FCPS This Week - February 26, 2025

By Office of Communications
FCPS News
February 26, 2025

A very good boy is being groomed by veterinary science students at Edison Academy.

📖 Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third Grade

The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan .

Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation.

The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time.

Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that emphasized the science of reading. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading, and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards.

Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students’ reading .

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget .

Budget Status and Next Steps

The School Board adopted the FY 2026 Advertised Budget at its meeting on February 20. They participated in a joint meeting with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date and learn about opportunities to provide feedback to Fairfax County and FCPS.

🚀 Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students

Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Summer Camps

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps (IFTA) will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10 , and ends Friday, June 6 .

Tech Adventure Camp is a week-long exploratory camp for current K-5 students. It offers a range of activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), as well as in culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing. CTE Summer Academy is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch our video about CTE camps .

IFTA is a two- or three-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, Health and Physical Education 9 (graduation requirement), music, and theater. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.

🎓 Earn Credit Toward Graduation This Summer

Eligible middle and high school students can take advantage of the opportunity to earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program . Registration is open. Students must register by Friday, June 6 . Mathematics, health and physical education, career and technical education, English, science, social studies, and world language courses are available.

Summer is a great time for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement. During the self-directed course, students work independently to complete the requirements. The course is available between Monday, June 23, and Friday, July 25 . Registration is open. Students must register by Friday, May 23 . Learn more about the Self-Directed Economics and Finance course.

Jumpstarting Their Future

At the February 20 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid shared information on CTE programs . In 2023-24, FCPS students earned more than 14,000 credentials through CTE. Watch Dr. Reid’s presentation and learn more about the programs available through FCPS CTE .

✨ The availability of, accessibility to, and student enrollment in coursework in the arts, STEAM, career and technical education, trades, and technology are part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity.

📖 The Strategic Plan in Action at Kings Park Elementary

In her latest Weekly Reflections , Dr. Reid shared how she saw the Strategic Plan being implemented at Kings Park Elementary School this week. During her visit to the school, a team of second grade teachers was planning their next lesson in Benchmark Advance, the new language arts curriculum for students in kindergarten to sixth grade. Read more about her visit — and the rest of her week — in Weekly Reflections .

✨ Students reading on grade level by the end of third grade is part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.

📍 Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting: Key Takeaways and More

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met on February 21 at Gatehouse Administration Center. Visit our website to access key takeaways, the agenda, slides, and other materials that were shared at the meeting.

You may also learn about the comprehensive boundary review process and subscribe to the School Boundary Review newsletter .

🍳 Kids Cook Up Some Competition at the Culinary Challenge

Don’t miss the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge on Saturday, March 8, at 9:30 a.m., at Hayfield Secondary School ! View a live stream of teams presenting their recipes to the judges, attend a public tasting of student dishes, and watch a chef demo with two locally celebrated chefs/restraurateurs. The event is free; registration is required.

Students participating in Family and Consumer Sciences electives are invited to participate in the Culinary Challenge by forming teams and creating a delicious and healthy school meal. Meals must meet USDA requirements for school nutrition and reflect the rich cultural traditions in our school population.

Recipes will be judged by a panel of local celebrity chefs. Register and get more information, including a list of participating chefs, on the Real Food for Kids website.

🧵 From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future

On February 19, the auditorium of Carter G. Woodson High School was filled with pride, history, and celebration as students, educators, and community members gathered for a powerful Black History Month event. Named after the “Father of Black History,” Woodson High School was the perfect setting to reflect on the past while looking toward the future. Read more about the celebration and watch some of the presentations .

✨ Inclusion and a sense of belonging are part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.

🩹 Avoid the Summer Rush: Schedule Required Seventh Grade Vaccinations Today!

As required by the Code of Virginia , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
A complete series of two doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent/guardian, at the parent’s/guardian’s sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.

Please review the Virginia Department of Health information packet for more information on rising seventh grade immunization requirements.

Plan for the Future Today for Students in Special Education

Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) on Wednesday, March 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. , at Jackson Middle School to learn about planning and supports for your student’s life in and after high school.

Meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities. Learn about short- and long-term postsecondary supports, employment and postsecondary education considerations, supported decision-making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post-school success.

This event also includes speakers discussing individualized education program (IEP) transition planning, special education services, and postsecondary options for younger students as they navigate FCPS and plan for their future. A question and answer session will follow. Register in advance .

✨ Preparing students for a wide range of postsecondary options and successfully navigating their future path is part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation.

🖥️ FCPS Family Academy Offers Free Webinars and Events for Families

In March, the Family Academy will offer the following webinars and events presented by the Family Resource Center (FRC):

Click on the titles for more information or to register. Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage .

Upcoming Family Academy Events

You are an important part of your child’s education! The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child’s needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings .

✨ Fostering trusting partnerships with families is included in Pillar B of the FCPS Strategic Plan : Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships.

🗣️ Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication

Teens skip things that don’t interest them, including lectures from their parents. How do you connect with your children and really know what's going on in their lives? How can you become “unskippable”?

Effective communication can build trust and understanding, but it takes thought, planning, and effort.

The latest Healthy Minds Blog offers practical strategies to improve communication and build strong, lasting relationships:

Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don’t agree.
Ask “how” questions instead of "what" questions to get them talking about their experiences.

For more tips and techniques, read the full article on the Healthy Minds Blog , which shares information related to youth mental health and wellness. Find more tips on talking with your teen about difficult subjects like fentanyl and learn how you can Become Unskippable .

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

🏫 Happy Public Schools Week!

February 24-28 is designated as Public Schools Week — an annual week-long celebration to honor the contributions and achievements of educators and education advocates in our public schools and the communities they serve.

FCPS would not be what it is without the support of our families and community partners. Thank you for supporting this important work every day, because at FCPS, we like to think that every week is Public Schools Week!

Ramadan

Ramadan 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 can’t be made up may not take place after school. See the complete school year calendar .

Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their child’s principal regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.

Help for Residents Affected by Downsized Federal Workforce

The Fairfax County government has compiled resources for former federal employees, contractors, and anyone else affected by job loss. Services include tips on searching and preparing for a new job. Also, financial help is available for many Health and Human Service programs, taxes, and pet-related expenses.