Floris Elementary School students participate in the Westfield High School homecoming parade.
Protecting Our Students: FCPS Becomes First in Virginia to Implement Continuous Background Checks
FCPS is proud to announce its role as the first school division in Virginia to implement Rap Back, a continuous criminal background check monitoring system.
Officially launched on July 1, this significant safety and security enhancement demonstrates FCPS’ strong commitment to keeping students and staff safe at school and in the workplace. Read more about the new background check program.
⏰ K-12 School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. A new School Start Times Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information on adjusting school start times.
🍲 New Food Items Include Hearty Homestyle Favorites
New menu items debuting in cafeterias in September and October feature hearty homestyle favorites — including veggie chili, pictured above — and fresh global inspirations! Other new additions include:
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Breakfast: Cinnamon apple overnight oats, mini blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, egg and cheese breakfast quesadillas and tacos, and turkey sausage and cheese bagels.
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Lunch: Teriyaki chicken or chicken-less bites, stir-fry, cheesy turkey pepperoni pasta, cheesy pasta with marinara sauce, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fiesta nachos.
Check your school’s online menu to see when your child can try new recipes developed by our executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts. By the way, these new dishes are based on student feedback.
📖 What’s Dr. Reid Reading?
In her latest Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid shared how she recently celebrated National Library Card Sign-Up Month with the Fairfax Library Foundation. Read more about the library services she discovered in Weekly Reflections.
🚙 Get Driver Education from a Trusted Source
When it’s time for your teen to learn how to drive, trust FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) for comprehensive, safe driver education programs. FCPS ACE offers affordable and convenient courses taught by certified instructors that cover all the required classes for teen licensure.
Enroll your student today in:
- Behind-the-Wheel Training
- Partners for Safe Teen Driving
- DMV Permit Testing
- Learner’s Permit Test Prep
- Classroom Driver Ed (summer only)
Convenient classes are available at your child’s high school. But spaces fill up quickly, so register today or call 703-658-1201. For additional details, email DriverEd@fcps.edu.
📝 Sign and Return Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Document
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 to school with your student by Tuesday, September 30.
💚 Middle School Counselor Helps Student Feel They Belong
FCPS CARES allows parents and caregivers, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Among the CARES of the Month recipients for June is Julienne Ricker, counselor at Longfellow Middle School, pictured above on the left, with Principal Christina Butzer.
Ms. Ricker “made my child feel listened to and cared for in a very large and busy school environment,” the parent who nominated her said. “She helped us navigate successfully through a tough situation. She has made an impact on a child's life that will hopefully last a lifetime.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- James Patterson, Kevin Vo, and Duy Nhan Nguyen from Sideburn Support Center
- Katy Carlson from Forestville Elementary School
- Kristin Bosley from Riverside Elementary School
- Lauren Chunn from Orange Hunt Elementary School
- Ashley Mies from Johnson Middle School
- Heather Simpson from Saratoga Elementary School
Read about all the recipients.
No-Cost Therapy for High Schoolers
High school students can access virtual mental health services at no cost through an FCPS program with Hazel Health. Their therapists are licensed and also trained in teen-specific challenges.
Students may be referred by a guardian or designated staff member and participate in weekly video therapy sessions. Therapists will work with students until they achieve their therapy goals, or they can help connect the family with long-term mental health services in the community if needed.
Learn more about teletherapy for high schoolers.
Become Unskippable: Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens
Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. But fentanyl is a threat to young people across the country and in Fairfax County. So it's important to have short, impactful talks with your teen, whether or not you think they’re at risk.
As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to become “unskippable” and talk with your teen in a way they will listen. See our tips for talking with your teen about fentanyl and other difficult subjects. Watch this video to learn more about becoming Unskippable.
📍 Participate in a Community Boundary Review Meeting
If you haven’t already, consider joining one of the upcoming September community boundary review meetings. Each of these meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, the ways community input is informing the process, an opportunity to take the School Start Times Survey, and next steps in the boundary review process.
Each meeting will focus on two pyramids, but feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you:
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Thursday, September 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at South County High School (In Person or Virtual)
- For South County and Hayfield Pyramids
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Friday, September 26, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Woodson High School (In Person or Virtual)
- For Woodson and Fairfax Pyramids
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Saturday, September 27, 9 to 10 a.m., at Marshall High School (In Person or Virtual)
- For Marshall and Falls Church Pyramids
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Monday, September 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Lake Braddock Secondary School (In Person or Virtual)
- For Lake Braddock and West Springfield Pyramids
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Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Edison High School (In Person or Virtual)
- For Edison and Lewis Pyramids
Please register by clicking on “In Person” or “Virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate. Visit FCPS’ website for information on the Boundary Review Process.
View Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee's Key Priorities and Analysis from the Consultant
Thanks again to everyone who provided feedback on the draft comprehensive boundary review maps this spring. Whether you commented in the Boundary Explorer Tool, used the commenting tool available at the community boundary review meetings, or shared your thoughts and questions in our Let’s Talk platform, your voice is critical to this important process.
The Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee worked in subgroups to review your feedback and develop priorities for the consultant. The priorities — which were originally compiled in “graphic organizers” and shared with the consultant for their review and analysis — will help inform the development of the new draft boundary map.
The new draft map will be shared with the community for feedback during October community boundary review meetings, and it will be uploaded to the Boundary Explorer Tool during that time. Community members will then be able to provide feedback in the tool at their convenience.
Please note: The maps currently in the Boundary Explorer Tool are from the spring meetings.
🎤 Community Conversations With Superintendent Dr. Reid
At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
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Monday, September 29, at McNair Upper Elementary School
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Friday, October 3, at Annandale Terrace Elementary School
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Friday, December 5, at Churchill Road Elementary School
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Tuesday, December 9, at Fairhill Elementary School
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Thursday, December 11, at Bull Run Elementary School
Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
🏗️ What Will the 2025 Bond Referendum on the November Ballot Fund?
The $460M bond referendum on the November ballot is expected to fund the next stages of several ongoing projects, as well as others referenced in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Such projects could include renovations to Cub Run Elementary School, Union Mill Elementary School, and Centreville High School; inflation adjustments for prior bond projects; security vestibules; energy-saving investments; other major maintenance projects; and covering the cost of the western high school site acquisition.
The building and renovation of our schools is not funded through the division’s operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote and make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.
🏫 Naming Process for New FCPS High School Starts Soon
In early September, FCPS announced the acquisition of a new high school in the western part of the county. The next step in the process is to determine the school’s name. This will be a community-focused process governed by Policy and Regulation 8170. Staff, parents/caregivers, students, and community members are invited to participate.
The School Board will hold a work session on Tuesday, October 7, to discuss the new high school’s programming and possible boundary status. At the board meeting on Thursday, October 9, the new high school will be on the agenda as New Business, and the one-month comment period will begin.
Details on how you can submit potential names for the new high school will be available soon.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Yom Kippur (Evening-Only Observance and Holiday)
Wednesday, October 1, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur. There is school that day, but important events will not occur after school.
Thursday, October 2, is a holiday. Schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
School Board Meeting Thursday, September 25, at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, September 25, at 7 p.m. Topics on the agenda include:
- Opening of Schools Report
- Awarding of Contracts
View the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
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