April 2020 Newsletter from School Board Member Stella Pekarsky

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 04/03/2020 03:38 PM EDT

Stella Pekarsky's Newsletter

Dear Sully District Community: 

Thank you for your support, patience, and understanding during this difficult time. I hope everyone is adjusting to our “new normal” and staying safe and healthy. Our dedicated FCPS staff have been working diligently and are dedicated to meeting the needs of all of our students during this unprecedented crisis. So far, over 152,000 meals have been served, almost 5,000 laptops distributed, and there have been close to 2 million views of our online learning materials. Our teachers and staff are in training to launch the distance learning plan and our students are scheduled to begin on April 14. I have included more details about distance learning in this newsletter, in addition to other resources that you may find helpful during this time. 

As the mother of a senior, I understand the uncertainty around proms and graduations is disheartening. I am committed to ensuring we do everything possible so that our students have the opportunity to creatively participate in these once in a lifetime events, with safety as our top priority.

Last week, the School Board approved the Superintendent’s request to proceed with a purchase of laptops to expand our FCPSOn initiative to middle schools. Our current devices in schools continue to be distributed to students for distance learning, so the need in classrooms next year will be greater than expected. While this was originally part of the proposed budget, the increased national demand for laptops has pushed FCPS to place an order now so devices can be available for the beginning of next school year. 

If you have specific concerns and would like to schedule a 15-minute 'office hours' phone call with me, I have provided a contact for you below.  As always, however, I am available at any time by phone or email. Please stay safe and take good care!

 

Stella

 

Joint Virtual Meeting with At-Large Rep, Rachna Sizemore Heizer   

Please join me and the At-Large School Board Member Rachna Sizemore Heizer on Monday, April 6 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm for a joint Blackboard collaborate session to discuss issues pertaining to FCPS. Please use the following link:

https://us.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/guest/926b7df5cf5442cd91b121aeac3147b6

 

Office Hours

If you have any individual concerns that you would like to discuss, I am scheduling virtual office hours via 15-minite phone calls. Please send an email to my Executive Assistant and include 'Office Hours' in the subject line.

 

Resources Available for our Families

Fairfax County has a number of resources available to our families as we navigate these challenging times. These resources can be found at:www.fcps.edu and www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/.

FCPS also has resources available to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students.   

Beginning this past Monday, March 30, 2020, any FCPS parent may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their student’s emotional well-being during their time away from school. Student consultations will provide support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions during this unprecedented and challenging time. Information about community resources will also be made available. To schedule a phone consultation, parents should click the following link: https://forms.gle/WKchwGnv4LkezQwG8.

This service is not intended for mental health emergencies. If an emergency is suspected or indicated, please call 911. Additionally, students and families can access mental health support if there is a crisis of emergency during the time of the closure.

 

Budget Impacts

COVID-19 has impacted the county and state finances significantly. As a result, what had been expected to be another fully funded budget will result in the County and Schools redoing their budgets. On April 7, the County Executive will release his new budget proposal. The School Board will have a virtual meeting on April 9th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the revised plan of the County and the Superintendent’s initial thoughts on how our budget may have to be adjusted. The meeting will be streamed live and be broadcast on Channel 21.

 

Grading and Graduation Plans for Remainder of 2019-20 School Year

GRADING
 The School Board was briefed that no student work assigned after March 13 will be graded, at the recommendation of VDOE; however, work assigned prior to March 13 will still be accepted up until April 24 in order to be applied in the calculation of students’ third quarter grades. Additionally, it is the intention of FCPS to use maximum flexibility in assessing and evaluating student learning for the remainder of the school year. To that end, middle school and high school students will be assigned a “no mark” for the fourth quarter, with assignments submitted being allowed to positively influence the student’s overall grade for the year based on mastery of learning concepts, in accordance with FCPS grading policy. Only final grades will be shown on transcripts; a “no mark” will not show on a student’s final transcript.  
 
No fourth quarter grades will be assigned to elementary students due to equity issues of access to technology and limited student ability to submit work during distance learning. Elementary students will engage in teacher-led and independent learning.  Learning packets will be distributed by mail to all PK-6 students beginning the week of March 30.   Literacy and math content will also be made available on FCPS Cable Channel 21 beginning the week of March 30.  

Teachers at all grade levels will offer virtual office hours for individualized instruction and support.
 
GRADUATION AND PROMOTION
 
The Board was assured that any senior on track to graduate will graduate in June.  In addition, students on track to advance to the next grade level will be promoted.  
 
Superintendent Brabrand told the Board that, “We plan to err on the side of the student when it comes to graduation and promotion to the next grade.”  
 
VDOE will require divisions to identify the essential content standards which had not been taught as of Friday, March 13, 2020 and develop an equitable plan to incorporate the missing content into curriculum to ensure success in subsequent courses.  School staff will share additional information in the future.  
 
Board members also learned that resources to support social-emotional and wellness will be available for students, and that students who find themselves as the sole source of income or as caregivers for their families will also be able to get support from the district. 


For more information, click HERE.
The complete distance learning plan is posted on the FCPS website.

 

AP and IB Exams

The May 2020 International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are canceled.  Scores will be calculated using internal assessments and external assessments.  Students must work with their coordinators and teachers to ensure these assignments are submitted in a timely manner. 

Traditional face-to-face Advanced Placement (AP) exams will not take place. On 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.

 

Distance Learning Plans - Overview

High School Distance Learning Plan

•    Students will engage in teacher-led, teacher-supported and independent learning in all courses. 

•    During the week of March 30, teachers will be contacting students to reconnect, provide review material for concepts taught prior to closure, and prepare for classes starting on April 14.

•    The FCPS Online Campus will resume operation on March 30.  At this time, students registered for the self-directed Economics and Personal Finance course as of March 19, 2020 for either summer session 1 or summer session 2, will also have the ability to begin the course online through Virtual Virginia.

•    Distribution has begun of a limited number of Mifi devices, or wireless hotspots, to high school students in need who do not have any access to the internet at home. Schools have been contacting families directly to arrange for the pickups, by appointment. 

 

Middle School Distance Learning Plan

•    Students will engage in teacher-led, teacher-supported and independent learning. 

•    Learning packets will be distributed by mail to all students in the four core classes: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Distribution will begin the week of March 30.  

•    Middle school students will be engaged in virtual, teacher-directed learning in the four core classes along with world languages (HS credit) beginning the week of April 14.  Elective teachers will post learning activities to Blackboard.

•    Distribution of laptops began this week for students in need who do not have access to a device at home. Schools have been contacting families directly to arrange for the pickups.


Elementary School Distance Learning Plan

•    Students will engage in teacher-led and independent learning. 

•    There is also time for teacher check-ins, virtual chats, phone calls and emails with students.
 
•    Learning packets will be distributed by mail to all students (PK-6) beginning the week of March 30. 

•    Principals will send parents a published schedule of instruction.

•    Literacy and math content will also be made available on FCPS Cable Channel 21 (check your local listings or stream online) beginning the week of March 30.  

•    Teacher-student virtual connections are encouraged.  

•    Specials teachers will post learning activities to Blackboard.

For complete details, click HERE.

 

Food Resources for Families

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency continues to evolve, we understand that individuals and families in our communities may have food assistance needs.  

Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools 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.

All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible for free grab and go breakfast and lunch, as well as other county children, under the age of 18. Adults picking up meals for children should let staff know how many children meals they need. Adults may pay $2 for the meals as well.

As a reminder, it is important to follow social distancing guidelines. Be sure to stand a minimum of 6 feet apart from others and practice regular hand washing, including prior to leaving a residence to pick-up meals, upon returning home, and before consuming food.

FCPS is providing grab and go meals at several schools and community centers, pop-up locations, and along several bus routes throughout the county. The FCPS sites, locations, bus routes, and curbside service are available Monday-Friday only. Distribution of meals will continue over spring break, April 6-10. 

Curbside Pickup

Both breakfast and lunch are available for pick up between 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

For additional meal distribution sites and pop-up locations, please click HERE.

 

Update on FCPS Grab and Go Meal Sites

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will be serving grab and go meals during spring break, April 6-10.

Starting Monday, April 6, food distribution hours at FCPS school sites and curbside service sites will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Food distribution times at pop up sites and along bus routes are unchanged. Breakfast and lunch meals are available together wherever meals are being distributed.

View Complete List of Meal Sites and Times : www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-food-resources 

All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible for free grab and go breakfast and lunch, as well as other county children, under the age of 18. Adults picking up meals for children should let staff know how many children’s meals they need. Adult meals are $2. 

Curbside meal pick-up stations are generally located in the bus lanes at the schools or in the kiss and ride area.  Look for the canopy tent along with Food and Nutrition Services staff, who will deliver meals directly to vehicles. 

Walk-ups are still welcome at all sites. Walkers are asked to use school sidewalks to safely navigate their walk to the pick-up stations. 

As a reminder, it is important to follow social distancing guidelines. Be sure to stand a minimum of 6 feet apart from others and practice regular hand washing, including prior to leaving a residence to pick-up meals, upon returning home, and before consuming food.

 

Fairfax County Field Journal

Kids are encouraged to use the journal to discover their backyard and neighborhood while practicing social distancing. The journal is full of ideas for exploring nature through art, writing, and science. The activities are a great way to engage young minds until distance learning begins. The arrival of spring means there are lots of interesting changes to observe. Visit https://bit.ly/2xOKvW5 to view or print the journal.

journal

For latest updates from FCPS regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, please click HERE. 

As always, the safety of our students, teachers, and staff is our top priority. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to call me at 571-253-4522.

School Board Meeting

The next School Board Meeting will be held on April 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. via Blackboard - fcps.edu/tv, and Chanel 21. Information about upcoming meetings and agendas can be found here. 

 

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