The LCPS Letter
LCPS will host Parent Information Nights for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at various locations across the county. The DLI program gives native English and Spanish-speaking students the chance to develop strong skills in both languages while achieving academic success. Students learn to read, write, and communicate effectively in English and Spanish, while their primary language continues to grow. The program helps students become bilingual, biliterate, and culturally competent. Parents and guardians with incoming kindergarteners and /or rising first-grade families interested in the DLI program should attend one of the upcoming in-person meetings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For dates, times and locations, visit www.lcps.org/DLI or see these flyers: Information Night Flyer (Spanish) or Information Night Flyer (English).
One of the many valuable resources that LCPS provides is the Office of the Ombuds. Established in August 2022, the Ombuds serves students, families, employees and community members as a designated neutral resource to help navigate concerns or issues within LCPS. The Ombuds follows the four fundamental principles established under the International Ombuds Association standards of practice when supporting constituents as they advocate for fairness, equity and consistency. These principles include independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Ombuds shared the second annual report with the School Board, and Thursday, Oct. 10, was Ombuds Day, with the theme “Ombuds: Here to Hear You.” Visit the Office of the Ombuds webpage to learn more about the office and how to contact the Ombuds.
LCPS is hosting a fentanyl awareness event at Potomac Falls High School on Nov. 14, 7-8:30 p.m. This event will provide parents/guardians with tips for talking to their students about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills and what to do in a drug-related emergency. The awareness event will include a panel discussion -- including community members who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning -- that will provide guidance to help you keep your loved ones safe. The Office of Student Mental Health Services is coordinating this event.
One of the ways Loudoun Education Foundation supports LCPS is by providing food-insecure students with weekend meal bags and stocking food pantries through its Fueled program. LEF reports that students' need for weekend meals is growing. The Fueled program has seen a 35 percent increase in demand for weekend meal bags over the past year. We could use your help. Consider donating funds or holding a food drive to help LEF's Fueled program meet the needs of nearly 2,000 students each week. Learn how you can help at loudouneducationfoundation.org/fueled.
LCPS has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to provide parents/guardians with access to its Mental Health Series platform, which offers helpful tools to benefit children, strengthen families, and contribute to a thriving community. Here’s how it can help you:
Ask a Therapist Live: Once a month, you can connect with a licensed family therapist to get real-time answers to your questions, all from the comfort of your home.
Live Webinars: Join interactive webinars with hundreds of sessions available annually, including 16 topics each month. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, with anonymous participation for a safe and comfortable experience.
On-Demand Resources: Access pre-recorded sessions, insightful articles, and actionable steps at your convenience—anytime, anywhere.
You can start by visiting the Parent Guidance Mental Health Series website to explore available resources. You’ll have instant access to the full catalog of support materials, available whenever and wherever you need them. Read more about the Parent Guidance Mental Health Series.
The inaugural year of the Virginia SUN Bucks program, which provided eligible families with a one-time $120 sum per child to purchase fresh and nutritious food during the summer, reached more than 700,000 children across Virginia. While this program is closed for the year, it will relaunch in 2025. For questions about food assistance or applications for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, please visit www.commonhelp.virginia.gov or call 855-635-4370. Additional food resources that may be able to assist families with their food and nutrition needs can be found online at Food Connections – Virginia Department of Social Services.