November 2021 Newsletter

Dear FCPS Families:

Happy November! Fall is in the air and our students have been enjoying in person learning! As I have visited some of our schools, it has been my great pleasure to see the excitement of both our students and staff. We have established versatile outdoor classrooms all while enjoying academic challenges, the arts, theatre, band, sports and so much more. Congrats to our competition winners in recent Marching Band and Model UN from across the county.  We are extremely proud of you and are grateful for your excellence. 

I also want to thank our Veterans and military families for your service to our nation and our community. As a daughter of a military father and mother of a military son, I always welcome the opportunity to acknowledge and pay our respects to those who have served our nation through military service. This year, I was honored to join the McLean High School community and the American Legion Post 270 on November 11 for their annual Veteran’s Day event. This year’s Veteran’s Day event was held in partnership with the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration, a national initiative to thank Vietnam Era veterans for their service. I was also honored to meet Army Veteran Regina Benson, who served as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II and recently celebrated her 101^st birthday. During the program, Delegate Kathleen Murphy presented her with a resolution from the House of Delegates in recognition of her distinguished service. 

The Board also held its Regular Meeting on November 11. Superintendent Brabrand announced a change to the FCPS quarantine policy reducing the period from 14 days to 10. With the approval of vaccines for children ages 5-11 and the establishment of vaccine clinics at some FCPS schools, we hope to minimize interruptions in learning and to keep our schools open without serious outbreaks. Next, the Board approved a budget resolution detailing priorities and directing the Superintendent to develop a budget in recognition of that directive. View the Budget Resolution online. The Board also recognized the tremendous contributions of our school psychologists. These staff members work everyday to enhance the educational experience of many including those who require IEP evaluations or additional support. We thank our School Psychologists for all they do!

This publication will provide additional information regarding our work. Below, please find information on our quarantine policy and efforts to keep our students and staff healthy, the continuation of the Special Education Study that is entering it’s 2^nd phase, efforts to enhance career and technological education through a new study and continued work on the establishment of the John Lewis Academy that will focus on civic education and help prepare our students to be the leaders of tomorrow. Please also note that the deadline to apply to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is fast approaching. 

It is my pleasure to serve as one of your At Large Members. I hope you find this newsletter helpful and look forward to seeing you at our schools and hearing your concerns.

Best Regards,

Inside this Issue:

• Reduction in the Quarantine Period to 10 Days for School Exposures
• 2021 Veterans Day: Honoring Veterans and FCPS Military Families
• Military Family-Friendly Schools Receive Purple Star Designation
• Applications for Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology Applications Due November 19
• FCPS Special Education Program Prepares for Year 2 Audit Review
• Career and Technical Education Launches New Pathway Study
• Exploration for New Leadership Academy at John R. Lewis High School Continues
• FCPS Leads Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Ages 5-11
• Educate Fairfax Grants are Helping Students Thrive 
• Oakton High School Students Shine at Global Conference Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University
• Designing an Outdoor Classroom: FCPS Student Uses his Skills as a Boy Scout to Create Exciting and Versatile Learning Space
• Honoring the Contributions and Legacies of Two Former School Board Leaders and Advocates
• Celebrating 2021 School Psychology Week
• Upcoming Community Events and Activities

Reduction in the Quarantine Period to 10 Days for School Exposures Effective Monday, November 15

The transmission rate in Fairfax County recently decreased from “substantial” to “moderate.” More than 71% of our community ages 12 and older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Since schools opened in August, we have seen a very low rate of in-school transmission of COVID-19 at just 0.02%. This good news is complemented by the fact that vaccines are now available for children ages 5-11. As a result, Superintendent Brabrand recently announced that FCPS will reduce the quarantine lengths for students. Effective Monday, November 15, the length of quarantine will reduce from 14 to 10 days. As COVID testing and vaccines increase, we anticipate reducing quarantine to 7 days by early December. Please stay tuned for more information from FCPS leadership regarding the details and specific instructions for the revised quarantine policy.

2021 Veterans Day: Honoring Veterans and FCPS Military Families

This week, I was pleased to join others locally and nationwide to celebrate Veterans Day. Veterans Day occurs on November 11 every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I, known as Armistice Day. In 1954, the name was officially changed to Veterans Day to honor the veterans of all wars the U.S. has fought.

As we thank those who have served, Veterans Day is also an opportunity to acknowledge and remember the more than 11,000 children from military families who attend FCPS schools. Last April and May, I conducted office hours to meet directly with military families with students attending FCPS schools. As a result of these conversations, I learned how FCPS policy for Braille instruction impacts blind/low-vision learners once their families are deployed to other states with different approaches to Braille instruction. In response, I began to advocate for policy change to promote students’ access to advanced academic instruction in Braille. I also heard from several families about difficulties military students experience when transitioning to a new school. Under the leadership of the FCPS Family Partnership Specialist, we have increased efforts to support the creation of more Student Ambassador/Welcome Programs at our schools. Below are just a few highlights of the programs and services FCPS currently offers to support students from military families:

• A series of workshops are being offered to schools to increase school leaders’ awareness and understanding of the unique needs and circumstances of military families, including a renewed collaboration with School Liaison Officers to better meet the needs of military families and military connected youth in our schools.
• Creation of more Student Ambassador Programs to ease a new student’s transition into school.
• Currently, FCPS has placed 14 Military Family Life Counselors in schools with a large military-connected youth populations.
• FCPS staff will conduct a military family focus group to uplift the voices of our military families so division and school officials can better understand their needs and plan support services accordingly.

Visit FCPS Office of Family Engagement for more Resources for Military Families.

Military Family-Friendly Schools Receive Purple Star Designation Thirty-four (34) FCPS schools have received Purple Star Designation. The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display onsite. A school is honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes all the required activities, plus one optional activity. The Virginia Department of Education’s Military Student Support Process Action Team, (MSSPAT) formed by the Virginia Department of Education, reviews all school applications for the award. Final approval on awards are made by members of the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Read more about the Purple Star Designation.

Applications for Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology Applications Due November 19

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). The application is now available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage

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.

TJHSST’s admissions process continues to be merit based and race neutral and includes a holistic review. Students will be evaluated on the following:

• Grade point average
• A portrait sheet asking students to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st century skills
• A STEM problem-solving essay
• Experience factors, including being economically disadvantaged, an English learner, a special education student, or a student who is currently attending an underrepresented middle school

Prospective students must be currently enrolled in Honors Algebra, a science honors class, and a third honors class (English or social studies), or they must be identified as a Young Scholar. Students must also have acquired a minimum GPA of 3.5 as of the end of the first quarter, Friday, October 29. For more information, please visit the TJHSST Admissions webpage.

FCPS Special Education Program Prepares for Year 2 Audit Review

I am pleased to see the continuation and expansion of the audit of FCPS’s special education programs. As the former chair of the Audit Committee, I spearheaded the launch of the Year 1 review during the 2020-21 academic year. Now, as a member of this committee, I joined fellow committee members at our October 27 Audit Committee meeting to support the Year 2 expansion of the review of special education programs. This expansion includes: (a) stakeholder focus groups, (b) classroom observations, and (c) extant data analysis. This proposed expansion will be presented to the School Board on the consent agenda on November 22.

In addition, our vendor AIR proposed to analyze the original 300 Individual Education Plans (IEPs) data further at no additional cost to FCPS. AIR believes this additional analysis will yield important information for the School Board regarding special education services and programs provided to FCPS students.

Career and Technical Education Launches New Pathway Study

FCPS has partnered with consulting firm FourPoint Education. They will assess current elective classes and career pathways programs. The review is expected to be finalized by Spring 2022. The study will explore enrollment numbers, subgroups, course offerings, and feedback from school personnel. The study will also examine how we can improve equity and access. The data analysis will also report on how Career and Technical Education programs impact groups used in our strategic plan, such as ethnicity, gender, students with disabilities, English Learners, and free and reduced-price meals. Representatives from FCPS’s Career and Technical Education staff  are working with the vendor to finalize the timeline for engagement, as well as plans to conduct any focus group, small group, or individual stakeholder interviews.

Exploration for New Leadership Academy at John R. Lewis High School Continues

This summer and fall, FCPS staff began to explore possibilities for providing special programming at John R. Lewis High School. Under School Board direction, a small team of school-based and central office staff began to vision student experiences that reflect the values and legacy of John R. Lewis. In the weeks ahead, staff will engage a broad segment of students, families, and staff to gain a better understanding of the interests, needs, and hopes of those who would benefit from an Academy. Staff intends to share broad ideas developed by this exploratory team with the School Board during its work session on December 14. Key features of the presentation will include an emphasis on programming that is open, available and accessible for all students, particularly those at Lewis High School. The goal is to ensure that programming does not compete but complements existing programs. The presentation will overview an Academy that is designed to provide relevant, rigorous and engaging learning experiences that foster academic, civic, college and career readiness.

FCPS Leads Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Ages 5-11

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) kicked off the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5-11 today, when the school division welcomed First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to a clinic at the school where the first polio vaccine was administered in 1954.

Surrounded by a group of children who had just received their first dose, she urged all parents to follow in the footsteps of the polio pioneers and have their children vaccinated as soon as possible.

“This vaccine is the best way to protect your children against COVID-19. It’s been thoroughly reviewed and rigorously tested, it’s free and it’s available for every child aged five and up,” Dr. Biden told an audience of parents and their newly vaccinated children.

More than 85% of Fairfax County students aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. FCPS has successfully implemented layered prevention strategies since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, and continues to have both an extremely low positivity rate (0.35%) and transmission rate (0.02%) in its schools.

“Widespread vaccination is key to keeping students learning in-person and preventing school or division closures and keeping our school staff and students safe. We are proud to be leading the way in the vaccination rollout for children ages 5-11, just as we did with the Polio vaccine in 1954,” said Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand. Thousands of families have already scheduled appointments using these different options less than a week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the vaccine for 5-11 year olds.

• Find a Vaccination Clinic Location near you. In collaboration with its partners, FCPS will soon host school-based vaccination clinics evenings, weekends, and during the school day. The school division has partnered with a private vendor to establish in-school clinics where students can be vaccinated with parent or guardian permission and with or without parent or guardian present.
• View the story of the 1954 Polio Pioneers at Franklin Sherman Elementary School. Franklin Sherman Elementary School made history on April 26, 1954, when a group of FCPS parents made the decision to have their children be part of the Polio Pioneer campaign that kicked off nationwide polio vaccine field trials.

Educate Fairfax Grants are Helping Students Thrive  

For over a decade, the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools has been investing in programs to help every FCPS student find a path to success. The global pandemic provided an opportunity for it to re-evaluate its mission and improve the organization’s reach in the community. As the new liaison to this entity, it was my pleasure to recognize the work of our community champions who quietly and effectively supported our students. The resolution in their honor is available online. With this recognition comes a new name, Educate Fairfax, which clearly expresses its purpose and goals to FCPS employees, students, donors, and the community. 

Educate Fairfax remains dedicated to supporting Fairfax County Public Schools by engaging the community to invest in educational and supplemental programs for all students. With its 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.

For the 2021-2022 school year, Educate Fairfax granted nearly $100,000 to 73 teachers around the county, to be used for projects that support FCPS Returning Strong. Check out a few of the ways these funds are impacting students!

Mosaic Elementary School. Mosaic ES serves a population with students from 40 countries that speak 28 different languages. They value this multiculturalism as a source of strength, and requested funds to purchase books to reflect their diversity! A variety of books with different characters will help students develop and demonstrate empathy, compassion and respect for others.

Churchill Road Elementary School. Funds were used to purchase items for a brand-new STEAM closet for the Kindergarten class. These young students will be introduced to STEAM concepts through many hands-on activities, all of which will help them grow their literacy, math, science and engineering skills. 

West Springfield High School. Students in the low incidence classroom used funds to start their own small business--a coffee cart that delivers orders to teachers around the building! Students learn customer service skills, how to process orders and payments, and how to make and deliver coffee with a smile!

Visit Educate Fairfax online to read the full story and learn more about additional grants awarded by the foundation.

Oakton High School Students Shine at Global Conference Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University

Four Oakton High School students recently participated at the Global Health Leaders Conference sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. The students – Lucy Kim, Sejal Singh, Emily Yu, Rana Ali and Sarah Cortez-De La Cruz – presented talks on various aspects of health at the forum, held online due to the pandemic.

Kim discussed the mechanism of PSGL-1 Restriction when it comes to COVID-19 and other viruses. Singh discussed the issue of gender inequality in health care. Yu discussed the economic impacts of COVID-19 on mental health. Cortez-De La Cruz discussed the sigma behind eating disorders globally. Story courtesy of Sun Gazette.

Designing an Outdoor Classroom: FCPS Student Uses his Skills as a Boy Scout to Create Exciting and Versatile Learning Space As part of his Eagle Scout service project, Lake Braddock Secondary School sophomore Logan Pembleton answered the call to help build an outdoor classroom at his former elementary school, Ravensworth Elementary. Pembleton led groups of 14 volunteers over two days to complete the classroom, which has colorful tree stumps for chairs, wooden lounge chairs, and a whiteboard that is waterproof and mobile, just in time for the start of school in August. Read the full story for more information.

Honoring the Contributions and Legacies of Two Former School Board Leaders and Advocates

On November 11, the School Board voted unanimously to name the theater dressing rooms at McLean High School the “Janie Strauss Dressing Rooms” in honor of an exemplary educator, leader, colleague, citizen and mentor. As a former elementary and preschool teacher, Janie Strauss served on the Fairfax County School Board for 26 years and was actively involved in education for over 50 years. In addition to making a lasting impact on the region and the greater Commonwealth of Virginia, Ms. Strauss also made a significant impact on local area schools. She served as the president of the Fairfax County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations and served on many key education and youth-related committees, including the Fairfax County Public Schools Career and Technical Preparation Task Force, the Division Planning Committee, the Citizens Bond Committee, and the Fairfax Framework for Student Success. She played a critical role in the formation of the nationally-acclaimed Cappies (Critics and Awards Program), an international program for recognizing, celebrating, and providing learning experiences for high school theater and journalism students and teenage playwrights. I am delighted that the theater dressing rooms will bear her name and honor her service and the impact she made and continues to make on our community.

During the meeting, we also recognized former School Board Member Ilryong Moon by naming the Main Gymnasium at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in his honor. Mr. Moon was appointed as an At-Large representative to the Fairfax County School Board in 1995 and in November of that year became the first Asian-American to be elected to a public office in Virginia. He served for more than 20 years with integrity and distinction. As a well-respected lawyer, immigrant, son of a custodian, champion of staff, mentor, and valued friend to all who know him, Mr. Moon knows the importance of service to the community and helping those less fortunate. His fervent belief in service was evident in his work on numerous Fairfax County School Board committees. In addition to his contributions to the School Board, he also served as a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Fairfax County Police Chief’s Diversity Council, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Fairfax County Athletic Council.

In addition to attending graduations, art shows, science fairs and concerns, Mr. Moon is affectionately known for his fervent support, leadership, and stalwart presence at FCPS athletics for over two decades. Mr. Moon sponsored the budget proposal that ensured every high school would have a full-time certified athletic trainer, which made schools safer for the past 15 years. He cares about the health and well-being of our student athletes and continues to support recognition of the valued work of our 50 athletic trainers, who are vital to the success of our sports programs. Naming the gym in his honor celebrates his dedicated service to both FCPS and TJ, along with his advocacy for student athletes, athletic trainers, coaches, and administrators.

Celebrating School Psychology Awareness Week I was pleased to join my colleagues in supporting a resolution to recognize 2021 School Psychology Awareness Week. All children and youth can face problems from time to time related to learning, social relationships, making difficult decisions, or managing emotions such as feeling depressed, anxious, worried, or isolated. School psychologists help students, families, educators, and members of the community understand and resolve both long-term, chronic problems and short-term issues that students may face. They are a highly skilled and ready resource in the effort to ensure that all FCPS children and youth thrive in school, at home, and in life. The role School Psychologists play in the lives of our students and school communities is important now more than ever as children continue to recover and rebound from the academic, social and emotional impacts of a global pandemic. I am grateful for the work of these educators and celebrate and thank them for their service. Read more about School Psychology services available to support the academic, social-emotional and mental wellness of FCPS students.

Upcoming Events and Activities

Preparing for the Unexpected: Challenges of the Military Family Webinar, Dec. 3

On December 3, 11:30 a.m., join Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman for our second of a 4-part series supporting military-connected families.

Register for Preparing for the Unexpected: Challenges of the Military Family

Did you know military-connected students experience different “seasons” as they navigate their school years? Using tools from her book, “Seasons of My Military Student,” Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman will offer relevant support for the start of the school year.

Highlights include:

• Mental Health of Military-Connected Kids and Teens
• Storms in Any Season- What parents need to know about
• Deployments, Injuries, Separations, and Loss
• Known and little known resources for military families to get you through storms and everyday life
• How to Prepare for an Off-Cycle Move

Shark Tank Technology Challenge Open to All High School Students. Applications due: Dec. 6

Calling all high school students! The Fairfax Area 50+ Technology Committee has announced this year’s Shark Tank Technology Challenge with a focus on new or improved existing technology that will have a positive impact in the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities, wounded warriors, or caregivers. Students are encouraged to consider projects that offer assistance in the following areas:

• Active free time activities
• Participation in the arts
• Caregiving

Students can submit an innovative or creative project as individual or a team. The deadline to submit the initial proposal is Dec. 6. Final proposals are due February 22, 2022. The Shark Tank event will be held in April 2022. The winning projects will receive a cash prize. More details are available by visiting Fairfax Area Student “Shark Tank” Technology Challenge.

Follow @KeysGamarraFCPS on Twitter, my newly launched account dedicated to School Board and FCPS-related priorities, updates and information.

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: Karen Keys-Gamarra  |  Phone: 571-423-1091

Nelda Brown, Staff Aide, nnbrown@fcps.edu