Office Assistant Linda Mach works in the main office at Annandale High School.
š 30 Years of Great Beginnings
Great Beginnings is celebrating its 30th anniversary! The Office of Professional Learning would like to interview teachers who can share their stories about the enduring impact Great Beginnings has had on their time in FCPS. To share your story, please upload a short video by Tuesday, April 2.Ā
Videos can include descriptions of relationships with Great Beginnings mentors or peers when you were a new teacher, your experience as a new teacher, your leadership journey, or other relevant stories.
We will select some individuals for a longer interview based on their video submissions. Contact Julia Braxton with any questions.
š§ New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces
FCPS has created a regulation to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. Regulation 1502: Expectations for Meditation and Silent Reflection Space Accommodations provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time and for students to leave school for religious activities.
These spaces are designated areas within a school or on school premises for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students requesting to miss instructional time on a regular basis. View Regulation 1502 for more information.
FY 2025 Budget: Addressing State Funding
As mentioned in last weekās Employee News, the School Board adopted FCPSā FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Meeting our budget needs becomes more of a challenge with underfunding by the state, using staffing formulas that continue to result in school districts not receiving the actual support needed for excellent public education. A staffing formula is the method for calculating the number of positions that need to be assigned to meet program needs.
Did You Know?
In July 2023, the bipartisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study of Virginiaās K-12 funding formulas. The report found that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and many of Virginiaās neighboring states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Learn more about the JLARC study. Visit our website to view FCPSā budget development timeline.
š Thank You, Social Workers, for Removing Barriers
Itās National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help students succeed by working to improve their social, emotional, and behavioral wellness. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the division. Read about Elizabeth Romeo, school social worker at Lorton Station Elementary School.
Submit FCPS CARES Through StaffConnect
The Employee Recognition team is now processing FCPS CARES submissions through the StaffConnect platform. The goal is to provide a more efficient and contemporary user experience.Ā
Nominators will continue to visit the FCPS CARES page to make their submissions. However, instead of completing the web form directly on the page, users will get a link to submit through StaffConnect. The existing notification and recognition process will remain. To submit an FCPS CARES, please visit StaffConnect.
Classroom Management Session for New Teachers and Teacher Trainees
The Office of Professional Learning is offering the third session in the Spotlight Series on Classroom Management for new teachers and teacher trainees. This session will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 6, 5-6:30 p.m. It will focus on how to respond to classroom behaviors. You may still participate if you did not attend previous sessions.Ā
Please register in MyPDE for the March Spotlight Series session.
Win a Scholarship for ASCD Conference in Washington, D.C.
The ASCD Annual Conference ā a one-of-a-kind event that brings together educators from across the globe ā will take place Friday, March 22, through Monday, March 25, in Washington, D.C. Attendees can choose from dozens of sessions on the most critical topics affecting the future of learning, such as creating equitable learning environments and leading through change. Connect with education experts who can guide you in improving academic outcomes for all students.
A limited number of scholarships are available to cover the registration fee for the conference. To apply, submit a short application by Friday, March 8.Ā
The goal of the scholarship program is to increase the number of educators from historically underrepresented backgrounds attending our events and to also support educators who work in under-resourced schools. Educators in the Washington, D.C., area and surrounding regions will be prioritized.
š 2023 Flexible Spending Account Filing Deadline Is March 31
If you participated in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2023, you have until Sunday, March 31, to submit claims for your 2023 FSA expenses. You can file your claims through your Optum account. Find instructions for filing a claim on the Flexible Spending Accounts webpage.
Standard rollover provisions apply. No dependent care spending account funds may roll over to 2024, and $610 is permitted to roll over for your 2024 healthcare FSA.
Rate Decrease for FCERS Optional Life Insurance Participants
Employees enrolled in employee-paid Fairfax County Employeesā Retirement System (FCERS) Optional Life insurance coverage with MetLife will see a slight decrease in their payroll deduction amount starting with the biweekly paycheck on Friday, March 8. No action is needed; this change will occur automatically. This does not apply to Virginia Retirement System (VRS) participants enrolled with Optional Life coverage with Securian.
Employees who wish to elect, change, or cancel Optional Life and/or Spouse and Child(ren) Dependent Life Insurance should visit the Life Insurance webpage. Life insurance beneficiary updates should be made via the MetLife MyBenefits website. Please visit the Updating Your Beneficiaries webpage for more information.
āļø Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m.Ā Ā
Due to this timing overlapping with some dismissal times, schools should reiterate the importance of safe viewing practices. FCPS safety guidelines do not permit direct viewing of the sun even with protective eyewear and encourage the use of indirect (projection) viewing devices, including solar boxes and pinhole projectors. A one-page document with safe viewing practices and instructions for how to make these devices with students will be shared with K-12 science teachers in Schoology groups.
Schools are encouraged to share the Solar Eclipse Resources with their communities to access safe viewing practices. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
Retirement Ceremony Scheduled for May 1
FCPSā annual celebration for retirees and their guests will be held Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m., at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The evening will begin with an hors d'oeuvres reception followed by a ceremony where Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, the Leadership Team, and the School Board will recognize retirees for their years of dedicated service.Ā
Invitations will be mailed in the coming weeks. Those planning to retire should submit their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) as soon as possible.Ā
For more information about this event and past ceremonies, visit the Retirement Ceremony webpage. Please contact WeHonorYou@fcps.edu with questions.
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Family Engagement Survey Now Open
FCPSā Family Engagement Survey is now open for all parents/caregivers. Emails were sent to families on Sunday, March 3, by our independent partner, K12 Insight.Ā
Please encourage families to participate! Feedback will be used to develop a plan to improve family and school partnerships throughout the division to support student success.
The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by schools to fill out a paper survey or for support with completing the survey online. A link to the survey and additional information are available on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
š Become a Special Education TeacherĀ
Are you a paraprofessional who is interested in becoming a special education teacher? FCPS and James Madison University (JMU) are hosting an online information session on Thursday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about joining the FCPS cohort and course requirements for becoming a special education teacher.āÆ
The JMU program leads to dual licensure in about two years.Ā Paraprofessionals with an associateās degree or more than 60 college credits should complete this form to receive an invitation for the session.
ā° Correction: Middle School Start Times
In last weekās Employee News, we shared that Prismatic Services, Inc. presented an analysis of middle school start times to the School Board. We also wrote that Prismatic was awarded a contract in September 2023 to explore adjusting start times for middle schools to 8 a.m. or later, beginning in the fall of 2025.
We incorrectly stated that āthe change must be budget-neutral and not affect other school start times.ā We should have stated that any change to middle school start times should continue to have high schools start after 8 a.m. We apologize for the error.
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Calendar Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Begins
Donāt forget to move your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., when daylight saving time begins!
First Full Day of Ramadan
This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. In Islam, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day while striving to increase their spirituality, through prayers, charity, and good deeds. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
March 11 is a religious and cultural observance day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on observance days, however, tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be scheduled. See the school year calendar.
School Board Meeting Scheduled for March 7 at 7 p.m.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a VPN connection. You can connect to VPN using Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network).Ā Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.Ā
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!Ā
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