 
Lanier MS Assistant Building Supervisor, Yakelkis Ortega, gives a thumbs up for a crystal clean cafeteria.
Be Conscious of Supports Needed for Families With Religious or Cultural Observances During Spring Assessments
Standards of Learning (SOL) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams are scheduled throughout April, May, and June 2021. Even though schools try to avoid scheduling conflicts, a student’s exams may fall during a religious or cultural observance in some cases. FCPS welcomes and encourages the parents and guardians of students affected by this type of scheduling conflict to contact school staff. School staff will work with parents and guardians to make schedule adjustments or determine how best to address students’ needs.
View more about FCPS’ approach to supporting student assessments during religious and cultural observances.
FCPS Collaborates with Health Department to Raise Awareness of Vaccine Access
Starting April 18, all adults in Virginia will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. The CDC announced on Tuesday, April 6, that Virginia is receiving $77.1 million from the CDC to help remove accessibility barriers limiting vaccine access. FCPS will work closely with the Fairfax County Health Department to reduce disparities that, nearly four months into the vaccine rollout, indicate that white Virginians are being vaccinated at 4.7 times the rate of Black residents and eight times that of Latinos. Black and Latino Virginians in their 30s and 40s have a COVID death rate 6.3 and 10.9 times higher than white Virginians in the same age group when accounting for population. Visit the U.S. Health & Human Services website for more information or go to the Health Department’s site for specifics on how to get vaccinated.
April 20 Community Webinar on COVID-19 Vaccines
The FCPS Parent Resource Center will be hosting multilingual community webinars on COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccine process on Tuesday, April 20. Learn more and register for the webinar.
Recognizing FCPS Retirees
Due to the current COVID safety protocols and limits on gatherings, FCPS is regretfully unable to host a central in-person Retirement Ceremony this year. Retirees will be recognized on the FCPS website, and each retiree will receive an engraved retirement gift and a commemorative program. Those planning to retire should submit their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) as soon as possible.
Letters have been sent to the homes of those who have retired since April 2020 and to those who have submitted their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) with a retirement date prior to December 31, 2021. If you received a letter, please go to the link provided to enter your information for the engraved gift. If you did not receive a letter and you believe you should have, please email elboivin@fcps.edu.
 Clint Mitchell Is Virginia's Recipient of 2021 NAESP National Distinguished Principal Award
Congratulations to Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School principal Clint Mitchell, named the Virginia recipient of the NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) National Distinguished Principal Award for 2021. The announcement was made on April 8 by the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.
Save the Date for the 2021 Summer Equity Symposium: It’s a New Day
The Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement’s Equity and Cultural Responsiveness team is pleased to announce the theme and dates for the 2021 FCPS Summer Equity Symposium. This year’s theme is It’s A New Day.
The Equity Symposium is designed for participants to break out of their comfort zone into growth, reflection, and continuous improvement when engaging in themes of identity, bias, power, and privilege as we seek a culture of inclusivity, equity, diversity, and acceptance. Keynote speakers and small group breakout sessions will be tailored to the specific audience with opportunities to engage in conversations to process and apply what was learned.
- June 23 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. Division Leadership and Administrators
- July 1 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. Non-Administrator School and Central Office Staff
Registration and more information will be coming soon.
Photo of the Week
Nia Manoleras, Centreville ES, gets her students moving to celebrate Mathematics Awareness Month in their outdoor learning tent.
The Foundation for FCPS invites teachers, counselors, and other school personnel to apply for its annual grant program for projects to be completed in the 2021-2022 school year. The Foundation will provide up to $1,500 for classroom initiatives that respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and new needs that have arisen in classrooms. Grants should focus on one of three areas: continuity of learning, building or recovery of math and literacy skills, or social-emotional learning. Detailed grant guidelines and a link to the application can be found on the Foundation’s website.
The application period is March 22 through April 23, and funding will be provided in August for the 2021-22 school year. Please contact the Foundation office with questions at foundation@fcps.edu or 571-423-1031.
FCPS Receives Post-Pandemic Funding: Federal CARES ACT, ESSER, and CRF Updates
Curious about post pandemic funding? Detailed information will be provided at the May 4, 2021 School Board budget work session. April CARES ESSER CRF Updates
Get Ready for the Hub!
The Employee Hub, your new intranet site, is launching later this month. Check out a one-page overview on the Employee Hub (VPN Required) to learn more about how to navigate the site and its new features.
Celebrate Excellence: Nominations Now Open for FCPS Excellence Awards and Due by May 10
Do you have a colleague who consistently goes above and beyond? The Excellence Awards celebrate teams and individuals who exceed expectations in supporting the initiatives of the FCPS strategic plan. Award categories include: Growth, Impact on Others, Innovation, and Student Achievement. Each winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and a certificate from Dr. Brabrand, which will be presented at a ceremony in the fall.
Nominators must be current contracted FCPS employees; enter initial information about the individual or team they are recommending into an online portal; and complete a nomination packet. The packet must be submitted electronically via the portal by Monday, May 10, at 4:30 p.m. Please visit the Excellence Awards webpage for additional details.
New Wellness Challenge: Spring into Motion
Mark your calendar! Registration opens for the spring wellness challenge, Spring Into Motion, on April 19th! Spring Into Motion is a 4-week online challenge beginning May 3rd where participants will earn points and discover spring activities by logging their physical activity. View the 2-minute preview video. In addition to creating healthy habits, participants will have the chance to win prizes for themselves and their school! The first 75 employees to register will receive a $25 Amazon gift card! Questions? Visit the Spring Into Motion page or email HRWellness@fcps.edu
Equity Profile/ Dashboard Updates
We are pleased to share that our Equity profile/dashboard has been updated to reflect data from the 2019-2020 school year in relationship to our strategic plan. As a reminder, this dashboard was part of our work with the Fairfax County Government and our collaborative One Fairfax Policy. There was a desire to maintain a level of transparency in our efforts towards our goals in particular around access and opportunity. Each section of the dashboard is updated by the respective goal champion. Additionally, given the uniqueness of the 2019-2020 school year due to the pandemic, some data sets took additional time to get complete. Schools, central office, and our community may access this information for data dialogue and in support of culturally responsive decision making. Access the Equity Profile.
April Fitness Classes
There is still time to sign up for a free live fitness class in April! Relax with a yoga-based Stretch & Flow class or get your heart pumping with classes like Cardio Sculpt. Class recordings are available on the Employee Wellness Website. View the schedule and register.
Wellbeats: Access On-Demand Wellness Classes
Wellbeats is your new on-demand fitness and wellbeing benefit, the platform includes 800+ workouts, nutrition, cooking, and mindfulness classes for all ages, ability levels, and interests. Watch this 15-minute demo to learn more about all that Wellbeats has to offer! Don’t forget to share a picture of your homepage with employee wellness on Twitter or Instagram @FCPSWellness or email your submission before April 30th to HRWellness@fcps.edu to enter into a wellness raffle.
Questions? Visit the Wellbeats page or email HRWellness@fcps.edu
Our FCPS Faces Profile: Stephanie Duffield
Stephanie Duffield, language arts advanced academics teacher at Haycock ES, explains that she was a shy elementary-aged student and unsure of herself. She says “It took me a long time to grow into myself, to develop confidence and my voice, and to find what I was passionate about. Now, as a teacher, I hope to inspire students to find things they are passionate about, to help build their confidence, and to encourage them to find their voice.”
One of Stephanie’s favorite parts of her job is seeing her students grow throughout the year, not just academically, but socially, creatively, and also with their public speaking and tech skills. She explains, “They are growing into themselves, and I enjoy seeing how they grow, and the many different sides to them.”
She also loves hearing about the things they are passionate about (piano, swim, soccer, space, etc.). Stephanie says, “When they talk about these things, they smile, because they are so passionate, and it is pretty inspiring to watch/hear! It also brings what they love into the classroom. Not only are they able to connect with their peers, but I learn more about them, and can incorporate more of what they enjoy into our learning.”
Principal Liz Beatty values Stephanie’s contributions to the Haycock ES community. She explains, “Stephanie Duffield prioritizes building positive relationships with students always, but especially this year. She checks in with her students frequently to see how they are doing, not just academically, but also in terms of their emotional and social well-being. She has even been checking in and monitoring how her students from last year are doing. During this very challenging year, Stephanie Duffield has continued to make a positive difference for her students. The time and effort she takes to let students know how much she cares and that she is there for them has been instrumental in helping our students manage and cope with the many things that have made this year difficult for them.”
One thing she’d like to share with her students: “I hope my students know that I care about them, that I think about each of them, and that I hear them. I want them to know that even when things get hard, or they make a mistake, that they can be honest and tell me and that I will meet them with the same grace that they give me when I make a mistake.”
This kindness and caring nature are backed by parents in the Haycock ES community. One parent wrote in a recent FCPS CARES, "At the beginning of this year, I requested a conference to let Ms. Duffield, my daughter's language arts teacher to let her know that my daughter had a very rough year last year and had been bullied in the class. [...] On top of all this, she was struggling with the digital learning format and all the COVID upheaval. Ms. Duffield was exceedingly kind and promised to keep an eye on her [...]. I have been surprised and delighted to observe over the course of the year that Ms. Duffield has not only been true to her word but that she has really gone above and beyond the call of duty in checking in with my daughter and making her feel like she has a caring adult looking out for her at school.”
Stephanie, you are a shining example of the FCPS commitment to “engage, inspire, and thrive!” Thank you for your service.
April Is School Library Month
With the help of our fantastic school librarians, FCPS students checked out more than 4.2 million books this school year, and accessed 534,102 ebooks and online audiobooks! School librarians keep equity at the center by working with every student and connecting with teachers to build information literacy skills, spark students’ curiosity through inquiry, and provide resources that support students’ academic and personal growth.
Our librarians went beyond the call of duty this year, stepping in to ensure families had access to books even as school buildings were closed. They provided curbside checkout services, and many librarians partnered with transportation and food services employees to pull, package, and even deliver books to mobile sites and students’ homes. In addition, the online informational resources provided centrally by the library program are essential to virtual and in-person learning and have over 10.5 million searches this school year to date! FCPS librarians provide a safe space where every student belongs. April is a great time to share your appreciation of all that school librarians contribute to the school community!
2021 ERFC Election Notification
The Educational Employees’ Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC) Board is the governing body of ERFC and supports ERFC’s mission to enhance the financial security of members through prudent financial stewardship. An electronic election to fill one trustee position on the Board of Trustees will be held May 18-20.
For interested active members who seek to be candidates, Notice 4771 outlines the election process and requires: 1) nomination petitions and 2) a candidate statement of contribution.
Electronic petitions and candidate statements must be received by the Office of Equity and Employee Relations, via email to Skburris@fcps.edu by April 23. If you have questions, please contact Sherri Burris at 571-423-3252 or Skburris@fcps.edu.
Subscribe to Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board approved the 2021-22 school year calendar that is designed to recognize, respect, and honor the plurality of religious and cultural observances in Fairfax County. SY 2021-22 Calendar.
The school year calendar includes 15 religious and cultural observance dates that are recognized by FCPS.
FCPS staff can subscribe to have the dates sync with an employee’s Outlook calendar. Subscribe to Calendars and select Religious and Cultural Observances.
English Learner Supports for Summer 2021
FCPS staff understand that due to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, our 36,000 English learners (ELs) should be provided with additional academic content and English language development support this summer. We will be offering a variety of programs to meet the needs of this diverse student population. In short, we will provide additional programming to every English learner who would like to participate this summer. Look for upcoming staff opportunities in job opportunities.
Arab American Heritage Month: New Resources
In April, people all over the United States celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the diverse perspectives, experiences, and Arab American contributions. To support teachers and school divisions to that end, FCPS Social Studies, in collaboration with a group of community stakeholders and educators across subject areas, developed a new Google site: Planning for Arab American Heritage Month. Teachers and school leaders will find ideas for classroom learning experiences across content areas and grade levels, as well as details on upcoming virtual events. Resources will continually be added to this site.
In addition, FCPS Social Studies will host a virtual information session on Wednesday,
April 14 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to support teachers and schools planning for Arab American Heritage Month. The BBCU link will be posted on the Google site. The session will also be recorded and posted to the Google site for educators who are not able to attend.
FCPS In The News: A Student-Athlete Success Story
We love to see great news about FCPS’ amazing student athletes! Congratulations to WJLA's Athlete of the Week, South Lakes' Brianna Scott. Briana is heading to Georgetown University to study law in the fall. Read more about Briana!
ICYMI - Employee Wellness Webinar Recordings
With busy schedules, some of our employees may have wanted to attend live sessions of our wellness offerings and were not able to do so. In support of employee wellness, our team has recordings of many webinars, seminars, and fitness classes for you to enjoy at your leisure.
Take some time for your wellbeing and enjoy the most recent webinar and fitness class below:
Visit the Virtual Wellness Resources page to view all available recordings.
For additional information, visit our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Guidance Resources online, and use Web ID: FCPS, or call our EAP at 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter to get monthly updates and announcements of our Employee Wellness offerings.
Staff Staples
Note: Intranet access is required to open some of the links in this email. If you're using a mobile device or working remotely, you can connect to the intranet via the Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.
Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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