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.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
Mason District Community,
As 2023 winds down, I’d like to express my appreciation to the Mason District for your trust and support. It is my privilege and honor to serve another term as your representative on the Fairfax County School Board.
I look forward to engaging in the important work ahead with my colleagues on the newly-elected 2024-2028 School Board beginning January 1, 2024. Mason District residents will continue to be represented by me as their magisterial member, but also by the three at-large members: Kyle McDaniel, Ryan McElveen, and Ilryong Moon.
The Magisterial District Representatives will now include Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Braddock District; Melanie Meren, Hunter Mill District; Robyn Lady, Dranesville District; Marcia St. John-Cunning, Franconia District; Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District; Karl Frisch, Providence District; Sandy Anderson, Springfield District; and Seema Dixit, Sully District.
Fairfax County School Board 2024-2028
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my retiring colleagues on the current Board. As we began our journey four years ago, none of us could have anticipated the challenges that were ahead of us as the global pandemic changed life as we knew it. The work of the Board quickly shifted to navigate the challenges of our new environment. Thank you for your service to Fairfax County!
Happy retirement to Tammy Derenak Kaufax and Megan McLaughlin who both served on the Board for 12 years and to Karen Corbett Sanders, Abrar Omeish and Elaine Tholen.
Congratulations to the three members headed to the General Assembly. We look forward to your continued advocacy for our schools: Delegate-Elects Karen Keys-Gamarra and Laura Jane Cohen and State Senator-Elect Stella Pekarsky.
Honoring the outgoing members of the 2020-2024 School Board
Earlier this month, the School Board was treated to performances by two Mason District ensembles. I was thrilled to see these students showcase their impressive talents!
The Falls Church Jazzguars, under the direction of Dr. CJ Redden-Liotta, performed at the Oath of Office Ceremony on December 13th.
The Glasgow Middle School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Andrew Sharrock and Tammy Freeman, performed the National Anthem at the December 14th Regular School Board Meeting.
I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at rjanderson@fcps.edu. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at cmcoffey@fcps.edu to arrange a time.
I wish Mason District families a safe and happy New Year!
In this issue:
Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
On November 14, Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden presented the FY 2025 Fiscal Forecast. The forecast included projections for key financial areas that drive the budget development process, such as revenue assumptions and expenditure assumptions, including employee salaries and benefits, and student enrollment.
On November 28, the School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors held a joint budget meeting to further discuss the FY25 Budget Forecast.
FCPS continues to navigate the chronic underfunding of public education by the Virginia General Assembly and Governor. The study produced this year by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) verified that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average and the regional average.
Commitments made at the federal level continue to not be realized in funds provided and FCPS must work diligently to identify solutions. Unfunded mandates include the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Impact Aid - a federal program designed to minimize the fiscal impact caused by the presence of tax-exempt federal property. Impact aid has not been fully funded for decades.
Budget Timeline
The School Board is scheduled for a Budget Work Session on January 30, 2024, followed by a Budget Public Hearing on February 5th. Please find the complete FY 2025 Budget Development Calendar below.
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Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
The FCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP) annually reviews current student membership analysis and facilities data to identify future capacity needs and capital requirements.The Program identifies projects such as new construction, capacity enhancement, renovation, and potential site acquisitions. Newly identified needs are included in the schedule of capital improvements for the next five years, and the Capital Construction Cash Flow (Cash Flow) tracks the funding allocation for these projects. Actual completion dates for capital projects depend on cash flow and debt service limitations established by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The School Board will be discussing the proposed FY 2025-2029 CIP at the January 9, 2024 Work Session and will hear public comments at the CIP Public Hearing scheduled for January 18, 2024.
Current and Future Mason District Projects:
- Justice High School Addition - estimated completion FY 2025
- Bren Mar Park Renovation - estimated completion FY 2027
- Falls Church High School Renovation - estimated completion FY 2027
- Glasgow Middle School Boundary Adjustments - more information to be provided soon regarding timeline
I have received significant feedback from the community regarding the need for the addition of Luther Jackson Middle School, Weyanoke and Belvedere Elementary Schools to the CIP renovation queue. To that end, I will be advocating for further review of these buildings during the CIP process this year.
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SCYPT and Equity
The Fairfax County Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT) is a committee of representatives from Fairfax County Government, Fairfax County Public Schools, and the community. The purpose of the committee is to set community-wide goals and priorities for public policy as it relates to children, youth and families. SCYPT first convened in May 2013.
The SCYPT committee’s mission is to ensure all children, youth, and their families and communities have equitable access to quality services, supports and opportunities to further their success and well-being. One of SCYPT’s goals this year is to enhance the ability to apply an equity lens to the county’s decision-making and work.
At the December SCYPT meeting, the GARE Racial Equity Tool was introduced by county staff. The protocol, shared below, is a powerful process in support of a comprehensive evaluation of proposed initiatives to inform planning and decision making. Of note is the component identified as “Strategies for Equity” which compels deeper investigation into the impact of implementation.
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 Another powerful graphic shared at the SCYPT meeting illustrates the goal and rationale for equitable practices. Fairness, not sameness!
2024 Legislative Program
The School Board annually adopts a legislative program and legislative priorities to inform local, state, and federal public officials and others of its positions on legislative policy and budget issues of potential importance to Fairfax County Public Schools students, teachers, staff, parents, and the broader Fairfax community. The program contains the School Board’s positions on state and federal issues of both current and ongoing significance. It facilitates Board input to policymakers as they debate various policy options, sharing the possible programmatic and financial impacts of legislative and policy actions. On December 4, the School Board voted to adopt the 2024 Fairfax County School Board State and Federal Legislative Program.
Once the Virginia General Assembly convenes on January 10, 2024, bills and resolutions can be tracked through Virginia’s Legislative Information System. Bills specific to education can be tracked through the 2024 Session Education page.
🕑 Middle School Start Times
In September, FCPS awarded a contract to Prismatic Services, Inc., to develop a plan for potentially changing middle school start times. The plan will explore starting the middle school day no earlier than 8 a.m., without changing high school start times or impacting the FCPS budget.
Prismatic will present their findings to the School Board in January. The board will decide in the spring whether or not to proceed with changing middle school start times. Read about the middle school start times project.
No Virtual Learning on Snow Days This Winter
FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days for the 2023-24 school year. There will be no virtual learning when school is closed due to inclement weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available online and on public access television channels):
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FCPS Performance
Standard of Learning (SOL) Pass Rates and Outcomes
At a fall meeting during which Dr. Reid presented the Academic Matters segment, the annual pass rates and accreditation outcomes were discussed for Fairfax County Public Schools. The Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments, administered each year, show that FCPS students continue to outperform the state. Please see results for the past three years in the chart below.
The data show that FCPS students have continued to demonstrate growth in Reading, Mathematics and Science over the past three years.
SAT Outcomes
Recent data show that FCPS students continue to outperform state and global students on the SATs. The average SAT score for FCPS students in the class of 2023 was 1181 which is higher than the state average of 1113 and the global average of 1028. While there are many reasons to be proud of the performance of Fairfax County students, much work is needed to close the achievement gap that exists for our Black and Hispanic students as related to their SAT performance.
It should also be noted that although Fairfax County Public Schools total mean scores are still down 31 points from the six-year high in 2019, the decline for 2023 of 4 points is significantly less sharp than the 11-point drop statewide and the 22-point drop globally since 2022.
Similarly, FCPS participation rates are still below the six-year high seen in 2018 but remain mostly stable from 2022, with 9,759 exam takers in the 2023 senior class compared to 9,880 exam takers in the 2022 senior class. However, FCPS participation rates reflect a developing nationwide movement to de-emphasize entrance exams within the college admissions process in addition to lingering impacts from pandemic testing constraints since 2020.
More information can be located HERE.
Annandale High School - Rising 9th Grade Open House
Annandale High School is hosting an Open House for rising 9th grade students and families on January 17, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Optional sessions will be offered on various programs and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about core and elective courses for 9th graders. The goal is for students and parents/guardians to leave this event excited about the opportunities students will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete the course request form when students meet with their middle school counselors!
Breakout sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.
Middle School Basketball Tournament
In late October, a co-ed basketball tournament was held for 6-8 graders at Luther Jackson Middle School. Students from Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Poe, and Kilmer Middle schools participated in the tournament organized by Mr. Williams and the after-school programs coordinators of the participating schools. The basketball tournament also included a cheerleading team from Glasgow Middle School and the Panthers dance team that performed throughout the event.
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Winning Student Designs
In May, the FCPS Office of Communications called for entries for new graphics to acknowledge the religious and cultural observances identified on the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar. Middle and high school students were invited to create visuals that positively represented the observances celebrated in the FCPS community.
The submitted entries were judged by a panel of FCPS cultural liaisons and graphic designers. The eleven winning designs will be featured on FCPS and school social media platforms, and in various newsletters leading up to the holidays.
Winners of the challenge included two Mason District students:
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Najenji D. from Justice High School (Christmas design below)
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Dayanara M. from Falls Church High School - Easter design (watch for the design debut in March)
2024-2025 FAFSA - Completion Assistance
The 2024-2025 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is scheduled to open by December 31, 2023. Current seniors should plan to complete this form to determine their eligibility for financial aid for their first year of post-secondary education.
College Access Fairfax has partnered with FCPS high schools to offer FAFSA completion events. Families are encouraged to attend any of the sessions where they can receive assistance in completing the necessary financial aid forms.
Sessions will be offered on:
- January 9, 2024 at Annandale HS from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
- January 20, 2024 at Justice HS from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
- January 27, 2024 at Edison HS from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
- January 30, 2024 at Falls Church HS from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
- February 20, 2024 at Annandale HS from 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Please note:
- Students and parents should attend together, if possible.
- Students should bring their FCPS laptop; personal computers cannot connect to the FCPS Wi-Fi and limited computers will be available for use.
- Verified FSA IDs are required prior to the event. Create an account to receive a FSA ID.
- Items to bring to complete the FAFSA: FSA ID for both student and parent; social security numbers or permanent resident numbers; alien registration card, if applicable; 2022 tax forms and wage statements; date of birth for student and parents; parents’ date of marriage and divorce, if applicable; date you moved to VA; driver’s license number; current statements for checking, savings, and other asset accounts; current investment records, including 529 or prepaid college plans; LES for any month in 2022 (for military families).
Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA) to Open in Late January 2024
Students who are unable to complete the FAFSA - students who are not U.S. citizens or eligible non-residents - should complete the VASA to determine if they are eligible for state financial aid. Although a definite date has not been announced, the form is expected to become available online in late January 2024.
Parents Interested in Receiving Individual Help
College Access Fairfax offers one-on-one help for families who are interested in receiving individual help in completing required financial aid forms. The appointment portal is scheduled to open on January 2, 2024, with the first appointments starting January 8, 2024.
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Academy Open Houses Begin in January
An academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that can prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Each Academy course offers hands-on skills learning and experiences, industry recognized certifications and licensure, industry contacts with local health and human service partners and leading national organizations to enhance the learning experience. In addition, some courses offer dual enrollment credits with Northern Virginia Community College. Each of these learning experiences significantly prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce as well as advanced post-secondary study.
More than a dozen career fields can be explored through FCPS academies. For example, the Falls Church Governor’s Health Sciences Academy offers the following:
- American Sign Language
- Biotechnology Foundations
- Criminal Justice
- Dental Careers
- Exploring Health Sciences/Exploring the Language of Medicine
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Intro to Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Patient Care Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practical Nursing
- Vietnamese
FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January. Learn more and view the calendar of Academy Open Houses (also shown below).
2024 Gap Year Fair
FCPS’ School Counseling Services and Go Overseas are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at George C. Marshall High School from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. This event is for high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. The evening will begin with a presentation in the auditorium from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Following the presentation, a program fair will be held in the cafeteria from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., with representatives from over 30 programs offering gap year opportunities. Students and their families are encouraged to meet the representatives and learn about the variety of experiences available.
Students are encouraged to pre-register here for the event. Registration is open to students and families up to and including the day of the fair. For more information, visit: USA Gap Year Fairs.
**In the event of inclement weather on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. The Gap Year Fair will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the same time and location.
Teen Center Open Gym
Recent Appointments
Region 2 Assistant Superintendent
Ms. Megan Vroman will now serve as the permanent Assistant Superintendent for Region 2 after filling the role in an acting capacity since July 1. Ms. Vroman previously served as a Region 2 executive principal. Her experience and familiarity with the region will continue to be an asset to our students.
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Assistant Superintendent, Department of School Improvement and Supports
Ms. Marie Lemmon has been named the new Assistant Superintendent of the Department of School Improvement and Supports.
Ms. Lemmon has over 20 years of experience with FCPS, most recently as the principal of Bailey’s Upper Elementary, leading the opening of the school in 2014.
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Chief Safety and Security Officer
Tom Vaccarello was appointed chief safety and security officer earlier this month after serving in the Office of Safety and Security (OSS) as the director and executive director since 2015.
Before joining Fairfax County Public Schools, Mr. Vaccarello was employed with the United States Secret Service as a special agent for 28 years, with 10 of those years serving at the senior leadership level.
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Woodson High School Principal
Mr. Kevin Greata has been named the new principal of Woodson High School. Mr. Greata is a proud graduate of FCPS and he has spent his educational career with FCPS, serving the past eight years as an administrator at the middle and high school levels.
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Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- January 11, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
- January 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- January 9, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
- January 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Public Hearings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- January 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (Capital Improvement Program)
- February 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (FY 2025 Budget)
All meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
Would you like to share your ideas and concerns with the School Board and staff? Register HERE to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.
Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español
Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.
We are cognizant of the significant language needs of the Mason District and I will continue to advocate for their availability and inclusion.
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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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