Karen Keys-Gamarra's Newsletter
Hello Neighbors,
I hope that you, your family and loved ones are safe and healthy. The past few weeks have brought unexpected change and measures designed to keep our students safe. Now, our school system and the community we serve, are adjusting to new challenges. With the closure of our schools for the remainder of the school year and our preparations to begin distance learning, many more adjustments will be necessary. Our teachers and staff members will be doing their best to reach out to their students to provide reassurance and lay the groundwork to continue the learning process. We are also aware that many families are struggling to adjust to circumstances that have impacted their employment and ability to provide for their daily needs. FCPS has sought to support families in need of food, emotional support and so much more. Our staff has been adjusting as well as they seek to support their own families and continue their duties in supporting our students. This is a massive, daunting task that we face together.
Please know that the school board will resume meeting this Friday at 11:00 am at Luther Jackson Middle School. Because our meetings are governed by statute and must provide for public input, it has been difficult to meet without disregarding guidance from the CDC. Friday’s meeting is possible due to guidance from the State that allows many board members to attend virtually. This is an attempt to address COVID -19 related concerns. The agenda is below:
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Review/Overview of VDOE Guidance on School Closure including impact on graduation and promotion of students
- Distance Learning Plans including supports for our most vulnerable populations
- Grading Policy During the School Closure
- FCPS On
- Board Matters where board members will each have time to address constituents concerns on Covid
Finally, I will be holding virtual office hours in the near future. Join me on my Facebook this evening at 7:00 PM as I attempt to provide as much information as possible to our constituents.
Below, please find resources and updated information that may be helpful.
Continuity of Learning
The School Board has held two emergency Closed Sessions, following FCPS’ COVID-19 school closure, to review the Superintendent’s operational steps to address this unprecedented challenge. A crucial part of these next steps is to execute FCPS’ distance learning plan. FCPS will be emailing details of this plan to students, families and staff.
In addition, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is expected to provide all school divisions with additional guidance in the next few days regarding continuity of learning. This will include guidance about graduation requirements for 12th grade students, along with expectations for grading and academic year completion for all of our students.
FCPS will be working with individual schools to distribute laptops and MiFi devices (by appointment) to students who do not have access at home. FCPS will also provide students and staff with an opportunity to pick-up essential/critical items at their individual schools. More details will be forthcoming.
In the meantime, please continue to take advantage of the continuity of learning resources:
- When anyone logs on to FCPS 24-7 they will see a Continuity of Learning module that has links to resources for elementary students as well as resources for middle and high school students.
- Continuity of learning resources are also available at this link along with information about accessing our instructional videos.
Food Resources
FCPS is providing grab and go meals at several schools and community centers, including pop-up locations, curbside pickup locations, and several bus routes throughout the county. The FCPS sites, locations and bus routes are available Monday-Friday only.
For a complete list of distribution sites and times please click here.
Effective Tuesday, March 24, FCPS is changing the time for grab and go meal service at 34 school locations. The grab and go meals will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. beginning March 24. Breakfast and lunch will be available at the same time.
Fairfax County and FCPS have worked together to develop a searchable map that includes community food distribution sites, including FCPS grab and go locations, community meal distribution sites, food pantries, and other related services.
Please click here to view the map.
AP & IB Updates
The College Board and International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) continue to provide 2020 AP-IB program testing updates and guidance directly to students and parents through global press releases. In light of that communication, FCPS is providing additional guidance to ensure our students and parents understand how the district is responding to these changes and, specifically, how we plan to provide support to students moving forward. Reference the most recent updates by program below along with the FCPS response to best support and meet the needs of our students.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) PROGRAM - AP Updates from the College Board, March 20.
- Traditional face-to-face exam administrations will not take place. Students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home.
- Some students may want to take the exam sooner rather than later, while the content is still fresh. Other students may want more time to practice. For each AP subject, there will be two different testing dates.
College Board timeline for next steps:
- March 23 – an update will be sent to students directly from the College Board.
- March 25 – students will have access to College Board’s free, live AP review lessons, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. These optional, mobile-friendly classes are designed to be used alongside work that may be given by schools. Students can find the classes online.
- April 3 – the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP exam will be published by the College Board.
AP students are encouraged to access lessons, tools and review resources provided via FCPS 24-7 as well as those provided by the AP program. We request that students and parents take no immediate action specific to test registration and administration and please wait to receive 2020 AP exam administration instructions directly from FCPS. Since school-based test coordinators register and order all AP exams and FCPS pays for the first six exams, it is imperative that AP exam administration continue to be directed by the school division. Once testing details have been determined, FCPS will communicate procedures directly to students and parents to ensure that every student is fully supported and successful throughout the 2020 AP online test at home exam administration.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM - IB Updates from the International Baccalaureate Organization, March 23.
- The May 2020 IB examinations for Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme students will no longer be held.
- Depending on what they registered for, the student will be awarded a Diploma or a Course Certificate which reflects their standard of work.
FCPS staff are developing a districtwide communication for immediate release to ensure IB families/students understand that IB exam scores will be awarded based on coursework, including internal and external assessments, but will be calculated without May exams. IBO will provide full details and answers to frequently asked questions to all stakeholders no later than Friday, March 27. As we receive that information, we will work with schools to ensure students have the opportunity to complete and submit all required coursework to earn IB exam scores. Principals and coordinators will work directly with their teachers and students to identify the required coursework for submission and deadlines for submission of these components to comply with IBO’s extended deadlines.
Smithsonian Magazine
Eight Digital Education Resources From Around the Smithsonian The newly launched #SmithsonianEdu campaign highlights 1.7 million online tools geared specifically toward students and teachers Read in Smithsonian Magazine: https://apple.news/AYGcqZNRgR6OKSiCqwznA1w
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© 2020 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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