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Dear Dranesville families,

I want to begin by saying that I am honored to serve on this board with my esteemed colleagues as the Dranesville magisterial district representative. A lifelong learner, I have thoroughly enjoyed our orientation training and am grateful to the leadership team, staff, and returning board members for their time and patience answering questions.

A product of Fairfax County, I was so excited to return as an employee and am extremely proud of my 27 years of service as a counselor and Director of Student Services working at George C. Marshall High School, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, McLean High School, and Chantilly High School. Kids were at the center of my work each and every day, and I endeavor to make that the case in my work on this board. I am excited to continue to learn more about Fairfax County from this seat and particularly our Dranesville’s community and schools. 

I look forward to collaborating with my fellow School Board members to support our Superintendent and FCPS’s new strategic plan and meeting students, families, school staff, and community members at different events across the county.

I want to thank our office of Community Relations for organizing the Community Conversations to Raise Awareness About Fentanyl and Other Drugs that took place last week at Edison High School. Last year, we lost a student, Cayden Foster, from Centreville High School who had no idea that the Percocet pill he took had fentanyl in it. His courageous parents shared their story with the audience last week. Overdoses in our country are up 400% over the past decade and we must educate all our students on the risks of fentanyl as we teach, support, and empower them to reach out to a trusted adult when and if they or one of their peers is engaging in risky behavior. It is my hope that this message will reach all our families and students. If you have not watched the video interview with the Fosters, please pause and view it now. While there is great debate regarding age appropriateness of discussing this sick reality in our world. I commend the 6th grade boy who stood up and asked for training for his peers. We are all in this fight together.

Earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors invited the School Board to an all-day retreat where the focus was on how our two boards and staff can collaborate on issues affecting our students, families, and community. I was delighted to sit next to our new Dranesville Supervisor, Jimmy Bierman, and exchange Dranesville specific ideas.

Please reach out to me to share your questions, frustrations, and good news  at my FCPS website. If you received this newsletter from a friend, please sign up here for my newsletters.

Wishing you a happy January and end of the second quarter,

Robyn

In this newsletter,

• Updates
• School and Student News
• January is…
• Opportunities and Events

Updates

FCPS Updates

Calendar Reminders 1/25- End of 2nd Quarter- 2-hour early release 1/26- Student Holiday/Teacher Workday Quarter End, Early Release, and Student Holiday Thursday, January 25, is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Friday, January 26, for a teacher work day. See the complete school year calendar.

Orthodox Epiphany - 1/19 (O Day)

In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi. It is believed that Christ's baptism by John the Forerunner (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan began Christ's ministry on earth and revealed the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to mankind. 

Open Houses for Families Affected by McLean Boundary Update- January 25

Each elementary school affected by the McLean Elementary boundary update will hold an Open House for new families on Thursday, January 25 (a 2-hour early release date for students)  at 3pm.

• Chesterbrook ES- 1753 Kirby Rd, McLean
• Churchill Road ES- 7100 Churchill Rd, McLean
• Haycock ES-  6616 Haycock Rd, Falls Church
• Franklin Sherman ES- 6633 Brawner St, McLean

As previously communicated, FCPS made its recommendation for a boundary adjustment to address the overcrowding issue at Kent Gardens and  recommended "Scenario B".  A map of affected homes can be found here. The McLean Elementary Boundary Webpage will continue to be updated with important news going forward. 

• Rising Kindergarten and 1st-grade students will be reassigned to attend the newly assigned school for the 2024-25 school year.
• Rising 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students have the option to attend the newly assigned school or remain at their prior assigned school for the 2024-25 school year and until they matriculate to middle school.

The adopted phasing plan allows students/caregivers the option to remain at their current school or change schools now, addressing the different perspectives voiced in public feedback. Students that are involved in phasing over the next several years will be provided bus transportation to their elementary school.  Please understand that with a current shortage of bus drivers in our area and the requirement of additional bus runs to accommodate phasing, your patience will be required as all of these new runs are established.  We need those that are involved in the affected neighborhoods to fill out the form indicating which school your child will attend by the February deadline.

Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather is here! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. The FCPS’ website is generally the first place where we will post an emergency weather closing. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and plan for childcare if appropriate.

How Cold is Too Cold to allow students to Play Outdoors?

• When the wind chill/”feels like” temperature is 25 degrees or higher, teachers are advised to take their students outside for recess.  Teachers of younger grades may make adjustments to this temperature based on student attire and current weather conditions.
• When the wind chill/”feels like” temperature is between 20-25 degrees, teachers may use their professional judgment, based on students’ attire (jackets, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats) and current weather conditions in determining if students will go outside for recess. 
• When the wind chill/”feels like” temperature is below 20 degrees, or there is any rain/sleet, teachers are advised to keep their students inside for recess.

Fairfax County Resources

Fairfax County Human Resources Guide (HSRG)

At HSRG, families are able to search for winter clothing and additional supports via detailed information on thousands of nonprofit and government services available to Fairfax County residents. Listings include detailed service descriptions, eligibility requirements, locations (maps and directions), and contact information.

Hypothermia Shelters

If you see someone who is unsheltered and you think they are at risk of hypothermia, call the County’s non-emergency police phone number: 703-691-2131.

Sledding Spots across Fairfax County

Visit Fairfax shares some of the top sledding spots across the county including Mason District Park and Lake Fairfax Park. 

New Franklin Sherman ES Principal- Farris Thomas

My visit to the Principal Thomas Announcement at Franklin Sherman ES

Please join me in welcoming Farris Thomas, previously the Assistant Principal at Chesterbrook Elementary School, as the new principal of Franklin Sherman, starting on January 16, 2024. Ms. Thomas began her career in education with Fairfax County Public Schools in 2004 at McLean High School where she was an English teacher and the English department chair. She also served as Instructional Coach, Testing Coordinator, and Assistant Principal at Rachel Carson Middle School.  As Assistant Principal at Washington Irving Middle School, Ms. Thomas oversaw the Special Education department. Ms. Thomas has been the Assistant Principal at Chesterbrook since 2020, ensuring that all students receive access to rigor and high academic standards. Ms. Thomas has been recognized as a finalist for the 2019 Outstanding Administrator of the year from Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA). She also won the McLean pyramid Outstanding Leader award in 2023, and was a finalist for the Region 2 Outstanding Leader award in 2023 as well.

FCPS to Receive $16 Million to Buy More Electric Buses The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of two applicants in Virginia to receive more than $17.1 million through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program’s Grants Competition. Fairfax County Public Schools was selected to receive $16.5 Million to purchase 42 electric school buses.  FCPS was the first school division to acquire electric buses in 2019. With the help of this EPA grant, our electric bus fleet will more than double. FCPS has one of the largest bus fleets in the United States, transporting more than 141,000 students on over 1,600 buses each day.

Proposed CIP Supports Students and Environmental Sustainability

Fairfax County Public Schools outlined plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations during the School Board meeting on January 11. These projects — presented as part of FCPS’ proposed FY 2025-29 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) — represent a commitment to providing equitable access to high-quality public school environments for all students. View the proposed CIP.

A public hearing will be held today, Thursday, January 18, at Luther Jackson Middle School. The School Board is scheduled to take action on the proposed CIP at the February 8 Regular Meeting.

Dr. Reid's Academic Matters 

During the Academic Matters segment of the January 11th School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared the latest data on graduation and dropout rates.

Graduation Rates

The five-year, on-time graduation trends are consistently above state outcomes. Our rates have also improved more than two percentage points since 2019, compared to Virginia’s improvement of less than .5 percentage point. Looking at specific demographic groups, Hispanic students saw the greatest five-year increase in graduation rates. We are also pleased to see that central supports put in place for nine of our high schools resulted in 2.2 times stronger gains in graduation rates compared to Fairfax high schools not identified for additional supports. It is important to measure what matters to validate that we are putting energy behind programs that work, and we are glad to see these efforts have proved to be successful. 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reported graduation rates in the graphic above as of September 7, 2023.

Graduation Rates: Five-year trends for Fairfax and Virginia

• Fairfax graduation rates show consistent performance above statewide outcomes for the past four years.
• FCPS graduation rates have improved more than 2 percentage points since 2019, compared to Virginia’s improvement of less than 0.5 percentage point.
• Slightly lower rates since 2021 result from the loss of statewide graduation flexibility, originally introduced during the pandemic.

Dropout Rates

Dropout rates look at students who did not successfully earn a diploma, GED, certificate of completion, or did not remain enrolled. We have significantly reduced our dropout rates over the five-year trend from 7.3 to 5.5 and now we are closely aligned with statewide rates. Our goal is always zero, and we will continue to work on this measure. 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reported dropout rates in the graphic above as of September 7, 2023.

Dropout Rates: Five-year trends for Fairfax and Virginia

• Although FCPS is outperforming the state on graduation outcomes, FCPS dropout rates have been higher than statewide levels for each of the past five years except 2022.
• FCPS can celebrate a significant reduction in dropout rates over the past five years of nearly 2 percentage points.
• As with graduation rates, loss of pandemic flexibility has impacted some students contributing to higher dropout rates. 

New School Board Chair and Vice Chair

The Fairfax County School Board’s leadership has been confirmed for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year. Karl Frisch (Providence District), the board's previous vice chair who had been acting as chair since January 1, was elected chair. Meanwhile, the board elected Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill District) as its new vice chair at its January 11 regular meeting. Additionally, recently elected board members were confirmed for various committee assignments. Read more about the Chair, Vice Chair, and new School Board Committee and Liaison assignments here.

Lighthouse Schools

The FCPS Department of Information Technology (DIT) launched a new professional development program in collaboration with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) for schools to leverage innovative, technology based practices to reach their School Innovation and Improvement Plan (SIIP) goals. 

All middle and high schools were invited to apply for participation in the pilot program. Future expansion of the program, based on funding, envisions adding schools across all grade levels on an annual cycle ensuring participation from all regions and all school levels through the implementation of the FCPS Strategic Plan.

This pilot program cohort will include the following schools:

• Madison HS (Region 1)
• Herndon MS (Region 1)
• McLean HS (Region 2)
• Bryant HS (Region 3)
• West Springfield HS (Region 4)
• Frost MS (Region 5)
• Lewis HS (Region 6)

During this year-long program, schools will design innovation goals tailored to their unique communities and in support of their School Improvement and Innovation Plan goals. Schools will continue learning and growing together throughout the spring and summer of 2024. This work will be crucial to student success in the years to come, as AI continues to adapt and be further integrated into our daily lives.  

Dual Language Immersion Program Registration

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. 

Below are the 2 Dranesville Immersion programs’ information sessions:

• French Immersion- Kent Gardens ES- January 18: 5:30-6:30pm
• Japanese Immersion- Great Falls ES- January 30: 5 -6pm

Virtual Immersion Informational Session- February 2

A virtual meeting, Feb. 2: 6- 7pm, hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.

Academy Open Houses 

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. Here is the Marshall Academy Open House date- Jan. 25: 1:30- 3 pm.

A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to 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.

Middle School Spring 2024 Track and Field Registration

More information regarding the Track season coming soon! Read more about MS Athletics here. To register for Spring 2024 Track and Field, go to this link.

What Is Required to Participate?

Students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:

• A completed  FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Student-athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.  If your student is not covered by another plan, there is a link below to an option.
• Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will complete a registration process that includes the state-mandated concussion education program and Emergency Care Card information before the student participates in middle school sports.  
•  All forms must be submitted to the Middle School After-School Program Specialist. 

2024-2025 FAFSA Completion Assistance

The 2024-2025 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open. 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. Register at College Access Fairfax. 

Sessions will be offered on: 

• January 20: 10am- 12pm at Justice HS 
• January 30: 7- 9pm at Falls Church HS 
• February 7: 7- 9pm at Westfield HS 
• February 8: 6- 8pm at South Lakes HS
• February 20: 3:30- 6:30pm at Annandale HS 

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.

Upcoming Webinars and Events for Families

The Family Resource Center offers free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The following events are currently scheduled for January:

• Sibshops: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs. This event is for FCPS students in grades 2-6 who have siblings with special needs. It will be held on Saturday, January 20, 9 am-12 pm at Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid (in-person course). Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. It will be held Friday, February 9, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Family Resource Center (2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring) in person. For adults only.

For more information and to register for the webinars, click on the linked titles above.

School Bus Driver, Van Driver, and Attendant Job Fair- January 26

Jan. 26: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. No pre-event registration is needed to attend. The location is Stonecroft Transportation Center (4641 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly).

• Learn more on our school bus driver webpage
• Apply Today

Instructional Job Fair- February 3

FCPS wants you to be a part of our team!  We are seeking educator talent with strong student engagement skills and a passion for having a positive influence on our school communities. We are hosting a job fair on Saturday, February 3, 2024 (9am- 12 pm) at John R. Lewis High School (6540 Franconia Rd., Springfield).  There will be networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair.  Learn more here.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

• Tonight, Thursday, January 18, 6pm: Capital Improvement Program Public Hearing, Luther Jackson MS
• Thursday, January 25, 7:30pm: Regular Meeting
• Tuesday, January 30, 10:30am: Work Session 

Please note, times and topics are subject to change.

How to watch meetings and sign up to speak

• Regular Meetings and Work Sessions are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99.
• Recordings of Meetings: Work Sessions and Regular Meetings are recorded and available here after the meeting. 
• To watch School Board meetings dubbed in Spanish, you can visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.
• For information about signing up to speak at a regular meeting or at Public Hearings, click here.
• Latest schedule of School Board Meetings

Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español Para ver las reuniones de Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las Reuniones Ordinarias en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.

Community Updates

Supervisor Bierman

Congratulations to our new Dranesville Supervisor, Jimmy Bierman. I look forward to working with him and his staff! Please sign up for Supervisor Bierman's informative newsletter here to keep up-to-date on Dranesville and Fairfax County news and events.

Food Insecurity Resources

Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.

Urgent Need for Blood Donations

Multiple traumatic incidents and other medical emergencies have left the Inova blood inventory for Type O blood critically low. Inova needs all blood types, but a boost to the supply of Type O will help patients in need significantly. Call 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or visit inovablood.org to schedule an appointment.

School and Student News

Eight FCPS Students Named Among Nation's Top 300 Teen Scientists

Society for Science (the Society) announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024 (STS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Eight of the 300 scholars are students in Fairfax County public schools: one from Madison High School and seven from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. On January 24, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete  during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., taking place March 6-13.  Read more here and see all FCPS winners.

Congratulations to these Dranesville students:

• David Cao, Thomas Jefferson HSST
  Project Title: The Implications of ‘Oumuamua on Panspermia
• Rohan Kalahasty, Thomas Jefferson HSST
  Project Title: Hybrid Plasticity: Adaptive, Brain-Like Artificial Intelligence via Prefrontal Cortex-Inspired Meta-Learning
• William Zhang, Thomas Jefferson HSST
  Project Title: Synchronization-Free Light Sheet Microscopy for 3-Dimensional Tissue Imaging

National Board Certification

Congratulations to the 14 newly certified National Board teachers and the 21 teachers who renewed their certification! Read more here. 

The National Board Certification program in FCPS began over 20 years ago. More than 500 FCPS teachers have achieved this prestigious certification. The school division is ranked in the top five in the state of Virginia for both new National Board certified teachers and current National Board certification candidates.

Congratulations to these teachers who teach Dranesville Students: 

• Newly Board Certified: 
  • Suzette Henry, Thomas Jefferson HSST
  • Aileen Mavity, Spring Hill ES
  • Stephanie Stewart, Herndon HS
  • Estefania Vargas Claros, Marshall HS
• Renewed Board Certification
  • Kristine Elsener, Marshall HS
  • Amy Helm, Herndon MS
  • Anthony Petras, Herndon HS
  • Taryn Roman, Lemon Road ES

Cooper MS Symphonic Band on Music Education’s Biggest Stage

Over winter break, the Cooper Middle School Symphonic Band made history by being the first scholastic band from FCPS and Virginia to be invited to the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in nearly 20 years. This event is the “Super Bowl” of music education events and features the best bands and orchestras from around the world. Everything including bands, orchestras, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, and chamber groups perform for the over 16,000 attendees. In all, the students learned FOURTEEN(!) pieces of music in four months including two world premieres.

Herndon HS Marching Band ‘The Pride’ marches in 2023 Pearl Harbor Day Parade

From the Virginia Patch, serving as Virginia's representative, the band had the opportunity to play at the USS Missouri and during the parade. The band had previously performed at the 2013 parade. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade takes place every year as a way to pay respects to the survivors, veterans, and active duty military on the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Read more in this Patch article.

Annual Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger Event On Saturday, February 3, 2024, families in the Langley Pyramid are joining together again this year at Colvin Run ES (1400 Trap Rd, Vienna) to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid elementary, middle, and high schools are coming together with a goal to prepare 75,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world. On Wednesday, January 10th, each Langley pyramid school sent out a Sign-up Genius for volunteers to register for the event and pick a time slot in which to volunteer About Rise Against Hunger  Rise Against Hunger sends nutrient-rich, dehydrated meal packages to developing countries around the world. In developing countries, children may not attend school to receive a formal education, so, through this program, more children are being encouraged to attend school to receive a hot meal at school and additional meal packages for their families. if you have any questions, please email LangleySHN@gmail.com  Corporate Sponsors Needed  To help offset the cost of the donation boxes and contribute to our donation cause, we are inviting companies to help sponsor this event. All sponsors will have their names included in our communications and special recognition at our event. If interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Ken Junge at Colvin Run Elementary School 703-757-3000 or LangleySHN@gmail.com .

McLean HS

U. S. Air Force Flight Academy Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to the two Air Force Junior ROTC Cadets students from McLean HS who have earned a Primary, Cadet Youngjae Kim, and Alternate, Cadet Caleb Yull, seat for the Air Force Chief of Staff Flight Academy next summer! This scholarship is fully funded by the United States Air Force and sends select Air Force Junior ROTC Cadets to this Flight Academy to earn their Private Pilots License. There were 821 applications submitted from 332 Air Force Junior ROTC units. 

January is…

National Mentoring Month

Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.

Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor. All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.

FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu. 

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. The U.S. Department of State raises awareness of human trafficking domestically and abroad, through U.S. embassies and consulates. We celebrate the efforts of foreign governments, anti-trafficking entities, international organizations, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, businesses, and private citizens all around the world to raise awareness about human trafficking. See the U.S. Department of State fact sheet on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month here.

Virginia School Principals Week January 14- January 21

Each year, the Governor of Virginia makes a proclamation naming this week as Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week. See the 2023 proclamation as an example.

Opportunities and Events

Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.

FCPS ACE Online STEM Courses Fairfax County’s Adult and Communication (ACE) are offering K12 Enrichment classes starting in Jan. They are offering classes for grades 2-12. Learn more at ACE 4 KIDS or at the ACE K12 FCPS website.

AI: The Good, The Bad, and What We Need to  Know- January 20

McLean Area AAUW invites you to the McLean Community Center(1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. to hear our speaker, Jennifer Swann, explain it all and answer our questions. Swann is the Director of Information Security for Bloomberg Industry Group and an expert in cybersecurity and technology. Learn more here.

Fairfax County Parks Spring and Summer Camp Registration Opens January 23

Spring and Summer Camp Registration begins next Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m.! Spots fill up fast! In preparation, FCPA is sharing the full listing of camps, as well as offering multiple ways to search and tools to use that will make enrolling easier. Learn more about the camps and how to register here.

Alden Theatre Youth Opportunities

Youth Auditions- January 23 and 24

“The Many Disguises of Robin Hood” Youth Auditions January 23 and 24- Actors must be residents of the MCC tax district between the ages of 10-16 at their audition. Learn more about the auditions here. 

MacDonald Performing Arts Competition

Each year the McLean Community Center hosts the Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition for high school students who live or go to school in Dranesville District #1A (McLean Community Center’s tax district). The deadline for entry into the 2024 competition is January 26. 

There are four categories: Theatre, Dance, Vocal Music, and Instrumental Music. There is an application fee of $20 per entry, and students are allowed to enter as many categories as they like. The preliminary competition is the week of February 5. Link to the page with all the information is here.

Gap Year Fair- January 30

FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 30, 6-8:30 p.m., at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church).

This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning about increasing opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Students should register at USA Gap Year Fairs.

National Institutes for Health Youth Art Challenge 

The National Institutes for Health Office for Disease Prevention (ODP) is holding a youth art challenge to encourage teens and young adults ages 13–22 to share their ideas—through art—about how prevention can help to improve the health of people in the U.S. One way to help people have better health is through prevention. Prevention means taking action to keep people from getting sick or injured instead of trying to treat them after these problems happen. All entries are due by January 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Email questions to ODP-YouthArtChallenge@nih.gov

• Read more about ODP and the art challenge on ODP's website. 
• See the "How to enter" tab for all instructions and forms.

One Water Art Contest

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) is joining regional water utilities to host its annual art contest with the theme of protecting our source water. Local student artists in grades 9-12 can submit their art or short video which captures the importance of protecting our local water sources. The submission deadline is Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Learn more about the One Water Art Contest for high school students here.

Winter Reading Adventure 

Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered. 

Inspire Summer 2024

Send your high schooler to UVA Northern Virginia this summer! Applications for Inspire Summer 2024 are now available. Whether it's college essay writing, coding, or forensic science, we offer a diverse range of courses. Seats are limited and the priority deadline is February 23, 2024—apply here.

Spotlight on a Resource: Explore.Act.Tell

Explore.Act.Tell is a leadership and service program that is funded by Albertsons Nourishing Neighbors Foundation. This program is designed for students to work on projects around fighting hunger and food insecurity in their communities. Students may enter their projects by May 17, 2024, for a chance to win up to $2,500 in grant funds for their school or a hunger-focused charity of their choice.

English Empowerment English Classes- Sign up now Registration for the English Empowerment Center's in-person beginning-level English classes is now open! Register for any in-person class at any registration location (In-person registration is required for all in-person classes.) Learn more about times and locations for in person and online classes here. Classes begin February 12 or 13, 2024.

Camp Corral Registration for Military Students

Camp Corral recognizes the hardships these children may face, and their mission is to empower them with opportunities to build emotional resilience and skills needed to navigate their circumstances.  With no cost to the family, campers ages 8-15 may experience such recreational activities as horseback riding, swimming, arts and crafts, ropes courses, and campfires at a variety of camp locations across the country.    

For those wishing to learn more or to register for one of the camps, please visit Camp Corral.  Registration opens January 17, 2024.  

Technology Student Associations Fair 

Judges Needed 

Judges are needed for this year’s Technology Student Association’s Northern Regional Fair on Saturday, March 2 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. At the fair, engineering students from across Virginia’s Northern Region compete in events from robotics, flight, Computer Aided Design (CAD), structural design, video gaming, and more. No background knowledge of the event or projects is needed. Judging begins at 8:30 a.m. and judges will be provided breakfast and lunch.  

Complete this simple form if you’re interested in being a judge.

Science and Engineering Fair Judges Needed

Are you a scientist looking to give back and inspire future scientists? FCPS School-Based and Region Science Fairs are looking for you! Volunteers are needed for:

• Judges at High School Fairs
• Judges at the Regional Science Fair on Saturday, March 16, 2024

To learn more and to sign up here. 

FCPS Cares Recognizing employees who go above and beyond FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS.

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.

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E-mail: Robyn Lady  |  Phone: 571-423-1087