Family Newsletter October 4, 2024
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On Wednesday, we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by inviting all students to wear something representative of their culture.
Title I Right to KnowYour child attends a school receiving federal Title I grant funds under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. As part of the federal guidelines for Title I, your child’s school has specific expectations for student performance and teacher qualifications. You can find information on how your child’s school is meeting these expectations by viewing the School Quality Profile. To access your school’s profile, type the school name in the search field. If you would like a paper copy of this profile, please call your child’s school.
ESSA allows parents in schools receiving Title I grant funds to ask for information about state and local policies regarding student participation in required tests and about parents’ rights to refuse testing for their children. Information about required tests at each grade level can be located at SOL Tests in Elementary and Middle Schools and Virginia Assessment Programs. Information about parents’ rights related to testing can be located at Information for Families about Testing & Assessments.
Additionally, ESSA allows parents in schools receiving Title I grant funds to ask for certain information about their children’s teachers. Parents may ask for the teacher’s:
- College and graduate school preparation, including degrees and major fields of study for each degree;
- Licensure status, including subject and grade level endorsements, and whether those licenses meet the requirements for teachers of their child’s subject or grade level.
Parents may also ask for information about the qualifications of any instructional assistants who provide services to their children.
If you would like to receive any of this information about your child’s teacher or instructional assistant, please write to the FCPS Human Resources Licensure Office at the address below. In order for your request to be fulfilled, you must include: your child’s full name, the name of your child’s school, and the name of the teacher or instructional assistant about whom you would like information.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Human Resources Licensure Office
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
More information about the Title I grant in FCPS can be found at Title I Program, including details about teacher quality in schools receiving Title I grant funds (found under the “High Quality Staff in Title I Schools” link). If you have questions about how the Title I grant supports your child’s school, please contact the school’s administration.
Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on:
- Tuesday, October 8, 3-7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.
Elementary School Clinics
The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.
Middle and High School Clinics
FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.
Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.
📚 Social Studies Basal Resources ReviewFCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary resources used to support instruction in a given subject. Public review of the instructional materials under consideration — which is part of the process for selecting new resources — is underway. Visit the Community Review webpage for more information on how to view the materials online or in person.
All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.
🚶🚲Walk and Roll to School DayFCPS will participate in International Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 9, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools.Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Schools are encouraged to register online with Walk and Bike to School. Get more information about Walk to School Day.
October 12 - Ombuds DayOffice of the Ombuds staff engage with families, students, and staff to offer resources, assist in settling conflicts, and raise concerns to improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
The ombuds is available to:
- Share strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home.
- Help resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace.
- Provide ideas to foster parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings.
Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email [email protected], or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- All FCPS Schools Accredited
- How FCPS Is Teaching Reading and Writing
- Become a Special Education Teacher
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Important DatesOct 11: Yom Kippur - 1/2 Religious Observance Day (school as normal, important school events will not occur after school)
Oct 14: No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day, School Development Day
Oct 31: Early Release at 2:05pm, End of Quarter 1
Nov 1: No School - Diwali, Dia de los Muertos, and All Saints Day
Nov 4-5: No School, School Planning and Election Day (Teacher Workday)
Nov 11: No School, Veterans Day
Nov 27-29: No School, Thanksgiving
3434 Campbell Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22303 | Main Office: 703-329-2100
Attendance: 703-329-2129 | Web | Facebook | Instagram