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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
FCPS Highlights Changes for 2014-15 School Year
Posted by:
FCPS Department of Communicati
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Date: August 05, 2014 08:41PM
FCPS Highlights Changes for 2014-15 School Year
An estimated 186,785 students will begin the 2014-15 school year on Tuesday, September 2, in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the nation’s 10th largest school system. When the first bell rings, a number of changes will be in effect that will impact students and parents. They include:
New Elementary School
To alleviate overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, a new elementary school, Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, will open at 6245 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. Bailey’s Upper is located in a former five-story office building that has been converted to a vertical design school, and will house students in grades 3-5. Principal Marie Lemmon will oversee operations at both schools.
Changes to the Standard School Year Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board voted to end elementary early release Mondays beginning with the 2014-15 school year, providing a uniform length elementary school day for students. Additionally, FCPS is building inclement weather days into its standard calendar so that days will not need to be added to the end of the school year if fewer than 13 days are missed. The standard school year calendar also includes a two-week long winter break (December 22 through January 2, 2015), a weeklong spring break (March 30 through April 3) and the following student holidays (in addition to federal holidays): September 29, November 3, November 4, January 30, February 2, March 16, April 6, and April 17. Students will be released two hours early on November 26, December 19, and June 19.
New Prices for School Food
For the first time since 2009, FCPS is raising the price of its breakfast and lunch meals. In elementary schools, breakfast will cost $1.75 and lunch will cost $2.90 (up from $1.50 and $2.65, respectively). In middle and high schools, breakfast will cost $1.75 and lunch will cost $3.00 (up from $1.50 and $2.75, respectively). The cost of milk and soy milk will not change. Students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals will not be charged for meals. Parents can access menus online or via the FCPS app, and can manage their child’s account online or via mylunchmoney on the FCPS app.
Student Mental Health Programs
FCPS is introducing several programs designed to identify and provide support to students who may be exhibiting signs of mental health issues. They include:
· Suicide Prevention Training: Through a partnership with the Falls Church Fairfax County Community Services Board, all middle and high school teachers in FCPS will complete a suicide prevention training this fall, preparing them to recognize when a student is exhibiting signs of psychological distress, and providing tips on how to
connect the student with the appropriate support.
An additional optional course is available to help concerned adults support youth who may be struggling due to harassment or exclusion related to sexual identity, sexual orientation, or other differences.
These trainings are classroom based, but provide information and skills that can be useful in many setting, and are available online free of charge
· CrisisText: In partnership with the Community Services Board, FCPS students will now be able to use a dedicated line, CrisisText, to text concerns and receive support. Student leaders and marketing classes will be helping to spread the word to all FCPS teens about this new resource.
· Mental Health First Aid for Youth: School social workers and psychologists will complete training in August in Mental Health First Aid, learning how to help people developing a mental illness or in a crisis. Plans include training all health and physical education teachers, many of whom are also coaches, and offering trainings within school communities for teachers, parents, and teens 16 or older.
Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities
Several updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) take effect during the 2014-15 school year, including reducing the number of offenses carrying mandated consequences, extending expedited review to first-time use of marijuana that does not occur on school grounds during the school day or during school-sponsored activities, and adding electronic cigarettes and hookah pens under “tobacco products.” Additionally, there is an increased focus on school-based interventions. Details are available online and in the SR&R booklet.
Expansion of FECEP-HeadStart Program
FCPS’ Family and Early Childhood Education Program (FECEP) and HeadStart Program have expanded from 1,520 students in 2013-14 to 1,660 students for the 2014-15 school year. The program is now in 64 schools.
Energy Management and Conservation Program
All FCPS schools and facilities are embarking on a comprehensive energy conservation and management program with Cenergistic, which includes energy audits, monitoring and follow-ups, and adjustments. The program analyzes optimum practices for heating and cooling systems, ventilation rates, humidity, periods of occupancy, and transition to unoccupied buildings, and is designed to preserve comfortable environments during scheduled activities. The costs of the Cenergistic program come from the system’s existing utility budget, with savings projected to more than pay for the program.
New Organizational Structure
Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced an organizational structure change in June that realigns FCPS from eight clusters to five regions. They include Region 1, led by regional assistant superintendent Douglas Tyson, which includes the Herndon, Langley, Madison, Oakton, and South Lakes pyramids; Region 2, led by regional assistant superintendent Fabio Zuluaga, which includes the Annandale, Falls Church, McLean, Marshall, and Stuart pyramids and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; Region 3, led by regional assistant superintendent Deborah Tyler, which includes the Edison, Lee, Hayfield, Mount Vernon, and West Potomac pyramids; Region 4, led by regional assistant superintendent Angela Atwater, which includes the Centreville, Lake Braddock, Robinson, South County, and West Springfield pyramids; and Region 5, led by regional assistant superintendent Frances Ivey, which includes the Chantilly, Fairfax, Westfield, and Woodson pyramids.
Steven Lockard is the new FCPS Deputy Superintendent. Additionally, Garza named Kim Dockery as the new Chief Academic Officer; Susan Quinn as the new Chief Operating Officer; and Marty Smith as the new Chief of Staff.
An estimated 186,785 students will begin the 2014-15 school year on Tuesday, September 2, in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the nation’s 10th largest school system. When the first bell rings, a number of changes will be in effect that will impact students and parents. They include:
New Elementary School
To alleviate overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, a new elementary school, Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, will open at 6245 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. Bailey’s Upper is located in a former five-story office building that has been converted to a vertical design school, and will house students in grades 3-5. Principal Marie Lemmon will oversee operations at both schools.
Changes to the Standard School Year Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board voted to end elementary early release Mondays beginning with the 2014-15 school year, providing a uniform length elementary school day for students. Additionally, FCPS is building inclement weather days into its standard calendar so that days will not need to be added to the end of the school year if fewer than 13 days are missed. The standard school year calendar also includes a two-week long winter break (December 22 through January 2, 2015), a weeklong spring break (March 30 through April 3) and the following student holidays (in addition to federal holidays): September 29, November 3, November 4, January 30, February 2, March 16, April 6, and April 17. Students will be released two hours early on November 26, December 19, and June 19.
New Prices for School Food
For the first time since 2009, FCPS is raising the price of its breakfast and lunch meals. In elementary schools, breakfast will cost $1.75 and lunch will cost $2.90 (up from $1.50 and $2.65, respectively). In middle and high schools, breakfast will cost $1.75 and lunch will cost $3.00 (up from $1.50 and $2.75, respectively). The cost of milk and soy milk will not change. Students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals will not be charged for meals. Parents can access menus online or via the FCPS app, and can manage their child’s account online or via mylunchmoney on the FCPS app.
Student Mental Health Programs
FCPS is introducing several programs designed to identify and provide support to students who may be exhibiting signs of mental health issues. They include:
· Suicide Prevention Training: Through a partnership with the Falls Church Fairfax County Community Services Board, all middle and high school teachers in FCPS will complete a suicide prevention training this fall, preparing them to recognize when a student is exhibiting signs of psychological distress, and providing tips on how to
connect the student with the appropriate support.
An additional optional course is available to help concerned adults support youth who may be struggling due to harassment or exclusion related to sexual identity, sexual orientation, or other differences.
These trainings are classroom based, but provide information and skills that can be useful in many setting, and are available online free of charge
· CrisisText: In partnership with the Community Services Board, FCPS students will now be able to use a dedicated line, CrisisText, to text concerns and receive support. Student leaders and marketing classes will be helping to spread the word to all FCPS teens about this new resource.
· Mental Health First Aid for Youth: School social workers and psychologists will complete training in August in Mental Health First Aid, learning how to help people developing a mental illness or in a crisis. Plans include training all health and physical education teachers, many of whom are also coaches, and offering trainings within school communities for teachers, parents, and teens 16 or older.
Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities
Several updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) take effect during the 2014-15 school year, including reducing the number of offenses carrying mandated consequences, extending expedited review to first-time use of marijuana that does not occur on school grounds during the school day or during school-sponsored activities, and adding electronic cigarettes and hookah pens under “tobacco products.” Additionally, there is an increased focus on school-based interventions. Details are available online and in the SR&R booklet.
Expansion of FECEP-HeadStart Program
FCPS’ Family and Early Childhood Education Program (FECEP) and HeadStart Program have expanded from 1,520 students in 2013-14 to 1,660 students for the 2014-15 school year. The program is now in 64 schools.
Energy Management and Conservation Program
All FCPS schools and facilities are embarking on a comprehensive energy conservation and management program with Cenergistic, which includes energy audits, monitoring and follow-ups, and adjustments. The program analyzes optimum practices for heating and cooling systems, ventilation rates, humidity, periods of occupancy, and transition to unoccupied buildings, and is designed to preserve comfortable environments during scheduled activities. The costs of the Cenergistic program come from the system’s existing utility budget, with savings projected to more than pay for the program.
New Organizational Structure
Superintendent Karen K. Garza announced an organizational structure change in June that realigns FCPS from eight clusters to five regions. They include Region 1, led by regional assistant superintendent Douglas Tyson, which includes the Herndon, Langley, Madison, Oakton, and South Lakes pyramids; Region 2, led by regional assistant superintendent Fabio Zuluaga, which includes the Annandale, Falls Church, McLean, Marshall, and Stuart pyramids and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; Region 3, led by regional assistant superintendent Deborah Tyler, which includes the Edison, Lee, Hayfield, Mount Vernon, and West Potomac pyramids; Region 4, led by regional assistant superintendent Angela Atwater, which includes the Centreville, Lake Braddock, Robinson, South County, and West Springfield pyramids; and Region 5, led by regional assistant superintendent Frances Ivey, which includes the Chantilly, Fairfax, Westfield, and Woodson pyramids.
Steven Lockard is the new FCPS Deputy Superintendent. Additionally, Garza named Kim Dockery as the new Chief Academic Officer; Susan Quinn as the new Chief Operating Officer; and Marty Smith as the new Chief of Staff.