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Dear Mason District Community,
As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinations have begun to roll out, I write to you feeling hopeful for our community and schools. With more than 90% of FCPS employees having registered for vaccinations and over 5,500 having already received a first dose, this additional mitigation strategy has significantly increased staff and community confidence in the FCPS Return to School efforts. In moving toward our goal to return students to in-person instruction, I look forward to the Board’s discussions during the February 2nd Work Session to review the Superintendent’s proposal to phase-in students in the next few weeks.
Return to School Update
The Board will be discussing the Superintendent's revised proposal for a phased-in return to in-person instruction at our work session on Tuesday, February 2nd at 1:30 p.m.
Health Screening Commitment Form Required Prior to Student Return to School Buildings
As additional student groups return to school in person, parents and caregivers are asked to complete a Health Screening Commitment form before their students return to school buildings. This document confirms that a parent, caregiver, or guardian will complete a daily health screening and will keep their students home should they become ill.
The Health Commitment form can be submitted electronically through ParentVUE (PVUE), or via hard copy. Contact your child’s school to have a hard copy sent to you.
 The online application for students interested in applying for admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), a Regional Governor’s School in Fairfax County focused on science and technology, will be available beginning Monday, February 1, at 8 a.m. The application will be posted on the admissions web page.
Qualified applicants will be enrolled in Honors Algebra or beyond, Honors Science, and one other honors course (waivers available for honors requirements this year only), along with achieving a core grade point average of 3.5. Applicants will also complete a Student Portrait Sheet and problem-solving essay, which will be administered later this spring and are not a part of the initial application.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, February 26, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST admissions website for more information.
Budget Update
At our most recent Budget Work Session, the Board continued to discuss the FY22 proposed budget development. We were provided with preliminary information regarding FCPS’ potential usage of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding (ESSER II) that was announced two weeks ago. The ESSER II funding, which can be used for eligible expenses through September 2023, totals $84 million. While still in the planning stages, I am encouraged by this additional funding that can be used to address some of the profound impacts COVID-19 school closures and distance learning have had on our students. A proposed extended learning program for summer 2021 to address learning loss was presented to the Board. The preliminary estimate for the proposed programming is $32 million. Please view the presentation or watch the work session (part 1 and part 2) from January 27 for more information.
The next step in the FY22 budget process is for the Board to adopt the FY22 Advertised Budget at the February 18th School Board meeting.
The FY22 Proposed Budget documents and timeline can be found on the FCPS Budget website.
New Executive Director of Office of Communication and Community Relations
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand has named Helen Lloyd, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Communications for Alexandria City Public Schools, as the district’s new executive director of the Office of Communication and Community Relations (OCCR), effective February 1, 2021. Learn more about Ms. Lloyd.
Congratulations, Principal Jackson-Muir!
Braddock Elementary Principal Keesha Jackson-Muir was recently appointed to the Southern Regional Education Board by Governor Ralph Northam. The Board includes the governor and four gubernatorial appointees from each member state, including at least one state legislator and one educator. Principal Jackson-Muir has served as principal at Braddock ES since September 2014 and was named FCPS Outstanding Principal in 2018. I am thrilled that Principal Jackson-Muir has been honored with this exciting opportunity to lend her expertise in a broader capacity to improve education in our region.
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Welcome, Ms. Dews!
Ms. Satonya Dews has been named the new principal and Bailey’s Primary Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, effective February 1, 2021.
Ms. Dews has a vision for Bailey’s Elementary and the knowledge and experiences required to lead this school. Because of her strong experiences in multiple schools, Ms. Dews will be focusing on building trust and inspiring credibility with the community, in addition to academic achievement and access for all. Her multiple experiences, proven track record of success, and respectful demeanor make her an ideal leader for this community. She also speaks Spanish as a result of her undergraduate studies and is looking forward to using her Spanish skills as the principal of Bailey’s Elementary School. Read more about Ms. Dews’ experience and background HERE.
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A Huge THANK YOU to All of Our
Amazing Principals!
FCPS Teacher Protecting our Capitol
Fairfax County music teacher, Dr. Jake Kohut, is currently working and protecting our U.S. Capitol as a member of the DC National Guard. So grateful for his service to our country and to Canterbury Woods Elementary School and Frost Middle School!
See the WJLA story here.
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Candidates in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Named
Fifty-five seniors in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are among a group of more than 4,500 candidates in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in 2021.
Congratulations to the following nominated students from the Mason District:
Maxwell J. Miracle, Falls Church HS
John T. Child, Falls Church HS
Tryn Dunne, Falls Church HS
Semifinalists will be announced in mid-April and scholars in May by the U.S. Department of Education.
Annandale High School Alumna Crowned Mrs. Venezuela
Congratulations to Rachel Laguna, Annandale High School Class of 2007, who has been crowned Mrs. Venezuela. Rachel will be heading to Shenzhen, China in the spring of 2021 to represent Venezuela (her birth country) at Mrs. Globe. At the age of 10 she immigrated to Annandale, Virginia and attended Braddock ES, Poe MS and graduated from Annandale High in 2007. While at Annandale, Rachel was a yearbook editor, band member and a cheerleader. She mentioned that amongst some of her most memorable Annandale High experiences was, “Winning honor band for 4 years, going to Yearbook camp with my friends and the last quarter of senior year with my 3 girlfriends-Lisa, Andrea and Jessica!.”
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FCPS Fine Arts Office Presents the 13th Annual Artist Teacher Exhibition
The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Fine Arts Office presents the 13th annual Artist Teacher Exhibition, an art exhibition recognizing the creativity and technical expertise of FCPS art teachers.
Teachers were invited to submit original works for consideration. This year, 76 teachers submitted original works of art.
Mason teachers that participated this year include:
- Sarah Jayne Bleiweis, Mason Crest Elementary
- Tania Guzman, Belvedere Elementary
- Rob Hawkins, Holmes Middle
- Janet Lundeen, Luther Jackson Middle
- Michelle Mckenna, Columbia Elementary
- L. Navas, Annandale High
- Greg Skrtic, Beech Tree Elementary
- Christian Tribastone, Sleepy Hollow Elementary
- Kate Wallestad, Justice High
- Rachel Wiseman, Poe Middle
Upcoming Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings
- February 4, 2021 at 7 p.m.
- Goal 3 & 4 Report Highlights
- McLean/Langley Boundary Change
- CIP
- February 18, 2021 at 7 p.m.
- FY22 Proposed Budget
- New Name for Mosby Woods
Work Sessions
- February 2, 2021 at 11 a.m.
- Calendar (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
- Return to School Update (1:30 - 4 p.m.)
- February 16, 2001 at 11 a.m.
- March 2, 2021 at 11 a.m.
- Program Budget Review
- Return to School Update
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.
The meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meeting will be recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.
Attention, Mason District PTA/PTSA/PTO Presidents
I am looking forward to our dialogue at the roundtable discussion scheduled for February 23rd. If you did not receive an email invitation, please reach out to my assistant, Ms. Coffey, at cmcoffey@fcps.edu.
New Employment Opportunities in Fairfax County Public Schools
Classroom Monitors
FCPS schools and centers are hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when some staff members continue to work virtually. If you would like more information about the position, review the job description online and apply if interested. Please share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.
Substitute Teachers
Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply online or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more. To sign up for a session, visit the FCPS substitute teacher information page.
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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