Teacher Alyssa Credle leads a literacy lesson with her kindergarten students at Garfield Elementary School.
📅 2024-25 Employee Calendar Now Available
Last year, FCPS added holidays to the 260-day work calendar as part of its compensation package and in alignment with changes made to the student calendar. The 2024-25 Employee Calendar will include the same number of paid holidays as the 2023-24 calendar, which had four additional paid holidays.
These holidays will include:
- Friday, July 5
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Thursday, October 3 (Rosh Hashanah)
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Friday, November 1 (Diwali)
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Monday, March 31 (Eid al-Fitr)
View the 2024-25 Employee Calendar.
☑️ School Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2025 Advertised Budget
The School Board voted to adopt the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Advertised Budget last Thursday.
The Advertised Budget prioritizes the school division’s most urgent needs, including providing employees with competitive compensation, so that each and every student has access to the world-class education they deserve.
The budget is closely aligned with FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which seeks a strong academic start for our youngest students and prepares our graduates for a thriving future. Nearly 86% of the budget is focused on instruction. View the news release.
Do You Know Where FCPS Funding Comes From?
The majority of FCPS funding is requested from the Fairfax County government, which generates its revenue from real estate and personal property taxes. The Commonwealth of Virginia provides the next largest source of revenue to FCPS through state aid and sales tax. The rest of the funding comes from a variety of sources, including federal aid and tuition for non-county residents. (Numbers above represent the FY 2025 proposed school operating fund in millions.)
FCPS does not have the authority to impose taxes and may only charge fees where the Commonwealth of Virginia has granted specific authority.
🏫 Happy Public Schools Week!
Public Schools Week is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents, and community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools. Thank you for being a major part of what makes our schools amazing!
🕵️ Complete Your Cybersecurity Mission in MyPDE by March 22
Please complete the mandatory cybersecurity training by Friday, March 22. In this exciting, interactive, 15-minute training, you will gain essential knowledge and skills to bolster your cybersecurity defenses at home and at FCPS. Go to MyPDE to start your cybersecurity awareness mission!
🏃 Empowering Students Through Middle School Sports
Witness the transformative power of middle school sports, as FCPS students share their experience with participating in school athletics for the first time. Watch this video to discover how these no-cost programs provide an important pathway for students of all backgrounds to explore their athletic passions. Access to and participation in extracurricular activities are part of Goal 2 and Goal 4 in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
📦 A C.A.R.E. Package on Accessible Learning Materials
The Department of Special Services is excited to share a C.A.R.E. Package! Find out how to Curate Accessible Resources for Everyone to support Universal Design for Learning. In this first C.A.R.E. package, learn about immersive readers.
Join the Conversations on Accessible Learning Materials Zoom channel to share ideas, ask questions, and receive additional resources. Complete this Google form to provide feedback. Post on X (Twitter), add #FCPSKeepCALM, and tag @accessible_fcps.
Look for monthly C.A.R.E. packages on accessibility topics. Find accessibility information on the Hub and view the Accessibility in FCPS page for more resources.
💬 How Hayfield Elementary Is Improving Attendance and Belonging
Teachers at Hayfield Elementary School were recently asked to review data from the biannual Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener given to students in grades three through six. They looked for students in each class who reported that they didn’t feel like a part of their school’s community.
Teachers were challenged to have daily two-minute chats with the students — about anything except school — for 10 consecutive days. Find out how teacher Nicole Johnson, pictured above, connected with one of her students, who now feels as if she belongs
👩🔬 Building a Foundation for Future Careers
In the Academic Matters segment of last week’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid addressed how STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) and computer science are building the foundation for our students’ future careers. Access to STEAM and computer science is part of Goal 4 in the 2023-30 Strategic Plan. View the presentation slides or watch the presentation.
🎤 Join a Community Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs
A community conversation addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools will be held Monday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Please enter through Door #14.
All attendees will receive a free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.
This discussion will provide families, staff, and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. The material discussed is suitable for students in grade 6 and higher. Together, as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and sometimes fatal substances.
Language interpretation services are available as well as American Sign Language accommodation. Childcare and transportation will also be provided, as needed. Learn more about the event and register online.
💜 Purple Up! on April 17 to Support Military Families
Join our community and turn FCPS purple on Purple Up! Day, Wednesday, April 17. Wear purple in recognition of our 14,000 enrolled military-connected students.
Purple Up! T-shirts are available for purchase through Friday, March 8.
Note: Shipping and handling costs are per delivery address. Schools and offices may want to consider arranging bulk orders.
📜 George Mason University Education Leadership Info Sessions
George Mason University’s Education Leadership (EDLE) Program is hosting information sessions for summer and fall applicants. FCPS educators interested in pursuing leadership and earning licensure in administration and supervision can earn a master’s degree or graduate certificate in formats designed to fit the busy schedules of working professionals.
Several program options are available, including a cohort specifically for FCPS educators and in-person, online, and hybrid options.
Register on the EDLE website to attend an information session:
- Virtual Information Session: Tuesday, February 27, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
- In-Person Information Session: Thursday, March 7, 4:45-5:45 p.m., at Gatehouse Administration Center, Rooms 4050/4051
The summer 2024 application deadline is Monday, May 6. Classes begin Monday, May 13. Contact the EDLE office with questions at edleprog@gmu.edu or 703-993-3633.
⏰ School Board Exploring Middle School Start Times
At the February 22 School Board meeting, Prismatic Services Inc. presented an analysis of middle school start times including background information and community engagement plans.
In September 2023, Prismatic was awarded a contract to explore adjusting start times for middle schools to 8 a.m. or later, beginning in the fall of 2025. View the presentation slides.
🍼 Expectant Parent Workshops
The Office of Benefit Services offers a virtual workshop on how to prepare and plan for child-related leaves on Tuesday, March 5, 10-11 a.m.
Register for the workshop. Space is limited to 50 participants. All workshop materials, including the presentation and handouts, will be posted to the Expectant Parent Workshop webpage.
🥝 Register for Colorful Choices Challenge
Kick-start a healthier lifestyle with Colorful Choices, a four-week wellness challenge focusing on incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. Log daily servings in a virtual blender for points, aiming for a variety of colors. The challenge takes place Monday, March 4, to Sunday, March 31. The last day to register or join a team is Friday, March 8.
Drawings will take place weekly and at the end of the challenge for individual and team prizes.
Two-Week Supportive Foods Program
Prefer a shorter healthy eating program? Wellbeats is sponsoring the Supportive Foods Program to look at foods and nutrients that support various aspects of our health including immunity, metabolism, brain function, digestion, sleep, and skin health. Join the short webinars to learn about specific foods and recipes to incorporate into your daily meals.
Select “Programs” in your Wellbeats Wellness account and sign up for the Supportive Foods Program today. For more information, contact EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu.
Healthy Weight Series
Explore effective weight management in a four-part Healthy Weight webinar series. A Kaiser Permanente health educator will lead 45-minute sessions focusing on goal setting, healthy eating, and exercise tips.
For questions, email EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu.
📅 Calendar Reminder: First Full Day of Ramadan
This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
March 11 is an O day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on these days, however, tests, quizzes, field trips, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.
Stay tuned for a new FCPS regulation with guidance on accommodating student meditation and silent reflection during the school day.
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March 5 Presidential Primary — Student Holiday/School Planning Day
The Fairfax Board of Elections requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the administration of the 2024 presidential primary election. March 5 will be a holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day for teachers.
Central offices and school offices will remain open. See the employee calendar and the school year calendar.
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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