December's News: Upcoming Board Meetings and Town Hall, School Board Updates, Health and Safety News, Springfield Scene, and More

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Hello, Springfield District!

As our family ends Hanukkah, we are hoping that the light from our candles will bring a little extra light into your home. As exciting as the holiday season can be, I know it can also be very stressful. It seems there is never quite enough money or time to make it the “perfect” holiday for your family. This year, our family decided that we would limit family gifts and share a little extra holiday joy with some of our amazing FCPS kids. Many of our schools have created an angel tree and, if you are able, I hope you will reach out and see how you can bring some extra cheer to our neighbors. Speaking of neighbors, ours have answered the call to help our neighboring school in tremendous ways! My garage is about to overflow with gifts to deliver. I am always overwhelmed by the generosity of our families here in the Springfield District. Whenever I have reached out about folks who could use an extra hand, our community comes running. We feel so fortunate to live here.

I hope your holidays will be filled with the gift of time. Time to take a breath, slow down, and be with the people you love best. Take care of yourselves and each other.

As always, I am so grateful to represent the Springfield District.

All my very best-

Laura Jane

This newsletter includes information on the following issues:

Upcoming School Board Meetings
Virtual Town Hall with Member-at-Large, Karen Keys-Gamarra
School Board Work
Health and Safety Guidance & Protocols
FCPS & Community News
Springfield District Scene
Family Resources
What’s in a Name?

Upcoming School Board Meetings

December 13 at 1 pm - Work Session: Superintendent Search
December 14 at 10 am - Forum: Title IX Curriculum Training
December 14 at 11 am - Work Session: John R. Lewis HS and Boundary Consultant Report
December 16 at 7 pm - Regular Meeting: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Presentation, Fiscal Year (FY22) Midyear Budget Review, Trust Policy, Family Engagement Policy, etc.
January 4 at 6 pm - Public Hearing: CIP
January 11 at 10 am - Forum: Gun Violence
January 11 at 11 am - Work Session: CIP and Office of Auditor General (OAG) Report
January 13 at 7 pm - FY 23 Proposed Budget Presentation, Firearms Possession Policy, Architectural and Engineering Services, etc.
January 18 at 11 am - Work Session: School Year (SY)22-23 Calendar and FY23 Budget
January 24 at 6 pm - Public Hearing: Budget
January 25 at 4 pm - Work Session: FY 23 Budget
January 27 at 7 pm - Regular Meeting: SY22-23 Calendar, etc.

Please note, times and topics are subject to change.

The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.

Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.

Graphic for joint town hall for Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra

Please join Member-at-Large Karen Keys-Gamarra, and me for a virtual town hall to address any questions you may have. So that we may best respond to as many questions as possible, we will only address questions that we receive through this form. You may submit questions through the form in advance as well as during the town hall. The town hall will be open, so that you may join at any time during the given window.

I hope you can attend! We look forward to hearing from you!

When: Monday, December 13, 2021, 7 - 8 pm

Where: Zoom; Register in advance for this meeting

How: Submit questions in advance

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

*Interpretation services and closed captioning will be available.

Superintendent Search Starts December 13

Mark your calendars for the start of the superintendent search process on December 13. The School Board will be holding a work session at 1 p.m. on Monday, December 13, to discuss the process, the timeline, and engagement opportunities.

The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and on the FCPS website.

Honoring Sangster Elementary School’s Blue Ribbon Designation

I was pleased to make a motion at the November 22 School Board Meeting to honor Sangster Elementary School’s Blue Ribbon designation with a resolution. As one of only seven schools in the Commonwealth to have been named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, Sangster Elementary has been recognized as a high-performing school that works to which makes exemplary progress toward closing achievement gaps.

2022 Fairfax County School Board State and Federal Legislative Program

The School Board annually adopts a legislative program and legislative priorities to inform local, state, and federal public officials and others of its positions on legislative policy and budget issues of potential importance to Fairfax County Public School students, teachers, staff, and community. On November 22 the School Board voted to adopt the 2022 Fairfax County School Board State and Federal Legislative Program and Priorities with several amendments that can be found on Board Docs.

Changes to Community Participation at School Board Meetings

The School Board welcomes community members to provide comments at its regular business meetings and public hearings on school board deliberations, school-related issues, or particular topics. At the November 22 meeting, I was pleased to second Mr. Karl Frisch’s motion to approve the recommended changes from the Public Engagement Committee, including adjustments to the submission of video content.

Expansion of Special Education Review

The Audit Committee recently recommended additional funding for the Year 2 Special Education Comprehensive Review over: (a) Stakeholder focus groups, (b) Classroom observations, (c) Extant data analysis, totaling $87,443. The School Board last night voted unanimously to approve the recommended modification of the Special Education Comprehensive Review Contract between Fairfax County Public Schools and the American Institutes for Research (AIR).

View the video of the November 22, 2021, Fairfax County School Board meeting.

Health and Safety News

School Located Vaccination Clinics

More than 33% of children ages 5-11 in Fairfax County have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are many opportunities for children to VaxUP, including pop-up clinics just for children. Find out where the next pop-up clinic will be or look for other local vaccination opportunities on the health department’s website.

Upcoming Springfield District school pop-up clinics are located as follows:

Wednesday, 12/8/21, 4:30 - 7:00 pm: White Oaks Elementary School
Saturday, 12/11/21, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm: Centreville Elementary School
Friday, 12/17/21, 4:30 - 7:00 pm: Keene Mill Elementary School
Wednesday, 1/5/22, 4:30 - 7:00 pm: White Oaks Elementary School
Friday, 1/7/22, 4:30-7:00 pm: Keene Mill Elementary School

Children do not need to be FCPS students to attend the school-located clinics. Vaccines will not be available for those 12 years and older. Children must be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult at all community vaccination sites.

COVID Boosters

Booster doses will be available from healthcare providers, pharmacies, local Health Department clinics, and the Community Vaccination Center (CVC) in Tysons. Health Department vaccination dispensing sites will supply the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, but do not have the Johnson & Johnson doses. J & J, however, will be available at the CVC in Tysons. All COVID-19 vaccinations remain free of charge.

To find an appointment, visit http://www.vaccines.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages. Have vaccine questions or need help scheduling? Contact the Health Department COVID-19 Call Center at 703-324-7404 (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Available for All Students

All students now have access to COVID-19 drive-through diagnostic testing at locations across the county, including one in each of the FCPS school regions. Students who have COVID-19 symptoms or have been identified as a close contact to someone with COVID-19 are encouraged to test quickly to help reduce the spread of the virus. Testing is also a step in the return to school process following illness or exposure.

A full list of locations and schedules is available on our website.

Appointments are not required but families must register through FCPS’ secure online portal before testing.

More information about FCPS’ COVID-19 testing program, including diagnostic testing, is available online.

Free Rapid COVID-19 Antigen At-home Test Kits Available at Fairfax County Libraries

Free Rapid COVID-19 Antigen At-home Test Kit graphic

Fairfax County Public Library branches have become distribution sites for free COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits as part of a pilot program. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Card Home Test kits are available at each of Fairfax County Public Library’s 13 open community branches and 8 regional branches.

Quantities are limited. Neither proof of residency nor a library card is required, and the kits are free of charge.

More information on the free COVID-19 testing kits is available online.

Student Quarantine Period Reduced to Seven Days

CDC guidance allows for a reduction of the student quarantine period to seven days “when diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available.” With FCPS now offering drive-through diagnostic testing at six sites across the county, in addition to the many alternative ways to access COVID-19 testing, FCPS is reducing the quarantine for students who are exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting to seven days.

Parents/Guardians, please keep your child at home until one of the following quarantine periods is met:

Seven days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide both: a negative COVID-19 test taken on day five of quarantine or later, as well as a copy of the FCPS pause letter indicating the return to school date; or
10 days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide a copy of the FCPS pause letter indicating the return to school date; or
14 days of quarantine and you provide a copy of the clearance email from the health department.

If a student is exposed to COVID-19 outside of school and directed to quarantine by the health department, they must follow the health department’s 14-day quarantine process.

The transmission rate in Fairfax County is holding steady at “substantial.” Nearly 90% of our community ages 12 and older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Over 33% of children ages 5-11 have received the first dose of the vaccine. Since schools opened in August, we have seen a very low rate of in-school transmission of COVID-19 at just 0.02%.

We continue to balance the need for students to have a high-quality in-person learning experience with student and staff safety. By adhering to our layered prevention strategies and increasing vaccination rates, we are all doing our part to keep schools safe.

Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

Graphic containing hand sanitizing, social distancing, and mask wearing

Please stay safe and consider a few suggestions from the Fairfax County Health Department to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season.

Get all eligible members of your family fully vaccinated.
Wear a mask indoors when around those not in your household.
Stay home when sick.
Socially distance—stay six feet from others as much as possible.
Avoid crowded and indoor areas where distancing is not possible.
If you think you may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed, get tested.
Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.
If you are not fully vaccinated, stay away from others and get tested 3-5 days after returning home from travel.

The best way to reduce the risk for severe illness and the spread of COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. All adults over the age of 18 are now eligible for a booster, schedule an appointment soon to be ready for the next round of holiday gatherings.

Find out where you or a loved one can receive the safe, effective, and free COVID-19 vaccine.

FCPS and Community News

Meal Kit Distribution Change for Winter Break

In preparation for winter break (December 20-31) when schools are closed, the following plan is in place for the distribution of meal kits:

Wednesday, December 8–Additional meals (eight days of breakfast and lunch, along with 14 days of afternoon snack and supper meals) will be served in one meal kit.
Wednesday, December 15–Additional meals (two days of breakfast and lunch, along with 14 days of afternoon snack and supper meals) will be served in one meal kit.
Wednesday, December 22–Meal kit distribution is canceled.
Wednesday, December 29–Meal kit distribution is canceled.
Wednesday, January 5–Regular meal kit distribution resumes.

More information on meal kit distribution is available online.

FCPS Schools Named 2021 Purple Star Schools

Four Springfield District elementary schools have been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as 2021 Purple Star schools. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. Congratulations to Fairview, Hunt Valley, Ravensworth, and Sangster Elementary Schools!

See the entire list of FCPS schools recognized as 2021 Purple Star schools.

Interim Chief Equity Officer

Superintendent Brabrand announced that Fairfax County Public Schools’ continued commitment to equity will be led by Nardos King as interim chief equity officer, effective December 6.

The appointment reasserts FCPS’ commitment to ensuring the work of centering equity remains at the forefront of all decisions the school division makes.

More information is available online.

FCPS Reaffirms Commitment to Diversity in Our Libraries

Two books that were subject to a formal challenge have been deemed appropriate for high school readers following a two-month review process and will be reinstated to FCPS libraries.

The decision reaffirms FCPS’s ongoing commitment to providing diverse reading materials that reflect our student population, allowing every child an opportunity to see themselves reflected in literary characters. Both reviews concluded that the books were valuable in their potential to reach marginalized youth who may struggle to find relatable literary characters that reflect their personal journeys.

FCPS Celebrates National Inclusive Schools Week December 6-10

Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) is an annual event that is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population.

This year’s Inclusive Schools Week theme is Rebuilding our Inclusive Community Together. The theme for Inclusive Schools Week provides educators, students, parents, schools, agencies, and communities with the opportunity to think about our current philosophies and practices regarding inclusion and to plan for “next steps” in the process.

Learn more about Inclusive Education in FCPS.

Calendar Development Update

The 2022-2023 calendar development is well underway. FCPS is working to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable. The framework for creating the calendar can be found on the calendar webpage.

Upcoming School Board action on the 2022-2023 calendar:

January 11 - Discussion at Work Session

January 13 - Presented as new business with opportunity for public comment

January 27 - Vote on final calendar with opportunity for public comment

Office of the Ombudsman SY2020-2021 End-of-Year Report

The Office of the Ombudsman SY 2020-2021 End of Year Report is now available in the November 19, 2021 Brabrand Briefing. The report includes data analysis of contacts and community outreach from July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021. The Office of the Ombudsman also publishes quarterly reports summarizing the current work of the office. Questions regarding the End-of-Year Report can be directed to Armando Peri, Ombudsman at ombudsman@fcps.edu or 571-423-4014.

Educate Fairfax Annual Fund 2021 graphic

Annual Fund Drive is Underway!

This holiday, Educate Fairfax is raising funds to support our four focus areas, Kids in Need, Literacy, Employee Recognition, and Classroom Grants.

Make your contribution to our Annual Fund today!

Your $50 gift will provide 5 students with school supply kits to start their new year off right!

Here's what a principal said about Collect for Kids.

"It's so gratifying to watch a student get a brand new school supply kit. It's a small thing, but it means the world to a child."

Fairfax County Public Library News

Fairfax County Libraries (FCPL) have many ways to access their materials, in-person and digitally. The libraries also offer Library TO GO, a book selection service. In three simple steps, the concierge book selection service makes it easy to get your next great book listed here Library TO GO…Handpicked for Pickup.

Fairfax County Libraries feature many services including homework help online and in-branch, author events, and early literacy programs. Please go to their website to learn more.

Abolitionist Art Night

Free & Antiracist Minds is offering a virtual art night to learn about abolition and create artwork for the Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County’s inaugural Justice Art Contest. The contest invites high schoolers to "submit their visual artwork on the theme 'What Does a Truly Just Fairfax Look Like'."

Who: ALL youth

When: Tuesday, December 7 at 7 pm

Location: Virtual - A link will be sent to all who register.

Theme: Introduction to Abolition (what is abolition, how does it relate to us/students, etc.)

Artwork: Students will make any artwork they choose - this event won't highlight a specific art form. Free & Antiracist Minds is hoping that some students will be able to submit their work to the art competition which means their art will hang in the Fairfax Government building.

Free & Antiracist Minds has ensured that the artwork students (any FCPS high schooler) make will be accepted in the competition. In addition, they are offering to add pictures of the artwork to their website (from all participants).

If students need art supplies to participate, please indicate on the registration form. Free & Antiracist Minds will provide work time at the end of the session. Students may work with them online or may produce art on their own time before the December 13 deadline.

VDOE Special Education Survey

All parents of school-aged children and youth who receive special education services in Virginia are encouraged to complete the Virginia Department of Education’s Annual Parent Involvement Survey. The survey will remain open through December 17, 2021.
Paper copies are available from your school and should have been sent home. Please contact your school’s special education lead teacher or department chair if you did not receive a paper copy of the survey and would like one.
You may also complete the survey online.

Please contact the PRC if you have any other questions either by emailing your questions to prc@fcps.edu or by calling the PRC at 703-204-3941.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, began this year at sundown on Sunday, November 28th, and ends on December 6th. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday lasts for eight days and is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts.

Learn more about Hanukkah.

Bodhi Day is December 8

Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a peepal tree, also known as a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it. FCPS has designated Bodhi as a religious and cultural observance day designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for observances not already designated as school holidays.

Learn more about Bodhi Day on the Bodhi Day website.

Happy Kwanzaa

In 2021 Kwanzaa, the seven-day festival celebrating African and African-American culture, will take place December 26 - January 1. Each of these days honors the fundamental African principles which promote strong, productive communities and families. The term ‘Kwanzaa’ which means ‘first fruits of the harvest’ originates from the Swahili expression, ‘matunda ya kwanza.’

Learn more about Kwanzaa.

Springfield District Scene

Centreville High School sisters Caroline and Corinne Sieber made the most of their pandemic lockdown by organizing a glass recycling drive in their neighborhood. With the halting of single-stream glass recycling in Fairfax County, purple bins were placed in drop-off locations making glass recycling less convenient.

Having grown up in Germany where recycling is very prominent, the sisters found a way to help the environment and earn service hours to boot! In the time since their program has grown so much that they employ volunteers to assist in their collection. Read more about these amazing, dedicated sisters in this article. Go, Sieber sisters!

Way to go TJ Marching Band for winning the Class 4A Virginia State Championship! They also finished third in the Open Class Commonwealth Cup finals! This is their highest finish in the event since they began attending in 2018.

On November 14, a group of over 100 TJ Latin students attended the annual convention of the Virginia Junior Classical League. Seven students placed in the top 10 of the Decathlon test. This is an incredibly rigorous exam, covering 10 topics such as grammar, history, and mythology, and determines the top Latin scholars in the state. Great job!

Kudos to TJ Media for earning the below honors at the annual awards ceremony for the National Scholastic Press Association recently!

For the second straight year, the tjToday print edition earned a Pacemaker Award!
Second Place, COVID-19 Coverage, Yearbook Spread: “In the Digital Classroom”
Fifth place, Design of the Year, Yearbook Theme Design

All-Region Football Honorees

Congratulations to the following Springfield District high school football players for being named All-Region!

Centreville High School: Matthew Colella (Second Team)
Chantilly High School: Aiden Gobaira (First Team and Defensive Player of the Year)
Lake Braddock Secondary School: Jason Clark (First Team) Marcus Cousins and Jalen Hoffman (Second Team)
South County High School: Brock Spalding (First Team)
West Springfield High School: Joey Draper and Amanuel Sisay (First Team)

Family Resources

Resources Available in our Community

Partnership for Healthier Communities (PHC) is part of Inova’s Community Services Division. PHC connects children and adults to an appropriate and affordable source of quality healthcare services through programs like Medicaid, CHIP, and free or low-cost medical care coverage programs for children and adults. See attachment.

Additionally, there is free COVID testing done at Walgreens, with or without insurance. https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_testing

From the Healthy Minds Blog

It is now December and the holidays are just around the corner. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making the season all about material things. However, research such as a University of Toronto study featured in Science Daily shows that it may be better to focus on special experiences and time with loved ones rather than the latest toys or gadgets. Giving the gift of an experience helps build on the positive relationship between the giver and receiver, as well as create a lasting positive memory.

Consider these additional reasons for gifting experiences:

When families spend time together with children it translates into improved performance in school and gains in social-emotional development including an increased capacity to understand, express, and manage emotions and to develop meaningful relationships with others.
Children’s brains are constantly changing. The conversations and experiences they have with adults help form the mental connections they need to understand the world around them.

The emotional connection from a great experience is unparalleled. Think about the excitement that comes with attending an event (e.g., a concert, play, athletic competition) or participating in a special activity (e.g., going out to eat, visiting a state park, bike riding through the city, ice-skating) with a loved one. Instead of fighting the crowds in the mall or shopping endlessly online for the perfect item, take that time to plan and experience a seasonal family activity. It could even be an activity that incorporates giving to others and cultivates gratitude.

Good Enough Parenting with Teens: Free Zoom Seminar by The Ross Center

Monday, January 10, 2022, 8:15 pm

healthy screen use
emotional development
self-esteem
peer relationships
balancing the search for autonomy and ongoing need for limits/structure
changing nature of parent role
sleep

We are pleased to offer child psychologist Dr. Abigail Romirowsky’s ‘Good Enough Parenting’ series. As we try to balance the needs of our children, safety concerns with the pandemic, uncertainty, and our own mental health, it is even more essential to support parents in being “good enough”. Research suggests children are healthier when parents do a ‘good enough’ job, rather than striving for the mythical perfect version of parenting. The discussion is offered via ZOOM, and will not be recorded. Questions can be posed ahead of time or live via chat.

As both a child psychologist and a fellow “doing her best” parent, Dr. Romirowsky values creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for these webinars. Feel free to “come as you are”, in sweats, multi-tasking, or curled up with a cup of tea. Attendees can choose to participate with your camera on or off and/or to change your zoom screen name depending on their privacy concerns. For more info "Good Enough Parenting" - Webinar Series 2 - The Ross Center

Mental Health Resources

Our wonderful social workers would like to share the below Mental Health Resources from Dominion Hospital. Click on the links to see the flyers.

Dominion Hospital Quick Reference Guide

Dominion Hospital Virtual Consultation Information

FCPS Multilingual Family Podcasts

Listen and subscribe to an 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.

FCPS Advanced Academic Program Continuum of Services

In the most recent episode, the hosts discuss the FCPS Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Continuum of Services. Hear about the different levels of services for elementary and secondary students. All students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 receive instruction to develop critical and creative thinking skills as part of AAP instruction. The goal is to build upon students’ individual talents and skills to maximize their academic potential as learners. Equity of access to the services is a priority within FCPS. For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs.

Listen and subscribe:

Immigrant Family Reunification Program (“Families Reunite”)

This program was designed to help rebuild relationships between parents and children who were separated during the immigration process and have recently or in previous years been reunited.

The curriculum, developed by Fairfax County Public Schools, helps parents develop strategies to resolve conflicts that impact their children’s well-being and internal family function while alleviating the effects of trauma that may have occurred during the separation and reunification process.

This program is delivered in Spanish and consists of two 3-hour sessions for parents and one 3-hour session for parents with their children. Two facilitators follow a curriculum that will help the parents understand and identify their children’s behavior and learn strategies to deal with them. They learn about the importance of love and affection and communication skills.

Gain more information here. To register, sign up here.

Immigrant Family Reunification Program flyer

Below you will find a list of 15 Scholarship Programs that will give out more than 558 Individual Scholarship Awards during the 2021-2022 school year. Students from your school district are eligible for all awards below.

*Weekly Scholarship Newsletter available here: https://scholarshipguidance.com/newsletter

SCHOLARSHIPS DEADLINES FROM: DECEMBER 17, 2021 - FEBRUARY 28, 2022

1) Kelly Law Autism Scholarship - $1,000 - 1 Award (Deadline: December 10, 2021)

To be eligible for the scholarship a student must:

Be a high school student who is a citizen of the United States.
Have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.