Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid talks to a community member during her first Community Conversation, held at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology on August 23.
View the schedule for the remaining conversations and register to attend.
Labor Day Holiday: FCPS Closed Friday and Monday
Friday, September 2, and Monday, September 5, are part of the Labor Day holiday for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. View the 2022-23 school year calendar.
Tuition Reimbursement Request Portal Opens September 1
The portal to apply for reimbursement of Summer 2022 courses will be open September 1- September 30. Interested and eligible contracted employees may apply for up to $700 in tuition reimbursement for one course that ended between May 16-August 31.
New this year is an additional reimbursement for new teachers seeking or recently obtaining a provisional license. The professional assessment fees for Praxis, RVE, and VCLA are fully reimbursable. New teachers will need evidence of payment dated after July 1, 2022, and a passing score to apply. Select “Professional Assessment Fee.”
Apply through the Tuition Reimbursement Portal (VPN Required). Detailed information is available on the Tuition Reimbursement page in the employee hub.
Tuition reimbursement is available on a first-come, first-served basis using the current priority list. Remember to have your Tuition Paid Receipt and Grade Report handy to complete the request. Please email Tuitionbenefits@fcps.edu for more information.
Fall 2022 Academy Course Catalog Available Today!
The fall Academy Course Program is returning strong for the 2022-23 school year! More than 60 offerings are available on focused topics based on teacher feedback and FCPS priorities for the new school year: Supporting Students' Social Emotional Needs, Student-Centered Instruction, Instructing Students with Diverse Needs, Developing Students' POG Skills, Engaging Families and Communities, Adopting Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices, Career Development/Endorsement.
All courses are designed to enhance teacher knowledge and skills. New courses include:
- Mentoring for Equity
- Supporting all Secondary Learners in Grappling with Mathematical Reasoning
- Teaching the Emergent Learner in the Stages of Early Arithmetic Learning
Details including course syllabus, outcomes, and assignments are listed in the Academy course catalog in MyPDE. Registration begins at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13. Learn more on the Academy Course Program Hub page, or email Academy@fcps.edu with any questions.
Get2Green Fall Cohort for Teaching in Nature’s Classroom
Are you interested in learning useful and inspirational best practices for outdoor and garden-based education? Teaching in Nature’s Classroom is an interactive, reflective course run by author Nathan Larson, and developed as a companion to his book Teaching in Nature’s Classroom: Principles of Garden-Based Education.
Collaborate with FCPS staff on the learning presented in the Teaching in Nature’s Classroom course by joining the Get2Green Cohort. Meet with fellow FCPS teachers and Get2Green staff to discuss your learning and plans for your school.
Please contact Donna Volkmann with any questions.
Fierce Conversations Refresher Sessions
Did you love participating in the Fierce Conversations professional development and wish there was a follow-up course to practice the tools you learned? The Office of Professional Growth & Career Development is excited to launch Fierce Conversations Refreshers, virtual 1-hour training sessions.
Please note that prior completion of Fierce Conversations training is required for participation in the Refresher courses. Time will be spent to re-introduce the tool, to engage in the conversation tools with peers, and then to debrief the experience.
-
Team Conversations: Tuesday, September 13, 12:30 p.m., and Thursday, September 22, 8:30 a.m.
-
Coaching Conversations: Tuesday, October 11, 8:30 a.m., and Wednesday, October 12, 12:30 p.m.
-
Delegation Conversations Thursday, October 13, 8:30 a.m., and Monday, October 17, 12:30 p.m.
-
Confrontation Conversations Thursday, November 10, 8:30 a.m., and Friday, November 11, 12:30 p.m.
Contact Tiffany Lee with any questions.
FCPS High Schools Are Safe Sport Schools
Every high school in the division has once again been designated a Safe Sport School by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). NATA created the Safe Sports School Award to recognize athletic training programs that create steps and processes to keep their student athletes safe. Congratulations to our athletic trainers for earning this designation!
Tech Tip: Losing Your “Focus” on Emails?
Windows offers Outlook users choices when it comes to how they view their inbox.
Currently, Windows defaults to a “Focused” inbox view. The platform works by presorting your email based on contacts you interact with the most (which go into the “focused” inbox) and sorts things like bulk email into the “other”.
However, that may mean that some important emails—like news from Dr. Reid or your weekly Employee News and FCPS This Week newsletters—may be delivered to the “other” folder.
To turn off the Focused inbox and sort, instead, by all and unread, simply click on the View /menu at the top of outlook, and click on “Show Focused Inbox.”
Bonus tip - While you have the view menu opened, you may want to switch on “Show as Conversation.” This automatically keeps entire conversation threads together so you can quickly see all messages related to an incoming message.
Are You Set to Receive Emergency Notifications from FCPS?
Have you added your cell phone number(s) to Uconnect yet? If not, please do it as soon as possible. Only employees who have listed their cell phone number(s) in UConnect will receive FCPS text messages regarding delayed openings, school closings, and other critical communications. Please follow the steps below to add your cell phone number to UConnect:
- Log into UConnect.
- Click Bookmarks > Employee Self Service > Personal Information > Contact Numbers.
- Click Add.
- On the Detail section, click Contact Type, then select Cell Phone.
- Enter your cell phone number in the Phone Number field.
- Enter the Start Date or leave on the default date (today’s date).
- Click Update.
Please contact HR Connection with questions at 571-423-3000.
Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First
If you have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
Understanding the Dangers of Opioid Use
In Northern Virginia, consistent with national and state trends, the opioid epidemic continues to impact communities, including young adults and school-age children. Opioids are a class of drugs used to treat pain, and can include both prescription medications as well as illegal drugs. Tragically, their misuse can lead to devastating outcomes. Fentanyl is an especially powerful opioid that is extremely fatal, even in small doses. Most fatal overdoses in Fairfax County in recent years have involved fentanyl.
There are three things you can do now to support student wellness and increase understanding of the dangers of opioids and fentanyl:
- Talk with children and loved ones in your life about the dangers of drug use, especially opioids. For more information about substance use among youth, tips on how to recognize and prevent substance abuse, and available support services, please watch this webinar.
- Safely store and dispose of medications, including prescription pain medications, to prevent drug misuse.
- Sign up for a Virtual REVIVE! training class to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and administer naloxone nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose.
Learn more about the dangers of opioids and available resources on our website. Visit the Student Safety and Wellness webpage for more information about a variety of topics related to student well-being.
FCPS Statement on Nondiscrimination-Americans With Disabilities Policy Notice
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, Title IX, and pregnancy), marital status, religion, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information in its programs and activities. These protections apply to students, employees, and other members of the public.
FCPS also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. FCPS is committed to equal access and equal opportunity in all services and employment; to include its policies, complaint process, program accessibility, religious accommodations and other Equal Employment Opportunity matters. FCPS prohibits retaliation against individuals who report allegations of discrimination, file a formal complaint, or participate in the investigative process.
Compliance is coordinated by the directors of the following:
- Office of Equity and Employee Relations, Department of Human Resources, 571-423-3070, TTY 711, EEO@fcps.edu regarding equal employment opportunity, discrimination, and sexual harassment issues.
- Office of Special Education Procedural Support, Department of Special Services, 571-423-4290, regarding programs and activities for students with disabilities.
For more information, visit the non-discrimination policy webpage or the non-discrimination/ADA webpage (contact information).
School Board Meeting on September 1 at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold a regular business meeting on Thursday, September 1, at 7 p.m. See the complete regular meeting agenda (English only). The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and on the FCPS website. Agenda highlights include:
- FY 2022 Year End Review
- School Board Liaison and Committee Assignments
- Awarding of Contracts
If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the board clerk.
Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on any School Board action items the morning after the School Board meeting.
Find your School Board member and how to contact them on the School Board Members webpage.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.
Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
|
