Focus on FCPS October 3, 2024

Focus on FCPS October 3, 2024

October 3, 2024

Dear FCPS Families,

As we approach the end of the first nine weeks, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and share some important updates.


First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and engagement. It has been wonderful to see our students settle into their routines, reconnect with friends, and embrace new learning opportunities. Our educators are working tirelessly to create an enriching environment where every student can thrive.


Here are a few highlights and reminders:

  • Academic Progress: Teachers are assessing student progress and providing targeted support where needed. Please encourage your child to communicate openly with their teachers about any challenges they may be facing. School staff continue to work on their continuous school improvement planning and please stay attuned to the progress of these plans in your child’s school.

  • Community Engagement: We will continue to hold Community Conversations with the Superintendent events throughout this school year. The next one is Thursday, October 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. Stay tuned for more details, including the location. Thanks to all of the families and constituents who have attended thus far.

  • Health and Safety: The well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We continue to follow health guidelines to ensure a safe learning environment. We have had a series of events that have calmed down, and we thank you for your support through these situations. And thank you for reinforcing these safe measures at home as well, especially with social media.

  • Extracurricular Activities: Many students are participating in clubs and sports, enhancing their social skills and building teamwork. Encourage your child to explore these opportunities and attend events to cheer on their fellow classmates!

As we move forward, please continue to reach out with feedback and input. Open communication is invaluable as we strive to create the best possible educational experience for our students. Together, we can address challenges, celebrate our successes and work towards our shared goals. And with your feedback, we have made some positive changes in our school division so we are always doing what is best for all students.

Thank you for being an integral part of our school community. Together, we can support our students in achieving their goals.

Sincerely,


Dr. George Hummer

Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Kimberly Wilbourne, head school counselor at James Wood Middle School, is our staff spotlight! Ms. Wilbourne is in her third year at James Wood Middle School and her ninth year with Frederick County Public Schools. She started her education career 19 years ago as an elementary teacher. Ms. Wilbourne works directly with Bright Futures to ensure students’ needs are met, including approximately 50 food packs distributed to students each week. Ms. Wilbourne says she is so grateful for Bright Futures and the partnership they share because when students have their physical needs met, they are more successful in their education. Ms. Wilbourne signs all her emails with a quote from A. A. Milne that says, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think” and says her favorite part of the job is working with the students and getting to know them. A fun fact: She started at Apple Pie Ridge Elementary and said that about 20-25 of her eighth grade students this year have been with her since kindergarten!

Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth

students eating apples

Virginia Farm to School Month is recognized the first full week in October. Elementary school students division wide will be participating in the eighth annual "Crunch Heard 'Round the Commonwealth" on October 10. Students will take a bite out of a locally grown apple from Whitacre Family Farms that has been generously donated by USA Produce. This event is held to increase awareness of farm to school programs and the importance of connecting students to local food.

National School Lunch Week

October 14-18 is National School Lunch Week. Elementary students who eat school lunch will receive a different giveaway each day. School lunches provide students with the nutrition they need to learn and thrive. Students who eat school lunch are more likely to consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and have a better overall diet. Please take a moment during this week to help us thank our school nutrition services staff for all they do to ensure our students get healthy food every school day.

Grandparents and Relatives Raising Children with Disabilities Support Group

The Parent Resource Center is starting a support group for grandparents and other family members raising students with disabilities. The group will meet the second Wednesday of each month in Room 14 from 10-11 a.m. at the FCPS Administration Building, 1415 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601. Our first meeting is Wednesday, October 9. We will share successes, experiences and resources. For questions or more information, contact Joy Kirk at kirkj@fcpsk12.net or 540-662-3888, ext. 88167.

Latino Heritage Festival

The Frederick County Community is invited to the Milbrook High School Spanish Club Latino Heritage Festival on October 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Millbrook Commons. Join in the family fun with music, food, dancing and crafts. Fun for all ages! The cost is $2 per person but elementary students enter for free!

Free Sports Physicals for High School Students

Free sports physicals for high school students will be provided by Valley Health on October 19 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Registration is required, and the deadline to register is October 15. Please register online.

Community Conversations with the Superintendent

One of the ways you can engage with FCPS is through our Community Conversations with the Superintendent events. These events provide a way for you to ask questions and share thoughts and feedback directly with Dr. Hummer. The next Community Conversations event is Thursday, October 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. More information coming soon regarding the location!

FCPS Home Grown Initiative Kicks Off

Our first FCPS Home Grown Initiative event took place at Millbrook High School on September 19! Our FFA and agriculture students and teachers from Millbrook High School hosted this first pop-up event in conjunction with our Bright Futures Program to distribute fresh produce to students during afternoon dismissal. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a huge success. Students from Ms. Smith’s Introduction to Animal Systems class helped to prepare the produce for distribution by sorting, checking and bagging the corn, plums, apples, potatoes and cabbage. By the end of the event, all produce was selected and taken home (with no leftovers)! Our next produce distribution event is at Sherando High School on October 17. Contact Elise Stine-Dolinar at stinedoe@fcpsk12.net for more information.

Enrolling in Frederick County Public Schools

Welcome back! As the new school year begins, we’re excited to have all our students return to the classroom. We know that families may have moved over the summer. If you know of anyone who lives outside of Frederick County, or if you yourself reside outside the county and are interested in enrolling your children in our schools, please be sure to follow our enrollment procedures, which may include paying nonresident tuition. For more information on Enrolling Students please visit our website.

New Mobile App Coming Soon

With the launch of our new websites, comes a new mobile app. Please be on the lookout for more information coming soon. In the meantime, the website has a mobile-friendly view when browsing from your phone or other mobile device. Please note that any mobile app you previously had installed will not work with our new websites.

School Meals

Eligible families are encouraged to apply for the free or reduced priced meals program for the 2024-25 school year. Under the program, eligible students can receive both school breakfast and lunch for free or a reduced price each school day. Online applications are available at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application.


Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), students at the schools listed below can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. Please note that if your student attends any of the schools listed below, you should not complete an application for free or reduced price meals.


  • Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School

  • Evendale Elementary School

  • Indian Hollow Elementary School

  • Middletown Elementary School

  • Redbud Run Elementary School

  • Stonewall Elementary School

  • James Wood Middle School

  • Dowell J. Howard Center

  • NREP

Edulog Parent Portal App

The Edulog Parent Bus Portal provides you with information on the GPS location of your child’s school bus and sends you a push notification when the bus is nearing your bus stop or other locations that you define – such as the school or neighborhood entrance. Learn more about the app.

Varsity Tutors - Free Programs for All FCPS Students

Through funding from the Virginia Department of Education, Frederick County Public Schools is pleased to offer free student support and enrichment all year long through Varsity Tutors. Over the summer months, students will be able to access programs by logging into their FCPS student Google account on a personal device. Detailed information about programs available is available on the Varsity Tutors website.

October is a month filled with a variety of celebrations and recognitions.

National Custodial Workers Recognition Day

October 2, 2024

Yesterday was National Custodial Workers Recognition Day. FCPS is so very thankful for all of our custodial workers for the important work they do to keep our schools and facilities clean and safe for our students and staff. Please take a moment to reach out and say thank you to a custodial worker!

National Coaches Appreciation Day

October 6, 2024

Sports provide our students with amazing opportunities outside of the classroom. National Coaches Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of our coaches who inspire and guide our student-athletes. Coaches play a pivotal role not only in athletic development but also in instilling values such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience. Thank you to all of our FCPS coaches!

World Mental Health Awareness Day

October 10, 2024

World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 each year to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote mental well-being globally. Consider wearing yellow on October 10 to help raise awareness of mental health issues in our community. Resources for families are available from VDOE.

National Bullying Prevention Month

Bullying Prevention Month is observed each October to raise awareness about the effects of bullying and promote efforts to prevent it in schools and communities. Fostering a culture of kindness can ultimately reduce incidents of bullying and promote mental well-being among students. If your student is struggling with bullying, please reach out to your student’s school.

Disability Awareness

Disability History and Awareness Month is observed in October to increase awareness, respect and acceptance for people with disabilities. It also aims to help people with disabilities feel more pride. Did you know that FCPS provides special education services to 1,997 students?


October also includes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. This year’s official theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” Our educators work on social, life and work skills to help students be successful. We partner with community organizations to help our students have resources for success beyond graduation.

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

As we recognize October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we want to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of working together to support our children’s health and well-being. Substance use and abuse can impact our students' lives in profound ways, and prevention is a collective effort that begins at home and extends to our schools and community. We encourage you to have open dialogue with your student, model positive behavior, get involved with school activities and know the signs. View substance abuse prevention resources for families from VDOE.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15. Throughout the month, we will be sharing thought-provoking quotes from influential Hispanic leaders. Check out the FCPS Facebook page throughout the month.

On September 24, we celebrated the achievements of Bass-Hoover Elementary for their participation in the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge, middle school FFA successes, an FBLA honor, and individual recipients of the Apple and Inspiration Awards. Take a moment to view the photos of award recipients. Congratulations!

Let's Connect!

Dates to Remember

  • Monday, October 7 at 4:30 p.m. - Personnel Committee Meeting
  • Monday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m. - Finance Committee Meeting
  • Friday, October 18 - End of First Nine Weeks
  • Monday, October 21 - No School for Students (Unencumbered Planning Day)
  • Tuesday, October 22 at 6 p.m. - School Board Meeting
  • Thursday, October 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. - Community Conversations with the Superintendent
  • Tuesday, October 29 - Report Cards Issued
Frederick County Public Schools
https://www.frederickcountyschoolsva.net