May 2019 Newsletter
The final quarter is underway and our students, faculty, and parents are gearing up for the completion of a successful school year. Thursday, June 13, 2019, is the last day and students will be released early. Congratulations to all of our graduates -- we are so proud of you, and we wish you continued success wherever you are headed next!
The School Board is busy completing the FY 2020 budget, conducting their annual review of the Students Rights and Responsibilities, and developing the 2020-2021 school year calendar.
Updates on these issues as well as others of interest to our Providence community are included in this newsletter.
REVISED
2019-2020 School Year Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board approved revisions to the 2019-20 calendar at its April 25 business meeting. The revisions were submitted to comply with recent state legislation changes requiring schools which open before Labor Day to designate the Friday prior to Labor Day as a holiday and to accommodate the 2020 Presidential Primary by exchanging a teacher workday day with an instructional day to avoid having students in schools during the polling process.
The revised calendar designates:
- Friday, August 16, 2019 as a teacher workday
- Friday, August 30, 2019 as a student holiday
- Friday, October 4, 2019 as an instructional day
- Tuesday March 3, 2020 as a student holiday and teacher workday
Staff are currently preparing a simplified fridge-friendly single page version of the 2019-20 calendar which will be published soon.
SY 2020-2021 Proposed Calendars
For the SY 2020-2021 calendar, a committee was assembled for a second consecutive year to assist in the development of the calendar. The committee was composed of representatives from a variety of internal and external constituent groups including community religious organization representatives, teachers, employees, principal association representatives, and central office staff. While teaching and learning were the priority, a multitude of factors, including past community survey data, were considered and balanced during the development of the calendar.
The SY 2020-2021 calendar is complicated by Labor Day being quite late, a presidential inauguration (when schools have traditionally been closed) on the Wednesday following the Martin Luther King Monday holiday.
Staff developed draft calendars which school board members discussed during their April 25th work session. A comparison of the two preferred options is included below. The next step will be a distribution of a parent and community survey with specific questions regarding the proposed calendar options, as well as input on versions 1 and 2. Please look for this survey in the coming weeks.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document is revised and approved annually. The School Board began the annual review with a staff presentation during the April 25th regular meeting. The presentation and recommendations are posted to the April 25 regular meeting agenda Student Rights and Responsibilities The board will continue their discussion of the proposed changes at a future work session.
Volunteer Opportunity
2019 Citizen’s Bond Committee
The 2019 Citizen's Committee for the Bond is seeking appointees for a committee that promotes community support for a school construction bond. Each Board member may appoint two people who live in the Board member’s magisterial district.
In the past, the bond committee has met 7 to 9 times between late July and Election Day (early November). The meetings have started at 6 p.m., generally lasted an hour, and were held in Tyson’s Corner at the offices of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (7900 West Park Drive, Suite A550, Tysons Corner, Virginia). The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce will again support the committee, and Mr. Michael Forehand will be the liaison.
General tasks of the committee members include generating support for the bond to Home Owner Association boards, other chambers and organizations and distributing information electronically and in print (yard signs, shirts, stickers, Facts booklets).
Let me know if you would like to participate on the 2019 bond committee as my appointee.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6 – May 10
The first week in May is Teacher Appreciation week and an opportunity to recognize and thank our teachers. FCPS is fortunate to have a cadre of professional educators who are dedicated to teaching every student at the level of their learning and ability while encouraging them to succeed at the highest level. Our teachers are mentors whose care, understanding, and support makes each child feel valued and appreciated as a unique individual. Please take a moment this week to thank the teachers who make a positive difference in your child’s life.
Bike to School Day
Wednesday, May 8
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will participate in Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. May is National Bike Month. Not only does biking to school help foster lifelong healthy habits, but it can also encourage active transportation in the early-life stage. Starting the school day with a bike ride, walk, or roll will ensure that students are awake and ready to learn.
Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work on May 8. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Motorists are urged to be vigilant of bikers and pedestrians on Bike to School Day.
Schools that are launching a school-wide effort to participate can register online.
Providence District Schools that have registered for Bike to School Day to date include: Cunningham Park Elementary, Fairhill Elementary, Franklin Middle, Frost Middle, Glasgow Middle, Graham Road Elementary, Kilmer Middle, Marshall Road Elementary, Providence Elementary, Spring Hill Elementary, Timber Lane Elementary, Vienna Elementary, and Westbriar Elementary.
NOVA District PTA STEAM Event
Saturday, May 18th
1-:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Luther Jackson Middle School - Cafeteria
3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church VA 22042
In partnership with Fairfax County SEPTA and Arlington County SEPTA, please join us for our inaugural iSTEAM event for our students with disabilities and their families throughout NOVA District area. We will offer interactive activities and provide exhibitors and information about opportunities to benefit our special education community members. Saturday, May 18th from 1-3 p.m., Cafeteria of Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church. Light Refreshments will be served. Event is free, please RSVP here for planning purposes.
6th Annual Maker Faire NoVa
Sunday, June 2, 2019
11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
George Mason University
4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030
Maker Faire NoVa is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy making, experimenting and learning, and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue to for these Makers to show hobbies, experiments, or projects. We call it the Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth — a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. The Faire includes many interesting hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers, and workshops.
This is a ticketed event and you can purchase tickets online
We look forward to seeing you at the Faire!
Sustainable Garden Tour
Sunday, June 9th 1- 5 p.m.
Vienna - Oakton Area
The 2019 Sustainable Garden Tour will be held Sunday June 9th from 1-5 p.m. The tour features rain gardens, native plant landscaping, rain barrels, backyard wildlife habitat, edible gardens, composting and more. Local residents open their gardens and share their experiences landscaping with natural resources in mind.
This year's tour will feature gardens from homes, schools, libraries, and churches in the Vienna-Oakton area. Hidden treasures and verdant landscapes await you!
Please enjoy each garden at your own pace. Visit as many or as few as you like. No RSVP is required. Free and open to all!
PROVIDENCE PRIDE
CELEBRATION EVENTS!
Purple Up! For Military Kids Celebration
April is the Month of the Military Child and a time to recognize our military and veteran-connected students for their service and sacrifice. In Fairfax County, we are extremely fortunate to have over 11,000 students who are part of a military family as well as part of our Fairfax County Public Schools family.
 I had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a “Purple Up! For Military Kids” ceremony at Mosby Woods. “Purple Up!” is a day in April set aside for everyone around the Nation to show their support for military connected students. Purple represents the blending of the colors of the five branches of our armed forces. The students enjoyed watching an exciting helicopter landing on the school’s playground followed by a presentation. They had a chance to tour the helicopter and to learn more about a Coast Guardsman’s duties. It was an exciting day!
Get2Green - Celebrates Lanier MS
 I was honored to celebrate with Lanier Middle School's students and staff as they were awarded their fourth Green Flag and permanent Green Flag status.
FCPS Get2Green and the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA celebrated the 10th anniversary of both programs with presentations of the fourth Green Flag at both Lanier Middle and Centreville Elementary.
Lanier and Centreville are currently the only two schools in the United States with permanent Green Flag status through Eco-Schools USA for their sustained excellence in student-driven environmental action. Lanier students were cited for their efforts to improve the health of the local environment.Lanier and Centreville started their environmental programs a decade ago and have won national awards for their work.
I look forward to seeing you in the community and at our end of year school events and graduations.
Dalia
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