Staff at Fort Hunt Elementary School — including (from left) Josh Whitaker, instructional assistant; Lourdes Suarez, ESOL teacher; and Will Lundregan, teacher trainee — welcome students on the first day of school.
🎉 Congratulations on a Successful First Day!
Instructional Assistant Daisy Cheek welcomes students at Fairview Elementary School.
There were celebrations across Fairfax County Public Schools yesterday as teachers and administrators welcomed students back to the classroom.
Enjoy some highlights from #FirstDayFairfax on Instagram, Facebook, and our photo gallery, or check out the video of sights and sounds below.
✨ Remember, Together All Things Are Possible!
As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which guide us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students. Watch her message. Have a great year, Team FCPS!
👋 Welcome Back to a New School Year, FCPS Staff!
Hope you had a great summer! We want all FCPS employees to be engaged and realize that ongoing communication is so important.
This weekly newsletter, Employee News, is distributed by email on Tuesdays during the school year. Scroll to the bottom for links to FCPS calendars, savings for staff, classifieds, job openings, and other topics. Remember to check out the Employee Blog, too, for stories about our colleagues.
We know questions come up throughout the year. Feel free to reach out to the Human Resources Client Services Team via StaffConnect or call 571-423-3000. The team is also available for in-person assistance Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Gatehouse Administration Center. We hope you have a happy, healthy, and successful school year!
💵 Stay Up-to-Date on Compensation, Salary, and Leave
UConnect is your online gateway for benefits, salary, and leave information.
The start of the school year is a good time to log in and verify your contact information. By providing your cell phone number through UConnect, you will receive FCPS emergency text messages, such as weather closings.
Use UConnect to verify your benefits selections and leave balances, and view your pay and teaching credentials.
To log in, enter the same username and password that is used with your @fcps.edu email. UConnect is only available to users when connected to the FCPS network or through the VPN.
Time and attendance should be logged through MyTime, which can be accessed online or through the desktop application on FCPS computers. For more information, review leave policies or visit the Time and Attendance Hub page.
Visit the Payroll Management page on the Hub for resources on pay, paychecks, tax withholding, and W2s. Visit the Salary Services Hub page for information on salary scales, employment verification, and job specifications.
Start Saving Today to Set Aside Summer Pay
FCPS partnered with Apple Federal Credit Union to provide a summer pay program to assist 10- and 11-month employees. While Apple offers a convenient program including interest earnings and payout options, any financial institution likely will offer similar opportunities. Find out more about receiving pay during non-contracted months.
🍂 Fall Teacher Academy Program Catalog Available Today
FCPS teachers can enhance their instructional practice through the Teacher Academy Program, which offers free professional development in student wellness, content, pedagogy, and classroom management.
Choose from a variety of engaging courses or demonstrate your skills by earning microcredentials. Explore nearly 60 course options launching this fall in the MyPDE course catalog. Learn more about microcredentials on the Microcredentials Hub page.
Academy course participants receive Academy credit(s) and recertification points upon successful completion. The credit(s) and points can be applied toward Virginia teaching licensure renewal and salary scale increases.
Course syllabuses, outcomes, and assignments are listed in the Academy course catalog. Registration opens Tuesday, August 27, at 5 p.m. Visit the Academy Hub page to see how to register. Email Academy@fcps.edu with questions.
VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan Defined Contribution Deductions
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Hybrid participants who are 10- or 11-month employees may have noticed a change in their 401a and 457b deductions in July. Your deductions for the VRS defined contribution (DC) plans (401a and 457b) are now taken every pay period in which you receive regular wages, regardless of your status on the first business day of the month.
VRS defined benefit (DB) deductions will continue to be taken only during months where you are on contract during the first business day of the month.
For example, employees whose first day on contract this year was Monday, August 12, will have DC deductions reflected in their August paycheck, but DB deductions will not be taken until September.
☀️ What We Did on Our Summer Vacations
From family trips to celebrations and learning opportunities, our teachers and staff packed in some great experiences this summer!
Read about what your colleagues were up to this summer — including Somsri Pholchuay, instructional assistant at Dranesville Elementary School, pictured at right — in this Employee Blog.
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📚 FCPS CARES Recipients Stack Up Good Deeds
FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents/caregivers, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. One of the CARES of the Month recipients for May is the Library Instructional Services Team: Meg Rogers (pictured above), Terry Rihl, Angela Couse, Steven Rogers, Taj Ghafari, Diana Lynn Cruz, and Robyn Troncoso.
The team spent three days at Carson Middle School “weeding and inventorying” the library’s collection of books.
“This is a HERCULEAN task that would have taken us weeks to do on our own,” said Ellen Bickford, head librarian at Carson Middle School. “While they worked, they also taught us a lot about best practices for managing a collection. Our library has had a complete restart, which will allow us to reorganize our books, employ dynamic shelving, and create a more engaging and accessible library for our 1,400 middle school readers.”
Congratulations to this team and the other FCPS CARES of the Month Recipients below:
- Brandon Kosatka, Wilton Woods Center
- Jill Shull, Haycock Elementary School
- Michael Willie, Lorton Center
- Molly Sullivan, Union Mill Elementary School
- Ryan Spivey, Eagle View Elementary School
- Brianna Bingman, Lorton Station Elementary School
Read about all the recipients.
Thank You, Team FCPS!
In her Weekly Reflections this week, Dr. Reid included a shoutout to the many staff who took time out of their summer breaks for training and professional development. Close to 6,000 staff participated in K-6 Literacy Institutes. Read Weekly Reflections for some of their feedback, and to read more about how Dr. Reid spent the last week before school started.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Labor Day
Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students.
Virginia legislation requires that schools opening before Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately before Labor Day.
We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a connection to the FCPS network. If you have any questions, please visit the FCPS Tech Support Portal to search for self help articles or submit a ticket.
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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