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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
ይህንን ዜና መፅሄት በሌሎች ቋንቋዎች ለማንበብ፤ እባክዎን ድረ ገፃችንን ይጎብኙ።
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
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 Community Members,
In the nearly 20 schools I’ve visited this school year, what I’ve heard from students, families, and staff is that the start of this year is going very smoothly. I see it with my own students, too.
(top left photo): Me with Lake Anne Elementary School's principal, Jill Stewart at Back to School Night from Thursday, September 5th!
(top right photo): Principal and librarian of Louise Archer Elementary School in the renovated library (formerly the cafeteria!)
(bottom left photo): Me in the outdoor classroom at Louise Archer Elementary School (furniture forthcoming!)
(bottom right photo): Me at Back-to-School Night at Thoreau Middle School!
And yet, some tragic and unignorable events happening in our own Hunter Mill and Fairfax community, and those involving school children in Georgia, dampen the strong start. The Superintendent and school principals have delivered messages about these security-related incidents. However, as a representative for our community, I’ve sought to engage with the Superintendent, principals, PTA leaders, and parents to address questions as I can. The concerns and needs continue informing my work and advocacy for investments in school safety, including for facilities and for staffing, for security and mental health and social emotional support of our developing children.
On another note, please know that the following are top areas of focus in my work at the moment:
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Legislative advocacy to get the money from the state, to fully fund our schools – including attending a statewide School Boards meeting this month to further rally on action plans in advance of the January General Assembly session; I also continue raising awareness about drastic changes forthcoming to state accountability measures of students’ success, as addressed in this WTOP article and to detrimental trends like those happening in Houston’s schools, as I discuss in my article here
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Secondary coursework grading policy updates, for Board approval in November, so the Superintendent can work in more detail on future implementation; among other things, I want to be sure that grading processes do not adversely impact students during their high school years as we seek to make the approaches better
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Facilities, particularly to get clarity on the status of our facilities – instructional and athletic – and how upgrades are being scheduled and funded
Also, work on middle school start times and school boundaries continues by the Superintendent, and the Board will receive public updates when information is available.
I look forward to attending fall sporting events, and other happenings. Please feel free to inform me and invite me!
Also, I want to thank Langston Hughes Middle School Student, Amma, for delivering a gorgeous rendition of the National Anthem at the recent School Board meeting. Pictured here with us is Langston Chorus educator, Mr. McBride, who has lit a fire for singing among many students.
Melanie Meren's Back-to-School Video
Back-to-School Greetings from Megan Sawant, Student Representative on the School Board
🚧School Board Updates and Recent Work
Social Studies Materials Review:
Invitation: Community member sought to serve on the Instructional Resource Review Committee
Help me identify future social studies instructional materials! Exact application process is forthcoming, but in the meantime here’s the opportunity:
FCPS is engaging the basal resource (e.g. textbooks, online materials) adoption process for Social Studies. The process, governed by Regulation 2004.5, includes a deep review by an Instructional Resource Review Committee, comprised of representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups - teachers, administrators, and community members. The process may lead to identified social studies resources for some or all grade levels and courses in school year 2025-2026. These resources will then be available for a 30-day public review period, before being approved, or not, by the School Board.
We're seeking someone in the Hunter Mill District who can occasionally meet by phone. Appointed community representatives must be able to meet on the following dates and times for a total commitment of 20 hours:
October 29, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
November 6, 2024, 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
November 13, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Participation on the committee requires the following:
- Attendance at all meetings
- Review of submitted resource materials
- Engaging in discussions about the materials
- Responding to email communication
- Keeping confidential the information reviewed and recommendations made
Please stay tuned for more information on when and how to apply. The School Board will approve committee members at a public Regular Meeting.
Student Leadership Opportunity with the School Board!
Invitation: all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders!
Twelve students will be selected to work with the School Board on how FCPS is governed, and participate on advisory committees to the School Board - including seeking election as the student representative on the School Board.
Please apply to be the Hunter Mill participant!
What: FCPS School Board’s Student Leadership Development Program
Who can apply: Any FCPS high school student in grades 9, 10, or 11 during the current school year (2024-2025), in good academic standing, and who is interested in law, government or public policy.
Who is selected: I’m able to select one participant from Hunter Mill!
If selected, student leaders will participate in the program on these dates:
• Group orientation (December 2024)
• School Board Forum or Committee Meeting (January – March 2025)
• School Board Work Session (January – March 2025)
• Mock Forum (Spring 2025)
• Mock Work Session (Spring 2025)
• Program Completion Ceremony (June 2025)
Important Dates:
September 30: Students submit an application to the school’s Principal.
Students shall submit 1) the brief application, 2) program requirements form, and 3) one-page statement of interest to their principals by September 30, 2024. The materials can be downloaded here; electronically-fillable documents are forthcoming soon.
October 15: Principals submit applications to the School Board.
November 15: Selected student leaders and remaining applicants are notified by email from the School Board Clerk.
💰Local Investments – from 8/29/24 Meeting
Madison High School Tennis Courts: The Board approved a $97,625 contract to complete the refurbishment of five tennis courts at Madison High School – a project already underway – after it was found that the ground beneath the courts was very soft and would sink due to the pressure of the paving equipment on its surface (details – here.).
💰Financial Year 2024 Year-End Investments
Following its annual audit, FCPS had $92.3 million un funding from fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). The money is the result of funds that had been budgeted to be used but weren’t actually used. Reasons for this can vary, ranging from positions that weren’t filled or money that didn’t have to be spent because the division received a grant. It is also best practices to have some money remaining to carry over as a starting-balance into the new fiscal year. The School Board voted publicly on August 29 to invest this money strategically, including for extended special education teacher contracts, achievement gap-closing strategies, the DROP program to retain experienced educators, and our new boys volleyball and girls wrestling programs.
📅Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Thursday, September 12, 7p.m.: Regular Meeting
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Tuesday, September 24, 3p.m.: Governance Committee Meeting
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Thursday, September 26, 7p.m.: Regular Meeting
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Tuesday, October 1, 3p.m.: Governance Committee Meeting
Accessing Board Meetings
The work sessions and regular meetings are 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.
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.
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For Spanish speakers, watch recorded School Board meetings or to watch live during the Regular Meetings on YouTube, you may visit the FCPS en Espanol YouTube channel or scan the QR code.
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Hunter Mill Happenings
Herndon High School Step Team
Check out this news clip highlighting Herndon High School's step team this week!
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New Westbriar Principal Remains Focused on Students and Achievement
Sallie Burch, the new principal of Westbriar Elementary, was featured in the gazetteleader!
Read the full story here.
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Other Info of Interest
Superintendent Community Conversations
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid hosts a series of Community Conversations throughout the school year. The events are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions, and each meeting is open to all.
As a listening leader, connecting and engaging with community members across our division is critical to Dr. Reid.
Superintendent Community Conversations will be held in each FCPS Region. A full schedule is found here; including the one hosted nearby to Hunter Mill residents, at Herndon Middle School, on Wednesday, October 30, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Pre-registration is not required. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Election Day Participation Program For
High School Students
Would you like to learn more about the electoral process and earn service-learning hours that can also be applied towards the Seal of Excellence in Civics Education?
The Fairfax Office of Elections is offering you the opportunity to serve inside a Fairfax County polling place or in an early voting satellite office as an election page. We also encourage students fluent in a second language to apply.
The 2024 High School Page Application is here.
Application deadline: Monday, September 30.
More information about the High School Page Program is here.
Contacting Me
I prioritize responses to Hunter Mill constituents, so please be sure to identify yourself as such if you contact me. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful to please use the official School Board contact form via my website (click "Submit a Question"). This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. Thank you for your cooperation.
Best,
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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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