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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.
Dear Sully District Families and Community Members,
Happy Summer! I hope everyone is taking the time to enjoy the break, visiting our parks and historic sites and outdoor events in the Sully District. I am staying busy with School Board work while balancing various summer time activities with my family.
June has been a very busy but enjoyable month with graduations, end of school activities and many, many meetings. The School Board discussed the updated boundary policy (Policy 8130) at the June 25 work session. The meeting was an important step towards a holistic boundary review designed to address many of our community's concerns including overcrowding in many of our high schools in Sully District, under-utilization in some of our middle schools, attendance islands, temporary classrooms (trailers), instructional program locations, and transportation. Please note that there are no specific boundary changes under consideration as part of this policy work. Comprehensive community engagement will take place before any potential future boundary changes. As our budget dollars get tighter and tighter, this work also ensures FCPS is effectively utilizing its resources and being fiscally responsible. The approval of the policy was on the agenda for new business at our June 27 meeting and is scheduled for a vote at the July 18 meeting. For additional information, please visit the Boundary Policy Review webpage.
My colleagues and I also voted to adopt Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee (FLECAC) recommendations at our June 27 meeting. Finally, we reviewed several Citizen Advisory Committee reports as we continue to wrap up school year 23-24 and turn our focus on 2024-25. Thank you Sully District Citizen Advisory Committee Members for your invaluable service on these committees!
Inside this newsletter:
I want to draw your attention to the Superintendent's plan for "early release Mondays" starting next school year (SY 2024-2025). The Superintendent is planning for a limited number of Mondays where elementary school students will be released 3 hours early. The purpose of the “early release Mondays” is to enable all elementary school teachers to be trained in “Science of Reading” literacy instruction. K-6 Classroom Teachers will receive 27 hours of training and K-6 Reading Specialists will receive 54 hours of training by June 2025.
While the training is necessary to provide evidence-based literacy instruction to all children, I understand that many families in Sully District and across the county will be impacted by the early release of their children from school. Please note that while these are designated as early release days — where necessary — FCPS will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family. More details can be found below in this newsletter. You may also submit your questions or feedback to ESPlanning@fcps.edu or share your thoughts with me online.
Presenting at the Cappies Awards Gala at the Kennedy Center on June 11, 2024!
It was an honor to attend and present at the Cappies Awards Gala with my fellow School Board members. I presented the Cappie award for "Choreography" at this event where our amazing high school theatre and journalism students shine, thanks to this exceptional program that started in FCPS. The Cappies are like the TONYs for local high school theatre, with all nominees and award winners chosen by their fellow students. Congratulations to all the talented participants!
A new school year offers a fresh slate and the chance to implement new programs and initiatives that support a more inclusive and positive school environment. There was much to celebrate last school year. Our School Board was able to accomplish a number of things these past six months, serving as good fiscal stewards and initiating policies to create successful outcomes for all our students. There is always more to do, and I recognize that our students, families, and staff still face some challenges. I look forward to building on our progress in the new school year.
As always, I appreciate hearing from you, please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any help you may need.
Have a lovely rest of the summer. See you in August!
In partnership,
Seema Dixit
Sully District Happenings
Thank you to Sully District Citizen Advisory Committee Volunteers!
Every year, the School Board appoints members to numerous Citizen Advisory Committees to increase community input on specific issues. I want to extend a huge thank you to those that served on these committees for SY 2023-24, and volunteered their time for the school district.
I recognize the vital importance of having diverse perspectives that reflect our community, and I am grateful to be able to utilize the considerable talents and expertise of parents & community members on our advisory committees to advise the School Board on important matters. I deeply appreciate our Sully District committee member's (listed below) contributions, hard work, and strong advocacy on behalf of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized students and families within FCPS. Thank you for your service!
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Thank You Sully District Advisory Committee Members!
While several Sully District appointees will continue their service on School Board Citizen Advisory Committees for another year, three committees have openings for the 2024-25 school year. These committees increase community input to our Board on a host of important issues. If you are interested in serving for Sully District on this committee or other future committees, please forward a paragraph of your interest and qualifications to my staff at skhurana@fcps.edu by July 12th, 2024. Please consider being my Sully District representative!
School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC): Assists with the development of health policy and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, the school environment, and health services. Meets monthly, 1-Year Term. To learn more about SHAC, please view their website.
Human Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC):The purpose of the HRAC is to advise the Fairfax County School Board (FCSB) on achieving and maintaining a premier workforce within a caring culture. HRAC will make recommendations to improve practices used by FCPS leadership personnel at school and district levels to promote a rewarding workplace environment. Meets monthly, 1-Year Term. To learn more about HRAC, please view their website.
Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC): Brings to the School Board’s attention resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. You will collaborate with staff to maximize FCPS, Fairfax County, and external resources and support structures to ensure ACE, Adult ESOL, and Fairfax County Adult High School (FCAHS) programs increase accessibility and best meet the needs of county residents. Meets monthly, 1-Year Term. To learn more about ACEAC, please view their website.
Congratulations to Chantilly HS Forensics and Centreville HS ESports Teams for being VHSL State Champions!
This year, six teams and 11 individuals won the Virginia High School League (VHSL) academic championship and six teams and eight individuals were the state runners-up. There were also 22 publications recognized in the Trophy class category of the VHSL Media Championships. Congratulations to the Chantilly High School Team and Centreville High School, Esports Team for winning the state championships this year! Sully District individuals winning the championship were:
- Camila Canelas Sota, Chantilly High School, Forensics, Extemporaneous Speaking
- Selamawit Demeke, Westfield High School, Forensics, Prose Interpretation.
- Sam Wolf and Zack Topscher, Chantilly High School, Forensics, Humorous Duo Interpretation.
- Camille Dausch and Anya Saffari, Chantilly High School, Forensics, Serious Duo Interpretation.
- Abeni Smith, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), Creative Writing, Creative Nonfiction.
Congratulations to all of our 2023-24 academic and activity state champions and runners-up! Read full details here.
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FCPS Students Named 2024 National Merit Scholarship Winners
Thirteen Fairfax County Public Schools students from six high schools have been named winners of 2024 Merit Scholarship awards by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The students are part of a group of more than 2,900 National Merit® Finalists chosen to receive scholarships financed by higher education institutions. See the list of students.
Congratulation to all the students and especially to the four Sully District students Andrew Zanotti from Westfield High School and Anusha Das, Austin Thomas and Sanjay Ranjith from TJHSST who were among them!
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Virginia Music Educators Blue Ribbon Award
The Virginia Music Educators (VMEA) Blue Ribbon Award is the highest award given to school music programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recognizes achieved excellence in Band, Orchestra, and Choral Performance. All top eligible performing groups must receive a final Superior rating at the VMEA District Concert Performance Assessment to qualify for this award. Congratulations to Sully District schools Centreville High School, Chantilly High School, Westfield High School, Fairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School and Rachel Carson Middle School on this significant achievement!
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FCPS Students Earn 30 National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Many Sully students were among the FCPS students that received 30 national awards through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. They were recognized for original art and writing with one American Visions Medal, eight Gold Medals, 20 Silver Medals, and two portfolio Honorable Mentions. Congratulations to all of the creative students! See the full list of awardees here.
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Summer Fun - FCPS and Park Authority Puzzle Hunt!
 FCPS’ Safe Routes to School has worked with the Fairfax County Park Authority to create an engaging activity to help get families outside this summer. The Fairfax County Puzzle Hunt offers online puzzles that lead to a park in Fairfax County and additional clues toward the final puzzle.
Participants who submit the final answer will be entered into a chance to win a prize. Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be challenging and accessible for all skill levels.
Early Release Mondays - Elementary School Professional Development Plan
Providing an excellent education to all students and meeting individual student needs requires appropriate planning time for teachers. This means teachers need a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with peers.
With that in mind, FCPS has developed a division-wide plan for seven three-hour early release days (Mondays) for elementary students in the 2024-25 school year.
Reasons for Early Release Mondays
Demands on teacher time have increased dramatically since the pandemic. With the adoption of new textbooks, differentiated support plans for students, required professional development for the new Virginia Literacy Act, new reading and math SOLs from the state, and other initiatives—teachers have a lot to do in addition to actually teaching! These demands require blocks of uninterrupted, in-person, and collaborative time to plan.
A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff will lead to better educational outcomes for students.
Early release Mondays will also reduce our need for substitute teachers, which are very difficult to find.
Community Conversation with Dr. Reid
A Community Conversation with Dr. Reid is scheduled to take place at Woodlawn Elementary School on Tuesday, July 2 at 6:00-7:00 PM. This will be a hybrid event with language interpretation and childcare available as needed. Please register online
Start Date
Early release Mondays will start in mid-September of this year. Each elementary school will have a total of seven early release days throughout the school year, which is about one per month.
How It Works
We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home (bus, walk, kiss and ride) on early dismissal days. While these are designated as early release days — where necessary — we will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for your family. Licensed educators from central office will support schools as well. High-impact tutoring will be available for identified students.
Instructional Hours
The three-hour early release will not impact the state-mandated number of instructional hours but will reduce the amount of built-in snow days.
Steering Committee
A steering committee of school leaders, teachers, and families is being created to make sure this work is both supported and implemented consistently across all of our elementary schools. We believe strongly in the power of in-person, collaborative professional development.
Dates for Early Release
Each elementary school will have seven early release days, which works out to roughly one per month. Those days will depend upon the pyramid under which a school falls. Check FCPS' Region and Pyramid Map for a breakdown.
Early release Mondays for elementary schools in the following pyramids are planned for the dates below: Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Oakton, Robinson, and Westfield.
- September 23
- October 28
- November 25
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
Questions?
If you have questions about early release Mondays, please email ESPlanning@fcps.edu. See website for full details.
Middle School and High School Grading Updates
FCPS has been reviewing our secondary grading and reporting policies. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, there will be some new policies in place for all middle and high school classes aimed at improving consistency and clarity of grading practices across the division.
Visit the FCPS website for additional information about these secondary grading policy updates.
June 2024 Audit Buzz Newsletter
In this issue of the Audit Buzz, we provide an update on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Risk Assessment and Proposed Audit Plan along with current engagements, explain the 5C's of an audit finding in the Knowledge Hive, offer a training opportunity to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees, and advertise for a School Board Audit Committee community member position. Prior editions of Audit Buzz are archived here on Office of Auditor General's (OAG) website.
Free Summer Meal Service Program
 As part of its efforts to ensure children have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Fairfax County Public Schools is pleased to announce it will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program.
Starting on June 13, all children and teens 18 and under can receive meals free of charge at the sites and times listed below. Find a meal site near you.
Virginia Run Elementary School PE Teacher Really Goes the Extra Mile!
 FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Joshua Antoncic, a physical education (PE) teacher at Virginia Run Elementary School (in white shirt above), is one of the April CARES of the Month recipients.
Antoncic hosts an annual basketball challenge between 5th and 6th graders and an annual volleyball game against Cub Run Elementary School for students and staff. He has hosted sports camps and supported the Viking Dash school fundraiser.
“Additionally, he rewards students with a pizza party for their successes throughout the year in physical education,” the parent who nominated him said. “My kids are always trying to meet whatever goal he has set, so they can get an invite to that party.”
Congratulations to Antoncic! So proud of our amazing Sully District FCPS staff! Read about all the recipients.
Student Bus Passes Offer Free Transportation All Year
All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Complete the application and return it to your school's front office. Children 12 and younger ride for free on Fairfax Connector with a paying adult.
Student Opportunities
Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Register to Take Two Tuition-free College Courses With NOVA
NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take up to two tuition-free college courses. EOC courses for the fall semester take place Monday, September 23, through Tuesday, December 17. Students should register by Friday, July 26, at 5 p.m.
Courses are asynchronous, online, and for college credit only. Thirteen courses are offered along with courses that fulfill the IT Technical Support Career Studies Certificate. EOC courses meet the requirements for most of NOVA’s associate degrees as well as being highly transferable as general education requirements for most colleges and universities.
Students must meet eligibility requirements to take EOC courses. Check out the EOC flyer (PDF) for more information on what classes are offered, required qualifications, and how to register.
AI Bootcamp for High School Students
 The Mark Cuban AI Foundation and Booz Allen are offering the AI Bootcamp again. The boot camp will be hosted at the Booz Allen McLean office this year at 8283 Greensboro Dr., McLean Virginia.
Application deadline is September 30, 2024. High School students apply here.
LearnServe Fall Fellows Program for High School Students!
Overview: This is our first-year, introductory in-person entrepreneurship program that takes young changemakers through the entire process of researching, brainstorming, creating, and pitching their own social action project to solve an issue in their community!
Time Commitment: The program runs from October-April (exact dates TBA), where students will meet in-person or virtually every Thursday at a location in central DC (location TBA).
Program Cost: Sliding scale tuition of $50-$1250/student, depending on the student's financial ability to pay. Families will complete the Sliding Scale survey during the application process to determine their individual tuition.
Application: Rolling admission - Click here to apply!
LearnServe is a Washington DC based nonprofit that offers leadership and social entrepreneurship training for high school students from across the Washington, DC region. Programmatically we bring students together from diverse backgrounds, and guide them through the process of designing and launching social ventures -- action projects to serve their schools and communities. In the process they learn the skill-set and mindset of being a changemaker, a blend of social and emotional skills, global competencies, and business and professional skills that will set them up for success in their college and careers.
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FREE Summer STEM Camps in Chantilly and Arlington!
Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is offering FREE summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Camps! Rising 6th – 12th grade students can explore, create, and innovate in a fun and engaging environment at their facilities in Arlington and Chantilly, Virginia.
Their STEM camps are designed to inspire curiosity and foster a love for learning. Through hands-on activities, experiments, and projects, students will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork dynamics.
Here are the camps being offered this year:
1. StellarXplorers – A space system design camp where students focus on team problem-solving associated with sending objects to space.
2. Robotics Camp – Students will engage in coding and programming VEX Robots.
3. Drone Camp – A hands-on, technical application camp where students learn the basics of coding, programming, and flying drones.
4. Coding Camp – Students will engage in hands-on coding activities using block coding and Python programming languages.
Register your student for these STEM camps - spaces are limited!
Summer 2024 Emerging technologies Camps & Courses
Get ready to level up your tech skills this summer...registration for the Summer of Emerging Tech is officially OPEN!
Whether you want to explore machine learning algorithms or spearhead your own data science research project, we have virtual programs of all kinds for students grades 6-13 (+ educators too)!
Head to the link to our Summer Catalog to learn more about the different offerings and register. *Limited need-based scholarships are available. Programs will fill up fast, so secure your spot ASAP! This summer don’t just learn how to code… become a future leader in emerging tech.
The Coding School (TCS) is a 501(c)(3) international nonprofit organization focused on preparing the next generation for the future of work through computer science training and workforce development.
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Technology Youth Empowerment (TYE) Opportunity
TYE, a student-led nonprofit in FCPS, aims to bridge the gap between students and STEM fields. They are currently seeking more volunteers and representatives at high schools. If you are passionate about teaching and promoting STEM, consider applying to their organization:
For more information, email them at tyeconnects@gmail.com or explore the TYE Representative presentation.
FCPS Job Certification Student Program with Coursera Career Academy
High school students now have the opportunity to access the full contents of the Coursera Career Academy. This program is designed to open doors to digital career pathways and provide invaluable learning experiences directly from industry giants like Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
Program Benefits:
- Explore a variety of popular digital careers from marketing to data science.
- Learn from experts at leading global companies.
- Earn valuable micro-credentials that can enhance your resume.
- Access over 27 professional certificates, expanding your skill set in multiple fields.
Interested? Here's how to get involved: Complete the Coursera Student Interest Form.
FCPS Summer Camp Offerings
Registration is now open for many summer camps and learning opportunities offered by FCPS for all students.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Visit these sites for more information:
Find session dates, registration links, and deadlines on the FCPS summer programs webpage.
The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military.
Free Teens in Action Summer Camps
The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services offers affordable, engaging, and healthy recreation programs for students aged 12-18 when schools are closed. Teens in Action youth participate in team sports, games, arts and crafts, STEM (science, engineering, and math) programming, service projects, field trips, and more. Admission for camp is free. The Summer Camp takes place Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., and is separated by age group. Rising 9-12 graders attend camp from June 17- August 16, 2024, and rising 7th and 8th graders attend June 17-28, 2024, and August 2-16, 2024. Find more information and register on the Teens in Action web page.
Mental Health Resources for Families
This month's theme: Jump Back Up July
Let's find ways to bounce back!
Go to Action for Happiness for ideas to help you take action for a happier and kinder world.
 Summer Mental Wellness Resources
Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations
This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 2. Forty-five-minute phone or videoconference consultations are available with a school psychologist or school social worker.
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Parents of students in any grade level can request a consultation to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
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Students in middle or high school can request a consultation to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.
We encourage all families to take advantage of this service. Request a consultation or call and leave a message at 703-503-2520.
Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Feeling super stressed? Worried about a friend's mental health—or your own? Get tips to help manage your emotions and see what to do if you are in crisis.
Mental Health and Resiliency
Helping students to manage stress, make better choices, and develop healthy habits.
FCPS Family Resource Center
Staff is available by phone 703-204-3941 or email frc@fcps.edu to help! Offers free workshops, consultations, a lending library, and more to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities.
No Cost Therapy for High Schoolers
 School's out, but mental health support is still available! High school students can access free teletherapy services over the summer. Schedule your sessions Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Families must opt-in before requesting service. Their therapists are licensed and also trained in teen-specific challenges. They will work with students until they achieve their therapy goals, or they can help connect the family with long-term mental health services in the community if needed.
Learn how to opt your students in to this service.
George Mason’s Center for Community Health
George Mason University’s new Center for Community Mental Health (9900 Main Street, Fairfax) provides evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive therapy and testing services to those in need, regardless of income. The Center sees children as young as age 5, and works with community members of various ages, including addressing the mental health needs of veterans.
The center’s Emotional Help Line provides free, anonymous, confidential support in both English (703-215-1898) and Spanish (703-914-3878). The line is open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. Learn more on the Center's website.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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July 11 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: School Board Organization, School Board School Year 2024-25 Annual Work Calendar, FY25 Fiscal Assessment and Audit Topics, etc.
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July 18 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting: School Board Standing and Advisory Committee Assignments, School Board Advisory Committee Representative Assignments and Charges, Election Results Certification and Exclusive Bargaining Agent Recognition, etc.
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July 19 to August 16, 2024 - Board Recess
Please note, times and topics are subject to change.
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas, and handouts.
Interested in School Board action items? Sign up to get an update on School Board votes the morning after the School Board meeting.
The work sessions and regular meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and the FCPS website. Both will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.
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.
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Contacting Me
To contact me, it is most helpful if you can please use the official School Board contact form. This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
Use this link to sign up for my Newsletter and follow me on Facebook.
Quick Links
2024-2025 | 2025-2026
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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