2022 December Newsletter
Dear FCPS Families and Community Members:
Happy December everyone! It is a joy to enter this holiday season and to celebrate with our students and families.
First, I cordially invite you to my next event on December 12th called Spread the Word on Inclusion, an online forum where representatives from the Special Olympics will provide information on how students, staff members, and families can assist in providing a more inclusive culture in all of our schools. My hope is that this work will assist us in improving and providing an environment that supports excellence in learning for all students.
This past month has been a continuing journey to work toward continuous improvement in our system. In this issue, you will find details about my ongoing work, including school visits to Rolling Valley Elementary School, Rocky Run Elementary School, and Mt. Vernon High School. Each of these visits informs my efforts to improve the academic experience for all of our students.
Additionally, I attended the IEP Palooza where parents joined FCPS staff members and our Special Education PTA to hear informative sessions on special education. I attended some of the sessions and enjoyed hearing from parents. I was also grateful to participate in a Board work session where our Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities brought information to help us improve our Special Education services. A recap of that discussion and my recommendations can be found below.
This month, I am particularly grateful for so many opportunities to hear from our constituents. While we may be facing some difficulties and have work to do, I continue to be focused and dedicated to the work of improving education for each and every student. As I have listened and engaged in outreach, I have been impressed with the love that many have offered. It is apparent that we have a community that truly cares about our students and is willing to engage for the betterment of all. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this journey. I wish everyone happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you in the community soon.
 Inside this issue:
My Ongoing Work
- Spread the Word Inclusion Virtual Forum, December 12, 7:00 p.m.
- Academic Matters: My School Board Work Session Follow-Up
- School Visits: Focus on Inclusive School Programming
Opportunities for Family and Community Feedback
- ESSER III Community Conversation on December 13
- Provide Feedback on Secondary World Languages Basal Resources
- Proposed Process for Special Education Enhancement Plan
Supporting Student Success and Academic Excellence
- ESSER III School Board Work Session: Addressing Pandemic Learning Loss
- Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities Report
- National Special Education Day
Supporting Parent/Family Engagement
- Multicultural and Language Resources for Families
- Preparing for Winter Weather
- Virginia Healthcare Community Offers Safety Tips Amid Surge in Flu, Respiratory Virus Cases and Hospitalizations
School-Community Partnerships to Support Students and Schools
- Educate Fairfax Update: Act Now to Help Newcomer Students for the Holidays
Community Reminders and Activities
- Bodhi Day, December 8
- Scholarship Opportunities
My Ongoing Work
Spread the Word Inclusion Virtual Forum, December 12, 7:00 p.m.
Register online to receive Zoom login credentials and instructions to submit questions before and during the event.
Academic Matters: My School Board Work Session Follow-Up
During the School Board Work Session on November 29, FCPS staff members provided an extensive update on the status of ESSER III investments designed to address pandemic learning loss and other post-pandemic concerns. Read more about this work session in an article below.
I encourage you to check online to review how your child’s school invested its ESSER funding. I asked division leaders to provide family-friendly summaries on the FCPS website so that parents/families and community members can clearly understand what is being done to address academic learning loss experienced during the pandemic.
This work session also included the annual report from the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD). I advocated that the Board adjust its reporting schedule to make sure that it receives such reports in the fall of the school year rather than at the end of the school year, which is our current practice. This change would facilitate the Board's ability to incorporate feedback from the committee to inform its ongoing work. Additionally, I expressed concerns regarding staff pay with differentiation for the additional duties of special education (SPED) staff members and that the Board works with the ACSD to ensure the IEP process provides support for parents/families who may be struggling with the complexities of SPED services.
School Visits: Focus on Inclusive School Programming
It was a pleasure to meet with the administrators, Special Education staff members and to interact with students during my school visits to Rocky Run Elementary and Rolling Valley Elementary School. Our staff members are working hard to provide top quality education to our students in a joyful and stimulating environment. I enjoyed listening to students during their lesson time and to sit and hear their insightful comments during one-on-one interactions. I also observed teachers and Instructional Assistants work to provide differentiated learning in specialized and inclusive environments. Parents and staff members have collaborated to optimize the learning environment and have even developed signs throughout Rolling Valley to help students and support an inclusive culture. Our Administrators provide support to this amazing work and I look forward to including their observations in my continuing work to improve access to excellent learning environments and to follow up on providing support as Staff members work to implement the recommendations of the AIR study.
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Opportunities for Family and Community Feedback
ESSER III Community Conversation on December 13
Thanks to everyone who provided input in October on ESSER III funding–federal funding which was allocated to FCPS to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and student learning. Community feedback indicated that there is a general unawareness of the impact of ESSER funding and a perceived lack of communication around how the funds are being used.
To help address this, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and Sloan Presidio, chief academic officer, will host a Community Conversation on ESSER on Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Gatehouse Administration Building. Please stay tuned for more details. Visit BoardDocs for a complete update on ESSER III.
Last fall, Fairfax County Public Schools was awarded $188.8 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds. The purpose of the ESSER III Fund is to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impacts of COVID-19 on the nation’s students by addressing students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs.
Our schools are receiving a portion of ESSER funding to support unfinished learning and student wellness. Each school has submitted a School Improvement and Innovation Plan (SIIP) which has been reviewed and approved by region and ESSER leadership teams.
For academics, all schools have written a plan to ensure students are making sufficient progress to be on grade level in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For wellness, each school has written a plan to promote student wellness by using Morning Meeting and Closing Circles (elementary schools) or Responsive Advisory Meetings (middle and high schools) and CASEL’s 3 Signature Practices. A breakdown of proposed ESSER spending at each school is available for academics and wellness.
These are comprehensive school plans that include goals, strategies, and actions in areas beyond English, Mathematics, and Wellness. Plans will be updated periodically throughout the school year.
If you are looking for additional school information or need to review a school plan in another language, please contact your school’s principal.
Provide Feedback on Secondary World Languages Basal Resources
FCPS will adopt new Secondary (Grades 6-12) World Languages Basal Resources for the 2023-24 school year. Basal resources are the primary instructional resources used to teach a given subject. The process for selecting new resources includes an opportunity for the public to review the instructional materials being considered. Public review ended December 8. A review committee made up of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet in November and December to evaluate the materials under consideration as well as feedback from the community.
Proposed Process for Special Education Enhancement Plan
FCPS will develop a Special Education Enhancement Plan to help inform our work to increase outcomes for students with disabilities. On November 15, FCPS staff shared their proposed process for developing the plan at a School Board work session. This process includes many opportunities for community feedback and collaboration from a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders such as FCPS parents/caregivers, students, employees, and content experts.
Supporting Student Success and Academic Excellence
ESSER III School Board Work Session: Addressing Pandemic Learning Loss
In the fall of 2021, FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools. The Federal ESSER III funds are intended to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students by addressing their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. ESSER III funds are allocated for FY22, FY23, and FY24.
During the Board Work Session on November 29, FCPS staff provided an update on the Division’s ESSER III spending plan, academic and wellness supports, and a review of FCPS’ accountability reporting. Staff reported the rate of FCPS academic recovery is outpacing other Virginia school systems. Academic findings included:
- Within documented ESSER-funded supports, small group interventions either during school or before/ after school were the primary approach to providing academic interventions outside the classroom.
- Majorities of students identified as needing academic intervention during SY 2021-22 demonstrated academic growth in reading and mathematics from Fall to Spring but at lower rates than students who were not identified.
- In comparison to the beginning of the year, FCPS demonstrated meaningful decreases in the percentages of students identified as needing academic intervention in reading or mathematics, especially at the middle school level.
While good news was reported, there were also findings that are concerning and require ongoing attention:
- Schools faced challenges in addressing all the academic needs demonstrated by students, especially English learners and students with disabilities.
- Less than half of students identified for academic intervention attained proficiency in reading and mathematics by the end of the 2021-22 school year.
- Students identified as needing Tier 2 interventions demonstrated greater improvement from Fall to Spring than students identified as needing Tier 3 interventions.
- Improvement patterns in both growth and proficiency were not equal across all student groups, with Hispanic, English learner, economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities groups demonstrating less improvement and ongoing academic performance challenges.
Access the Fall ORSI Report summary of Student Progress and Proficiency during SY 202122 online.
In SY 2021-22, FCPS contracted with www.Tutor.com (TPR Education LLC doing business as The Princeton Review) to provide tutoring as an academic intervention to students in need of additional supports. This service was procured as a supplemental service to the school-based interventions that were provided. The resource was offered at no charge to students and families. Data from Tutor.com were analyzed to understand who used the intervention service, the frequency and length of use, and tutor and student perceptions of the tutoring experience. Read more online about the impact of Tutor.com as an intervention strategy.
Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities Report
On November 29, the School Board received the annual report of the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD). This citizen advisory committee is a State Mandated Special Education Advisory Committee. The committee’s charge is to:
- Examine current FCPS practices regarding school-based accountability and fidelity related to the implementation of best practices on the identification, evaluation, eligibility, and instruction of students with disabilities.
- Make recommendations designed to improve division wide consistency related to the fidelity of the implementation of special education procedures and practices.
- Make recommendations designed to ensure equitable use of Department of Special Services (DSS) resources for all students with disabilities - regardless of school, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or gender.
On November 29, ACSD provided testimony and presented several recommendations to the School Board. The committee’s work included several Operational Improvements as well as specific actions taken and reports offered to the division. There was also a robust discussion of the committee’s highlighted recommendations. Read the committee’s full report and presentation online.
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National Special Education Day
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on December 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students!
Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Check out some of FCPS’ special education resources:
- The Office of Special Education Procedural Support provides guidance to staff, families, and students in areas related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
- Families of students in special education programs can find more resources in the Special Education Handbook for Parents. Translations are available from the Parent Resource Center (PRC).
- The PRC offers free webinars, consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of each and every student, including our students with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Their YouTube Channel includes videos of workshops and webinars for families and educators to support student success. Sign up for their newsletter to receive information on upcoming webinars and other resources. Please contact the PRC with any questions at prc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-2941.
Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, serves as a confidential resource, providing information and support to parents and students regarding special education services. The assistant ombuds also provides transparency and understanding to families of children with special needs, so they may receive all the services and supports required to equitably access public education. Contact the assistant ombuds by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing ombuds@fcps.edu.
Supporting Parent/Family Engagement
Multicultural and Language Resources for Families
During National Family Engagement Month, the Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the resources available to them:
- Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance.
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Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean.
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Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English.
- A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
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ESOL services are available in Fairfax County for students as well as adults. Information on spring classes will be posted in March 2023.
Additional resources are available on the Family Engagement webpage.
 Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).
FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in weCare@school, bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare, if appropriate, and know what items your child may need to take home before a weather event.
Virginia Healthcare Community Offers Safety Tips Amid Surge in Flu, Respiratory Virus Cases and Hospitalizations
Excerpted article published by the Virginia Department of Health. Read the full article online.
The holiday season is just around the corner. To protect yourself and your family against flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses, the healthcare community recommends taking the following steps:
Make an appointment to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that “everyone 6 months and older, including pregnant women, should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions.” Flu vaccines are available at many doctor’s offices, pharmacies, local health departments, and community health clinics, among other locations. Contact your healthcare provider, local health department or find out where you can get a flu vaccine in your community here.
Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you have not done so already. Get boosted if you have been vaccinated but it has been at least 2 months since your last vaccine dose. Bivalent booster doses are available for vaccinated individuals five years and older. VDH advises parents to discuss this option with their child’s healthcare provider. Find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster in your community by visiting vaccinate.virginia.gov or call (877) VAX-IN-VA or (877) 829-4682.
Parents of sick children are encouraged to keep them home from school and other activities to help limit the spread of infection. Parents with sick children are also advised to initially contact a pediatrician or family physician for medical guidance unless your child is in medical distress, in which case seeking hospital care may be warranted. Taking this approach helps ensure that hospital beds and emergency departments are open and available to patients with critical medical needs.
Adults who become ill are also encouraged to stay home to limit the risk of spreading illness and to contact their healthcare provider for evaluation, testing and/or guidance on the appropriate course of treatment depending on the severity of symptoms and other risk factors. There are some treatment options for both COVID19 and influenza; people are encouraged to seek care quickly and talk to their health care provider about the right treatment options for them.
People are also encouraged to take simple but powerful prevention steps- wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and limit the time children spend in large group settings with other contagious individuals when possible.
Individuals with symptoms, or those who test positive, are encouraged to contact their healthcare providers to determine the treatment option that is right for them. This is especially true for high-risk individuals. Because treatment is often most effective when taken within five days of the onset of symptoms, people are advised not to delay seeking medical advice and starting prescribed treatment. It is also important to remember that prescriptions such as antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections are typically not appropriate or indicated for treating viral infections like flu and RSV.
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School-Community Partnerships to Support Students and Schools
Educate Fairfax Update: Act Now to Help Newcomer Students for the Holidays
As the School Board Liaison to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, I encourage you to join Educate Fairfax’s efforts to help Newcomer Students for the Holidays.
The number of identified newcomer students in Fairfax County who are supported by the FCPS Homeless Liaison Office continues to grow. For many of these families, securing essential needs such as clothing, medicine, emergency food and hygiene supplies is a struggle. With your help, we can once again make their holidays a little brighter.
In keeping with the strategic goal of Caring Culture and as part of Educate Fairfax’s Kids in Need focus, FCPS is once again holding our annual gift card drive to benefit the newcomer student population.
Donated funds will be used to purchase gift cards from a variety of stores for FCPS newcomer families in need and used for basic or emergency purchases throughout the year.
Your donation can be made securely on-line or checks can be mailed directly to Educate Fairfax. The information for both options is available on our website
Last year, we collected over $6,800 in cash and gift cards. Please join us in making the holidays a little brighter for our students. The deadline is January 6, 2023
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Community Reminders and Activities
Bodhi Day, December 8
December 8 was Bodhi Day, the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as “bodhi'' in Sanskrit and Pali. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum.
The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that certain events that cannot be made up will not be held on these observance days. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
Scholarship Opportunities
Burger King® Foundation
Deadline: Submit electronically on or before December 15, 2022. If 50,000 applications are received prior to December 15, the application will no longer be available.
The BURGER KING® General High School Senior Track is available to all high school seniors who meet the criteria below. Applicants must:
- Be living in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam or Canada
- Be graduating high school seniors (U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam), graduating from grade 12 (Canada) or graduating from home school education in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam or Canada
- Have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent
- Plan to enroll full-time, without interruption, for the entire 2023-24 academic year at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school or CEGEP or equivalent in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam or Canada
Burger King also offers the James W. McLamore WHOPPER® Scholarship. Recipients must be:
- Citizens of the United States or Canada
- Students who who are seniors at a high school or home school in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam or Canada
- Students who are applying as a full time freshman to a four-year accredited, college or university that is located in the United States or Canada
- Students who have a cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent
- Students who demonstrate an active leadership role in community service, athletics, and/or similar co-curricular activity (such as student government, team sports, fraternal life, etc); and
- Students who demonstrate substantial work experience and financial need
Check online for more information about both scholarships as well as information about employee-based opportunities.
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 Deadline: January 11th, 2023 at 8:00 pm EST
The Taco Bell Foundation breaks down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has helped America’s young people follow their dreams and reach their full potential. Donations collected in U.S. Taco Bell restaurants through the Round Up Program support Live Más Scholarships for Consumers, educational programming, and Community Grants. Donations from Taco Bell franchisees support Live Más Scholarships for Restaurant Employees.
No grades, test scores or essays. The Live Más Scholarship is for students who are pursuing higher education, preparing for the workforce, or using their passion to ignite change in their communities and beyond. Submit a two-minute video telling us what you’re passionate about and how you plan to make a difference.
It could be a short film, animation, or a simple testimonial. This isn’t about how well you can make a film—we want to learn more about you, your passion and how you plan to ignite change in your community and beyond! Visit the scholarship’s website for more information.
Happy Holidays Scholarship
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Since 1995, our mission has been to help connect students with the right schools for them. Carnegie Dartlet, the organization that houses CollegeXpress, is an educational publisher and higher education marketing agency. Every year, thousands of students across the United States and around the world discover their colleges using our websites, magazines, and services. Check online for more information.
Diversity Advancement Scholarship
Deadline: January 20, 2023
Architects Foundation is working to attract, inspire and invest in the next generation of the profession and we can help fund your college education with a multiyear scholarship of up to $20,000. On top of that we’ll also transform your career trajectory through our extensive network of alumni, mentors, and scholars.
Architecture is about enhancing the human experience by creating buildings that serve and strengthen communities. Since 1970, the Diversity Advancement Scholarship has been awarded to help build a pipeline of architects so that the profession better reflects the diverse communities they serve. Check online for application instructions.
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Foot Locker is awarding $20,000 to 20 student athletes! Foot Locker wants to celebrate YOU–not just because you scored the game-winning point–but because sports have helped you grow into a strong leader at school and in your community. They are considering applicants who plan to attend a four-year school for an undergraduate degree or two-year or four-year community college. Applications open on December 14. Check online for the application and check out their FAQ for more information.
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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
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