast. It's a fun way for students to share their work with the teacher and classmates. Parental permission is required for students to use this app.
Introducing Schoology
The division recently awarded a learning management system contract to Schoology [pronounced "Skoo-luh-jee"]. School divisions across the nation use Schoology as the online platform to engage students, teachers, parents, and administration in the learning process. The system will be available divisionwide in fall 2021.
Schoology’s learning management system is similar to Blackboard, Moodle, and Canvas with the added benefit of integrating Google Drive. Schoology was chosen to support and implement instructional practices aligned to FCPS’s learning model to help students reach the Portrait of a Graduate goals.
Schoology will provide all students with:
- Equitable access to meaningful learning experiences
- Amplified best instructional practices
- Anytime access to their virtual learning space
The following timeline has been developed to allow stakeholders an opportunity to give critical input prior to full implementation of Schoology.
- Spring 2020 - Structured Focus Groups
- Fall 2020 - Schoology Pilot in selected schools (in the Sully District: Westfield High School, Stone Middle School, and Londontowne Elementary School will be piloting the program)
- Fall 2021 - Schoology launched division wide
Update from the Superintendent's Technology Council
The Superintendent’s Technology Advisory Council’s mission was to elevate the school district’s technology applications to the forefront of innovation; and make sure teachers and students are equipped with the tools, connectivity, access, and security for an increasingly interconnected landscape. The Council’s final report included 67 recommendations. FCPS has responded to the 17 priority recommendations; eight have been completed (click here).
FCPS will provide an update on remaining recommendations before the end of the first semester.
The Superintendent's Technology Advisory Council has concluded its work. View the Council's final report.
One of the Technology Advisory Council’s key recommendations was to hire a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and at the August 27th work session our Board welcomed Gautam Sethi into that role. Mr. Sethi comes to FCPS from the Douglas County (Colorado) School District with 18 years of experience in education technology. More information on Mr. Sethi can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-names-new-chief-information-officer.
Town Hall Meetings with Superintendent Brabrand
Superintendent Brabrand has two upcoming town hall meetings where he will share information to help students, parents, and staff prepare for the start of the school year.
Watch the town hall meetings live here: https://www.fcps.edu/tv/ch99.
Send your questions in advance to returntoschool@fcps.edu or call into the town hall live at 1-800-231-6359.
In case you missed it - here are the links to go back and watch previous town hall meetings earlier this month.
August 26 - Watch Video. Wednesday's town hall included a spotlight on FCPS' special education staff. Staff members explained what they do to support students with disabilities in Fairfax County and talked about student engagement in the virtual environment, family partnerships, student support, and specialized instruction. They also shared how they engage and will continue to engage students successfully.
August 19 - Watch Video. Two staff members from FCPS' social work and clinical teams talked about the emotions many families are experiencing during the pandemic. Learn how to cope and how to recognize potential issues of concern.
August 12 - Watch Video. Learn from two amazing school-based technology specialists who provided tips to prepare families for the virtual start to the school year on September 8.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Special Electronic Regular Meeting - Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Special Electronic Work Session - Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 11:00 am
For agenda, handouts and virtual meeting access, click here.
Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually via at https://www.fcps.edu/tv/ch99.
For latest updates from FCPS regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, please click HERE.
As always, the safety of our students, teachers, and staff is our top priority. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my Executive Administrative Assistant to schedule a call.
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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