Partnership Update
February 2024
 Boolean Girl - Newest Ignite Partner
Fairfax County Public Schools has established a new Ignite Partnership with Boolean Girl, a not-for-profit whose mission is to diversify STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning by providing all students, including girls and students who are under-represented in STEM or economically disadvantaged, with greater access to computer science and engineering lessons.
Boolean Girl works specifically with student in grades three through eight by offering meaningful, hands-on instruction in camps and classes. They also support districts through implementation of the Micro:bit for All program. A micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that introduces students to the ways hardware and software work together.
This partnership focuses on Boolean Girl’s work with the Micro:bit for All program and supports the FCPS Strategic Plan 2023-30. Boolean Girl plans to reach fifth grade students in select FCPS schools by providing micro:bit kits for in-class curriculum support and expanded access to STEAM and Computer Science learning experiences. Students will have the opportunity to take the micro:bits home to continue designing, creating, inventing, and learning with STEAM and computer science.
Their long-term goal is to provide every Fairfax fifth grader access through classroom loaner kits, and to allow as many students to keep the micro:bit should funding allow.
Thank you, Boolean Girl, for developing and supporting such a valuable partnership.
 Art for Art's Sake? No.
Student Art on Display at Dulles Airport
David, a senior who attends South Lakes High School, created and submitted to the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. He describes his art as a “diversionary” piece.
It’s an award winner, and now a reproduction hangs at Dulles International Airport.
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At first glance, the image seems orderly. A person, head in hand, at a desk thinking. Like many work spaces, there’s an adjustable lamp, a brightly lit computer screen, and entering the room are a fair amount of light and shadows.
But take a closer look. Is the worker thinking or bothered?
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Learn more about this piece and another artist’s work, hearing directly from them.
 A Student to Student Dental Partnership
An Ignite Partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation (MCCP) and Fairfax County Public Schools is serving elementary students with dental screenings, cleanings, sealants and — thanks to MCCP — financial support when referrals are needed and funds allow.
The obvious wins of this partnership are that it allows NOVA’s Dental Hygiene Program students attending NOVA’s Medical Education Campus in Springfield necessary pediatric dental training, while supporting the oral and medical health of FCPS students.
Fairfax County Public Schools is extra proud of an ancillary connection with this partnership — that many of the college age dental students are FCPS graduates.
Learn more about this dynamic Ignite Partnership developed by the FCPS Offices of Student Services and Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Community Relations, and several FCPS principals.
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Thank Northern Virginia Community College and Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation for being exceptional partners. |
Career Fair Exhibitors Welcome - Register Today
In February, school divisions across northern Virginia will team with Virginia Ed Strategies to host the annual Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo. This regional event allows high school students to connect virtually and in person, with industry professionals from more than 60 in-demand fields.
The event provides students with opportunities to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce today.
FCPS is actively seeking industry professionals for the in-person Career Expo/Fair scheduled for Saturday, February 17, 1-4 p.m., at the Dulles Expo North Hall in Chantilly.
At the event, registered exhibitors will engage students through a traditional format that allows for a company, organization, or specialized education and training outfit to be available to answer questions. AV/Technology needs, including drop and extension cords must be provided by exhibitors. Exhibitors will be provided a table, and encouraged to bring extra tables, handouts, signage, business cards, swag, etc.
Interested exhibitors should register today on the Instruction 2 Industry Events Page.
Feel free to share the i2i Flyer with others.
February Is Career and Technical Education Month
By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment.
A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school including Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology and Engineering Education, and Trade and Industrial Education. Since this is an elective, course offerings may vary by school. Learn more on the CTE website.
 All Kids Bike
Thanks to a thoughtful and generous donation by the engineering company HDR and the HDR Foundation, and coordinated by All Kids Bike and the FCPS Safe Routes to School team, kindergartener students at Cunningham Park and Marshall Road elementary schools in Vienna are on the move!
At this week's event at Cunningham Park Elementary, the school’s kindergarteners were presented with new, age-appropriate bicycles that the school will store for student training and use. Included in the donation, to protect the noggins of our young learners, were appropriately sized bike helmets.
After an exciting reveal of the bikes some of the students were prepped and ready to roll. At the start, there are no pedals or training wheels to help these young riders more quickly learn to balance using the walk, balance, and stride method. Teachers convert the bikes to pedal mode when the students clear lessons 7 and 8 of the All Kids Bike training.
After an exciting reveal of the bikes some of the students were prepped and ready to roll. At the start, there are no pedals or training wheels to help these young riders more quickly learn to balance using the walk, balance, and stride method. Teachers convert the bikes to pedal mode when the students clear lessons 7 and 8 of the All Kids Bike training. |
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HDR’s donation of $9,000 to All Kids Bike made the purchasing, logistics, and event a walking-bike-in-the-park — or gymnasium — for everyone involved.
All Kids Bike is a national program and their proven bicycle learning program is taught in nearly 1,250 schools in all 50 states.
Just across town, that same day, Marshall Road Elementary School and their kindergarteners also warmly received bicycles and helmets through this arrangement.
Thank you HDR, HDR Foundation, and All Kids Bike!
 The Long-Game Supports a Workforce Development End-Game
National and regional employers recently welcomed networkers and job seekers to Capital One Hall’s Great Foyer for the 2024 Tech and Cyber Networking and Hiring Fair.
With a near 20-year-low national unemployment rate and even lower rate in Fairfax County, developing one's workforce takes strategy and tactics. (3.7% Nationally and 2.5% Fairfax - November 2023)
Fairfax County Public Schools was at the event. The FCPS Human Resources team seeking future hires, and the Ignite Partnerships team explaining to employers the importance of the “long-game” in workforce development. |
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The long-game involves business people understanding the value of and engaging K-12 students in career awareness, exploration and preparation. When employers engage students they do more than share information about available careers, they can also:
- outline the skills students need to acquire certain jobs, and the course work required to do so.
- outline the broader pathways students should explore like career aligned internships or relevant volunteer work.
- emphasize the importance of soft skills including those often required in tech and cyber fields where a security clearance is likely required.
A business strategy that involves K-12 engagement may seem like playing the “long-game,” but in a highly competitive labor market, this sort of knowledge sharing and brand impressioning is necessary to support one’s “end-game.”
The 2024 Tech and Cyber Networking and Hiring Fair was sponsored by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and involved nearly 50 businesses.
If your business is in the strategic long-game, we encourage you to learn more about our Ignite Partnerships program and contact us.
 Filling Another Free Food Fridge
Greenbriar East Elementary School near Chantilly is officially receiving fresh food to help meet food needs for students after-school, on weekends and during breaks.
The Free Food Fridge (FFF) program was generously developed and is supported by Ignite Partner Western Fairfax Christian Ministries or WFCM who started the effort of installing and filling commercial refrigerators in schools in October 2021.
This is the 12th Free Food Fridge in an FCPS location and WFCM now supports 600-700 students weekly with fresh food — valued at about $200,000 over the course of the school year.
Thank you WFCM and your generous supporters, for your continued partnership. This addition means more fresh fruits and other perishables for students.
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries welcomes your support and donations and offers this list of their current pantry needs.
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