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.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Mason District Community,
Congratulations to our 2024 graduates! You and your loved ones should be very proud of this incredible accomplishment. Whether your path winds through military service, full time employment or college, or another venture, we wish you much success in your future endeavors. I look forward to celebrating with you during your commencement ceremonies in the next few weeks.
Mason District Graduation Schedule:
- Annandale High School, June 3 at 9:30 a.m., Eagle Bank Arena
- Edison High School, June 5 at 7:30 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
- Falls Church High School, June 7 at 2:00 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
- Thomas Jefferson HSST, June 8 at 7:30 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
- Justice High School, June 6 at 7:30 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
- Woodson High School, June 6 at 2:00 p.m., Eagle Bank Arena
I also wish to offer a final reminder about the Community Conversation tonight with Dr. Reid. Please share your thoughts and ask questions! Registration is not required, but is appreciated.
Thursday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m.
Poe Middle School
Register Here
I value the input I receive from the Mason Community and am happy to address questions or concerns via email or phone. You can reach me by email at rjanderson@fcps.edu. If you are interested in scheduling a phone call, please reach out to my assistant, Cristy Coffey, at cmcoffey@fcps.edu to arrange a time.
Included in this issue:
Mason Moments
FBLA State Leadership Conference
At the recent 2024 Virginia Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference, 200 students from FCPS high schools competed in 55 events ranging from 3-D Animation and Accounting to Cyber Security, Computer Problem Solving, and Public Speaking.
FBLA is the largest career and technical student organization in the world. Each year, the organization helps over 200,000 members prepare for careers in business.
Congratulations to the seven Mason District students who placed in the state competition, qualifying them to compete in the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando in June.
Glasgow Middle School: Nii Annan, Samuel Mulat, Miriam Stavlund, and Amen Shimeles
Edison High School: Charles Barrios Lazo
Falls Church High School: Jessica Nguyen-Tran and Hang Tang
A complete list of FCPS winners is available.
Justice Rowing - State Championship Medals!
Justice High School Rowing submitted 6 entries to the Virginia State Championships which resulted in three second-place medals! Terrific showing, Wolves!
Congratulations to second-place medalists:
Women’s Senior Double: Chloé Bernasconi and Ella Stavlund
Women’s Senior Quad: Indigo Brookes-Weis, Sabrina Ehmann-Jones, Brooke Ehmann-Jones, and Anna Lyons
Men’s Senior Quad: Stephen Blackadar, Sam Schneider, Tucker Trissell, and Charlie Hess
The Women’s Junior Double and Women’s Junior Quad narrowly missed out on medaling, finishing fourth in very competitive races. Congratulations to all!
State Science and Engineering Fair
Seventy-eight students from FCPS participated in the 2024 Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair held at Old Dominion University last month. Mason District students Austin Cui and Benjamin Hall, along with classmate Matthew Lee, all from Woodson High School, earned third place in Engineering Technology and Sustainable Design and an honorable mention for the Leidos Award for Excellence in Applied Science.
These students are eligible to participate in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2024, the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition. Nearly 1,700 high school students from around the world are expected to compete for nearly $9 million in awards this week. Congratulations and good luck!
A complete list of FCPS winners is available.
Regional Scholastic Writing Awards
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) student writers won 31 Gold Key awards in the 2024 Regional Scholastic Writing Awards competition. In all, 259 Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mentions were earned by FCPS students.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, is the largest, longest-running recognition program of its kind in the United States. Writing categories include critical essay, dramatic script, flash fiction, humor, journalism, novel writing, personal essay and memoir, poetry, science fiction and fantasy, short story, and writing portfolio.
Congratulations to the following Mason District students who earned awards this year:
- Annandale High School - Fatmata Musa
- Justice High School - Sofia Hemmens, Safinabonu Juraeva, and Yusra Wahedi
See the full list of awardees.
Mason News
Mason District Alumnus Headed to Austria
Darien Roby, Justice High School Class of 2020, has earned a spot in an intensive opera-training program in Austria this summer! After graduating from Justice High School, Darien attended James Madison University, majoring in vocal performance. Congratulations, Darien!
Culmore Family Resource Center
On April 26, I was honored to join Delegate Charniele L. Herring and the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) at the ribbon cutting for the new Period Pantry located at the Culmore Family Resource Center.
The Culmore Period Pantry stocks a variety of feminine hygiene products available for free to anyone in need. This pantry is the latest effort by the JLNV in their Campaign to End Period Poverty. Donations will be accepted during the center's regular hours in order to keep the pantry stocked.
The Culmore Family Resource Center welcomes between 700 and 800 visitors each month and offers a wide range of services and programs through the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, including adult literacy programming, a clubhouse for children with a focus on literacy, Safe Youth Project, homework support, home visits (coordinated with schools), field trips, and of course the newly opened period pantry.
Culmore Family Resource Center
3304B Culmore Court, Falls Church, VA 22041
703-379-5217, TTY 711
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
School Board Work Updates
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
The School Board approved the SY 2025 Student Rights and Responsibilities, Regulation 2601, at the May 9 regular meeting.
I introduced two amendments which were approved by the School Board.
- To decrease non-instructional cell phone use in the classrooms, revisions to the cell phone policy will add the clause, “with the approval of the principal, or their designee” before the sentence, “teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities, where they are the most appropriate tool; however, one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs" on page 15.
- Revisions to the substance abuse section will now allow a student voluntarily seeking support for substance abuse issues (or whose parent/guardian is seeking support for the student) will be provided support without application of SR&R consequences if the student does not have a history of substance abuse or drug distribution related discipline and is not associated in current investigations related to substance abuse or drug distribution. This assistance would not absolve students from consequences if evidence is found indicating the student’s involvement in drug/substance-related violations to the SR&R after the initial request for support (page 37 of the SR&R).
Additional revisions include:
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Addition of Self-Defense stating that school officials shall consider as a factor when determining disciplinary action for misconduct involving fighting.
- Revision to Possessing, Using, and Being Under Influence of Controlled Substances to be in alignment with VDOE guidelines on the possessing of marijuana and THC oil. Possessing of marijuana and THC oil was changed to start at Level 3 (from a Level 2).
A full list of revisions can be found in the May 9th presentation.
FUTURE WORK
The Board also approved several motions to direct the Superintendent to:
- develop and implement a strategic communications plan to inform stakeholders of the expectations contained in the SR&R with respect to cell phone usage in high schools. Further, to aid consistent implementation of the existing cell phone policies, the Superintendent will develop a plan for consideration by the Board, for a 2024-25 school year pilot program within each region for secure cell phone storage to include the potential use of classroom cell phone lockers, magnetic pouches, or other similar devices. The Superintendent will work directly with principals and school-based staff to reiterate the Board’s expectation that the SR&R cell phone policy be consistently enforced at all times.
- provide by November 1, 2024, data and analysis, including demographic data, on recidivism/discipline issues and on-time graduation (for students who have graduated) starting with School Year 2021- 22 for current students and those who graduated during this time frame, who as a result of disciplinary action/measures had been 1) removed from their base school; 2) sent to alternative schools/programs; 3) removed from current school due to an IEP team decision; or 4) sent to a different comprehensive school.
- develop alternatives to existing FCPS practices governing cell phones in public schools. Specifically, the Superintendent shall develop multiple options to establish a consistent policy governing student access to and usage of cell phones in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. The option set shall include, but not be limited to, a prohibition on student usage of cell phones during the school day, with appropriate exceptions for instructional activities and appropriate accommodations for students with IEPs, 504s, or medical conditions. The option set shall incorporate stakeholder input, best practices, and lessons learned from other school divisions. The Superintendent shall solicit public input on the option set in advance of its presentation to the School Board. The Superintendent shall present the option set to the School Board by March 1, 2025. None of the options shall be implemented by the Superintendent unless approved by majority vote of the School Board.
- prepare for the Board an assessment of student disciplinary practices with an eye towards greater efficacy and fidelity of implementation, including a thoughtful evaluation of and any recommended changes for “shall” and “may” directives. This assessment shall include robust engagement from families, school staff (including classroom educators), students, and relevant stakeholders. It shall also include details about lessons learned from the fidelity training included in this year’s SR&R, and suggestions for moving the next SR&R toward greater clarity, efficacy, and fidelity. Finally, this assessment will be completed and brought back to the Board by November 1, 2024, for thoughtful consideration, potential amendments, and action.
FY 2025 Approved Budget
The Superintendent presented the School Board with the FY 2025 Approved Budget at the May 9th meeting. Changes from the FY 2025 Advertised Budget include a reduction of the proposed salary increase from 6% to 3%. This reduction is primarily due because the County granted the School Board an additional $165M of the $254M being requested, resulting in a $89M shortfall.
The full presentation can be found on BoardDocs which also includes recommendations from the Superintendent to shift $6.5M to year-end to fund the ERFC Legacy DROP program, $24.2M for special education teacher extended day contracts, and $0.8M for one-time funding for athletic expansion.
The next steps in FCPS’ budget process include the final Work Session on Tuesday, May 21 and the vote to adopt the final budget on Thursday, May 23.
For more details on our budget, view FCPS budget documents.
On a related note, I will continue my advocacy, which was started last fall, for the Board of Supervisors to consider implementing a meals tax in order to continue to support the increasing needs of our schools. View the November 28, 2023 School Board/Board of Supervisors Joint Budget Meeting (my remarks begin at 4:00).
Reading / Basal Adoption
At the March 7th Regular Business Meeting, the Board received a presentation regarding the K-6 Language Arts Basal Adoption and voted unanimously to approve the purchase of Benchmark Advance as the basal instructional resource for elementary language arts.
The Board was informed that basal materials are foundational instructional materials that are aligned with the Science of Reading and will be implemented in all K-6 classrooms in the school year 2024-25. Furthermore, staff has indicated that the new basal resource is expected to:
- ensure that all students in K-6 are instructed via the Science of Reading approach, which is proven to be the strongest approach to ensure literacy mastery;
- align literacy instruction across the entire school division, for teaching strategies and thematic content;
- provide content designed to build knowledge, vocabulary, and perspectives via thematic units across grade bands;
- meet the requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act; and
- allow adjustments to best instruct our students with disabilities and our English language learners.
Ms. Klimenko, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, indicated that reading and language arts teachers will be trained in the use of the new basal starting this summer and training will continue into the next school year.
Staff and community are enthusiastically supportive of the basal implementation and its anticipated outcomes to develop proficient readers across all demographic subgroups given the research based practices on which it was developed.
Staff also shared that FCPS will require a daily time allotment of 90-105 minutes for reading/language arts instruction - which is slightly less than the publisher's recommendation of 120 minutes. The challenge presented for sixth grade students who attend our middle schools is that they would only receive 90 minutes of instruction every other day. The current plan would mean that sixth graders at Glasgow, Holmes and Poe would be provided with half of the mandated literacy time allotment due the middle school block scheduling.
Additionally, the plan as currently devised will require Social Studies teachers, who are not scheduled for training in the basal materials, to teach one of the nine instructional units. Furthermore, two additional units will be eliminated entirely. This will result in the removal of three of the nine basal instructional units for sixth graders in middle schools from their reading/language arts block.
This proposed solution to the challenges of the middle school schedule - especially given the deep needs of our students as illustrated by multiple data points, is unacceptable. It is imperative that staff develop a plan that equitably provides access for the 1,191 middle school sixth grade students that includes access to the full scope of the units with the recommended daily time allotment.
FCPS News
New Student School Board Representative
Megan Sawant, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1. Ms. Sawant will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, filling the position currently held by Rida Karim, a junior at Woodson High School. She will be the 54th student representative to the School Board. Read more about Megan here.
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New Chief Human Resources Officer
Superintendent Reid has named William Solomon as chief human resources officer, effective June 3, 2024. Mr. Solomon currently serves as Executive Director of Talent Acquisition in Houston Independent School District (ISD).
Learn more about Mr. Solomon.
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Opportunities
Summer Arts Programs
Do you have plans for your children yet this summer? Do they love the Arts? Rising 7-12 grade students can learn Photography, Guitar, Cake Decorating, Painting, Stage Combat, Acting, Stone Carving, and much more! Visit Institute for the Arts for more information.
Rising 3-6 grade students can take classes in Art, Music, Theatre and Dance daily. Visit Elementary Institute for the Arts for more information.
Both programs are located at Lake Braddock Secondary School
July 8-26, 2024
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Transportation is available and tuition assistance is offered for students who qualify. Enroll today while seats are still available!
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- May 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
- June 13, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- May 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
- May 28, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
All meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
Would you like to share your ideas and concerns with the School Board and staff? Register HERE to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.
Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español
Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español o escanee el código QR.
We are cognizant of the significant language needs of the Mason District and I will continue to advocate for their availability and inclusion.
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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.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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