Week of February 3
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In This Issue Black History Month Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month. Last Weeks News 🧑🏻🏫 AVID Classroom Tutor Needed
Attention families - are you looking for a flexible and part-time position at Herndon Middle School? FCPS is hiring AVID classroom tutors for the 2025 spring semester. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $20.13 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to [email protected].
Fairfax County Public Schools updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
The proposed CIP was presented to the School Board at the January 14 work session. A public hearing was also held January 14. The School Board will take action on the proposed CIP at its Thursday, February 6, meeting.
📈 Virginia’s Student Assessment Summary for FamiliesThis month, families of students who took any Standards of Learning (SOL) test between school years 2015-16 and 2023-24 will receive a Student Assessment Summary Report. The report shows a student’s state percentile ranking for each test. This allows families to see how their child ranked compared to all Virginia students who took the same test that year.
Reports are available now in SIS ParentVUE Documents. They will be distributed by schools this month to students whose families do not have ParentVUE access. Learn how to access ParentVUE.
The report is intended to help families reflect on how their child performed across all tested subjects over the years. Our schools and staff are committed to working with families to support every student to succeed at their highest potential. Learn more about student assessments in FCPS.
This Weeks News ☕️ Employment and Transition Parent Coffee
This event is for parents of students with special education services in the 7th or 8th grade.
Join us on Thursday, February 27th from 9:30-10:30AM, to meet our Herndon Middle School Employment and Transition Representative (ETR), who can help you and your family navigate the transition to high school.
Topics to be covered:
- Graduation Requirements and Options
- Self-Advocacy and Student Involvement
- Course Selection and Career Pathways
- Transitioning from Middle School to High School
- Planning for Life After High School
- High School Support Services
Interpreters will be available.
RSVP by Friday, February 21st. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Questions? Please email Aimee Conrad, Special Education Department Chair, at [email protected].
💲Proposed Budget Presented to School Board
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at the School Board meeting on Thursday, January 23. Watch a video of the presentation.
As Dr. Reid noted in her January 24 letter to families, “The budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence — not just for FCPS, but for all of us in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young people, dedicated educators and support staff, and a thriving economy.”
The proposed budget reflects the needs of and FCPS’ commitments to Fairfax County students, families, and community members. It focuses on competitive compensation, including a 7.0% salary increase for all staff to recruit and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students; investing in students who require additional support; and continuing multiyear initiatives such as inclusive preschool and safety and security updates.
Learn more on the Budget webpage.
🔢 Help Review Forthcoming K-12 Math Instructional MaterialsFCPS is considering the next K-12 math basal (instructional) materials, during a review and adoption process happening early in 2025. School Board Members can each appoint one resident to participate in this important work of reviewing and providing input to staff to guide the selection of math. If you would like to apply for appointment by School Board Hunter Mill Representative Melanie Meren, the form is here, and due by Wednesday, February 5.
For more information about this process, please see this link. Also note that the adoption process includes a 30-day public review period of identified materials, where anyone is welcome to examine potential materials and contribute input to the School Board and Superintendent.
💻 Try Online RegistrationOnline registration for the 2025-26 school year is open. Parents/caregivers may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
🏅 Advisory Committee for Students With Disabilities Seeks Nominations for First-Class AwardsFirst-Class Awards are presented each year to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students. The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate the inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education.
Nominees should model excellence in their role relative to special education, have a positive impact that benefits disabled and non-disabled students alike, and be committed to creating an inclusive environment and mindset.
Nominate an administrator, staff member, student, or community partner who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close Wednesday, February 19.
💡Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!Ombuds staff engage with FCPS employees, families, and students to offer resources and 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.
Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements between parents/caregivers and schools. They 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.
📖 Reading Opens the World Event
Fairfax County Federation of Teachers will be holding a Reading Opens the World Event at the Lorton Community Center on Saturday, February 8th from 10AM-2PM. At this event, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers will be giving away over 30,000 books to the Fairfax Community, with up to 10 books for each student and 50 books for each educator to add to their classroom library. Books are available on a first-come, first served basis, so arrive early!
For more information, please contact David Walrod at [email protected] or by calling 703-451-6840.
The leadership of Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), invites you and your student to this years Techstravaganza!
Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, they have hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Their exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and their own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, they will be holding the 21st annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 17 from 10 AM-4 PM at TJHSST.
If your student is interested, please register here! Admission is free and there will be food will be for sale.
For more information about the event please visit their website at tjpartnershipfund.org/techstravaganza/.
Resources 🤝 What Families Can Do to Fight Drug MisuseFCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.
What can families do?
- Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
- Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
- Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage.
- Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors.
- Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”
Get more information on opioid awareness.
❄️ Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/ClosingsWatch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. 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 among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform.
🧥 Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor ActivitiesWinter weather is here! As a reminder, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy time outdoors. Schools monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside for activities like recess or physical education.
View Fairfax County’s Winter Weather/Extreme Cold safety tips.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please contact our family liaison, Mrs. Salazar-Laske, at [email protected]. You may also contact 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 health care.
Activities and Athletics ⚾ Herndon Reston Youth BaseballHerndon Reston Youth Baseball is a proud member club in the Cal Ripken Baseball Organization, committed to our kids, our communities, and promoting a love of the game. We welcome ALL players with or without experience who desire to have fun and develop skills.
All division ages are determined by the players' age as of April 30 and we welcome boys and girls between the ages of 3-12 years old. We’d love you to be part of our fun community!
Majors
The majors are geared for players who can properly apply fielding, throwing, and hitting fundamentals most of the time. Development focuses on more advanced base running, pitching, and situational skills. Unique to Cal Ripken, our upper tier for our most experienced players introduces 70-foot base paths and a 50-foot pitching distance.
No other house program in Western and Northern Fairfax County offers 50-70 in house baseball!
Benefits
- A smoother transition to the larger 90-foot field
- Runners are allowed to lead off
- Stealing is permitted
- Pitchers get to work on "pitching from the stretch" -- a technique to shorten the pitching motion to give base runners less time to steal a base
- Catchers gain experience on throwing runners out at bases
- Fielders are exposed to constant changing circumstances as runners change positions
Buddy Ball (Spring Only: one hour on Sunday mornings in April and May)
Buddy Ball is a free program that pairs 5-15 year old girls and boys who have developmental or physical disabilities with high school or adult buddies to have fun, build confidence and self-esteem, and learn sportsmanship and love of the game. Practice/games combine elements of tee ball, coach pitch and kid pitch to accommodate children of varying skill levels.
If you are interested, please visit herndonbaseball.com to register!
📽️ Fairfax Public Access: 2025 Teen Summer Camps
As Fairfax County’s community pubic media station, during the summer season Fairfax Public Access offers teens interested in television studio production, post-production video editing, and radio production an outlet to learn, experience and create.
This summer they will be offering three separate camps with various dates to choose from. The TV Studio Production camp offers a chance to learn the ins and outs of creating a television show, use of the equipment, and crew roles and responsibilities. The TV Post-Production camp offers a chance to learn the process of editing video projects using Adobe Premiere. While, the Radio Production camp offers a chance to learn how to produce a radio show, use of the studio equipment, and our programming procedures.
For more information and to register, please visit Fairfax Public Access - Summer Camp Registration.
Calendar FebruaryBlack History Month
3-7 | National School Counseling Week
6 | Herndon vs. Johnson Futsal Game at Herndon MS; Doors Open at 5:30PM
14 | No Night Hawk
17 | Presidents Day (Holiday, No School)
28 | Ramadan Begins at Sundown
National School Counseling WeekFebruary 3-7 is National School Counseling Week. It highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and planning for a career. School counselors work with students in a variety of different capacities, whether it is through classroom lessons, group sessions, or individual counseling.
Learn more about the role of school counselors in FCPS.
Presidents Day (Holiday)All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for the Presidents Day holiday.
See the complete school year calendar.
RamadanRamadan begins at sundown on Friday, February 28. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school.
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their child’s school counselor regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
Helpful Links- FCPS News (ICYMI)
- Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
- School Lunch/Menu Information
- Winter Family Resources
The FCPS CARES Program 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. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
901 Locust St. Herndon, VA 20170 | Main Office: 703-904-4800
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