May updates and information

 

Dear Dranesville Families:

With so many important updates coming out with time sensitive turnarounds, I wanted to take the opportunity to get this note out to you.  I hope this is helpful. Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Elaine


Teacher Appreciation Week

May 3-7 is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week

I am a former classroom teacher and specialist, and I know that I cannot even begin to appreciate how difficult and tiring this school year has been for you, our teachers and staff.  You have dealt with uncertainties and changes like never before.  You have taken professional development to deal with all of the instructional challenges and changes that the pandemic has required.  Many of you have worked from home with your own children in virtual learning beside you. Through it all, you kept working with your students in the best way you possibly could and tried to keep a positive attitude for them.  You reached out to families like never before and did whatever you could to engage absolutely everyone.  For all you did and continue to do, I am so grateful.  I wish you the best Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week and only hope you might get an inkling of how special you are and maybe even get a little rest this weekend.  

Thank you to our PTA organizations for making sure that appreciation efforts are happening across the schools!!  Enjoy!


5 days in Fall

FCPS Plans For Fall 2021-22

FCPS is returning strong for five days a week of in-person learning in the fall. Five days of in-person learning is guaranteed by a new state law that instructs all public schools to provide five days of in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. FCPS is excited to have all staff and students return in the fall to five days of in-person instruction. Planning for the fall is ongoing, but expect an engaging and positive experience for everyone. To learn more about what to expect this fall see this What In-Person Learning Will Look Like for Students for the SY 2021-22.

Our schools are safe. Thanks to our high volume of vaccinated staff, and successful implementation of our layered prevention strategies, our in-school transmission rates remain less than 1%, even as we have reduced social distancing to three feet in our schools. Our oldest students (16 and older) now have access to the vaccine, and we are closely monitoring the status of vaccine access for children ages 12-15. So far, we have had roughly 109,000 students and staff return to in-person instruction during April. 

If you plan to come for five days in the fall, you do not need to do anything more if you are registered/attending school now. We will see you in August. To learn about the latest 5 day in the Fall information please visit this website.


SY2021-22 Virtual Program

This program is a limited, full-time, centralized Virtual Program for students with documented health/medical needs. Watch the 5/4 Work Session to learn more.  Please go to What Virtual Learning Will Look Like for Students for a flyer on Fall’s Virtual program.

FCPS will consider a student’s need for Virtual Program enrollment through an application process. Eligibility will be determined on the basis of a health/medical certification of need submitted by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or a licensed clinical psychologist. FCPS’ Virtual Program for 2021-22 is a response to the impacts of COVID-19. The school division does not plan to offer it beyond this coming school year. For questions, visit frequently asked questions regarding the Virtual Program for the 2021-2022 school year . If you have questions or need support with your online application, please contact your school's registrar/student information assistant or email the FCPS student virtual enrollment specialist at VirtualEnrollment@fcps.edu

Unlike Virtual Virginia, the FCPS Virtual Program will be taught by FCPS teachers and accommodate students with special education needs and those who require English as a Second Language services. Some FCPS specialized programs will not be available, however, including some immersion, Advanced Placement (AP) courses and specialized Career and Technical programs. Additionally, while there may be options for virtual students to participate in activities or athletics, they will be made on a limited, case-by-case basis. Course offerings in the virtual program will be limited and will be subject to student enrollment and staffing availability. 

FCPS will be sending a letter to all families with students who are currently virtual this week and will ask them to declare their intent to apply for the Virtual Program. Families choosing to apply must complete a COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form, which requires a health/medical certification of need completed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or a licensed clinical psychologist. The Health Eligibility Form as well as a Virtual Program Enrollment Application must be submitted by May 21. 

Timeline for application to Fall FCPS Virtual Program

  • Families will fill out the Intent to Apply form between May 5-9.
    • Schools will contact families with next steps.
    • Form available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
  • Families can download the COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form beginning May 5, which requires a health/medical certification of need that must be completed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or a licensed clinical psychologist.
  • Families will submit the completed COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form with health/medical certification to virtualenrollment@fcps.edu (May 17-21).
    • The Virtual Enrollment Team acknowledges receipt of the documentation in the Student Information System (SIS).
    • Upon submission, families will receive an electronic reply with detailed instructions on how to complete the Virtual Program Enrollment Application via the online application portal (May 17-21).
    • The online Virtual Program Enrollment Application will be available May 17. 
    • Instructions on how to submit an online Virtual Program Enrollment Application will be available soon.
  • After Health Eligibility Form documentation is in SIS, the following business day, the enrolling parent may submit an online Virtual Program Enrollment Application.
    • Last day to submit Application May 21. 
  • FCPS’ Central Virtual Program Enrollment Team will notify the enrolling parent of the approval or denial by email to the enrolling parent's primary email address by June 1.
    • The school of enrollment will also be notified.

If you have questions or need support with your online application, please contact your school's registrar/student information assistant or email the FCPS student virtual enrollment specialist at VirtualEnrollment@fcps.edu.


Grading Policy Changes for Secondary Schools Adjusted Deadline

Based on feedback, the May 10, 2021 deadline has been extended to allow students and families more time to gain information about fourth quarter progress before making the final decision. Teachers, counselors, and administrators will be communicating with families regarding the updated timeline specific to each school.

  • The deadline for each individual school is based on the internal grading timelines and will be shared directly with each school community.
  • For seniors, the new deadline will be on or after May 17, 2021.
  • For middle school students and students in grades 9 - 11, the new deadline will be on or after June 1, 2021.

Action Needed: Should you wish to designate one or more courses as Pass - No Mark status, the appropriate grade-level form from the website must be submitted to your school counselor by the deadlines listed above.  Please note that we have extended the previous deadline to allow more time for students and families to gain more information about their fourth quarter progress before making the decision to request a “P”. 

  • The course title is required on the form, but the course number may be left blank if you do not have it available.

Students and families are encouraged to carefully consider the option for Pass. Additional information including translated forms, considerations,  and frequently asked questions are available at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/grading-and-reporting/secondary


Face Masks Are Still Required at All Times at All FCPS Sites, Indoors and Outdoors

On Thursday, April 29, Governor Ralph Northam amended Executive Order Seventy-Two to adopt new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on mask use in outdoor settings. The CDC guidelines state that fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks outdoors when alone or in small gatherings. Mask use is still required indoors and outdoors at large crowded events like concerts, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies.

What does that mean for FCPS?

  • The ease in the mask rule only applies to social gatherings. 
  • Sports (to include spectators of FCPS events) and entertainment (proms and other events) are not included.
  • Only athletes engaged in active play may remove their masks.
  • Until further notice, FCPS’ Regulation 2109 still requires masks in facilities and on school property as FCPS has no way of knowing who is and who isn’t vaccinated.

Multilanguagepodcast

Multilingual Family Podcasts: Yes, We Want Your Child Back in School! Attendance Matters!

2020 and 2021 have posed many challenges for all of us. We miss our students who have been absent. FCPS wants your child back in school and is ready to help. Listen to the latest Spanish, Arabic, and Korean podcasts on why we want your child back in school. We care and attendance matters!  

The podcasts hosts and guests engage in a passionate discussion on how we care, why attendance matters, common reasons for absence, school procedures regarding attendance, and what parents can do to partner with the school to get students back on track and in school.

Listen and Subscribe:


Cicada Life Cycle

Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood: Cicadas!

After 17 years underground, the Brood X cicadas will be emerging any day now. Get2Green has compiled a guide to periodical cicadas:

Your Cicada Questions Answered!

I keep hearing about cicadas. What is all the fuss about?

Brood X (pronounced Brood 10) cicadas will emerge for the first time since 2004! Billions of cicadas will emerge from underground in late April or early May (when the soil temperature 8” underground is 64°F) across 15 states, including Virginia and Fairfax County. Check out this map of all the mid-Atlantic cicada broods!

How many cicadas are there?

Scientists estimate that 1.5 million adult Brood X cicadas inhabit every acre.

Don’t we have cicadas every summer? How are these different?

There are annual (or “dog-day”) cicadas that emerge in smaller numbers each year, and there are periodical cicadas that emerge in 13-year and 17-year cycles. Brood X is a 17-year brood. Map of all periodical broods in US.

The nymphs have been underground since 2004, feeding on xylem of trees. They have not been sleeping! When they emerge, they cast off their exoskeletons. Those shells are fun to collect.

What will the cicadas do when they emerge?

The adults are loud for a few weeks while the males try to attract a mate. The females lay their eggs in the pencil-thick branches of young trees (planted in the last 3 years) and sometimes larger shrubs. You may want to cover with netting any trees that you don’t want damaged by the egg-laying.

Cicadas collectively emit a sound of 80-100 db. The males make the sound in their hollow abdomens, like a drum. Hear them individually and together and see them up close — and see their exoskeletons littering the ground (despite what this video says, cicadas lay their eggs in tree branches, not in the ground). Cicadas are attracted to power tools, weed whackers, lawn mowing equipment and other devices that make a sound similar to theirs.


PreK and Early Head Start Accepting Applications for SY 2021-22 

FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2021-22!  Please watch this video to see if your 3 or 4 year old may qualify for PreK. To apply online. For more information call our English Line: 703-208-7900 or Email: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu                   

¡FCPS PreK y Early Head Start ya está aceptando aplicaciones para el año escolar 2021-22!  Por favor mire este video para ver si su hijo de 3 o 4 años puede calificar para PreK.  Para aplicar en línea. Correo electrónico: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu Para más información llame a la línea de español: 703-208-7901

2021-22 Kindergarten Registration

Will your child turn five years old by September 30? If so, contact your child’s school to make arrangements for kindergarten enrollment. Most schools begin getting information together now for parents of incoming kindergartners, and many host an orientation or open house. All kindergarten programs are full-day and located in FCPS elementary schools.

Check your school’s webpage or contact the school directly for specific enrollment information and dates of orientation.

Get more information about kindergarten registration

Video: How to Register Your Student in FCPS.


McLean Central Park Master Plan Revision Meeting Slated

The public is invited to attend a public information meeting on the McLean Central Park Master Plan on Monday, May 24, 2021, at 7 p.m. You can watch the meeting at www.publicinput.com/McLeanCentralPark, or listen by calling 855-925-2801 and entering the access code 2881. Pre-registration is optional and not required.

Now that funding is available, the Park Authority plans to develop new facilities at the park in conformance with the 2013 Master Plan Revision. As guided by the 2013 Master Plan, potential facilities at the park include an amphitheater, parking lot, a dog park, passive seating areas, a bridge replacement and improvements to the park’s trail network. A timeline for construction will be developed later in the design process. Park Authority staff will present a development concept and will be available to answer any questions from the public.

For more information, please visit the project webpage; or contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or via Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov .


Congratulations to the 2 Dranesville National Merit Scholars

Thirteen Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been awarded 2021 corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The students are part of a group of more than 1,000 National Merit finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

  • Alexander Talamonti of TJHSST (computer science), National Merit Raytheon Scholarship.
  • Senna Keesing of TJHSST (astronautics), National Merit Leidos, Inc., Scholarship.

New Important Immunization Requirement: Do You Have a Student Entering Seventh Grade or Twelfth Grade This Fall?

While the COVID-19 vaccination is NOT required by schools for the 2021-22 school year, many other vaccinations are.

Seventh-grade students need:

  • One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) given at age 7 or older.
  • One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo) given at age 10 or older.

Twelfth-grade students need:

  • One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo) given at age 16 or older.

More information on new immunization requirements is available online


Calendar Reminder

All Students to Be Virtual on June 8 Due to Democratic Primary Election

Tuesday, June 8, is the Democratic Primary Election. Because the Fairfax County Electoral Board and City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using 165 school facilities as polling locations, June 8 will be a virtual synchronous  learning day (no in-person classes) for students.

Get more information about the primary elections.


Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed Budget

May 4, the Board adopted the FY22 Budget on a 9-1 vote. No changes were made following last week's approval of the markup package. An overview of the package can be found in Chairman McKay’s last newsletter here  and   John Foust's website for Dranesville information and to sign up for his newsletters.

Sign Up to Make Your Voice Heard on FCPS’ Budget for Next School Year 

The Fairfax County School Board will hold public hearings on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget (2021-22 school year) Tuesday, May 11, and Wednesday, May 12 (if needed). Both public hearings are at 6 p.m. To bring your voice into the room on the proposed budget, register to speak at a School Board meeting or call 571-423-1075.

See more details on the FCPS FY 2022 Budget and planning documents.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering an updated FY 2022 budget that includes a 2% salary boost for FCPS employees, funded in part with dollars from the Commonwealth. More details about the updated FY 2022 Fairfax County budget are available online

Stay up to date with FCPS’ budget calendar.


May is:

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: 

    Tonight, the School board will present the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Resolution. There are many ongoing activities at schools and across the FCPS in May. The Google Doodle from May 4 celebrated Hisaye Yamamoto, a Japanese American, woman writer. Learn more about her here.

    Take Note of 11 Moments From Asian American History 

    More than 30 years after President George H.W. Bush signed a law that designated every May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, much of Asian American history remains unknown to many Americans—including Asian Americans themselves. Read in TIME.

  • Bike Month

    Welcome to Bike Month!  Bike Month has been celebrated since 1956 as a way to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more people to give biking a try.  Fairfax County has an extensive network of both paved and natural surface bike trails. Check out the map of Fairfax County bike trails and head out for a ride.


Second Graders Learn about Butterflies and Gardens at Churchill Road ES

E.Tholen visit to CRS 2nd grade classes

A very special thank you to Churchill Road for letting their second graders teach me all about butterflies and visiting their labyrinth garden.


Summer Opportunities

2021 FCPS Summer Learning Information

This summer, FCPS will offer a variety of school-based opportunities. These include:

  • Credit Recovery: Each high and secondary school will host credit recovery opportunities for its students during two sessions.
  • School-Based Opportunities for Select Elementary School Students: Each elementary school has summer learning opportunities designed to support students as they develop executive functioning skills, mathematics skills, and language arts skills.
  • School-Based Opportunities for Select Middle School Students: Each middle school has summer learning opportunities designed to support students as they develop: mathematics, language arts, and problem-solving skills.

School staff will contact families of students who will be invited in the coming weeks. The total number of students that can attend school-based programs is based on the number of teachers at the school available to work this summer.

There are also a variety of summer enrichment programs open to all students. Information on how to register for these programs is available on the FCPS Summer Learning webpage.

Summer Recovery Academy: Special Education COVID Recovery Services

Special education COVID recovery services may be considered for any student with a disability whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team or Section 504 Committee determines a significant educational impact due to the COVID-19 school closure and the virtual learning this school year. Recovery services are designed to address learning gaps and are determined by IEP Teams or 504 Committees.

Case managers are responsible for reaching out to parents about their recommendations for Recovery Services. Additionally, parents have been advised to contact their child’s IEP/504 case manager to further discuss and schedule a meeting if they think their child may require COVID recovery services. View additional information regarding FCPS’ Summer Recovery Academy

Rec-PAC Summer Camps (Grade 1-6)

Rec-PAC (Pretty Awesome Children), operated by Fairfax County Park Authority After COVID-19 prevented in-person programs last summer, the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Rec-PAC returns this summer at 30 elementary school locations across Fairfax County.

Rec-PAC is an affordable, structured six-week summer program for children in grades 1-6 featuring a different theme each week. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from June 28 through Aug. 5, 2021. Parents can sign up for one week at a time or all six weeks.

 For more information and to register, visit this site for general information and detailed information at the Rec-PAC site.

Community Use News Update: More Summer Opportunities Coming Soon

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs); Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs); Parent, Teacher, and Student Associations (PTSAs); and Booster organizations can now submit requests to use our buildings and grounds for Summer Camp Programs (June 21-August 5). While there are limitations and all groups will be required to adhere to Fairfax County Health Department and Virginia Health Department COVID guidelines, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Read more about community use.

Check your school’s PTA/PTSA/PTO website for more details.


Opportunities for Students:

EQAC Seeking Student Representative

Calling all high school rising juniors and seniors interested in environmental science or environmental policy! Fairfax County's Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is seeking a student representative for the 2021-2022 school year! Any interested current sophomore or junior in good standing is encouraged to apply.

EQAC makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding county environmental protection and enhancement. Monthly meetings address issues on a range of topics including water quality, air quality, land use, transportation, solid waste, climate change, energy, hazardous materials, and noise, light and visual pollution.  Learn more about EQAC here.  Please see this short video prepared by the 2020 EQAC Student Representative, Clare Sparling, for information about the student member position.

Apply to be the EQAC student representative here. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, May 14, via email to eqac@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Conservation Poster Contest

The VASWCD poster contest is open to K-12 students, and scouts are eligible to receive a patch for participating. This year’s theme is “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.” The deadline is Friday, October 1, 2021. Learn more about the contest, eligibility, and how to submit a poster on NVSWCD's poster contest webpage.


Webinars at the FCPS Parent Resource Center

  • Supporting Your Child's Wellness Through Health and Physical Education: Join the FCPS Parent Resource Center for a virtual session on helping students with the knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions. Friday, May 7, at 10 a.m. Registration
  • SIBShops: The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to meet other siblings in a relaxed, virtual setting; celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs; share sibling experiences and receive peer support; and have fun. Saturday, May 15 at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Registration
  • Parent to Parent: Surviving and Thriving During a Second COVID-19 Summer: This webinar from the FCPS Parent Resource Center will offer families opportunities to learn from each other as they grow in their parenting skills. Parents build their own sense of competence and power by building relationships and connecting with other parents who share common experiences, successes, and challenges. Thursday, May 27, at 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. Registration 

Upcoming Meetings:

  • May 6th at 7 p.m.- Hybrid Regular School Board Meeting
  • May 11th at 6 p.m.- Budget Public Hearing
  • May 18th at 3 p.m.- Work Session- Budget; FPAC, FATE reports
  • May 20th at 7 p.m.- Hybrid Regular School Board Meeting

How to Watch Meetings


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.

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