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Dear Lee District Families -
Welcome back to school! I hope that everyone had a great first week!
The start of a new school year is such an exciting time! It’s a new beginning for your child and your family. Many schools will soon host their Back To School Nights. I encourage you to participate in these informative meetings. This year more than ever, it’s important to get to know your child's teachers and the school's administrators—they will be your partners throughout the coming year. I speak a bit more about this in my Back To School 2020 message--here is a link to my comments.
We are very proud of all the teachers who provide our students not only with lesson plans and knowledge, but also inspiration. Below is a video from the Fairfax Choral Directors Association. It's called "It Takes a Village" by Joan Szymko. Their message: "Even though we aren't together in song, we are united in spirit." I wanted to share their beautiful video with you.
Stay well!
Tammy
First Day of School
During the first day of school, peak concurrent usage on Blackboard Collaborate was 140,000 users. There were no outages or slowdowns reported. Peak usage on Google Meet was approximately 30,000 participants.
I want to say thank you to all of the teachers, staff members, principals and everyone who took part in making the first day of school a great success.
 Springfield Estates ES teachers (and helpers) eager and ready to meet their students.
School Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers Are Ready and Willing to Help
As you and your family begin the school year, school counselors, psychologists, and social workers are here and ready to support you. These professionals work with students in a variety of different capacities, whether through virtual classroom lessons, groups, individual counseling, or connection with community resources to provide support in the areas of social-emotional learning, academics, and college and career planning. College and career planning is also supported by the college and career specialists in each FCPS high school.
Contact information for your student’s school counselor, social worker, psychologist, and college and career specialist (high school only) are available on your specific school’s website under Student Services, found by clicking on the Full Menu button on the toolbar on the upper left side.
FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference Goes Virtual; Starts September 14
FCPS will host its 7th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference over a three-week period beginning Monday, September 14 through Saturday, October 3. The virtual event will focus on resiliency. In addition to information for our families, Our Minds Matter, will also have a series geared for students. Inova will be sponsoring the conference for the second year in a row.
Registration information and the complete schedule and list of speakers are now available online.
Advanced Academic Program Level IV Screening Updates for 2020-21
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there will be a few adjustments to the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) level IV screening processes for the 2020-21 school year. Additional information is available online.
Seeking Applicants for the Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee
I am currently seeking applicants interested in serving a one-year term on the Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee.
The purpose of this committee is to review challenges of instructional or library materials, according to Regulation 3009.
The Challenged Materials Interdepartmental Review Committee is activated if a Fairfax County or City resident, without a student enrolled in a school, submits a formal request to remove a book or other media from Fairfax County Public Schools. If no requests are submitted, the committee will not meet.
Should a request be received, the appointees would:
- Act as the parent or citizen representatives of a greater stakeholder committee that reviews the request for removal of materials
- Read or view the material identified
- Evaluate and discuss the request as a committee before submitting an individual vote to uphold or deny removal of the material from Fairfax County Public Schools
- Meet no more than twice a year to address requests received in the fall or spring
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Cheryl Austin: Cheryl.Austin@fcps.edu.
Seeking Applicants for the Adult Community Education Advisory Committee (ACE)
I am also currently seeking applicants interested in serving on the Adult Community Education Advisory Committee (ACE). This committee represents the community and brings to the School Board’s attention resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. The committee meets monthly and is a one-year term.
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email a brief statement on why you are interested, along with a copy of your resume, to my assistant, Cheryl Austin. For questions, please call 571-423-1069.
School Board Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month
The Fairfax County School Board has recognized the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Click here to read the recognition from the September 3 Regular School Board Meeting.
Healthy Minds Podcast: Ease Your Mind With Exercise
During the September 3 Healthy Minds podcast, we heard from FCPS Social Worker Supervisor Stephanie Herman. She walks us through some easy mindfulness exercises and explains how these simple acts can help reduce worry or anxiety as we begin the new school year.
From the Healthy Minds Blog: Setting Up a Workspace for Children at Home
Regardless of whether students are in kindergarten or seniors in high school, it is important for them to have a space within the home where they can complete their schoolwork efficiently and effectively. The global pandemic has caused work, play, and learning to move inside the home, with virtual learning taking the place of in person instruction for the foreseeable future. Also, now more than ever, parents are faced with the challenge of creating a space within the home that is conducive to learning.
For students to feel comfortable and alert in their space and ready to dive into schoolwork, there are several things to consider when creating this workspace at home. Answering these five questions will assist you in creating a workspace that your child will thrive in.
Save the Dates for Fairfax County Government Stuff the Bus Food Drives in September
On Saturday, September 12, and Saturday, September 26, Fastran buses will be parked at 21 locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect food donations. Buses will be located in less-frequented lots throughout the county, including many Board of Supervisors’ offices and the Fairfax County Government Center, to allow donors to comply with social distancing recommendations.
For more information, including donation sites, a list of most-wanted items and information about donating virtually, visit bit.ly/FfxStufftheBus.
Free Meal Program for All FCPS Students Extended Through December 31
Under waivers granted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) free breakfast and lunch program for all FCPS students is being extended through December 31, ensuring that students have access to nutritious food during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
FCPS has distributed more than 2.3 million Grab and Go meals since
March 14, 2020.
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, Grab and Go service hours will be extended to 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) with both breakfast and lunch being served at the same time.
Bus routes for food distribution are being added and the current routes updated. Meals on buses will be distributed Monday through Friday beginning at 6:30 a.m. Specific information about meal distribution locations and bus distribution schedules are available here.
“We greatly appreciate this decision by the USDA and Virginia Department of Education that supports our efforts to provide meals to as many students as possible,” said Superintendent Brabrand. “Extending the summer program authority will also ensure that parents have the security of knowing their children will be fed.”
These waivers will:
- Allow Summer Food Service Program meals to be served in all areas and at no cost;
- Permit meals to be served outside of the typically required group settings and meal times;
- Waive meal pattern requirements as necessary; and
- Allow parents and guardians to pick up meals for their children.
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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