Dear Sully District Families,
Summer is flying by and it's hard to believe that school will be reopening in just a few short weeks! I hope each of you has had an opportunity to relax and enjoy time with your families.
Staff has been hard at work preparing for a wonderful year. FCPS has not been immune from the severe national teacher shortage, but Dr. Reid has implemented a tiered intervention approach and aggressive hiring process to ensure our students all start with a qualified educator in the classroom.
Inside this month’s newsletter:
- Back to School Night Schedules & Welcome SY 2022-23!
- Citizen Advisory Committees - Thank you & ACE Vacancy
- New! Newsletter for Military Families
- FARM Applications
- 988 Suicide Prevention Helpline Available
- Required Vaccines for 2022-23 School Year
- Parent & Student Mental Health Resources
July was my last month as Chair of the Fairfax County School Board before our annual reorganization. I have very much enjoyed the past year and am thankful for the hard work and trust of my colleagues.
My colleague, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, School Board Member at Large has been a wonderful partner as Vice Chair this year and I am honored to have nominated her to be our Chair for the 2022-23 school year. She will be an excellent Chair and will make a strong team with Tammy Derenak-Kaufax, Lee District Representative. Read more.
It was also a pleasure to attend the FCPS 2022–23 Leadership Kickoff last week and I can tell you that our educational leaders are energized and ready to safely welcome our kids back to school.
I am excited about meeting our families and students at Back to School nights and during school visits! I will also be busy with kids in 3 different Sully District schools, so if you see me around, please introduce yourself! As always, I value the input I receive from the Sully community. I am always happy to address questions or concerns via email, phone, or in person meeting, as well.
Have a lovely the rest of summer! See you soon!
In partnership,
Stella Pekarsky
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Back to School Night Dates & Welcome Video!
 Back to School Welcome - Stella Pekarsky, Sully District Representative
I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2022-23 School year! I hope that every student feels welcomed, respected and valued in every single classroom in FCPS. I wish all of you an amazing year!
The dates and times for back to school nights have been posted and are provided below for the Sully District. Schools are working to get information out to parents about back to school nights and other events such as open houses and orientations. Please be sure to check your school's website and watch for emails for more information. If you have specific questions, please contact the school directly.
These dates may also be viewed on the following Region Back to School Night webpages.
2022-2023 Calendar
View a printable version of the 2022-2023 calendar or find a list view of the calendar on the FCPS Calendar webpage. The 2022-2023 FCPS calendar below includes important information about student holidays, early release days, and religious and cultural observance days.
Sully District Happenings
Thank you to Sully District Citizen Advisory Committee Volunteers!
Every year, the School Board appoints members to numerous Citizen Advisory Committees to increase community input on specific issues. I want to extend a huge thank you to those that served on these committees for SY 2021-22, and volunteered their time for the school district.
I recognize the vital importance of having diverse perspectives that reflect our community, and I am grateful to be able to utilize the considerable talents and expertise of parents & community members on our advisory committees to advise the School Board on important matters. I deeply appreciate our Sully District committee member's (list below) contributions, hard work, and strong advocacy on behalf of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized students and families within FCPS. Thank you for your service!
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Thank You Sully District Advisory Committee Members!
We do have a vacancy on our Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACE) for the upcoming school year and I invite Sully District constituents to apply. See details below.
ACE Advisory Committee Vacancy (2022-23 School Year)
The committee represents the community and brings to the School Board’s attention resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. This year the committee assessed how the Community Education, Adult ESOL, and Adult HS Completion programs can be better positioned to serve the lifelong learning needs of Fairfax County given the new learning environment necessitated by COVID-19. More information on the meetings, representatives and its past work can be found here.
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please forward your qualifications and a paragraph on your interest to skhurana@fcps.edu as soon as possible. Please consider being the Sully District representative!
Franklin MS 5K Run/Walk with non-profit Asha-Jyothi!
Franklin MS will be participating in the Asha-Jyothi 5k at Fairfax Corner on September 18. To sign up, participating staff, students and/or their families visit the webpage: https://asha-jyothi.redpodium.com/2022fairfax5k. Simply enter the code “aj4schools” and select your school from the drop down menu. Schools get 100% of the money if you use the school coupon code! Asha-Jyothi, a volunteer-based global nonprofit organization based in Chantilly is dedicated to supporting the community through health care and education initiatives and has given over $250,000 to Fairfax County Public Schools.
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School Board Updates
The School Board concluded its official meeting schedule for the 2021-22 school year last month, but our work continues into the summer. At our July 14th meeting, my colleagues and I voted on several important issues.
Here are the key votes from the July 14 Regular Meeting:
- The School Board approved organizational arrangements, including new leadership.
- The School Board approved the FY23 OAG Audit Plan.
- The School Board approved the Charges for 2022-2023 for the following School Board Citizen Advisory Committees: Adult and Community Education, Advanced Academic Programs, Career and Technical Education, Facilities Planning Advisory Council, Human Resources, Minority Student Achievement Oversight, School Health, and Students with Disabilities.
- The School Board has directed the superintendent to develop, as part of the work in preparation for strategic plan development, bias-related incident accountability infrastructure for the division, and to present this to the School Board no later than December 2022.
The Board also heard the FY22 Year-End Budget Review with a vote scheduled for September 1. Watch the full meeting on the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
New Monthly Newsletter for Military Families
There is now an FCPS newsletter for Military Families. Military families are encouraged to update their selections on News You Choose. To subscribe:
- Visit News You Choose and enter your email address.
- Under Subscription Topics, scroll down to “PROFESSIONAL LEARNING & FAMILY ENGAGEMENT”
- Select “MILITARY FAMILIES” from the menu.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “SUBMIT” to update your subscription preferences.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Available!
 For the past two years, the federal government has provided no-cost meals to all public school students without the need to complete the annual Free and Reduced-Price Meal application.
IMPORTANT: The extension of the no-cost meals benefit to all students expired at the end of the 2021-22 school year, meaning families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals for the 2022-23 school year. The application for the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program is now available online.
Student Opportunities
2022 Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge offers middle and high school students who are interested in coding a chance to develop and demonstrate their skills and interests in computer science and STEM. Students may register as individuals or in teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team. Each district has its own challenge. The Congressional App Challenge also has compiled a Learn To Code list of resources to assist participants in their efforts.
The deadline to enter the Congressional App Competition is November 1. See additional details and register.
Global Leaders of Fairfax County Fellowship
The Global Leaders program seeks to prepare its fellows to be global citizens and change agents in their community and the world. The program will provide fellows with regular opportunities during their senior year of high school to engage with national and global leaders virtually and advance their understanding of international affairs and global issues. Applications are due September 5th!
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2022 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest
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Calling all photographers! Submit your responsibly photographed adventures in our National Marine Sanctuaries to the 2022 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest! Ends September 5. Details here. #ILoveMySanctuary |
Be Wise, Immunize! Required Vaccines for 2022-23 School Year
 All students are required 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 with your family health care provider about whether or not your children are up to date on their vaccines before the new school year begins. Submit updated immunization records to your school as soon as possible.
More information on immunization requirements and the necessary documentation is available online.
Mental Health Resources for Students and Parents
This month's theme: Altruistic August
Daily actions to help create a wave of kindness to spread around the world!
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.
9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Now Available
A new 9-8-8 crisis and support hotline is now active across the United States, including here in Fairfax County.
Dialing either 9-8-8 or the existing NSPL number, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), will connect you to behavioral health care and support 24 hours a day. Please note, if you call from an out of area cell phone number, your phone's area code determines the locality for services and your call would then be routed to Northern Virginia services.
Virginia continues to invest in building capacity to enhance community-based crisis services. Further updates will be provided in the upcoming months. County services include emergency services (open 24/7) at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health, operated by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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August 30 at 10:00 a.m. - Forum & Work Session: Goal 4 Report and Strategic Plan Initial Discussion
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September 1 at 7:00 p.m. - FY22 Year End Budget Review, School Board Liaison and Committee Assignments, Advisory Committee Appointments, Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee Appointments, etc.
Please note, times and topics are subject to change.
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.
Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.
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 channel.
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For Spanish speakers, watch recorded School Board meetings or to watch live during the Regular Meetings on YouTube, you may visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code. |
Family Engagement with Language Supports
Please use this contact list if you speak another language or need support through our Parent Resource Center. Phone lines are available in eight languages including Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Contacting Me
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. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
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.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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