February News: Upcoming Board Meetings, School Board Updates, Student Opportunities, Updated Health Guidance, and More

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 02/28/2022 05:59 PM EST

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Hello, Springfield District!

February has certainly come and gone quickly this year. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to visit many of the schools in the Springfield District this month, including a brand new addition to our Magisterial District, Saratoga Elementary! What an awesome school! I’ve so enjoyed getting to chat with principals, staff, and your amazing students. I feel renewed every time I get a first-hand look into all that our incredible schools are doing.

As we wrap up February, I know many folks, including my own two students, remain worried about changes to our mask policy. I absolutely understand that there are some students and staff rejoicing while others are very concerned about what lies ahead for our community. Please make sure that you let your child’s teacher know if they are feeling particularly anxious. In this time of transition, it is very normal to be unsure of what COVID will look like in our schools and in your own family, and I want to assure you that I will be in daily contact with our FCPS team to ensure that all our of students feel safe and secure no matter what choice their parents make about wearing a mask. I know there are many questions about how all of this will look in practice and we will have to work to navigate this new phase together.

As the winter winds down and (hopefully) warmer temperatures arrive, I hope you’ll get some time outside to enjoy being together. In our house, we are looking forward to spring sports and spring break!

Please continue to stay in touch about how I can be helpful to your family.

All my very best-

Laura Jane

This newsletter includes information on the following issues:

Upcoming School Board Meetings
School Board Work
FCPS and Community News

FCPS News
Community News

Springfield District Scene
Family Resources

Resources for Parents
Resources for Students

Health and Safety News
What’s in a Name?
Quick Links

Upcoming School Board Meetings

March 8 at 10 am - Forum: Educational Equity Policy

March 8 at 11 am - Work Session: Goal 1 and 2 Reports

March 10 at 7 pm - Regular Meeting: Restraint and Seclusion Policy
March 24 at 7 pm - Regular Meeting: FY22 Third Quarter Budget Review, Trust Policy, 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.

School Board Work

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget

Last night the School Board adopted the FY2023 Advertised Budget focused on student achievement and recognition of world-class educators and operational staff.

This budget prioritizes investments that ensure all students receive the rigorous instruction and comprehensive support they need to thrive. 86% of the $3.3 billion budget goes directly to instruction. The budget includes three main areas of focus - Compensation, Opportunity and Access, and Critical Operational Needs.

Compensation

Attracting and retaining the best instructional and support staff is critical to student success. The budget includes a 4% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) for all employees, along with a step increase for eligible employees.

"Over the past two years, our nation has been reminded of the immeasurable value of teachers committed to developing the next generation of critical thinkers, leaders and innovators,” says School Board Chair and Sully District Representative Stella Pekarsky. “I support this budget not just as School Board Chair, but also as an FCPS parent and former teacher who appreciates our amazing educators.”

Opportunity and Access

New full time special education positions at elementary schools and additional ESOL staff will provide strong support for student groups with long-standing and persistent achievement gaps. We will continue our multi-year plan to build out our Advanced Academic Programs so that all elementary schools will ultimately have access to Level IV programs.

Critical Operational Needs

Technology infrastructure and cybersecurity remain areas of focus for the FY23 Advertised Budget. Increasing human resource staffing support will help fill critical employment gaps that existed pre-pandemic and have increased since March of 2020.

“This budget recognizes that public schools have always been the foundation of our community’s success,” says Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand. “I am thankful that the Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill has recommended fully funding our request to ensure that this foundation remains strong.”

As in previous years, FCPS will continue its collaborative work with the Board of Supervisors and County Executive during the County budget process.

The School Board presents the Advertised FY23 Budget to the County Board of Supervisors on April 12.

Honoring the Special Olympics Spread the Word: Inclusion Campaign

I was proud to second Vice-Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer’s motion for a resolution honoring the “Spread the Word: Inclusion” Campaign. The campaign is a grassroots movement to end the exclusion and discrimination experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A primary focus of the work is to address the hurtful and bullying slur of “mental retardation,” a medical term introduced in 1961 for people with intellectual disabilities. This term persists today, especially in social media posts. Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and other advocacy groups have collected millions of pledges to end the use of the R-word. The “Spread the Word: Inclusion” Campaign has broadened its focus beyond the use of one word to promoting the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of our society. The Board unanimously supported this resolution to encourage all school and community members to pledge to end the use of the R-word and to promote respect for and inclusion of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the school, the workforce, and the community. Read the resolution.

Community Schools

At the February 22 Work Session, the Board was provided with an overview and information on the Fairfax County Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT) partnership between the Fairfax County government and Fairfax County Public Schools. The presentation will provide an in-depth review of the Community Schools Framework, highlight existing Community Schools in FCPS, and obtain School Board input on the Community Schools site selection process. View the presentation.

ESSER Update

Staff presented an ESSER III update to the Board at the February 22 Work Session. In the fall of 2021, FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students by addressing their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Funds are allocated for FY22, FY23, and FY24. View the updates and plan.

FY 2023-27 Capital Improvement Program

During the February 10 School Board Meeting, the Board approved the FY 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a planning and fiscal management tool used to coordinate the location, timing, and funding of capital projects over five years. The CIP includes an annual review of the current student membership and facilities data to determine future capital requirements for new construction, capacity enhancements, and facility renovations.

The FY 2023-27 five-year capital requirement totals approximately $1.2 billion and identifies current or anticipated funding for the following Springfield District capital projects within the five-year timeframe:

Unfunded New School Construction/Site Acquisition Funded

Western high school - a high school for the western area of Fairfax County to relieve overcrowding at high schools such as Centreville and Chantilly.

Funded Renovations

Bonnie Brae Elementary School
Frost Middle School

Partially Funded Renovations

Centreville High School
Willow Springs Elementary School

Unfunded Renovations

Sangster Elementary School
Saratoga Elementary School
Union Mill Elementary School

Gun Violence Prevention

In December, Superintendent Brabrand announced FCPS will notify parents and guardians about Virginia’s new secure firearm storage law, why secure storage is essential, and other ways to prevent gun violence or seek help for a child who could be a threat to themselves or others. The communication will be sent out soon and then annually before the start of each school year. The announcement aligns with a proposal from School Board members Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield District) and Karl Frisch (Providence District).

An estimated 5.4 million American children live in households with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm Every year, nearly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. That’s roughly one unintentional shooting per day, and 77 percent of these incidents take place inside a home. Another 700 children die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member. Assessing incidents of gun violence on school grounds, 78 percent of shooters under 18 years of age obtained their guns from their own home, a relative’s home, or friends.

Research shows that secure firearm storage is associated with up to an 85 percent reduction in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens. Many school divisions in states with secure firearm storage laws like Virginia’s now notify parents/guardians about their legal obligation to securely store their firearms.

Superintendent Search

As part of the development of the profile for the next superintendent, community members were asked to share thoughts in town halls, stakeholder meetings, and a survey. On Monday, January 31, the School Board heard the feedback from these sessions at the Work Session. To learn more about what our community and employees shared, watch the meeting. You may also watch the Superintendent Search Town Hall meetings held for the community online.

FCPS is conducting a nationwide search for a new superintendent to lead the school district when Superintendent Brabrand's contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Learn more about the superintendent search on our website.

School Year 2022-23 Calendar Additional Details

The School Board voted to adopt a calendar for the 2022-23 school year that focuses on instruction, and student and operational needs. Additionally, the calendar is aligned with neighboring school districts and adds additional key observance days. Schools will be closed to students on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Orthodox Good Friday, Lunar New Year, and Veteran’s Day.

The calendar’s development was guided by a framework that clearly outlines factors FCPS must consider when developing its calendar, including state and federal law, superintendent priorities, state guidance on community feedback, and School Board feedback. Community engagement was critical. A calendar survey, calendar webinar, and calendar feedback committee provided valuable feedback to inform the decision-making process.

The first day of the 2022-23 school year is Monday, August 22. Thanksgiving break will be November 23-25, winter break will be December 19, 2022-January 2, 2023, and spring break will be April 3-7, 2023. Read more about the SY2022-23 calendar.

PreK-2 Devices

The School Board voted to approve the purchase of up to 43,000 devices at the total cost of $18.4 million with the local share of $2.1 million to be funded from School Board Flexibility Reserve and upon delivery file for reimbursement with the ECF grant fund for $16.3M. More information can be found on Board Docs.

View the video of the January 27 School Board meeting.

Resolution Honoring Asha-Jyothi

I was pleased to second the motion presented by Chair Stella Pekarsky to recognize Asha-Jyothi, a volunteer-based global nonprofit organization based in Chantilly. They are dedicated to supporting the community through health care and education initiatives and have given over $250,000 to Fairfax County Public Schools to enhance technology education and build Innovation Labs and Maker Space such as those at Chantilly High School and Rocky Run Middle School. Through the grants and the opportunities Asha-Jyothi provides, they hope that all children will be inspired to design, experiment, build and invent while believing that anything is possible. Read the resolution.

FCPS and Community News

Clarifications for Eid-al-Fitr for the 2021-22 Calendar

The current “O” (religious and cultural observance) day for Eid-al-Fitr on FCPS’ 2021-22 School Year calendar was incorrectly listed as Tuesday, May 3. Please note that the correct date is Monday, May 2.

FCPS Special Education Conference

FCPS’s 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions. Registration for this free conference will begin in March.

More information on the Special Education Conference is available online.

Kindergarten Registration for SY2022-23

Will your child turn five years old by September 30? If so, contact your child’s school to make arrangements for kindergarten enrollment. Most schools begin getting information together now for parents of incoming kindergartners, and many host an orientation or open house. All kindergarten programs are full-day and located in FCPS elementary schools.

Check your school’s web page or contact the school directly for specific enrollment information and dates of orientation that typically occur between mid-March and the end of June.

Get more information about kindergarten registration.

Elementary Magnet Schools Applications Accepted March 1 - April 12

Elementary magnet school program applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, March 1. Selection for available magnet school spaces is based on a lottery. Registration for the elementary magnet school lottery closes on Tuesday, April 12, at 4 p.m.

Bailey’s Primary School for the Arts and Sciences will accept lottery applications for students who will be in grades K-2 during the 2022-23 school year;
Bailey’s Upper School for the Arts and Sciences will accept applications for students in grades 3 and 4.
Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences will accept lottery applications for students who will enter grades K-5 during the 2022-23 school year.

Get more information about parent information on the magnet school lottery.

Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) Fall 2021 Summary

This fall, elementary and middle schools delivered new state mathematics and reading assessments, required by 2021 General Assembly legislation: the Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA).

The VGA is intended to provide a standards-based measure of “through-year” student growth for school accreditation calculations. End-of-year accreditation calculations will compare a student’s spring 2022 SOL performance to both their fall VGA score and their spring 2021 SOL result.
The fall 2021 VGA assessed grade 3-8 students on content taught in the previous grade-level to help identify how student learning was impacted by COVID-19 disruptions. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offered guidance on how teachers could use fall 2021 VGA performance to assess students’ readiness for new grade level content.

A new VGA Status Summary Report organizes division-wide outcomes for quick reference in a web-accessible format by student group and by region. Because VGA is intended for individual student evaluation of growth and needs, VDOE does not provide state-level reporting for comparisons. In addition to the status summary report above, staff has taken steps to communicate and build awareness of VGA results.

School leaders were provided tools, resources, and training for analyzing VGA results in context with other available data in October and November.
Families were mailed individual VGA score reports for their students over winter break.

FCPSOn Evaluations

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) conducted annual program evaluations of FCPSOn starting with the FCPSOn Pilot in the 2016-2017 school year. For the 2020-2021 school year, JHU conducted a limited study of FCPS’ experience with virtual learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These documents are all linked on the FCPSOn web page. Also, please refer to Appendix C of the July 2020 FCPSOn Comprehensive Plan, for Key Findings from the FCPSOn: Year 1-3 evaluations as identified by JHU. Due to limited professional development opportunities and the impact of evaluations on schools, evaluation activities have not been scheduled for this school year.

Grade 6 in the Middle School Analysis Report

The Grade 6 Middle School Analysis Report is available in response to the February 4, 2021, Board motions to:

Direct the Superintendent to conduct a program audit of middle schools with grade six to determine if the current grade level configuration offers the most efficient use of facilities and/or meets instructional best practices, and
Direct the Superintendent to engage the Mason District community to obtain parental perspective on the placement of grade six in middle school.

Office of the Ombudsman: SY2021-2022 Q1 and Q2 Reports

The Office of the Ombudsman SY 2021-2022 Q1 and Q2 Reports are available for viewing via the January 28, 2022 Brabrand Briefing. The reports include data on contacts to the Office of the Ombudsman from July 1, 2021-September 30, 2021, and from October 1, 2021-December 31, 2021, respectively.

Questions regarding the reports can be directed to Armando Peri, Ombudsman, at ombudsman@fcps.edu or 571-423-4014.

Participate in a Review of Language Arts Books and Materials

Parents, students, and community members have a unique opportunity to help FCPS select important learning resources. These reviews do not happen frequently, so selected resources will be in classrooms for years and are a significant financial investment. Your voice is a direct and important part of the process.

You may leave feedback online.

Find out more about basal resource reviews and how to share feedback on our website.

Ensuring Mental Wellness in our Schools

In partnership with our families, FCPS supports mental wellness (social and emotional learning and skill development) for our students. These factors are critical to students as they become successful and reflect our Portrait of a Graduate. Students have the opportunity to participate in the social-emotional screener, providing valuable information about their social and emotional skills, relationships, school environment, and mood. School teams and families use this information as they work together to develop supportive school cultures.

In the coming weeks, parents and guardians of students in grades 3-12 who participated in the fall 2021 screener will be mailed a letter with their student’s self-reported ratings. The report includes tips for understanding the ratings and discussing them with your child. We encourage you to use these screener results alongside your current knowledge of your child and other sources of information as you develop a more complete picture of your child’s current strengths and needs. You may be in touch with your child’s school to partner on next steps as needed, as well as to learn more about the many supportive practices schools are using to support mental wellness and social-emotional skill development for all students this school year.

In response to current needs, slight changes have been made to upcoming screener windows. Grades 3-12 students will be screened once more in the spring. Grades K-2 students will be screened in the winter and spring. More information about the SEL Screener is available online.

Understanding ESSER III Funding’s Impact on Student Success

There has been plenty of conversation around the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding during the past year and a half. If you are not familiar with ESSER III, here are a few things you should know about how it impacts student success.

Last fall, FCPS received $188.6 million in ESSER III funding to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. ESSER III focus areas include

Prevention and mitigation strategies to help keep schools open and safe for students and staff.
Academic intervention services, such as tutoring, after-school programs, and summer learning programs.
Equity professional development to ensure our schools are welcoming and culturally responsive to all students and families.
Multilingual engagement to ensure information is accessible to all families.
Additional support for students’ social-emotional needs, such as counselors, psychologists, social workers, and family liaisons.

Please provide feedback via our Online Feedback Form.

For more information on the ESSER III grant, please watch this video and visit our website. Thank you in advance for lending your voice to this important effort.

Performance-Based Assessments Allow Students to Show What They Know

FCPS students in grades 3-8 will participate in performance-based assessments (PBAs) again this year in place of Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to show what they know about their elementary and middle school course standards. PBAs are an innovative assessment practice tied to students’ development of Portrait of a Graduate skills.

PBAs require students to perform a task that teachers score using a descriptive rubric. Examples include participating in a debate, creating a persuasive piece of media, or writing an essay. The following courses use at least one PBA each year as part of state expectations: grade 3 science, grades 3-8 social studies, grade 5 writing, and grade 8 writing.

To learn more about PBAs in grades 3-8 and how you can support your student, visit the Local Alternative Assessment and PBA public webpage.

FCPS to Include Canopy Solar in New PPA

FCPS is expanding its solar generating capacity to include both canopy and rooftop solar at schools. Canopy solar – also known as solar carports or solar parking lots - is being included as part of a revised Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Fairfax County Public Schools, Government, Housing and Community Development, and Park Authority. It provides many new benefits to FCPS, such as:

Using existing parking lots for solar generation
Improved staff and student parking by offering shade from the sun and protection from the rain
Paving the way for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at schools
Provides an alternative to installing on the rooftop, which might not be possible due to structural or design issues
And is a visual reminder of FCPS’ commitment to sustainability

We are excited about this new opportunity for our student and schools and believes canopy solar provides FCPS with the means necessary to achieve our JET recommended goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. We are committed to making solar a reality and appreciate your concurrence and support for us to move forward with canopy solar. If you have any concerns please reach out to Jeff Platenberg at 571-423-2350.

Picture of Dangerfield Newby Historical Marker

Historical Marker Project Will Highlight Untold Stories of Fairfax County’s African American Communities

In honor of Black History Month, Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors announced the launch of a joint Historical Marker Project. The purpose of the optional project is to bring attention to untold or lesser-known histories from Fairfax County communities. The rich history, culture, and accomplishments of these communities are often underrepresented in history books and school curriculua. The first focus of the project is Fairfax County’s Black and African American communities.

As part of the Historical Marker Project, students in grades 4-12 will focus on Portrait of a Graduate skills, such as communication and collaboration, by engaging in inquiry to recognize the voices, experiences, and achievements of Black/African Americans from Fairfax County. Students can submit suggested topics featuring a person, place, or event until March 31.

More information on the Historical Marker Project is available online.

Contracts Activity

The February 18, 2022 Brabrand Briefing provides the School Board reports of contract activity from July 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021 (Q1 and Q2) where (a) the total contract value is over $250K; and (b) all sole-source contract activity (excluding fundraising). This report is organized to separate Sole Source contracts and Consultant Service contracts from all other contracts.

FCPS Policy 5011, Authority to Contract, requires that there be a quarterly report of all contracts to the School Board (a) the total contract value is over $250K; and (b) all sole-source contract activity. The report includes both new contract awards and contract amendments with potential cumulative spending over the length of the contract exceeding $250,000. The columns of the report provide

Contract # - Contract number. This number can be used to view the contract register: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cregister/
Supplier Name – Vendor to which the contract was awarded.
Contract Title – Descriptive title of goods and services purchased
Contract Type – method of procurement
Category – Indicates if the item purchased was goods or services
Contract Valid From Date – start date
Contract Valid To Date – expiration date
Procurement Action Taken

New Contract – a newly-awarded contract (shaded on the report)
Amendment – An agreed addition to, deletion from, correction, or modification of an existing contract

Description of Amendment/Changes – Description of goods and services purchased, or description of amendment/changes
Contract Target Value – All contracts with projected spending of $250,000 and higher over the length of the contract are included in the report
Effective Date – Date of contract award or date of contract amendment with the report being sorted by effective date
FCPS/County Joint Contract - Contract award comprising joint effort between FCPS and County

Update on Substitute Recruitment and Hiring

Our goal is to continue to improve the hiring and onboarding experience for our substitute applicants, which includes reducing the overall timeline. Several updates implemented thus far include:

Increased the frequency of substitute orientation sessions to twice weekly
Redesigned the substitute orientation content to better prepare substitute candidates for assignments
Redesigned the optional information session available for prospective candidates (offered once a week) placing greater emphasis on navigating the application and hiring process
Created and implemented an electronic reference form to eliminate the need for letters of references (improved processing time)
Created an expedited hiring process for instances where schools identify a specific substitute candidate to fill an immediate need
Updated our Substitute webpage to highlight information related to substitute applicant requirements (changing from 60 credit hours to 30 credit hours).
Close monitoring of applicant hiring timelines with our online application system

Also, the Office of Talent Acquisition and Management hosted our second Substitute Job Fair of 2022 on Thursday, February 17. In total, 28 schools met with and interviewed 119 substitute candidates to fill current and future needs. The event was a great success!

News From the Office of Auditor General

Current Engagement Update

At the February 16, Audit Committee meeting, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) presented the following agenda items (full agenda and meeting documents can be found on BoardDocs):

Proposed change to FY22 Audit Plan
FY22 Q1 Continuous Monitoring Results
FY22 Business Process Audit (BPA)
Office of Auditor General (OAG) FY21 Business Continuity Plan Performance Audit Report
Auditor General Updates

The Community Use Performance Audit is complete and the report will be discussed at the March 16 Audit Committee meeting. The report is posted to the February 16 meeting Audit Committee meeting linked above.

OAG continues to serve as the project liaison for a comprehensive program review of FCPS’ special education, which the American Institutes for Research (AIR) was contracted to perform. AIR currently is conducting focus groups and classroom observations, as well as extant data analysis, per the approved scope of work. The final (Year 2) report is scheduled to be presented to the School Board between September and November 2022.

Reporting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse at FCPS

OAG takes all complaints and reports seriously and will make every effort to investigate the reports according to applicable laws, codes, policies, or regulations. You can assist us in our review by providing as much information as possible.

You are encouraged to leave your contact information to enable us to gather or clarify information as needed. If you choose to remain anonymous, ensure that thorough and detailed information is provided to enable a review of your complaint.

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline: 571-423-1333 (anonymous voicemail) or InternalAudit@fcps.edu (email is not anonymous)

County Executive Recommends Full Funding of FCPS Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request

The Fairfax County Executive recommended fully funding the school operating request included in the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget for the 2022-23 school year (Fiscal Year 2023). This represents a 5.18% increase from FY 2022 and includes a 4% market scale adjustment for all employees and step increases for eligible employees. More than 92% of FCPS employees are based in schools.

New special education lead positions at elementary schools will bring a new era in special education instruction, while three additional days of professional development and training will be dedicated to ensuring all teachers are fully versed in the best practices in education. See the County Executive’s presentation on the FY 2023 Advertised Budget for more information.

The School Board will vote on the Advertised Budget on Thursday, February 24 (see article below). Detailed information about the FCPS budget can be found on our website.

FCPS Instructional Job Fair on March 5

Fairfax County Public Schools is dedicated to building the future child by child. Our mission is to inspire and empower students to meet high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and be responsible and innovative global citizens.

We are looking for outstanding educators and will be holding a Virtual Instructional Job Fair on Saturday, March 5, from 10 am to 2 pm. Learn more about the fair, as well as how to apply, prepare, register, and attend.

Apply for Student Representative to the School Board

Each year, per FCPS Policy 1802, FCPS students have the opportunity to apply for the position of student representative to the School Board. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of the students of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Students who are currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply, and they do not need to be current members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SAC). Applications are due March 23, 2022. The application and related details can be found on the Student Representative to the School Board webpage.

Free Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs

Fairfax County high school students looking for full-time, part-time, or seasonal job opportunities, as well as information on internships and volunteering, are invited to attend an upcoming teen job fair and resume building workshop in Fairfax County. Local businesses and agencies will be on hand to offer a range of opportunities including part-time employment, internships, and volunteer work for prospective students.

Volunteer opportunities and resume-building workshops will also be available for younger students. Free booth spaces are provided to local businesses. The job fairs will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 1 - 3 pm at West Springfield High School, and Saturday, March 19, from 11 am - 1 pm at Chantilly High School.

Student registration is free!

Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge

The 10th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge provides students the opportunity to affect the food served in school cafeterias. Teams will compete before a panel of celebrity chefs, food critics, school nutrition professionals, and fellow students for the chance to have their dish served in cafeterias in the region. Springfield District students participating in this year’s challenge include those from Franklin Middle School and Chantilly Academy! The Challenge takes place on Saturday, March 5 from 10 am-12:30 pm at Hayfield Secondary School. Admission is free, but limited. Register today!

Summer Learning Opportunities

Fairfax County Parks 2022 Summer Registration Open

Last year more than 95% of Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) in-person camps filled up and had waitlists. With lower camp sizes still in place, plan now to guarantee a spot in your child’s favorite spring break or summer camp. Find camps for all your children in one place this summer! Please visit the FCPA Camps website to register or find a camp job.

Girls Who Code Summer Program

Coding, Sisterhood, Bravery. Girls Who Code (GWC) Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a free, live, virtual, 2-week introductory computer science course for current 9th - 11th-grade students. Learn web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while getting an inside look into the tech industry through incredible company partners like EA, Pfizer, and ViacomCBS. They also have a Self Paced Program, which is a flexible computer science course for current 9th-12th grade students who prefer not to adhere to a set schedule. Learn more about both programs and apply via the GWC website.

University Startups College & Career Planning Program

University Startups gives students access to college preparation, internship, experiences, and new career opportunities through social and inclusive programs. Open enrollment for University Startups college and career planning programs is now available to all Fairfax Public Schools students for sessions beginning March 21. Find out more about this program on their website Register on the University Startups Registration page.

Genesys Works Internship Recruitment for Juniors

Genesys Works is offering a senior year internship that earns credit on your transcript. You will work as an intern with a partner company during your senior year part-time in afternoons, after completion of summer training. If interested, complete the online student interest form. Genesys Works will have an I.T. and business career track this year! View the flyer.

Urban Alliance Internships

Through the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program juniors and seniors have the opportunity to learn valuable skills and receive training and mentoring all while getting paid! The program removes barriers to success and provides long-term connections to the workforce to predominantly disadvantaged youth. Apply by May 13, 2022.

Edu-Futuro Emerging Leaders Program

Edu-Futuro's three-part Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is for students in grades 9-11 and provides them with a toolkit of integrative, interdisciplinary, and transferable skills and strategies to support them in their path towards becoming leaders of their futures. Find out more about this program on their website.

Doodle for Google Contest

Google is accepting artwork submissions for their annual Doodle for Google contest. Win a $30,000 college scholarship a $50,000 technology package for your school, and have your artwork displayed on Google.com for a day! This year’s theme is I care for myself by… Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PST on March 4, 2022.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

Find out more about Fairfax County's Black History Month celebration.

Public Schools Week

I am proud to support, Public Schools Week, an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents & community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools. Join me in thanking an administrator, teacher, or any other school staff member for all they do to support our students. Send a quick email, note, or FCPS Cares submission to let them know how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication each and every day!

Springfield District Scene

Congratulations to the Soumyadeep Mahapatra and the Chantilly Science Bowl Team who won second place in the 2022 Virginia State High School Science Bowl competition held by Jefferson Lab, in Newport News [the Department of Energy (DOE)]. The team won the second-place trophy and $500.00 from the DOE to the Chantilly science department. National Science Bowl® (NSB) is a highly competitive science education and academic event among teams of high school and middle school students who compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math.

Chantilly’s student journalism programs were awarded the Journalism Education Association’s First Amendment Press Freedom Award for the eighth consecutive year. Members of The Purple Tide newspaper , The Odyssey yearbook, The Knightly News broadcast, and Andromeda literary magazine all participated in the contest. Outstanding!

Kathleen Oliva Ulanday, of Fairfax High School, was selected from more than 1,400 nominations to become a recipient of the Posse Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship to the College of William & Mary. Posse Scholars have demonstrated extraordinary leadership within their high school, community, and/or family, and excelled academically. Kathleen will join a national network of young leaders who work to make the world a better place. Way to go!

Congratulations to Lake Braddock Football linebacker, Jason Clark, for making the Class 6 All-State Football second-team defensive unit!

Lake Braddock’s Write It Do It Duo of Ryan Murray and Breanna Lu, took 13th of 159 teams across the country who competed in that event at the Science Olympiad National Invitational. Awesome job!

The Varsity Gymnastics team at Lake Braddock won the VHSL state championship. Individual winners include:

Madi Bell - 3rd-place on Individual All-Around and Vault and 4th-place on Bars & Floor
Rianna Nagle - 5th-place on Floor

Congrats ladies!

The winning continues with Lake Braddock’s Varisty Wrestling, Korlan Tran, taking 2nd-place for 106 lbs. at the VHSL state championship! Fantastic!

Shout out to the Robinson Secondary School Wrestling team for winning the VHSL state championship!

Katherine Helms of South County High School blew away the competition by claiming the 200 and 500-meter freestyle titles in the VHSL Swim and Dive state championship! Outstanding!

Congratulations to TJHSST’s Sauman Das and his team for winning the Congressional App Challenge in Virginia's 10th District! Inspired by the access to affordable healthcare in low-income and underdeveloped communities such as in India, their Ichos app offers early healthcare screening without the need for medical professionals and equipment. Read more in this article and learn more about the Icho app.

Shout out to West Springfield High School’s Interact and Key Clubs who won the Fairfax County Park Authority and Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) sponsored annual Trash-Off cleanup competition at Lake Accotink Park! The challenge was to clean up the most trash in two hours to aid the park's beautification and to help the environment. Along with amassing volunteer hours, WSHS students were awarded a pizza party.

Over seven schools competed (Annandale, Edison, Hayfield, Lewis, West Springfield, and Woodson), and over 100 student participants in the competition. I’m so proud of all the students for their fantastic service and volunteerism!

Sean Coughlin of West Springfield High School won the 160 lb. weight class in the VHSL Division 6A State Wrestling Championship! Congratulations!

Springfield District Student Artists Recognized in 2022 Regional Scholastic Art Awards

The 2022 Regional Scholastic Art Awards program has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students in grades 7-12 a total of 497 awards for outstanding artwork, including 160 Gold Key awards, 160 Silver Key awards, and 177 Honorable Mention awards. Four works by FCPS students were nominated for the best-in-show American Visions Award. Artworks were submitted and judged in categories including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, design, architecture, jewelry, fashion, film and animation, mixed media, and portfolios.

The Gold Key and Silver Key artworks will be displayed at Northern Virginia Community College’s Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale from Friday, February 11, to Thursday, March 24, with an award ceremony on Wednesday, February 23. Updates and announcements about the exhibition and award ceremony are available on the affiliate website for the Fairfax County Art Region.

Congratulations to the following Springfield District students:

Centreville High School: Kaylie Bishop, Christina Carreon, Ruby Min, Esugen Orkhon, Aeron Staley, and Abigail Suh

Chantilly High School: Keerthi Athauda, Mya Ebert, Tamya Gadson, Timothy Ha, Tanisha Lanka, Natalie Nauss, Tahanni Robinson, and Raegan Yount

Fairfax High School: Rockett Beeson, Brogan Collins, Katie Havens, Justin Kim, and Irina Lin

Irving Middle School: Bhaavya Jilludumudi

Johnson Middle School: Esther Lee and Elisa Moon

Lake Braddock Secondary School: Olivia Baumgardner, Scottie Custer, Ashley Groves, Sophia Lee, Emily Ly, Gabby, Nguyen, Victoria Phinizy, Josh Reiff, Danielle Thomas, and Van Tran

Oakton High School: Arielle Kim, Fiona Kluge, Amber Zhang, and Maggie Zhang

South County High School: Chloe Chang, Madeline Hancock, and Sophie Maclean

West Springfield High School: Marcus Liriano and Dennis Ngo

Woodson High School: Rossella Thumm

Welcome to Fairfax High School, Principal Aye

The Region 5 Leadership Team, in collaboration with the City of Fairfax Schools’ leadership, is pleased to announce that Ms. Georgina Aye has been named the new principal for Fairfax High School!

As a high school principal, Ms. Aye has proven to be a true innovator who is focused on results. As a school leader, Ms. Aye launched the first Early College Magnet program with a specific curriculum, course sequencing, logistics, and professional development to ensure its success. This program has had a positive impact on hundreds of students each school year since being established. She created a reunification and transition program to support English Language Learners who are new to the country and new to a formal school setting. She has collaborated with multiple mental health and social-emotional learning agencies to support the needs of her students before and throughout the pandemic. She launched a “We All Belong Here” initiative that promoted unity, equity, and cultural inclusivity in academics, performing arts, clubs, and athletics. She has overseen a $40 million school renovation, boosted PTA participation in her school by 25%, promoted professional learning communities with a focus on Literacy in all content areas, established Restorative Practices, decreased absenteeism by 15%, increased student participation in Advanced Placement classes by 230%, and boosted the Advanced Placement Test Pass Rate by 30%.

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Georgina Aye as the new principal of Fairfax High School. As a student-focused leader, Ms. Aye will be finishing the school year with her students at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School and will transition to her new home at Fairfax High School in June. Mrs. Maureen Keck has enthusiastically agreed to continue serving as the Acting Principal for the remainder of the school year and looks forward to working in partnership with Ms. Aye to begin the transition process immediately. Over the next few months, Ms. Aye will visit Fairfax High School to begin establishing a strong foundation of positive relationships with students, staff, and families in the Lion community!

Read more in this City of Fairfax Schools news release.

Family Resources

Register for Free Webinars from the Parent Resource Center

The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) is offering free parent webinars. They are:

**Webinar: Parenting Education for Arabic Families 4-part Series *Presented in Arabic**

Thursdays in March 2022 6:30 - 8 pm

The webinar series addresses the challenges faced by Arab parents when raising their children in the United States of America and the cultural differences between generations.

Topics include:

Cultural, psychological, emotional, and personal differences
Parenting strategies based on empathy and understanding

Join Sarah Amri, psychologist and Program Supervisor at Northern Virginia Family Service, and Hunada Zein Eddin, a counselor at Northern Virginia Family Service

3/03/2022 Bridging Cultural and Generational Differences
3/10/2022 Effective Ways to Communicate
3/17/2022 Discipline Strategies
3/24/2022 Effective Parenting Styles

SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-Person and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:

Meet other siblings in a relaxed, virtual setting.
Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
Play games and have fun!

Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services

Registration is free, however, donations are accepted to support the cost of future Sibshops: Donate Here

Friday, March 4, 2022. *School Planning Day – students are not attending school

9 am-noon in-person Providence Community Center.
1 - 2:30 pm virtual

Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person, and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar Series for PreK-2 Families

3/11/22: Supporting Self-Regulation Development in Early Learners
4/22/22: Supporting Healthy Habits & Routines in Early Learners
5/20/22: Growing through Tough Moments in Early Learners

There are so many ways children learn and develop throughout early childhood. Relationships, habits, and even challenges can become rich opportunities to teach and foster lifelong learning and skills for our children. Learn more about how self-regulation, executive functioning, and routines can help your children learn and develop.

Laura Thieman, LCSW, MPH, RPT- FCPS Social Worker Supervisor, Region 3
Amy Sheldon, MEd, MSW, LCSW - FCPS Preschool Mental Health Clinician, Early Childhood Assessment Team
Lori Kraden, FCPS Educational Specialist, Behavior Intervention Services

Fridays 10 - 11:30 am

Gang Prevention for Families and Community Members

Join us for this webinar about preventing gang involvement in Fairfax County.

Participants will learn about programs, strategies, and supports to prevent youth involvement.
Discussions will also include supports available to those youth who may already be involved with or are currently being recruited by gangs.

Topics include:

What is a gang and why do youth join gangs?
Common gang activities

Risk factors associated with gang involvement
Protective factors that reduce gang involvement

Supports available in Fairfax County and FCPS

Presented by:

Stefan Mascoll: Coordinator Student Safety and Wellness, Fairfax County Public Schools
Kate Reen: Director of Youth Initiatives, Northern Virginia Family Service
Francisco Klockner Gonzalez - Gang Prevention Coordinator, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Dianna Sosa, LCSW, FCPS School Social Worker

Friday March 18, 2022 10 - 11:30 am

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.

Making the Transition to Middle School

Making the move from elementary school to middle school can be both an exciting and unsettling time for a parent and student. In podcast episode 9 for this school year, hear ways to ease the transition by:

understanding the developmental changes in your child,
getting to know the middle school culture,
encouraging independence, but remaining available,
offering emotional support to your child,
reiterating your family values and expectations, and
staying involved in your child’s school.

This podcast’s infomercial is about summer camps. It’s not too early to start thinking about summer fun. The FCPS Tech Adventure Camp and the Career and Technical Education Camp are taking registrations for summer 2022.

Listen and subscribe:

2022-23 College Financial Aid Forms Are Available; College Access Fairfax Is Here to Help

It’s time for high school seniors and their families to complete college financial aid forms. Most colleges require that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be completed by March 1 to receive the maximum financial aid possible starting in the fall of 2022. Some schools have even earlier priority deadlines, so check the individual college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and specific forms to complete. To begin the FAFSA, you will need to create a FSA ID.

A new funding opportunity is available for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. The Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) program went live on January 6, 2022, for students attending college in the 2022-2023 school year.

There are many resources available to help students and families with the financial aid process. Information to help determine which aid option is right for you can be found on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.

There are several College Access Fairfax recordings, virtual workshops, and resources available for viewing at the College Access Fairfax website. College Access Fairfax’s Financial Aid Champions also provide help completing the financial aid forms. To request a one-on-one appointment, please email appointments@collegeaccessfairfax.org to request a personal session.

Families can also contact their high school's college and career specialist or school counselor if they need additional help.

Scholarship Opportunities

College Scholarships for Conservation and the Environment

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is offering a scholarship to one high school senior or college freshman pursuing a degree in conservation or a related field. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 1. Learn about and apply for the Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship

QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program for Juniors

High achieving high school juniors who have experienced financial hardship may apply to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program. Awards may include:

A full scholarship to a college summer program hosted by Yale, Emory, UChicago, and more.
Quest for Excellence Awards, such as $1,000 for a new laptop or other resources to help the student enhance their college application.
Exclusive access to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference - an invite-only event featuring workshops and a college fair with our college partners.
Personalized college essay feedback.
Campus visits or other opportunities from QuestBridge college partners.
Specialized guidance and resources for the college application process.
Peer-to-peer support in an online community.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Scholarship Guidance

Below you will find a list of scholarship programs from Scholarship Guidance’s weekly scholarship newsletter. These scholarships are awarded during the 2021-2022 school year and all students are eligible.

1) Smart Owl Scholarship - $7,000 - 12 Awards (Deadline: February 28, 2022)