September 2022 Newsletter

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that we are now finishing our third week of school.  In speaking with families and students it is inspiring to hear about the joy they are finding in the classroom, at back to school nights and on our sports fields.  This weekend as we observe 9-11, I hope we can each find ways to do community service.  Remember that by serving others we honor those whom lost their lives on that fateful day 21 years ago.  I attended the Patriot Day Observation at Fort Belvoir on Thursday and will be attending the Fort Hunt Community Day at Carl Sandburg on Saturday.  The Travis Manion Foundation will be honoring Fairfax first responders in the Fire and Police Departments.    

Volunteer Fairfax will be facilitating VolunteerFest 2022, a countywide day of service, on September 17. This is a great opportunity for students and families who want to engage with local nonprofits and volunteer. The event will officially kick-off on September 11, Patriot’s Day, with Volunteer Fairfax sharing donation needs and upcoming volunteer opportunities. More information about VolunteerFest 2022 can be found at Volunteer Fairfax’s website. Additional 9/11 Day of Service information can be found at 911Day.org.

Mount Vernon District Community Conversations with Dr. Reid As I previously shared, our new Superintendent will be hosting community conversations across the division this fall to get to know our communities.  This a great opportunity to come meet our new Superintendent!  She will be visiting: Hayfield Pyramid on September 12th Edison Pyramid on September 14th South County Pyramid on September 21st Mount Vernon Pyramid on October 3rd West Potomac Pyramid on October 27th Lewis Pyramid on October 10th All events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interpretation services, child care, and light refreshments will be provided.  Please register using the link above.

Here Comes the Bus App

As all of us are getting used to new routines at the start of the school year, you may want to keep track of whether there is a bus delay. If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. e-Notify (School Messenger) email messages will also be sent to announce significant bus delays. The FCPS District code is 28982. For additional support, find the Transportation Services contact specific to your school. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

On-line Tutoring at No Cost To Students or Families

In an effort to provide additional supports to students whom may need a little extra help in core subject areas, FCPS has contracted with Tutor.com to provide 24/7 on demand, on line tutoring support services at no cost to families.  Students can connect online any time, any place, and in most K-12 subjects for however long they need. Tutoring may be on-demand and/or scheduled at a time convenient for the student and/or family.

Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format (voice and/or text chat). Tutors will focus on developing student’s strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during or after school hours and/or weekends.  Learn more about this service at: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/online-tutoring-services. 

Learn More About Free and Reduced Price Meals in FCPS

During the course of the Pandemic, FCPS provided free meals to those that needed them in the community.  This past year, all students were provided free lunches at school.  This year we are returning to our process of prior years.  Students whom qualify will continue to be provided free meals.  This link provides additional information on this program:  https://www.fcps.edu/frm

Do You Want To Receive FCPS Messages in Other Languages?   You may wish to read FCPS messages in a language other than English. There are several ways you can receive or view our communications in a different language.  FCPS This Week is distributed in other languages to parents/guardians who have filled out the Home Language Survey form and selected a language supported by FCPS as their preferred language for communication. Home Language Survey forms are available in the following languages: Amharic | Arabic (العربية) | Chinese (中文) | Farsi (فارسی) | Korean (한국어) | Spanish (español) | Urdu (اردو) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt). Learn more about other communications that are translated.

FCPS Special Education Handbook for Families The Special Education Handbook for Parents includes details of the special education process. This process occurs sequentially, over a period of time, with each step building upon the previous step(s). It is important for families to understand how the special education process works, so they can effectively participate and collaborate with school staff members in making appropriate decisions regarding their child’s educational needs. Families are an integral part of the decision-making team. The Special Education Handbook for Parents is available in Arabic, English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. Contact the Parent Resource Center (PRC) at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu with any questions.

Calling All High School Students: Enter Your Device or App in the Fairfax Area Student “Shark Tank” Technology Challenge

The Fairfax Area 50+ Technology Committee is proud to announce the 7th Annual Fairfax Area Student “Shark Tank” Technology Challenge. The competition is open to all high school students in Fairfax County, Fairfax City and City of Falls Church. 

Students are challenged to develop an innovative device or app that will have a positive impact on the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities, or caregivers. Students are encouraged to be innovative and creative. Potential projects may be either a mobile app, web service, robotic, assistive device or any combination. Cash prizes will be awarded to the student winners by IntegrityOne Partners, the event sponsor.

Learn more about the technology challenge, the timeline and how to enter.

Read more here about the students from Chantilly High School who won first place winners for the 2021-22 Fairfax Area "Shark Tank" challenge. Their device, AutoTrem, is a walker to help Parkinson's patients.

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.

Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First If you or your child 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. Concerns that do not impact the safety of our schools—concerns or information about programs, regulations, or policies—can be sent to the FCPS ombudsman online, at 571-423-4014, or ombudsman@fcps.edu.

Gun Safety and Safe Gun Storage

Providing students and staff with a safe educational environment remains our top priority. Sadly, gun violence continues to impact schools and communities across our nation and recently in our own community.

As you may be aware, lessons on gun safety are already built into our curriculum; however, it is critical that all parents and guardians talk to their children about the importance of gun safety and safe gun storage in your homes, and any homes that your children may visit.

Our website has resources for parents about gun safety as well as detailed information about FCPS safety and security practices in our buildings.

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!

GrandInvolve New School Year 2022-23 School Year Newsletter GrandInvolve provides an excellent opportunity for intergenerational volunteering in our schools.  GrandInvolve volunteers work in our Title 1 schools to assist teachers in working with students on reading, math and other areas.  GrandInvolve’s Mission is to: Support the education of our most vulnerable populations through volunteering in Fairfax County, Virginia Reduce ageism by growing intergenerational relationships between our youngest and oldest community members Increase intercultural understanding. In this time of so much uncertainty, there remains a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. GrandInvolve relies on caring community members like you for financial support to further our mission to engage caring volunteers with vulnerable elementary students, so they achieve and maintain grade-level skills.GrandInvolve is looking to recruit new volunteers for our school classrooms. Please check out their August 2022 e-newsletter to learn about all they do to help our FCPS schools! GrandInvolve is holding an information session for prospective volunteers on Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 am. Please help spread the word - details below. Thurs., Sept. 15 at 10 am: Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85306500495?pwd=QVVtdTlreTNnbWx0ajd5R0xjSzNOdz09 Meeting ID: 853 0650 0495 Passcode: 042064 Dial in by phone +1 301 715 8592

Substitute Teachers and Substitute Instructional Assistant Information Sessions

 FCPS is hiring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants.  If you are interested in supporting the mission of FCPS, please consider attending one of the information sessions.  Registration links can be found below.

https://www.fcps.edu/event/fcps-substitute-teaching-and-substitute-instructional-assistants-information-session-09-14-22

https://www.fcps.edu/event/fcps-substitute-teaching-and-substitute-instructional-assistants-information-session-09-21-22

https://www.fcps.edu/event/fcps-substitute-teaching-and-substitute-instructional-assistants-information-session-09-28-22

COVID Diagnostic Testing Dates and New Procedures for Notifying Families About Covid Outbreaks

FCPS updated its health and safety guidance for SY 22-23.  The guidance can be found by clicking  Health and Safety Guidance Document.  New for SY 22-23:

• Daily COVID Community Notifications, for individual positive cases, have been discontinued.  The COVID-19 Dashboard remains available to the public to review individual cases, that were onsite during their infectious period, reported at each location.
• Based on Virginia Department of Health (VDH) guidance, FCPS no longer facilitates contact tracing of individual COVID-19 positive cases.
• When there are 3 or more cases of COVID-19 (reported through the FCPS Google RedCap Survey) identified in a student and/or staff group (e.g., class, team, club) within 14 days,
• The administrator/designated reporter is directed to send a letter to parents/guardians of the students in the affected group notifying them of the multiple confirmed cases and public health guidance.  
• FCHD will determine if the criteria for an outbreak is met.
• If it is determined to be an outbreak, the school will be directed, by FCHD, to send the outbreak notification letter provided by PHN to the entire school community.

In alignment with FCHD’s Prioritization Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreaks, when ≥ 4 outbreaks are confirmed at a site by FCHD, the FCPS School Health Specialist will provide guidance for the distribution of at-home BinaxNOW test kits to the affected groups.

COVID-19 diagnostic testing is available at no cost for all currently enrolled FCPS students on select dates throughout the year when transmission may be highest. Diagnostic testing is provided at designated times and locations for those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

Testing will be available September 12-14. Visit the testing website for information on locations and how to register for an appointment.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• September 13 at 11 am – Work Session (Family Engagement Survey Results; ERFC Annual Report)
• September 15 at 7 pm - Regular Meeting (Opening of Schools Report; Legislative Program)
• September 20 at 10 am - School Board Retreat (Strategic Plan; Governance; Policy)

Meeting agendas and handouts can be found on BoardDocs. Work Session and Regular Meetings are broadcast on Channel 99 (Cox, Comcast) or 11 (Verizon) and live-streamed on the FCPS website. Recordings of meetings are archived on the FCPS YouTube channel.

NEW!! For Spanish speakers -- to watch recorded School Board meetings or live Regular Meetings on YouTube, you can visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code

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

E-mail: Karen Corbett Sanders  |  Phone: 571-423-1086