Frost Middle School students perform in band class. 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. 

FCPS’ website is generally the first place where we will announce an emergency weather closing. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and plan for childcare if needed.

⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

Your school’s principal will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and healthcare.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices. 

The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create lessons, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.

In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.

Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your student’s results or ideas to support them at home, review this Family Guide or contact your child’s school. 

💪 Fitness Warriors Work Out Before School to Boost Focus, Gain Strength

Every day at Chesterbrook Elementary School a group of roughly 30 students eagerly arrive at 7:40 a.m. to work out before the first bell. Physical Education Teacher Jay Levesque has been leading a Fitness Warriors program at Chesterbrook for 12 years. Find out what the students think about their Fitness Warrior program. 

Free Webinars and Events for Families This Winter

The Family Resource Center offers free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The following events are currently scheduled:

• Funcionamiento Ejecutivo: Ayudando a tus hijos con la organización, la regulación emocional , y la flexibilidad (Executive Functioning: Helping your kids with organization, emotional regulation, and flexibility.) Presentado en español Thursday, November 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Friday, December 1, 10-11:30 a.m.
   
• Using the Data Collection Tool to Inform Least Restrictive Environment Decision-Making. Join FCPS Department of Special Services staff on Tuesday, December 5, 10-11 a.m.
   
• Coping Strategies for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress: A Two-Part Series. Join Dr. Erin Berman, a clinical psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health, for strategies to help children cope with anxiety, depression, and stress. Part Two was previously scheduled in November but will take place Tuesday, December 12, 10-11:30 a.m. 
   
• Meet the Author Series: Raising a Kid That Can. Join authors Dr. Catherine McCarthy; Heather Tedesco, Ph.D.; and Jennifer Weaver, LCSW, as they discuss their book and take questions on Friday, January 5, 10-11:30 a.m.

For more information and to register for the webinars, click on the linked titles. 

✈️ 2024 Gap Year Fair

FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 30, 6-8:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning about increasing opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Students should register at USA Gap Year Fairs. 

🤠 Madison’s Deadwood Dick, or A Game of Gold: Full of Cheers and Comedy

The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as theater critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. This review of Madison High School’s production of Deadwood Dick, or A Game of Gold is written by Sri Vellakkat of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

Subscribe to the Fine and Performing Arts Calendar

Take a look at the Fine and Performing Arts calendar on FCPS’ website for individual listings of many middle and high school theater events. You may also subscribe to the calendar for notifications of upcoming performances. 

📜 Professional Certificates for High School Students

The FCPS Student Pilot Program with Coursera allows high school students to access the contents of the Coursera Career Academy, including more than 29 professional certificates from the world’s leading companies. A limited number of seats are still available.

Students can explore popular digital jobs and career paths such as marketing and data science, and learn from experts at leading companies including Google. Interested students should complete the Coursera Student Interest Form. Once it is submitted, their parent/guardian will be contacted for consent.  

Please note that Coursera courses are not recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as industry credentials and do not count toward high school graduation requirements. 

Contact Program Manager Scott Simmons with any questions at [email protected]. 

🌏 World Languages Offerings in Elementary Schools Survey

Fairfax County Public Schools is considering expanding our Dual Language Immersion programs to include new languages and school sites, and new languages for our Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools program.

Parents/caregivers with elementary school students, please check your email for a link to our survey and let us know your thoughts about expanding World Languages offerings in elementary schools. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Please complete the survey by Friday, December 8.

National Special Education Day

National Special Education Day is recognized each year on December 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students! 

Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

🎁 Your Gift to Educate Fairfax Impacts Students All Year Long

Educate Fairfax is the 501(c)(3) that works with Fairfax County Public Schools and our community to create pathways to long-term success for students. Your monetary donation can help Educate Fairfax across all of our focus areas:  

• Gap needs for students (e.g. backpacks, school supplies, grocery gift cards).
• Literacy efforts for our youngest learners.
• Direct grants to teachers to support innovative instruction and learning in the classroom. 
• Retention and recognition of stellar educators. 

With your help, students can achieve their maximum potential, and we can create lasting impact, one child at a time. Your donation is tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!

📅 Calendar Reminder: Chanukah and Bodhi Day 

Chanukah, an eight-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for eight days. 

This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Thursday, December 7. That day will be an evening-only observation day, and major events cannot be scheduled that evening. Learn more about Chanukah in National Geographic Kids.

Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day, Friday, December 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as “bodhi” in Sanskrit and Pali. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum. 

The school calendar recognizes Bodhi Day as a religious observation day. There is school on this day, however, the School Board has directed that certain events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.

School Board Meeting Scheduled for December 4 at 7:30 p.m.

The School Board will hold its next business meeting on Monday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. 

Check Boarddocs later this week to view the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings. 

Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Website

The Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Website, which includes the Public Notification Database, provides access to publicly available information about persons convicted of specified violent and sexual offenses. Members of the public can use this website to educate themselves about the possible presence of such offenders in their local communities.