The LCPS Letter
LCPS has launched a new app designed to keep families connected and informed with just a tap of a finger. Now, users can conveniently access documents, news updates and emergency notifications all in one place!
This app is a must-have for students, families and staff. Download it today from the Google Play or Apple App Store. With this mobile-responsive communication tool, you can stay updated on the latest features and receive important notifications directly from your school campuses.
Why rely on social media feeds or word-of-mouth check-ins?
The LCPS website and app offer a centralized feed for all school division news, events and announcements—providing a more reliable way to stay informed than navigating multiple social media sites, pages and groups. With the new LCPS app, the district now has an interactive tool to enhance communication, promote programs and activities, keep students, parents and the community informed, and quickly send out notifications in case of emergencies.
LCPS' School Nutrition Services is hosting its FIRST food show on Friday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Independence High School. School food service vendors, community partners, and School Nutrition Services are uniting to share new and exciting recipe ideas for school menus and to offer education on health and wellness resources in the community. The food show -- titled “Fueling Futures: Taste the Change in School Nutrition!” -- will gather feedback on preferred comfort foods, culturally inclusive recipes, and delicious snacks so that School Nutrition Services can provide food students love. This event is open to the public.
Blue Ridge Middle School, Farmwell Station Middle School and Woodgrove High School have been recognized by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for including environmental literacy in their curricula through the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program. This year marks the 16th year Blue Ridge Middle has been recognized, the second year for Farmwell Station, and the first year for Woodgrove. These three schools are among 58 statewide to receive this recognition for the 2023/24 school year. Read more about these schools' recognition.
Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about the dangers of illicit drugs and the danger of taking an unknown product, like candy or snacks, from someone. Certain candies and snacks packages have been discovered that contain illicit drugs. This phenomenon is not new. However, parents and students are encouraged to be extra vigilant as the packaging of fake candy or snacks is very deceptive. Encourage your student to read candy packaging before consumption, not to consume candy if the packaging has been tampered with, and not to take candy or snacks from someone they don't know. Similarly, counterfeit pills disguised as Xanax, Percocet, oxycodone, or others may contain other dangerous substances. Emphasize to your student that they should only take medications prescribed to them by a healthcare professional and filled at a pharmacy. Learn more about what LCPS is doing to help protect students on the Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness webpage. Parents and community members are also invited to attend a Fentanyl Awareness Event; more details on the two upcoming events are below. Also, see the Drug Enforcement Agency’s One Pill Can Kill webpage for additional resources.
The risks of fentanyl and fake pills are real and terrifying. LCPS is hosting two upcoming fentanyl awareness events: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7-8:30 p.m., at Lightridge High School, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7-8:30 at Loudoun County High School. These events 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.
Sensory-Friendly College Fair
Students who would benefit from a quieter, less crowded college fair experience are invited to attend a Sensory-Friendly College Fair from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Stone Bridge. We often see up to 3,000 participants at the main college fair, so the sensory-friendly college fair is ideal for students who feel overwhelmed by large crowds. The Sensory-Friendly College Fair will have a limited capacity. Please register for the Sensory-Friendly College Fair.
Attend the SchooLinks College Application Manager webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6-7 p.m. to learn how this platform can support your senior as they apply for colleges. The College Application Manager helps students monitor the progress and requirements for each college application they submit, request application materials such as transcripts and letters of recommendation, and organize all the necessary college application materials. The webinar will be held simultaneously in both English and Spanish and can be accessed via the links below:
Get your walking shoes on, or tune up the wheels on your bike or scooter, National Walk & Roll to School Day is Wednesday, Oct. 9! Walk & Roll to School Day allows students, families and staff to celebrate the joy of active transportation while building a sense of community and school spirit! Schools are encouraged to register. Contact Kelly Smit, Safe Routes to School Coordinator to learn how your school can easily participate.
September is National Preparedness Month. Talking about natural disasters, unintended emergencies or potentially traumatic events can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to build confidence through courageous conversations. These discussions help foster resilience and prepare families to navigate difficult situations.
As Virginia enters the height of hurricane season (which runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking between mid-August and late October), it’s a good time for families to consider their emergency preparedness plans. Below are tips to help get started, including conversation strategies for families who may not be used to discussing emergency preparedness.
Include Children in Emergency Planning and Make Emergency Planning a Family Activity
- Build Emergency Kits Together: Involve kids by talking about the types of emergencies that could happen locally. Help them understand the family’s emergency plan and their role. This helps ensure everyone feels safe and prepared.
- Turn It Into a Game: Make gathering supplies for an emergency kit fun by creating a “search and find.” Make a list of necessary items and let kids help find them. Once the kit is put together, show them where it is stored so they know exactly where to find it.
- Pick a Family Meeting Spot: Choose a place where the family will meet in your home or elsewhere, if staying at home isn’t possible. Walk kids through the evacuation plan and explain why each step is important so they know what to do and feel more confident.
- Find Trusted Helpers: Discuss who can assist kids if the family isn’t together during an emergency. Write down important phone numbers so they know who to call if needed.
- Practice Helps Prepare: Regularly practice the family’s emergency plan. Encourage kids to ask questions and provide input so everyone feels ready and knows what to do.
Start the Conversation
Focus on One Topic: Rather than overwhelming everyone with too many details at once, start with a single, relevant topic. Since it’s hurricane season, this might be a good time to talk specifically about hurricanes.
Prepare Talking Points: Writing down key points before the conversation can help organize thoughts. Consider using the following reflection questions to get started:
- What’s the main focus?
- Who might we want/need to be part of the conversation?
- Where and when might the conversation take place to avoid distractions and stay focused?
- What feelings might this cause people? How might the conversation remain respectful and productive, especially if strong feelings arise?
For more information on National Preparedness Month, visit the Loudoun County Preparedness website; the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department offers suggestions on how to build an emergency kit. The County also has fire prevention and life safety resources.
**Reflect & Connect Question of the Month: If an emergency happens, it can help us to stay safe if we plan ahead and think through our action steps. Consider how planning ahead might have helped you in the past with this prompt: Think about a time when you were successful in anticipating problems or roadblocks. What contributed to your being able to do this?
Learn more about Reflect and Connect.
