The Burke School administration team includes (from left) Kelly Willis, school-based technology specialist; Samantha Weiss, assistant principal; Thomas Sweet, principal; and Kate George, assistant principal.
š² Important Pay and Leave Information
Monthly paid employees (teachers, instructional assistants, and other contracted educational and support personnel) are paid ācurrent monthā for regular duties. They are paid on the last business day of each month, except in December. In December, they are paid on the last school day before the winter break.Ā
Monthly paid employees who complete additional duties, positions, or jobs are paid one month after the work is completed in a separate payment. Leave is also posted one month later.Ā
Biweekly paid employees (bus drivers, attendants, food service workers, custodial staff, and maintenance personnel) are paid every other Friday, two weeks after work is completed. A work week starts on Saturday and ends on the following Friday. A biweekly pay period consists of two work weeks.
Benefits and Deductions
Every year from October to June, biweekly paid employees have benefits and other deductions spread over 20 pay periods. Monthly paid employees will see payroll deductions resume in September after a two-month break. In the summer, deductions were taken for retirement contributions and Virginia Retirement System (VRS) basic life insurance. Soon, deductions will resume on health insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, long-term disability, and optional life insurance.
If you have any questions about payroll, visit theĀ Payroll Management webpage or email Payroll.Help@fcps.edu.
Review and Update Personal Information in UConnect
The beginning of the school year is a great time to review and update your personal data in UConnect (VPN required). View theĀ UConnect User GuideĀ for step-by-step instructions on how to log in to UConnect and update your preferred name, address, dependents, and other personal profile information.Ā
If you need to update payroll information ā direct deposit information, a legal name change, address change, or tax withholdings ā visit theĀ Changing Payroll Information webpage. Please note that if you ask for an additional flat amount of tax to be withheld from your pay, it will be taken from all payments based on how much you earn. If you receive a payment outside of your regular contracted pay, the additional tax amount will also be deducted from that payment.
For changes to beneficiaries or other benefits coverage, contact HR Client Services at 571-423-3000. Please remember that changes made to your school or office contact file will not update the HR/Payroll system.
Be the First to Know About Closings and Other Emergencies
Want to be the first to learn about closings, delays, and other critical information? While youāre in UConnect, add your cell phone number(s) to receive important text messages from FCPS.Ā
Log in to UConnect, click Bookmarks > Employee Self Service > Personal Information > Contact Numbers. Click the blue Add button. In the Detail section, click the magnifying glass in Contact Type, then select Cell Phone. Enter your cell phone number in the Phone Number field. Click Update.
For help, view the UConnect User Guide on the Employee Hub or contact HR Client Services at 571-423-3000.
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š FCPS Hosts 31 Ambassador Teachers in New Global Exchange Program
Christopher Jones, a sixth grade teacher at Woodlawn Elementary School, is one of 31 ambassador teachers in FCPS this year through the Participate Learning Global Exchange program. Each ambassador teacher has at least a bachelorās degree, and combined, they have 274 years of teaching experience from all over the globe. Read more about the Global Exchange.
š Your Feedback Matters: MyPDE Required Training Update
Thank you to all who have completed the optional survey at the end of required training. The average survey response rate for all training is about 35%. Responses have been overwhelmingly positive! The survey will continue, and the data will be used to inform future decisions. Some of the feedback includes:
- More than 86% felt confident with the new knowledge/skills acquired.
- More than 95% agreed or strongly agreed the content was relevant to their current work.
- More than 92% agreed or strongly agreed the pre- and/or post-assessment adequately assessed their knowledge of the content.
One improvement is that required training will be scheduled on a quarterly basis. Training assigned in July is due on Monday, September 25.Ā The next round of assigned training will beginĀ Tuesday, October 31. In October, most FCPS employees will be assigned training/acknowledgements aroundĀ cybersecurity, FERPA, Trust Policy,Ā religious and cultural observances, and other topics.
Check out your MyPDE portal for assigned mandatory training.
š Fall Teacher Leadership Cohorts
Teacher leaders contribute to improvement and innovation in their schools and across FCPS. This fall, three teacher leadership cohorts will be offered for those interested in learning how to create professional learning environments that cultivate collaboration, continuous learning, and transparency:
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Facilitation Skills for Leading in a Collaborative Culture: Participants develop skills and strategies to support adult learners and will explore strategies for managing common challenges and conflict.
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Communication Skills to Promote Professional Growth for Adult Learners: Participants will develop skills that build collaborative cultures and will learn how to have conversations that promote student-focused reflection.
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Becoming a Transformational Leader: Participants will utilize transformational leadership principles to reflect their values, vision, theories, and beliefs about their leadership and to inform and direct the actions they take in their work environments.Ā
These cohorts complement each other and can be taken in any order. To learn more, visit the Teacher Leadership website. Registration is open in MyPDE and will close onĀ Monday, September 11.
š· 2023-24 Health and Safety Guidance for Schools
COVID-19 cases have risen in Virginia over the last few weeks and flu season will soon be upon us. Be sure to review health and safety guidance for schools to stay up to date on the best ways to prevent the spread of disease.
September 11 National Day of Service
The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and to act in service to others as a way of honoring those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks. FCPS acknowledges the loss of life that day, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country.Ā
All students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it also supports Portrait of a Graduate attributes, andĀ social and emotional learning skills. Middle and high school students can find out more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
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Understanding the Root Causes of Student Absences
Understanding why a student is chronically absent can help form a better partnership between a school and its teachers, and the student and their family.Ā
Attendance Works offers a worksheet to help guide your thinking as you try to pinpoint what is leading to a specific studentās absenteeism. The worksheet can help teachers and school staff better understand what support systems might be needed for that student. Understanding the root cause of absenteeism helps find the best chance for improving school attendance and performance.
āØ 2023-30 Strategic Plan ā Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These five goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. Our equity commitment and a set of measures in each goal will measure our success.Ā
Under Goal 3, every student will learn to use critical and creative thinking. They will meet or exceed academic goals. Students will reach their full potential.Ā
Visit the Strategic Plan webpageĀ for more information.Ā Watch this videoĀ to learn about the many voices that came together to create the plan.Ā
āļø Academic Matters: 2023 Summer Learning
At the August 31 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented data from learning programs that took place during the summer of 2023.
Nearly 34,000 students took part in 23 programs at 87 sites across the county. Programs included Extended School Year, High School Credit Recovery, Institute for the Arts, Career and Technical Education summer camps, and others.Ā
Watch the presentation.Ā View the slides.
āļø Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First
If you have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, FCPSā Office of Safety and Security has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone at 571-423-2020.
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
If you have concerns about programs, regulations, policies or other topics that do not impact the safety of our schools, please contact the FCPS ombuds online, at 571-423-4014, or ombuds@fcps.edu.
FCPS Online Classifieds Free for Employees
Looking to sell your old guitar or share a ride to work? The FCPS Online Classifieds system ā which is for employees only and can be found on the Hub ā is a free way for employees to post ads for personally owned items that they are seeking to buy, sell, or give away. It's also a great tool to help an employee look for someone to share a ride to work, find a roommate, or rent real estate. FCPS' Online Classifieds system is completely self-service and allows users to post new ads or update or renew existing ads at any time. View rules and frequently asked questions.Ā
For more information, contact Andy Grunig.
Sexual Harassment Prohibited in FCPS
Regulation 4950 ā Sexual Harassment by Employees states that no person in Fairfax County Public Schools shall be subjected to sexual harassment. It is the intent of the School Board to maintain an environment free from sexual harassment of any kind.
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature amounting to or constituting harassment are prohibited. Employees should report complaints of sexual harassment to their supervisors or program managers. Students and parents of students should bring concerns to their school principals.
If, for any reason, an individual prefers not to address their concerns directly with a principal, supervisor, or program manager, they may consult or file a complaint with the Office of Employee Relations by calling 571-423-3070.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network).Ā Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.Ā
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!Ā
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