Hello Husky Families!
Happy Friday! I hope this message finds you and your family well as we wrap up another vibrant week of learning and growth together. Our classrooms have been buzzing with activity, from robust literacy lessons, deepening our conceptual understand of math through a strong workshop model and our course continual acts of kindness that strengthen our Husky pack! It’s always inspiring to see our students not only learning but actively supporting one another. These moments remind me of how special our school community is…there is only one Hybla Valley !
I’d like to remind everyone of the importance of regular school attendance, especially as the weather cools and cold and flu season sets in. We understand that illnesses sometimes feel inevitable this time of year, but we ask that you continue sending your children to school each day. Only in cases of fever, vomiting, or diarrhea do we ask that students stay home to recover. For other symptoms, like a lingering cough or minor sniffles, our clinic staff is here to help support your child throughout the school day. Attendance is critical to their learning experience, and each day is full of valuable opportunities to learn and connect.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for entrusting us with your child’s education and well-being. Wishing you all a restful, healthy weekend, and we look forward to seeing our students back, ready for another great week of growth and discovery.
With love and gratitude,
Kathleen Sain
 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $4,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.
FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. In October, the survey will be made available to FCPS families. The survey is available online through ParentVue. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality.
Below are the visual steps for a parent to get to the survey in SIS ParentVue.
Here is a video link with more information about Impact Aid:
https://www.fcps.edu/impact
Use of Impact Aid Funds:
Federal Impact Aid provides revenue to local education agencies to mitigate costs of educating children in areas impacted by federal activity. The Impact Aid policy was designed to compensate local school districts for the local funding share that is reduced or eliminated because of a Federal presence that is not taxable. School districts with federal lands, military installations, federal low-rent housing or Indian Trust land within their boundaries lose local revenues. Impact Aid is designed to compensate school districts for this lost revenue. Impact Aid goes into the general fund and is intended to offset the costs (e.g. staff, facilities, and transportation) associated with educating military dependent children and other special groups.
 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a comprehensive Family Life Education (FLE) program. FLE instruction begins in kindergarten and continues through grade 12. FLE includes topics in human growth and development and social and emotional health. FLE instruction helps students gain knowledge and skills needed to make healthy, responsible, and life-enhancing decisions related to relationships and their physical, emotional, and social health. Parents and guardians are partners in their child’s learning. FLE instruction supports the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents and guardians can review FLE materials. Parents/guardians can access FLE lessons in Schoology using their SIS username and password. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media titles online. Lessons and media are available for review at your child’s school. Lessons only are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).
To foster respect for family choices, parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. A student who is opted out will receive alternative health instruction. To opt your child out of all or part of the FLE program for this school year, please complete the digital opt-out form. If you cannot access the digital opt-out form, contact your child’s school to request a printed form. You do not need to complete the opt-out form, digital or printed, if you wish for your child to take part in FLE instruction.
FLE program descriptions are available on the FCPS website.
For information about when FLE instruction will take place, please contact your child’s teacher or school. For questions about the FLE program, please contact Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or email fle@fcps.edu.
FCPS Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require specialized services and support to access instruction that is typically presented visually and auditorily (by means of hearing). FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Visit the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website for Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence, reminds us of our commitment to supporting each and every student and helping them meet or exceed high academic standards.
November:
18th: Three Hour Early Release, Student Dismissal is at 1:05 PM.
27th-29th: Student Holidays (Thanksgiving), no classes.
December:
10th: December PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) Meeting, please join us in person in the cafeteria or virtually using this link (https://meet.google.com/xmu-dxnn-qxo) from 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM.
19th: Winter Movie Night (More details to come)
23rd - 31st: Winter Break Student Holiday, no classes.
January:
1st-3rd: Winter Break Student Holiday, no classes.
20th: Student Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday), no classes.
28th: End of 2nd Quarter
29th: Student Holiday & Teacher Workday, no classes.
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