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Cell Phones Off, Learning On
Dear Providence District Families,
Last week, select middle and high schools began a cell phone storage pilot program designed to more effectively enforce the school division’s cell phone policy, which essentially states middle school students shall not access their phones during the school day and that high school students may not access their phones during class.
The pilot program is the result of a School Board vote last May that directed the Superintendent to “develop a plan” 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.”
In an effort to better enforce cell phone restrictions and increase student engagement, middle school students in the pilot program will be provided with a pouch to place their phones away for the entire school day, and high school students will be required to put their phones away during class using a storage box or hanging pouch in the classroom.
Whether or not your child’s school is part of the pilot program, you can help ensure they follow the cell phone policy by waiting to call or text them about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact the school’s front office.
Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the parental control settings on your child’s cell phone:
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iPhone Users: Set up Screen Time and Downtime. Screen Time provides a report of how a device is used, while Downtime allows you to block apps and notifications on your child’s iPhone for a specific period of time – like the entire school day.
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Android Users: Set up Screen Time Limits and Downtime. Android phones have similar features, allowing you to limit your child’s use of their Android phone for specific periods of time – again, like the entire school day.
Research continues to show that limiting cell phone use during the school day is crucial for fostering a positive learning environment. Excessive cell phone use not only distracts students from their academic work but also contributes to stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
By reducing distractions and encouraging greater face-to-face interactions, we can help students stay focused, build stronger social connections, and improve their overall well-being. Together, we can create an atmosphere where every student has the opportunity to thrive—both academically and emotionally.
Thank you for your continued partnership in support of student success.
In service,
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Providence District Families Newsletter
Monday, September 9, 2024
This installment of the Providence District Newsletter includes important updates on the following topics:
Chronic Absenteeism Down 25% – Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Through our collective efforts – personalized outreach, targeted interventions, and a strong commitment to fostering connections with families, FCPS has reduced chronic absenteeism by 25% over the past year — that’s news I was excited to share with WJLA recently. Let’s keep the momentum going!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit the FCPS Attendance Reporting webpage for tips on supporting positive attendance habits and resources for encouraging attendance in elementary school and middle/high school.
Don’t Miss Out: Providence Day and Back to School Celebration
Saturday, October 5 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Marshall HS
Mark your calendar for the Providence Day and Back to School Celebration! Enjoy food trucks, giveaways and prizes, activities and entertainment for all ages – including an up-close look at Fairfax County fire, rescue, and police vehicles and a visit from an FCPS electric school bus! Join us in celebrating our vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community on Saturday, October 5, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Marshall High School, which is easily accessible by car, bus, or bike. Shuttle services will also run from the Jim Scott Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) and the James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road).
Nominations: Athletic Council Award
The Fairfax County Athletic Council is now accepting nominations for the Champions of Character Award. The award will be presented to a female athlete, male athlete, coach, and parent from each magisterial district in Fairfax County.
This award is a high honor and is recognized by top county and school officials, who will be in attendance at the ceremony. Providence district is home to many talented athletes, committed coaches, and devoted parents, so I want to ensure we are represented accordingly!
Nominees can be of any age, from any sport, and at any level. They simply need to have demonstrated respect, responsibility, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship, and fairness. Please submit your nominations as soon as possible – the deadline is September 15!
Secondary Grading Policy Under Review
In July, the School Board directed its Governance Committee to review Policy 2148 concerning secondary grading practices. This followed board members receiving questions from parents and caregivers, students and educators about topics like rigor, consistency, and transparency, as well as expressing a desire to ensure we are following best practices.
Grading is an important aspect of the student experience. Effective assessment evaluates content knowledge and provides constructive feedback for continuous improvement. The impact of grading travels far beyond the confines of the classroom to influence college admissions, scholarship opportunities, and more.
You are also invited to observe the Governance Committee’s work on this topic during its following upcoming meetings: September 24 at 3 p.m., October 1 at 3 p.m., October 15 at 3 p.m., and October 29 at 3 p.m.
These meetings are held at Gatehouse and will be streamed live and posted for future viewing on the FCPS YouTube channel.
School Board’s Student Leadership Development Program
The School Board is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 Student Leadership Development Program! This is a great opportunity for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in good academic standing who are interested in pursuing futures in law, government, or public policy.
Selected students will partner with their School Board Member to observe how the school division is governed. They will also learn about the board’s various committees and functions, develop and debate their own policy proposals, and acquire details about the process for running to be Student Representatives on the School Board.
The nine magisterial district School Board Members will each select one student from their respective districts, and the three At-Large Members will select one student each from among all applicants. Interested students must submit applications to their principal before September 30, 2024. Click here for more information about the program or to submit your application.
United States Service Academies Application
Congressman Gerry Connolly is now accepting applications for nominations for the Class of 2029. Considered to be among the top academic institutions in the country, our U.S. Service Academies produce some of the nation’s best and brightest.
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements established by law and be nominated by an authorized nominating source, including Congressman Connolly, who can nominate qualified applicants residing in Virginia’s 11th congressional district.
Your complete application packet and all required documents must be submitted on or before October 4, 2024.
Monitor Your Child’s Use of FCPS Devices
FCPS provides tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on FCPS devices. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which provides a list of the top sites their child visited and offers the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
2024-25 Student Rights and Responsibilities
The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document details expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents and caregivers should talk to their children about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.
Participate in SR&R Focus Groups
Each year, FCPS reviews the SR&R to ensure it reflects our commitment to equity and the goals outlined in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. To that end, FCPS is providing parents and caregivers, students, and staff opportunities to lend their voices to the annual review.
The Office of the Chief Equity Officer is partnering with K12 Insight to host SR&R focus groups. All middle and high school students, current FCPS parents and caregivers, school-based staff, and central office staff who work with students will receive an invitation to attend a focus group.
If you have a question about the SR&R Focus Groups, please contact Kathleen Walts, Executive Director of Equity and Student Relations: kswalts@fcps.edu
Superintendent’s Community Conversations
Superintendent Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns with her. Community Conversations will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the following days:
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Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School – Register to Attend
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Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
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Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
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Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
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Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
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Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Registration is not required but helps with planning. Childcare and interpretation services are provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Historical Marker Ceremony: Gunnell’s Chapel
In 2021, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and School Board initiated a joint Historical Marker Project to help ensure students have access to a more comprehensive and inclusive telling of Fairfax County’s diverse history. During its initial year, students focused on elevating the histories of Black/African American residents in Fairfax County. I was honored to introduce the initiative with Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik.
Earlier this summer, the first historical marker installation stemming from the project was dedicated to local civil rights activist Lillian Blackwell at Oakton High School. Mrs. Blackwell and her son were plaintiffs in a 1959 lawsuit that led to the integration of Fairfax County’s public schools.
The second of six historical markers will be installed at Clemyjontri Park on Saturday, September 21, at 11:00 a.m., celebrating the legacy of Gunnell’s Chapel, which provided a place for Black people to congregate and Black children to learn. Gunnell’s Chapel was an act of resistance and self-determination as Black communities sought to empower themselves in the face of systemic racism, exclusion, and discrimination.
LGBTQ+ Student Advocacy Toolkit
The ACLU of Virginia has launched an interactive toolkit “for LGBTQ+ students, parents, educators, and allies dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights in Virginia’s K-12 public schools” and to help ensure “all youth, including LGBTQ+ youth” have access “to safe, affirming and inclusive school environments.” For more information, visit the toolkit online.
Food for Others 11th Annual Tysons 5K & Fun Run
The 2024 Food for Others Tysons 5k & Fun Run is on Saturday, September 28, at 8:00 a.m. at Tysons Corner Center Mall Plaza. REGISTER TODAY and help support Food for Others, which distributes food to our neighbors in need by mobilizing our giving community and volunteers.
Food for Others is an important part of Northern Virginia’s food insecurity safety net, serving over 3,000 families and 3,900 children a week through the Power Pack Program, which provides weekend meals to roughly 3,800 students at 44 Fairfax County schools during the school year. The weekend meal pack helps alleviate a child’s hunger and allows them to come to school on Monday morning fed, focused, and ready to learn.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Upcoming School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming School Board Work Session (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
All meetings are broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are also recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS YouTube channel. Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at regular meetings or public hearings.
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.
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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