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PTA Family Night- Wednesday, September 18, 5:00-6:30
Please plan to join us on Wednesday, September 18 from 5:00-6:30 for the first PTA meeting of the school year. Dinner will be provided at this meeting (more details as they become available) and students are welcome to attend with their families.
Current PTA Officers for 2024-2025 :
President- Vacant
Vice President- Emily Bell
Treasurer- Cecilia Allen
Secretary- Lalin Courtney
Agenda for the PTA Meeting:
- Confirm and/ vote for PTA President nominee: Chris Finerty
- Introduction of Sophie Harris as Special Projects Chairperson
- Key Center’s Family Liaison, Michelle Peele, will discuss her role and share resources
- Advocacy Discussion: Dr. Felicia Hamilton from FCPS Instructional Services
- The 24-25 PTA budget review and confirmation vote
Please use this form to sign up for the PTA Family Night on September 18th, 2024.
New Staff Feature- Zenobia Payne
This week’s Key Center Staff Spotlight is on Zenobia Payne. Ms Payne joins our staff this year as an Administrative Assistant in the Front Office. Learn more about Ms. Payne on our school’s website.
Celebrating our Physical Therapists
Happy World Physical Therapy Day! World Physical Therapy Day is observed annually on September 8th.. On this day, we celebrate the invaluable work of physical therapists like Laurell Mauro and Megan Tiedemann who help our students achieve their full potential. Their dedication to promoting health, mobility, and well-being is truly appreciated. Thank you for all you do, Key Center Physical Therapy team! #WorldPTDay"
ABA Family Training
This workshop is intended for parents of students with low incidence disabilities of Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Topics covered will include:
▪ What is collaboration?
▪ Who’s who within the school system?
▪ Who do I ask questions?
▪ How can you facilitate collaboration?
Date: September 11th, 2024
Choose one virtual session: 10:00am - 11:30am or 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Join using this meeting link: https://meet.google.com/vio-pmnq-dzo
Safety Drills
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School
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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
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Welcome Back Message from School Board Members
 Franconia District
Welcome Back video from Marcia St. John-Cunning.
 Mount Vernon District
Welcome Back video from Mateo Dunne.
 Springfield District, School Board Vice Chair
Welcome Back video from Sandy Anderson
 Mason District
Welcome Back video from Ricardy Anderson
Our school is physically located in the Franconia District, yet many of our families come from the neighborhoods of various school board representatives. We highlighted those who represent a small majority of our families, translated materials and other messages from additional Fairfax County School Board representatives can be accessed here.
What Is a School Board?
The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for running the public schools in Fairfax County. Twelve School Board members are elected by county voters every four years.
A student representative serves on the board as a non-voting member. They are chosen by their peers each year.
The School Board makes general rules and sets guidelines to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools runs properly. They follow the laws of Virginia and the rules set by the Virginia Board of Education.
Learning about your local School Board is important. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. There are many ways to get involved.
Learn more about the School Board, how to participate in their meetings, and where to watch their meetings.
The Arc of Northern Virginia- 2024 Fall Transition Series
Virtual Meeting September 16 – October 26
Transition Series is the Arc of Northern Virginia's annual event designed to educate and empower families and individuals with disabilities as they transition from school-provided services to community-based services for adults.
Families, teachers, and disability professionals may attend any and all webinars. The date and time for each webinar and the Zoom link will be shared with all registrants at least a week prior to the start of the series. We hope that all participants will attend live, but if not, all webinars will be recorded and made available with slides and additional resources.
Register here
Resources from our Family Liaison
The following resources are available to support your child’s educational journey:
Explore various resources, programs and workshops designed for families.
Free online webinars offered by the Family Resource Center.
In person and online English classes are available at the English Empowerment Center.
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services has
three sensory rooms available for public use.
Key Center PTA
If you haven’t already, please join and support the PTA. Our focus for this year centers on supporting the needs of our students and staff and also on bringing families in our community together more often. The Key Center PTA provides: Mini grants to teachers who need supplies or other items to help support our students; Funds for special needs equipment or other items that our students use at Key Center that are not funded by FCPS; resources to THANK Key Center staff/enhance morale with lunches, snacks, coffee, events; and a Staff Appreciation Week.
PTA Membership:
Key Center PTA Membership for Parents/Family
Key Center PTA Membership for Staff
PTA Donations:
Key Center PTA donations
Upcoming Dates:
 September 23 Picture Day - Student / staff pictures!
October 3 Rosh Hashanah - Student / Staff Holiday
October 4 Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
October 14 Staff Development Day - Student Holiday
October 31 End of 1st Quarter - 2 hour Early Release - 11:40am
November 1 Diwali - Student / Staff Holiday
November 4 School Planning Day- Student Holiday
November 5 Teacher Workday- Student Holiday
November 11 Veterans Day - Student / Staff Holiday
November 27-29 Thanksgiving Break
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