Cunningham Park Elementary School Teacher Eunice Moon celebrates learning with one of her first graders.
Superintendent to Present Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will present the Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Budget at the School Board meeting on Thursday, February 8, at 7 p.m. Dr. Reid’s presentation, as well as other budget documents, will be available after she presents to the School Board.
The meeting can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and the FCPS website.
Recordings of School Board meetings and work sessions can be viewed on the FCPS YouTube channel. To watch School Board meetings dubbed in Spanish, you can visit the FCPS en Español YouTube channel.
If you need language interpretation or American Sign Language support for any School Board meeting, please contact the board clerk. Find your School Board member and how to contact them on the School Board Members webpage.
We ❤️ FCPS Families. Tell Us About Yours!
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which seems like a great time to celebrate our FCPS families. For example, Paul and Anne Wardinski (pictured, left) met while working at Marshall High School in 1989. Now they work together at Lake Braddock Secondary School.
Did you meet your partner through FCPS? Do you come from an FCPS family? What do you love about working for FCPS? Share your story and photos with us by emailing EmployeeNews@fcps.edu.
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Offer Your Input on December Pay for Monthly Employees
The Office of Payroll Management is interested in learning more about monthly-paid staff preferences for the December pay schedule. Historically, December paychecks have been provided to monthly-paid staff on the last school day of the year before winter break. Some staff members have expressed concerns about the early timing of December paychecks.
To better understand staff preferences across the division and inform decisions on the pay schedule, please complete the feedback form that is linked in the email you received from the FCPS Office of Payroll Management on Thursday, January 25. Responses will be anonymous.
School Communicators Recognized for Excellence
FCPS presented 11 awards for outstanding school communications at the annual School Communicators Conference held January 26.
The 2023 Awards of Communication Excellence celebrate the creation of excellent website, newsletter, and social media content that informs and engages readers. The winners are examples of the substantial talent that exists among the community of FCPS school communicators.
FCPS’ Office of Communications organized the event. Read about the winners.
Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool
Great Beginnings Program facilitators lead a variety of professional learning opportunities for our new teachers and those who support new teachers. Our facilitators receive pay for their planning and facilitation, professional development, and recertification points. To be a part of the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool, candidates must have at least five years of teaching experience with at least three of those in FCPS (at the conclusion of the current school year).
For additional eligibility requirements, role descriptions, and information about the application process, view the Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool advertisement (PDF). Applications will be open Monday, February 12, through Friday, March 8.
Resume and Interview Support for Aspiring Teacher Leaders
Are you thinking about applying for the Great Beginnings Facilitator pool or another supplemental position this year? Has it been years since you updated your resume or prepped for an interview? Attend a virtual Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills workshop on Thursday, February 8, 5-7 pm.
As part of this workshop, participants will identify the key parts of a resume, craft powerful work experience descriptions, and consider strategies for successful interviews. Please bring your most current or draft resume to the workshop. Registration is requested.
Leardership Courses for FCPS Staff
What are your leadership goals for 2024? Whether you want to build trust, discover improvement science, or become a stronger professional development presenter, Compass has courses to help!
Read the Quarter 3 Compass Quarterly newsletter (PDF) to discover learning experiences that will support you on your leadership journey.
Sign up to receive the Compass Quarterly Newsletter.
Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!
Ombuds staff engage with staff, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
The ombuds is available to help resolve disagreements involving employees in the workplace or between parents and schools. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question.
$20K Wellness Grant Awarded to Support School Staff
The FCPS Employee Wellness team has been awarded a $20,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States as part of their Thriving Schools Initiative. The grant will be disbursed through wellness liaisons at each FCPS school to fund initiatives and programs that improve staff work-life balance and physical, mental, and emotional health. Possible suggested programs could include:
- Hosting a biometric screening event.
- Hiring a fitness or nutrition instructor for weekly classes.
- Creating a quiet or wellness room for staff with stress relief items, relaxation tools, mindfulness activities, etc.
Addressing staff wellness reduces burnout, leading to enhanced staff morale and teacher-student connectedness within the classroom. It also impacts classroom morale, social-emotional learning, and academic outcomes.
💵 Double Your Focus: Ditch Debt, Build Wealth
Ditching debt and building wealth are priorities for many staff members this year. The Paying Off Debt While Building Wealth webinar on Wednesday, January 31, at 4:30 p.m., will help participants learn to set and track short- and long-term financial goals. The webinar will also provide strategies to overcome debt and techniques for tailoring a financial plan to start building wealth.
Visit the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Guidance Resources Online to learn more and use Web ID: FCPS, or call our EAP at 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for the EAP-Wellness Newsletter to receive monthly updates and announcements.
Find additional EAP events on the Hub EAP page. For more information, email EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu.
🥗 Unlocking the Secrets to Achieving Your Health Goals
The Unlocking the Secrets to Achieving Your Health Goals workshop, presented by registered dietitian Kayli Anderson and sponsored by Full Plate Living, provides actionable steps to set and achieve long-term health goals. Discover how to identify the right goals, design a fail-proof plan, and seamlessly integrate these changes into your daily routines.
Create a Full Plate Living account to view this recording and get access to upcoming workshops at no cost.
💲 2023 W-2s Are Now Available in UConnect
Note: The email informing you that your W-2 is available online was not spam nor a phishing attempt.
W-2s for 2023 are now available to all employees in UConnect. You will need to opt in for W-2 web delivery to access it. For instructions on opting in, please see the FCPS Online W-2 Access Guide.
All employees who opted out of the W-2 web delivery as of January 5 will receive their 2023 W-2 in the mail at the address on file as of December 29, 2023. W-2s will be mailed to employees by January 31.
Access to Advanced Coursework for High School Students
During the Academic Matters segment of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented information on FCPS’ academic advising for high schoolers and advanced coursework selection. Advanced coursework is a focus of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 3, Academic Growth and Excellence.
FCPS has advanced coursework options available for middle and high school students. Taking rigorous and college-level coursework through AP, IB, and/or dual enrollment participation is correlated with increased high school and college graduation rates. It also enables students to earn college credits while still in high school.
💝 Valentine’s Day Savings for Staff
Looking for a gift for your Valentine? The Savings for Staff discount program makes it easy for FCPS employees to shop and save. Sign up for discounts on flowers, dining, entertainment, travel, and other categories!
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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