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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Dear Dranesville Families,
As we thaw out from the bitter cold and look forward to warmer weather next week, I wanted to thank all the FCPS custodians for their efforts to clear snow and ice on school grounds so students and staff could safely return to schools and offices. I also want to thank residents who took the time to shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes. Given the unusual snow fall and extremely low temperatures the past few weeks, I heard from many Dranesville families wanting to know why students had not returned to school and just as many asking why students were expected to return to school. The conditions throughout Dranesville varied, evidenced by the fact that the Dranesville Board of Supervisor’s office received close to two hundred reports on VDOT’s insufficient snow removal throughout McLean, Great Falls, and Herndon.
FCPS clears only those roads and sidewalks on FCPS property. I heard from several families about the bitter cold and concerns about their students who were forced to walk in busy streets due to unsafe sidewalk conditions like those on Davidson Road and Chain Bridge Road by Lewinsville Park. As a community, we need to work with VDOT to learn from these storms and address possible changes ahead of the next storm.
The decision to call a snow day is multilayered and difficult. I appreciate the impact it has on all parents and caregivers, especially working ones. When we have a snow day, students miss instructional time and many of our students miss meals. Thank you for your understanding regarding how conditions vary throughout Dranesville and the entire county.
I have been busy visiting schools and attending community events. I visited Principal DiBari at Westfield High, Principal Brooker at Forestville Elementary, and Principal Harper at Great Falls Elementary last week. It is such a delight to witness the magnificent work of our educators and observe the teaching and learning that is going on in our schools. I also attended the virtual meeting explaining the process to select a new principal for Cooper Middle School and two meetings, one virtual and one in person, regarding the boundary study underway for Coates Elementary School.
The coming winter weeks are full of great events across Dranesville in the arts, winter sports, and volunteering. Tomorrow, I am excited to attend/visit: Liberty District One Act Play Competition at Marshall HS where Langley, McLean, Herndon, and Marshall drama groups will perform; Herndon Community Center open house; and the16th annual Chinese Lunar Festival at Luther Jackson MS. Next week, I am looking forward to the Speech and Debate competition at Robinson Secondary School, and the Langley pyramid’s 13th annual Rise against Hunger event at Colvin Run ES. Their pyramid event is on track to reach one million meals packed this year!
Lastly, here are opportunities to share your voice with FCPS. You can find more information below in the newsletter.
- Sign up for the February 4th Budget Public hearing.
- If you missed the in-person boundary review meetings, attend a virtual meeting on Jan. 27th, Jan. 28th, or Feb. 10th.
- Fill out the SR&R and FCPS’s cell phone policy survey
- Volunteer to be the Dranesville representative to the K-12 Math Basal Resource Review Committee.
Go Commanders!
Robyn
Clearview ES Commanders Pep Rally
In this newsletter,
Calendar Reminders
January 28, 2025: End of the 2nd Quarter
January 29, 2025: Lunar New Year: Teacher Work Day, no school
February 17, 2025: Presidents Day Holiday
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School Board Updates
FY 2026 Proposed Budget
From Dr. Reid,
This Proposed Budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence — not just for FCPS, but for all of us in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young people, dedicated educators and support staff, and a thriving economy. Our priorities include:
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Providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7.0% salary increase for all staff.
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Investing in students who require additional support and empowering our educators to meet their educational needs through micro credentialing.
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Continuing multiyear initiatives such as inclusive preschool, certified athletic trainers at each of our high schools, family liaisons, fine and performing arts stipends, and replacement of our Human Resources Information System.
The FY 2026 Proposed Budget totals $4.0 billion. This is a net increase of $297.1 million, or 7.9%, over the FY 2025 Approved Budget. As part of this proposal, I am requesting an additional $268.3 million, a 10.4% increase from what was provided in the prior year’s transfer. This transfer request is only a 5.6% increase from last year’s request.
More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and it reflects the changing needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Under this proposed budget, FCPS is maximizing its resources while focusing our attention on initiatives that align with FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan. With cost savings in mind, no new initiatives will be sought this year.
You may remember that last year’s budget included information on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's (JLARC) study of Virginia’s K-12 funding formulas. FCPS, along with other Virginia school divisions, have been chronically and critically underfunded by the state. Virginia schools receive less funding per student than our neighboring states — an estimated $568.7 million in underfunding at FCPS alone. That’s approximately $3,100 per student. Because of this chronic underfunding, we are reliant on county funding — less than one third of our budget comes from state, federal, or other sources.
Thank you for your continued support of Fairfax County Public Schools, and thank you to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for working alongside us to support our students, empower our educators, and secure the future of our community.
Last night’s budget presentation video and slides are available on our website. I also encourage you to keep up with the budget process by watching our upcoming February 4 School Board work session or visiting FCPS’ Budget webpage.
Budget Public Hearing- February 4
Sign-up now. Get information on the upcoming public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 Budget, including how to sign-up for the Speaker's List.
Key Votes
January 23, 2025: New Intergovernmental Contract with JMU
The School Board voted to approve the new intergovernmental contract with JMU for the Teacher Pipeline Bachelor's Pathway. Watch the full meeting.
January 9, 2025: Ratifying Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreements Between FCPS and FEU
The School Board voted to ratify the tentative collective bargaining agreements between FCPS and the FEU for the licensed instructional and operational bargaining units with an effective date of July 1, 2025. View more information on Boarddocs and watch the full meeting.
Application for the 2025 Student Representative to the School Board- due Feb. 24
The School Board student representative represents the interests of Fairfax County Public Schools students. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity. Students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply.
Watch this video to learn about the student representative experience from the current representative, Megan Sawant.
- A written component, which is due Monday, February 24.
- A 30-second candidate video statement, which is due Wednesday, March 26. Candidates will be emailed a link to record their video on Monday, March 17.
Both application components are required to be considered for the election. Read more about the election process.
FCPS’s Proposed Construction Projects Offer Community-Wide Benefits
FCPS’s updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
The proposed CIP was presented to the School Board at the January 14 work session. A public hearing was also held January 14. The School Board is scheduled to take action on the proposed CIP at its February 6 meeting.
School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program
The School Board also discussed the annual School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program at the January 14 work session. View the presentation slides.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 10:30 a.m.- Work Session
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Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6 p.m.- Budget Public Hearing
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Thursday, February 6, 2025, 7 p.m.- Regular Meeting
All times and topics subject to change.
How to watch meetings and sign up to speak
January Audit Buzz
In this issue of the Audit Buzz, we provide an update on current engagements; provide highlights the Office of Auditor General's (OAG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Annual Report, explain What’s the Difference Between Findings, Observations, and Exceptions in the Knowledge Hive; and offer a training opportunity for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees. Prior editions of Audit Buzz are archived here on OAG website.
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FCPS Updates
Virtual Community Boundary Review Meetings
If you have not been able to attend a Community Boundary Review meeting yet, it’s not too late! The following virtual meetings will have the same format and information available as the previous in-person meetings:
Click one of the dates above to register and receive your unique Zoom link. Please note that each virtual meeting will be capped at 400 participants to help provide a meaningful experience for all. Language interpretation will be available. Learn about FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting- January 22
In this third meeting, members participated in an exercise that involved a preliminary review of feedback data from the six regional in-person meetings. Once the six virtual community meetings are completed, the consultant will provide the committee with data from all 12 meetings for review.
Key takeaways from this meeting include:
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Follow-Up from Previous Advisory Committee Meetings
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Policy 8130 and Review Process
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Community Feedback to Next Steps: Guiding the Boundary Review Process
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Thru Consulting shared summaries of each of the four priority areas and the “Other” category, as well as shared the actual scanned pdfs of graphic organizers from six community sessions conducted in 2024.
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The committee was asked to individually review the summaries, and was then divided into groups to review specific priority areas. In groups, we began to review the summaries and preliminarily reviewed for accuracy against the scanned pdfs from the community sessions. The committee agreed that there was limited time to review the volume of data that will be reviewed in subsequent sessions.
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We preliminarily drafted statements of other data that we need to collect and review, as well as additional analysis on the accuracy of the summaries provided.
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The committee asked for additional data that has not been provided to date.
Please visit FCPS’ website to access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received.
Coates Elementary School Boundary Study
On February 8, 2024 the Fairfax County School Board approved the FY 2025-29 Capital Improvement Program, with the amendment to include Coates Elementary in the Priority Recommended Boundary Adjustments table, with potential boundary scoping in the Fall of 2024 or Spring 2025. This inclusion of Coates Elementary in the approved CIP will allow staff to address the current and projected capacity deficit, student membership growth at the school, and the number of temporary classrooms at the school.
School and division staff, along with the Fairfax County School Board, are working with the community to determine the best way to address the capacity challenges facing Coates Elementary School. Find the presentations at the Coates Elementary School Boundary Study webpage.
We encourage you to share your feedback on potential boundary scope. The Feedback Form is open through February 4, 2025.
Coates ES In-Person Community Boundary Meeting
SR&R and Cell Phone Policy Survey Open through 2/3
On January 21, all FCPS parents/caregivers and middle and high school students, and FCPS staff received email invitations to participate in a survey that seeks to understand community support for proposed options relating to FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), cell phone policy, and cell phone storage options. The survey will be available to February 3. Please take a few moments to share your feedback and help FCPS make informed, inclusive decisions for all of our schools!
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Gradebook Available Until End-of-Quarter
Based on community feedback from the first quarter closure, FCPS revisited the scheduled dates for closing the Gradebook and Report Card modules in the SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps. The app will now close in alignment 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. Gradebook will be closed for the second quarter from Tuesday, January 28, 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 a.m.
Opioid Awareness
FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.
What can families do?
- Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
- Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
- Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs.
- Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors.
- Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”
2025-26 K-12 Math Basal Resources Adoption Committee Dranesville Opening
Are you interested in participating in the review of potential K-12 Mathematics resources? FCPS is engaging the basal resource (e.g., textbooks, online materials) adoption process for K-12 Mathematics, and I am seeking a community member to participate on this committee. The process may lead to identified Mathematics resources (e.g., textbooks, digital materials) for some or all grade levels and courses in school year 2025-2026. The process, governed by Regulation 3004.5, includes a 30 day public review period and a deep review by an Instructional Resource Review Committee (IRRC).
Appointed community representatives must be able to meet the following participation criteria for a total commitment of 25 hours. Dates will be confirmed in February. Participation on the committee requires the following:
- Attend 2 in-person meetings (3/3 8am - 3pm and 3/24 8am - 3pm); three subcommittee meetings via Zoom (dates TBD), and two vendor demos via Zoom (dates TBD) during March 2025.
- Subcommittee meetings will be scheduled by the members at a time convenient for all.
- Conduct approximately five hours independent review of submitted resource materials during March 2025.
- Keep information on vendors, materials reviewed, and recommendations confidential.
- Respond to email communication with subcommittee members.
- No conflict of interest with instructional vendors under consideration.
The review process is constructed to ensure:
- Resources align with Virginia Standards of Learning and FCPS Learning Model;
- Resources meet the educational needs of a variety of learners;
- Resources reflect culturally responsive curriculum and pedagogy;
- Students gain equitable access to high-quality, dynamic resources; and
- Input from multiple stakeholder groups is collected and valued.
If you have interest in representing Dranesville on this committee, please fill out this Google form and email my Staff Aide at wmbiliter@fcps.edu with your interest in the position.
Community Updates
Supervisor Bierman's Newsletter
Please sign up for Supervisor Bierman's Thursday Dranesville Dispatch newsletter to keep up to date on Dranesville and Fairfax County news and events.
495 NEXT- The Big Beam Weekend- 1/24- 27
Travelers are urged to stay away from northbound I-495 near Tysons
495 NEXT crews will install five steel bridge girders spanning 295 feet in length over northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) at the Dulles Corridor Interchange for a new 495 Express Lanes ramp. This work is scheduled to occur over the weekend of January 24-27, 2025, and will require major traffic impacts on northbound I-495 near Tysons and at the Dulles Corridor Interchange.
Find more information about the closures and traffic impacts here.
My visit to Great Falls ES- Assistant Principal Diaz, PTA President-Elect Allison Morello, Principal Harper, and PTA President Dianne Lee
Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars
The Regeneron Science Talent Search is one of the most prestigious science research contests in the nation for high school seniors. Each year students are invited to submit original research in important scientific areas of study. TJHSST is well represented with eight students earning a spot among the top 300 finalists.
Congratulations to these Dranesville finalists:
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Marina Lin: A Carbon-Aware Ant Colony System Algorithm for the Sustainable Generalized Traveling Salesman Problem
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Phoebe Pan: Data Augmentation Strategies for Improved PM2.5 Forecasting Using Transformer Architectures
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Patrick Shi: Integrative Genomic Analysis Identifies Novel Causal Genes of Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
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Jaydon Shuan Sun: Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of 18-Crown-6 Stabilized Potassium and Ammonium Salt of Oxalatotriphenylstannate
FCPS Students Named National Merit Commended Scholars
Six hundred ninety-three FCPS students have been named National Merit Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Congratulations to these Dranesville students:
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Herndon High School - Maitlyn Bachman, John Rudolph, Sean Wittmer.
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Langley High School - Mateo Andreas Albolote, Andrew Wu Cao, Davis Charles Chalmers, Aidan Yucheng Chen, Ruthie Wenxin Chian, Caitlyn Lauren Crapco-Wang, Gabriel Elias Elferrane, Katherine Fatianov, Sophia Filipi, Jackson Nathanial Gayl, Zara Ghattas, Caitlin Marie Hohenthaner, Anya Huang, Andrew Sungmin Hwang, Aryan Jain, Shifra Ruth Janardhanan, Anna Hyde Jordan, Boris Borev Karaivanov, Katherine Chung-Ting Ku, Sathvik Lakamsani, Hannah Seoyon Lee, Ian Liao, George Lin, Matthew Remo Luraschi, Natalie Alexis Van Ma, Jonathan Ma, Aubree Zaria Masud, Noah Patrick McFadden, Nathaniel Carlson Minton, Nicholas Earl Newburn, Cienna Elyse Ortiz, Edward Sanghyun Park, Shakthi Pattabiraman, Lila Caroline Pesavento, Pierce Alexander Macleod Pryce, Daniel Tian Hao Qiu, Evan Ru, Yona Dayan Sankar, Aanya Shah, Joshua Michael Skeen, Matthew Arthur Tam, Hayley Catherine Varacalli, Sreeja Mani Vemuri, Jenny Jia-Ning Wang, Keely Wen, Alice Gah Ling Wigmore, Sin Kwan Xu, Hanna Jinghan Xue, Cecelia Wang Ye, Zachary Kim Yellen, Tony Shuhua Yu, Oliver Yung, Daniel Xu Zeng, Allison Zhan, Michael Yunhao Zhang
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Marshall High School - Ryan Clopper, Vedansh Garg
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McLean High School - Karsten Basas Crosby, Maximillian Bishop, Angela Chen, Marcus Choi, Ryan Chun, Michael Chung, Phillip Davis, Allison Deutsch, Rita Dray, Leah Durkee, Graham Evans, John Farrell, Marco Femia, Isabel Forder, Enrico Guertin, Minsong Ha, Jonathan Hansen, Yiyang Hong, James Hosken, Aaron Jia, Una Kang, Ilana Katwan, Youngchan Kim, John Kirk, Stella Lee, Richard Li, Lawrence Liu, Isabel Liu, Andrew Lohman, Alexander Mallus, Aneek Mandal, Rohan Master, Ryan McKenzie, Tennyson Miles, Charles Murphy, Nathan Park, Colin Park, Samuel Peale, Ariq Rahman, Sophia Ranniger, Jaya Remily, Kiran Rollins, Ishaan Sethi, Jean-Paul Stagarescu, Aaron Stark, Logan Sumida, Carolina Sun, Kyra Taube, Marisa Uttamchandani, Alexandra Vargo, Nora Venetianer, Sophia Werthmuller, Amelie Yan, Grace Yang, Letian Zhang, Sophie Zhang.
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Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) - Marta Anvelt, Erdem Balibek, Krish Bommakanti, Neha Chandran, Tejasvi Charagundla, Anirudh Chinthakindi, Alexander Do, Raymond Fu, Gonzalo Garcia Donoso, Jeev Suhas Jambunathan, Satik Karki, Anish Khandavalli, Kavya Kuttuva, Marina Lin, Hannah Liu, Nicole Liu, Adhiti Mukund, Marcus Nance, Ishaan Saran, Augustus Simanson, Rishika Singh, Jaydon Sun, Nathan Thomas, Andrew Wang, James Wright, Daniel Wu, Rita Yu, Megan Zhang
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Westfield High School - Alvera Khatri, Aaditi Rai
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's New Principal Michael Mukai
In January, Mukai will bid farewell to West Springfield High School, where he has served as principal for 10 years, and return to lead his alma mater with a vision for the school that prepares students for a future yet to be imagined. This is a full circle moment for Mukai, who was in the very first class of TJHSST when it converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. He was selected following a lengthy nationwide search that yielded many highly qualified candidates.
Cooper MS and Marshall HS 2025 Crown Award Winners
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) recently announced finalists for the 2025 Crown Awards. The Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the CSPA to a student print or digital medium for overall excellence, and we have two of our schools included as finalists in the Yearbook category! Congratulations to Cooper Middle School for their Pathfinder yearbook and to Marshall High School for their Columbian yearbook! This is Cooper’s first time as a finalist. Silver and Gold Crown winners will be awarded at the CSPA’s 101st Annual Spring Convention this March in New York City.
Langley HS
Langley HS's January Saxon Service event
Ten Reasons Langley Stands Out
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On-Time Graduation Excellence: 99.6% on-time graduation rate.
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Pathway to Success: 94% pursue higher education
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Top-Ranked School: Ranked #2 in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report,
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Championship Culture: over 23 state and national championships since 2018.
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Vibrant Student Life: 150 student clubs
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Committed to Service: Over 300 students participate in 13 monthly service opportunities through the Saxon Service program.
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National Merit: SY 24-25 Langley honored 68 students who have been recognized by College Board as National Merit Commended students and 19 students who have qualified as a Semifinalist.
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Award-Winning Music: Langley's music programs have consistently earned Virginia Blue Ribbon status for over a decade.
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Nationally Ranked MUN: Our Model United Nations program is ranked #1 in the nation, setting the bar for excellence.
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Langley LEAP: Each year, our senior students are provided the opportunity to find an internship for the final weeks of school.
Brendan's Eagle Scout service project, who started playing the trumpet at Cooper MS and is currently in Langley High School’s marching band, was recently featured in the Washington Post. With the help of volunteers, Brendan collected and repaired more than 100 musical instruments for Hungry for Music, an organization which provides instruments to low-income students around the globe.
RIF Young Ambassador Clelia Benedetti (Langley senior) and her sister Arabella (Cooper MS) have conducted five book collections for RIF NOVA, bringing in over 750 books to share with other readers!
Colvin Run ES
Playground sensory path- Last year, a group of students approached Mr. Junge to create a sensory path. This fall Ms. Wiseman offered a BASA class to use their template to start creating the sensory path. Recently, Jack G., from Troop 1128, did his Eagle Scout to finish painting the sensory path on the sidewalk between Door 3 and 4 in back of the school. We are so proud of the initiative these students took and love the final result.
Disclaimer: Opportunities and events offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Academy Open Houses
FCPS high school academies are holding open houses for interested students. A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is now open. Dual Language Immersion is available in French (Kent Gardens ES), German, Japanese (Great Falls ES), Korean, and Spanish (Herndon ES).
Interested parents/caregivers may want to attend an informational meeting at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a list of meetings by language offered and other information.
Virtual Meeting for All Languages- The virtual meeting is hosted by the world languages office and includes all general program information.
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February 4, 2025: 6 p.m.- registration information coming soon
FCPA Spring/Summer Camp Registration
FCPA Spring and Summer Camp registration will be on two dates depending on the camp location- Tuesday, February 4 at 9 a.m. or Thursday, February 6 at 9 a.m. Visit Park Authority Camps for more information and tips on how to prepare for registration.
Macdonald Scholarship Application due 1/27
Each year, the McLean Community Center recognizes the hard work and talent of young performing artists through the James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition. Prizes are awarded in each of four categories: Dance, Theater, Instrumental Music, and Vocal Music.
High school students who reside in or go to school in the MCC tax district (Small District 1A-Dranesville) are eligible to apply. Students may enter in more than one category but must apply for each.
The Alden Youth Auditions- 1/28- 29
The Alden will host auditions for their 2025 Youth Production on January 28 and 29, with call backs on January 30. They will cast actors ages 10-16 who live in the MCC tax district. Actors must register to audition.
Library’s Winter Reading Challenge Through 1/31
FC Public Library’s winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through January 31. Visit your local FCPL branch or the Winter Reading Adventure websiteto register.
Looking for ways to help support your child’s reading and writing at home? Visit the FCPS Literacy Resource page for tips and information about the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System.
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Women in STEM Essay Contest – Due Feb. 10
The McLean Area Branch of American Association of University Women's STEM essay contest invites 7th and 8th girls and boys to discover and publicize women who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields but received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today.
Essays should be no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman.
ACSD 2025 First Class Awards Nominations
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. The First-Class Awards are presented annually to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive student outcomes. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education.
Nominations close on February 19, 2025. Contact Diana Ree-Reeder (dlreereeder@fcps.edu) for more information.
Hispanic Leadership Alliance Scholarships
The Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA) scholarship is for a first-generation Latino/Hispanic FCPS graduating seniors from Fairfax County Public Schools. This year marks HLA’s 20th anniversary of offering scholarships to FCPS students. The deadline is February 25, 2025. Email the completed Word-based application and required documents to jane.ellen.cruz@gmail.com (Jane Cruz).
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities YLA
The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), is one of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities flagship training programs. This year's YLA will be held at Virginia State University Monday, July 14 - Thursday, July 17, 2025. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 28, 2025. Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in becoming leaders in their school communities are strongly encouraged to apply as YLA delegates. Refer to the YLA Application - Virginia Board for People with Disabilities for additional details and to apply.
NVSWCD College Scholarship- due April 1
Fairfax County high school seniors or college freshmen are eligible to receive a $1,000 Future Conservation Leaders Scholarship from NVSWCD. This scholarship supports studies related to natural resource conservation and invests in the talented youth of Fairfax County. Apply by Tuesday, April 1
Traveling Players Ensemble- classes & camps
2025 Fairfax Public Access Summer Camps
During the summer, Fairfax Public Access offers teens interested in television studio production, post-production video editing, and radio production three separate camps. For more information and to register, please visit Fairfax Public Access - Summer Camp Registration.
Disclaimer: Opportunities and events offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
January 25 and 26
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Opportunity- 1/25
FCPS is collaborating with Volunteer Fairfax for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Students and families can volunteer on Saturday, January 25, at Give Together at the James Lee Community Center.
16th Annual Chinese New Year Festival- 1/25
The Asian Community Service Center will celebrate the Chinese New Year with a Chinese New Year Festival on Saturday, January 25, 2025, 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Rd, Falls Church) Purchase your tickets online and receive a 5% discount. The Festival will include live performances, crafts, job opportunities, kids’ activities, Asian cuisine, a New Year parade, and more! Booths and sponsorships are available.
Herndon CC Open House- 1/25
We’re excited to invite you to the Herndon Community Center Open House! This event is completely FREE, so bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Enjoy an afternoon packed with exciting activities for all ages.
- Saturday, January 25, 2025: 2- 4 p.m.
- Herndon Community Center (814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon)
Improvicon of Northern Virginia 6- 1/25
The Alden’s, (the) Unruly Theatre Project, returns to claim their 3rd championship at the Improvicon of Northern Virginia 6 on Saturday, January 25: 7 p.m. The best of the best improv groups in Northern Virginia (& DC, LOL) go head-to-head, toe-to-toe and joke-to-joke like “Whose Line is it Anyway?” but with your screwball suggestions!
Colvin Run Mill Maple Syrup Boil Down- 1/26
Brave the weather and watch and learn as sap is boiled down into delicious, sweet syrup over an open fire at the Colvin Run Mill. Sample maple syrup over cornbread made from Colvin Run cornmeal. Registration is required.
FCPS Gap Year Fair- January 28
FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 28, 6-8:30 p.m., at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning about opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Students should register at USA Gap Year Fairs.
Great Falls Library Pedestrian Improvements Project Public Meeting- Jan. 30
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a community meeting on January 30th regarding the pedestrian improvement project on Georgetown Pike. FCDOT plans to install a high visibility crosswalk, pedestrian refuge island, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and pedestrian crossing warning signs, among other improvements.
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January 30, 2025, 7- 8 p.m.
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Great Falls Grange (9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls)
Rise Against Hunger Service Learning Project
1,000,000 Meals Milestone this year!
Annual “Rise Against Hunger” Service Learning project will be collecting donations in school and online through January 31. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, families in the Langley Pyramid will gather at Colvin Run ES to help needy children. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley Pyramid elementary, middle, and high schools will collaborate to prepare 82,080 meal packages for schools and orphanages worldwide.
Need More Information? Rise Against Hunger is a 4-star rated organization that provides nutrient-rich meal packages to developing countries delivered through schools. These meals encourage children to attend school, receive an education, and provide additional meals for their families.
Stuff the Bus Event- Feb. 8
Stuff the Bus began in 2011 in response to a critical need to help restock the shelves of local food pantries after the holidays. This collaborative program is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits.
- Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
- Safeway (413 Elden Street, Herndon)
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Black History Month- February
February's Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.
Black History Month at the Meeting House- Feb. 1
In honor of Black History Month, on February 1: 12- 3 p.m., the Frying Pan Baptist Meeting House will be open and have interpretive signage for guests to read about Black History and the stories of the people from the community.
National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Research shows that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life. The FCPS MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student.
National Blood Donor Month
This is a time to raise awareness about the vital role that blood donors play in saving lives. Donating blood is a simple act, but it has an immense impact on our healthcare system and our ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Donating blood is a simple and most healthy individuals aged 16-65 are eligible to donate. One donation can save up to three lives.
To find a local blood drive or donation center, visit the American Red Cross website or contact your local hospital. Remember, your donation could make a life-changing difference for someone in need.
Lunar New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake!
January 29 - February 4, 2025- Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities. It is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. The number of celebration days with different names varies depending on the country. China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival, or Chūnjié in Mandarin, while Koreans call the holiday Seollal and Vietnamese, Tết. We encourage you to explore the following ways to learn more and celebrate Lunar New Year with your family. Check out these resources about the Lunar New Year- Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and The Kennedy Center.
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The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© 2025 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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