I hope you are having a wonderful last couple of weeks of the summer break. Today, for the first time in 17 months, nearly all of our staff are back at school preparing for the start of our new school year on August 30th. I have a couple of quick new notes and some important reminders for this last Summer In Central Office newsletter.
BACK TO SCHOOL TOWN HALL MONDAY, August, 23rd 7 pm - Corrected date from the last newsletter
I will be holding a Back to School Town Hall meeting this coming Monday evening, August 23rd, at 7 pm on https://www.youtube.com/fccpsorg. If you have questions you would like me to address during the Town Hall, please send them to Reopening@fccps.org. Please know that I am planning a comprehensive presentation that will include a lot of information on COVID (mitigation, quarantining, masking, contact tracing, etc..), lunch, busing, walking, and driving routes to the secondary school site, and our theme of Roots, Resilience, and Renewal.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
As part of our Renewal in FCCPS, we have recently kicked off a process to develop a strategic plan to identify and implement key instructional priorities, drive practice across our schools, and represent our community. This process will take us through four phases of designing a strategic plan that culminates with the launch of our new strategic plan in the Spring of 2022. The strategic planning process is as critical as the actual plan. We strongly believe that the way we engage in creating a strategic plan is as important as what goes into the actual strategic plan. There will be more information in the coming weeks with ways to engage with the process, and to be clear...this process includes YOU! In the coming weeks, we will be engaging with the entire Falls Church City Public Schools community to assess the school division’s strengths and capabilities while identifying growth opportunities for the future. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities to share your thoughts, and we look forward to your participation in the creation of our next strategic plan. We are finalizing a schedule of meetings and community forums that we will share broadly in the coming days and on our website at: www.fccps.org/StrategicPlan.
SECONDARY CAMPUS BUS ROUTES
We are currently reviewing the bus routes for Meridian and Mary Ellen Henderson. We had hoped to have the bus routes for all students out this week. The Elementary will come out as planned, but there will be a slight delay in the secondary campus bus schedules. We appreciate your patience as we work through these routes in the context of pandemic planning, the construction traffic patterns at the secondary site, and a national bus driver shortage.
FINAL REMINDERS
COVID and the 2021-2022 School Year
Universal mask/face covering when indoors, regardless of vaccination status, is now in effect. (If you do not have a mask, we can provide one)
Anyone unvaccinated must wear a mask/face covering at all times inside all FCCPS properties. Masking outdoors is optional but encouraged if you are not vaccinated. If in a large group setting, in close contact, you are expected to wear a mask if unvaccinated. (Anyone eligible for vaccination who wishes to get vaccinated can email Rebecca Sharp (rsharp@fccps.org))
Please complete the Student Self-Monitoring Health Screener regarding your child before attending each day. If your child isn’t feeling well or has any symptoms of COVID, PLEASE keep them home.
Encourage and engage in hand hygiene by washing/sanitizing your hands frequently. There continue to be hand sanitizer stations located in all of our facilities.
FCCPS is committed to 3 feet of social distance when possible in classrooms, lunch areas, and on buses.
We must do as much as possible concerning mitigation to keep schools open. We all want our students to be in school full-time for the entirety of the year. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding of this decision. This is a team effort, and if we all work together, our kids thrive.
POP-UP REGISTRATION Three Pop-Up Registration dates are set with FCCPS staff available this weekend and following Monday to assist families in registering students for the 2021-22 school year! We will also provide school supplies, books, and other resources to help make back to school successful!
Please join us at one of the following pop-up community registration sites, which are open to all students in grades Pre-K-12!
Saturday, August 21 - 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Berman Park Pavilion (Ellison Street)
Sunday, August 22 - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Falls Green Apartments Clubhouse
501 Roosevelt Boulevard
Monday, August 23 - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Oak Street Elementary
601 S. Oak St.
Help us prevent the spread of COVID. Please wear a mask and remain as socially distanced as possible.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Virginia law requires that all students entering seventh grade have tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) booster immunization before the first day of school. Additionally, all new students enrolling into grades seven through twelve must also have a Tdap booster. There are also new updates for students entering Kindergarten. Please be prepared for the new school year with your student’s immunizations. Here is a link to the requirements.
SCHOOL & DAY CARE MINIMUM IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
REQUISITOS MÍNIMOS DE INMUNIZACIÓN PARA LA ESCUELA Y LA GUARDERÍA
If you need help getting an appointment with a health care provider, please contact your school’s Social Worker. You can also get your child immunized at many retail providers such as CVS and Walgreens who have provided healthcare services. Families can also access immunizations at Fairfax County Health Department Clinics as well. (Health Department Clinic Locations | Health)
That’s all for this last Summer in CO update!
Sincerely,
Peter J. Noonan Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Falls Church City Public Schools
#RootsResilianceRenewal
#BetterTogether