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Dear Franconia District Families -
Spring is officially here and Spring Break begins April 3 through April 7.
I wanted to share a few recent, amazing student accomplishments, as well as, some important upcoming FCPS events.
I hope you and your family will have some time to relax and enjoy doing things that make you happy during this break.
Stay well,
Tammy
 Salad Bar Reopening at Rose Hill Elementary School with Mary Porter, Real Food for Kids and Paul Davis, FCPS, Food Services Operations Specialist; Secretary Corodona visit at Lewis High School; and Executive Team Members from Junior Achievement of Greater Washington with School Board Member Tammy Derenak Kaufax and Superintendent Reid.
Proposed Updates to the 2023-24 Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), and Feedback Opportunities
The Department of Special Services will host a virtual meeting for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) regulation on Monday, April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well. Please register online.
Bush Hill Elementary School Area Band Concert
 Courtesy of Bush Hill ES
I wanted to share a great story from Bush Hill Elementary School. Six students from Bush Hill ES participated in the Greater Springfield Area Band Concert on March 14, 2023 at Lewis High School.
A huge congratulations to Lucinda Ross, Mia Smith, Israa Hafid, Solange Calustro, Alice Quinlan, and Camila Varsalona. These students practiced hard for several weeks, stayed after school for rehearsals to learn advanced music, and worked with a variety of music teachers. This is big challenge and they should all be very proud of this accomplishment.
Thank you to all of the music teachers and staff who make this a wonderful opportunity for our students.
Hayfield Boys Varsity Basketball Team Won Back-to-Back State Championship Game
 Hayfield Secondary School Varsity Boys Basketball Team
Congratulations to the Hayfield Hawks Boys Varsity Basketball Team. They are the 2023 State Champions for the second consecutive year! A special thank you and congratulations to Head Coach Carlos Poindexter and his staff for another amazing basketball season!
The Hayfield Haws played Patriot High School on Friday, March 10 at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond, VA with a final score of 52-41.
Well done Hawks - 2023 State Champions!!
West Springfield High School Boys Track Team Wins Class 6 Indoor Track in Virginia Beach
 Another congratulations to the West Springfield Boys Indoor Track team. They won first place in the Class 6 Indoor Track & Field competition on Friday, February 24 in Virginia Beach, VA.
A special thank you and congratulations to Coach Chris Pellegrini and his coaching staff!
Well done, Spartans!
Six FCPS Teams, 40 Individuals Win 2022-23 VHSL Winter Sports Championships
Congratulations to all the FCPS student-athletes who participated in the 2022-23 winter sports season. This year, six teams and 40 individuals won the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6 championship in their respective sports, and three teams and 38 individuals were the state runners-up. Four teams were repeat champions.
Click here to read the full article to see complete list of champion teams and the individual students.
Students from 15 FCPS High Schools Win DECA Awards
 Two hundred three students from 15 Fairfax County public high schools were recognized as competitive event winners at the Virginia DECA State Leadership Conference. These students earned the right to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference from April 22 to 25. See the list of winners. Congratulations to all DECA winners!
Students Receive 2023 Regional Scholastic Writing Awards
FCPS student writers won 35 Gold Key awards in the 2023 Regional Scholastic Writing Awards competition. In all, our students earned 213 Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mentions. Winners in the regional competition came from 27 Fairfax County middle and high schools. View the complete list of FCPS winners.
Three High Schools Recognized for Press Freedom
Three Fairfax County public high schools—Chantilly, McLean, and West Springfield—are among 16 schools nationally that have been selected as 2023 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winners. The award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach, and protect the First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions on content.
Congratulations to West Springfield - they were among four schools that were first-time award recipients.
No Money Needed for Prom Dress Shop
 FCPS marketing students from Centreville High School and the Fair Oaks Classroom on the Mall program have opened their Prom Dress Shop. Since 2006, the dress shop has helped hundreds of financially challenged students attend prom in style each spring by providing dresses and accessories at no cost.
Any area student—not just those from Fairfax County Public Schools—who does not have the funds to purchase a prom dress may choose from hundreds of new dresses donated by Macy’s. Students must show a valid student ID, or another form of school identification, to choose a free dress on select days. This is available until Sunday, May 7. See shop hours.
Registration Open for Virtual Strategic Planning Community Forums
 We invite parents/caregivers, students, employees, and community members to join us for a virtual community forum to discuss the first draft of proposed goals for the new Strategic Plan. Forums are scheduled for:
Click on the date to register for the event.
Your participation is important to this work and will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student. Get more information on our Strategic Planning webpage.
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students
 FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive.
Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl
Earlier this month, Dr. Michelle Reid in conjunction with the Fairfax County School Board and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis hosted nearly 400 families, staff, and community members for a conversation on the dangers of fentanyl. During this impactful event, audience members heard testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic and learned facts from medical experts and law enforcement representatives.
The conversation will continue on Monday, April 24, with our next community meeting on the critical topic of fentanyl danger and opioid awareness. More information is coming soon. Visit our Opioid Awareness webpage for updates as they become available.
Visit the Fairfax County Government webpage on opioids for information on how you can take action and how to get help for yourself or loved ones.
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FCPS Early Childhood and PreK Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools offers programs for the youngest learners:
Community liaisons are available to assist families with the registration process and answer questions. For more information, visit the Early Childhood Registration webpage.
Providing a Safe and Welcoming Space
The FCPS Trust Policy supports a continued commitment to foster a caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families in our schools. The policy ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.
Magnet School Applications Are Open
Fairfax County Public Schools is accepting applications for its elementary magnet school programs. Registration for the elementary magnet school lottery closes on Wednesday, April 12, at 4 p.m. Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts. Get more information about the magnet school lottery.
“Compassion, Empathy, Passion” Drives FCPS CARES Winner
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“The student body of Bryant High School is blessed to have Pipi Harrison in their corner,” a colleague said about Florence Harrison, director of Student Services at Bryant High School and an FCPS CARES recipient in November. “It's compassion, empathy, and passion that drives Pipi to serve her community. She is very aware of the needs in our Bryant community, and she seeks to meet those needs.”
FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care.
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Winners include:
- Florence Harrison, Bryant High School
- Jessica Bigles, Langley High School
- Jennifer Santos, Camelot Elementary School
- Maggie Jones, Hayfield Secondary School
- Lauren Joyner, Ravensworth Elementary School
- Ruby Brown, Stone Middle School
Read more about Pipi and get more information about all the winners. Learn how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee.
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Murder, Suspense, and Mystery in Edison High School’s Clue
 FCPS students are talented actors, musicians, and visual artists. Many of our high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are 15 Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
This review of Edison High School's production of Clue: Onstage (High School Edition) is written by Nathan Bass of McLean High School.
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.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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