Dear Sully District Families,
Spring is definitely in the air. I am looking forward to spending more family time outdoors and enjoying our longer sunlit days!
In the last few weeks, I was fortunate to attend some of the amazing performances of our students and I hope you all are able to as well, either on the sports fields and courts or in our auditoriums.
Last month, the School Board was focused on core pieces of work, including the annual budget process. We passed the Capital Improvement Program and School Calendar follow on motions. The School Board unanimously approved a proposal directing Superintendent Michelle Reid to develop an annually updated School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program. I was proud to co-sponsor the effort with my board colleague Karl Frisch from Providence district. The FY2024 Advertised School Budget was passed and I joined Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith for a town hall to present the FCPS budget and answer questions from our community members.
Recently, a topic that has been in Virginia and Fairfax news has been regarding the Governor’s decision to single out an Advanced Placement (AP) course - African-American Studies - for review. State officials are spending resources reviewing this newly-offered course by the College Board, created by over 300 educators, to determine whether it violates the Governor’s Executive Order 1, to “end the use of inherently divisive concepts…”. This course is slated to be offered in select FCPS schools, including in Sully District. I have communicated to the Governor and state Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera, via letter that this action coupled with last year’s cancellation of Virginia’s Black History Month Historical Markers contest for students, and the Youngkin administration’s upcoming changes to Virginia’s History and Social Studies Standards of Learning (SOL) establish an alarming pattern of disregard for the academic needs of the Commonwealth's students. I will continue to advocate to support our students’ desire to pursue rigorous curriculum offerings, not deny them these opportunities.
Inside this newsletter:
Thank you for attending the Virtual Town Hall I hosted with Chair & Member At Large Rachna Sizemore Heizer. These meetings are so important to give you the bigger picture impacts & upcoming issues that will affect students at your school. An informed & involved community helps build an effective partnership to achieve the quality public education that we all want for our children.
I was happy to connect with parents/caregivers at the Oak Hill PTA meeting. I was able to provide updates on FCPS policies and budget related information as well as give them an opportunity to ask any questions that they might have.
March is #WomensHistoryMonth and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the wide-ranging, pivotal contributions of women and their impact to society. I want to especially celebrate the women making modern history in our schools, including my colleagues in the School Board Office and on the FCPS Leadership team—approximately 75% of our nation’s teacher workforce is made up of women. I honor their passion, hard work and resilience. Please join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history with the many events being hosted by womenshistorymonth.gov. Also, featured in this newsletter, is a spotlight on trailblazer and disability rights icon Judy Heumann, who spent decades advocating for the inherent dignity of people with disabilities and campaigning for federal civil rights legislation.
Lastly, I urge you to please join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a community meeting on Opioid awareness on Monday, March 13, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Fairfax High School. There is also a virtual Division wide Substance Abuse Adult Panel Discussion on March 21, 10:00-11:30 AM. Registration and more info is below in this newsletter. Across the country, we are losing students to the dangers of fentanyl every day and these are important conversations to have for the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, and communities.
I will continue to provide outreach to the community in March and April. Stay tuned for information on upcoming Town Halls, PTA meetings etc. In the meanwhile, please feel free to reach out to me with observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations. You can do that through this School Board contact form or you can call or sign up for my monthly constituent office hours. Please see my March Office hours in the newsletter below if you would like to schedule time to meet with me. Enjoy this beautiful time of the year!
In partnership,
Stella Pekarsky
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Read Across America Week at GreenBriar East Elementary School
School Visit to GreenBriar East ES!
Thank you to Greenbriar East Elementary, FCPS for letting me read to some pretty incredible 1st and 3rd graders. It was so much fun! March is National Reading Month, and there are so many ways to encourage the love of reading and so many amazing authors to celebrate.
Sully District Happenings
First Amendment Press Freedom Awards - Chantilly High School Go Chargers!
Three Fairfax County public schools—Chantilly High School, West Springfield High School, and McLean High School—are among 16 schools nationwide selected as recipients of the 2023 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. This is the ninth consecutive award for Chantilly High, the sixth consecutive award for McLean High, and the first award for West Springfield High. The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach, and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content. Read more about this. #TheFutureIsBright
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Congrats to Sully District Changemakers - Peace Awards!
Congratulations to all the proud recipients of the 2023 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County! The amazing Sully District students who were among them and their projects are highlighted below:
Ella Ostlund from Chantilly High School, Deborah Horng from Centreville High School, Cameron Kasper from Westfield High School, Aaliyah Garnett from Mountain View HS and Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology's Social Change Club.
These awards are designed to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. Twenty-seven schools chose a recipient for the 2022-2023 award. The projects are inspiring and the full list of FCPS students can be found here. Recipients will be honored at a reception on March 19th, 2023.
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Creative Student Art Displayed at Dulles International Airport
Last month FCPS reported on the Ignite Partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). This month we’re excited to share that posters of student art have been hung and are on display in front of the west side TSA Precheck security checkpoint on the ticketing/departure level.
The selected artwork represents student work from FCPS students ages 13 to graduating seniors who submitted them as part of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers Scholastic Art Award competition. Congrats to all the students whose artwork was selected and especially to Sully District student Shriya Endlaw from Chantilly High School. So proud of our creative teens and their original art work!
Constituent Meeting Hours in March
I have office hours set up to meet with Sully District constituents to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Please use this Constituent sign-up sheet to register for slots and meeting info will be sent to you. I look forward to talking with you!
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Women's History Month Spotlight - Judy Neumann, Champion for Disability Rights
Ms. Judy Heumann (pronounced human) was among the nation’s most prominent champions for disability rights, a savvy, unrelenting grass-roots agitator who also demonstrated that she could work inside the system that she had battled for so many decades. “Disability only becomes a tragedy,” she once told The Washington Post, “when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives — job opportunities or barrier-free buildings, for example. It is not a tragedy to me that I’m living in a wheelchair.” In a statement, President Biden described her as “a trailblazer — a rolling warrior — for disability rights in America,” adding that “her courage and fierce advocacy” contributed to the passage of landmark legislation including the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which outlawed discrimination based on disability. #WomensHistoryMonth2023 #herstory
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Sully District Elementary School Renovation Community Meetings
Brookfield Elementary School Renovation Community Meeting
March 16: 6:30-7:30pm
Brookfield ES Cafeteria (4200 Lees Corner Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151)
Planning and design for the renovation of Brookfield Elementary School is underway and we would like to hear from you. Join us for a community meeting on March 16 in the school cafeteria, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. to learn more about the project and design process to date and share your views on the project and design process. Public feedback will be shared with the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, School Board, and FCPS staff on the community’s view of the project and design process to date. Please be aware, at this stage in the design and construction process, no major changes may be made but small adjustments may be considered. Language interpretation will be provided based on the availability of interpretation staff.
Learn more about the Brookfield Elementary School Renovation project.
Willow Springs Elementary School Renovation Community Meeting
March 22: 6:30-7:30pm
Willow Springs ES Cafeteria (5400 Willow Springs School Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030)
Planning and design for the renovation of Brookfield Elementary School is underway and we would like to hear from you. Join us for a community meeting on March 22 in the school cafeteria, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. to learn more about the project and design process to date and share your views on the project and design process. Public feedback will be shared with the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, School Board, and FCPS staff on the community’s view of the project and design process to date. Please be aware, at this stage in the design and construction process, no major changes may be made but small adjustments may be considered. Language interpretation will be provided based on the availability of interpretation staff.
Learn more about the Willow Springs Elementary School Renovation project.
Lees Corner Elementary School Renovation Community Meeting
March 29: 6:00-6:45pm
Lees Corner ES Cafeteria (13500 Hollinger Ave, Fairfax, VA 22033)
Planning and design for the renovation of Brookfield Elementary School is underway and we would like to hear from you. Join us for a community meeting on March 29 in the school cafeteria, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. to learn more about the project and design process to date and share your views on the project and design process. Public feedback will be shared with the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, School Board, and FCPS staff on the community’s view of the project and design process to date. Please be aware, at this stage in the design and construction process, no major changes may be made but small adjustments may be considered. Language interpretation will be provided based on the availability of interpretation staff.
Learn more about the Lees Corner Elementary School Renovation project.
School Board Adopts FY 2024 Advertised Budget
At our February 23 meeting, the School Board adopted the FY 2024 Advertised Budget, which prioritizes student achievement, and recruiting and retaining outstanding educators.
The FY 2024 Advertised Budget totals $3.5 billion—a net increase of $249.6 million or 7.6% over the FY 2023 Approved Budget. Nearly 86% of the Advertised Budget is targeted at instruction.
The budget includes innovative investments that aim to close the achievement gap for all students. Read more about those investments.
The Advertised budget is now being considered by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, who control the total revenue available for all county services, including FCPS. The process continues with an ultimate adoption of the approved budget by the School Board on May 25. This budget then goes into effect on July 1, 2023 for the year ahead.
Superintendent Reid's Academic Matters
Superintendent Reid shared a video on Early Childhood Education, and STEAM and computer science learning during her Academic Matters segment in the February 23 School Board meeting. . As of this school year, 100% of our pre- K and early childhood special education students are now engaging in STEAM learning!
FCPS Community Meeting on Opioid Awareness
Across the country, we are losing students to the dangers of fentanyl every day. This crisis is here, in our schools and communities. It is time to have an honest conversation about it. We can all agree, there is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, and communities.
Please join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a community meeting on Opioid awareness, Monday, March 13, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Fairfax High School. During this event, you will hear from individuals and family members affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives. You will also have an opportunity to hear directly from Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Police Department about local initiatives to address this issue.
Register for the March 13 event.
For more information, please watch this short video and visit our website.
SPANISH: Reunión Comunitaria de FCPS sobre la Concienciación Acerca de los Opioides
En todo el país, estamos perdiendo estudiantes debido a los peligros del fentanilo todos los días. Esta crisis está aquí, en nuestras escuelas y comunidades. Es hora de tener una conversación honesta al respecto. Todos estamos de acuerdo en que no hay nada más importante que la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes, familias y comunidades.
Por favor, únase a la Superintendente Dra. Michelle Reid para una reunión de la comunidad sobre la conciencia de Opioides, Lunes, 13 de marzo, 6:30 - 8:00 pm en la Escuela Secundaria de Fairfax. Durante este evento, escuchará a personas y familiares afectados por la epidemia de opioides, expertos médicos y representantes de las fuerzas del orden. También tendrá la oportunidad de escuchar directamente de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax y del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Fairfax acerca de las iniciativas locales sobre este asunto.
Inscríbase para el evento del 13 de marzo.
Vea el vídeo y obtenga más información en nuestro sitio web.
Adult Panel Discussion - Preparing Families for Difficult Conversations about Alcohol & Drugs
The FCPS Student Safety and Wellness Office, along with each pyramid’s Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS), will be presenting an in-person, adult-only panel discussion designed for parents/caregivers of students in 5th grade through high school. Receive basic information about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids; learn what caregivers can do; and identify and connect with community resources.
Division-wide Virtual Event:
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Strategic Plan - Next Steps!
Next week, FCPS will be seeking your feedback on the school division’s progress with developing our new Strategic Plan.
Since last fall, thousands of students, staff, families, and community members have contributed to the strategic planning process by participating in focus groups, planning teams, community forums, and surveys. Parents/caregivers and community members will be invited to provide feedback on the work that’s been done thus far by completing a survey. Your input will help us know whether we are headed in the right direction—one that will help ensure a thriving future for every FCPS student.
Please keep an eye out for the survey link starting early next week. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for more details.
Student Opportunities
Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series
Looking for a job or volunteer opportunity? All students are invited to attend the 2023 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series .
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Saturday, March 11: 11am- 1pm- West Springfield HS
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Saturday, March 18: 1am- 1pm- South County HS
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Saturday March 25: 1-3pm- Chantilly High School.
At each fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. Most positions at the fair are geared toward students age 16+, but some opportunities for younger students may be available with parental consent. Registration for students is free and available online or at the fairs. For more information, or to register, please visit the Teen Job Fair webpage.
The Sorensen Institute's High School Leaders Program
The Sorensen Institute's 2023 High School Leaders Program (HSLP) is a two-week summer program hosted July 15-29, 2023, at the University of Virginia. The HSLP provides a wonderful opportunity for high school students to experience a university environment, develop leadership skills, and engage with peers of different backgrounds and regions who have an interest in public service and public policy. The program is open to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in or attend high school in Virginia. Applications are due Monday, March 20, 2023 at 11:59PM.
Girls Who Code AI Challenge and Summer Immersion Programs!
 This spring, Girls Who Code is challenging our students and community to create a project that explores how AI can be used for good. You can record a song about algorithmic bias, animate a short on automation, or code a game. The sky's the limit. To learn more about eligibility and how to enter visit https://bit.ly/3HuZrdr hq.girlswhocode.com. Submit your project on HQ by March 28!
GWC Summer Immersion Programs:
In our 2-week Summer Immersion Program for current 9th-11th graders, you’ll join live virtual classrooms where you’ll learn the fundamentals of game design, UX, the iterative design process, and more. You can even apply for tech access and grants of up to $300 for financial support!
In our 6-week Self-Paced Program for current 9th-12th graders, you’ll learn to code through independent study and real-world projects. By the end of the program, you’ll earn beginner-level certificates of completion in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript for web development or intermediate-level certificates of completion in Python for Cybersecurity or Data Science.
What are you waiting for? Apply now before the early application deadline of FEBRUARY 15 for priority consideration. https://bit.ly/3QMAbma.
NOVA STEM Internships
NOVA is recruiting high school and college students interested in STEM education for paid summer STEM internships in support of our summer STEM camps. Interns will support camp instruction, contribute to curriculum development, and learn to teach technical skills in a low stress, fun environment. For more details and to apply, please go this website: intern.novastem.us/apply.
National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest
The National Wildlife Federation’s National Wildlife Photo Contest is accepting entries through March 26, 2023. Students between the ages of 13-17 may enter in the Young Habitat Photographers category. Learn more about NWF’s National Wildlife Photo Contest and how to get a fee waiver.
NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge
NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge opened for entries on Jan. 6, 2023 and close on April 28. The judges will choose winners in two categories: grades five through eight and grades nine through 12. Entries must be submitted by an educator or a student leader who's 18 years old or older. And don't forget all the tips, advice and lesson plans we've compiled over the years and read more here.
Young American Creative Patriotic Arts Scholarship Competition
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary is sponsoring its annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to participate in two competitions: a 2-dimensional competition and a 3-dimensional competition. More information may be found on the VFW Auxiliary website. The deadline to submit artwork is March 31, 2023.
Anyone interested in participating should contact the VFW organizers at bettinalawton@gmail.com or pattybortz@gmail.com no later than March 1, 2023.
Parent Resource Center March Webinars
Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Eating disorders are behaviors that can lead to serious health problems. These behaviors can begin as a child and affect all genders. When discovered early, eating disorders can be treatable. Contact the FCPS Parent Resource Center for more information or to schedule a free, confidential consultation: prc@fcps.edu or 703-204-3941.
Resources
Eating Disorders Books in the FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC): The FCPS PRC offers a free library materials for the community.
Eating Disorders What Every Family Needs to Know: View this webinar on eating disorders from the FCPS parent Resource Center.
To learn even more, please go to this PRC newsletter on eating disorders and visit this FCPS website on Eating Disorders.
Mental Health Resources for Students and Parents
This month's theme: Mindful March!
Let's pause, breathe and notice, so we can respond more mindfully.
Go to Action for Happiness for ideas to help you take action for a happier and kinder world.
Healthy Minds Podcast
Hear about how we are all handling uncertainty; get new ideas to help your child, friends and families feel better; and learn to help yourself feel stronger and more energized
Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Feeling super stressed? Worried about a friend's mental health—or your own? Get tips to help manage your emotions and see what to do if you are in crisis.
Mental Health and Resiliency
Helping students to manage stress, make better choices, and develop healthy habits.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Staff is available by phone 703-204-3941 or email prc@fcps.edu to help! Offers free workshops, consultations, a lending library, and more to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities.
Improved Access to Language Translation on FCPS Websites
In a continued effort to prioritize access for our diverse communities, FCPS is launching a language translation feature that will be available on every division and school webpage. The feature has been added to the header at the top of the page and will scroll with the user as they navigate the page. Learn more about our new translation feature.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Thursday, March 9, 7pm: Regular Meeting
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Tuesday, March 14, 11am: Board Retreat
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Thursday, March 30, 7 pm: Regular Meeting
Please note, times and topics are subject to change.
*Public Hearing speaker sign up forms are forthcoming
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.
Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.
The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
New! For Spanish speakers, watch recorded School Board meetings or to watch live during the Regular Meetings on YouTube, you may visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code. |
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Contacting Me
To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
Use this link to sign up for our Newsletters.
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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