Montessori Teacher Nadine Clarke works with students at Bucknell Elementary School.
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. View more on Boarddocs. View the updated complete school year calendar and the employee calendar.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
FCPS Teacher Appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show
Sherisse Kenerson, a multilingual learner specialist at Holmes Middle School, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday, April 14!
Sherisse advises Holmes’ after-school Cursive Club, which has received national attention this school year from news outlets including The Washington Post and NPR. Sherisse loves teaching cursive handwriting to a new generation, and her students love learning it.
Emergency Response Buttons Are Active
Emergency response buttons (ERBs), which were distributed to most school-based employees, are live as of today, April 14.
The ERB is a wearable emergency alert device that allows staff to discreetly initiate an emergency response while on FCPS property. When activated, the ERB notifies the Office of Safety and Security, 911, and registered FCPS staff at the affected site to support a rapid and coordinated response.
Any ERB activation will be treated as a live alert, resulting in a response from emergency services. Staff should only activate an ERB in the event of an actual emergency if they don’t have access to a phone to dial 911. Remember, call if you can, push if you can’t.
For additional information about the ERB program, including training resources, guidance, and FAQs, please refer to the Raptor Emergency Response Button (ERB) Atlas page.
Our Military Families Serve Too
From deployments and constant change to stepping up at home, military-connected students show resilience, strength, and pride every day. Through their voices, we’re reminded that these children serve too.
FCPS is proud to support military families through strong school communities, Purple Star schools, and programs that help students feel connected, welcomed, and never alone.
On Wednesday, April 15, wear purple to show your support for military-connected students and families.
Services at Dunn Loring Center Relocating
Several family support services at the Dunn Loring Center will be permanently relocated because the building is being renovated and returned to use as a school.
To support this transition, services at Dunn Loring will stop in May. The last day for student registration appointments will be Friday, May 8, and the last day for early childhood testing appointments will be May 15.
The Family Resource Center at Dunn Loring will close on Monday, May 4. We are committed to maintaining access to these important services and appreciate your flexibility during this transition.
Learn more about the relocation.
Spring Sprouts Grow Strong Students
In her Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid highlighted the Spring Sprouts program, which took place at several elementary schools during spring break. Students enrolled in the program worked in small groups, strengthening core math and literacy skills. Read more about Spring Sprouts.
Read Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
Helping Students See Their Dreams and Reach Their Goals
FCPS CARES gives parents, caregivers, staff, and community members the opportunity to recognize employees who go above and beyond to help others. Among the February CARES of the Month recipients is Chanel Favors, instructional coach at Bucknell Elementary School (pictured above on the left).
Chanel was recognized for organizing a career day at the school. “Each presenter shared not only information about their careers, but also powerful messages about perseverance, education, and believing in oneself,” said Principal Rashida Green (pictured above, on the right), who nominated Chanel.
“Career Day is more than a single event. It is an investment in our students’ future. By connecting students with real professionals, Chanel helped them see that their dreams are attainable and that their goals are within reach.”
Other FCPS CARES of the Month recipients include:
- Dave Martinez, Merrifield Support Center
- Carlos D’Alvano and Cynthia Stowers, South Lakes High School
- Veronica Perez, Belvedere Elementary School
- Karen Bernat, Centreville Elementary School
- Von-Michael Corpuz, Chantilly High School
- Mallorie Joyner, Lewis High School
To recognize an employee with an FCPS CARES, please visit the submission page.
Provide Fairfax County With Feedback on Its Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May.
You can provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak. Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn how community members can share their feedback and provide input on the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
Support Learning and Engagement With Lucidspark
Empower yourself with new technology skills by joining the EdTech Lunch Bytes Learning Series. These monthly, 30-minute workshops are designed to fit your busy schedule. On Tuesday, April 21, at 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., or 12:45 p.m., learn about some of the tools in Lucidspark that you can use with your students to support their learning and engagement. These tools can also help you collect data to inform your teaching.
Learn more and register in MyPDE.
Learn About ChatGPT With California Teacher of the Year
All FCPS educators are welcome to join 2024 California Teacher of the Year Casey Cuny for a practical session on using ChatGPT to work smarter, not harder. In a live, one-hour Zoom session at 9 or 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, teachers will learn how to use ChatGPT to streamline lesson planning, enhance formative assessment, and make high-quality instructional design more sustainable.
Learn more and register in MyPDE.
A Strong Start for Multilingual Learners
In the Strategic Plan Update portion of the School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Goal 1 – Strong Start: PreK-12, with a focus on English Language Development (ELD).
At the elementary level, the FCPS ELD model provides an evidence-based ELD curriculum (Benchmark Express) that pairs with the new Language Arts materials (Benchmark Advance). At the secondary level, the FCPS model provides an evidence-based two-pronged approach, including a targeted ELD course and co-teaching support in core content classrooms.
Dr. Reid shared this video about providing a rigorous English language development curriculum for multilingual learners. This consistent, routine-based approach ensures teachers have the high-quality materials needed to support students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The impact of these resources goes beyond academics; it builds the self-confidence students need to succeed. Read more in Weekly Reflections.
Calendar Reminders
Theravada New Year (Observance Day)
Thursday, April 16, is Theravada New Year. FCPS has designated this day as a religious and cultural observance day. Observance days are regular school days with no mandatory tests, field trips, or major events.
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
Earth Week 2026
Join FCPS Get2Green for a division-wide celebration of sustainability from Monday, April 20, to Friday, April 24. Use this week as your opportunity to engage in school-wide sustainability efforts, spark fresh curiosity in green initiatives, and empower students to become the environmental leaders and global citizens of tomorrow. Visit the Get2Green webpage for more information on how to get started.
See the complete school year calendar and the employee calendar.
National Drug Take Back Day
 |
|
Take advantage of free, convenient, confidential, and safe disposal of unused or expired medications during Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See important details about what is accepted and find a drop-off site near you on the Drug Take Back Day webpage. |
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!
|
