Teacher Sarah Wolf works with a student in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Glasgow Middle School.
Open Enrollment Starts Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 29
Open enrollment is your annual opportunity to enroll and/or make changes to your medical, dental, and flexible spending account (FSA) benefits for the upcoming calendar year.
To prepare for making your benefit elections, view the annual Employee Benefits Briefing and 2026 Benefit Premium Chart available on the Open Enrollment webpage. Be sure to check the page regularly for the most up-to-date information as well as links to benefit vendors’ websites, plan documents, and additional resources.
Benefit Open Houses
The Office of Benefit Services (OBS) will host open houses to discuss 2026 benefits. This is the perfect opportunity to chat with representatives from OBS and benefit vendors — including CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente — and get your questions answered.
Virtual open houses will be held on the dates and times below. Click on the date to register:
An in-person open house will be held on Tuesday, November 4, from 1 to 8 p.m. in the Annandale High School cafeteria.
For more details on open enrollment, please visit the Open Enrollment Atlas page or FCPS Benefits Open Enrollment webpage.
🗳️ Election Day Is Next Week. Vote!
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot next week. Vote on Tuesday, November 4. Learn how bonds help build strong communities.
👻 Don’t Be Haunted by Pension Myths!
Skip the hocus pocus and get the facts about your second pension straight from Educational Employees' Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC). Cast your questions to ERFC’s new Rumor Roundup page where rumors go to retire!
🎃 Bonus! The first 10 people to submit a question will receive exclusive ERFC swag. No tricks, just treats!
📱 Reid Reflects: The FCPS Mobile App
In her Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid shared an update on the FCPS mobile app. It provides a custom district-branded platform for iOS and Android that helps keep families connected and informed right from their smartphones.
Families can access essential content, including news, live updates, calendars, district and school-specific notices, cafeteria menus, and more, all in one place. Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.” Read more in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
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🚍 A Day in the Life of a Bus Driver: 30+ Year Veteran Takes Us for a Ride
Last week was National School Bus Safety Week. We appreciate all the dedicated school bus drivers, attendants, mechanics, and transportation staff who assist in getting thousands of students safely to and from school each day!
Jannell Haskins (pictured above) has been transporting students safely for nearly 32 years. She has kept the same route all those years, serving South Lakes High School, Hughes Middle School, and Dogwood and Terraset elementary schools.
Read more about Jannell and watch how she practices school bus safety each day.
💚 Instructional Assistant Provides Unparalleled Support
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 summer is Massogbe Sangare, an instructional assistant from Hayfield Secondary School.
“Ms. Massogbe embodies the absolute best that special education has to offer in FCPS,” her nominator said. “The genuine love and care she shows for our most vulnerable students is obvious in everything she does and says, and she goes above and beyond to support each and every student, teacher, and administrator with whom she comes in contact.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- Jim Bailey from Sideburn Support Center.
- Elizabeth Baxter from Herndon Elementary School.
- Jackie Garcia and Melissa Lopez from Woodburn Elementary School.
- Marie Sauer from Fort Hunt Elementary School.
- Ken Wheeler from Keene Mill Elementary School.
- Gisele Gray from Fairfax High School.
Read about all the recipients.
To recognize an employee with an FCPS Cares, please visit the submission page.
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Turn Prompts Into Time-Savers With Google Gemini
Empower yourself with new technology skills through an EdTech Lunch Bytes Learning event. These 30-minute, workshop-oriented sessions provide practical ways to integrate educational technology to support FCPS Strategic Plan goals 3 and 4, promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and maximize your efficiency.
Educators attending in November can learn how to build a permanent, shareable prompt inside Google Gemini to automate recurring tasks such as communicating with families, updating lesson plans, and increasing engagement.
Sessions take place on Wednesday, November 12, at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m., and Tuesday, November 18, at 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 12:45 p.m. Register in MyPDE.
A Future-Ready FCPS — AI and Education
Join FCPS leadership and community members for Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI and The Future of Learning on Monday, November 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School.
Enjoy an interactive expo and explore partnerships with major AI innovators. Then sit back for thought-provoking discussions and keynotes on how we will shape the future of innovation together at FCPS.
Teachers who attend will receive two recertification points. Employees can register via MyPDE.
✔️ Understanding the Annual Youth Survey
In the Academic Matters portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed the 2024-25 Fairfax County Youth Survey. The annual survey is comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary, and asks questions about behaviors, experiences, and risk and protective factors.
As part of the presentation, Dr. Reid shared this testimonial video featuring FCPS staff. Read more about the results in Weekly Reflections.
⏰ K-12 School Start Times Project Update
At its last meeting, the School Board voted to direct the superintendent to postpone any divisionwide implementation of changes to school start times until no earlier than the 2027–28 school year.
🏫 New Western High School Also Discussed
Dr. Reid also presented information to the School Board regarding the new western high school. Learn about amenities at the new school.
📍 Final Two October Community Boundary Review Meetings
Just two October community boundary review meetings remain. At the meetings, the consultant will present the latest draft map (Scenario 4) and changes specific to the two pyramids being covered. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
Click “in person” or “virtual” to register for a meeting based on how you would like to participate. If participating in person, you may come to the event 30 minutes early to explore the latest draft map in the Boundary Explorer Tool. A limited number of FCPS laptops will be available, and staff will be on site to assist you in using the tool. Virtual participants may log on 30 minutes early, and a staff member will be able to show you how to use the tool.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders
Quarter End
Friday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter and a two-hour early release for students.
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
On Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time will end. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
School Planning and Teacher Workdays
Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4, for a teacher workday.
Veterans Day
Monday, November 11, is a school holiday for Veterans Day. All schools and offices are closed.
See the complete school year calendar or employee calendar.
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need
If your family is affected by the shutdown or you know someone looking for help, the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides centralized information for community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies. CSP can provide information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access Food or Donate to Those in Need
Use the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to find where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
🎥 Reminder: What to Do if You’re Contacted by Reporters
The Office of Communications has a media relations team dedicated to helping connect news organizations to FCPS. If a member of the media contacts you, notify your principal or program manager before providing information, conducting an interview, answering a reporter’s questions, or agreeing to a visit. Your principal or program manager must notify the Media Relations team at MediaRelations@fcps.edu as soon as possible.
If you have a great story to share, the Media Relations team will be thrilled to hear from you. They may be able to help publicize your story. Read FCPS Regulation 7004 (PDF) for additional guidance.
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