Karen Corbett Sanders' Newsletter
Dear Families,
The third Grading Period is
off to a great start! Thank you for encouraging your student to stay on top of their studies and projects
as it is easy to fall behind during this busy time of school year.
As always, I want to extend my
appreciation for all of our
teachers, staff, and parents for their dedication and hard work in ensuring
that our children achieve success in school. I am truly proud of our students
and staff!
During February we celebrate both Black History Month and
President's Day. These events offer excellent opportunities to explore
history as a family. There is no better place to do this than in the D.C.
Metropolitan area and in our own area, Mt. Vernon. This weekend’s holiday
is an excellent opportunity to do so.
Please find below an update on key issues affecting our
community and opportunities to participate and volunteer.
A
message from FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In
response to yesterday’s tragic school shootings in Parkland, Florida,
FCPS would like to share with parents and employees some of the safety
procedures that are in place across the district. FCPS has focused a
great deal of attention to these procedures, and is vigilant about protecting
the safety of its students and employees. The school division has spent
considerable time and effort in planning and practicing safety and security
measures appropriate for addressing a major critical incident. Among these
measures are:
- Close coordination and emergency planning with Fairfax
County police and fire departments.
- Comprehensive division-wide crisis management plan.
- Individual school crisis plans, which include
evacuation and parent reunification procedures, that are regularly
reviewed and updated.
- Lockdown drills.
- Threat assessment process.
- Employee training in crisis management and
communication.
- Strict visitor controls at all buildings.
- Electronic door access technology to aid in visitor
control.
In
addition, we have Fairfax County police officers, as school resource officers
(SROs), present in all secondary, high schools and middle schools; school-based
security staff in all secondary, high and middle schools; and uniformed
security staff that provides additional coverage at all FCPS facilities after
hours.
In
specific response to the Parkland incident, FCPS school security has increased
its presence at schools, and the Fairfax County Police Department has increased
their patrol presence near and around our schools. While there are no specific
threats to our area, this step is being taken out of an abundance of caution,
and to provide reassurance to students, staff, and the community after the
events that occurred in Florida yesterday.
FCPS
is fortunate to be in an area where the school division and the county work
together to take every precaution in the event of an emergency. Safety and
security is everyone’s job. Staff, students, parents and the community at large
are reminded to incorporate safety and security awareness as routine, and to
immediately report any unusual activity to the authorities.
The
link below provides information on ways for parents to talk to children about
violent acts:
http://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers
Our
thoughts are with the families and staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School and the residents of Parkland.
The Fairfax County School Board adopted the FY 2019
Advertised Budget of $2.9 billion, an increase of 4.9 percent, or $118.9
million, over the FY 2018 Approved Budget. The FY 2019 budget includes an
additional $53.1 million as part of a multi-year plan to ensure salaries are competitive. The
School Board also passed as part of the Advertised Budget additional funding
supporting equity-related work and funding to provide additional resources to
high schools with the highest percentage of newcomer students in English for
speakers of other language to support wrap-around services. The School
Board will present its FY 2019 Advertised Budget to the Board of Supervisors on
Tuesday, April 10, and is scheduled to adopt the FY 2019 Approved Budget at its
May 24 meeting. FCPS’ FY 2019 begins July 1, 2018.
Information about relevant
budget dates, along with updates and budget news, is
available online.
Fairfax County Public Schools has a well-established
policy and protocol for responding to threats of violence in the schools. To
help parents and older students learn more about the role they can play in
keeping schools safe, we have collaborated with the Youth Violence Project of
the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia to develop short videos
with useful information. These brief modules were developed for parents
and children aged 12 and up, and you may want to watch the student video with your
child to answer any questions which may arise. To access these modules go to www.schoolthreatassessment.com and use parent
code pgvsdt and student code sy8zk2
as a password.
Save the Date for the
13th Annual Special Education Conference! View all the details.
Saturday, April 21, 2018, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Hayfield
Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315.
Parents will be
able to register online or by phone 703-204-3941
This year’s conference focuses on building
inclusive practices to support development of 21st Century skills and Portrait
of a Graduate (POG) attributes for students with learning challenges,special
needs, and disabilities.
The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC), located at 2334
Gallows Road, Room 105, offers a welcoming and engaging environment for parents, educators and
community members to access information and resources to support the success of
all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and
disabilities. Free workshops, confidential consultations and over 5,000 lending
library materials available at the PRC help ensure that ALL students are
inspired, engaged and thriving. To view the library resources and upcoming
workshops online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center. The latest edition of
the Twice- Exceptional (2e) Newsletter is
available at the center. Please email prc@fcps.edu if you would like to
be added to the 2e Newsletter distribution list and receive a copy of
this issue.
 Discover how much fun you can have volunteering at a history museum!
Help students get excited about George Mason and his work to protect Americans' rights. Volunteer docents at Gunston Hall in Lorton, Virginia, lead school tours about Mason and his ideas, as well as life in the 18th century. Docents become part of the Gunston Hall Docent Association, a dedicated group of volunteers.
Visitors to the museum step back in time as they discover the history of Virginia and one of our country’s founders. Volunteers discuss topics such as the American Revolution, the writing of the Constitution, the fight for a Bill of Rights. Plus, they help students investigate the lives of people who lived on a Virginia plantation, from the gentry to the people who were enslaved. This historic site is located in a beautiful
wooded setting, just minutes from I-95 and US Route 1.
Volunteer docents help young people learn about these important and fascinating topics by being
• enthusiastic
• friendly
• committed to historical accuracy
• available on weekdays
Training starts in late February 2018. For more information or to receive an application, call (703) 550-9220 x238 or write to rebecca.martin@gunstonhall.org.
10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, Virginia 22079
Fairfax County high school students looking for their first part-time job, summer and seasonal job opportunities, or who want more information about potential career pathways are invited to attend one of six upcoming teen job fairs in Fairfax County. Job fairs will be held as follows:
• Saturday, March 10, 1 to 3 p.m., Woodson High School, 9525 Main Street, Fairfax.
• Saturday, March 17, 1 to 3 p.m., South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton.
• Saturday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chantilly High School, 4201 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly.
• Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road, Alexandria.
• Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston.
• Saturday, April 28, noon to 2 p.m., West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield.
Local businesses and agencies will be on hand to offer a
range of opportunities including part-time employment, internships, and
volunteer work for prospective students. Free booth spaces are provided
to local businesses.
Online registration is available for students interested in attending. Complete information about the Teen Job Fairs is available online.
February 19 - President's Day - Student Holiday
March 26-30 - Spring Break
April 2 - Student Holiday
April 13 - Third Grading Period Ends - Students Released Two Hours Early
The next School Board Meeting will be held on February 22, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Jackson Middle School. Information about upcoming meetings and agendas can be found here.
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