Focus on FCPS

Winter Break begins this week. There will be no school for students from Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 2. All school offices and the school division's administrative offices will be closed from December 22 through January 1. Tuesday, January 2 is an unencumbered planning day for staff. Students will return to school on Wednesday, January 3.

Dr. Hummer is holding Community Conversations with the Superintendent on Thursday, January 4 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Orchard View Elementary School. This is an opportunity for parents, staff and community members to meet with Dr. Hummer and ask questions or provide feedback on a variety of topics.

The School Board adopted the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year calendars at their meeting on December 12. The calendars were developed with a focus on instruction and learning time for students and align with community and staff feedback.

Three newly-elected Frederick County School Board Members were sworn into office on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Milton F. Wright Board meeting room at the Frederick County Public Schools Administration Building in Winchester. Newly-elected Board Member Dianna Klein (Member at Large) and Deputy Clerk Tracy Ritenour will be sworn in at a later date.

The Virginia Department of Education has approved the FCPS ALL In VA spending plan. Approximately 70% of the ALL In VA funding will be used to provide tutoring to students in grades 3-8 to help recover learning opportunities lost during the pandemic.

As temperatures begin to drop please remember to dress your students accordingly. We also wanted to take the opportunity to remind you about inclement weather procedures. When possible, the decision to delay or close will be made the night before. If that is not possible, a decision will be made in the morning prior to 6:00 a.m. and calls, emails, text messages and an app notification will be sent out through the Rapid Communication System. In addition, the message will be posted on Facebook, the division and all school websites, and various television and radio stations.

Students at Indian Hollow Elementary School participated in a holiday-themed project-based learning (PBL) activity. Students created and built gingerbread houses, designed neighborhoods and marketed their homes by creating sales flyers. Parents were invited to see the completed projects.

Nearly 100 students were recognized at last week’s School Board Meeting for outstanding achievement in sports, state and national FFA competitions, and fine arts. In addition, Ms. Patricia Black was recognized at a Lou Ruspi Jr. Foundation (LRJ) event for Exemplary School Leadership Recognizing Dedication to Mental Wellness. The award states, “Honoring three years of commitment and dedication, ensuring her students and school community thrive through interactive mental health and wellness education programs and Initiatives.” Team coaches and club sponsors were also recognized as their students received awards. Bus Driver Frank Ramsey and several students from his bus were presented with an honorary award for assisting a student on their bus.

• Winter Break - No School for Students from December 22 through January 2 - Students return to school on Wednesday, January 3 (Admin and school offices closed December 22 through January 1)
  

• Community Conversations with the Superintendent - Thursday, January 4 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Orchard View Elementary School