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Dear Lee District Families,
As we begin our in-person learning, it is my promise to you—to keep the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff at the forefront of all that we do. We must watch the numbers, strongly follow our mitigation strategies, and provide our teachers with flexibility and support to enforce our safety measures. I will continue to advocate for adding proactive testing as one of our mitigation strategies. I have asked Superintendent Brabrand to determine if we can utilize our Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funding for this purpose.
As we have from the beginning of this COVID pandemic—FCPS will continue to follow the science—to provide the safest, best learning opportunities that meet the wide and varying needs of our community.
Whether your family is returning to the classroom in our concurrent model or remaining in our virtual classrooms, I wish you well. Please continue to reach out to me if you need assistance. As always, it is my honor to serve you.
Stay well!
Tammy
Return to School Plan and New Bell Schedule
During the Return to School Work Session earlier this week, the Fairfax County School Board supported the Superintendent's Return to School Plan. This plan will begin bringing back students for in-person instruction on February 16. Watch the video on Return to School.
Dates of Return for Student Groups
February 16 Group 1-4: Select CTE and Special Education
February 23 Group 5: PreK, Kindergarten and Special Education
March 2 Group 8: Grades 8, 9, 12
March 9 Group 6: Grades 1-2 & Group 8: Grades 7, 10, 11 and Poe, Glasgow, Holmes - Grade 6
March 16 Group 7: Grades 3-6
We will continue to work with the Fairfax County Health Department and Inova Health System to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to staff. To date, 90% of FCPS staff have signed up or scheduled appointments to receive the first dose of the vaccine. While the vaccine is an important mitigation measure against the spread of COVID, it is not a criteria for returning to school under the VDOE/VDH model.
In addition, all schools will transition to a new bell schedule on February 16. The bell schedule adjustment is necessary due to social distancing requirements which limit capacity on school buses. The bell schedule change will apply to both in-person learning as well as students who are doing full-time virtual learning.
You can read the complete message from the Superintendent.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
- February 9, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. Governance Committee Meeting
- February 16, 2021 at 11 a.m. All-Day Work Session
- February 18, 2021 at 7 p.m. Hybrid* Regular School Board Meeting
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas and handouts.
*Effective November 5, 2020 the School Board will return to in-person Regular Meetings at Luther Jackson Middle School. For more information, click here.
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.
Celebrating Virginia Schools Principals Appreciation Last Week
 This week marked the beginning of Black History Month. In his message to staff, Superintendent Brabrand wrote, "During this month, and throughout the school year, we are dedicated to telling a more complex and inclusive story of our shared past by acknowledging and honoring Black lives." Read the full message.
Student Creativity Recognized in 2021 Regional Scholastic Art Awards
The 2021 Regional Scholastic Art Awards program has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools students in grades 7-12 a total of 540 awards including Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention awards, and American Visions Nominations. Judges recognized FCPS students among 2,500 submissions in a variety of categories including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, design, architecture, fashion, film and animation, mixed media, and art portfolios.
Five works by FCPS students were nominated for the best-in-show American Visions Award. See who received a Regional Scholastic Art Award.
Image above is Beauty by Mary Acheampong, American Visions Nominee in Photography, Mount Vernon High School
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From the Healthy Minds Blog: Mini-Grants Available for Youth-Led Anti-Stigma Initiatives
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The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), with support from the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia, is offering mini-grants to fund youth-planned, youth-led projects within Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Falls Church City, to be completed by July 30. |
The goal of the mini-grants is to reduce the stigma around mental illness, as well as to promote help-seeking behaviors. A total of $6,000 is available, for requests not to exceed $1,000 each.
More information about the CSB mini-grants is available online.
It's National School Counseling Week!
 National School Counseling Week highlights the essential contribution of our country's school counselors and their tremendous impact on student success. FCPS school counselors are doing outstanding work with our students and helping them to realize their full potential. Please take a moment to thank a school counselor this week!
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Fairfax County's Stuff the Bus food drive is committed to meeting the increased demand for food due to COVID-19. Donate nonperishable foods in person on Saturday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at locations throughout Fairfax County. Social distancing will be in place. You may also make monetary donations by visiting Stuff the Bus partner websites. Get more information. |
FCPS to Host Virtual Job Fair for Classroom Monitors on Friday, February 12
Fairfax County Public Schools is searching for individuals to serve as classroom monitors. School administrators will conduct virtual interviews with candidates at a virtual job fair for classroom monitors on Friday, February 12.
Individuals interested in becoming a part of a dynamic and diverse community are encouraged to register to attend one or both events. The Middle and High School Event is scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m. and the Elementary School Event is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m.
Video: Grab and Go Meals in Fairfax County
Watch this video to learn more about the free meals that are available to school-age children across Fairfax County.
Meal Distribution Update: Many Grab and Go Sites Switching to Weekly Meal Kits
Many FCPS Grab and Go food distribution sites have switched from daily food pickup to weekly Fairfax Meal Kit distribution. Fairfax Meal Kits contain seven days of breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and supper (at certain sites) items packed in bulk. The meal kits are available for pick up every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or until supplies are exhausted. Bus route pickups remain unchanged.
Go to the Food Distribution website to see if your meal site has changed.
In February, these sites will also be distributing fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Families that pick up no-cost meals will also be provided a fresh fruit or vegetable sourced from a local farm for each child, along with an activity sheet and recipe for that item. The item will vary each week, and will be available on February 3, 10, and 17.
FCPS is using additional approaches for "snow days" this winter, including synchronous and asynchronous instruction. If conditions warrant, there will likely be "snow days" as we have had in the past.
While weather decisions impact everyone in different ways, the superintendent makes the decision based on the safety of our students and staff, and FCPS' desire to maintain continuity of instruction, if possible.
Each weather event is unique. For example, poor road conditions may affect bus transportation for distributing grab and go meals to thousands of students, in addition to the staff who must get to work and prepare the meals. Also, power outages can impact students and staff during an instructional day whether they are in person or remote. Fortunately, all students have been provided devices to be able to participate in virtual learning.
Please see Superintendent Brabrand's inclement weather message for more information.
Calendar Reminder: Schools and Offices Closed on February 15 for Presidents Day Holiday
As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 15, for the Presidents Day holiday. Students are not expected to complete asynchronous assignments that day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 16. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
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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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