The LCPS Letter

This time of year, our students have the opportunity to demonstrate their growth and achievement. It is also a time full of special events, recognitions and celebrations. It is so exciting to see the incredible progress each student has made over the course of a school year.

Over the next several days we will celebrate our graduating seniors who will leave LCPS full of memories, lessons and skills that they will carry them into the future. Achieving this milestone is the result of our students’ hard work and commitment but is also made possible through the support, guidance and care of family and friends, educators and mentors. As our seniors prepare to move on, our elementary, middle and high school students prepare to move up. I hope our younger students too, like our seniors, will reflect on the many lessons they have learned and the memories of the past year while they enjoy their end-of-year celebrations. To all of you, I congratulate you on your achievements.

As we look to next year, LCPS continues to adapt and adjust to meet the needs of our students, ensuring that they are at the center of our work. We want to ensure that our students have the guidance, skills and tools they will need to succeed in life. The foundation of this effort lies with our talented and dedicated staff and our committed parents and community. To all of you, I say thank you for all you do to help ensure the success of LCPS’ mission and its students.

All the best,

Aaron Spence, Ed.D.

Superintendent

The Academies of Loudoun celebrated their 787 graduating seniors on Thursday, May 30, at Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University. Students, wearing gowns and sashes from their home schools, applauded as Academies of Loudoun Principal Dr. Tinell Priddy shared some statistics about the achievements of Academies of Loudoun seniors and offered guidance for the years to come. Keynote speaker David Mack, executive director of ManTech, encouraged the students to embrace challenges and to thank those who helped them on their path.

The LCPS CAMPUS program – College Achievement and Multicultural Program for Unique Students – held its 2024 Senior Celebration on Tuesday, June 4, at Stone Bridge High School. The event honored 151 CAMPUS seniors. Each senior, in their home school's cap and gown, received a certificate and a gold cord to wear at graduation. The event also featured a scholarship presentation from the Loudoun Laurels Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to developing future civic leaders through scholarship and mentorship. Diego Chavez of Potomac Falls High School received the Loudoun Laurels $40,000 scholarship. Chavez plans to attend George Mason University in the fall to study applied computer science. CAMPUS is an academic and college preparatory program designed to remove barriers to higher education for students who will be the first in their families to attend college.

Great news! Varsity Tutors is offering another Parent Informational Webinar on Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. Varsity Tutors will provide an overview of the many summer opportunities available for kindergarten to grade 12 students, like access to free tutoring, enrichment classes and college and career resources. All classes are English only.

Register to receive the link to attend.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqd-CqrzIqG9XEZFWW-umIxeXYyHBFaZIH

* The webinar will be recorded and posted on the LCPS website for those unable to attend.

Please visit the LCPS Tutoring website for more information, or visit the Varsity Tutors for Schools website directly.

Cases of pertussis or whooping cough are on the rise across the U.S. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current number of pertussis cases in the U.S. is three times higher than at this time last year.

Pertussis is a very contagious respiratory illness that is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The illness initially resembles a common cold with symptoms that include a runny nose, cough, and low-grade fever. One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, the cough worsens and includes bursts of uncontrollable coughing, which may be followed by a high-pitched whoop or vomiting. This disease can be severe for infants, young children and pregnant women.

To help control the spread of pertussis, families are asked to:

• Check student’s immunization records. By age six, children should receive five doses of the pertussis vaccine (as part of the DTaP vaccine). Please contact your healthcare provider to ensure your child is completely vaccinated.

• Older children and adults should receive a single booster dose of the pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap). This vaccine is required for students entering the 7th grade, and a booster is recommended every ten years.

• Monitor your child for signs of illness. Even if your child has been vaccinated against pertussis, they may still develop the disease because protection from the vaccine may decrease over time.

• Keep any child experiencing pertussis symptoms at home until they have received five days of antibiotic treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider to evaluate a child who has pertussis symptoms.

For more information about pertussis, see the CDC website.

For many students, summer vacation is a great time to relax, spend time with friends and family, take on a part-time job, or start preparing for their next chapter. For others, the absence of structure and support that school provides can make enjoying summer challenging. If you have concerns about your child during the summer months that you would like to discuss with an LCPS Student Mental Health Services team member, please contact us at SMHSLeadershipTeam@lcps.org. In your email, provide your best contact number, and someone from the Student Mental Health Services team will contact you within two business days. For mental health emergencies, please see our Crisis Mental Health Resources webpage.

LCPS also provides access to two services – ParentGuidance.org and Care Solace – that support LCPS families and staff. These services are available at no cost to LCPS families and staff and are accessible during the summer and throughout the year.

ParentGuidance.org hosts a library of videos and courses that support parents/guardians in finding answers and compassionate help to mental health, emotional or developmental challenges. ParentGuidance.org also offers free parent coaching, which pairs parents/guardians with a parenting coach and therapist-created content.

Care Solace helps students, staff, and families find mental health and substance use treatment matched to their needs. Care Solace navigates the mental health care system on your behalf to find community-based providers and secure appointments as quickly as possible with the best care possible.

The LCPS Department of Support Services is hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, June 12, at John Champe High School (41535 Sacred Mountain St., Aldie) to share information on funded, planned and proposed school capital projects. This is the third meeting the Department of Support Services has held; all meeting content is the same. More information about the capital budgets can be found on the LCPS website, including a link to comment or ask questions about planned or proposed school projects.

Do you have a child who is ready for kindergarten? Kindergarten registration is happening now for children who are five years old or who will be five on or before Sept. 30, 2024. Parents/guardians are encouraged to begin the registration process online through the pre-registration portal. Check the LCPS website to know what school your child will attend based on your address and the documents needed for registration. Once you have completed pre-registration, the school registrar will contact you to schedule a registration appointment. All enrolling students are required to be adequately immunized. Register your child for kindergarten today!

Don't forget to schedule required immunizations for your rising 7th and 12th graders. Students in grade 7 and grade 12 are required to receive the following vaccines prior to the start of school:

Required Vaccinations for All 7th-Grade Students:

• One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) given at age 7 or older
• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine, MenACWY (MenQuadfi, Menveo), given at age 10 or older

Encouraged Vaccinations for All 7th-Grade Students:

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine

Required Vaccinations for All 12th-Grade Students:

• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine, MenACWY (MenQuadfi, Menveo), given at age 16 or older

Once your student is vaccinated, please provide their school with the appropriate documentation. For more information, please see LCPS' Immunization Requirements webpage. For more general information about back-to-school immunizations for students of all ages, see this Virginia Department of Health website.

Upcoming Holidays and Events

• The last day of school is Friday, June 14. Remember that student attendance at school is important every day, all the way to the last day of school. Please ensure your student attends school every day.
  
• Wednesday, June 19 is a staff holiday.
• The first day of school for the 2024/25 school year is Thursday, Aug. 22.
• Please consult LCPS student calendars to help with your planning.
  
• 2024 graduation schedule.

If you have any comments or questions about your experience with LCPS, please fill out LCPS' Comment and Complaint Form. This form offers parents, students and Loudoun County residents the opportunity to provide input, comments, suggestions and complaints to school officials. Once the form is submitted, it will be routed to the appropriate office, department or school principal.

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