Return to School News - September 21, 2020

Cunningham Park Music Teacher


Photos of the Week

In this week's photos, see how faculty members are connecting with students, how students are learning about their school libraries, and view textbook and supply pickup. 


School Board to Discuss Health and Operational Metrics for Return to In-Person Instruction on Tuesday, September 22

Superintendent Brabrand will provide updated information on health and operational metrics to guide the decision-making process to resume in-person instruction at the School Board work session tomorrow, TuesdaySeptember 22, at 4 p.m.

Information will also be provided on an updated plan to begin to offer in-person instruction by phasing in students in small cohorts as these metrics are met.

The work session can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 or on the FCPS website


Lisa Rode Named Virginia’s Region 4 Teacher of the Year

Kings Glen Elementary School sixth grade teacher Lisa Rode has been named the Region 4 Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Department of Education. Rode will compete for the 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year title, to be announced October 8, with seven other regional Teachers of the Year.

Learn more about Lisa Rode.


Curbside food distribution


Free Meals for Students During the School Year

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that FCPS and other school districts can continue serving free meals to all children through December 31. FCPS has distributed more than 2.4 million grab and go meals since schools closed in March. The goal is to provide every FCPS student daily access to a nutritious breakfast and lunch.

Buses are delivering grab and go meals throughout the county. Several new bus routes have been added and some bus stop locations have changed. Any changes to bus routes are posted on the website by 5 p.m. each day. Meals on buses will be distributed Monday through Friday beginning at 6:30 a.m. Information about bus routes for food distribution is available online.

Grab and go service hours at school sites have been extended to 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) with both breakfast and lunch being served at the same time. 

If there are bus delays while distributing grab and go meals, the information will be posted on the FCPS Bus Delay website. FCPS will also send a message to the affected school communities if a bus route is delayed.

Please Note: Breakfast and lunch meals for Saturdays and Sundays will be distributed at all sites and bus routes each Friday.   


Superintendent Presents Recommendations to Improve Diversity at TJHSST by Establishing Merit Lottery Admissions Process

Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand presented recommendations to the Fairfax County School Board to revise the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), the governor’s regional school, in order to promote access to historically underserved students.

Learn more about the recommendations for TJHSST admissions

TJHSST Admissions Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, September 23

Join Superintendent Brabrand for a virtual town hall on proposed admissions process changes at TJHSST on Wednesday, September 23, beginning at 7 p.m. The Town Hall will be broadcast live on FCPS cable TV Channel 99 (Cox and Comcast) or channel 11 (Verizon) and on the FCPS website

Families and community members can submit comments to TJcomments@fcps.edu or call into the town hall live to ask questions during the event at 1-800-231-6359.


Mental Health and Wellness Conference


FCPS Virtual Mental Health and Wellness Conference Continues

FCPS' seventh annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference continues through Saturday, October 3. The virtual event is focusing on resiliency. Our Minds Matter will also host a student strand. Inova and Kaiser Permanente will again be sponsoring the conference.

Registration information and the complete schedule and list of speakers are now available online.


How Can I Receive Text Messages from FCPS?

Parents can receive text messages from FCPS for emergencies and essential information. How? Make sure your parent cell phone numbers are listed in the "cell telephone" fields in the parent/guardian contact information section on the emergency care information form for each of your children.

Parents and guardians can view and update emergency contact information online using the weCare@school feature of FCPS 24-7 Learning

Standard message and data charges may apply for text messages depending on your cell phone service plan. More about text messages is available online.
 


Digital Consent Form  

Fairfax County Public Schools uses a variety of resources to support student learning. In cases where FCPS contracts with a vendor to host student information, FCPS requires that the vendor adhere to the security and privacy requirements specified in a confidentiality agreement included in their contracts. Many valuable instructional tools are governed by the vendor’s Terms of Service (TOS) Privacy Policy, this includes both free and paid tools.

For students to access school adopted digital resources with whom FCPS does not have a confidentiality agreement and/or contract with, parent consent is required. Since the resources may be different at each school, consent must be obtained at the school the student is enrolled before access can be granted.

Use this form to give your consent for your child


Healthy Minds Logo


Healthy Minds Podcast: Changing the School Culture Around Mental Health

In this week’s Healthy Minds podcast, Langley High School psychologist Anna Davis talks about executive functioning. Executive functioning is a set of skills and mental processes that help us to plan, focus our attention, manage tasks, and control our impulses.


Home Internet Access Assistance

FCPS is working to ensure that all FCPS students have internet access at home. FCPS is transitioning to a new program in partnership with Cox Communications, in which the school system will pay for internet service for qualifying families for the school year. Cox’s Connect2Compete program provides low-cost internet to families that meet these qualifications: 

  • Have at least one child that attends an FCPS school.
  • Participate in, or qualify for, one of these government subsidy programs: the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, TANF, or Public Housing.
  • Have not had Cox standard internet services in the home within the last 90 days.

If your family needs internet service at home so that your student can participate in virtual learning, contact your child’s school to begin the application process. If you qualify for the program, the school will contact you to let you know how to complete the steps to receive your internet service. 
 


NASA Launch


Video: Watching History

Lake Braddock Secondary School student Alex Mather was last year's winner of the contest to name the new Mars Rover. His submission "Perseverance" was the winner out of 28,000 entries. Recently, he had the honor of witnessing the launch as a guest of NASA. FCPS had a chance to talk to Alex when he got back to Northern Virginia. Watch the video


Save the Date—Moving on to Life in the Community: A Virtual and Free Resource Fair for Students with Disabilities—to Be Held on October 21

Don’t miss this virtual and free resource fair for students with disabilities and their parents on Wednesday, October 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Learn about vocational, residential, leisure, recreational, independent living, and advocacy options. This resource fair is for individuals who may need ongoing employment and community support after graduation.

Presenters include: Career and Transition Services, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, and The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Agenda:

  • 6:30-7:15 p.m.—Overview presentation.
  • 7:15-7:30 p.m.—Participants move to virtual breakout rooms.  
  • 7:30-8:30 p.m.—Virtual Question and Answer with adult service providers.

Registration is available online


Stuff the Bus September 26


Final Fall Stuff the Bus Food Drive Is This Saturday, September 26

On Saturday, September 26, Fastran buses will be parked at 21 locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect food donations. Buses will be located in less-frequented lots throughout the county, including many Board of Supervisors’ offices and the Fairfax County Government Center, to allow donors to comply with social distancing recommendations.

For more information, including donation sites, a list of most-wanted items, and information about donating virtually, visit bit.ly/FfxStufftheBus


FCPS Policies, Regulations, and Notices Available Online

Virginia’s Standards of Quality require all school divisions to notify the public annually of the availability of the school system's policies.  


FCPS In the News


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