 
Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year! Cheer on our students as they return this fall. Tamika Anderson, Instructional Assistant at Silverbrook Elementary School, celebrated her students in the summer learning program.
Masks are an essential tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting those unable to be vaccinated. To ensure a safe start to the school year, masks will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, inside FCPS school buildings when students are present.
As of Monday, August 2, all FCPS staff – both in offices and schools – are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at all times indoors:
- FCPS is encouraging all staff who work in our offices to show solidarity with schools and wear your mask at all times when you are indoors – even if you are fully vaccinated.
- We serve as role models for our students. This practice will help encourage them to follow the universal masking guidance at all times.
- According to the CDC, there are instances of breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals. Although vaccinated individuals are not becoming severely ill, they are able to transmit the infection to others.
- We are aware that the Delta variant is seeing transmission rates rise in our area, and we are encouraging all staff to do their part.
- For more about how FCPS is returning to school safely, visit our Return to School-Safety webpage.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our school community safe and healthy!
Our Community Is Getting Vaccinated!
We are encouraging all students and staff who are eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccination is our best protection against COVID-19. Thank you if you have been vaccinated in the past week. We are seeing our numbers increase. As of August 1, Fairfax County reports:
- 18 years old and older – 76.4% vaccinated with one dose, 69.7% fully vaccinated.
- 12-17 years old – 74.23% vaccinated with at least one dose (+4.23 since July 23).
Vaccination rates are updated regularly on the Fairfax County Health Department website.
We hope you’re enjoying your summer! In just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming students back into our buildings for five days a week of in-person learning. Planning for the 2021-22 school year began last spring with a focus on safety and academic support for all students. You can prepare to return strong by visiting the Return to School page, checking the Return to School FAQs often, and reading Employee News for the latest information. This is what you need to know this week:
Returning Strong – Safety
Our focus is on creating a safe and healthy learning environment for students to learn together in classrooms all year. We will achieve this through layered prevention strategies, including the two most important elements - universal masking in school buildings and widespread vaccination. Mask Up and Vax Up! The Return to School-Safety page is your resource for safety information as we return to school this fall.
Returning Strong–Academics
Teachers and staff will be prepared to address and support students’ specific needs when the new school year begins on August 23. A full Academic Support Plan, tied to FCPS’ proposed ESSER III spending plan, will be a significant investment of funding and resources that will ensure our students have the support they need to thrive this school year and beyond. The School Board is scheduled to approve the plan for the ESSER III funding on August 26. We will share more details with you after this meeting.
Returning Strong – Athletics
The return to school brings a return to fall sports. As with our entire return to school plan, safety is our top priority as we plan for fall sports to resume. The health and safety protocols in place this fall include universal masking when indoors.
To review all the safety protocols, including water, screening, equipment, and reporting, read more.
We hope you are enjoying your summer and look forward to a fresh start to the school year ahead. Professional development is an important tool that supports growth and learning throughout your career. It also supports FCPS’ ability to provide the best for students. You can play your part by completing all required training by the assigned deadlines. Not only does this ensure you have all the information you need to start the year strong, it also is a part of your professional responsibility and an expectation noted in employee evaluation. Please be sure to check out your MyPDE portal for assigned mandatory training.
Examples of training that must be completed by September include those listed below. To help achieve this goal, the Office of Professional Growth and Career Development has provided a new email notification system to help organize timelines and due dates.
Have a great school year!
Would you like to gain a better understanding of how the offices, departments, and schools within FCPS work together to support the mission of our division? Build your knowledge and skills around core leadership competencies to better lead for equity with the Supporting the Mission Cohort. Apply for the 2021-2022 Cohort of Supporting the Mission!
Eligible Employees: Teacher Leaders and Schedule B & C Staff (formerly US-20 and above)
For more information about the program, please check out our Google Site. Both the interest and recommendation forms are due by August 18. Forms will be shared with the FCPS Leadership Team members who will forward nominations for the cohort. Contact Tiffany Lee (ttlee@fcps.edu) with questions.
Congratulations to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), which received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. The award was granted by the Government Finance Officers of the US and Canada (GFOA) for demonstrating transparency by clearly communicating the FCPS financial story.
Stringent requirements must be met to receive this honor. A governmental unit must publish a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report that exhibits creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal. The award reflects the school district’s commitment to transparency and high-quality financial reporting and affirms that its comprehensive annual financial report serves as a communications tool that helps build trust and engagement with the school community.
Congratulations to Our June FCPS CARES of the Month Winners
- Central Office- Mark Hyer – Information Technology – Sprague Center
- Region 1 - Eric Fishman and Scott Aldridge, Thoreau MS
- Region 2 - Kirsten Wiley, Falls Church HS
- Region 3 - Cynthia Powell-Sparks, Washington Mill ES
- Region 4 - Mary Ann Barry, Fairview ES, and Katie Cheneler, Oak View ES
- Region 5 - Erin Ferguson, Canterbury Woods ES
Read more about what makes them special. Recognize a colleague who goes above and beyond to help others and shows they care.
If you’ve been to Gatehouse, then you’ve probably seen Stan Martin at some point making his rounds in the hallways. Those of us who work at Gatehouse enjoy his daily visits to deliver mail and packages along with his easy countenance.
Stan was one of the first OurFCPS Faces profiles when we began the feature over five years ago. Now, we’re giving him a tribute as he retires after 23 years of service with FCPS. We sure will miss you, Stan, but wish you all the best in your retirement! Read more about Stan.
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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