Dedicated James Monroe Senior Alivia Teri was recently chosen to serve as a Student Ambassador for Virginia's Environment (SAVE) during the 2024-25 school year. She was formally recognized at the October School Board Meeting, where her commitment to environmental advocacy and community service was celebrated.

As a SAVE Ambassador, Alivia will work to promote environmental awareness and engage students in conservation efforts across Virginia. When asked how this role fits into her future plans, Alivia shared, “I love serving my community. Being a SAVE Ambassador will help me gain leadership and organizational skills. When I go to college, I plan on applying what I learn through the SAVE program to new service opportunities.”

Alivia’s enthusiasm for the environment is clear in her goals for the program. “As an ambassador, I want to encourage others to get involved in protecting our environment,” she explained. “Part of the SAVE program requires that I share information about how we can make a difference. I plan on inviting others to learn about what we can do to keep Virginia beautiful.”

Alivia also highlighted ways her fellow students can contribute to environmental efforts, from participating in litter clean-ups to educating themselves on topics like invasive species and waterway protection. “In Fredericksburg, we are fortunate to have some amazing community partners like Friends of the Rappahannock and Tree Fredericksburg,” she noted. “There are always opportunities available for students to get involved.”

We’re thrilled to see Alivia bring her vision for a greener future to life through the SAVE program. Congratulations, Alivia, on this achievement and for your dedication to making a positive impact in our community and beyond!

Fredericksburg City Public Schools celebrated a historic milestone with its inaugural class of the A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School (ALHGS) Wednesday. Each student was individually recognized and received an ALHGS sweatshirt and a swag bag from Germanna Community College, commemorating this exciting step in their academic journey. The celebration featured inspiring words from Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson, Germanna's Vice President of Student Services and Equity Advancement, Dr. Michael Robinson, Director of the A. Linwood Holton Governor's School, and FCPS Superintendent Dr. Marci Catlett. School Board member Molly McFadden also attended, personally congratulating each student on their accomplishments. This special event honored the students' hard work and marked the start of exciting new opportunities. Congratulations to the new JM class of ALHGS—you make us proud!

Last Wednesday, October 23, FCPS families gathered outside Lafayette Elementary School for an evening of spookiness and sweet treats. We want to extend a big thank you to the staff and families who made this spook-tacular event possible!

We’re excited to recognize Madison for her exceptional contributions and achievements! She has shown remarkable dedication through her involvement in various activities, including the UNICEF Club, French Club, and as a manager for the volleyball team. Madison’s passion for helping others shines in her volunteer work at the Pollinating Garden and the local nursing home. In addition to her extracurriculars, Madison excels academically, earning the Algebra Award for her hard work and determination. As she looks ahead to her future at Louisiana State University, where she’ll pursue a degree in Nursing, we’re confident that Madison will continue to make a positive impact. Congratulations, Madison! Keep shining brightly!

Today, Ms. Rahn’s 6th grade Language Arts class kicked off their first book club centered on The One and Only Ivan, diving into its themes and characters through engaging discussions. Students tackled three thought-provoking questions, discussing their ideas in small groups before choosing a question to respond to individually, promoting collaboration and critical thinking. To make the experience even sweeter, Ms. Rahn provided cookies for everyone. Let's send a big shout-out to our 6th graders for their hard work! Go, Tigers!

James Monroe High School (JMHS) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is proud to announce that our Key Club has been highlighted in a recent article by Serve Virginia, showcasing the outstanding community service efforts of our students.

Since the fall of 2016, JMHS students have actively participated in Ceili Leahy Day of Service events, which have become a beloved tradition. This year, our students continued to exemplify their commitment to service on the 9/11 Day of Remembrance. With 46 student volunteers, they collaborated with the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank to decorate over 200 cardboard boxes for the Food Bank’s Emergency Food Assistance Program, ensuring that essential food reaches those facing hunger in our community.

The article not only celebrates our students’ contributions but also emphasizes the spirit of service and dedication that the JMHS Key Club embodies. We invite you to read the full article and join us in recognizing our students for their hard work and commitment to making a difference.

Please join us tonight, Monday, October 28, for the October Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meeting at the Lafayette Elementary School from 5 to 6:30 PM.

Can't make it tonight? Join us at one of our other upcoming meetings:

• December 12, 2024 (VIRTUAL)
• February 13, 2025 (VIRTUAL)
• April 10, 2025 (IN PERSON)

Please be advised that construction on Cowan Boulevard continues to impact some of our bus routes for Hugh Mercer and James Monroe.

Impacted Bus Routes:

• James Monroe: Bus Y and Bus J
• Hugh Mercer: Bus T (times affected only) and Bus M (times affected only)

We advise that parents anticipate possible delays and check our Parent/Family Resources hub for updates regarding the affected routes. All Fredericksburg residents are encouraged to visit the City's website for updated information and subscribe to Public Works Newsflash to receive updates about this project by text and email. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the safety and efficiency of our transportation.

We're pleased to share the proposed school zoning map for Fredericksburg City Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year, presented to the School Board on September 9, 2024. While the map is still under consideration, we recognize that it may prompt questions and concerns from our community. We encourage you to explore the proposed changes and reach out with any feedback. Your input is invaluable as we work together to support our students and families—we're committed to ensuring that every student feels at home in their new school environment.

The survey will remain open until Thursday, October 31, at 4pm.

Downtown local favorite Ristorante Renatos has shared that they will be offering warm meals on Thanksgiving Day again this year for anyone who needs one. They can deliver it to you, or you can pick it up. Meals include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, a roll, stuffing, a beverage, and a dessert. We are incredibly fortunate to have this wonderful community partner looking out for our Fredericksburg families.

Ristorante Renatos

422 William Street

Fredericksburg VA, 22401

(540) 371-8228

Mary Washington Healthcare and the Rappahannock Area Healthcare District encourage those who live in the Fredericksburg area to complete their survey and make your voice heard!

Teacher grants offer educators the opportunity to support their students through creative and innovative means. Grants can be used to support new classroom projects, methods, and technology with the goal of helping our students excel. The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, The Fredericksburg Education Foundation, and The Rappahannock Rotary Education Foundation are currently accepting applications for their 2024-25 teacher grants.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) is pleased to announce the launch of a new SpeakUp for Safety tipline for students in Grades 6-12.

• This resource allows students to report confidentially concerns of bullying, threats, and other safety concerns via email, text, and phone call.
• A monthly reminder will be emailed to students in Grades 6-12, including the phone number as well as more information on how the tipline works.
• For questions, please contact FCPS Safety Coordinator Angie Roenke.

As always, if you have an urgent concern, you can call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you witness or have information about a crime or potential crime, you can text "FPD Tip" to 847-411 to send an anonymous tip to Fredericksburg Police.

There are a number of upcoming parent training opportunities for families provided by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

1. Transition University: October 10 - December 4, 2024: Transition University is a free five-session self-paced online series to help parents/guardians navigate the transition process for their school-aged child and prepare for the adult world. The course is designed for parents/caregivers of elementary, middle, and high school students who receive special education services, but the course is open to everyone.

2. IEP University: November 4 - November 25, 2024: PEATC, in collaboration with VDOE, has developed IEP University (IEPU) to help provide families and professionals with accurate and useful information about IEP development and meetings. IEPU is a self-paced online training with easy-to-understand guidance on the special education process, the IEP document, and ways to develop collaborative relationships among schools and families. IEPU will target practical strategies aimed at helping future IEP meetings be more positive, productive, and collaborative for everyone involved. This training will be presented virtually and will include webinars, discussion boards, resources, and supplementary materials. It will take approximately six hours and can be accessed anytime during the three-week time frame indicated below. A certificate of completion will be provided for all who complete the training.

3. Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Online Self-Paced Training: November 4 - November 25, 2024: PEATC, in collaboration with the VDOE, offers this self-paced SEAC training aimed at helping SEAC members understand the role of the local Special Education Advisory Committee in Virginia and build a more efficient and effective advisory committee. The online training will take approximately four hours, and a certificate of completion will be provided for all complete the training.

4. Building Strong Parent Advocates: November 4 - November 25, 2024: The Building Strong Parent Advocates training provides information to help families build a solid foundation to understand the special education process while empowering them to be their child's best advocate. The online training will take approximately six hours, and can be accessed anytime from November 4 through November 25, 2024.

Every October, we take time to celebrate National Principals Month in honor of the incredible school principals whose leadership, passion, and unwavering dedication make our schools exceptional places to learn. As we near the end of the month, we invite you to take a few moments this week to share some kind words or send a thank-you note to your principal. Let’s show our appreciation for all they do to support, uplift, and inspire our students every day!

• Volleyball (JV) vs Caroline — 5 PM @ Caroline High School
• Volleyball (Varsity) vs. Caroline — 6:30 PM @ Caroline High School
• Field Hockey (Varsity) Regional Tournament vs. Brentsville — 6 PM @ Maury Stadium

• Cross Country (Boys Varsity) Region Quarterfinal — 10 AM @ Spotsylvania High School
• Football & Cheer (JV) vs. Culpeper County — 6 PM @ Culpeper County High School

• Football & Cheer (Varsity) vs. Culpeper County — 7 PM @ Maury Stadium

• Theatre Fall: Varsity Regional Tournament vs. Kettle Run — 11 AM @ Kettle Run High School

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