Focus on FCPS

Dear FCPS Families and Staff,

It's hard to believe we’re on the brink of spring break! As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed to the public Friday, March 29 - Friday, April 5. School will be back in session on Monday, April 8. Although the school year is flying by, there will be a lot to accomplish and look forward to in April and May.

Please review the information we'll be sending home about the solar eclipse happening on April 8, when we return from spring break. We are reviewing safety procedures with students. Please join us in those efforts. If you have any questions or special requests, please let your building-level administrator know.

I also want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a wonderful and rejuvenating spring break. I hope you all take this well-deserved break to relax, rejuvenate, and engage in activities that bring you joy.

Warmest regards,

Dr. George C. Hummer

Superintendent of Schools

Second grade students at Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School presented their Famous American Projects. Not only did students design their famous Americans, but they also created circuits and coded so people could hear a recording for the students’ projects with the touch of a button. Students shared about their famous Americans as well as the process to create the talking buttons through computer science.

Sherando High School Art students and teachers recently collaborated with Apple Blossom festival leaders to create the 2nd annual, student-created, Shenandoah Apple Blossom Coloring Book. The cost of the color book is $10 and is available for purchase at the following locations:

The Apple Blossom Store in the Apple Blossom Mall (April 5)

Sherando High School Art Department

Richard's Fruit Market

Gore's Fresh Meats & Deli

Lantz's Pharmacy

Handley Library Gift Shop (limited hours)

Kimberly's Boutique

Blooming Mile & 10K Race

There will be no school for students from Friday, March 29 through Friday, April 5 for Spring Break. Students will return to school on Monday, April 8. Please note that administrative offices and all school offices will be closed to the public during Spring Break.

Frederick County Public Schools is holding kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year during the month of March. All children who will be five years of age on or before September 30, 2024, must register for kindergarten. Families should contact the registrar at the school the child will attend to complete the registration process electronically or to make an appointment to complete the process at the school. Visit https://bit.ly/KGenrollment for additional information.

Preliminary applications to participate in Frederick County Public Schools 2024-25 Preschool Program will be accepted from March 4-29. The program will serve up to 72 selected four-year-olds residing in the Apple Pie Ridge, Evendale, Gainesboro, Indian Hollow, Jordan Springs, Middletown, Redbud Run and Stonewall elementary school attendance zones. Families who would like their child to be considered for admission into the preschool program must submit a preliminary application online during the application period. The application link is available on the FCPS website.

All school zone speed cameras within Winchester City limits are now active. Tickets will be issued for anyone going 10 mph or more over the school zone speed limit.

The Virginia Assessment Parent Portal provides you with access to your student’s Virginia Assessment Program test results. You should have received a letter from FCPS with a student-specific claim code to access your student’s test results. The letter is also available in your student’s “Backpack” in Infinite Campus. The claim code you received provides access to specific results. Further state testing/assessments will generate a new claim code for access to those results. To get started, click “Sign Up” at the bottom of the login screen to create your account.

Martin’s has selected Bright Futures as the recipient of its Round Up Campaign. When you round up your purchase at Martin’s now through March 31, your donation will help Bright Futures provide weekend food packs for the more than 1,400 food-insecure students at Winchester City and Frederick County public schools.

Middle school and high school students and their families are invited to attend Academy Day 2024 on Saturday, April 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Randolph-Macon College Center for the Performing Arts, Blackwell Auditorium at 205 Henry Street, Ashland, VA 23005. Academy Day provides a comprehensive overview of the United States service academies and their admission processes. Students will be able to meet with officials from all five academies as well as representatives from other agencies. To ensure you receive an invitation and registration link for the event, please email academy_noms@warner.senate.gov. For more information on the Academy Nomination Process, please visit www.warner.senate.gov.

There are various ways you can stay connected with news and events happening at Frederick County Public Schools. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

Every month, the School Board recognizes the outstanding achievements of our teachers and staff. Please help us recognize the great work of our teachers and staff by nominating them for recognition at an upcoming School Board Meeting. Learn more.

Dr. Frost's third grade class at Indian Hollow Elementary School participated in the Design an Ad project for the Winchester Star. The students each used the advertising strategies that they learned in class like bandwagon, association and repetition. They all worked really hard to create an ad for SOS Repair. One student's ad was chosen and will be in the Winchester Star for the month of April starting on April 2. Be on the lookout for their advertisement!

In Ms. Smith's Millbrook High School classroom this week, incubated eggs have started to hatch. So far, 26 chicks have hatched and are growing! The eggs, incubator and brooder were all brought in by Ms. Daily who is a special education teacher at Millbrook. Students were able to candle the eggs to look inside and observe development of the chicks along the way. The chicks will stay here at school until spring break, when they will accompany Ms. Daily back home to her farm.

This edition of Focus on Learning showcases elementary students across the division learning early literacy skills. In classrooms, students are engaging with this instruction through multisensory techniques. In this video students learn heart words, letter sounds and how to segment, blend, and manipulate sounds to learn new words. These techniques are a few ways the division is aligning instruction to science-based reading research. Families can find resources and suggestions for creating a literacy-rich home at https://literacy.virginia.edu/families.

March is National Music in our Schools Month. Thank you to all our music teachers and band directors who provide music education to our students.

March is National Youth Art Month. Thank you to all our art teachers who provide our students with an opportunity to learn about and cultivate the arts.

• Friday, March 29 - Friday, April 5 - No School for Students (Spring Break) (Admin Offices and School Offices are closed to the public during Spring Break)
  
• Thursday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m. - Finance Committee Meeting Budget Work Session
• Monday, April 15 - No School for Students (Unencumbered Planning Day)
• Tuesday, April 16 at 6:00 p.m. - School Board Meeting