|
Dear Families and Staff,
I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I love the first signs of snow and I hope everyone was able to take some time to enjoy the moment as the snow began to fall on Wednesday. The year’s end is always a time of reflection.
This year was certainly not what we expected. Covid-19 has tested us in ways that we could not have anticipated. I’m amazed that in the face of this crisis, we have had heroes who have stepped in to aid our students and community in ways that we never expected. Heroic acts can be as small as reaching out to community members who live alone, donating food and financial resources to those that are experiencing food or house insecurity, or making and distributing masks and face shields.
Our educational professionals have been incredible. Their dedication to our students is amazing. I have been so impressed by the many stories about how they are working with our students. Thank you!
Please take the opportunity during our winter break to unplug and take advantage of the wonderful parks and natural resources of Mount Vernon.
I hope everyone has a relaxing winter break, a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and a happy new year.
Karen
Returning to In-Person Instruction
While there has been positive news surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine, the community spread is surging. We must work together to stem the tide by adhering to the CDC recommendations for social distancing, mask wearing and limiting gatherings in large groups. I am optimistic that due to the recent action by the Governor restricting large gatherings, as well as commitment from our community to adhere to safety protocols, we will be able to return to in-person learning beginning in the new year. This is predicated on the numbers of new cases per 100,000 cases and if positivity rates decrease and our mitigation protocols are adhered to. The safety teams are currently touring our buildings to establish safety baselines in our buildings to ensure consistent implementation of these measures across all schools.
Dr. Brabrand proposed a new bell schedule for our Elementary Schools at the last work session. Board Members, including myself, expressed concerns about our younger students attending school later in the day and walking home in the dark. Following the feedback on the proposed Return to School schedule, the Office of Transportation Services was asked to revisit the bell schedule. The new bell schedule can be found here.
Change in Grading Scale
FCPS is taking several actions to address the achievement and wellness challenges our students are facing during this pandemic. Those include changes to grading policies to ensure all students have every opportunity to demonstrate their learning, and that no student is advantaged or disadvantaged by any inconsistent policies across schools. The most significant change is to the 100-point grading scale: When using a 100-point grading scale, 50 percent of an assignment’s value will be the lowest possible score, including the score for work that is not submitted. Four-point scales are also appropriate.
The reasons for changing the grading scale to eliminate the zero and have the lowest grade be a 50 percent of an assignment’s value include:
· A score of zero is disproportionate on a 100-point scale, with intervals for all other grades being 10 points and the F having a more than 60 point interval.
· Zeros can quickly destroy student averages, leaving them struggling to pull their grades up
· Zeros can actually decrease motivation.
Additional grading changes are intended to support students with workload and wellness during this unprecedented time. This change is for this school year, beginning with the second quarter. Any longer-term change will require additional consideration and stakeholder engagement.
Additional Readings:
The Case Against the Zero
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.
Inclement Weather Information
FCPS will utilize additional approaches for observing “snow days” during the 2020-2021 inclement weather season. These approaches include both synchronous instruction (teacher-led) and asynchronous instruction (independent). If conditions are warranted, we do anticipate that there will be “typical” snow days as we have had in past years. As with any inclement weather event, each one is very different than the other, and they can present unique challenges for our students, staff, and community.
For your understanding, please see some of the potential options for snow days this season:
- All Schools and Central Offices Closed. No In-person or Virtual Learning
- Synchronous (teacher-led) Virtual Learning for All Students Division Operations are Open, School Building Workspaces May or May Not Be Available
- Asynchronous (independent) Virtual Learning for All Students, Division Operations are Open, School Building Workspaces May or May Not Be Available
The safety of our students and staff is a priority any time a decision must be made regarding school closures and delays during a weather situation. Poor road conditions may affect bus transportation for students learning in school buildings. Road conditions also impact staff from going to work to prepare student meals and distribute them on bus routes. In order to count as a day of instruction, schools are required to provide meals to students according to the Virginia Department of Education. Power outages can impact students and staff during an instructional day whether they are in person or in virtual instruction. There are many possible scenarios that will influence our decisions. Fortunately, all students have been provided devices to be able to participate in virtual learning.
We will continue to evaluate how weather conditions impact our operations and we will notify you as we have in the past through the FCPS website, Twitter, Facebook, email, text messages, and the local media.
FCPS leadership will continue to monitor weather forecasts and conditions and make determinations regarding inclement weather delays and closures on an individual basis.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Since it was established in 1985, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) has been a leader in providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Its founding goal was to “design an exemplary and unique high school program that assures completion of the requirements for graduation, superior preparation for access to collegiate admission, and other postsecondary educational opportunities in science, engineering, and technology.
TJHSST’s current mission is “to provide students with a challenging learning environment focused on math, science, and technology, to inspire joy at the prospect of discovery, and to foster a culture of innovation based on ethical behavior and the shared interests of humanity.” The specialized high school program is available for students with an interest in STEM who reside in Fairfax County or other Virginia school divisions and cities served by TJHSST (i.e., Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church). Students from Mount Vernon have been under-represented at the school for decades.
I am committed to ensuring that students at each of Mount Vernon’s middle schools, with an aptitude for math and sciences have the opportunity to access the resources available at TJHSST. On Thursday, the Board approved significant reforms to the admissions process for TJHSST. Starting this coming fall, the number of students admitted will increase to 550 (70% from within FCPS/30% from neighboring jurisdictions) a minimum of 1.5% of the 8th grade enrollments of each middle school will be offered admissions. All students with a 3.5 GPA and enrolled in Algebra 1 or a higher level math course will be automatically given the opportunity at their school to sit for the proctored problem solving essay and fill out the student information sheet. Additionally, experience factors will be taken into account to include whether a student is economically disadvantaged, an English language learner or special education student. The standardized test and application fee were eliminated earlier. Also built in is an annual review which allows for adjustments to be made in the application process to make sure progress is made to ensure equity of access and opportunity. Based on current enrollment of 8th graders, 1.5% for each of the schools in Mount Vernon, or where Mount Vernon residents attend is 41 students: Hayfield Secondary: 8, Key: 6, Sandburg: 12, South County: 8; Whitman: 7.
Restraint and Seclusion Policy Adopted
This is perhaps the most difficult issue that has come before this board. It is heart wrenching to hear the stories that have been brought before this board. We are committed to ensuring that we utilize best practices in working with our students whom struggle to communicate. This policy prioritizes, behavioural intervention, multi-tiers of support and professional development to address the needs of some of our most vulnerable students and approaches this work through a trauma informed lens. FCPS is committed to implementing positive behavioral interventions and support strategies to reduce and prevent the need for the use of physical restraint and seclusion.
The Board Adopted a Policy which will eliminate the use of seclusion in all our schools no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. The policy limits the use of restraints, requires school administrators to notify parents of incidents immediately and requires all administrators and staff to have annual professional development. All seclusion will be eliminated throughout the school system no later than the 2021-2022 school year. I would like to personally thank the community (including ACSD and SEPTA) for providing their insights on this important policy.
|
