FCPS staff (from left) Riya Mehta, Sequoyah Cottoms, Alex Hunter, and Chris Tsang smile for a group photo at a two-day Restorative Justice Pathway cohort training.
Community Gathers for State of Our Schools Event
Community leaders heard from Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and other FCPS Leadership Team members at the inaugural State of Our Schools. The event, which was hosted by Educate Fairfax, also featured talks by students and performances showcasing their talents. Visit the State of Our Schools webpage to view video highlights.
đź’Ş Sharing Our Success
We invite you to look back at the 2023-24 school year and relive some of our greatest moments. See how our outstanding students and staff excelled last year, and together, contributed to making FCPS a premier school division.
đź‘ź Unlock Happiness, Well-Being, and Self-Expression
As humans, we naturally sync; our heartbeat, breathing, and steps often align with those around us. Moving together builds trust, deepens connections, and goes beyond exercise. Whether in person or virtual, joyful movement strengthens bonds and resilience.
Register now for the Joy of Movement webinar on Wednesday, October 30, 4:30-5:30 p.m. The webinar will explore psychology, neuroscience, and biology to uncover how movement unlocks happiness and well-being, and is a powerful form of self-expression. Don’t miss out! Encourage your colleagues to participate with you.
Discover more Employee Assistance Program (EAP) events by visiting the Hub EAP page.
đź’» Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Know Before You Click
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the importance of cybersecurity and following safe online practices. Data breaches and cyberattacks are on the rise. We all share the responsibility of protecting ourselves and FCPS by preventing cybercriminals from accessing sensitive information. Please remember:
- Never provide sensitive or confidential data via email.
- Never share passwords or authenticator codes.
- Always report suspicious emails sent to your FCPS account by using the PhishAlarm® button at the far right of your Outlook toolbar.
Find more tips to stay safe online on the Employee Hub.
“Avid” Supporters of Student Success
Last week, Dr. Reid visited Centre Ridge Elementary School, where staff from 25 Title I schools participated in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) training.Â
This program helps students become college and career-ready by building organizational, communication, and collaboration skills. Dr. Reid says that by next year, FCPS plans to broaden AVID from 28 to 50 Title I schools. Check out some of her other activities in Weekly Reflections.
|
âś… Accessibility Checkers Create More Inclusive Communications
It's important that documents — whether they are for students or their families — are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. This means making them easy to read and understand, no matter whether someone uses a screen reader, easy-to-read fonts, text-to-speech, translations, or other accessibility tools.Â
This Disability History and Awareness Month, consider how you can make documents accessible to create more inclusive opportunities. Doing so shows that you care about everyone and want to ensure equal opportunities to learn and understand information. Making your documents easier to use can help you reach a wider audience and improve your communication.
Accessibility Resources
It's important to run an accessibility checker before sharing resources. Grackle for Google Docs and Slides is one option. Others are listed on the Accessible Educational Materials webpage, along with tips for creating accessible resources.
Learn more on the Keep C.A.L.M. and Choose Accessible Learning Materials Hub page.
Youth Survey Reports Lower Substance Use, Fewer Mental Health Challenges
In the Academic Matters section of the October 24 School Board meeting, Dr. Reid shared the results of the 2023-24 Fairfax County Youth Survey. This survey, which is conducted by the Fairfax County Government, covers topics such as substance abuse, mental health, physical health and nutrition, and bullying and aggressive behavior.Â
The survey revealed that most students reported no use of any substances. Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use continued to decrease in 2023. This year’s rates were the lowest since 2010 and are lower than those reported nationally for most substances. Students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade also reported lowered levels of mental health challenges (rates of stress, sadness, and markers of mental health crises). Read more about the Youth Survey.
đź“š Opportunity to Review Social Studies Basal Resources
FCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary materials used to support instruction in a given subject. Part of the process for selecting new resources is a public review of the instructional materials under consideration, which is taking place until Thursday, October 31. Get more information on how to view the materials.Â
All community feedback will be shared with the School Board before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Quarter End/Early Release, Diwali/Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day, Student Holidays
Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter and a two-hour early release for students.
Friday, November 1, is a holiday for Diwali, Dia de los Muertos, and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed.
Schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5 (Election Day), for a teacher workday.
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
This Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time will end. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!Â
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!Â
|
