📓 Help Us Write FCPS’ Next Chapter, 🩺 Whoops? UConnect Open for Corrections, ❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/18/2025 06:55 PM EST

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Librarian Erin Siwert organizes books at Virginia Run Elementary School.

📓 Help Us Write FCPS’ Next Chapter: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

FCPS is currently developing our Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, which will be presented by Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid to the School Board in January.

During this process, we’ll be sharing our budget story with you. The different chapters will explain the impact of chronic underfunding, why strong funding benefits all of Fairfax County, what’s at stake when our schools don’t get the support they need, and more.

We invite you to follow along and learn how you can help our community write its next chapter.

🩺 Whoops? UConnect Open November 19 and 20 for Corrections

While open enrollment ended on November 12, if you made a mistake or need to change something, you have a final opportunity to review and correct your 2026 benefit elections in UConnect.

UConnect opens at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, November 19, and closes at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 20. Log in to UConnect to make changes to your medical and dental coverage, add/remove eligible dependents, or enroll in a flexible spending account (FSA) for 2026.

Important reminders:

UConnect is accessible only on the FCPS network or through VPN. For step-by-step support, refer to the UConnect Quick Start Guide.
No action is required for current Cigna members who wish to keep the exact same coverage type for plan year 2026. Cigna enrollees will automatically roll over to the new CareFirst plan.
You must re-enroll in FSA benefits through UConnect to participate in 2026. Current FSA participants are not automatically re-enrolled.

All corrections and elections must be submitted in UConnect by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 20. Visit the Open Enrollment webpage or Atlas for additional information.

❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations.

Your supervisor will also provide you with important updates regarding your workday, should we experience winter weather that impacts school and office openings. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Update your contact information in UConnect to receive text messages regarding weather closings from FCPS. When a weather event is in the forecast, be sure to plan for childcare, if needed.

🏈 Reid All About It: Oakton Flags Down Inaugural Championship

In her Weekly Reflections, Dr. Reid congratulated the Oakton High School girls flag football team who won the first FCPS championship in the sport. There were 775 athletes in the inaugural program. Read more about flag football in Weekly Reflections.

Connect, Serve, Inspire: Volunteer With FCPS

Through Volunteer FCPS, individuals can register and search for volunteer opportunities in the school division.

All volunteers need to register in Volunteer FCPS. This includes FCPS staff who work as student mentors, volunteer at their child’s school, or help in any unpaid capacity in the school system. Once they have registered and their employment is verified, staff are cleared for opportunities at all levels because their background checks are on file.

Create a Profile at Volunteer FCPS Today!

Visit the Volunteer FCPS portal to view volunteering and mentorship opportunities.

Click on “Schools” to register with a specific school.
Click on “Programs” to register as a volunteer with FCPS (not a specific school).

Please remember, all volunteers (including staff) should sign in and out by scanning their ID through the visitor management system in the office.

🌟 Key Center School-Based Technology Specialist Is a Tireless Advocate for Her Students

This National Educational Support Professionals Day, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our truly outstanding team members: Beth Curtis, school-based technology specialist (SBTS) at Key Center School.

Beth’s unwavering commitment, leadership, and boundless energy exemplify the critical role our school-based staff members play in making FCPS a place where all students can thrive. Read more about Beth.

🗓️ Save the Date: Special Education Conference

The 2026 Special Education Family Conference will be held on Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to learn more about special education services and resources.

The call for proposals will launch following Thanksgiving break. Event registration will be available in January 2026. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details! Please email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.

Become a Fully Licensed Special Education Teacher

If you are a new, provisionally licensed special education teacher or are looking to become a special education teacher, FCPS has an exciting opportunity for you!

The Office of Professional Learning invites you to a virtual information session on Thursday, November 20, at 5 p.m. Learn about Special Education Cohorts in partnership with George Mason University. Mason has special education programs available for those looking to become fully licensed in the following areas:

Students Accessing the General Curriculum.
Adapted Curriculum.
Special Education Early Childhood.

Explore cost-saving options, such as the Grow Your Own program. This program provides a supportive, affordable path to achieving your career goals to become a fully-licensed special education teacher.

Unleash the Potential of Your Professional Learning Community (PLC)

The Office of Professional Learning invites school PLC teams to a dynamic three-part series, Unleash Your PLC Potential! Learn the Three Big Ideas and the Four Critical Questions of PLCs to build self-led, high-impact teams. Sessions will take place at Willow Oaks Administrative Center and include:

Launching Your PLC for Successful Collaboration on Tuesday, January 13, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., room 1000B.
Self-Led Facilitation to Lift Up the Leader in All Members on Wednesday, February 11, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., room 1000A.
Facilitation Skills to Overcome Challenges and Drive Instructional Growth, Tuesday, April 7, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., room 1000A.

School leadership teams, team leaders/department chairs, or grade level/content teams should attend. Schools must provide substitute funds.

Learn more on the PLC Series flyer.

Advancing Family Partnerships: Celebrating the Impact of Amal Elsayed

November is Family Engagement Month, a time when FCPS pauses to honor the essential role families play as a child’s first and most influential teachers.

Family engagement strengthens learning, builds trust, and creates a foundation for success that extends far beyond the classroom. It is also an important moment to recognize the individuals across our division who nurture these partnerships every day.

Among them is a dedicated advocate, Amal Ibrahim Elsayed, Family Resource Center liaison at the Dunn Loring Center. Read more about Amal’s incredible impact.

Parents Receiving Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results

Students in grades 3-12 participated in the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) screener last month. School teams and families use this information to develop positive school communities and support students academically and personally.

Families with SIS ParentVUE will be able to access the Parent Report in the Documents tab this week. Families without a ParentVUE account will receive results from their school.

Inclusive Practices Across FCPS

In the Academic Matters portion of last week’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid presented on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive practices in FCPS, which are part of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.

UDL helps educators minimize any barriers to learning. Every student is unique, and UDL helps guide teachers and provides the tools they need to be flexible and meet the needs of each unique student.

Inclusive practices aim to create a school environment where all students — no matter their background, abilities, or needs — can learn together in the same classrooms. This helps everyone grow, learn from each other, and achieve their full potential. FCPS is committed to helping every student feel included and supported.

Read more about UDL and inclusive practices at FCPS in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections. See the presentation slides or watch the Academic Matters presentation.

🏫 New Western High School Updates

picture of the side of the building of western high school

At last week’s meeting, the School Board approved making the new western high school a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries. The new high school will also have a special programming pathway option. It will open in the 2026-27 school year for students in grades 9 and 10 who opt in to attend the school. Watch the presentation.

📍Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting Update

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met last Wednesday. View Superintendent Reid’s meeting recap as well as the meeting agenda and other materials that advisory committee members received. You may also learn more about the comprehensive boundary review and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.

🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Thanksgiving

Schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.

Note: Employee News will not be distributed on Tuesday, November 25, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

FCPS ACE Black Friday Sale: Save 20% Off Adult Education

‘Tis the season for learning! And you can save 20% when you register for any of the hundreds of classes offered through FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) from 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

Register for as many classes as you want — adult learning courses, SAT prep courses or driver education classes for your teen (including behind-the-wheel) — and even gift them to friends and family. Go to ACE’s website for all the details and to save!

Note: This offer cannot be combined with any other discount and does not apply to gift card purchases.

🎁 Give More, Stress Less, Spend Less With Savings for Staff

Take advantage of Savings for Staff through PerkSpot to buy gifts, celebrate with family and friends, and enjoy the season with less financial strain. Stay tuned for these exciting savings opportunities coming your way:

Early-access deals, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and last-minute gifts.
Giveaways throughout the season.
Deal of the Week.
Savings guides to help you find the perfect gift at an affordable cost.

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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