Second Grade Teacher Aimee Cabrera leads a literacy lesson at Mount Eagle Elementary School.
⚠️ Understanding the State Accountability and Standards of Learning (SOL) Changes
The Virginia Board of Education and the General Assembly are planning significant changes to SOL assessments. These changes will have a significant and potentially detrimental impact on schools and students.
FCPS is a model of excellence: home to seven of Virginia’s top 10 high schools and 262 National Merit Semifinalists this year. But with these upcoming changes, many schools and students across the state could be unfairly labeled as failing.
Learn more about these changes by the state of Virginia. Watch a message about the changes.Â
Community members can provide feedback on these changes through Thursday, November 6. The Virginia Board of Education will be taking action on the plan to implement the changes on November 13.
FCPS Showcases Student Talent and Innovation at 2025 State of Our Schools Event
Staff, students, and community leaders — including the Chantilly Chamber Orchestra conducted by Aaron Mynes, pictured above — came together for this year’s FCPS State of Our Schools event to celebrate student achievement, community partnerships, and the bright future of public education in Fairfax County. Read about the celebratory event.Â
đź‘Ź Sharing Our Success From the 2024-25 School Year
Did you know that FCPS average SAT scores are higher than both the state and global average, more than 16,000 students earned industry credentials, and the number of 5th graders taking advanced math increased by more than 10% last year? Check out more amazing facts, figures, and highlights from the 2024-25 school year.
📰 Read Reid’s Weekly Reflections
In her latest Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid highlighted the annual meeting and fall mixer she attended for the Hispanic Educators Association. Read about the event and some of Dr. Reid’s other activities in Weekly Reflections.
đź©ş Open Enrollment Is Underway, Enroll Today!
Remember, open enrollment is your annual opportunity to sign up for and/or make changes to your medical, dental, and/or flexible spending account (FSA) benefits for the upcoming year.Â
The Office of Benefit Services (OBS) is hosting virtual open houses on Thursday, November 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Monday, November 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the perfect opportunity to chat with representatives from our benefit vendors, including CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente, as well as OBS staff, to get your questions answered.
Use UConnect to make your changes or elections for open enrollment. Visit the UConnect Quick Start Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Don’t forget that you must enroll in an FSA through UConnect during open enrollment if you wish to participate in 2026. Current FSA participants are not automatically re-enrolled.
To find additional details about open enrollment, please visit the Open Enrollment page on Atlas or the FCPS website.
âś… Receive W-2s Quickly! Sign Up for Web Delivery
W-2 tax forms are issued by the end of January for earnings in the prior calendar year. Employees are encouraged to opt in for W-2 web delivery. View the Online W-2 Access Guide to learn how.
Paper W-2s will be mailed to the address on file with the Office of Payroll Management as of Monday, December 29, for employees who have not opted in for web delivery.
Avoid delays in receiving your W-2 or health plan ID cards by updating your address in UConnect or submitting a forwarding address to the U.S. Postal Service.Â
For technical assistance with online address changes, please call the Human Resources Welcome Center at 571-423-3000.
🎖️ Honoring Our Veteran Employees
As we approach Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, FCPS would like to say a heartfelt “Thank you” to the many employees who are also military veterans.Â
Find out how a military career has helped shape Business Operations Assistant Alnita Baldon, pictured above, and Hybla Valley Art and STEAM Teacher Frank Altamirano.Â
Share Your Story With Us
Are you a military veteran? We would love to share your story! Email us at EmployeeNews@fcps.edu to share photos and tell us what brought you to FCPS and how your military career influenced or impacted the work you do now. Your story could be shared in a follow-up blog. Thank you for your service!
🍂 November Is National Family Engagement Month
This month, we are reminded that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and guides. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.Â
The FCPS Family Academy was created to ensure the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.
The Family and School Partnerships Office (FSP) has suggested activities and resources for schools and families to celebrate Family Engagement Month. Email FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu to learn how FSP can support your work in strengthening family and community engagement in your school.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships, reminds us to support families by working together in ways that sustain a safe, inclusive culture for learning.
🧡 Finding the Way Forward: Celebrating FCPS School Psychologists
From November 3 to 7, FCPS joins thousands of communities across the nation in celebrating National School Psychology Week! This year’s theme, Finding Your Path, honors the ways school psychologists help students, staff, and families discover pathways to learning, growth, and well-being.
School psychologists are vital partners in creating safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments. They collaborate with families, teachers, and administrators to address students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Their expertise in consultation, collaboration, and evidence-based practices supports students and staff alike to navigate challenges and thrive, now and in the future.
At FCPS, this important work is guided by the steady leadership of Donna Desaulniers, senior manager of School Psychology Services, pictured above, who oversees more than 200 school psychologists divisionwide. Donna’s leadership exemplifies the spirit of Finding Your Path, through helping others chart purposeful routes toward success and wellness. Read more about how Donna has made a difference at FCPS.
✨ Providing access to necessary emotional, behavioral, and mental health services is part of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Free Counseling Services for All FCPS Employees
All FCPS employees and their dependents can access six free counseling sessions per issue, per year through the Employee Assistance Program. ComPsych Guidance Resources are available 24 hours a day. Sessions are confidential and can be accessed in person, online, or by phone.Â
Visit Guidance Resources and enter the organization web ID “FCPS,” or call 1-855-355-9097. Please reach out to the Employee Wellness Team with questions at EAPSupport@fcps.edu.Â
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.Â
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.
đź“Ť Comprehensive Boundary Review Update
October Community Boundary Review meetings are complete. Thank you to all who participated! If you missed your pyramid’s meeting, you may view the slides at your convenience.
You may continue to explore and visualize how the latest draft boundary map, Scenario 4, affects boundaries using our Boundary Explorer Tool. As a reminder, Scenario 4 is currently the only option under consideration. Scenario 3 is included in the Boundary Explorer Tool only as a point of reference and comparison, similar to the map that shows current school boundaries.Â
Comments and feedback are welcome in the Boundary Explorer Tool through Friday, November 14. This feedback will be shared with the Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee as they prepare a recommendation for the superintendent.Â
Each high school pyramid is represented on the advisory committee. You can also reach out to your pyramid representative to share feedback or ask questions. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 11, is a holiday for Veterans Day. All schools and offices are closed.Â
See the complete school year calendar or employee calendar.
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 Thursdays. Thank you!Â
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