Focus on FCPS

I met with the Student Advisory Committee earlier this week for the second time this school year. I love having the opportunity to meet with students and listen to their feedback and ideas regarding their schools and our division.

There is one more opportunity to participate in a Budget Town Hall meeting. This is a time for parents, staff and members of the community to learn more about the proposed FY25 budget and to ask questions and offer feedback. The final meeting is Monday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Millbrook High School. The meeting will be livestreamed and a link will be available on the FCPS homepage on Monday, March 4.

Frederick County Public Schools will begin kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year on March 1. 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 will be available on the FCPS website on Monday, March 4.

We are celebrating National School Breakfast Week March 1-8. Breakfast is an important part of your student's day and is available at every Frederick County Public School for the student price of $1.40. If you receive free or reduced lunch, you are also eligible for free or reduced breakfast. Giveaways listed below are available for elementary students who choose to eat breakfast.

• Friday, March 1 - Scratch-off Joke Cards
• Monday, March 4 - Backpack Tag
• Wednesday, March 6 - Bookmark
• Thursday, March 7 - Sticker Make-a-Scene
• Friday, March 8 - Silly Glasses

The Virginia Assessment Parent Portal provides you with access to your student’s Virginia Assessment Program test results. You will be receiving a letter from FCPS with a student-specific claim code to access your student’s test results. The letter will also be available in your student’s “Backpack” in Infinite Campus. The claim code you are receiving 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.

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.

On February 24, students from James Wood, Millbrook and Sherando high schools, who are taking college courses through our Advancing Computer Science Education VDOE Grant with GMU, spent the day in the VR/AR lab at Shenandoah University using Unreal Engine to create and code a virtual reality game or experience. Students do research projects with university mentors around data science and computing. The students will showcase their research projects on May 22 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Henkel Hall at Shenandoah University.

Michelle Long’s algebra, functions and data analysis (AFDA) classes at Millbrook High School created surveys for the student body, collected the data and presented their findings in a showcase. The students shared their learning with other classes, parents and staff (including Dr. Hummer) who attended the showcase. All were impressed!

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.

Students from Orchard View Elementary School Beta Club were recognized for their achievements at the State Conference.

• Jillian Disney - Fiber Art - 1st Place
• Jonah Sargent - Math - 1st Place
• Aleea Connors, Ariya Goode, and Johnny Kubeika - Book Battle - 1st Place
• Addy Ridenoure, Kynlee Sikora, Jonah Sargent, and Gerard Torres. - Robotics - 2nd Place
• Kaylee Rutherford - Creative Writing - 3rd Place
• Thea Clark - Robotics Coach
• Connor Kingdom and Jessica Mcgee - Sponsors
  
  

Alyana Bryan and Viviana Dotson were the recipients of the Inspiration Award. The Inspiration Award is given to a staff member (instructional assistant, custodian, bus driver, office, school nutrition, facilities, administrator, etc.) who did something inspirational for the students, staff, parents, or community as a whole.

Heather Campbell, Carrie Takarsh and Caitlin Walkup received the Apple Award. The Apple Award is given to a teacher who achieved something which significantly contributes to their school and community; uses creative or innovative instructional techniques; or goes above and beyond for the student.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers that support our schools were recognized for their service and dedication.

Nina DiSantis was recognized for her work as the Clerk of the School Board.

March 3-9 is National School Social Work Week. School social workers are professionals within the social work field who work with teachers, families and school administrators. They help students deal with mental health and behavioral challenges and provide academic and classroom support. We appreciate our school social workers and their dedication to students, families and staff!

National School Breakfast Week is March 4-8. Thank you to all our School Nutrition Services employees who work hard to feed our students every day.

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.

• Monday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. - Budget Town Hall Meeting (Millbrook High School)
• Tuesday, March 5 - No School for Students (Admin Offices and School Offices Closed)
• Monday, March 11 - No School for Students (Unencumbered Planning)