Parklawn Elementary School office staff members are ready to help their school community! Meet (from left) Cristen Centra, Luz Laguna, Ann Lewis, Lanh Nguyen, and Reina Martinez.
🏆 Teacher Honored by Fred Rogers Institute with Helper Award
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Science Teacher Eric Haapapuro, known as “Mr. H” by his students, was honored by the Fred Rogers Institute with a Helper Award. Inspired by the legacy of Fred Rogers, the Helper Award recognizes individuals who care for children and communities in their daily and professional lives in “ordinary and extraordinary ways.”
Mr. H, a career switcher, only began teaching three years ago. Watch him in action.
Visit the Employee Blog to learn about Mr. H's journey to teaching for FCPS and why he was one of only 14 recipients of this award. While you’re there, tell us about the helpers in your life. Reply in the form on the blog or email us at EmployeeNews@fcps.edu.
Changes to Annual and Sick Leave Plans
All FCPS employees who are eligible for sick and/or annual leave will now receive their annual entitlement at the beginning of each fiscal year (July 1).
This year, monthly paid employees will see this impact in their Friday, September 29, check, and biweekly paid employees will see this impact in their Friday, October 6, check. Going forward, the allotment will occur on July 1 annually.
Although employees will see the leave available on July 1, they may not access the current year’s leave until August 1. Please remember that leave is processed one month after the leave is taken.
Employees who joined FCPS or had a position change in September will see their available annual leave beginning in their October paycheck.
Contact payroll at PayrollHelp@fcps.edu with any questions.
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Kick Off
Join Dr. Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation at Hayfield Secondary School on Tuesday, September 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., or at Whitman Middle School on Wednesday, September 27, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions.
These events are part of a series of Community Conversations this fall and spring in each region. Days and times for the additional region events will be shared soon. Visit our webpage to find out when and where you can engage with Dr. Reid.
Register to attend. Pre-registration is not required but helps us to plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability.
Your voice matters, and we look forward to seeing you at any of our upcoming Superintendent Community Conversations.
✍️ Check MyPDE for Required Training
MyPDE training modules that were assigned in July are due on Monday, September 25. Check your MyPDE portal for assigned mandatory training.
📓 My First Year: Meet Ms. Vivi
Varvara “Vivi” Zakharevich knew from the time she was in first grade at Lemon Road Elementary School that she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.
Our My First Year video and blog series will follow Ms. Vivi this year, as she remembers being a first grade dreamer and experiences being a third grade teacher at Shrevewood Elementary School.
Watch the first episode and read more about Ms. Vivi and her journey toward her first day of school.
Do you remember how you were feeling before your very first day at FCPS? Share your memories on the Employee Blog or email us at EmployeeNews@fcps.edu.
💲 Substitutes to Receive High-Volume Pay on High-Volume Days
The School Board has approved a list of 18 days for substitutes to receive high-volume pay. All substitutes who work a full-day or half-day job will receive high-volume pay. This includes long-term substitutes and site-based substitutes.
Substitutes will receive their hourly pay plus an additional $80 for each high-volume day they work. All substitute instructional assistants will receive their hourly pay plus an additional $55 for each high-volume day they work. See the list of high-volume days.
Work More, Earn More
A bonus program for substitutes who accept more than the 10 required days has also been approved. Subs will earn a bonus for each milestone:
- Substitutes working 50 days within a school year will earn a $200 bonus.
- Substitutes working 100 days within a school year will earn a $300 bonus.
- Substitutes working 150 days within a school year will earn a $400 bonus.
A day is defined as a three-hour job or seven-hour job. Bonuses will be paid quarterly in December, March, June, and July. Get more information about the pay schedule.
💵 Two Pensions — Only at FCPS
Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System (ERFC) is a second pension for full-time, monthly-paid instructional, administrative, and educational support employees.
Each month, you contribute 3% of your paycheck to ERFC, and FCPS contributes 6.48%. Stay with FCPS for five years to get vested, and when you retire, you’ll receive an ERFC pension on top of your VRS pension and Social Security.
ERFCDirect is a 24/7 secure portal. Visit ERFCDirect to:
- Create your login. Be sure to use a personal email address — not your FCPS — email when setting up your account.
- Name your beneficiaries.
- Run retirement estimates.
- Confirm which ERFC plan you have.
- See how much you’ve contributed so far.
Call ERFC with any questions at 703-426-3900, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email ERFCRetirement@fcps.edu.
🍎 Edison High School Principal’s Children Start Their Teaching Careers at FCPS
Since 2000, Edison High School Principal Amanda Burke (center) has been a familiar face at Fairfax County Public Schools. She started her career teaching at the high school she now leads. Today, Principal Burke’s infectious enthusiasm for education reflects in her two children, who now also work for FCPS.
Principal Burke’s daughter, Corinne (left), is in her first year as a multiple disabilities teacher at South Lakes High School. Her son, Zachary (right), is a special education and biology teacher at Woodson High School. Read more about this FCPS family connection, and how Zachary and Corinne got a great start with mentors and support systems.
❓ Have a Question? Ask FCPS StaffConnect
If you need a new badge, you can now make that request through StaffConnect. The new application is replacing HR Connection. It can be used by employees to request access to HR technologies such as Brassring and Smartfind Express, submit badge requests, and ask questions about UConnect. Applicants can also use the platform to request assistance. Additional services will be available through this portal in the coming months.
Access FCPS StaffConnect on the Employee Hub or via the Contact Us page on the public website. Questions may also be directed to Human Resources at 571-423-3000.
Academic Matters: COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan
During the Academic Matters segment of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid provided an update on the school division’s actions regarding FCPS’ COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan. As a reminder, the plan was created to support the needs of students with disabilities whose learning was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since last December, FCPS has held more than 30,000 individualized education plan (IEP) and Section 504 meetings with families and provided more than 27,000 compensatory service hours to students. Through the compensatory meeting process, the school division has allocated more than $5.5 million in reimbursements to families for private services.
For more updates, please watch Dr. Reid’s presentation on YouTube or view the slides.
Resources for Families
The Family Resource Center (FRC) provides resources, confidential consultations, and webinars for all families and staff.
The FRC has created a Google folder that contains informational flyers. These flyers — which have been translated into several languages — can be printed and given to families and staff if they are seeking resources or supports. These flyers should only be printed for sharing. The Google link is not accessible to anyone outside of FCPS staff and students.
The FRC is available year-round to assist school communities. Contact them at 703-204-3941 or by email at frc@fcps.edu.
🎥 Reminder: How to Handle Media Requests
The Office of Communications has a Media Relations team dedicated to helping connect news outlets to FCPS. If you are contacted by a member of the media, you should always notify your principal or program manager before providing information, conducting an interview, answering a reporter’s questions, or agreeing to a visit. The principal or program manager must notify the Office of Communications as soon as possible. Please do not initiate contact with the media.
If you have a great story to share, please reach out to the Media Relations team. They may be able to help publicize it. Please contact Julie Moult, Kathleen Miller, and Steven Brasley at MediaRelations@fcps.edu. Read FCPS' media regulation (PDF).
🍁 Register Today for the Walktober Wellness Challenge
Registration is now open for the Walktober challenge. Register and/or join a team on the Walktober website by Friday, October 6.
The challenge takes place Sunday, October 1, through Tuesday, October 31. Teams can include four to eight colleagues. Walktober has both individual and team competitions, daily health tips, and an interactive message board.
Learn about other wellness opportunities available to employees on the Employee Wellness Program webpage.
✨ 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five student-centered goals to create positive change in FCPS. These five goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Under Goal 5, every student will graduate ready to thrive in life after high school with the skills they need to navigate, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future. Using data gathered from students, we will ensure they are ready for a wide variety of options for their futures.
Visit the Strategic Plan webpage to learn more about how we will measure the success of Goal 5.
Yom Kippur — Schools and Offices Closed September 25
All FCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 25, for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar. Learn more about Yom Kippur on Brittanica.com.
🗓️ September Is Suicide Prevention Month
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young people aged 10-24. When school personnel, families, students, and community members take an active role in suicide prevention, lives can be saved.
Students in FCPS learn about suicide prevention using the Acknowledge, Care, Tell model (ACT). We can all support someone in need of help by ACTing. First, acknowledge signs that someone is in crisis or considering suicide. Next, show the individual that you care about them. Finally, tell a trusted adult or support the person by connecting them with help.
If someone indicates that they are experiencing thoughts of suicide, emergency services can be accessed by visiting the nearest emergency room or by contacting emergency services at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health at 703-573-5679, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. You can also call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free 24/7 support.
Learn more about suicide prevention.
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Staff Staples
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