Dear Dranesville Families,

Welcome Summer! I just wanted to get out this long list of summer resources so you would have them and know where to get the latest updates on our preparations for the start of the school year on August 23. 

We also have some great student news to share.  

Be safe and enjoy the sunshine.  

Elaine

McLean High Student Competes on American Ninja Warrior 

Max Feinberg, a McLean HS rising senior,  appeared on Season 13 of American Ninja Warrior. He completed the course even with the difficult pretzel twist and will move on to the next round. You can watch on NBC.com or Peacock (Max’s run is at the 1 hour 1 minute time mark) and see Max’s impressive run through the course. Go Max!! To learn more about Max’s preparation and his experience read this Patch article.

Dranesville Spring Sports Updates Langley Girls Lacrosse- Back to Back State Champions! Langley won the Class 6 girls state lacrosse title Saturday with a 17-6 win over Colonial Forge. Congratulations on an outstanding season!

State Champions: Track and Field

Herndon HS

• Gillian Bushee State Champion in the 3200m and 2nd place in 1600m

Langley HS

• LHS’s Discus State Champion Dike Illoh

McLean HS

• Xavier Jemison State Champion in the 1600m and in 800 m
• Thais Rolly finished 3rd in 1600m 

State Rowing Championship

McLean HS

• Varsity boys completed their undefeated season at the Virginia State Rowing Championship with a full sweep of the boys eight events! Congrats on an amazing season!
• Girls- Girls 1v came in 3rd
• Girls 2v came in 2nd
• Girls 3v came in 3rd
• Girls freshman came in 2nd

Langley HS

• Girls-State champions of varsity 4 women boat
• 3 bronze medals:
  • Women's 1st 4, Women's 2nd 4
  • Men's Junior 8 

Herndon Baseball Coach Honors Congratulations to Herndon Baseball Coach, Steve Frank on being named Liberty District  & Northern Region Baseball Coach of the Year!

School Board Student Representatives

Thank you Nathan and Welcome Pranav

I want to thank Nathan Onibudo for his work this year as the 20-21 Student Representative to the School Board. He has been a caring voice for the students in this unique year and always addressed student concerns and voices with poise, wisdom beyond his years, and creativity. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the time he spent with me to help raise up student voices and to inspire students to achieve and to lead across Dranesville.  It was so helpful to have his perspective as we worked together with students from Langley, McLean and Herndon HS. 

Pranav Choudhary, a Langley HS rising senior, is the 21-22 Student Representative to the School Board! I have had the pleasure of working with Pranav in his role as a Langley SAC member and as a Langley HS representative to my McLean HS boundary Citizen Advisory Group. I so look forward to working with him as the new Student Representative to the School Board. Read more about Pranav here.

School and Student News

FCPS Honors Recognizes 2021 Outstanding Employees

On June 9, FCPS honored its 2021 Outstanding Employees at an event held at Jiffy Lube Live. The awards, sponsored by the Department of Human Resources, recognized more than 700 employees in both instructional and operational roles. This year, 74 finalists, representing twelve categories, were recognized in the exciting awards ceremony. Learn more here.

Here are the Dranesville winners and nominees:

Winners:

• 2021 Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher  

  Melissa Duluc- Spanish Language Teacher; McLean High School, Region 2

• 2021 Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee 

  Margaret Sisler- School Based Technology Specialist; Westfield High School, Region 5

Nominees:

• 2021 Outstanding Elementary School Teacher Finalists
  • Alysha N. Akbar, Fourth Grade Teacher, Forestville Elementary School, Region 1
  • Jonathan Baker, Gifted Education Center Teacher, Haycock Elementary School, Region 2
• 2021 Outstanding Secondary Teacher Finalist
  • Jane Kortan, History & Social Studies Teacher, Herndon High School, Region 1
• 2021 Outstanding School-Based Leader Finalist
  • Paul W. Stansbery, Director, Student Services, McLean High School, Region 2

Foundation for FCPS Announces Teacher Grant Winners

The Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools announced the 2021 grant award recipients. For next school year, grants were awarded that focused on a strong Return to School following the global pandemic.  Funded projects will enhance learning around literacy or math skill recovery, continuity of curriculum, or social-emotional learning for students in grades K-12. More than 105 creative and innovative proposals were submitted, and the Board of Directors selected 73 educators to receive grant funding for their projects. Grant awards range from $400 to $1,500, and the amount distributed totals over $96,000!

Dranesville teachers from Chesterbrook ES, Churchill Road ES, Clearview ES, Herndon MS, Herndon HS, Lemon Road ES, and Westfield HS received grants.

Cappies Award I was so happy to attend the Cappies Virtual Gala at Langley HS on June 13 to see the incredible  and creative work of our student teams. The Cappies is a program for high school theatre and journalism students who attend shows at other schools, receive training as critics to write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers.  View the Virtual Cappies Gala. 2021 Dranesville Winners: Returning Critic: Clare A’HEarn Mclean HS Graduating Critic: Emilia Ermanoski Mclean HS Top Critic Team: Westfield High School

State champion in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) contest

Meeka Williams, a Class of 2021 McLean HS graduate and a second-year Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) student who traveled from McLean HS to pursue her technical studies at Edison Academy.

• On 6/3, Meeka Williams won the state championships in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) contest with Virginia SkillsUSA. 
• She was also a recipient of the Student of the Year Award at Edison Academy for 2021 as well as a recipient of an Edison Academy Administrator’s Award. She has already attained work experience in the HVAC field while in high school. She will be pursuing further education and training through apprenticeship in HVAC upon her graduation this June. Meeka  also recently passed the Environment Protection Agency’s EPA Certified Technician Exam.

Advocacy for Electric Buses by Girl Scout Troop 50075 A huge thank you to Girl Scout Troop 50075 for your work researching electric buses.  Your help to tell the public about why an investment here is necessary helps us to move forward with our Joint Environmental Task Force work. Please view their video here.

FCPS electric school bus and its driver Michael Malsom at the Mount Vernon Environmental Expo.

Electric Bus Grant

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will be awarding $10 million to Virginia public schools from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust through a competitive grant application process.  This grant will allow cost differential funding for replacement of up to 10 school buses, thus allowing FCPS to expand its electric school bus fleet.  An applicant may submit only one application for electric buses and associated chargers.  

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is submitting a grant application requesting funding to replace the maximum number of buses and associated chargers allowed for by the grant.

This is aligned with the JET mission to proactively address climate change and environmental sustainability and advances us further towards our goal to transition to electric or zero-carbon alternatives for municipal buses by 2030, and for school buses and eligible fleet vehicles by 2035.

Ona Judge Historical Marker in Mount Vernon Area Thanks to the history detective work of a group of fourth graders at Laurel Ridge Elementary School, the woman who eventually ran away from the president and his wife, Martha, is now recognized outside the plantation where she was held. On Juneteenth, a crowd of over 200 gathered to see the official unveiling. Maura Keaney, a school technology specialist and history buff, collaborated with 4th grade teachers Stacy Gernatt, Megan Toland, Lesliean Luna, Carolina Bermudez, and Lindsay Wheeler on blended learning strategies to infuse more student voice and choice into Virginia Studies, including running a year-long History Hunters scavenger hunt, for which students studied Virginia historical Highway markers.  Students examined historical events in Virginia history, noticing whose perspectives were told and whose might be missing.  Learn more here.

Mental Wellness Consultations Available

The FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services is offering virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from June 28th through August 6th. Parents and students have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. Consultations are offered in two ways:

1. Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
2. Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides an opportunity for middle and high school students to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or the transition back to school in the fall. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time-management.

All parents and secondary students are encouraged to take advantage of this service. There is no cost. Click here to request a consultation. You may also leave a message at 571-423-4276.

Free Meals Available Throughout the Summer: June 28-August 5

FCPS is committed to providing all students access to no-cost meals over the summer months at meal kit sites and on bus routes. Each site and bus route will offer meal kits containing seven days of breakfast and lunch. Please note that locations of the meal distribution sites and all bus routes have changed from the school year plan. 

FCPS served 16 million meals/snacks since March 2020 and approximately 14.5m meals/snacks were served in SY20-21.

Summer Meal Kits

• Summer meal kits will be offered on Mondays at 10 sites throughout the county beginning June 28 and ending August 2. 
• Please note that meal kits will be distributed on Tuesday, July 6, due to the Monday, July 5 holiday. 
• Meal kits contain 7 days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. 
• The meal kits will be available for pick up from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. or until supplies are exhausted. 
• All meals are available at no-cost to all FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. 
• Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children and adults may purchase kits for $28. 
• Locations include:
  • Westfield HS- 4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly 
  • South Lakes HS- 11400 South Lakes Dr, Reston
  • Marshall HS- 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church

Meal Kit bus routes

• Meal kit bus routes will run June 28 through August 5.
• Buses will run weekly routes throughout the community distributing meal kits, containing seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. 
• The buses will not distribute meals on a daily basis. The bus stops are weekly and run Monday-Thursday only. 
• Please note that on Friday, July 2, Monday bus routes will operate to cover the Monday, July 5, holiday. 
• Meal kits are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. 
• Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children. 
• Adult meals will not be available for purchase on the bus routes.

2021-22 School Year First Day of School August 23 The school year has ended but FCPS staff are hard at work preparing for the 2021-22 school year ahead. FCPS is reflective of the impact the pandemic has had on our students, families and staff. We are making every attempt to address potential concerns around these impacts to ensure we meet the needs of our students this fall. FCPS staff are reaching out to families who left FCPS during the pandemic with phone calls and in-person visits, and we are ready to see our students back in-person in the fall.

Fairfax County’s School Age Child Care to Open for 2021-22 School Year

SACC will be open to provide before and after school services for the 2021-22 School Year.  The SACC program is currently assessing center capacities based on health and safety protocols. More information for the 2021-22 School Year program is available now on the SACC website.  Families who were previously enrolled will be contacted to determine their need for services

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.

Websites and Resources 

FCPS/School Information

See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar. 

Fall updates

• Fall 2021 Planning

Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information.

• FCPS Parent Resource Center

• FCPS Multi Lingual Parent Information Phone Line

• FCPS Ombudsman

Summer Meals

• Summer Meal Kits 
• Meal Kit bus routes 

Technology Support for Families

Digital Learning Resources Summer Access

The following digital learning resources will be available to all FCPS students through August 6th with their FCPS login.  After August 6th, students will regain access at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. 

• Literacy Footprints
• Clever (also has access to all of the resources below)
• ST Math
• Imagine Learning and Literacy (primary)
• Imagine Reading (upper grades)

PTA Information

Your school's website and PTA/PTSA/PTO website

FCCPTA Website

• FCCPTA Facebook Page
• FCCPTA Facebook Page en Espanol

Fairfax County Special Education PTA

• Parent Advocacy Handbook

Where to Go with Questions

The table below provides some of the most common types of issues or questions that may be anticipated and indicates who to contact for help. Email is the best way to reach staff.

Technology Help Desk Remains Open This Summer The Parent Technology Help Desk will continue to support parents and students over the summer months. Help Desk agents can be reached at 833 921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside of those hours, parents can also visit the Parent and Student IT Support Portal to find self-help resources or submit a tech support request ticket.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Citizens Committee for the Bond

Every two years, Fairfax County places a school construction bond referendum on the ballot. For more than 10 years, Fairfax/NOVA Chamber of Commerce has established a School Construction Bond Committee to advocate affirmative votes for the bond. The committee seeks representatives from many parts of the community including from School Board members' districts.

The 2021 Citizen’s Committee for the Bond is again seeking appointees. General tasks and commitment for committee members include distributing information electronically and in print such as yard signs, shirts, stickers, and Facts booklets, though the committee will be discussing methods as per COVID-19 restrictions.

ACE Advisory Committee vacancy

• The committee represents the community and brings to the School Board’s attention resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. This year the emphasis was on assessing how the Community Education, Adult ESOL, and Adult HS Completion programs can be better positioned to serve the lifelong learning needs of Fairfax County given the new learning environment necessitated by COVID-19.

• Vacancy for July 2021- June 2022:
• If you are interested in serving as the Dranesville representative on the ACE Advisory Committee, please send your resume and a paragraph describing how your qualifications and experience will be an asset to the Dranesville community and the ACE Committee. Please send your information to Wendy Biliter by July 1 at wmbiliter@fcps.edu

FLECAC vacancy

• The FLECAC advises on the Family Life Education standards of learning and curricula, including both the Human Growth and Development and the Social and Emotional Health units.
• Vacancy for July 2021- June 2022:
  
  • If you are interested in serving as the Dranesville representative on the  FLEC Advisory Committee, please send your resume and a paragraph describing how your qualifications and experience will be an asset to the Dranesville community and FLECAC. This is usually a 2 year appointment. Please send your information to Wendy Biliter by July 1 at wmbiliter@fcps.edu

If you are interested in serving on any of these committees, please forward your qualifications and a paragraph on your interest to wmbiliter@fcps.edu. Please consider being the Dranesville representative!

Congratulations to Penny Gros, new Region 4 Assistant Superintendent!

The Fairfax County School Board has approved the appointment of Penny Gros, who currently serves as executive principal for school improvement in Region 2, as the new Assistant Superintendent for Region 4, effective July 1. Gros replaces Jay Pearson, who recently retired. To learn more, please read this.

FCPS Names New Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services

Noel Klimenko, a proven FCPS leader for over three decades, was named Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services. Ms. Klimenko currently serves as FCPS’ Director of PreK-Curriculum and Instruction, where she leads twelve content teams who create curriculum, professional development, and resource deployment to ensure alignment to FCPS’ learning model and strategic plan. To learn more, please read this.

Farmers Market Composting Program

If you want to compost but cannot do it at home, Farmers Market Composting provides a convenient solution.

Beginning June 23, the composting pilot program is expanding to make the service available at three county-operated farmers' markets and one non-profit market thanks to a partnership between the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and the Park Authority.  The Herndon Farmers Market (765 Lynn St. Herndon, VA, 20170) is one of four sites selected to test our food scrap composting program. Drop off your compost scraps from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm, Thursday., July 1, and every Thursday through November 4.

To learn more or ask questions about the pilot program, contact our Solid Waste Management Program at 703-324-5230 or email Recycling@fairfaxcounty.gov.  

Community News:

Supervisor Foust's newsletters

Learn about programs and information in Dranesville including items like those shared below. Please go here and sign up for his newsletter.

New Bike Laws Starting July 1

• Drivers must change lanes to pass cyclists
• Bicyclists may ride two abreast in a travel lane

Families for Safe Streets Survey

Linkedin Learning Is Now Available at no cost to Northern Virginia jobseekers

• Free LinkedIn Learning licenses are available to jobseekers and employees of small businesses to gain new skills through online classes. Unlock access to on-demand courses that can be tailored to your interests and career goals. Learn more here.

Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA):

• The Board of Supervisors accepted funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for the ERA program, in the amount of $35.1 million. Funding will allow the County to continue providing financial assistance for housing expenses.
• Fairfax County Residents:  If you need assistance with your rent, call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, TTY 711 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center (MCC)

• What We Do

  • McLean Community Center provides a sense of community for residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville by offering programs, assisting community organizations and furnishing facilities for civic, cultural, educational, recreational and social activities. Learn more about the MCC.

• Upcoming events
  • Summer Sunday Concerts 5pm (no concert 7/4)- Free and open to the public. McLean Central Park Gazebo, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd.
  • July 4th Drive-Thru Ice Cream Celebration 11am-2pm-  Celebrate Independence Day with MCC’s drive-thru 4th of July event held at the McLean Community Center. Please sign-up for one of the following time slots to participate. One registration per vehicle. This event includes music, free ice cream, patriotic giveaways, and more. Registration is required for this timed event.
  • See more events on the MCC Calendar

Free Fairfax County Outdoor Concerts this Summer

If you love summer, chances are you love free summer concerts in local parks. Once again, the Fairfax County Park Authority will present live entertainment at a host of different park venues. Best of all, the performances are free. The lineup for the Park Authority includes 130 concerts with a wide array of performances from classical to bluegrass and everything in between. Concerts are held outdoors and will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Please call 703-324-SHOW (7469) before leaving home for inclement weather updates. For details regarding each series, visit the Summer Entertainment Series website.  

McLean HS Track and Field Closure

Starting June 22nd, the turf field and track at their stadium will be closed until early August. This shutdown is due to their turf field being replaced. 

McLean HS Tennis Courts Updates

The work has begun to remove the trailers from the tennis courts. Resurfacing will happen, weather depending, the 2nd/3rd week of July.

USGS and Partners Investigating DC Area Bird Mortality Event USGS Statement In late May, wildlife managers in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs. No definitive cause of death is identified at this time. This bird was found in the Washington, D.C. metro region with swollen eyes and crusty discharge, a sign observed on most birds affected by a May/June 2021 mortality event in the area. (Credit: Leslie Frattaroli, NPS) The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and National Park Service are continuing to work with diagnostic laboratories to investigate the cause of mortality. Those laboratories include the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, the University of Georgia Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and the University of Pennsylvania Wildlife Futures Program. Birds congregating at feeders and baths can transmit disease to one another. Therefore, the state and District agencies recommend that the public in the outbreak area: Cease feeding birds until this wildlife mortality event has concluded; Clean feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution; Avoid handling birds, but wear disposable gloves if handling is necessary; and Keep pets away from sick or dead birds as a standard precaution. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington has also created a bird reporting form where people can report dead birds, including Fairfax County and other jurisdictions. Dead birds should be disposed of safely. If you must remove dead birds, place them in a sealable plastic bag to dispose with household trash.  If you find a sick or injured bird on your property, please contact the Animal Protection Police through the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131.  Additional information will be shared as diagnostic results are received.

Key Facts Regarding the New "Legalized" Marijuana Law that Takes Effect July 1st

Kelly Rankin, FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, prepared the following quick facts about the new law:

• The decriminalization and legalization laws are different for anyone under 21.

• Legalization means that adults 21 or older are allowed to possess up to one (1) ounce of marijuana.
• Anyone under 21 years of age caught with marijuana is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $25 and will be required to enter a substance abuse treatment or education program or both, if available.
• Possession on the grounds of a public K-12 school would constitute a class 2 misdemeanor.
• ​Students found in possession, under the influence, or distributing marijuana on FCPS school grounds will be referred to a FCPS Prevention Specialist and may be assigned a consequence up to a referral to the division superintendent, per the Student Rights and Responsibilities.
• Marijuana is still a Drug Enforcement Agency schedule 1 drug. 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA)

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a weekly in-person enrichment program at Robinson Secondary School that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas, and encourages skill development and career exploration. The program is open to students in grades 7-11 during the 2020-21 school year. Students are able to personalize their experience by choosing which CTE classes they will take! Some class titles are Workforce Prep; Gone Gardening; Mechanic Mania; CAD 101; World of Robots; Animal Care; and many more. Learn more at this website.

Visit to the Springfield CTE House I was so impressed with the craftsmanship and the mastery of the work in this house. I appreciated the opportunity to visit it firsthand. Please read more about this house here.

Mask Guidance for FCPS Summer School—Students and Families

Updated guidance regarding the use of face masks while on school property beginning June 18 in accordance with Executive Order 79. This guidance impacts our staff and students attending summer enrichment programs, extended learning, as well as camps or other school-based activities. Please check this website for any changes.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• June 29th at 6 - 8 p.m.- Committee Reports
• July 13th at 10 a.m.- All-Day Work Session
• July 15th at 7 p.m.- Hybrid Regular School Board Meeting

How to Watch Meetings

• Livestream: Meetings can be live streamed  here.
• Recordings of Meetings: Meetings are recorded and available here.
• Latest schedule of School Board Meetings:
• https://www.fcps.edu/school-board/school-board-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.

© 2021 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Elaine Tholen  |  Phone: 571-423-1087

Wendy Biliter, Staff Aide, 571-423-1068, wmbiliter@fcps.edu