|
To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
ይህንን ዜና መፅሄት በሌሎች ቋንቋዎች ለማንበብ፤ እባክዎን ድረ ገፃችንን ይጎብኙ።
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
Dear Community Members,
The days are quite full it seems, as they often are for life in Fairfax County. From young students solidifying their rhythm in school, to high school students preparing for college admissions and post-secondary plans, the days can be packed with a lot of activity and even emotion.
For many, the war in the Middle East and its intimate connection with us in Fairfax remains top-of-mind. This I heard from constituents responding to my statement last week addressing anti-Semitism.
My statement responded singularly to the overwhelming grief and fear expressed to me by residents, because anti-Semitism bears a particular pattern of barbarism that has loomed for centuries. October 7 was the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust where 6 million Jews were murdered, and additionally other peoples. When anti-Semitic events occur, data show that the incidence of more events following increases 500%, and currently, anti-Semitism is at the highest levels in America since the 1970s.
This needed to be stated before turning to the suffering from counter actions that have dismantled lives in Gaza, impacting Fairfax families who grieve for loved ones. FCPS must ensure that our students, families, and staff of Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab heritage do not suffer from hate speech and discrimination as they endure this tragedy, or anytime.
One community leader wrote, “For too long we have avoided discussing this topic; we have failed to create a healthy dialog about this terrible conflict; we have allowed mistrust, slogans, and stereotypes to fester in our local community; and we still do not fully see each other’s connection … We must commit to returning to these topics after we take time for healing.”
I agree. Educating children about controversial issues is hard, but we cannot deem it impossible. We can’t narrow the scope of what is taught - FCPS must widen it, guided by trustworthy educational resources.
So many have shared with me that they feel misunderstood and disrespected. Addressing this is the work before FCPS and the community, if we want to provide all children with the strongest foundation upon which to build their education - the confidence to be who they are without being bullied, and with knowledge about the complex world in which we live. I will keep striving toward this, and I hope we can work together.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
-
Tuesday, October 24, 10:30am: Work Session
- Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Priorities
- Fiscal Forecast
-
Tuesday, October 24, 5:30pm: Public Hearing
- Woodson High School Renaming
-
Thursday, October 26, 7:30pm: Regular Meeting
Accessing Board Meetings
View this link for a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings and associated information.
Click here for meeting logistics, agendas and handouts (to view the slides and materials, scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Regular Meetings and Work Sessions are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99. Meeting recordings can be found on FCPS YouTube. For more information about signing up to speak at a regular meeting, click here.
 |
|
|
For Spanish speakers -- to watch recorded School Board meetings or live Regular Meetings on YouTube, you can visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code.
|
|
Hunter Mill Happenings
Community Conversation with Dr. Reid at Madison HS
Meet Author and Long-time Educator Rick Wormeli
Madison High School is hosting a conversation with Rick Wormeli on November 14th at 7pm in the auditorium. Mr. Wormeli is an advocate for practical and compelling educational change and is deeply committed to ensuring that the educational process reflects needed transitions in instructional practice to prepare our students for the world after high school. He understands skills-based mastery learning framework, grading practices and the MAD Wings program. Mr. Wormeli brings a wealth of experience and research-based expertise. For more information on Mr. Wormeli, please visit his website.
Restoring School Grounds at Hughes MS
I recently shared an excellent morning with volunteers and Fairfax County staff at Langston Hughes Middle School to prep the earth for students to come plant on our school grounds.
This initiative, called "Revitalize, Restore, Replant!", is supported by the Fairfax County Government’s Department of Public Works, which partners with 4-6 schools each fall and spring to provide an installation. The county provides the materials and staff, and students show up to help!
|
Hunter Mill Students Earn AP Diploma/Certificate
Congratulations to the several Hunter Mill District students who earned either the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma, or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2022-23 school year! AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board based on two year-long AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills. See the full list of student awardees.
Thank You Hunter Mill Principals!!
October is National School Principals Month and I want to share my deepest appreciation for all of the principals in FCPS - with an extra shout out to those that help our Hunter Mill students succeed each day! I am grateful to work with such dedicated professionals.
Additional Information of Interest
Transforming FCPS Food and Nutrition Services
Healthy and nutritious school lunches aren’t just tasty, they’re also important building blocks for academic success! Celebrate National School Lunch Week by learning about FCPS’ new menu options and meeting Food and Nutrition Services Executive Director Shaun Sawko. Check out this feature article and video.
Students Explore Artificial Intelligence
An elective course in artificial intelligence (AI) is available to students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Instructors Malcolm Eckel and Peter Gabor want their students to learn how to write AI programs of their own that could be used to simplify life. One idea is maximizing instructional time; having a camera take attendance by recognizing images of student faces instead of a teacher manually going through the class roster each day.
The AI program at TJHSST is an example of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 5, Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation. Goal 5 seeks to push students to innovate and prepare for jobs of the future. Read more about TJHSST’s AI class.
|
Providing Students with Access to Learning
FCPS is committed to serving the needs of each and every student. For Quinton (pictured right), that includes cutting edge assistive technology that allows him to communicate through eye movement. Tools such as these allow Quinton to participate in his kindergarten classroom.
Watch this video to learn more about Quinton and how FCPS is helping unlock opportunities for students.
Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference
The 2023 Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (RATE) Conference, sponsored by Assistive Technology Services (ATS) in the Department of Special Services, will be held on Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m., at West Springfield High School.
The RATE Conference focuses on strategies for using assistive technology hardware, software, and peripherals to enhance learning for all students. Parents/caregivers, teachers, staff, and community members are invited to attend.
Check out the conference webpage to register, and to view the conference schedule and session descriptions.
|
New Virginia Family Special Education Guide
The new Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education replaces the 2010 "purple book" Parent's Guide to Special Education. The new Family's Guide overviews the special education process and focuses on what families need to know and be prepared to do as critical education partners. Find the new Guide here.
Opportunity to Evaluate FCPS’ Websites
FCPS will be working with our website vendor to enhance user experience on the school division’s websites. This will include improving key elements such as design, layout, navigation, content, and accessibility.
Your input is an important part of this process. A survey will be sent next week. The survey will provide an opportunity to share how our websites work for you and what you would like to see improved.
Become Familiar With FCPS Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned. If students, staff, or community members have a (non-emergency) safety concern at school, they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
|
Early Voting Underway for November 7 General Election
Early voting began on Friday, September 22 for the November 7 General Election.
The 2023 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 7. Learn about registering to vote.
The funding provided by voter-approved bonds is currently expected to provide construction funds for seven elementary schools; planning and design funds for eight elementary school renovations and one middle school renovation; and funds for three modular relocations, security vestibules, and inflation adjustments for prior bond projects. These projects are identified in the FY 2024-28 Capital Improvement Program which was approved by the School Board in February.
Local and State officials included on the ballot:
- Board of Supervisors (Chairman and all districts)
- School Board (At-Large and all districts)
- Commonwealth's Attorney
- Sheriff
- Virginia House of Delegates and Senate (all districts)
- Clerk of the Court
- Towns of Clifton and Vienna (Mayor and Town Council)
- Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District
For a list of voting locations, voting hours, voting requirements, and more visit Early Voting Begins Sept. 22 for the Nov. 7 General Election | News Center (fairfaxcounty.gov)
Reduce Waste With the Trash or Treasure Program
Americans spent a record $36.9 billion on candy in 2021—more than 600 pounds of that candy is purchased just for Halloween. We all love celebrating with something sweet! However, the vast majority of candy wrappers end up in landfills due to an inability by most curbside recycling programs to recycle them. That’s where Rubicon and Trash or Treasure come in.
By participating in Trash or Treasure™, you don’t have to trash those candy wrappers and doom them to an eternity in a landfill—or, even worse, in our oceans. Using a custom candy wrapper recycling box, you can help keep our planet clean and contribute to the circular economy.
Starting this fall, the bigger and better Trash or Treasure™ program will run throughout the year with special campaigns around Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and other seasonal festivities in 2024. Help turn these “sweet” holidays into more sustainable celebrations! Learn more about Trash or Treasure and register to receive your box before Halloween.
|
Job Opportunities
Contacting Me
I prioritize responses to Hunter Mill constituents, so please be sure to identify yourself as such if you contact me. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful to 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. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please take good care,
Was this email not addressed to you? Sign up for my newsletters here!
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
|
