Dear Sully District Families,
Spring is definitely in the air. I am looking forward to spending more family time outdoors and enjoying our longer sunlit days!
In the last few weeks, I was fortunate to attend some of the amazing performances of our students and I hope you all are able to as well, either on the sports fields and courts or in our auditoriums. I got a first-hand view of how our students and staff are doing during my visits to Mountain View High School, TJHSST, Brookfield, Centre Ridge and Floris Elementary schools last month. I had the opportunity to observe how schools are prioritizing the use of ESSER funds and discuss with staff how students are doing socially and emotionally. Our teachers and staff are finding many ways to create amazing student engagement experiences that reinforce the joy of learning, persistence, curiosity and keep our students engaged with learning.
Last month, the School Board was focused on core pieces of work, including the annual budget process and conducting the search for a new Superintendent to begin after Dr Brabrand retires in June. We passed the FY2023 Advertised School Budget and I joined Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith for a town hall to present the FCPS budget and answer questions from our community members. I also met with citizen groups, the Sully District Council of Citizens and Fairfax County Federation of Citizens’ Associations to provide them with updates on the Superintendent Search & other School Board work as well listen to their feedback and concerns.
Inside this month’s newsletter:
- Sully District Happenings
- Family Engagement Survey
- Information on Summer Programs
- Special Education Conference
- Get2Green updates
- Parent, Student & Mental Health Resources
March is #WomensHistoryMonth and I want to recognize the wide-ranging, pivotal contributions of women and their impact to society. I want to especially celebrate the women making modern history in our schools, including my amazing colleagues on the School Board—approximately 75% of our nation’s teacher workforce is made up of women. I honor their hard work, resilience, & passion, especially during the pandemic.
March is also designated as Music in Our Schools Month by the National Association for Music Education. With my own musical family and background, I am especially looking forward to recognizing this at our next School Board meeting, to celebrate our music educators and to promote the benefits of high quality music education programs in our schools.
As always, I look forward to working together with you and our community at large to help shape an environment for our educators and students to thrive!
In partnership,
Stella Pekarsky
School Visits - Floris Elementary, TJHSST, Mountain View High, Brookfield Elementary, Centre Ridge Elementary
 Thank you Principals' Walker, Deliee, Bonitatibus, Mukai and Thompson for inviting me to your schools! At Centre Ridge Elementary School a Title-1 school, that serves a unique and diverse population that represents over 30 countries and speaks nearly 50 languages at home I observed the Local Level 4 AAP classes, Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) Lab and the students learning music. At Brookfield School, another Title-1 school in our district, watching the students at play, and learning in the classrooms was an absolute joy after the challenging times we have had. We also visited the Parent center that is providing much needed resources to the school community.
At Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, I met with their impressive staff and walked through the start-of-the-art STEM labs. Watching the students work on a variety of projects ranging from developing cutting edge satellites, bioplastic from potato starch, hydroponics plant monitoring to responsible ocean stewardship was a joy.
At Mountain View Alternative High School I was able to observe first-hand the programs that FCPS offers for our students who require a nontraditional educational setting. It was great to meet the amazing staff and to hear about all the partnerships with school communities that are creating a safe, positive and enriching environment that promote resiliency, confidence and life-long learning in our students!
I also had an amazing visit to Floris Elementary School with my colleague Melanie Meren, Fairfax County School Board, Hunter Mill. It was such a joy to visit the classrooms and watch students actively engaged in art, science and math lessons. The teachers, librarians, and support staff are all truly inspiring in their dedication to their students.
As Sully District school board member and Chair of the Board, I am committed to listening and working with our staff and teachers to address their concerns and to provide them with the tools to succeed.
Sully District Happenings
During the 2020-21 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military base schools practiced diligently to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles. Of those high school musicians who were accepted to their district or All-State music ensembles, 533 of them—the “best of the best”—were selected for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2021 All-National Honor Ensembles. Each ensemble created a final, recorded performance that will premiere online during the 37th NAfME Music in Our Schools Month® in March 2022. Please read more here.
Constituent Meeting Hours in March-April!
I have office hours set up to meet with Sully District constituents to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Please use this Constituent sign-up sheet to register for slots and meeting info will be sent to you. I look forward to talking with you!
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First Amendment Press Freedom Awards - Chantilly High School
Three Fairfax County public schools—Chantilly High School, Marshall High School, and McLean High School—are among 18 schools nationwide selected as recipients of the 2022 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. This is the eighth consecutive award for Chantilly High, the fifth consecutive award for McLean High, and the first award for Marshall High. The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach, and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content. Read more here.
Chantilly Academy HOSA (Future Health Professionals) Plans Blood Drive with Inova - March 15th & 16th
Thank you to HOSA students in the Health and Medical course who are partnering again with Inova for this life-saving Blood Drive event. In January 2022, the American Red Cross declared its first-ever national blood crisis. Students that wish to donate must weigh over 110lbs and be 16 years of age with parent permission. Students can sign up with their Academy instructor or during all lunches at CHS. The blood drive will take place on March 15th and 16th.
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Family Engagement Survey Opens March 13
Our Family Engagement Survey is coming to your email the afternoon of Sunday, March 13. Please participate—your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students.
Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, and better social skills and behavior.
FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer the survey, and it will be available in eight languages. For more information, please watch this short video from Superintendent Brabrand and visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage. Your voice matters!
Special Education Conference is March 26th!
 Registration is now open for FCPS’ 17th annual Special Education Conference, being held virtual on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions.
Speakers include:
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Dr. Lisa Cullins, A Conversation About Compassion Fatigue.
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Marlo Keller, Exceptional Family Member Program Pathways: Navigating the Halls of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) School Move.
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Ann Dolin, Less Policing, More Parenting: How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments.
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Dr. Lisa Bateman, Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges and How to Support Children in Asking for Help.
To view the full agenda and register for sessions, click here.
Individuals needing foreign language interpretation (Spanish, Ahmaric, Arabic, and Korean), American Sign Language (ASL), or Cued Language Transliterator (CLT) interpreters for the live sessions may request this on the registration form.
For questions, please contact specialedconf@fcps.edu.
Summer 2022 FCPS Learning Opportunities (Academic, Fine Arts, Career & Tech)
FCPS offers many summer learning opportunities for students to advance academically, to sharpen their skills, to learn something new, or to participate in fun Fine Arts and Career and Technical Education camps, institutes, and academies.
FCPS summer programs include: a Credit Recovery Academy that offers credit recovery courses; Online Campus courses; Institute for the Arts; Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy; and Summer Learning Opportunities at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
For more information and registration details for Summer Learning Opportunities, click here.
Registration is now open for the Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) for students who are interested in exploring the arts. Elementary Institute for the Arts (for rising 3rd through 6th graders) and Institute for the Arts (for rising 7th through 12th graders) will be held July 5-29 at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 am-2 pm.
Great Student Opportunities!
Girls Who Code Summer Program
Coding, Sisterhood, Bravery. Great summer program for 9-11th graders!! GWC Summer Immersion Program (SIP) is a FREE, live, virtual, 2-week introductory computer science course for current 9th-11th grade students. Here you’ll 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 and apply today — and share with a STEM friend who should apply too! You can apply here.
CTE Summer Academy and Tech Adventure Camp
Two great opportunities for students to explore their interests this summer are open for registration. Students in grades 7-11 can dive deeper into Career and Technical Education program areas, develop new skills, and explore future careers in the CTE Summer Academy. Additionally, students currently in grades 2-6 may participate in Tech Adventure Camp, where they will explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, business, and marketing areas. Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come basis until seats are filled. Registration and more information about the CTE Summer Academy and the Tech Adventure Camp is available online.
University Start-Ups 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 here. You can register here.
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 own futures. Find out more about this program here.
Get2Green News & Updates
 FCPS Get2Green is the environmental stewardship program for Fairfax County Public Schools. The website is an amazing resource to engage in environmental stewardship projects at your school, incorporate sustainability in the classroom, find your school's energy and recycling data, and learn more about green initiatives in FCPS.
Request Seeds for Your School’s Garden
Looking for some seeds for your school’s spring garden? The Fairfax Food Council’s Urban Agriculture Working Group is providing seeds for FCPS school gardens.
Additional details about how and when to plant can be found on the seed packet or this seed info spreadsheet. If you are interested in seeds for your school’s garden, please fill out this form to request seeds. Seeds must be requested by a FCPS staff member but volunteers are welcome to help with planting and maintenance.
Want to grow bush beans with your students inside or outdoors? While we don’t have soil available, we do have a surplus of bush bean seeds from last year’s Grow at Home program Create your own DIY Grow at Home (or at School) kits with an educational packet for your students. Request bush bean seeds for you and your students today!
Join Arcadia's Next Virtual School Garden Q&A on March 23
Join Arcadia for a virtual School Garden Question & Answer talk on Wednesday, March 23 from 4:30 - 5:30pm. The Arcadia team will show you simple ideas for managing a school garden and suggestions on how to reduce the amount of work required in the garden. There will be plenty of time for Q&A to hopefully answer all your questions and get you set up for a bountiful Spring Garden. Please share the School Garden Q&A flyer with others at your school
Register for Arcadia's Virtual School Garden Q&A on March 23 at 4:30pm. This conversation is part of Arcadia's "Learn, Grow, Go!" school garden support series. The session will be recorded for those that register.
NWF Schoolyard Habitat Webinar Series
The National Wildlife Federation is continuing their 4-part webinar series based on their Schoolyard Habitats Planning Guide. The third webinar, Maximizing the Educational Potential of Your School Campus for Learning, will take place Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30pm ET. The fourth and final webinar in the series, Expanding and Maintaining Your Outdoor Classroom for Learning: Design Ideas and Tools, Community Partnerships, and Funding Participants, will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30pm ET. View the first two webinars, learn more about the upcoming webinars, and register.
NWF EcoCareers Virtual Conference on April 6-7
The National Wildlife Federation EcoCareers Conference prepares students and young professionals for wildlife and sustainability careers by providing information on the latest EcoCareer trends from leading analysts and employers, clarifying career-enhancing credentials and academic offerings, and formulating a better understanding of the competencies employers seek in the green sector. The conference will take place virtually April 6 and 7 from 11am-5pm ET each day. Learn more about the NWF Eco-Careers Conference and register.
Camp Woods and Wildlife Applications Due April 15
Do you know a student who loves to learn outdoors? Applications are now open for the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Camp Woods and Wildlife, to be held June 20-25 at Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox. This residential, field-based camp is ideal for students interested in forestry, wildlife, or other natural resources. All students selected to attend receive a substantial scholarship that covers most of the camp’s cost. The camp is open to anyone aged 13 to 16 (as of June 20) who has not attended before. Learn more about Camp Woods and Wildlife and apply by April 15.
Mental Health Resources for Students and Parents
This month's theme: Mindful March
Let's pause, breathe and notice, so we can respond more mindfully.
Go to Action for Happiness for ideas to help you take action for a happier and kinder world.
 Healthy Minds Podcast
Hear about how we are all handling uncertainty; get new ideas to help your child, friends and families feel better; and learn to help yourself feel stronger and more energized
Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Feeling super stressed? Worried about a friend's mental health—or your own? Get tips to help manage your emotions and see what to do if you are in crisis.
Mental Health and Resiliency
Helping students to manage stress, make better choices, and develop healthy habits.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Staff is available by phone 703-204-3941 or email prc@fcps.edu to help! Offers free workshops, consultations, a lending library, and more to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
- March 24, 2022 - Regular Meeting - 7 pm
- April 12, 2022 - Work Session - 11 am
- April 14, 2022 - Spring Public Hearing - 6 pm
- April 14, 2022 - Regular Meeting - 7 pm
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas and handouts.
The meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meeting will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.
Contacting Me
At this time, with an overflowing inbox, I am prioritizing responses to Sully District constituents. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response.
Use this link to sign up for our Newsletters.
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.
© 2022 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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