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Dear Lee District Families,
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing winter break and enjoyed last week’s snow!
In today’s newsletter you will find lots of timely information with details below.
We have just begun our nationwide Superintendent search and we would like to hear from you! I hope you can attend one of the upcoming town halls and please take time to complete the survey.
We have updated our COVID quarantine and isolation guidelines based on changes recently made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
We have partnered with the Fairfax Heath District to host some vaccine clinics. See below for some Lee District locations.
Superintendent Brabrand announced earlier this year that after the first five snow days, all future snow days will be virtual learning days. You’ll find details as to how this will work below.
In closing, I want to take a moment to thank my Lee District principals and all FCPS principals during Virginia School Principal Appreciation Week. THANK YOU for going above and beyond for the past two years! I appreciate your continued commitment to our staff members, your students and their families. You are THE best!
Stay well,
Tammy
Upcoming School Board Meetings
- Regular School Board Meeting (Jackson Middle School): Thursday, January 13, 7 p.m. - FY23 Proposed Budget, SY22-23 Proposed Calendar
- Budget Work Session (Gatehouse): Tuesday, January 18, 11 a.m.
- Audit Committee Meeting (Gatehouse): Thursday, January 20, 4 p.m.
- Budget Public Hearing (Jackson Middle School): Monday, January 24, 6 p.m.
Visit the citizen participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting. Visit BoardDocs for more meeting logistics, agendas and handouts.
The meetings can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube page.
Superintendent Search - Attend a Virtual Town Hall
 FCPS is conducting a nationwide search for a new superintendent to lead the school district when Superintendent Brabrand's contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Your input is an important part of the search process! Please attend a Superintendent Search Virtual Town Hall to provide feedback on the characteristics and personality traits you would like to see in the new superintendent.
The town halls will be hosted on Zoom on January 13 and 18. There will be a Spanish-language town hall as well. Visit FCPS’ Superintendent Search webpage to register.
Also, please take the Superintendent Search Survey if you haven’t already. FCPS parents/guardians, staff, and high school students were sent their own survey link via an email from “FCPS and GR Recruiting.” Community members can access the survey link on our website.
Keeping Up with COVID-19 Information
A lot of new and updated information is available for schools and families due to the current COVID-19 surge and recent changes to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. Earlier this week we shared how the new CDC recommendations for quarantine and isolation periods would affect students and staff.
The Health and Safety Guidance Document on our website is your source for the most up-to-date information.
Here are some updates and answers to common questions:
Isolation and Quarantine
We follow the CDC definitions of isolation and quarantine. Understanding the difference is helpful when determining what you need to do following a diagnosis or being named a close contact.
Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. When you or your child has tested positive for, or been medically diagnosed with, COVID-19, the instruction is to isolate.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who are exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. When you or your child has been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual, the instruction may be to quarantine.
The First Step if Your Child Tests Positive or Receives a COVID-19 Diagnosis
If your child tests positive or receives a COVID-19 diagnosis, please notify your school so they can provide you with the FCPS Isolation Letter, which will include the anticipated return to school date for your child.
The process for returning to school after a COVID-19 positive test, diagnosis, or exposure is outlined on our website.
Fully Vaccinated Students with School-related Exposures Can Be Exempt from Quarantine
Fully vaccinated students with a school-related COVID-19 exposure can be exempt from quarantine. Parents or guardians will receive the vaccination survey link in the FCPS Pause Letter provided by the school when the student is identified as a close contact. This survey is only available to school-related cases.
Who Provides Clearance Letters
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will no longer provide return to school/work letters in most cases. FCPS pause letters will now serve as return documentation for students that are close contacts. The FCPS pause letters will provide the steps students will follow to return to school.
The FCHD will provide clearance emails ONLY to students who are exempt from quarantine (see above).
Medical Questions About COVID-19
If you have questions about COVID-19, please contact your child’s physician or the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-267-3511 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends). You may email ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays).
VaxUP FCPS
Vaccination continues to be the best protection against severe illness and our best tool to end the pandemic. Vaccination is now available for adults and kids five and up. Booster shots are available for everyone 12 and up, based on your vaccine vendor and last dose.
If you need a vaccination or booster, the Fairfax County Health Department website is a great source of information about clinics and other vaccination opportunities.
Lee District Area COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
The Fairfax Health District and Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting COVID-19 vaccine clinics for children ages 5-11 years old. All vaccines are free. Here is a list of locations in or near the Lee District.
Thursday, January 20, 2022 | 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Woods Elementary School
4015 Fielding Street
Alexandria, VA 22309
See flyer here for more details.
Thursday, January 27, 2022 | 12:00-6:00 p.m.
Megamart
8228 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
See flyer here for more details.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 | 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Lynbrook Elementary School
5801 Backlick Road
Springfield, VA 22150
See flyer here for more details.
Snow Is in the Forecast: How to Prepare for an Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day
As we prepare to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, we are also monitoring the forecast, which indicates the chance for inclement weather Sunday and Monday. Please take a few minutes before the weekend to prepare for the possibility of an inclement weather virtual learning day. Inclement weather virtual learning days will be announced in the same ways that we make all emergency weather announcements, which are posted to the web, text and email, social media, Red Apple 21 and through the local media. Information on how FCPS makes weather decisions is available online.
How Students and Staff Should Prepare for Inclement Weather and Virtual Learning
- Students and staff should take their devices home Friday and be sure the device is charged ahead of the start of the school day on Tuesday. If your child is currently isolating or quarantining and needs to pick up a device from the school to engage in virtual learning should that occur next week, please contact your school directly by noon Friday.
- Review the Student Technology Readiness Checklist with your child and complete all the at-home readiness steps.
- Read any messages from your school or teacher to know what to expect.
- Make plans for childcare if needed.
What to Expect on a Virtual Learning Inclement Weather Day
Virtual learning will be synchronous or live, teacher-led instruction. However, teachers may prepare emergency asynchronous lessons that can be used if they have issues connecting due to power or other unforeseen circumstances.
The Inclement Weather Virtual Learning Day Schedule will be utilized.
- ALL Elementary Schools will begin at 10:30 a.m.
- ALL Middle and High Schools will begin on a two-hour delay
Your school and teacher will share more specific information you need to prepare for success on an inclement weather virtual learning day.
Attendance
Teachers will take attendance in SIS as they would on an in-person day. Students who are unable to connect will be marked absent, but given an opportunity to make up work.
Thank you for taking the time to prepare for the possibility of an inclement weather learning day. We look forward to resuming teaching and learning on Tuesday. Please check your messages in the usual way for any special messages or weather-related announcements.
Working Together to Keep Students Safe on Social Media
 Over the last few weeks, the FCPS Department of Information Technology (DIT) and many FCPS staff have observed an increase in inappropriate, harmful, and at times threatening/illegal content regarding students and schools being posted on certain social media platforms. This is a nationwide trend and not unique to FCPS. Such content affects student and staff safety, can lead to mental health issues, and detracts from the learning environment.
In an effort to combat this harmful student behavior on social media, DIT is reinstating blocks to certain social media sites on FCPS networks and student devices, without exceptions. While these platforms are already blocked on the FCPS network by default, a few schools had requested local exceptions for various purposes.
To keep students focused on learning while at school and reduce the potential harm students may experience from social media, the following platforms are blocked for students on FCPS networks and devices:
- Instagram.
- TikTok.
- Discord.
- Reddit.
- Snapchat.
- Pinterest.
You can help by talking with your students about responsible use of social media. Refer to the 2021-22 Student Rights and Responsibilities document (PDF); a list of do’s and don’ts for social media is on page 12. The FCPS’ Digital Citizenship webpage is also a helpful resource for discussing safe and proper internet use.
Please remember that if a student shares a safety concern with you, contacting the authorities should always be your first step. If your safety concern is an emergency, please call 911. The FCPS Office of Safety and Security also has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text, or by phone.
Working together, we can help keep students safe and teach them to use social media in responsible and healthy ways.
High School Students Can Explore Career Paths at Upcoming Academy Open Houses
 A high school academy is a center within an existing high school that offers students the opportunity to explore career interests. By taking advanced technical and specialized courses students gain practical skills and education to help them succeed. High school students interested in taking classes at FCPS Academies can sign up to participate in an upcoming open house to learn more about each school.
The open house dates are:
Learn How to Drive for FCPS at the Bus Driver Job Fair - Tomorrow - January 14
 Join us, tomorrow, Friday, January 14, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Lorton Center (8101 Lorton Road, Lorton, Va.), for our in-person School Bus Driver Job Fair to learn how you can drive for FCPS. No pre-event registration is needed to attend.
$3,000 Signing Bonus for School Bus Drivers*
Benefits for bus drivers include:
- Competitive pay
- Paid training program
- Six paid non-working days
- Excellent retirement, health and dental plans
- Life and disability insurance
- Infant and preschool age children and grandchildren may ride with you
- Advancement opportunities
- Summer hours available
- Savings for Staff Program
Learn more and apply! Or contact 571-423-3000 or driveforfcps@fcps.edu with questions.
* Bonus paid for school bus drivers who begin training on or after July 1, 2021 and meet the established criteria.
Teachers for Tomorrow Prepares Students for Careers in K-12 Education
 The Teachers for Tomorrow class at Chantilly Academy prepares juniors and seniors to pursue their dream of educating the next generations. With two different course levels, Teachers for Tomorrow provides an in-depth look into teaching on a personal and professional scale.
Teachers for Tomorrow 1 focuses on building a foundation of how teaching works and classroom management, as well as providing opportunities to observe teachers in a classroom setting. Teachers for Tomorrow 2 allows students to further explore careers in teaching and gain more field experience.
Learn more about the experiences of Teachers for Tomorrow students.
FCPS has a history of students returning as teachers. Destiny DeMarino tells us about her journey from student to teacher at Westgate Elementary School.
Calendar Reminder: Schools and Offices Closed on January 17 for MLK Jr. Holiday; Early Dismissal on January 20 and Student Holidays on January 21 and 24
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 17, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Also, students will be dismissed two hours early on Thursday, January 20, the last day of the second quarter, and Friday, January 21 (teacher work day), and Monday, January 24 (professional development day), are holidays for students. See the complete 2021-22 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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