Dear Sully District Families,
Fall is in the air. The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter, and it's getting much cooler. We are already in our second month of SY21-22 and our teachers and staff have done a stellar job transitioning our students to in-person instruction under very difficult circumstances.
Much was accomplished last month with COVID-19 safety for students and staff being our top priority. At our September work session and regular meetings, the School Board continued to emphasize health and safety measures and streamlining our protocols and procedures to support students who are home due to a COVID-related pause, quarantine, or isolation. I voted for a transportation salary scale increase to help us continue to address the shortage of bus drivers impacting school districts nationwide. The Board also voted and discussed ESSER III follow-on motions and the Comprehensive Special Education Review – First Year among other important Board matters.
While we continue to face challenges, we are in week 7 and have had many joyful experiences. I enjoyed visiting schools and participating in Back to School Nights and other student events! At-Large School Board Member, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and me hosted a virtual town hall to address important questions and concerns you had. I met with several of our community members and families and continue to strongly advocate for expanded, scalable virtual opportunities for our students, especially for our elementary school students. Our school leaders are focused on addressing learning delays associated with the pandemic and addressing achievement gaps. We know that student success depends on a shared partnership between school, parents, and the community. This year it is especially important for all of us to work together.
Looking forward, we have another busy month planned with a Work session on October 19th where we will be discussing plans for vaccinations and other health and operational updates, as well a Legislative Work session and Public Hearing on October 25th.
Inside this month’s newsletter:
- COVID-19 Health and Safety Updates
- Improved Fairfax County SAT outcomes and Record Graduation Rates
- Opening of School Report
- Open Positions on Citizen and Curriculum Advisory Committees
- Get2Green Outdoor Learning Initiatives
- Parent & Mental Health Resources
Congratulations to our 2022 National Merit Semifinalists and other students who have done well and continue to excel. Our students have outperformed on the SAT and in graduation rates in 2021!
On October 11, we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day to celebrate and honor Native American cultures and histories, while acknowledging their resilience in the face of a long history of marginalization. LGBTQ+ History Month is in October as well, and we will be celebrating the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. October also kicks off Dyslexia Awareness month, an annual event aimed to further understanding of dyslexia. I will be reading a resolution at our Oct 7th Board meeting to recognize this event.
I was also honored to have had the opportunity to surprise and congratulate Bryant High School’s Mr. Howard Brewer who the 2022 Virginia Region 4 Teacher of the Year in person. We have incredible educators at FCPS!
Finally, please continue to share your concerns and experiences with me. These issues are my top priority and continue to be at the forefront of our daily operations. Happy Fall as well! I hope you and your family can take some time to relax and enjoy this wonderful time of year here in Fairfax.
In partnership,
Stella Pekarsky
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School Visit to Deer Park ES - Lunch Safety!
Thank you Principal D'Amato for allowing me to visit and volunteer during lunch time!! It was really amazing to see all the creative solutions that have been used from plexiglass separators, extended lunch hours, air filters, staggered lunch times, additional staff on hand etc. to help keep students safe during lunch. I am deeply grateful to teachers and staff for their incredible efforts to welcome students safely back into our schools.
Many of our schools are looking to hire hourly staff and substitute teachers to support the student learning experience. Please consider joining the FCPS team.
Sully District Happenings
Sully District National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!
Congratulations to our 214 students from 16 high schools across FCPS Fairfax that have been named semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2022.
The number of students honored this year during the pandemic is higher than last year when qualifying test scores were taken in 2019 before COVID-19 hit. The increase serves to indicate consistently high levels of academic achievement remain despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Sully District schools and students who are 2022 National Merit semifinalists are:
Centreville High School: Elaine Chang, Rachel Choo, Ji Ye Yoon.
Chantilly High School: Jordan Elasfari, Joshua Gao, Aarthika Krishnan, Yukta Ramanan, Adita Tarigoppula, Noyanika Vattahara, Jessica Yang, Srindhi Yelimati..
Madison High School: Aaron Dubois, Anika Gupta, Vaneesha Gupta, Shawn Malik.
Oakton High School: Arielle Kim, Jayden Liu, Anmol Malviya, Anthony Nguyen, Anjana Rajesh, Charles Tatum, Jaden Wang.
South Lakes High School: Caroline Amsbary, Nicole Cheban, Mina Tunley.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST): Anand Advani, Ryan Angle, Aarav Bajaj, Shaina Banduri, Anirudh Bansal, Saloni Bedi, Sydney Belt, Hai Lun Bian, Shyla Bisht, Ari Bobesh, Elizabeth Brown, Ashley Chen, Caroline Chen, Emily Chen, Justin Chen, Lynelle Chen, Victoria Chen, Joanna Cheng, Aditya Chezhiyan, Sehyun Choi, Justine Chu, Jeb Cui, Lauren Delwiche, Michelle Du, Maria Dubasov, Pulak Dugar, Annika Duneja, Michael Fatemi, Jessica Feng, Daniel Frank, Medha Gaddam, Hari Gajjala, Harrish Ganesh, Sameeksha Garg, Eugene Gonzalez, Meghana Gopannagari, Alyssa Gorbaneva, William Graf, Arya Grayeli, Ramya Griddaluri, Pesandi Gunasekera, Sagar Gupta, Sahil Gupta, William Hancock, Garrett Heller, Anna Hsu, David Hu, Andrew Huang, Jennifer Hunsinger, Mirza Hussain, Kareem Jaber, Arjun Jagannathan, Arjun Jagdeesh, Pratyush Jaishanker, Joniel Jerome, Leon Jia, William Jiang, Ayesha Kabduwal, Nitin Kanchinadam, Esha Karlekar, Aarav Khanna, Anuj Khemka, Raffu Khondaker, Darius Kianersi, John Kim, Tae Ha Kim, Anwitha Kollipara, Sudiksha Konanki, Amit Krishnaiyer, Alexander Kuebler, Yoo-Bin Kwon, Andrew Lam, Chaemin Lee, Edward Lee, Elliot Lee, Jonathan Lee, Rachel Lewis, Edward Li, Elaine Li, Valerie Li, Yeefay Li, Joshua Lim, Isaac Lin, Michelle Lin, Derek Liu, Michelle Liu, Sheryn Livingstone, Angelina Ly, David Lyons, Darin Mao, Harold Margeta-Cacace, Pranav Mathur, Shreyas Mayya, Aditya Menachery, Autin Mitra, Maria Molchanova, Trishal Muthan, Hasita Nalluri, Tanisha Pagadala, Anjali Pagidi, Akash Pamal, Anya Parekh, Bryant Park, Ian Park, Aishani Patnaik, Akash Piya, Pravalika Putalapattu, Rolina Qu, Elena Rangelov, Rishi Raturi, Mahika Rawat, Isabelle Trini Rogando, Owen Rollins, Michelle Ru, Amrita Sahu, Jasjeet Sandhu, Kendall Sano, Isra Satiar, Allison Seo, Zacharia Shah, Aviraj Singh, Shreya Singh, Aarush Sivanesan, Alison Song, Lauren Spehlmann, Candace Sun, Ashwitha Surabhi, Isabella Tian, Rachel Trainer, Erin Tran, Samhita Vinay, Alison Wan, Marina Wang, Max Wang, Melissa Wu, Natalie Wu, Grant Xiao, Manda Xie, Keertana Yalamanchili, Jason Yi, Megan Yu, Albert Zeng, Bowen Zhang, Jason Zhong.
Westfield High School: Benjamin Cho, Hannah Ewell, Anika Joshi, Isabelle Lee, Pratham Mehta, Adithi Prasad, Aaryan Rawal.
Approximately 16,000 high school seniors were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 2022. More than 1.5 million juniors entered the 2022 National Merit program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as the initial screen of program entrants.
All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $30 million, to be awarded in spring 2022.
Read the full FCPS announcement and additional local news coverage online.
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Asha-Jyoti 5K Run/Walk for FCPS schools - Fun Community Event!
I was honored to be part of Asha-Jyothi's (https://www.asha-jyothi.org/) 13th Annual 5K Run/Walk benefiting our community and FCPS schools. I was joined by Principals Scott Poole (Chantilly High School) and Amy Goodloe (Rocky Run Middle School) to support our students! Congratulations to all the runners and what a treat to watch the great Bollywood dance performances by the students and participants after the race! I am thankful to Asha Jyothi for their Educate-Innovate USA Campaign that has funded Innovation Labs, Maker Space facilities and Technology Enhancements in partnership with our FCPS schools!
Upcoming Sully District Meetings!
- October 19th @ 7 pm EST: I will be attending the Rachel Carson Middle School PTA meeting to talk with parents and answer questions. Thank you for inviting me!
- November 8th @ 7 pm EST: At-Large member Rachna Sizemore Heizer and me will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall to discuss School Board updates and answer constituent questions. Details forthcoming!
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Students Keep Learning in Pause, Quarantine with StreamIN/CheckIN
FCPS students being paused, quarantined, or isolated due to COVID-19 will soon have a way to stay connected with their classes until they return to in-person learning.
StreamIN/CheckIN provides meaningful instructional support for students who are paused, quarantined, or isolated due to COVID-19. Participating in StreamIN/CheckIN offers these students the opportunity to stay engaged with their classes so when they return, they haven’t missed a beat.
Learn more about StreamIN/CheckIN on our website.
Now Accepting Proof of Vaccination for Athletics
Beginning November 8, Fairfax County Public Schools requires student-athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the winter and spring sports seasons as an additional safety measure. Starting October 4, student athletes can submit their proof of Covid-19 vaccination to their schools. Students will need to either:
- Show their vaccination cards to authorized school personnel.
- Submit their medical or religious exemption form to their schools.
Anyone granted an exemption for medical or religious reasons will be required to submit a negative test result each week. The test will need to be either a rapid test or a PCR test. Please be aware that home testing using over the counter testing products will not be accepted.
For questions about how to submit your child’s vaccination status, please look out for information in your school newsletter.
More information about the athletics vaccination requirement is available online.
New Process for Returning to Class After Illness
With the cold and flu season upon us, your child may be sent home if they have COVID-like symptoms. We want them back in the classroom as soon as they are well, so we’ve created new options to help families complete the return to school process. Learn more online.
Updated Virginia COVID-19 Close Contact Definition and K-12 Indoor/Outdoor Classroom Exception
The state of Virginia has updated the definition of a close contact for COVID-19 and provided a K-12 classroom close contact exception.
If a COVID positive individual was on-site during their infectious period, the following individuals will be paused from in-person instruction until notified by FCPS that they can resume in-person activities:
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Students who were within 6 feet or less of a Staff Case for a cumulative amount of 15 minutes or more within 24 hours.
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Students wearing masks who were within 3 feet or less of a Student Case in the indoor or outdoor K-12 setting for a cumulative amount of 15 minutes or more within 24 hours.
Indoor/Outdoor Classroom Exception
In the K-12 indoor/outdoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) wore well-fitting masks the entire time.
Note: The inclusion of “outdoor” in the K-12 Exception was made at the state level (Virginia Department of Health). The federal exception continues to include only indoor settings. More information is available online.
To know what to anticipate if your child is impacted by a COVID-19 exposure and placed on pause or quarantine, see an updated guide to the return to school process on our website.
Concerns About Mask Compliance
Everyone should follow current FCPS mask requirements, unless specifically approved for an exemption, to keep our schools safe places for in-person learning. If you have concerns about mask compliance, speak with your principal or program manager.
If you feel your concerns have not been resolved, families and staff may reach out to the Region Office or make a confidential report to the Office of the Ombudsman by calling 571-423-4014, emailing ombudsman@fcps.edu, or submitting a question on the Ombudsman webpage.
Students who have concerns are encouraged to share with a teacher, assistant principal, or other trusted adult in the building. Students may also contact the Office of the Ombudsman.
Opening of Schools 2021 Report: Opening Doors for All Students So They Find Joy in Learning
Superintendent Brabrand presented the 2021 Opening of Schools Annual Report to the School Board at its regular meeting on September 23.
Highlights of the presentation include:
- FCPS remains the largest school division in the state of Virginia with approximately 180,000 students. 100% of our schools are open for in-person learning.
- The FCPS on-time graduation rate for 2021 was 94.6% - up three percentage points from 2019.
- Average daily meal participation has increased by more than 25% this school year compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. This year, no-cost breakfasts and lunches are available for every child.
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Summer learning participation increased 66% over the previous four-year average as FCPS expanded its programming to ensure students were supported during the pandemic.
- All schools have received funding to support family liaison outreach to connect families to resources and tools and help the smooth transition back to school.
- Significant technology enhancements included network upgrades to triple school bandwidth capacity and reliability.
- The Foundation for FCPS received $1.4 million in contributions in 2020-21.
You can view the entire presentation on the FCPS YouTube Channel.
Record High Graduation Rate for the Class of 2021
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reports that 94.6% of Fairfax County Public School students in the class of 2021 graduated on time, up from 93% in 2020. Congratulations to these students and families for their resilience and hard work! More information on the FCPS graduation rate is available online.
Fairfax County SAT Outcomes Stay Strong Despite Pandemic Challenges
The Class of 2021 in Fairfax County continued to perform well above state and global averages on the SAT, according to results recently released by the College Board.
The Fairfax County overall mean score of 1201 surpassed both the state average (1151) and the global average (1060). Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (601) and Mathematics (600) in Fairfax County likewise posted above the state and global averages.
For more information, visit the FCPS website and read local news coverage.
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Video: 2021 School Construction Bond Referendum
Students benefit from updated schools and better learning environments–and the entire community benefits too. FCPS designs and builds schools to meet current and future technology, safety and security, and capacity needs. A School Bond Referendum is on the ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Watch the video.
Fairfax County Health Department Mobile COVID-19 Testing Sites
The Fairfax County Health Department’s mobile laboratory provides testing in locations throughout the county for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Visit fairfaxcounty.gov for an up-to-date schedule of mobile testing sites and schedules.
Outdoor Learning Boosts Academic Achievement & Reduces Stress!
 Check out Get2Green’s updated Guidance for Using Outdoor Spaces for ideas, tips, and resources to support you in using your school’s outdoor spaces as we start the new school year. Outdoor learning is taking place in (or outside of) most FCPS schools. Over 80 schools have a wildlife habitat on their grounds, and over 75 have an edible garden. FCPS students are working in schoolyard wildlife habitats, growing food in edible gardens, and writing in their outdoor classrooms. I am a strong advocate for this and have asked staff to look at ways to increase the outdoor learning opportunities to re-engage and refocus our students in the joys of learning especially after the year we’ve had!
FCPS Get2Green is the environmental stewardship program for Fairfax County Public Schools. The website is an amazing resource to engage in environmental stewardship projects at your school, incorporate sustainability in the classroom, find your school's energy and recycling data, and learn more about green initiatives in FCPS.
Follow Get2Green on Twitter
Want more recognition for your Get2Green efforts? Be sure to follow them on Twitter and tag them @fcpsGet2Green.
Serve Your Community by Joining an FCPS Committee!
As a Fairfax County School Board member, I have the opportunity to appoint one Sully District resident to represent our community on Citizen Advisory committees as well as committees that work with our Instructional Services team to provide input on curriculum. Four committees have openings that I must fill. You must be a Sully District constituent to apply!
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Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC): Reviews the local plan for the education of gifted students, including revisions, and determines the extent to which the plan for the previous year was implemented. Meets monthly. One year term.
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Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC): The purpose of the HRAC is to advise the Fairfax County School Board (FCSB) on achieving and maintaining a premier workforce within a caring culture. HRAC will make recommendations to improve practices used by FCPS leadership personnel at school and district levels to promote a rewarding workplace environment. Meets monthly. One year term.
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K-8 Science Basal Resources Committee: Reviews resources to be used in K-8 science curriculum; ensures that resources meet the educational needs of a variety of learners while also aligning with the newly-adopted Virginia Standards of Learning and the FCPS Learning Model. Meets once a week from November to December.
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Language Arts Basal Resources Committee: Reviews resources to be used in language arts curriculum; ensures that resources meet the educational needs of a variety of learners while also aligning with the newly-adopted Virginia Standards of Learning and the FCPS Learning Model. Meets once a week from November to December.
These committees are an essential part of our work to ensure that a variety of community stakeholders can contribute to the vibrancy of our curriculum. Please email my staff at skhurana@fcps.edu to apply to join one of these committees.
Mental Health Resources for Students and Parents
This month's theme: Optimistic October
Especially when things are feeling a bit tough, it can help to set some goals. Making goals achievable and ensuring that you have a few short term as well as longer term, more ambitious goals helps us feel we're making progress. It doesn't matter if your goal for the day is something really small, the important thing is to give yourself the opportunity to feel like you've achieved something and to celebrate that! This month's calendar is full of ideas to help you think about how you can put this into practice.
Go to Action for Happiness for ideas to help you take action for a happier and kinder world.
Healthy Minds Podcast
Hear about how we are all handling uncertainty; get new ideas to help your child, friends and families feel better; and learn to help yourself feel stronger and more energized
Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Feeling super stressed? Worried about a friend's mental health—or your own? Get tips to help manage your emotions and see what to do if you are in crisis.
Mental Health and Resiliency
Helping students to manage stress, make better choices, and develop healthy habits.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Staff is available by phone 703-204-3941 or email prc@fcps.edu to help! Offers free workshops, consultations, a lending library, and more to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities.
Multilingual Parent Podcast: Fairfax Health Department Specialist Talks About COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Listen and subscribe to a FCPS multilingual family podcast to hear timely, important information related to school news. The podcasts are produced in conjunction with the Office for English as a Second Language (ESOL) Services and the Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement.
In this week’s episode, meet Kirsten Buchner, a community health specialist at the Fairfax County Health Department. Buchner answers questions about wearing masks for COVID-19 safety protocols and COVID-19 vaccinations. For more information, the Fairfax Health Department COVID-19 phone line is 703-324-7404.
At the end of the podcast, the hosts offer families information on the FCPS Parent Resource Center’s newest resource, PRC Packs, which are pre-packaged tote bags with books for adults and children on important topics such as supporting children and teens with attention deficit disorder, anxiety, and motivation.
Listen and subscribe:
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October Webinars at the Parent Resource Center
Dyslexia Virtual Open House.In celebration of Dyslexia Awareness Month, FCPS will like to host our annual Open House. We share exciting updates: Overview of Dyslexia Supports in FCPS, Updates on the Equitable Access to Literacy Plans, & Tips to Help your Child Thrive in School. Friday, October 8, 2021, 10 - 11:00 a.m. Register for the Dyslexia Open House
SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs! Monday, October 11, 2021, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. *School Planning Day – students are not attending school. Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
Virtual College Bootcamp for Students with Disabilities. Monday, October 11, 2021, 12:30-3 p.m. *School Planning Day– students are not attending school. Register for College Bootcamp for Students with Disabilities.
Rewriting Your Parenting Story: A Webinar for Families. Friday October 15, 2021, 10-11:30 a.m.Register for Rewriting Your Parenting Story: A Webinar for Families.
Moving onto Life in the Community Virtual Resource Fair. This resource fair assists parents, guardians, and caretakers with future planning for students with intellectual disabilities who may require ongoing supports after graduating from high school. Participants include representatives from vocational, residential, leisure, recreational, independent living, and advocacy programs. Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Register for Moving onto Life in the Community Virtual Resource Fair.
Parenting Through Difficult Times: A Webinar for Families (*Presented in Arabic) Friday, October 29, 2021 10-11:30 a.m. Register Online for Parenting Through Difficult Times: A Webinar for Families *Presented in Arabic.
PRC PACKS: Prepackaged Materials Ready for Checkout!
Our staff has curated top resources from our library, webinars, and digital resources on some of our most requested topics. One example topic is Supporting Children and Teens with Anxiety. Available in several languages. Learn more at the PRC website.
What’s in a PRC Pack?
- 2-3 books for a caregiver or educator
- 1-2 books for a child (perfect for a read-aloud or independent reading for an older child)
- 1 resource guide with a list of eBooks, free webinars on YouTube, and other resources
- Tote bag for easy return at any FCPS school
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Upcoming School Board Meetings
- October 7, 2021 - Regular Meeting - 7 pm
- October 19, 2021 - Work Session - 10 am
- October 21, 2021 - Regular Meeting - 7 pm
- October 25, 2021 - Fall Public Hearing - 7:30 pm
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas and handouts.
The meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meeting will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.
Contacting Me
At this time, with an overflowing inbox, I am prioritizing responses to Sully District constituents. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response.
Use this link to sign up for our Newsletters.
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
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