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Hello Braddock District neighbors and friends -
Listening.
That’s what I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks with FCPS students, parents, teachers and administrators. It’s amazing what you can learn when you ask for thoughts on the matters people care about and then hear them out. I have been inspired yet again by the meaningful insights and creative solutions being offered by those at all levels in our school system and by our community, students, and families.
Among the highlights of my recent outreach included some fantastic brainstorming around the unfortunate state of some of our athletic facilities. Woodson High School Principal Kevin Greata graciously met on May 6 during the school day with me, School Board Chair Karl Frisch (Providence District) and FCPS Facilities staff to view first-hand the condition of the baseball fields there, which has been the subject of much recent public comment to the board. I’m committed to working with my colleagues and staff to improve the solutions we have currently offered to be responsive to the needs of our Woodson community.
 School Board Chair Karl Frisch (Providence District) with me at the Woodson High School baseball fields on May 6.
On the same evening, I did my best to address concerns about the fields from the Woodson Athletic Boosters, a uniquely supportive and involved group of parents, and was motivated by the passion, advocacy and great questions and offers of partnerships and solutions they brought to the room.
More broadly, these talks have highlighted the need for a project queue for athletic facilities needs. Such projects exist outside of the regular capital improvement plan, and so they aren’t budgeted or calendared in the same way as other school repairs and renovations. As I know how important sports are to the physical and mental health of many of our students, I intend to work closely with Facilities to prioritize easing the bottleneck that many athletic facilities improvement projects seem to be experiencing across Braddock and FCPS more generally. I’ve already asked staff to take another look at the plans to try to shorten timelines for stadium bathrooms at Woodson and develop long term plans and additional funding possibilities for athletic field renovations.
 Speaking to the Woodson Boosters on May 6.
May also is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month; a perfect opportunity to learn how to celebrate the vibrant collection of AANHPI cultures in the United States! There are 24 million people in the United States who identify as Asian, with 1.6 million identifying as Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or a combination. As the first Indian American person to be elected to the FCPS School Board, I proudly count myself among them, and urge you to learn more here.
Thank you as always for everything you do to support our schools! Please continue to let me know of questions, issues or concerns by reaching out to braddockconstituent@fcps.edu. I am always here to listen to you.
All my best,
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 Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Braddock District School Board Member
IN THIS ISSUE …
- Focus on Braddock
- Neurodiversity News
- Music & the Arts
- More from the School Board
- FCPS News
- Budget Corner
- Out & About
- Coming Up
- More Stuff Parents Should Know
New Principal at Fairfax Villa ES
Please join me in wishing a warm welcome to Linda Textoris, who has been named as the new principal of Fairfax Villa Elementary School (FVES)!
Ms. Textoris is the current principal at Lovettsville Elementary in Loudoun County Public Schools. She brings six years of principal experience to the role and is seeking a new experience in FCPS to continue growing and learning as a leader.
Ms. Textoris holds a Master of Education in Education Leadership from George Mason University, a Master of Science in Education from Marymount University, and a Bachelor of Science in the School of Business from State University of New York at Oneonta. Ms. Textoris is in her 17th year in education and her 12th year serving as a school administrator. She is currently in her sixth year serving as the principal of Lovettsville Elementary School in Loudoun County Public Schools and was previously the assistant principal at Sycolin Creek Elementary School (also in LCPS). Ms. Textoris began her educational career as a first and second grade teacher in multiple LCPS elementary schools.
The FCPS hiring panel was particularly impressed with Ms. Textoris’ role in school improvement efforts while at Lovettsville. She is a dedicated, experienced and talented leader who has proven her ability to build individual relationships and strong home-school-community partnerships.
Ms. Textoris’ official start date will be June 18. We are so glad you’re joining us!
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Citizen Advisory Committee Appointments
Even many longtime Fairfax County residents may not be aware of the existence and important role of Citizen Advisory Committees that advise and make recommendations to the School Board on a variety of important, specific topics affecting our students. Most committees include a representative from each magisterial district serving one- to three-year terms, and it is now time to make appointments and reappointments. Please take a look at the list of committees and consider whether you might have interest and expertise to be of service in the coming year. More information on this topic, including how to apply for open positions, will be provided in a special edition of this newsletter on May 21.
In related news, the School Board has voted to send a new Advisory Committee Operating Manual, the related sections of the Strategic Governance Manual, and Policy 1710 to the School Board Public Engagement Committee (PEC) and directed the PEC to gather feedback from the Board’s advisory committee chairs and bring final recommendations to the board for a vote no later than June 27. This will help bring more structure and consistency to the committees’ work.
Did you know …?
About 1 in 44 children have been diagnosed with autism, and far greater numbers are known to have ADHD, dyslexia or other types of neurodiversity.
Yet, too often, schools treat neurodiverse kids as outsiders who must adapt to systems and an environment that were not created with them in mind. The New Jersey Education Association writes that creating a neurodiverse classroom isn’t that difficult. But it does take a shift in mindset and a deliberate approach to including neurodiverse people, focusing on their strengths, and a willingness to embrace and celebrate different perspectives. Creating a more inclusive classroom also helps all students to succeed, not just those with disabilities.
Read more about steps educators can take to help neurodiverse students succeed, and activities parents might want to mention to their child’s teachers.
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“Blown away again” is the best way to describe my feelings after attending recent theatrical productions at two Braddock area high schools. I was fortunate to take in a performance of 1776 at Woodson High School and one of Romeo & Juliet at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The professional-level talent and quality of these shows is simply second to none. Congratulations also to the cast and crew of Robinson Secondary School’s Footloose!
 If you missed those performances, some of our district parents were kind to remind me that many elementary and middle schools put on some incredible shows as well! Here are a couple of upcoming opportunities:
Student Rights & Responsibilities Update
The School Board has approved important yearly revisions to the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) handbook which all students and parents receive at the beginning of every school year. The SR&R is aligned with the Virginia Board of Education Model Guidance for Positive and Preventative Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension and is reviewed each year and approved by the School Board.
Among this year’s highlights are a change to the policy regarding drug violations to ensure that students who come forward to school officials seeking help in addressing a substance abuse problem will not be subject to disciplinary consequences, unless they have previous drug/substance-related violations to the SRR, or the student is involved in a current drug related investigation or drug distribution. This is intended to provide a space for students to voluntarily come forward to seek help. I am proud to support this change as no student should be discouraged from seeking help from teachers and administrators for fear of repercussions.
After hearing from many parents and teachers about the unhealthy distractions that can be caused by overuse of cell phones during school hours, the board also adjusted the SR&R to request the FCPS administration to develop options for the board to consider regarding ways to restrict student cell phone use at school. I was happy to work with my colleagues on motions to ask the superintendent to bring to the board thoughtful options based on best practices and stakeholder input. More to come on this topic. If you have thoughts on this topic, please let me know.
- May 15, 4 p.m. - Governance Committee
- May 15, 6:30 p.m. - Additional Budget Public Hearing (if needed)
- May 20, 2 p.m. - Governance Committee
- May 21, 2 p.m. - Budget Work Session and School Board Advisory Committee Reports
- May 23, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
BoardDocs | Meeting Video Archive
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National Board Certified Teachers
Congratulations are in order to FCPS teachers - including those who work at Braddock District schools - who recently achieved National Board Certified Teacher status through the National Board for Teaching Standards. Your dedication and professionalism is a huge part of what makes FCPS so great!
Graduation schedule
It’s that time of year for our upcoming high school graduates to don those caps and gowns for annual commencement ceremonies. Please take a look at this year’s graduation schedule to plan your attendance, and check online ahead of time for parking and traffic issues to make sure your events are enjoyable and free of frustrations.
I am so proud of the Class of 2024! Their high school experience started in the early days of COVID and, from what I have seen, they have grown into a class that cares deeply about their world and each other. I know their future is bright and I cannot wait to celebrate them at their graduation ceremonies.
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 2025 Budget — What’s Happening Next
The next steps in FCPS' budget process are:
- Tuesday, May 14: School Board holds a public hearing on the budget.
- Wednesday, May 15: Second day of School Board public hearings, if needed.
- Tuesday, May 21: School Board budget work session.
- Thursday, May 23: School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.
Recent School & Community Visits
Oak View Elementary School Principal Sarah Brooker opened her doors to me on May 8 to showcase everything from art and math to PE and the lunchroom. We had a thoughtful conversation about requirements for staffing, which particularly underscored the need for more counselors in our elementary schools. It was evident from our chat that some of the formulas we use to determine how staff are allocated may be in need of review.
 In the classroom with Principal Sarah Brooker (left) at Oak View Elementary School.
I enjoyed listening to the students at Oak View tell me the one thing they’d like to see added to their school. Apparently they were caught at a hungry moment because food was at the top of their mind - that and a student lounge!
Lake Braddock High School Principal Lindsey Kearns also was kind to take time out of her schedule to meet virtually with me and Springfield District School Board Member Sandy Anderson. We talked at length about the unique challenges of secondary schools, where middle and high school students share high-demand academic, athletic and arts resources, not only between each other but with the community. Because they are few in number, secondary schools often don’t get the consideration their unique function warrants.
Lastly, I enjoyed hosting an advisory committee round table to hear thoughts from the Braddock District appointees to our school board advisory committees and appreciate their hard work and expertise.
Memorial Day Holiday
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, for the Memorial Day holiday. Learn about the history of Memorial Day. See the complete school year calendar.
Calling All Roadrunners!
Little Run Elementary School Roadrunners past and present are invited to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary! The event will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the school, 4115 Olley Lane Fairfax. Expect games, food trucks and memories!
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FCPS Summer Extravaganza is June 1
 Don’t miss a day of family fun and learning at the FCPS Summer Extravaganza!
Stop by Woodson High School on Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., where students will be able to take part in engaging educational activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire growth.
Representatives from local businesses, Fairfax County Public Library, and the Fairfax County Park Authority are participating in the Summer Extravaganza. Community organizations, such as Neighborhood Community Services, will be at the event as well. All will have learning activities, tips, and helpful information for families. Enjoy face painting, food, music, a moon bounce, a petting zoo, storytime, and student performances — all at no cost!
Visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage for more details and register to attend. Registration is not required, but it's helpful for planning purposes.
May Webinars and Events for Families
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Upcoming events include:
Let's Finish the School Year Strong!
Student attendance at school is important all year long, up to the last day of school. Attendance has an effect on student performance and on school accreditation. See how to:
- Check your child’s attendance record.
- Help your student stay engaged at school.
- Report future absences.
- Understand the FCPS school calendar.
Learn more about attendance resources.
Register Today for FCPS Summer Camps
Registration for FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA/E-IFTA) camps closes on Friday, June 7. Tuition is waived for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Bus transportation is available from select FCPS high schools and middle schools. Learn more about Summer Learning and Fun for Students.
FCPS Ombuds Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff 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, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, visit their webpage, or submit a question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us plan, so that we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Immunizations are required for all students entering 7th and 12th grades this fall. Visit the FCPS immunization webpage to learn about the required vaccines. Caregivers should ask their private healthcare provider or the health department to review their student's immunization record to ensure that their student has received these required immunizations.
It is important to schedule immunizations early in the summer, as seventh grade students must submit documentation of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines before they begin school in August. Twelfth grade students must submit documentation of the Meningococcal vaccine. Get more information on all student immunization requirements.
Resources for Newly Registered Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
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.
© 2024 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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