 
FCPS is doing our part! Over 74% of Fairfax county residents 18 and over have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose! Alexandria Grant-Presser, applied behavior analysis resource teacher, was a volunteer at the vaccine clinic held at Annandale High School. WJLA-TV covered our clinic at Langley High School.
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.
June 18 Is a Holiday for All Employees—Schools and Offices Closed
As a reminder, Friday, June 18 (Juneteenth), is a holiday for FCPS and employees. Juneteenth celebrates and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
See the complete 2020-21 FCPS School Year Calendar.
New Summer Hiring Incentives for Special Education Staff
Are you looking for a meaningful experience this summer? FCPS is recruiting special education staff to support important summer programs and is offering additional financial incentives to attract teachers, therapists, and instructional assistants. Summer staff will receive a hiring incentive of $1,000 (licensed) or $500 (support) and one and a half times the regular hourly rate.
The following positions are eligible for this unique opportunity:
- Teachers/Therapists (i.e. currently contracted Community A, Community B, Foundations, Preschool, Preschool Resource, Counselor, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Visual Impairment, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech Language Pathologist, Recovery Lead Teacher)
- Paraprofessionals (i.e. Instructional Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants)
There is a critical need for staff to help support our students who receive our special educational services.
Apply to work Extended School Year or Recovery Services as a teacher.
Additional information about ESY:
Additional information about Recovery Services:
Apply to work Extended School Year or Recovery Services as a paraprofessional.
How to Find the Hub...Easily
Here are two easy ways to get to our new employee intranet, also known as the Hub site:
- Type in hub.fcps.edu in a browser.
- Find the link for the Hub in the FCPS Bookmarks in Chrome and FCPS Favorites in Edge.
Remember, the FCPSnet is going away on June 30. Why not explore the Hub today?
Have suggestions for change or improvements? Send feedback to hub@fcps.edu.
(Not kidding - we really want to hear from you and value your input.)
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Change
Good news! The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) raised the contribution limit for dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for calendar year 2021.
The new dependent care FSA limit for calendar year 2021 is $10,500. If you are participating in the dependent care FSA and would like to increase your election for 2021, please complete an HR-135a form and return it to the Office of Benefit Services. Increases will be effective the first of the month following receipt of your form and the increased amount will only apply to future expenses.
Refer to the Flexible Spending Account 2021 Updates webpage for more information.
FCPS Social Studies Summer Institute Is June 21-22
The FCPS Social Studies team is hosting a two-day professional learning event June 21-22, to share updates to the History and Social Science Standards of Learning Curriculum Frameworks to reflect recommendations from the African American History Education Commission (AAHEC).
The edits represent a more inclusive and historically accurate approach to United States history and directly impact the following courses: Kindergarten, Grade One, Grade Two, Virginia Studies, United States History to 1865, United States History: 1865 to the Present, and Virginia and United States History. These important changes directly align with FCPS priorities of equity and cultural responsiveness and social studies teachers are expected to implement the changes in the 2021-22 school year.
This professional learning experience will include keynote speakers and breakout sessions for participants to engage in courageous conversations and deeper learning on themes such as:
- Beyond heroes and holidays: African American experiences and contributions.
- U.S. history is global history: Teaching about Africa and the African diaspora.
- The history and legacy of slavery.
- Reconstruction history for relevance and student empowerment.
- Teaching about racial terror and violence.
This professional learning experience will be available for all FCPS staff, with additional opportunities for social studies teachers. We recommend social studies chairs/leads and school-based administrators attend. Registration details and more information will be coming soon.
For more information, contact Alicia Hunter at ashunter@fcps.edu.
Photo of the Week
Kat Clifford and Ken Larson from Floris ES are ready to rock! Clifford and Larson were featured in the Fairfax Times this week.
Don’t Miss Out: Subscribe to the FCPS 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.
The calendar includes 15 religious and cultural observance dates that are now recognized by FCPS.
Staff members can subscribe to have the dates sync with their Google, Outlook, or other online calendar applications. To do so, go to the Subscribe to Calendars web page and select Religious and Cultural Observances.
Provide Feedback on FCPS’ COVID Relief Funds
Fairfax County Public Schools wants to hear how you want to spend anticipated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds.
The ESSER III grant will be used in support of students, staff, and school operations. Learn more about the ESSER III grant.
Sign up to speak at a Fairfax County School Board Public Hearing about the ESSER III grant on June 7 at 6 p.m. or submit your input using the FCPS Online Feedback Form.
April FCPS CARES of the Month
Congratulations to the April FCPS Cares of the Month recipients:
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Central Office: Rahul Nooniwal – Energy Zone Food Services Center.
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Region 1: Brian Hollingsworth – Herndon MS.
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Region 2, Bernie DeLeo – Marshall HS.
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Region 3, Izza McDonald – Fort Hunt ES.
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Region 4, Tina Perez – Mountain View HS.
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Region 5, Patty Smalley – Olde Creek ES.
Find out what makes them special. Nominate a deserving employee.
New Instructional Coach Cohort Opportunities; Apply Now
Applications are being accepted for the New Instructional Coach cohort (replaces Building the Foundational Skills of an Instructional Coach Academy Course). Teacher leaders interested in becoming an Instructional Coach for the 2022-23 school year should apply.
The Instructional Coach cohort is designed to prepare a diverse group of candidates for the role of an instructional coach through the course content, experiences leading in their schools, self-directed learning and reflection, and observations, coaching, and feedback. Participants will earn 100 renewal points at the completion of the cohort.
Cohort dates:
- August 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. virtually.
- Once a month September-February from 4:45-7:45 p.m. with exact dates to be determined. Meeting face to face might be an option, based on CDC and Division guidelines, and will be decided at a later date.
Applicants must:
- Meet the qualifications for instructional coaching.
- Commit to attending all professional development and complete asynchronous course materials.
- Complete at least two leadership experiences within their schools during the 2022-23 school year. This professional development will also include observations, coaching, and feedback
- Apply for the Instructional Coach candidate pool in the spring of 2022 upon successful completion of the cohort.
Read more about the cohort and to access the application materials.
Congratulations to Our 2021 Cox Education Heroes!
Lizette Bennett, Title I resource teacher at Centre Ridge ES (left), and Tara Purdham, learning disabilities teacher at Key MS (right), have been selected as 2021 Cox Education Heroes. They were nominated by the community and Cox employees selected them for going above and beyond this year to support their students. Purdham and Bennett were awarded with $1,000 classroom makeovers. Congratulations, Tara and Lizette!
Summer Is Just ‘round the Corner: Pledge to Be Sun Safe
As the weather warms up and we spend more time outside, it is very important to protect your skin. Join Employee Wellness in practicing sun safety this June by taking a pledge to wear SPF daily and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Inspire others to be sun safe by snapping a #SunSafeSelfie and posting it to Instagram or Twitter and tagging @FCPSWellness, or email your picture to employeewellness@fcps.edu.
Find more sun safety tips and resources.
Questions? Email employeewellness@fcps.edu.
Health and Wellness Are Always in Season
Learn more about new and upcoming wellness programming available to FCPS employees in the Employee Wellness newsletter: Wellness News! Read June’s newsletter to find out more about your on-demand wellness platform, free live fitness classes, and more. Make your summer a healthy one.
OurFCPS Faces Profile—Holly Eelman
Holly Eelman is a school-based technology specialist (SBTS) at Crossfield ES and has worked in FCPS for 21 years.
What’s the favorite part of your job? I love encouraging both teachers and students to try new ideas. There is nothing better than seeing those around you take risks, use their creative and critical thinking skills, strengthen their resiliency, and grow. Celebrating that learning and growth is incredibly rewarding.
What are a few of your job responsibilities? Throughout FCPS, the SBTS job looks different at each unique school. Some of the responsibilities that all SBTS have is designing and facilitating professional learning for staff and coaching teachers as they strive to create meaningful learning experiences for students. We are change agents that are committed to building relationships, listening, and partnering with our adult learners. At Crossfield ES, one of my favorite responsibilities is greeting our families and students each morning at Kiss ‘n Ride. I love starting each school day this way.
Is there something you’d like us to know about you? I grew up playing sports on teams and loved the camaraderie and collaboration. I am lucky to have a job that allows me to work in collaboration with so many innovative and caring people: from my fellow SBTS, to my instructional colleagues across FCPS and at Crossfield, to our students. I truly feel a sense of belonging and community in my career.
What’s the top item on your bucket list? I am so excited to travel again. My top bucket list item is to go to Yoga on the Rocks at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I love spending time with my daughters, playing with our new puppy, reading, walking with friends, and enjoying a really good cup of coffee.
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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