The LCPS Letter

The start of the school year also heralds the start of the fall sports season. Sports teams around the county are training and competing. See LCPS high school websites to find out when your favorite team is taking to the field or the court.

LCPS will administer the PSAT 8/9 to ninth-grade students and the PSAT/NMSQT to students in grades 10 and 11 in October. These tests will be conducted during the regular school day, with each school determining its specific test date. No registration is required, and there is no cost for students.

This year, the tests will be taken digitally using LCPS-managed devices, with the Desmos calculator available within the math section. Students must take the PSAT at their assigned school; make-up tests at other schools are not permitted. Virtual Distance Learning students will test at the Academies on Oct. 1. For more information, visit the College Board PSAT website or the LCPS Office of Assessment website.

LCPS will offer Advanced Placement (AP) tests during the College Board's 2025 administration window, May 5-16, 2025. Students must register by Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Registration will occur through the MyAP Classroom portal, where students use a join code provided by their AP teachers. This portal also offers instructional resources, practice tests, and tools to manage test registration.

LCPS will cover the cost of the first four AP tests taken by each student across their high school career, starting from the 2021-2022 school year. Additional tests will cost $90 each, with AP Seminar and AP Research exams priced at $138. Students not enrolled in an AP course but wishing to take a test should contact their school's Testing Coordinator. Late registration and cancellation fees may apply. For more information, visit the College Board’s website or LCPS’ Office of Assessment Services website.

Reminder: LCPS is transitioning from Hometown Ticketing to GoFan for all high school athletic events. Tickets can be purchased online through GoFan or with cash at the event ticket booth. For more information, visit your school's LCPS GoFan page.

In considering whether some school names reflect LCPS’ values on inclusion and diversity, the Loudoun County School Board is considering changing some school names and is seeking public comment. The first two school names being considered are Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School and Mercer Middle School.

A Community Town Hall will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at Smart’s Mill Middle School (850 North King Street, Leesburg), specifically to discuss Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School’s name. Loudoun County citizens may attend the September 17 public meeting and/or email comments to lcpsplan@lcps.org. Find information on the school name review or read School Board Policy 6510, Naming School Facilities, to learn more about the potential renaming of schools.

We would like to thank our students, families and staff for their support of the Student Personal Device Use Policy, which the Loudoun County School Board adopted at its June 25, 2024 meeting and went into effect with the start of the school year. As a reminder the policy states:

• Elementary school students are not permitted to use personal technology during the school day.
• Middle school students must keep their devices silent and not visible, stored in their locker during the school day. Personal devices may be used before or after the school day.
• High school students must place personal technology devices in a classroom storage location, not on their person or immediately accessible, and must ensure the devices are silenced during instructional time.
  
  

In July, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order 33, directing multiple state agencies to address student cell phone use in schools, including charging the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with providing school divisions with guidance regarding student use of cell phones while at school. School divisions must have a policy in place by Jan. 1, 2025.

Currently, there are differences between the LCPS policy and VDOE's guidance. The LCPS policy may be changed to comply with the final VDOE policy for cell phone-free education. LCPS encourages students, staff and families to review the LCPS policy and VDOE guidance and share thoughts or suggestions with VDOE through their Feedback Form. The deadline to submit feedback is Sunday, Sept. 15. While LCPS reviews the VDOE guidance on cell phone use in schools, the LCPS policy will remain in effect.

LCPS will hold its annual Special Programs Secondary Fair for middle school students and families on the following dates:

• Thursday, Sept. 12, 6-8 p.m. at Heritage High School (520 Evergreen Mills Rd SE, Leesburg)
• Thursday, Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m. at Park View High School (400 W Laurel Ave, Sterling)

This event allows current middle school students and their families to meet and network with coordinators from LCPS’ special programs. Attendees can explore a variety of programs available for students in grades 9-12 and gather essential information about the enrollment processes. Programs featured include:

• Academies of Loudoun
• Health and Medical Sciences Academy (HAMSci)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Both events will begin promptly at 6 p.m. with a student panel in the auditorium, followed by breakout sessions providing further insight into each program. LCPS encourages all families to attend to help plan their student’s future. For more information, review the informational flyer or visit the LCPS Special Programs webpage.

Varsity Tutors will be hosting an informational webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. to share about this FREE tutoring resource available to LCPS students in grades K-12. The webinar will cover:

• Live chat tutoring across all subjects, including English, reading and mathematics
• College and career readiness resources, practice tests, and personalized learning plans
• Fun enrichment sessions to keep students engaged and excited about learning

Register online to receive the meeting link. If you are unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and posted on the LCPS website for you to view at your convenience.

Do you have a high school student who is thinking about college? Attend the 2024 College Fair on Sunday, Sept. 22, 3-5 p.m., at Stone Bridge High School and help them start planning for their future! Meet college and university representatives to ask questions and learn more. Students are encouraged to register in advance but can also register on the day of the event.

Information Session with Virginia Universities

Before the main College Fair, an information session featuring representatives from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, James Madison University, and George Mason University will be held in Stone Bridge's auditorium from 2-3 p.m. This information session aims to provide interested participants with essential information about these popular schools. Participants must register to attend this information session. Please fill out one form for each person intending to attend. (For example, if one student and one parent will be attending, this form must be filled out twice.) Due to limited capacity, registration will close once full. Only registered individuals will be permitted to enter the event.

Students and families are invited to show that there is hope and help in the fight against substance use disorders by participating in the Shatter the Stigma 5K on Saturday, Sept. 14, starting at 9 a.m. at Morven Park (17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg). In addition to a 5K run, the event will feature inspiring speakers, food trucks, a craft table, music and more. Register now!

Eligible families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price meals for the 2024/25 school year. Applications need to be resubmitted each year of eligibility. However, there is a 30-day grace period at the start of the year for students who received free or reduced-price meals last school year. The grace period for the 2024/25 school year ends on Oct. 9, 2024. All information provided in the application is confidential and used only to determine eligibility for the meal program.

There are two ways to apply:

• Visit the Free & Reduced Meal Application webpage to complete the application online.
• Paper applications are also available at your student’s school or can be downloaded from the LCPS website. Complete the application and return it to your student’s school, or scan and email the application to freeandreduced@lcps.org.
  

Eligibility
If a family receives benefits from programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or are Medicaid recipients with a household income that meets the USDA National School Lunch Program guidelines for free or reduced-price meals, their student may automatically qualify for free meals. If a student has been automatically enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program, the student’s family should have received an eligibility letter/email from TITAN School Solutions before the start of the school year. Families who have already received an approved eligibility letter should not submit another application. Families are advised to keep a copy of the letter to provide to third parties (CASA, YMCA, Internet Benefits, etc.) for the extra benefits if they wish to participate.

Throughout the school year, the Office of Special Education, the Office of Student Mental Health Services and the Division of English Learners’ Family and Community Engagement Office host workshops and information sessions to inform parents/guardians and community members about LCPS programs or to highlight key points of awareness. These events feature LCPS education professionals and often also include community partners. 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.

• Explore the Academies of Loudoun
  Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m. Spanish and English, 7 p.m., Arabic and English, Virtual
  This virtual session provides information about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) magnet programs offered at the Academies of Loudoun. Meet the Academies of Loudoun Admissions and Outreach team and learn about STEM programs, Academies of Loudoun admission criteria, and application process and deadlines. See the FACE website for more details.
• Fentanyl Awareness and Information Session
  Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. at Lightridge High School (41025 Collaboration Dr., Aldie)
  

  This event will feature a 30-minute film – The New Drug Talk – and a panel discussion -- including testimony from family members who have lost loved ones to overdoses. Join us to learn how to help keep your loved ones safe.

• What is Child Find?
  Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8 p.m. at the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Ct., Ashburn), Room 102AB
  Child Find is designed to identify and evaluate children – from birth to age 21 – residing in Loudoun County and needing special education and related services. This information session will help inform parents who have placed their children in a private school or homeschool program and representatives of private schools in Loudoun County about the Child Find process.
  

Policy Review

LCPS policies are reviewed every five years per the Code of Virginia. During this process, LCPS asks for input from advisory committees, stakeholder groups and the community at large.

The following policies are under review:

• Policy 5365, Home-Based Instructions
• Policy 5360, Medical Homebound Instruction
• Policy 8420, Student Medication

To provide feedback on any policies that are currently under review, please see the Policy Review webpage to access the Policy Feedback Form. Feedback on these policies is open until Monday, Sept. 9. Providing input via the Feedback Form does not guarantee that the feedback will be included in the final policy. All feedback will be reviewed by the School Board Committee as they develop policies for submission to the entire School Board. The authority for final approval of any policy lies solely with the Loudoun County School Board.

Next School Board Meeting

The next School Board meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 10. All LCPS School Board meetings are live-streamed. The full meeting agenda will be available on the LCPS School Board website (under Meetings) by approximately 5:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the School Board meeting.

We hope you are still rocking those first day of school vibes and that the first few days of the 2024/25 school year have been great! Remember, that school staff seek to partner with families to help address any concerns.

Upcoming Holidays and Events

• Thursday, Oct. 3 is Rosh Hashanah and a student and staff holiday.
• Friday, Oct. 4 is a student holiday and a staff professional development day.
• Monday, Oct. 14 is Indigenous Peoples' Day and a student and staff holiday.
• Tuesday, Oct. 29 is the end of the first grading period.
• Check the calendars for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 school years before you schedule vacations or doctor's appointments.
  
• The 2025 graduation schedule is posted on the LCPS website.

• Ask the Superintendent

• One LCPS: Forward Together Post-Entry Plan
• LCPS Policy Review
• Office of the Ombuds
• Comment and Complaint Form
• LCPS News Stories
  
• Mental Health and Community Resources for Families
• Student Assistance Services
• Attendance Resources
• Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness
• Free On-Demand Tutoring
• Join the LCPS Team

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

www.lcps.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LCPSofficial
Twitter: @lcpsofficial