Food and Nutrition Services staff (from left) Rahul Nooniwal, Sukunya Hamrojananukun, Berta Orellana, Stefan Slavov, Hee Kim, Melissa DeAngelo, Tracie Thomas, and Megan Salyer work on meal kit distribution at Justice High School while school is closed due to snow.
Cigna Health Care Deductibles Reset January 1
Cigna health plan’s annual deductible reset on January 1. The deductible is the amount you pay each year for your covered services before the plan starts to contribute toward your covered health care costs.
However, there are some exceptions — such as covered preventive care, immunizations, urgent care facility visits, and MD Live — for which there is no deductible before the plan coverage begins.
- For employees with Cigna individual coverage, the first $400 of your covered expenses will be applied to fulfill your annual deductible.
- For employees covering one or more dependents, an $800 family deductible applies. The amount you and your dependents pay toward the deductible will be combined to reach the $800 family deductible. Your plan will then begin contributing to your health care cost after the $800 family deductible is met.
For more details about your Cigna plan and other benefits, please see the 2025 Employee Benefits Briefing, call a Cigna representative at 877-501-7992, or contact the Office of Benefit Services at 571-423-3200 (press option 3, then option 2) or via FCPS StaffConnect.
💯 Quarter End Gradebook/SIS ParentVUE Closure
Based on community feedback from the first quarter closure, FCPS revisited the scheduled dates for closing the Gradebook and Report Card modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
Moving forward, app closure will align with the actual quarter-end dates. This change will allow students and families to view their assignments and grades until the last day of the quarter. The grade book windows for teachers have not changed.
Gradebook will be closed for the second quarter from Tuesday, January 28, at 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 at a.m.
🏫 Spring Educator Academy Program Catalog Available
FCPS educators can access free professional development in student engagement, academic content, pedagogy, and classroom management through the Educator Academy Program. Choose from various instructor-led courses or demonstrate your skills through self-paced and self-directed microcredentials.
Explore more than 40 course options available this spring in the MyPDE course catalog. Academy course and microcredential participants receive Academy credit(s) and recertification points upon successful completion that can be applied toward Virginia teaching licensure renewal and a salary scale increase.
Course syllabuses, outcomes, and assignments are listed in the Academy course catalog. Registration opens Tuesday, January 14, at 5 p.m. Visit the Academy Hub page to find out how to register. Email Academy@fcps.edu if you have questions.
✨ Meaningful continuous learning for employees is part of Pillar C in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
🍼 Expectant Parents Workshop
A virtual workshop will be offered Wednesday, January 22, 4-5 p.m. for expectant parents. This workshop will provide information on the leaves and disability benefits FCPS offers for the birth (maternity and paternity), adoption, or fostering of a child.
Participants will explore FCPS leave benefit programs, including paid parental leave, and learn how to apply for them. The session will also cover health and wellness resources, as well as the process for enrolling in health insurance and other optional benefits.
All employees who would like more information on FCPS benefits and resources are welcome to attend. Register in MyPDE. A Zoom link will be forwarded to participants within 24 hours of the class.
👩🏫 Join Our Teacher Team!
Are you an instructional assistant who is considering becoming a teacher? Know someone who you think would be a good fit for Team FCPS? If so, FCPS will be holding a virtual job fair for teachers and other instructional positions on Saturday, January 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Attendees will have the chance to network and interview with representatives from our schools. Employment offers for the current school year may be presented during the fair.
Registration is required. Register to attend the January 11 job fair no later than Thursday, January 9. Contact the Department of Human Resources through their web portal or call 571-423-3000.
In-person job fairs will be held on Saturday, February 1, at Lake Braddock Secondary School, and Saturday, February 22, at a location to be determined.
📝 Apply for Teach Forward (¡Avanza!) Cohort for Licensure Program
FCPS is offering financial support to 100 FCPS employees to become fully licensed teachers. Participants are only responsible for the $250 enrollment fee and the costs of the required Praxis tests. FCPS will fund the additional program cost of $2,800.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree but not a Virginia teaching license, apply to this self-paced program to become provisionally licensed for the 2025-26 school year (upon completion of the initial requirements). Participants can earn their teaching certification in one of the designated endorsements within 12-24 months.
Learn more about Teach Forward online or at an information session from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, or Wednesday, January 15. Click the dates to register.
Be Inspired! Follow Us and #FCPSTeacherTuesday
Learn why our teachers join the profession and be inspired by their stories, including this one by Ariana Gallahan-Zarate. Ariana is a teacher at Annandale High School who started her journey with FCPS as an instructional assistant at Fairhill Elementary School. Follow FCPS on Facebook and Instagram.
📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Thank you, teachers and principals, for helping keep cell phones off during the school day. FCPS’ cell phone policy is helping create learning spaces where our students are less distracted and more engaged.
This year, we’re asking our families to talk with their children about the importance of putting their cell phones away during instructional time. We’re also asking teachers not to use cell phones for instructional activities unless approved by a principal or designee.
📍 Virtual Community Boundary Review Meetings
If you did not have a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting as part of the first phase of our comprehensive boundary review process, please join one of our virtual meetings:
Click on a date to register.
To ensure a meaningful experience for participants, each virtual meeting will be limited to 400 participants, and each participant will receive their own unique Zoom link. Language interpretation will be available.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn about the boundary review process. Sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
🚗 Buckle Up for the Coast to Coast Spring Wellness Challenge
Have you ever wanted to pack up the car and head across the country? Buckle up for a nostalgic road trip. Discover iconic destinations, from national parks to exciting bucket-list vacation spots. Experience postcard-perfect images and captivating descriptions as you build well-being habits that last long after the journey is over.
Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, email EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu with questions.
Updates From December 19 School Board Meeting
✅ Completion of Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade
In the Academic Matters section of the December 19 School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Algebra 1 — specifically 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence and its measure of successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade.
Completing Algebra 1 by eighth grade is important because it lays a strong foundation for advanced math and STEM subjects in high school and beyond. Early mastery of algebra helps students develop critical problem-solving skills and logical thinking.
The percentage of eighth grade students enrolled in Algebra 1 or higher has increased from 56% in 2021-22 to 70% this school year at 18 schools in FCPS. Read Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections to learn more about why it is important for students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade.
✨ Strategic Plan Update on Goal 2: Safe Supported, Included, and Empowered
Dr. Reid also presented an update on the 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. Goal 2 states that every student will experience an equitable school community where student health and well-being are prioritized and student voice is centered. Dr. Reid addressed chronic absenteeism, discipline disproportionality, and student academic inclusion as well.
View Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections to see how FCPS is overcoming challenges in these areas. View the full Goal 2 report.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Holiday)
Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.
School Board Meeting Thursday, January 9, at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, January 9, at 7 p.m. Topics on the agenda include:
- Ratification of Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreements Between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) for the Licensed Instructional and Operational Bargaining Units
- Awarding of Contracts
View the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
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Public Hearing on Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Capital Improvement Program
The Fairfax County School Board will hear comments on the FY 2026 proposed Capital Improvement Program at a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 14.
☎️ See Something, Say Something: Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline
FCPS provides a way for employees and the general public to report any suspected wrongdoing related to FCPS’ assets and resources. Reporting will help ensure taxpayers’ money is spent appropriately — on our students’ education. It can also help improve employees’ work environment.
Reports can be made in person, by phone, by email, or online. All reports are taken seriously, and every effort will be made to investigate reports according to the applicable laws, codes, policies, or regulations. Employees can assist with investigations by providing as much information as possible. Please visit the Office of Auditor General webpage to learn more.
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 Tuesdays. Thank you!
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