Fairview Elementary School is proud to offer this picnic table option for students to enjoy eating outside on a rotating basis for lunch, for snack times, as well as for outdoor learning. The project was a combined effort of their dedicated staff, supportive community, and parent volunteers that responded to the call for help to assemble and place the tables. Fairview’s Assistant Principal, Meghan Ehrman, shows off the school’s finished product.
Superintendent and FCPS’ Health Partners Share Plans for Testing & Vaccination Rollout
This week, Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand presented the School Board with FCPS’ plans for the rollout of COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for our students aged 5-11. The combination of screening testing and the expansion of vaccination to elementary school students are both aimed at keeping schools and offices safe places to learn and work this year.
- Staff screening testing will start November 1.
- Screening testing for student-athletes starts November 1.
- Screening testing for middle and high school students starts November 8.
- Screening testing for elementary school students starts November 15.
- Vaccination for elementary school students starts as soon as the FDA approves the vaccination for this age group and the vaccine becomes available in clinics in this area.
On September 26, community transmission of COVID-19 declined to substantial transmission in Fairfax County. This is welcome news, but FCPS remains vigilant in continuing to make use of layered prevention strategies and encouraging vaccination to keep students learning in-person.
For all of the details shared by Dr. Brabrand, watch a recording of the meeting on the FCPS YouTube page or view the PowerPoint.
COVID-19 Screening Testing for Staff
Staff will need to have confirmed they are fully vaccinated by November 1 or submit a negative COVID-19 test via a secure online portal once a week starting November 1.
Any FCPS contracted employee who is not fully vaccinated is required to submit a negative COVID-19 test weekly starting November 1. Testing for hourly employees currently working will begin November 15.
All staff who are not fully vaccinated, have a medical or religious exemption, or have not provided their vaccination status will be required to submit to testing.
FCPS partnered with LTS, to administer on-site testing for students and staff at locations across the division. Staff testing will be provided Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at five sites in the division. More information about testing and locations is on our website.
Don’t want to submit to weekly testing? Staff can also get vaccinated at these testing sites. LTS testing sites will administer COVID-19 vaccinations as well. Vaccination continues to be the number one way to keep our schools and workplaces safe and emerge from the pandemic. Everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated if they are eligible. For vaccination sites and information, visit the Fairfax County Health Department.
More details on COVID-19 testing for staff can be found on the FCPS website.
Supporting Vaccination for Children Ages 5-11
Fairfax community vaccination rates are some of the highest in the country and a coalition of organizations are preparing for the next watershed moment of the pandemic- the availability of vaccination for children ages 5-11.
FCPS is collaborating with the Fairfax County Health Department, Inova, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Inova Health System in its coordination of the anticipated vaccine rollout for ages 5-11.
The plan includes multiple opportunities to support different needs, ranging from community vaccination sites to targeted vaccination clinics in evenings and on weekends, and targeted vaccination clinics during the school day.
For all of the details shared by Dr. Brabrand, watch a recording of the meeting on the FCPS YouTube page or view the PowerPoint.
Snow Days Will Stay: FCPS’ Inclement Weather Approach for 2021-22
FCPS has announced updates to its inclement weather policy for the 2021-22 school year.
- The first five inclement weather days will be traditional inclement weather days. These five days may occur consecutively due to a single weather event or may take place as several individual events.
- Once these five days have been taken, FCPS will use the flexibility provided by the General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, wherever possible, to maintain continuity of learning.
Find out more.
November Bonus Recognizes Extraordinary Staff Contributions During COVID
 All active eligible employees as of November 1 will receive a bonus in their November paycheck in recognition of their service, dedication, and contributions made during the pandemic over the past year.
- Eligible hourly employees will receive $500.
- Both full-time and part-time contracted employees, including bus drivers and food service employees, will receive $1,000.
- Bi-weekly employees will receive payment in their paycheck on November 19, and monthly employees will see the bonus in their November 30 paycheck.
View the full article.
Employees Honored at Excellence Awards
FCPS’ Excellence Awards, held Wednesday, October 13, at Fairfax High School, honors staff who had an impact on student achievement, innovation, growth, and others. Last Wednesday over 200 FCPS employees’ individual achievements and collaborative team efforts were celebrated. One honoree is Chris McKinney, a school counselor for Interagency Alternative Schools, who has made an impact on students for 51 years. You can read more about Ms. McKinney in this week’s OurFCPS Faces Profile at the bottom of this newsletter.
Find out more about this year’s recipients and the celebration online.
Learn About Open Enrollment at the Benefits Virtual Open House!
Benefits staff, health plan vendors, and retirement savings plan vendors will be on hand to answer questions about your FCPS benefits at the next Benefits Virtual Open House on Wednesday, October 20, from 4-6 p.m.
The two remaining virtual open houses to discuss 2022 benefits for active employees will occur on the following dates:
· Thursday, October 28, 4-6 p.m.
· Tuesday, November 2, 4-6 p.m.
To register for a virtual open house or find additional details about Open Enrollment, please visit the Open Enrollment website.
There’s Still Time to Earn Your $100 Wellness Incentive
Employees participating in an FCPS health plan as the primary cardholder can earn a $100 wellness incentive in 2021 when they complete their online health assessment now through December 31.
A Health Assessment (HA) is an online questionnaire related to your general health and well-being that is easy to complete in about 15-20 minutes. The HA is confidential. Only you and your health plan receive the individual information. Your information is never shared with FCPS in compliance with state and federal privacy laws. Click on your health plan to get started:
Find more information on the Employee Wellness Website.
Sign Up for a Nutritious and Delicious Fall Cooking Demo
Get inspired and try something new in the kitchen! Join us on Tuesday, October 26, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. for a cooking demo featuring a Protein Rice Bowl and a Fall Dessert with a Nutritious Twist. Register to participate.
Can’t attend live? The recording will be posted on the Employee Wellness Website.
Final Drive-Thru Flu Clinic: Make Your Appointment Now
 The final drive-thru flu clinic will be held at Gatehouse on Saturday, October 23. Flu shots are free for all full-time, part-time, hourly, and substitute employees on contract in School Year 21-22. Alternatively, most insurance plans (along with Medicare) provide no cost flu shots at your doctor’s office or pharmacy. Check with your insurance plan for details. Appointments are required. Make your appointment now.
Drive-Thru Flu Clinic
Location: Gatehouse Administration Center
Date: Saturday, October 23
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Latest Employee Assistance Program Webinars Help With Financial Planning
 Your Employee Wellness team recently hosted two financial webinars to help with financial and estate planning. In case you missed it, you can still view the recordings. Simply register for the sessions below with your name and email address to start the recording.
Additional Employee Assistance Program webinar recordings on a variety of topics, from mindfulness and resiliency to communication and healthy eating, can be accessed on the Hub EAP page.
For additional information, visit our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Guidance Resources online, and use Web ID: FCPS, or call our EAP at 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter to get monthly updates and announcements of our Employee Wellness offerings.
Learn How Assistive Technology Enhances Learning for All Students
The 2021 Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference, sponsored by Assistive Technology Services (ATS), will be held on Saturday, October 23, from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This year’s conference will be virtual with a keynote presentation and synchronous (live) sessions via Zoom. The RATE Conference is an educational conference which focuses on strategies for using assistive technology to enhance learning for all students. All FCPS staff and parents as well as out of county teachers, support staff, and parents are invited to attend. FCPS employees will receive five recertification points for attending the conference. For more information and to register, visit the conference website.
Procurement Services Online Class Helps You Strategize Purchasing
Join the Office of Auditor General (OAG) and Procurement Services to plan and strategize the best route to purchase goods and services. This will help staff understand the laws and policies related to procurement. During the training, Procurement Services will cover the nuts and bolts of procurement management, and OAG will walk through scenarios so that participants are prepared to minimize opportunities of fraud, waste, and abuse in this area. Registration is open via MyPDE: OAG Training.
Know Someone Special Looking for a Job? Refer a Substitute Teacher and Save the Day!
 Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Fairfax County Public Schools is looking for enthusiastic, engaged, and dedicated substitute teachers.
Substitutes help our students thrive when their teacher must be out of the classroom and are essential members of every school’s team. More information about the application process and requirements is available online.
Early Voting is Now Open With a School Bond Referendum on the Ballot
 A school bond referendum will be on the general election ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents of Fairfax County may vote if they are 18 years or older on Election Day and have registered to vote 22 days prior to the election (on or before October 12, at 5 p.m.).
Early voting is now open and available through October 30. See the Fairfax County early voting website for hours and locations.
A new or renovated school is 40-50% more energy efficient—supporting the School Board’s phased goal for carbon neutral energy use by 2040.
The building and renovation of schools is not financed through the school system’s operating funds, but through bonds. Bonds sales must be approved by voters since they are a future obligation for taxpayers. As long as debt service costs do not increase significantly as a percentage of combined general fund disbursements, the county's bonded debt is not likely to be a contributing factor to any increase in local taxes. Learn more about the 2021 Bond Referendum.
CyberSecurity Awareness Month- Week 3 of 4: Email Security Tips
The DIT - Office of Cybersecurity (OCS) will be sending out new tips every week during October to raise awareness.
Week 3 of 4: Email Security Tips
Teachers and staff rely on email services every day, but is there a way to protect our information when using email? Learn more about how to securely use email.
Foundation for FCPS is Now Educate Fairfax
The Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools has changed its name to Educate Fairfax. This new name better expresses its purpose and goals to FCPS employees, students, donors, and the community and reflects the organization’s mission to by providing enhanced resources to teachers and students across Fairfax County. It also reinforces its identity as a stand-alone nonprofit that supports, but is separate from, FCPS.
Educate Fairfax remains dedicated to supporting FCPS by engaging the community to invest in educational and supplemental programs for all students. With a continued emphasis on three focus areas – teacher grants, employee recognition programs, and Kids in Need – Educate Fairfax believes that strong schools are the bedrock of a vibrant community and that every FCPS student has a path to success.
With the return to in-person learning, Educate Fairfax recently provided $96,000 in grant funding to 73 teachers to start the 2021-2022 school year with enhanced classroom libraries, social/emotional supports, and skill recovery. Len Forkas, Founder of Milestone Towers and current Chairman of Educate Fairfax, is particularly proud of this initiative, “Providing teachers with the resources they need to bring innovative learning to our students in this challenging environment is of utmost importance.”
Visit Educate Fairfax to find out how to donate.
School Board Meeting This Week
The School Board will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, October 21, at 7 p.m. Agenda items include:
- New Business: Legislative Program, Secondary Course Offerings, Recommended Changes to the Governance Manual Regarding Community Participation
- Action Items: Increase of Substitute Hourly Pay; Divisionwide Comprehensive Plan; Award of Contract-Division Superintendent Search
See the complete regular meeting agenda.
Both meetings can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11) and on the FCPS website.
OurFCPS Faces Profile - Chris McKinney
 Recent Excellence Award winner, Chris McKinney, a school counselor for Interagency Alternative Schools, always knew she wanted to be a teacher and has been making an impact on students for 51 years.
Chris began her career in education with Alexandria City Schools in 1969 and started teaching at Lee High School (now John R. Lewis High School) in Fairfax County Public Schools in the mid-seventies. She transferred to Chantilly High School where she transitioned to become a school counselor and later moved to Westfield High School.
Although she officially “retired” in December 2004, she returned by the fall of 2005. As she notes, “Retirement was not congruent with my personality.” In 2008 she began her journey with Interagency Alternative Schools (IAS) as a school counselor, and she claims, “I still love every day with FCPS!”
Colleagues describe Chris McKinney as an amazing FCPS educator, counselor, confidante, advocate, advisor, visionary-creator and compassionate caretaker who supports the most marginalized students in FCPS. Learn more about Chris and why she’s so deserving of the Impact on Others award.
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!
|
