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Lifetouch Pictures are Ready and Available for Purchase
School pictures are ready!
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.
All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.
Click here for more information about the Smilesafe program.
Blue Star Welcome Week- Spirit Days & Dance Open for Family Visitors
When: Saturday, September 21 - Sunday, September 29, 2024
Why: Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
Key Center’s (optional) Spirit Days will be as follows:
Monday, September 23rd-
Dress Uniform Day- It’s School Picture Day! Wear your best gear and bring your smile!
Tuesday, September 24th-
Proud to be an American Day - Wear Red/White/Blue
Wednesday, September 25th-
Crazy Camo Day - Wear Camouflage clothing
Thursday, September 26th-
Military Parents are Superheroes Day- Wear your favorite Superhero look
Friday, September 27th-
Our Troops Allow America to Shine Bright Day- Wear stars or shiny sparkles
On Friday, September 27th, we will be having a Blue Star Welcome Dance from 12:30-1:30. Families are invited to join us for this event!
National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
At Key Center, we’ve been celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with engaging lessons and activities designed to enrich our students' understanding of Hispanic culture. Our hallway display features notable Hispanic individuals, including both renowned figures and our very own staff and students.
On Thursday, September 19th, we hosted a day of hands-on experiences. Music, movement, and dance filled our Music Therapy and Adapted PE classes, while the cafeteria transformed into a sensory exploration of maize. Students touched, smelled, and even tasted various corn-based products at the A-Maize-ing Sensory Exploration Station. They also created vibrant Mexican Folk Art mirrors using colorful crafting supplies. It was a truly enriching day filled with opportunities to celebrate Hispanic heritage.
Elementary School Immunization Clinics
The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for Fairfax County Public Schools elementary students on early release Mondays. All vaccinations are FREE. Immunizations will be offered at Health Department clinics by appointment only. Parents should schedule an appointment based on their child’s school pyramid. Schedule your appointment by calling 703-246-7100.
October 21 & November 18, 2-7pm
Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
School Pyramid: Edison, Hayfield, Lewis, Mount Vernon, South County, West Potomac, Annandale, Falls Church, Justice, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, and Woodson
October 28 & December 9, 2-7pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office, Joseph Willard Health Center
School Pyramid: Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, South Lakes, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Oakton, Robinson, and Westfield
Find out more about the Health Department’s immunization programs on their website.
Opportunity for Funding for Students on Waiver Waiting List
 Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15th, individuals on Virginia's Developmental Disability Waivers Waiting List (the Waitlist) will be able to access the IFSP-Funding Portal in WaMS to create and submit an application.
- First day to access, create, and submit the application: October 15th
at 9:00 a.m.
- Last day to submit an application: November 13th at 11:59 p.m.
Virtual Training Sessions:
To assist individuals and families with completing funding applications, IFSP staff will offer virtual
training sessions using ZoomGov. These trainings will provide a demonstration of how to access and navigate the IFSP-Funding Portal in WaMS, and provide an opportunity to submit questions to the IFSP staff.
Spaces are limited, so please save your spot and register using the link below:
Wednesday, October 2nd at 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 10th at 10 a.m.
⚠️ IMPORTANT ⚠️
The application portal will be open for one month. Determinations no longer follow the previously established first-come, first-served approval process — so please take your time to apply! For more details on the Funding process and criteria, please review our Program Guidelines at https://mylifemycommunityvirginia.org/ifsp-funding.
Before you begin, here are a few reminders:
- To be eligible to apply, all applicants must be on the Developmental Disability Waiver Waiting List and be living in their own home, or in their family's home.
- ALL applicants in priorities 1, 2, and 3 will be able to apply at the same time. You will NOT need to know your priority status in order to apply.
- Please refer to the Program Guidelines for more information on how funding determinations are made.
- Applicants with a priority 1 waitlist status may apply for up to $1,000. Applicants with a priority 2 or priority 3 waitlist status may apply for up to $500.
To access the application, please: https://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/ifsponline
Parent/Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms?
We understand that the multiple school forms caregivers receive during the first weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but each one helps set your child up for a successful school year! If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Immunization Requirements
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:
- A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with religious tenets or practices.
Find more information on immunizations.
Permission Forms
Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Friday, September 30.
Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
New Staff Feature- Jody Stewart
This week’s Key Center Staff Spotlight is on Jody Stewart. Ms Stewart re-joins our staff this year as a teacher in our middle school program. Learn more about Ms. Stewart on our school’s website.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
Safety Fair with Practice Crisis Scenarios
When: 10/19/2024
Time: 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM ET
Location:
Kenmore Middle School
200 S Carlin Springs Rd.
Arlington, VA
Admission is Free, Click here to register.
Join for a resource fair and practice event with Arlington first responders and community partners to learn about emergency and crisis resources, and practice navigating emergencies. You'll be able work on creation of DD identification cards to hand to first responders to identify a disability in the event of an emergency. You can also work with first responders to role play a variety of situations and ask questions about how you can navigate emergencies safely.
Learn about setting up your own Emergency Health Profile. The Emergency Health Profile allows individuals to voluntarily create a free emergency health profile to provide first responders with their vital health and medical information (behavioral health related information included) when calling 9-1-1 or 9-8-8 during an emergency or crisis. Individuals over the age of 16 may sign-up for an Emergency Health Profile through the Emergency Health Profile Association. Legal guardians may sign up individuals under the age of 16. The team will also discuss 988 and options to call during a behavioral/mental health emergency, and what you can expect.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
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Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
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Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
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Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
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Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.
Events will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
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:
 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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