Dear Dranesville Families:
As new information and resources emerge around Return to School, I want to distribute those to you in a timely fashion. I’ve been busy meeting with PTA/PTSA/PTO leaders and made a visit to our concurrent learning site at Colvin Run ES to see how this is working with some of our youngest learners.
I continue to check in with all of our Dranesville principals to learn how everything is going now students are in the building and the planning for the next set of students. They are balancing the needs of our families and our staff the best that they can, so please be patient with them as they make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone.
Elaine
Return to School Family Resource Guide
A Family Resource Guide has been created to help prepare families and students to return to in-person learning and to address frequently asked questions. The Resource Guide is available online and can be translated into multiple languages: Family Guide to Return to School
In-Person Learning Pilot Updates
Currently we have six schools who are engaged in our voluntary in-person learning pilots:
- Annandale Terrace ES
- Brookfield ES
- Bush Hill ES
- Colvin Run ES
- Holmes MS
- West Springfield HS
The size and scope of each pilot varies considerably. The original objective was to test technology solutions and determine which solutions worked best. The objectives expanded to include problem solving instructional delivery methods and other logistics challenges.
In the week ahead, we will be expanding the number of participating schools, teachers, and students. These schools will include:
- Columbia ES
- Fairfax HS
- Irving MS
- Madison HS
- Marshall HS
We will then have another group of schools begin using the concurrent model the week of November 9th. With each new school, we get a more realistic perspective of what in-person learning will look like with this model. We will be spending the next two weeks collecting as much relevant data as we can, while balancing the demands on both teachers and students that are participating. We will share more details in next week’s Brabrand Briefing and at the November 12, 2020, School Board work session.
Video: Concurrent Instruction at our Pilot School
Take a look inside West Springfield High School and Kings Park Elementary School, two of the first schools to welcome students back to FCPS buildings, to see how the concurrent instruction model works. Watch the video.
Small groups are also returning to Colvin Run Elementary School. Watch this video to see how Colvin Run set up classrooms for concurrent instruction.
High School Graduation updates
Here is the 2021 High School Graduation schedule. We will be adding center program and alternative program promotion and graduations plans in the near future. Please be aware that we are working with the two major venues (Eagle Bank Arena and Constitution Hall) regarding plans as related to the pandemic. Currently both venues are making plans related to cleaning and logistics. It is anticipated that there may be limitations regarding attendance that range from 50% of capacity to full capacity. We will provide additional updates as more details become available.
Dranesville PTA Leaders Connect
This past month, I worked with Elizabeth Hale and members of the Safe Community Coalition and Sarah Stein, the FCCPTA Herndon Pyramid Ambassador, to connect Dranesville PTA/PTSA/PTO leaders. The goal of the meeting was a forum for sharing successes and challenges different PTA/PTSA/PTO groups are facing this year. The meetings connected over 16 PTA/PTO leaders, and many ideas, resources and general support were shared. One of the announcements involved the Community Use Updates (see below). The meetings will occur quarterly.
Community Use Updates
Beginning 10/30/20, FCPS will permit activities sponsored by PTA, PTO, PTSA, and Booster Clubs to occur outdoors, on school grounds. This initial phase-in of community use does not include other school vendors. Principals have received this information and will be sharing with their PTA/PTO/ PTSA presidents. The Student Activities Office will be sharing the guidance with Booster presidents. We look forward to supporting our students and schools as they gather safely for school activities!
Community Use Guidelines for PTA PTO PTSA and Boosters
CDC Guidelines
The Office for Children- A Childcare Resource
The Office for Children (OFC) provides information about childcare programs serving children from birth through school-age and supports families in choosing quality care in Fairfax County. Their online resource allows you to search by zip code, elementary school and languages spoken in the center. For information on school aged childcare call 703 449-8989 or OFCSACCInfo@fairfaxcounty.gov. They are available to answer your questions at 703 324-8000 or officeforchildren@fairfaxcounty.gov in English and Spanish.
VHSL high school sports updates
The changes made by Governor Northam allow the VHSL Championship + 1 schedule to begin playing in December as scheduled. The amended Executive Order did not change the number of attendees permitted at a sporting event, which cannot exceed the lesser of these two numbers: 50% of the occupancy load or 250 individuals. For sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 individuals per field.
The modifications outlined in “Guidelines for Return to Participation” are meant to maximize safety. Recommendations include cleaning and disinfecting; mask protocols; transportation; and how to run activities safely for individual sports and activities. Teams conducting out-of-season workouts will continue to abide by Phase 3 Guidelines as established by the VHSL and the Virginia Department of Health.
Boundary Study--McLean Pyramid/Langley Pyramid
I apologize if the wording in my last newsletter around our potential boundary adjustment was misleading and resulted in unnecessary stress. I did not mean for my mention of the McLean pyramid/Langley pyramid boundary study to imply that current McLean HS students would be moved to Langley HS. Although with any boundary adjustment, the decision around the overall amount of grandfathering is not mine alone to make. I will absolutely be advocating for not removing current students from McLean HS or Longfellow MS especially during this time when anxieties are running high as we deal with COVID-19.
With some space available at Langley HS and Cooper MS, a boundary study is a possibility we can investigate to alleviate some overcrowding at McLean HS. My previous newsletter item on this topic intended to let you know that conversations were starting up again--not that anything has been done without more community input.
I am creating a community group to review all of the data and information staff can provide. The goal of this group is to help determine a path forward and to understand the best way to reach out to the McLean and Langley pyramid communities regarding further information and input on the boundary study.
McLean Community Business Center (CBC) Study Virtual Community Open House
Please consider attending the meeting John Foust’s office is hosting this Saturday (details below) to learn more about development in McLean and its impact on our schools.
Event Details
Saturday, November 7 at 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Virtual WebEx Meeting
Register Here
The County is sponsoring a virtual open house to provide an update on their work on November 7, 2020, updating the Comprehensive Plan that will guide development in downtown McLean over the next 20 years. I hope you can attend to learn more and share your thoughts on the draft plan.
Over the past two years, a task force of McLean area residents and stakeholders has worked with County staff to develop recommendations for updating the Comprehensive Plan that will guide development in downtown McLean over the next 20 years The Comprehensive Plan is used to guide future planning and development, including land uses, development intensities, transportation, public facilities, and design standards. The last significant review of the Comprehensive Plan recommendations for the McLean Community Business Center (CBC), more commonly known as Downtown McLean, occurred over 20 years ago. Details on the draft Plan for the CBC, including recordings of past meetings and a series of short videos that highlight some of the recommendations can be found on the project website here.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
- Work Session - Tuesday, November 10 - 4 p.m.- Program Budget Review
- Work Session - Thursday, November 12 - 6 p.m. - Return to School
How to Watch Meetings
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Livestream: Meetings can be live streamed here.
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Recordings of Meetings: Meetings are recorded and available 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
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