Dear Mount Vernon Families,
With the Summer Solstice, Summer is Officially Here!
I hope everyone takes time to enjoy the beautiful weather, visiting our parks and historic sites and outdoor concerts Mount Vernon.
Scholarships
I had the honor of attending several graduations in our district and was impressed by the student speakers and the accomplishments of each of the graduating classes. Our students have excelled in the classroom, on the playing fields and in the arts. Students where Mount Vernon Students attend earned over $20 million in scholarships and even more in credits awarded for taking advanced placement, dual enrollment and international baccalaureate courses. I was honored to attend the awards ceremony of the Mt. Vernon and Lee Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Hunt Youth Athletics Association’s Jackson Casey Scholarship. The Chamber awarded 1-2 students from each of the schools in the Mount Vernon and Lee District Schools as well as Bishop Ireton High School a total of $18,00 to pursue business studies. Since its inception, the Chamber’s Scholarship fund has awarded $268,000 to area students. Our students are leaving FCPS to attend some of the finest schools in our nation and internationally, joining the military and pursuing careers in the trades after gaining CTE experiences in high school.
South County Wins Cappies
I also had the opportunity to attend the Cappies Awards at the Kennedy Center on the 13th of June. The Awards given to High Schools are similar to the Emmy Awards for Plays on Broadway and include schools from around the Capitol Region. The enthusiasm of our students in attendance as they await the call of a their school’s name to be called is wonderful. I had the pleasure of announcing the winner for the best supporting actor in a male role in a play. The winner went to our own, Anna Rae Eppard of South County High school for their performance of Puffs. Puffs stage manager Dominique Monette also won a Cappie.
New School Board Representative is South County HS Senior, Michelle Togbe
Beginning July 1. Michelle Togbe will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, the 52nd student representative to the School Board. Togbe has three main focuses as student representative: transparency within students’ voices, furthering civic education, and maintaining an equitable lens. Togbe plans to use a variety of tools to hear from students. “My hope for student engagement and feedback is to be accessible as possible while also providing a variety of ways for students to share anything and everything. There are so many ways to tap into student input, from school visits, to social media, a contact form on the FCPS website, and appearing on school news broadcasts,” she said. Please join me in offering a warm welcome to Michelle.
Summer Mental Wellness Consultations
This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from June 21, 2022, through August 5, 2022. Parents and students will have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. Consultations will be offered in two ways:
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Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
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Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides an opportunity for middle and high school students to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.
All parents and secondary students are encouraged to take advantage of this service by clicking here to request a consultation. You may also leave them a message at 703-503-2520.
Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations Available this Summer.
Summer Meal Service
No-cost summer meals will be served to students enrolled in summer school at all FCPS summer school locations this year.
Summer Meal Kits will be offered on Tuesdays at several sites beginning June 14 and ending August 8. Meal kits contain seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. The meal kits will be available for pick up Tuesday mornings. All meals are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children 18 years of age and under. Visit our Meals for Students website for more details on pick up locations and times.
2022-2023 Student Rights and Responsibilities Adopted
FCPS believes that students learn best when expectations for behavior are clear, consistent, fair, age appropriate, and build on strong student teacher relationships. Fairfax County Public Schools' Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R, Regulation 2601) document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Each year, the SR&R undergoes a review process, and the Fairfax County School Board votes on proposed changes. The School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2022-23 school year. Key changes include:
- Changes to FCPS’ Acceptable Use Policy Regulation for Technology.
- A new section on cell phones.
- A clarification on the response to substance misuse violations.
- A clarification on the purpose of individualized education program (IEP) meetings when students with disabilities are reassigned for disciplinary reasons following referral to the superintendent.
- Adding rights to protect citizenship and immigration status from unauthorized sharing.
Cell phone usage has been a popular topic. Key highlights of related changes are below for your convenience:
- Grades K-8: Phones must be silenced and put away for the duration of the school day.
- Grades 9-12: Phones must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods.
- Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency.
- Parents/Guardians, multi-disciplinary team members, or other persons with knowledge of students who require access to personally owned devices as an accommodation shall make requests for such accommodations through their respective multi-disciplinary team.
Please visit Boarddocs for 2022-23 SR&R documentation or visit the SR&R webpage for additional information.
Bullying Education for Parents
The FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention public website has been updated to include a video to educate parents on what bullying is (according to the Students Rights and Responsibilities document) and what they can expect when a bullying allegation is reported to a school administrator. Please take some time to review!
Preview Your Student’s Spring SOL Scores in SIS ParentVUE
Want to know how your student did on their spring SOL tests before the official report? Starting today, families can see SOL scores in the Test History section of SIS ParentVUE. To access Test History, log into your ParentVUE account using a web browser (not the app). You will see spring SOL test subjects, performance levels, and overall scores. Families will also receive an official SOL score report letter with more details by the end of July.
Additional information about SOL assessments is available online. You can also learn more about SIS ParentVUE and how to activate your account.
REMINDER: Student Immunization Requirements for 2022-2023 School Year
Please check to make sure your student(s) meet the Virginia school entrance requirements to attend school during the 2022-23 school year.
The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases to attend school in the state of Virginia. It is important for all students to receive the required immunizations. Please talk to your family health care provider about whether or not your children are up to date on their vaccines before the new school year begins. Please contact your child’s school as soon as possible to submit updated immunization records, on or before August 22, 2022 to ensure accurate documentation of your child’s immunizations.
Please click the below links for information regarding immunization guidelines and requirements.
School entrance immunizations can be accessed through a number of resources to include your healthcare provider, the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD), and Inova Cares Clinics. Get more information about FCHD and Inova clinic locations and dates.
If you have questions regarding your child’s school entrance compliance, please contact your child’s school for assistance.
Children Under 5 now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccination has now been approved for emergency use for children under ages 6 months to 5. Pfizer’s vaccine, for kids younger than 5, is one-tenth of the adult dose. Three shots are needed: the first two given three to eight weeks apart and the last at least two months later. Moderna’s is two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given four weeks to eight weeks apart for kids under age 6. Read for more information and find a vaccination location.
Calendar Reminder
2022-23 School Year to Start on August 22
With the school year winding down and many families making plans for summer camps, vacations, and other activities, be sure to note that the first day of school for the 2022-23 school year will be Monday, August 22. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
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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.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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