Teacher Honored at Nationals Game
On August 26, Kaiser Permanente honored teachers in the region with free game tickets for their friends and family. Representing FCPS was our 2022 Outstanding Elementary New Teacher Shelby Press, a second grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Alexandria.
Shelby handed out the team’s lineup card on the field. One of Shelby’s students joined her on the field. You can picture the excitement in the student’s eyes as Shelby handed her an autographed baseball!
Superintendent’s Opening of Schools Report
 On September 15, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented her Opening of Schools Report to the School Board. The presentation reviews the status of FCPS schools, programs, and projects for the 22-23 year. Click above to watch the video.
A SUBstantial Part of the Team
What would we do without our subs? As FCPS staff members, all substitutes will receive an official FCPS badge to wear to their job assignments. The badges will be distributed through a phased-approach starting September 26 through the end of December. Substitutes should check their fcps.edu email for an invitation with a date and time to pick up a badge at the Gatehouse Administration Center. Newly hired substitutes will also receive invitations for future distribution dates. For more information, please contact Joanne Jackson at jmjackson1@fcps.edu.
Drive-Thru Flu Shots
The Employee Wellness team will host one drive-thru flu clinic. It will be held at Gatehouse Administration Center on Saturday, October 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Flu shots are free for all full-time, part-time, hourly, and substitute employees on contract in the 2022-23 school year. Appointments are required. Make your appointment now.
Alternatively, most insurance plans (along with Medicare) provide no cost flu shots at your doctor’s office or pharmacy. Check with your insurance plan for details.
McLean Teacher Appears on Wheel of Fortune
Tune in to Wheel of Fortune on Monday, September 26, to watch McLean High School Physics Teacher Jeff Brocketti.
The episode is part of Wheel of Fortune's Teacher's Week and will air at 7 p.m. on ABC7.
Good luck Mr. Brocketti!
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Not One, but Two Pensions at FCPS!
If you are a full-time, monthly paid instructional, administrative, or educational support employee, you contribute 3% of your pay each month to ERFC, a defined-benefit retirement plan that supplements your VRS pension. FCPS contributes 6.7% on your behalf. Working five years or more for FCPS guarantees a lifetime of two pensions (ERFC and VRS) on top of your social security when you retire.
Log into ERFCDirect today to take advantage of all of these self-serve options available 24 hours a day:
- See what plan you are in based upon your date of hire, and watch your contributions and years of service grow.
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Run your own estimate with immediate results on any dates you are considering.
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Update your beneficiaries to ensure your contributions go to your chosen designees.
- ERFC recommends that you update your ERFCDirect account with a personal email address so you never lose access.
If you have more questions about your future ERFC retirement at any stage in your career, please contact ERFC Monday thru Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 703-426-3900 or email ERFCRetirement@fcps.edu.
ESSER III Funding Supports Student Success: Your Voice Matters
In the fall of 2021, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to support the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.
ESSER III focus areas have included resources for prevention and mitigation of COVID, academic services, multilingual engagement, support for students’ social emotional needs, and professional development. Watch the video above to see the impact ESSER III funds are having in our schools, or learn more about FCPS’ plans on our ESSER website.
We want to hear from you! A feedback form will be live on the ESSER III webpage Friday, September 23. Your input will inform the Fairfax County School Board and FCPS staff on the community’s view of our work.
Family Engagement Survey Results
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 “My child feels safe at school.”
- 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.
View survey results.
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 anonymous and voluntary, and 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.
Visit FCPS’ website for information on the upcoming Fairfax County Youth Survey.
Tutor.com Resources for Students
 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 instructional videos:
Resources for staff are available on the Tutor.com - Online Tutoring Services Employee Hub Site (VPN required). Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
Reminder: How to Handle Media Requests
The Office of Communication and Community Relations (OCCR) has a Media Relations team dedicated to helping connect news outlets to FCPS. If you are contacted by a member of the media or VIP, you should notify your principal or program manager before providing information, conducting an interview, answering a reporter’s questions or agreeing to a visit. The principal or program manager must notify OCCR as soon as possible. Please do not initiate contact with the media.
If you have a great story to share, please reach out to the Media Relations team, and they will be happy to help publicize it. Please contact Julie Moult, Kathleen Miller, or Jennifer Sellers. Read more about FCPS' media regulation (PDF).
Calendar Reminder: Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 26, is a student holiday/professional work day for teachers.
It is also Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish New Year. “Shanah tovah” to our Jewish community celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! Meaning “head of the year,” Rosh Hashanah is one of Judaism’s holiest days and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that ends with Yom Kippur.
Looking Ahead: Yom Kippur, October 4 and 5
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, begins at sundown on Tuesday, October 4, Tuesday is noted as a ½ religious/cultural observance date on the FCPS calendar.
Wednesday, October 5, is a holiday for teachers and students. Only 12-month employees report. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
FCPS Policies and Regulations
Virginia’s Standards of Quality require all school divisions to notify the public annually of the availability of the school system's policies. Policies, regulations, and notices are available on our website.
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!
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