FCPS Connect
Thursday, October 24
Dr. Dyson's Message: Lending a Helping Hand
Earlier this year, on an early dismissal day, Hillcrest Elementary staff discovered a parent who desperately needed support. Standing next to him was a Hillcrest Elementary student shouting, “my sister needs help.”
The sister, an infant, had a blocked airway.
Hillcrest staff immediately stepped into action. One staff member took the child in her arms and began administering life-saving efforts. She was quickly joined by Hillcrest staff trained in CPR.
Thanks to their efforts, the baby was stabilized by the time first responders arrived. One Hillcrest staff member even rode with the infant’s father to the hospital to provide pivotal translation services.
I am happy to report that the baby is doing just fine – thanks to the heroic work of Katie Erickson, Lyanita Layer, and Monica Martinez. They will be recognized at the November 6 Board of Education of Frederick County meeting for their exemplary service to the Hillcrest community.
Their heroism and quick thinking exemplify the true spirit of FCPS employees. They arrive at work every day asking, and wondering, “how can I help today?” Their commitment to our school communities and families helps make our entire community a better place.
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Dyson
AFA Open House
The Academy for the Fine Arts Open House will take place tonight from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The Academy for the Fine Arts is the college and career pathway program for FCPS students in grades 10-12 offering focus areas in art, dance, musical theatre, and theatre.
CTC to Hold Open House
The FCPS Career and Technology Center students and staff can't wait to welcome the community to their annual open house tonight! It's always a must-see event!
Get ready to learn more about 26 career programs available for FCPS students in Grades 10-12. Many offer college credits, dual enrollment, and industry certification and licenses.
The event will take place this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the CTC.
BOE Student Member Nominations Open
High school sophomores and juniors who currently attend Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) may apply to serve as the 2025-2026 Student Member of the Board of Education. The nomination deadline is 4:00 p.m., Friday, November 1 for the term beginning in July 2025.
The role of the student member is to bring a student viewpoint to the Board of Education (BOE) and represent a multitude of educational issues, with public meetings held two evenings per month. The function is not to represent any particular special-interest group of students on an issue, but rather to respect the diversity of students’ points of view, to improve communication between the student body, staff and BOE members, and to inform students of policies and decisions executed by the BOE.
Interested sophomores and juniors should contact their Student Government Association (SGA) advisors for a nomination packet or visit https://www.fcps.org/boe/student-board-member-election.
Marching Band Festival
Our Exposure blog highlights the 2024 Marching Band Festival at Tuscarora High School featuring all FCPS High School marching bands and the Royal Marching Dukes from James Madison University. Check it out here!
Parents Needed for Textbook Committee
Frederick County Public Schools is seeking parents to serve on the textbook committee for high school English courses. The Committee, which consists of parents, teachers, school administrators, and central office leaders, reviews multiple textbooks and recommends a textbook for adoption by the district. Over the course of at least four meetings, the Committee will receive textbook information and access, review the evaluation rubric, work independently to review each text, then come together as a committee to share findings and recommendations. If interested, please submit this form no later than 4:00 p.m., October 29, 2024. FCPS staff will contact those interested in no later than October 31. Meeting dates are:
November 4, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Board Room
November 12, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, virtual (link will be provided on 11/4)
November 19, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Board Room
December 3, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, Board Room
December 10, 4:00 -6:00, Board Room
Please contact Elizabeth Matheny, Curriculum Specialist, English Language Arts at Elizabeth.Matheny@fcps.org if you have any questions.
Winter Sports Season
High School winter sports begin Friday, November 15!
All sport physicals must be dated April 1, 2024 or after and must be completed prior to Friday, November 15.
Online registration must be completed prior to Friday, November 15.
Once each athletic team is chosen and the roster is finalized, parents will receive an email to let them know when they may go online and pay the participation fee via School Cash Online, the preferred method of payment.
Note to parents: You will not be able to pay online until your student athlete is selected for the team and the roster has been finalized.
Follow @FCPSAthletics on X and visit www.fcps.org/athletics for additional information and updates.
Bus Driver Shortage
Like many school districts across the country, FCPS is facing a shortage of bus drivers. This shortage means that about 20 or more bus routes are being covered by a small number of substitute drivers, Transportation office staff, or other drivers who are filling in. While we have managed to cover these routes, it has affected pickup and drop-off times for students.
Using substitutes and office staff can cause delays, in addition to usual factors like traffic. To keep you informed about any delays, our Transportation department updates a bus status board, which you can find at this LINK and on the “Transportation” page of our website, www.fcps.org. This board shows the most current information on bus times. If a bus route is canceled due to staff shortages, we will send notifications, and you can also check the status board for updates.
We are actively looking for more bus drivers. If you or someone you know is interested, please apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/fcps/OnlineApp/. Your help in spreading the word is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Calendar Correction
We sincerely apologize for the oversight in the print calendar handbook shared with the community, which contained errors regarding holiday dates in 2025. We have corrected these inaccuracies in the online calendar handbook. We would like to provide further clarity here:
Ramadan begins on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Eidul-Fitr begins on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Eidul-Adha begins on Friday, June 6, 2025.
We have reached out to the Islamic Center of Frederick to ensure that these dates are accurately reflected in future years.
2024 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
FCPS will be participating in the 2024 Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey (YRBS/YTS).
FCPS information and resources about the YRBS/YTS are available on the website.
You can also find more information at the websites listed below:
The survey is designed to protect your child’s privacy. It is anonymous, and students will not enter any identifiable information. Also, no school or student will ever be mentioned by name in a report of the results.
Parents/guardians can opt their student out of the survey by completing this form.
If your student is selected to participate in the survey, you will receive another opt-out form. If you do not complete either opt out opportunity and your student is selected, your student will participate in the 2024 YRBS/YTS.
Check it out! FCPS Informando
Did you know FCPS has a Facebook page for Spanish speaking community members? FCPS Informando has important updates for families. We encourage our community to check it out!
¿Sabía que FCPS tiene una página de Facebook para miembros de la comunidad de habla hispana? FCPS Informando tiene actualizaciones importantes para las familias. ¡Animamos a nuestra comunidad a comprobarlo!
Calendar update
Contact us
Email: communications@fcps.org
Website: www.fcps.org
Location: 191 South East Street, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (301)644-5000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fcpsmaryland
Twitter: @FCPSMaryland