The LCPS Letter
Cake was the answer at the first Cake Wars event held at Trailside Middle School on Saturday, April 13. Teams from Belmont Ridge, Blue Ridge, Eagle Ridge, Stone Hill and Trailside middle schools designed, baked and decorated their cakes in their Family and Consumer Sciences classes and presented their culinary delights to a panel of judges. Over 300 attendees voted on the creativity and talent of each reality-show-worthy cake creation. Read more about the first annual Cake Wars.
LCPS is drafting a new policy to address cell phone and personal device use in schools. The goal of the policy is to establish clear guidelines for when and how students can use their devices while also promoting responsible digital citizenship among students. A draft of this policy was presented at the Student Behavior and Accountability Committee on April 22. Community feedback on this policy is being accepted until May 7. The Student Behavior and Accountability Committee will review this policy at their next scheduled meeting if you wish to follow the policy’s progress.
Based on feedback from staff, LCPS is offering a new tool for the 2024-25 school year called Lightspeed Classroom. This device management software will help teachers effectively manage classrooms. This new software provides a set of tools to keep students focused and engaged in their learning. With Lightspeed Classroom, teachers can push websites to student devices, view and blank student screens, send and receive messages and more. Currently, LCPS is piloting this solution with a small group of teachers, and we’ve heard great things. We look forward to sharing this optional tool with all teachers next school year. Please contact the Department of Digital Innovation with any questions.
Registration is open for LCPS' Early Childhood Education Learning Labs. Learning Labs are hands-on learning experiences designed for children ages 3 to 4. Learning Labs are hosted at eight LCPS high schools and are open from October 2024 through May 2025. Interested Loudoun County families can register online for the Learning Lab enrollment lottery process between May 1 and May 15. For more information about the Learning Labs, including locations, registration and enrollment timelines, visit the ECE Learning Lab webpage.
May is National Bike Month! Bike & Roll to School Day will take place on Wednesday, May 8. Bike & Roll to School Day invites participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. Reach out to your student's school for more information on how to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day. Our Safe Routes to School Coordinators Kelly Smit or Janice Jennings can also help answer questions.
Loudoun County Public Schools is partnering with Song for Charlie to present The New Drug Talk – a 30-minute film that outlines the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills – on Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at Heritage High School (520 Evergreen Mills Road SE, Leesburg). An expert panel discussion -- including testimony from family members who have lost loved ones to overdoses -- will follow the presentation. REVIVE training, which provides instruction on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone, will be provided. Participants will also receive naloxone to take home with them.
Fentanyl Safety Event: Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at Heritage High School