Dear Dranesville Families,
I am so happy to be getting out to see our schools in action. Our teachers and administrators are working long hours to be sure our children are safe and having a fulfilling learning experience. All of this is done amidst operational challenges such as a shortage of substitute teachers. I am happy our board voted last night to raise substitute teacher pay. We are hiring! Please spread the word to those that might be interested in working with our amazing student body.
I was happy to spend the morning in the Cooper MS math department to see first hand the dedication of our teachers. Extra sessions have been added to support students that need extra help and the advisory sections are being used to support students at all levels. Our peer tutors were also at work today volunteering their time to bolster the math success of all Cooper students. Our students are resilient and hard working, and their positive attitude was evident today. Lots of students were happily eating lunch outside on this beautiful Fall day making good use of the Cooper Native Species Courtyard.
Early voting is in full swing as of October 21. Please see more information below. Please get out and vote and encourage any voting age students to do the same. I appreciate the efforts of our high schools and the League of Women Voters to get our young voting citizens registered.
Good luck finishing up the first quarter of the 2021-22 school year.
Elaine
From my tour of Langley High School.
Calendar Reminders
October 29: 2 Hour Early Release
November 1: Student Holiday/Teacher workday
November 2: Student Holiday/Teacher workday
November 4: Diwali
November 11th - Veterans Day; 2 Hour Early Release
November 24th - 26th - Thanksgiving Break
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Virginia House Delegate Murphy's Resolution Presentations
Pictures from my visit to Franklin Sherman ES to celebrate Delegate Murphy's VA House recognition for Franklin Sherman ES's eco-program.
On Wednesday, I was pleased to join Delegate Kathleen Murphy, Virginia House District 34 at Langley HS and Franklin Sherman ES. She presented 4 Virginia House resolutions: Franklin Sherman ES's eco-school program and their work during the pandemic, the Langley HS 2021 Girls Lacrosse Team state championship, Arlene Randall's principal tenure at Cooper MS, and Petra Barrientos' hospice volunteer service. I want to thank Principal Quigley, Principal Greer, and their staff for hosting the resolution celebrations and the tours of Franklin Sherman ES and Langley HS. I appreciate Supervisor Foust joining us for the Franklin Sherman ES presentation, and Region 1 Assistant Superintendent Mr. Douglas Tyson for joining us for the Langley presentation. The real thank you goes to all students, staff, teachers, coaches, and parents who helped the schools reach these achievements. Go Pandas and go Saxons!
 Pictures from my visit to Langley HS to celebrate Delegate Murphy's resolutions celebrating the Langley HS's Girls Lacrosse 2021 State Championship (no picture- as some participants not allow photo release to publish), Arlene Randall's time at Cooper MS, and Petra Barrientos' hospice volunteer service.
Community blood supply in Northern Virginia is critically low
Northern Virginia has an urgent need for blood donation. Please consider giving blood at an upcoming Inova blood drive – when you donate blood, you save lives. Visit www.inovablood.org or or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES to schedule an appointment today.
Supporting Vaccination for Children Ages 5-11
FCPS is collaborating with the Fairfax County Health Department, the Virginia Chapter of the 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.
Learn more about the plan to roll out vaccination options for students aged 5-11 by watching a video of Dr. Brabrand’s presentation or viewing the Power Point presentation.
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Community Vaccination Clinic Open
Widespread vaccination is working to keep our students learning in person. As of this week, 0.004% of FCPS’ approximately 180,000 students are impacted by quarantines. If you, your child, or someone you know is eligible to receive the vaccine or a booster, we have great news for you.
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A multi-agency effort to move into the next phase of vaccinations, with booster shots and the potential for children under 12 to be vaccinated, launched the Fairfax Community Vaccination Center (Fairfax CVC) on October 8. This large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic is open at the former Lord & Taylor store at Tysons Corner Center. Read more about the Fairfax CVC online. To make an appointment visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA. Walk-ins also available.
COVID-19 Screening Testing
In support of our commitment to safety, FCPS will begin optional COVID-19 screening testing in schools. FCPS will test at least 10% of students who are not fully vaccinated and have parent/guardian consent, which follows the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Screening testing for students will begin:
- The week of November 1 for student-athletes (required for participation in VHSL if unvaccinated age 12-15 years old or have a medical or religious exemption).
- The week of November 8 in elementary schools (optional and with parent/guardian consent).
- The week of November 15 in middle and high schools (optional and with parent/guardian consent).
Parent/guardian consent is required for students to be part of the testing pool. Parents may provide their child(ren)’s vaccination status and indicate consent via a secure online portal. More information, including links to the online portal, will be available soon.
Test results are kept confidential, like all medical records. Parents/guardians will receive their child’s test results through the vendor’s online portal. There is no cost to families for testing.
Get all the details about COVID-19 testing on our website.
Returning to school after being sent home with a COVID-like illness
With cold and flu season upon us, your child may be sent home from the care room after presenting COVID-like symptoms. We all want them back in the classroom as soon as they are well.
Students may return to school when their symptoms have improved and they have not had a fever without fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours, AND have at least one of the following:
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Proof of a Negative COVID-19 Test:
- PCR (test result from lab or physician)
- Rapid (test result from lab or physician)
- Home Test (picture of negative home test AND note from parent attesting the result is for the specific child and to the date the test was administered)
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OR
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Physician’s Note
Note from a healthcare provider following a clinical evaluation stating the cause of symptoms is not COVID-19 and clearing the child to return to school.
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Please note, if your child has been identified as a potential close contact or close contact to a positive case, your child will follow the guidance provided by the health department to be cleared to return to school.
10/21 School Board Meeting Highlights
Divisionwide Comprehensive Plan
The School Board voted to adopt the Divisionwide Comprehensive Plan. The Divisionwide Comprehensive Plan consists of School Board strategic plan goals, aligned with the operational plans of the system. Every two years, an updated divisionwide comprehensive plan builds on the previous plan and outlines the work that is necessary to accomplish long-term priorities. Read the plan.
Award of Contract - Division Superintendent Search Firm
The Fairfax County School Board has contracted human resources recruitment firm GR Recruiting to conduct a nationwide search for the next Superintendent of Schools. The process will include many opportunities for public input. Read more on our website.
Increase of Substitute Hourly Rate
The Board unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendation to increase the pay of substitute teachers to help attract new people to this role. The pay was adjusted according to the scale shown below. The Board also voted to direct the superintendent to provide an analysis of the Instructional Assistant (IA), Public Health Training Assistant (PHTA), and Public Health Attendant (PHA) substitute pay scales. Full details of the vote.
FCPS is Hiring Substitute Teachers
FCPS is looking for kind and caring substitute teachers to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers need to be out of the building. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, and anyone who wants a flexible work schedule. Subs save the day- apply today!
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Applications for TJHSST Open October 25
Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2026 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) beginning Monday, October 25.
The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting October 25, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 19, at 4 p.m.
Student Mental Health and Resiliency
Many students struggle with emotional and behavioral issues that can affect their learning and overall wellness. If you have any concerns about anxiety, peer relationship problems, depression, or other social and emotional issues your child may be experiencing, please contact your school’s Clinical Staff: psychologist, social worker, and school counselors.
Does my child have a mental health concern?
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board provides many resources to help you assess your child's mental health and where to go for help. This information is also available in Spanish.
Here are some general considerations:
IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE 24/7
Below are several options for you to speak with a mental health professional. Do not worry about making the wrong choice. Every number leads to someone who can help.
- Call 911 if it is a life-threatening emergency. Make sure to notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention or trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
- Call the PRS CrisisLink hotline at 703-527-4077, 1-800-273-8255 or text “CONNECT” to 855-11.
- Call Children’s Regional Crisis Response Children’s Regional Crisis Response (CR2) at 571-364-7390.
- Call CSB Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
- Bring your child to the CSB’s Merrifield Crisis Response Center, 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Multilingual Family Podcast
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 ESOL Services and the Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement.
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Establishing Routines Help with Time Management (October 18, 2021)
In episode 4 for this school year, hear suggestions for daily school routines to promote time management. Routines can offer parents a peace of mind and ease the stress of hectic days.
Listen and Subscribe:
Spanish Podcast: https://anchor.fm/enpocaspalabrasfcps
Arabic Podcast: https://anchor.fm/inafewwordsarabicfcps
Korean Podcast: https://anchor.fm/inafewwordskoreanfcps
 Early voting has begun, find an early voting location and vote now! October 30th is the last day for early voting.
School Bond Referendum on November 2 Ballot
A school bond referendum will be on the general election ballot on Tuesday, November 2. Our school buildings and outdoor spaces are used by community members as teen centers, recreation and athletic sites, polling places, places of worship, civic meeting spaces, and School Age Child Care facilities. Like a home renovation, school renovations enhance and protect taxpayer investments.
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 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.
Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the boxes in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 5. All results are confidential. More information is available online.
First Electric School Bus Fleet Rolled Out to Support FCPS Carbon Neutral Goal
FCPS officially launched its first fleet of electric school buses and charging stations as part of a commitment to providing carbon neutral student transportation by 2035.The eight electric buses, which are already operational, help to transport 140,000 eligible bus riders to and from school each day.
FCPS is part of the Fairfax County Joint Environmental Task Force (JET), which was formed to address climate change and environmental sustainability proactively and collaboratively in Fairfax County. The JET is composed of representatives from both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board, and community partners from higher education, industry, and community and student advocacy groups. One of the JET’s goals is for FCPS to transition to electric or zero-carbon alternatives for school buses and eligible fleet vehicles by 2035.
Read more about FCPS’s electric buses here.
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Outdoor Learning Boosts Academic Achievement & Reduces Stress!
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.
Snow Days Will Stay in 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. Please learn more here.
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Día de los Muertos-November 1
Celebrate Día de los Muertos online with Ballet Folklórico Mi Herencia Mexicana and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. There is fun for the whole family during this virtual performance. Watch as Ballet Folklórico Mi Herencia Mexicana demonstrate several Mexican folk dances including El Toro Viejo from Sinaloa and the popular, El Son de La Negra from Jalisco. Learn more about Día de los Muertos as the dancers and explain the history behind their dance traditions. Graphic courtesy of Museum of Sonoma County. Learn more here.
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School and Student News
Herndon High School
From Dr. Noto,
- The marching band (aka the “Pride of Herndon”) performed with the color guard. Each class participated as well. Lastly, the float for our drama department is pictured. They were dressed for their fall production “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding”. The theme this year for homecoming was “Herndon Goes Hollywood”. Our parade is put on by the Town of Herndon, so it’s a really cool community event.
- Our Pie the Teacher contest during the pep rally: Our poor physics teacher, Mr. Brown was selected as the unlucky pie recipient by our very official crowd noise vote. We can’t feel too badly for him because he brought his own rally towel and encouraged students to cheer the loudest for him.
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- Lastly, there is a photo from our Volleyball Senior Night. The girls are playing exceptionally well this season. On senior night, we greeted them with a packed crowd and a pep band. We are so proud of them!
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 Sights from the Herndon Homecoming parade and Pep Rally including a visit with Mayor Sheila Olem.
I had a wonderful time marching with Dr. Noto and her team at the Herndon High School Homecoming parade.
Pictures from the Herndon HS Homecoming Parade: Dr. Noto, Supervisor Foust, Michael Gillespie and Phil Cronin.
Langley High School
From Mrs. Greer,
Langley’s Coed Golf won Districts (7th year in a row), Regionals (5th year in a row) and States (6th year in a row). We had Pep Rally on Friday, October 15 and homecoming this past Saturday, October 16. Langley marching band was named Grand Champion of the Stafford Invitational. They earned the highest score out of every band there – 1st place from almost every judge. It’s the first time in Langley history that our band has ever earned Grand Champion status.
Boys Golf Team's State Championship and Homecoming Pep Rally (picture credit @Delta.LHS.Photos)
McLean High School
Work Study Window Newsletter
 Here are several photos from the latest newsletter: Peter with a therapy dog; Ms. Friedman's English class; Matthew and Elizabeth working at Golfdom; Career prep; and Mr. Rolon ordering from the coffee business.
From Dr. Reilly,
Here are two Homecoming pictures. One from the game and the other is of the Senior girls after their win against the Juniors in football. Also, our cheer squad came in 2nd in the Districts and we are moving on to Regionals. This is very exciting for us!
Pictures from the McLean HS Homecoming football game, the Powder Puff game, and the Cheer team at districts.
Clearview Elementary School
Congratulations to Doris Malcolm, an Instructional Assistant, at Clearview Elementary School! She won an individual winner award in the 'impact on others' category during last week's Fairfax Excellence Awards.
Dranesville Elementary School
From Ms. Gadley,
Our next community event will be our Veterans Day celebration on Thursday November 11th. It will be pre-recorded and will be made available for our school community on the morning of the 11th.
 I so enjoyed the listening to the Spanish stories at the virtual Dranesville ES Hispanic Heritage Month Family Read Along. This is Dranesville ES's family liaison, Yahaira Hanon, sharing her story.
Plays and Concerts
The end of October and November will bring many concerts and plays for our middle and high schools. See your school's calendars for more details. Here are a few upcoming events:
- Cooper MS
- Band Autumn Event Oct. 28th at 7:00pm
- “The Alibis” Fall Play Nov. 17-20th
- Longfellow MS
- Longfellow MS Theater Department presents The Internet is Distract-Oh Look a Kitten! Nov. 18 -20
- Langley HS
- Band concert Oct. 28th at 7:00pm
- McLean HS
- Fall Concert Nov 5 and Winter Concert Dec 9
- December 14th at 7pm – Winter Orchestra Concert
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Student Opportunities
MCLEAN FIRE DEPARTMENT COLORING CONTEST
The McLean Volunteer Fire Department is inviting elementary school students across our area to participate in a coloring contest during October’s Fire Prevention Month. Students can download an image of our fire station, color it any way their imagination leads and mail it back to us at the address listed at the bottom of the page. At the end of the month, they will hold a drawing – with the winner receiving a visit to his or her street by their antique Pirsch fire truck! Click here to begin! Questions? Contact info@mcleanvfd.org
Penguin Random House Creative Writing Award
 Deadline to apply: February 1, 2022 3:00 pm CT or when 1000 applications have been received
Creative Writing Awards winners have gone on to become professional and award-winning authors. Since 1993, this program has awarded more than $2.8 million dollars to public high school students for original poetry, memoir/personal essay, fiction/drama, and spoken-word compositions. This signature program continues to empower and celebrate hundreds of young writers each year. Through this program, Penguin Random House will award college scholarships of up to $10,000 each to five U.S. high school seniors, nationwide. See their website for more information and application.
Applicants to the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Program in Partnership with We Need Diverse Books must:
- Be current high school seniors at a public high school in the United States graduating Spring of 2022
- Be 21 years of age and under
- Plan to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or approved vocational-technical school Fall 2022
- Submit one original literary composition in English in one of the following genres of poetry, spoken word, fiction/drama or personal essay/memoir
School student Teams are invited to join NASA in its mission to advance space exploration and enhance our knowledge of Earth. Student teams in sixth to 12th-grade at a U.S. public, private, or charter school, brainstorm and design an experiment or test an apparatus that could be selected to make a suborbital flight aboard a high altitude balloon or rocket. Entries are due by November 3, 2021.
The 12th annual Richmond Virginia Environmental Film Festival (RVA EFF) is announcing the 2022 Virginia Environmental Film Contest. Prizes are awarded in two categories: students 12 and under, and 13-18. The contest is open to Virginia residents with films based on environmental topics pertaining to Virginia. Films of all formats, genres, and lengths will be considered. Deadline for submission is November 15, 2021.
2021 Congressional App Challenge
The 2021 Congressional App Challenge runs through November 1 and offers middle school and high school students interested in coding a chance to enhance their skills and interests in computer science and STEM. Local judges will evaluate the student submissions and choose a winning individual or team. For additional details, you can visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us.
Community News
Supervisor Foust's newsletter
Supervisor Foust's informative newsletter is available here to read past newsletters and sign up for his newsletter for the latest in Dranesville and Fairfax County news.
Redistricting Public Hearing
The Board of Supervisors authorized a public hearing on November 9 to consider proposed redistricting plans. These plans propose new local election districts for the Board of Supervisors and School Board, and after the new districts are adopted, they will be in place for the next 10 years.
Oct 28: Clemyjontri Park Public Comment Meeting
Public Comment Meeting to gather public input on the draft master plan revision for Clemyjontri Park will be at Franklin Sherman Elementary School on
Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Public comments accepted through November 29. For more information or to review and comment, please visit the Clemyjontri Park Master Plan Revision project website; or contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or by email at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Fairfax County Office for Children
 The Fairfax County Office for Children provides many wonderful resources for families with young children. Check out their School Readiness page for helpful information including early childcare and education, child care assistance, kindergarten readiness, and Virginia Preschool Initiative. Please visit the Fairfax County Office of Children website to learn more about the many programs available including child care referrals, School Aged Child Care (SACC), and Head Start and Early Head Start.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony Planned for Grand Opening of Holladay Field- October 30
The Fairfax County Park Authority, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and McLean Youth Soccer Association, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of Holladay Field in McLean, Virginia. The project converted the old grass field at Holladay Field Park into a synthetic turf field. Holladay Field is located at 1311 Spring Hill Road, McLean. Parking will be available at nearby Spring Hill Elementary School. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. See this website for more information.
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Native American Fusion Music with D’DAT (Virtual Workshop) Nov. 3, 7 p.m. Free Admission. Advanced registration is required.
Learn more about the composition process and culture before D’DAT’s performance in The Alden on January 23, 2022. D’DAT’s music mixes three American art forms---jazz, native southwest and hip-hop styles---to create a sound that is uniquely theirs. This is a great opportunity for musicians of all ages to learn directly from the artists and ask questions.
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Red Crooked Sky Native American Dance Troupe Saturday November 20, 3:00 p.m. Free! McLean Central Park
Native dance styles are steeped in symbolism and stories and need to be experienced in person to be truly felt. Join The Alden for an afternoon of traditional and contemporary dance that will give us all a better understanding of eastern native cultures.
The McLean Community Center has 2 volunteer opportunities for anyone 16 years old and older. |
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Want to see free performances? The Alden is seeking volunteers to serve as ushers.
The Alden, a 383-seat professional theatre inside the McLean Community Center is in need of volunteer ushers to assist during performances. The assistance that volunteer ushers provide is vital to the success of the Alden’s efforts to bring high quality entertainment to McLean.
Ushers are often the first person to greet our patrons and last to bid them farewell. A positive attitude and commitment to this role will help ensure that we give our patrons a unique and lasting experience. In return, you will have the opportunity to be a part of our exciting activities, see our talented performers and meet some new friends. You must be over 16 years old.
If you are interested in ushering at the Alden, please contact the usher coordinator, Jeff Virchow, at Jeffrey.Virchow@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The Old Firehouse Center is looking for volunteers to help tutor
The Old Firehouse Center is a certifying agency for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Volunteers can receive hours toward the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for tutoring and homework help. The OFC can also certify hours from other volunteer opportunities. You must be at least 16 years old to tutor. For more information or to sign up please contact the After School Manager Aaron Greene at 703.448.8336 or aaron.greene@farifaxcounty.gov
FCPS Solicits Public Comment:
K - 8 Science and K-6 Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources Under Consideration for Adoption
FCPS is soliciting public review and comment on basal instructional resources under consideration for K - 8 Science and K-6 Language Arts. A basal resource review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet in November and December of 2021 to review and recommend new instructional resources to the School Board. Citizens are encouraged to review materials under consideration and complete the online public comment. These instructional materials may be accessed online. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available for science and for language arts.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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October 25 at 5 pm- Legislative Work Session
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November 9 at 10am- Forum and Work Session
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November 11 at 7 pm- Regular Meeting
How to Watch 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
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