The LCPS Letter

Academies of Loudoun Computer Science Honor Society students led PROPEL and Level Up students through computer science and coding activities during the Academies of Loudoun’s Hour of Code event in December. Events like these help maintain student interest in computer science while nurturing creativity and problem-solving skills -- and there are robots!

Weather reports show we had our first significant snow in nearly two years. Snow days can be truly magical and I hope everyone got to have a little fun outside. Several LCPS departments and staff are involved in deciding if school should be closed or delayed. On days when snow or inclement weather is predicted, LCPS staff – particularly staff from our Transportation Department, Safety and Security and Facilities staff – are on the roads, monitoring the conditions. We also closely watch weather forecasts and work with local partners before recommending delayed opening, closing or early release of schools. Our primary goal is to keep our students and staff safe. Learn more about how LCPS makes school closing or delay decisions by visiting our Inclement Weather Information page. We appreciate our community members' understanding when we need to make weather-related decisions.

In addition to wintry weather, January is the time of year we kick off budget season. I will present the Superintendent’s Estimate of Needs to the Loudoun County School Board this evening. LCPS budget years follow the school year, with the budget year starting on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the following year. We are currently planning the FY2025 budget. My priorities for this budget year are to support our teachers, support staff and administrators while also expanding educational opportunities for our students. We launched our Dual Language Immersion and International Baccalaureate programs this school year. We will open the Health and Medical Science Academy this coming year. We will continue to grow and evolve our course offerings and student opportunities to ensure LCPS students have the tools they need to thrive now and in the future. For more information on the budget process, including upcoming dates for budget meetings, please visit lcps.org/budget.

Aaron Spence, Ed.D.

LCPS Superintendent

Earlier this school year, LCPS revised the policy that governs student attendance and increased communications about the importance of school attendance. For Little River Elementary School Principal Kevin Murphy, attendance is about more than numbers. Every school day provides numerous lessons and opportunities, and he believes there is no substitute for students learning together. Read more about the importance of school attendance from a principal's point of view.

LCPS has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to provide parents with access to online courses and seminars that will help them support their child’s mental health. Parents/guardians can access ParentGuidance.org’s videos anytime to help find solutions to mental health, emotional or developmental challenges. ParentGuidance.org parent coaches are also available to work with parents/guardians individually for up to 30 minutes per week via Zoom. These resources are free, and parents/guardians remain completely anonymous when using them.

Access these resources by visiting www.ParentGuidance.org or ParentGuidance.org’s Parent Coaching page to sign up for parent coaching. LCPS is providing these resources and services to promote the well-being of our students and their families and to foster a collaborative and supportive environment with no barriers to access.

CAMPUS, or College Achievement & Multicultural Program for Unique Students, is an LCPS program for high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. This program supports students in setting and achieving academic, college and personal goals. Students learn time management, goal-setting and college and career readiness skills. Learn more about CAMPUS and the application process. The 2024 CAMPUS application window is open now through March 1.

The Division of Equity is now the Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. This name change better reflects the work the department achieves and better communicates LCPS' focus and goals. Below are definitions of the terms in the department's new name:

Diversity: All the ways that people are different and the same at the individual and group levels. Even when people appear the same, they are different.

Equity: The fair and just treatment of all members of a community. Equity requires commitment to strategic priorities, resources, respect, and civility, as well as ongoing action and assessment of progress toward achieving specific and common goals.

Inclusion: Inclusion refers to the intentional, ongoing effort to ensure that diverse individuals fully participate in all aspects of organizational work, including decision-making processes.

Accessibility: Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience.

Holding these definitions in our common lexicon, we must remember that these ideas are both a commitment and a catalyst for innovation and growth. By fostering an environment that values every voice and perspective, we create a world where each and every student can benefit from high expectations and rigorous educational experiences.

The Loudoun County School Board is accepting self-nominations for the Equity Committee. Appointed members will serve from the date of appointment until December 31, 2024. Committee members may serve consecutive terms. The Equity Committee Charter outlines the requirements for Equity Committee members. Those interested in nominating themselves must complete a statement of interest via the nomination form and submit it by noon on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The School Board will finalize the 2024 Equity Committee appointees at the Feb. 13, 2024 School Board meeting.

Are you looking for ways to support your student? Attend the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair to learn from more than 40 mental health and wellness professionals as they share tips and strategies for promoting mental health and wellness. Check out the schedule of speakers and register to attend sessions for this free event, which will be on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Riverside High School. The conference will also feature a resource fair with local businesses and nonprofits offering services and guidance to support your family. And there will be food trucks, live music and so much more! We look forward to seeing you at the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. You won’t want to miss it!

LCPS is continuing to host fentanyl and opioid awareness sessions. The next sessions are scheduled for:

• TONIGHT! Thursday, Jan. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Douglass High School (407 East Market Street, Leesburg)
  

• Saturday, Jan. 27, during the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair at Riverside High School

• Thursday, Feb. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Woodgrove High School (36811 Allder School Rd., Purcellville)

The sessions will include information on how to identify an opioid overdose and provide instructions on how to administer naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversing medication. These information sessions are supported by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, the Leesburg Police Department and community partners such as the Williams Center for Wellness and Recovery. Information will be provided in English and Spanish. Additional fentanyl awareness sessions will be planned throughout the year.

Community Listening Sessions are an excellent opportunity to have your questions about LCPS answered and to share your concerns or thoughts. Join Superintendent Aaron Spence at one of the Community Listening Sessions scheduled for January:

• Potomac Falls High School on Wednesday, Jan. 24
  
• Academies of Loudoun on Wednesday, Jan. 31
  
  

The staff portion of the listening session is from 5-6 p.m., and the community session is from 7-8 p.m.; a 30-minute meet-and-greet follows each session.

We hope you will join us at one of these upcoming workshops and learn important information from LCPS staff and community partners that will help you support your students' academic, social and emotional development. Additional information about workshops offered can be found on the Parent Resource Services and the Division of English Learners’ Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) websites.

• Middle School Connection: Moving on to Middle School from Elementary with an IEP
  Thursday, Jan. 18, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., LCPS Administrative Building (21000 Education Ct., Ashburn) Registration required.
• United for Wellness, Mental Health and Wellness Conference and Resource Fair
  Saturday, Jan. 27, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Riverside High School (19019 Upper Belmont Pl, Leesburg)
• Partnering with Families in the Special Education Process
  Tuesday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m. in English and Spanish; 7 p.m. in English and Arabic, Virtual

• When the Bus Stops Coming: Planning for Life After High School

  Saturday, Feb. 3 (Snow date: Feb. 24), 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m., LCPS Administrative Building (21000 Education Ct., Ashburn). Registration required.

LCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the annual LCPS Gap Year Fair on Saturday, Feb. 3. from 1 to 4 p.m., at Briar Woods High School (22525 Belmont Ridge Rd, Ashburn). This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning about gap year opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Registration is recommended.

LCPS is participating in Virginia Speak Up, a survey that helps answer questions about technology use in schools and beyond. LCPS asks for the community's participation. Speak Up, a national research project facilitated by Project Tomorrow, provides an easy way for students, parents and educators to share their views on technology and learning in LCPS. To "Speak Up," visit the Loudoun County VA Speak Up Survey link. The survey is anonymous and confidential, taking approximately 20 minutes to participate. Community input informs the division's technology decisions, contributes to the national dialogue about educational technology, and provides valuable data for strategic and budget planning during the school year.

Are you on active duty in the uniformed services or working on federally-owned property located in Virginia? If yes, please complete the Federal Impact Aid form. The Federal Impact Aid Program is designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally-connected students. The funds from this program become part of the LCPS general operating budget. If you have questions or need more information regarding this Federal Impact Aid survey, please contact our Accounting staff or visit the Business & Financial Services website for more details.

The Virginia Safe Routes to School Program wants to celebrate crossing guards who make a difference in Virginia’s communities. Complete the nomination form and share why your crossing guard is outstanding. Crossing guards can include police officers, volunteers or teachers who routinely help students cross the street. Nominations are accepted through Friday, Jan. 19.

Join Loudoun Education Foundation for a free concert on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 10 p.m. The concert will feature some of Northern Virginia's favorite bands, including Falling Home, The Surfabilly Vibe, Sugar Daddiez, and Berlin Calling. Donations and sponsorships will support Loudoun Education Foundation's Innovation in Education Grants, which fund LCPS teachers' classroom projects. For details visit LEF's website.

Upcoming Holidays and Events

• Second quarter ends on Friday, Jan. 19.
  
• Monday, Jan. 22 is a student holiday.
• Friday, Feb. 9 is a student and staff holiday.
• Please consult LCPS student calendars to help with your planning. Calendars for this school year and the next two school years have been finalized and are posted.
• 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.

• Ask the Superintendent

• One LCPS: Forward Together Entry Plan
• LCPS Policy Review
• Office of the Ombuds
• LCPS News Stories
  
• Mental Health and Community Resources for Families
• Student Assistance Services
• Attendance Resources
• Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness
• Join the LCPS Team

Ask the Department of Communications and Community Engagement
21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA, USA
571-252-1040

www.lcps.org
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