The LCPS Letter
LCPS is seeking feedback on school calendar options for the 2026/27 school year. Please check your email for a message and survey link from Lisa Boland, Chief Human Resources Officer, sent to LCPS families and staff on Monday, Nov. 18 or Tuesday, Nov. 19. (The email was sent in batches). For this survey, LCPS is utilizing K12 Insight, a survey engagement platform. The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, Dec. 1.
Survey responses will be reviewed by LCPS and by the School Board. The School Board will consider survey responses and submitted school calendar options and will ultimately approve and adopt any future school calendars in accordance with state law and applicable Virginia Board of Education regulations. Families and staff will be notified when final school calendars are adopted.
Check out LCPS' newest communications platform -- the LCPS Podcast. The first episode was posted today, and new episodes will be posted each Thursday. On the LCPS podcast, hosts will interview educators, students, administrators and parents about the current trends in education, news about what is happening in our schools, and information about our staff and students. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information, please visit LCPS.org/podcast.
LCPS will host Parent Information Nights for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at various locations across the county in December and January. 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. For dates, times and locations, visit www.lcps.org/DLI or see these flyers: Information Night Flyer (English) or Information Night Flyer (Spanish).
LCPS offered high school students in grades 11 and 12 the chance to explore careers through its Job for a Day program on Monday, Nov. 11. Nearly 600 students spent a day shadowing professionals in various fields to gain valuable insights that support informed career choices, develop job-related skills and connect academic learning to real-world applications. Job for a Day allows students to experience the tasks and responsibilities associated with careers that match their interests or aptitudes. By following professionals within a particular career cluster, students build awareness of workplace roles, strengthen decision-making skills and gain exposure to the dynamics of different occupations. Job for a Day offered a look at 177 career opportunities provided by 82 businesses.
Renée Dawson, Director of Family and Community Engagement, was awarded the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor recognizing outstanding volunteerism and community impact on Saturday, Nov. 2. With over 25 years in education, Mrs. Dawson has held roles as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, dedicating her career to fostering innovation, partnerships, and inclusive educational experiences. As our community liaison, she connects LCPS with local businesses and organizations, organizing impactful events like the Together in Remembrance Memorial Day and First Responders Event. This award reflects Mrs. Dawson’s commitment to building a supportive, engaged community that values every student's success. Read more about Mrs. Dawson's recognition.
Eight LCPS schools were named 2024 Purple Star schools from the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. This award is presented to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families. Across Virginia, 190 public and private schools were recognized as Purple Star schools. In addition to the LCPS schools that received the Purple Star recognition this year, 10 additional LCPS schools received the Purple Star designations in previous years. Read more about LCPS' Purple Star schools.
The Loudoun County High School Cheer Team will perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Planning to participate in the parade has been nearly a year in the making. Coach Samantha Mancini submitted an audition video last November and learned that the team was selected in January. Since then, the team has been sharing news about their selection, fundraising to cover the costs of the trip, and practicing their routine. “The girls are extremely excited for this opportunity. It has been a lot of hard work over the last 10 months, so the fact that it's finally here is very exciting! Being able to perform in the parade is such a huge accomplishment and truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Mancini. Tune into NBC on Thanksgiving morning between 8:30 a.m. and noon to see the team.
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.