Excellence Awards Recipients Celebrated at Fairfax High School
Shira Brothers, coordinator of Career and Transition Services in the Office of Special Education Instruction (left); Becky Rock, learning disabilities teacher at Key Middle School (center); and Jenn Scott, Systems of Support advisor with Interagency Alternative Schools Programs (right).
Last week, more than 120 FCPS employees received Excellence Awards at a recognition event at Fairfax High School. Excellence Awards celebrate the efforts and achievements of employees whose job performance produces exceptional results that support the mission and vision of FCPS. Learn more about the recipients and celebration.
Open Enrollment: November 1-18
Open Enrollment begins in two weeks! The Office of Benefit Services (OBS) will be hosting both in-person and virtual open houses to discuss 2023 benefits. Chat with benefit vendors, including Cigna and Kaiser Permanente representatives, and OBS staff to get answers to your questions. Find links to the Employee Benefits Briefing, additional details about changes for 2023, and the benefits open house schedule on the Open Enrollment webpage.
Principal Recognized For Outstanding School Leadership
Mosaic Elementary School Principal Mahri Aste is one of only nine school leaders recognized nationally by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a recipient of the 2022 Terrell H. Bell Awards for Outstanding School Leadership. The award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Mosaic was named a National Blue Ribbon School earlier this fall.
Principal Aste and her staff work to ensure students at Mosaic—who come from 40 countries speaking 28 different languages—feel emotionally, mentally, and physically safe. The staff is diverse in terms of gender, race, age, experience, religion, and ethnic backgrounds, so that students can see role models and learn from people that look like and represent them. Principal Aste focuses explicitly on how to communicate across cultures and develop school-wide strategies that are culturally responsive.
Learn more about Principal Aste on the award website.
Calendar Reminders: Diwali and Quarter End
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate this day and the victory of light over darkness. Monday, October 24, is a holiday for teachers and students (only 12-month employees report). Learn more about Diwali.
As a reminder, Friday, October 28, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Monday, October 31, for a teacher workday.
See the Employee Calendar and the 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
Proposed Changes to the Capital Project Engagement Process–We Want Your Feedback!
The Capital Project engagement process represents our commitment to ensuring all school facilities support current educational programs and provide safe spaces for students to learn. The plan includes dollars for renovations, modular classrooms, additions to existing schools, and construction of new schools.
FCPS engages in this work on a regular cycle, as projects are in various stages of design and construction, and impact a variety of stakeholders. Over the summer and into fall, FCPS staff conducted a review of the capital project communication process and developed a strategy for increasingly robust outreach, accessibility, transparency, and accountability.
Capital projects represent an opportunity for families and community members to be involved in the district. Therefore, we want to hear from you. Take a moment to review the Capital Project engagement process outlined on our website and share your feedback. The feedback form will close October 24, and public input will be shared with the Fairfax County School Board.
It’s Not Too Late! Provide Your Feedback on ESSER Funding
FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Funding in fall 2021, 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.
We invite you to participate and provide your feedback via our Online Feedback Form, which is also available on the ESSER III webpage through Monday, October 24, at 10 p.m. Your input will inform the School Board and FCPS staff on the community’s view of our work. Your voice matters!
Employee Engagement–Let Your Voice Be Heard
Starting October 26, contracted employees will have the opportunity to provide feedback about their jobs, work environment, and FCPS overall through the Employee Engagement Survey. Survey participation provides valuable insight on what FCPS is doing well and areas where improvements might be needed.
All responses are confidential. The survey link will be sent via email from our partner, independent research firm K12 Insight, and is compatible with any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Visit the Employee Hub for more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Employee Engagement Survey.
Schools to Administer Strategic Plan Student Survey
As mentioned in previous newsletters, FCPS is developing a Strategic Plan that will serve as our roadmap for the future. We encourage every employee, student, parent/caregiver, and community member to participate in this important work.
Our first engagement opportunity will be an optional survey, which will be open to students in grades 3-12. Knowing what is important to them will be very helpful to Dr. Reid, as she leads the planning of FCPS’ future. Schools will administer the survey—and determine the appropriate time during the school day to do so—between November 2-18. If parents/caregivers would prefer their child not participate, they may opt their child out of taking the survey.
Principals will share more information with their staff in the coming weeks. Learn more about the survey on our website.
Community Conversations Continue
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid has been hosting Community Conversations across the division since August to get to know our school communities. The events continue through November. We invite you to register to attend your school pyramid event or, if you have been unable to attend a previous event in your pyramid, register at a location and date that is convenient for you. See the schedule and register for an event.
All events are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Language interpretation, child care, and light refreshments will be provided.
Watch your email, the FCPS website, and our weekly newsletter for information on future events, which may include virtual and/or multilingual events. Keep up with Dr. Reid’s work and visits around the county by reading her Weekly Reflections and following her Instagram page.
Community Review of Secondary World Languages Basal Resources
FCPS will adopt new Secondary (6-12) World Languages Basal Resources for the 2023-24 school year. The process for selecting new resources includes an opportunity for the public to review the instructional materials being considered. Public review will begin Monday, November 7, and end Thursday, December 8. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
Webinar on Home Ownership
Due to the recent upheaval in the housing market, many new realities of home ownership have appeared. Potential buyers need to recognize the importance of having their finances in order prior to applying for a home loan.
Join the New Realities in Home Ownership webinar on October 24, at 4 p.m., for strategies to help you make an informed decision. Attendees will be entered into a raffle to receive wellness prizes.
View other Employee Assistance Program (EAP) webinar recordings on the Hub. For more information, visit Guidance Resources, our EAP, website and use Web ID: FCPS or call 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter to get monthly updates and announcements.
Are you a School Leader? Considering Administration?
The George Mason Education Leadership Program has a Region North (Fairfax region) hybrid cohort that will be accepting new students for the Spring 2023 semester.
If you are interested in advancing your career by earning a master’s degree or advanced Certificate in Education Leadership, register to attend a virtual information session:
By attending the information session, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver (available to the first 30 applicants following the session). If you have questions, please contact the Education Leadership Program office at edleprog@gmu.edu or 703-993-3633.
School Board Meeting on October 20, at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold a regular business meeting on Thursday, October 20, 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:
- Solar Power Purchase Agreement for Annandale High School
- Secondary Course Offerings
- Acquisition to confirm the School Board’s title and ownership of Peace Valley Lane near Justice High School.
Recordings of School Board meetings and work sessions can be viewed on the FCPS YouTube channel. To watch School Board meetings dubbed in Spanish, you can visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.
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!
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