2022 September Newsletter
Dear FCPS Families and Community Members:
Happy Rosh Hashanah to those who celebrate. May the year bring you peace, blessings, and good health. Our 2022-2023 school year has begun and the excitement of new learning opportunities is in the air. School Board and FCPS staff members are working hard with our community to improve our students’ learning experiences. In this issue please find some of the latest developments.
First, I congratulate our National Merit Semi Finalists for 2023! We are always grateful to the FCPS community of students and their families, as well as our staff members who collaborate to improve student success.
This issue also includes updates on such matters as the results of the Family Engagement Survey and the Youth Survey, information on tutoring services, support for our military families and additional information on student vaping trends.
The board has been focused on developing mechanisms to improve student success. Recently, the board passed a motion to direct the superintendent to re-engage with the community to develop a new strategic plan. This action allows staff members to gather information from our community to support student success.
Next, I am thrilled to announce that work I spearheaded as Audit Chair three years ago has been completed. Our Auditor General assisted the board in contracting with a vendor to conduct an independent review of our special education services. I worked with then School Board Chair Karen Corbett Sanders to expand the role of the Auditor General to include this work. This collaborative effort has been completed and will provide additional information to make sure that we continue to improve our special education services.
Lastly, this issue also contains timely time sensitive scholarship information for our high school students.
As always, it is a pleasure to serve as an At Large Representative. I look forward to seeing you in our community and I look forward to a great school year.
 Inside this issue:
School Board Updates
Student Excellence and Academic Achievement
- Two Hundred Thirty-Seven FCPS Students Are 2023 National Merit Semifinalists
- How to Access Free Resources from Tutor.com
Student Health and Wellness
- 2021 Fairfax County Youth Survey
- Juul, Interrupted
- When Should a Student Stay Home
Family and Community Engagement
- Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Understanding the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
- Get Involved in the GrandInvolve New School Year
- Capital One Continues Coders Program
- Read-On Young Readers and MentorWorks
- Leaders & Learners Breakfast: “Education is Everybody’s Business” - November 9
Community Announcements
Special Education Comprehensive Review Final Report Now Available
I am extremely thrilled to say that the work that I began when I was Audit Chair along with Karen Corbett Sanders has finally been completed. As Audit Chair (2019-2021), I worked with the committee, Auditor General, and then School Board Chair Karen Corbett Sanders to expand the duties of the Auditor General to include an independent review of special education services. That work resulted in board approval for a three-year study of our special education services. That study is now completed and the final report is now posted. The board will review the results during an All-Day Work Session on October 4.
The Comprehensive Special Education Review focused on four objectives:
- to evaluate the design, structure and established processes of special education services, degree of fidelity of implementation and continuous monitoring;
- to evaluate the adequacy of human capital resources;
- to analyze alignment with evidence-based practices; and
- to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies.
Review the Special Education Comprehensive Review Final Report.
Contact the Office of the Ombudsman if you have procedural questions or need help navigating special education services for your student
Results of 2021-22 Family Engagement Survey Offer Positive Feedback
FCPS administered its second Family Engagement Survey in the 2021-22 school year to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our school communities. Key findings include:
- 91% responded that their child feels safe at school, and 89% feel their child’s school is safe.
- 90% feel their school welcomes families of different backgrounds and cultures.
- 90% feel the information provided by their child’s school is easy to understand.
- 89% feel welcome at their child’s school.
- 89% feel their school is safe.
The survey was open from March 13-April 10 and was available in 10 languages. All families with students in preK through 12th grade were invited to participate. View survey results on our website.
The survey was open from March 13-April 10. All families with students in preK through 12th grade were invited to participate.
Superintendent's Community Conversations Continue
Dr. Michelle Reid is hosting Community Conversations across the division to get to know our communities. Events will be held at the high school in each pyramid through November. Each Community Conversation will be held in person, allowing Dr. Reid an opportunity to better connect with participants. If you are unable to attend your pyramid's event, please consider attending another one.
All events will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Interpretation services, child care, and light refreshments will be provided.
Superintendent’s Community Conversations for the following high school pyramids during September:
SR&R Signature Sheet Due September 30
FCPS’ updated Student Rights & Responsibility booklet is available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents to review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. In ParentVue, you may now download and digitally sign the SR&R. Every parent/caregiver with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed.
Your name in the digital signature box must match the parent/caregiver’s first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted.
Please take a moment to log into ParentVue in your child’s SIS account to access the SR&R. Signatures are due by September 30.Visit the SIS Parentvue Account Overview page for help logging in to your account.
FCPS Strategic Plan Progress
The School Board voted to direct the Superintendent to develop a project management plan which will facilitate the re-engagement of students, families, community, staff and Board and county partners in the development of a strategic plan focused on student success and the realization of the FCPS promise for every student in Fairfax County.
Two Hundred Thirty-Seven FCPS Students Are 2023 National Merit Semifinalists
Two hundred thirty-seven students from 18 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are among the semifinalists named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2023. The semifinalists represent 18 high schools from across the county ,including 132 semifinalists from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth nearly $28 million, to be awarded in spring 2023. Semifinalists advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements including a recommendation from a high school official.
More than 16,000 high school seniors were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 2023. More than 1.5 million juniors entered the 2023 National Merit program by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as the initial screen of program entrants.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. These determinations are made by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, not FCPS or individual schools.
Three types of Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in 2023: National Merit $2,500 scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships, and college-sponsored scholarships.
Merit Scholarship winners will be announced next spring.
Review a complete listing of Fairfax County Public Schools 2023 National Merit semifinalists online.
 How to Access Free Resources from Tutor.com
FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
2021 Fairfax County Youth Survey
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The county has posted the results for the 2021 survey.
The survey is given to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 each fall. It provides a wealth of information about a variety of topics related to our youth that influence their physical and mental well being, from sleep and nutritional habits to substance abuse behaviors to symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.
The results provide a snapshot of our youth in Fairfax County but also serve as a barometer of our own effectiveness as a community in fostering healthy choices in our young people. Data from the Fairfax County Youth Survey is used as a measurement tool in the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2 - Caring Culture - Healthy Life Choices.
The survey is anonymous and voluntary. Visit our website for more information on the upcoming Fairfax County Youth Survey.
Juul, Interrupted
Story reprinted from theSkimm, 9/7/22. Getty Images.
Juul’s sending a check to more than 30 states.
Tell me more. The company’s marketing practices have been under the microscope for years. Juul’s accused of specifically targeting teens by using social media campaigns, hiring young-looking models, and giving out free samples. In 2019, a Juul rep even told students the company’s e-cigs were “totally safe.” Now, after a two-year investigation, Juul is settling with 34 states and territories to resolve what it calls “issues from the past.” And no more models under the age of 35.
Are teens still vaping? They definitely are, but maybe not at the same rate as they were. That could be partly due to the US raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and banning the sale of fruity e-cigs. But a CDC and FDA study last year found that more than 2 million teens vape — with a quarter of high school students smoking daily. Not the best after-school activity, considering 99% of e-cigs contain ever-so-addictive nicotine, which can affect how the teen brain develops. E-cigs have also led to 3,000 cases of lung injuries as of 2020.
What’s next? The FDA's been trying to ban Juul products from the US market earlier this year. A federal appeals court said the FDA can’t do that. So the products remain on the shelves while the appeal is being reviewed. But Juul expects to receive market authorization once the federal agency examines the company’s science and evidence — “without political interference.” Juul says it’s already ditched its old marketing strategy and is focusing on “combating underage use.”
|
Attend today, Achieve tomorrow!
When Should a Student Stay Home?
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit our site for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and your school.
Whether students are absent because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
|
Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of the members of our community whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Understanding the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission
What is the MIC3? The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) addresses key educational transition issues encountered by children of military families. It allows for uniform treatment as military children transfer between school districts in member states and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The MIC3 pertains to public schools and has been adopted by all 50 states. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to following the Compact rules.
Some of the issues covered in the Compact include enrollment, placement and attendance, and graduation. Resources for schools and families are available on the MIC3 website.
Should you have any questions about the MIC3, please contact: Meredith Ayala, FCPS Family Partnerships Specialist, or Kristen Acquah, School Liaison Officer.
|
Get Involved in GrandInvolve: Opportunities for Volunteers 55+ Years Old
Are you looking for an interesting, local volunteer experience that will make a difference in a child’s life? If so, Ignite Partner GrandInvolve is recruiting volunteers to provide classroom assistance with reading, event support, math, materials preparation, and other important tasks that a teacher might request.
GrandInvolve provides an excellent opportunity for intergenerational volunteering in our schools. GrandInvolve volunteers work in Title I 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.
GrandInvolve is looking to recruit new volunteers for our school classrooms. If you would like a rewarding experience with flexible hours and an engaging variety of responsibilities, consider volunteering with GrandInvolve.
Capital One Continues Coders Program
The popular after-school Capital One Coders program will provide 200 students at four schools with 20 weeks of after-school coding lessons supported by 15 to 20 Capital One volunteer associates at each school.
FCPS has been a long-standing partner of the Coders program, which was launched in Virginia. This year’s schools include Glasgow, Key, Holmes and Poe Middle Schools.
Following the 20 weeks of coding lessons, students and their families will be invited to a culmination event where the students will present their coding project to family members and Capital One associates at the year-end showcase. At the showcase, family members and Capital One associates will vote for winners in categories like Most Functional App, Best Graphics, Most Fun, and Best Overall.
We are extremely appreciative of the commitments Capital One has made to our students through this exceptional partnership. Thank you, Capital One!
Read-On Young Readers and MentorWorks
Read-On Young Readers (ROYR), a new Ignite Partner, was founded to lessen the potential reading and English language loss of students following the pandemic.
ROYR is a mentoring-through-reading organization partnered with the FCPS MentorWorks office. They are targeting students at Mason Crest and Mount Eagle Elementary Schools before expanding to additional Title I schools in our county.
Through the partnership, mentors engage with their mentees to select books and then read stories aloud to the mentees. The books are stimulating and emphasize inclusion, diversity, confidence building, history, and other subjects. Students can also choose books and read them to their mentors.
Welcome and thank you Read-On Young Readers.
|
Leaders & Learners Breakfast: "Education is Everybody's Business" - November 9
Educate Fairfax, the not-for-profit foundation connected with FCPS, will host its annual community event, "Leaders & Learners: Education is Everybody's Business" on Wednesday, November 9, from 8 -10 a.m.
With schools starting back, it's an ideal time for business leaders to consider how they will work with their local schools in the coming year. "Education is Everybody's Business" is an event designed to bring area employers and leaders from Fairfax County Public Schools together.
This event will feature a key-note address from new superintendent, Michelle Reid, and honor two incredible supporters of FCPS and Educate Fairfax, the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation and Len Forkas, past board chairman of Educate Fairfax.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
-
October 4, 10 am - 3:30 pm - School Board Work Session (AIR SPED Report, Legislative Program)
-
October 6, 7 p.m. at Luther Jackson MS - Regular School Board Meeting
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.
|
|
Community Activities
 A free Metrobus pass program introduced at Justice High School has been expanded to Annandale High School, Falls Church High School, Marshall High School and the Davis Career Center. (Emily Leayman/Patch)
Free Metrobus Program Expanded To More Fairfax County High Schools
A student bus pass program for free Metrobus use has expanded to additional Fairfax County high schools.
Fairfax County, City of Fairfax and Fairfax County Public Schools officials celebrated the Metrobus expansion of the free bus program Thursday at George C. Marshall High School. The program originally started by offering students at Fairfax County high schools and middle Schools free access to Fairfax Connector and City of Fairfax CUE buses. The free student bus pass program allows students to travel to and from after-school extracurricular activities, school jobs and internships, libraries, and other recreational activities.
But since some high schools are more easily accessible by Metrobus, the recent expansion adds free Metrobus access to students at certain high schools. Four years ago, free Metrobus passes were introduced at Justice High School. Now the program is expanded to students at Annandale High School, Falls Church High School, Marshall High School and the Davis Career Center.
Read the full article in the Virginia Patch for more information.
Fairfax County PTA Announcements
National PTA Deadline for Fall Grants ~ Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
National PTA is giving out 600K to hundreds of local schools in fall grants. They have hinted that if you apply, you have a good chance of getting one. If you have any PTA roundtables or other connections with local PTA leaders, please share this training opportunity to help get the grants written. The National PTA deadline for all fall grants is September 27th at 5pm. Our Title I and similarly profiled schools have a particularly excellent opportunity to get these funds. Please let your SB know as they are interacting with PTA leaders about this opportunity!
Free Workshop to Support Parent/Family Involvement
Empowering Safer Kids (No Helicopter Required) ~ Monday, Sep 26, 2022 07:00 PM
Here’s the good news—you can make your kids safer anyplace they are! Join us for a discussion about how healthy relationships increase the chance your child will ask for help when things go wrong. Learn what research tells us makes kids more susceptible to harm in organizations. Unpack a few damaging myths. Get tips on how to respond to sexting, when to ask more questions, and how to choose safer programs from a child protection professional who specializes in institutional abuse prevention.
Participants will:
- Unlearn 5 myths that hurt kids
- Learn tips for talking to kids about harm, online and in person
- Identify parenting and organization behaviors that make kids safer
- Understand how to identify and respond to children in need of help
Presented by Laurie Tasharski, the Director of Institutional Abuse Prevention for Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia (SCANVA). She facilitates Allies in Prevention, multi-disciplinary child protection teams, and the Loudoun County Trauma Informed Community Network (TICN). Laurie works with international child protection professionals, develops comprehensive safety programs for organizations, and has delivered professional development in more than 40 countries. Register in advance for this webinar (will be recorded an available on demand).
VFW Auxiliary Sponsors 2022-2023 Young American Creative Patriotic Arts Scholarship Competition
Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to participate in two competitions: a 2-dimensional competition and a 3-dimensional competition. The deadline to submit artwork is March 31, Anyone interested in participating should contact the VFW organizers at bettinalawton@gmail.com or pattybortz@gmail.com no later than March 1.
Scholarship Opportunity for Business Analytics, Digital Marketing and Front End Web Development - Due October 4
The Blacks In Technology Foundation, OneTen, and Udacity are offering scholarships to Black and African-American learners without four-year college degrees across the United States who are looking to advance their skills in business analytics, digital marketing, or front end web development. Recipients will enroll in 1 of 3 Udacity Nanodegree programs: Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, or Front End Web Development Fundamentals.
Applications will be accepted from August 24, 2022 - October 4, 2022.
Note: this program is offered 100% online.
Click here for more information and to apply.
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
|
