The LCPS Letter
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
Early registration for County After-School Activities (CASA), and Youth After School (YAS) begins soon. Both programs are operated by Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS). From dismissal until 6 p.m., CASA activities focus on recreation and developing social and physical skills. YAS provides structured activities from the end of the school day until 6:15 p.m. every day at select schools. Early registration (for families with a student participating in CASA, CASA Academy, or YAS or their sibling and all PRCS CARES families) begins on Tuesday, April 30, at 8:30 a.m. Registration for all other families starts on Tuesday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. Learn more about CASA and YAS and how to register.
The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Services helps develop partnerships to bridge the food insecurity gap among school-aged children. SNAP in Schools is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of eligible families so they can purchase healthy food. SNAP benefits are calculated based on household size, income, expenses and other nonfinancial criteria. SNAP is not necessarily based on employment status; employed individuals may be eligible. Families and individuals who want to know if they are eligible for SNAP or would like to learn more are encouraged to visit the CommonHelp website.
There is just one Community Listening Session remaining. This session is an opportunity to share your hopes and concerns about LCPS with Superintendent Aaron Spence. The final listening session of this series is:
- Thursday, April 18 -- TONIGHT! -- at Loudoun County High School
Safe disposal of medications is a powerful step toward preventing substance misuse, especially opioid misuse, among children and teenagers. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 27, provides an opportunity to remove unneeded medications from your home and help prevent medication misuse. On Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Leesburg Police Department will be hosting a collection site at 65 Plaza Street NE, Leesburg where residents can drop off their expired, unused, or unwanted prescription medications. Other locations, including year-round collection sites, can be found on the DEA’s Take Back Day webpage. DEA Take Back Day is also an opportunity to talk with your child about medication safety. Parents are encouraged to review SAMHSA’s guide to Talking with Your Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse. Visit The U.S. Food & Drug Administration website for more information on proper disposal of unused medications.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) announces the return of JumpStart2NOVA. This program offers tuition-free summer college courses to high school seniors who are considering attending NOVA and who will be graduating this spring. The application for JumpStart2NOVA is now open and closes on Friday, May 10. Courses begin on Monday, June 3 and end on Monday, August 12. Interested students and their families are invited to attend an information session on Tuesday, April 30, 6 to 7 p.m. Please register in advance.
The Loudoun County Environmental Commission is hosting an Energy and Environment Forum on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Academies of Loudoun. The event will feature breakout sessions with opportunities to learn about ongoing activities in the areas of energy and environment. It will also feature listening sessions to provide feedback on what environmental and sustainable focuses are important in Loudoun County. For more information, see the Loudoun Energy and Environment Forum webpage.
