Meet Herndon Middle School's Student Services Team–(from the left) Miranda Carlson, school psychologist; Sara Broady, counselor; Danielle Mascoll, counselor; Colene Luczak, counselor; Ashley Van Gelder, school social worker; Kelley Wells, school psychologist; and Pamela Cortez, school social worker.
FCPS Thanks Our Veterans
In this video, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid expresses how grateful FCPS is to all veterans and to all the families of veterans.
Calendar Survey: Make Your Voice Heard!
FCPS employees, parents/caregivers, and students in grades 7-12 were emailed an invitation to take the 2023-24 School Year Calendar Survey. This survey is part of an annual process to gather input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. Please complete the survey by Thursday, December 1, and make your voice heard! For more information or help filling out the survey, please visit our website.
Open Enrollment: Final Week
Remember, open enrollment ends this Friday, November 18, at 4:30 p.m. This is your annual opportunity to enroll and/or make changes to your medical, dental, and/or flexible spending account (FSA) elections for the upcoming year.
Do you have questions about your 2023 benefits? The final open house will be held Wednesday, November 16, in the Chantilly High School cafeteria, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Find additional details on the Open Enrollment webpage.
Employee Engagement Survey Closes Tomorrow!
Last chance for employees to take the Employee Engagement Survey! The survey closes tomorrow, Wednesday, November 16. If you can’t find your survey link, type “east@k12insight” in your fcps.edu email search bar to find your invitation.
The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and your responses will provide valuable insight on what FCPS is doing well and areas for improvement. All responses are strictly confidential.
Strategic Planning: Key Communicators Needed
The strategic planning process is a community-wide effort. During the next few months, there will be regular updates and many opportunities to share feedback or be involved in a community meeting. Here is something else to consider: If you are a member of a community organization or group, sign up to be a key communicator during the strategic planning process!
FCPS key communicators are active members of the community who people turn to for information, and have an interest in sharing information about the school division and encouraging involvement. If this describes you or someone you know, please get the details and complete this form by Monday, November 28.
Congratulations to Our 2022 Teacher Grant Recipients!
Educate Fairfax and FCPS are proud to announce that 52 grants totaling more than $82,000 were awarded in grades K-12 across the county.
These grants will fund innovative classroom initiatives that focus on developing career-connected experiences for students. Funded projects should enable students to reinforce and deepen their classroom learning, explore future career fields, and demonstrate their acquired Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills.
Now in its fourth year, our partnership with Educate Fairfax and the Teacher Grant Program has funded nearly 200 grants to educators and impacted more than 60,000 FCPS students. Learn more about teacher grants.
Post-Thanksgiving COVID Diagnostic Testing
COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county November 28-30 from 5 to 8 p.m. Testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.
November Is National Family Engagement Month
Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools, community agencies, and organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways, and families are actively supporting their children’s learning and development. The following tips can help you build strong partnerships with families:
- Cultivate trust by showing respect and developing mutual understanding. Ask families about their children—their strengths, interests, and challenges—then use this information to differentiate instruction.
- Communicate with families frequently and consistently. Provide your contact information and connect through multiple communication methods. Survey parents to see what method works best for them. Provide the family liaison's contact information to families who speak languages other than English.
- Use simple, easy-to-understand language and formats to foster feedback and two-way communication. Engage interpreters and translate messages whenever possible through FCPS tools like Talking Points.
- Design lessons that include family participation and incorporate culturally responsive content. Provide tools and interactive examples for families to support learning at home.
Please visit the Employee Hub to learn more about Family and School Partnerships and their programs for teachers, staff, and families.
Calendar Reminders
American Education Week
For American Education Week, November 14-18, we celebrate ALL who work in our school communities: Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, support staff, teachers, leadership, and others! Learn more from the National Education Association.
Want to recognize someone from your school who goes above and beyond? Submit a nomination to FCPS Cares.
Thanksgiving Holiday
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed November 23-25. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Classes will resume on Monday, November 28. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Employee News will return on Tuesday, November 29.
MyPDE Feedback Tool
We want to hear from you about your MyPDE user experience. The MyPDE Feedback Tool is now available. Feedback collected will help inform future changes.
Free Virtual Holiday Fitness and Ergonomics Classes
The Employee Wellness program is offering the following classes to support your overall well-being:
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Mini Master Classes: Take a 15-minute break to attend these virtual health and wellness classes: Ergonomics - How to Set Up a Workplace, and Lower Back Pain and the Core. Visit Employee Wellness' webpage for details.
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Holiday Fitness Classes, November 23: Get into a peaceful mindset with a virtual full-body Pilates workout from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and a calorie-burning holiday Zumba dance party from 9 to 10 a.m.
For more information, email employeewellness@fcps.edu.
Making the Most of Family Occasions
Guidance Resources, FCPS’ Employee Assistance Program (EAP), has resources to help you make the most of your time with loved ones this holiday season. Family occasions are a very special time for children. Today, parents may have to overcome certain obstacles in creating their own special experiences such as finances, distance from family members, and circumstances created by divorce, step-parenting, and blended families.
Join the Making the Most of Family Occasions webinar on Tuesday, November 29, at 4 p.m. for tips on creating a less stressful, more pleasant, and meaningful family event. Attendees will be entered into a raffle to receive wellness prizes.
Other webinar recordings can be accessed on the EAP’s Hub webpage. For additional information, visit Guidance Resources and use Web ID: FCPS or call 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter for monthly updates and announcements.
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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