The LCPS Letter
News from Loudoun County Public Schools -- January 4, 2024
In an effort to further enhance the safety of LCPS students, as well as increase the opportunities for privacy, LCPS is implementing a school Restroom Privacy and Safety Pilot Program in nine schools. This pilot program was announced last year and renovation work, which started earlier this school year, will continue through March, with all renovation work, technology installation and testing to be completed later this month.
While the vast majority of LCPS students are mindful and respectful of other students, LCPS is aware that undesirable behaviors occur inside the restrooms, including vaping. LCPS continues to balance the need for privacy and safety for all students, as governed by School Board policies, and is piloting these new restroom configurations and technology to help meet this need. The safety of LCPS students and staff remains the Division’s top priority.
Nine schools (www.lcps.org/restrooms) are participating in the project, receiving privacy renovations and/or new sensor technology. Until these renovated restrooms are accessible, they will be clearly signed as closed.
The Restroom Privacy and Safety Pilot Program increases restroom choice for students, who may opt to use private, gender-neutral restrooms or the existing multi-fixture, gender-specific restrooms. LCPS is not removing the standard configuration of multi-fixture restrooms assigned specifically to boys or girls in any of our schools. All students, now and in the future, have a choice to utilize the multi-fixture, gender-specific or single-occupancy restrooms in all LCPS facilities.
The restroom sensor technology installed in seven schools uses multi-functional health, safety, and vape detection sensors. The sensor technology protects the privacy of individuals; it does not use cameras, record audio or capture any personally identifiable information. Signs will indicate the use of this sensor technology. Sensor technology is not present in locker rooms or staff restrooms.
Throughout spring 2024, we will actively gather student feedback from the schools participating in the Pilot Program, as well as invite parent, student, staff and community feedback from all schools throughout the duration of the Pilot Program. Visit www.lcps.org/restrooms for more information.
The Office of School Counseling is hosting a virtual SchooLinks Workshop for Elementary Parents on Wednesday, March 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. The workshop will provide information about SchooLinks -- a college and career readiness platform, how elementary students use it and how parents can support their students. This workshop will be offered in English and Spanish, with the English and Spanish sessions occurring concurrently via separate WebEx links. Please use these links for the appropriate session: English SchooLinks Elementary Workshop WebEx link and Spanish SchooLinks Elementary Workshop WebEx link. Be sure to give yourself extra time to launch the webinar. Questions about SchooLinks can be sent to SchooLinksHelp@LCPS.org.
The Instructional Framework Design Team, composed of LCPS teachers and administrators, continues its work to define a shared instructional vision for LCPS. During the January Design Team meeting, team members revisited the purpose of the Instructional Framework and began identifying the key components that make up high-quality instruction in LCPS. In February, team members shared the Instructional Framework with community organizations, including the Loudoun Education Alliance of Families, the Special Education Advisory Committee, the School Business Partnership Committee, the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee and the Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Committee. Design Team meetings will continue in March. Please continue to follow along with the project and share your feedback through the Let's Talk button on the Instructional Framework Project webpage.
Have you checked out ParentGuidance.org yet? LCPS is partnering 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 at any time to help find solutions to mental health, emotional or developmental challenges. Additionally, parent coaches from ParentGuidance.org are available as a free resource to work with parents/guardians individually for up to 30 minutes per week via Zoom. Access free resources by visiting www.parentguidance.org or the Parent Coaching page to sign up. All of these resources are available at no cost, and parents/guardians remain completely anonymous when using them. 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.
LCPS offers free, on-demand tutoring through Varsity Tutors to all kindergarten through grade 12 students. This free resource is available to all LCPS students. The free Varsity Tutors program provides homework help, writing support and live enrichment sessions 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in various subjects, including math, science, writing and more. Parents/guardians should contact Varsity Tutors to learn more about all the available services. All tutoring sessions are provided in English only.
In addition, schools have identified some students in grades 3-5 or 6-8 to receive high-dose tutoring that supports the student's specific needs; parents of these students have been notified. This individualized tutoring may occur during the school day or after school. Part-time hourly tutors, high school students, community volunteers or site-assigned tutors through University Instructors provide the tutoring at the school.
Both of these tutoring opportunities are made possible through the Virginia Department of Education’s All in VA plan.
There are only four Community Listening Sessions remaining. Have you had a chance to attend? Community Listening Sessions are an excellent opportunity to share your hopes and concerns about LCPS with Superintendent Aaron Spence. Plan to attend one of these sessions:
- Thursday, March 14 at Rock Ridge High School
- Wednesday, March 20 at Heritage High School
- Thursday, April 4 at Briar Woods High School
- Thursday, April 18 at Loudoun County High School
High school students and their families are invited to attend the Career and Apprenticeship Fair on Wednesday, April 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Academies of Loudoun (42075 Loudoun Academy Drive, Leesburg). This event will connect students with leading employers in sought-after fields and help them discover career paths, education options and available training opportunities. Students are encouraged to bring a copy of their resumes to receive constructive feedback, suggestions and tips from industry and LCPS professionals. (Resume review will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.) Questions? Please contact Kelly Robucci, Placement Coordinator.
Summer in the Arts is an arts enrichment program for rising 6th- through 10th-grade students. The program, which runs from June 21 to July 3 and is held at Heritage High School, offers a wide range of classes, including instrumental, vocal, theater, visual arts, dance, creative writing and robotics. The Summer in the Arts catalog is now available. The registration link and additional information is posted on the Summer in the Arts website. Registration for Summer in the Arts closes on April 19 at 5 p.m.
The annual LCPS Staff, Student, and Family Survey ends at midnight on Sunday, March 17. Make sure your voice is heard, and complete the survey. A link to the survey was sent to your email address. School administrators depend on the results of this survey as they develop goals for their school improvement plans. The survey data is also used at the division level to track overall trends and monitor outcomes prioritized in the One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence. Representation from all perspectives is crucial to inform the decisions being made across the school division. Contact research@lcps.org with any questions. More information about the survey can be found on the LCPS Annual Staff, Student and Family Survey webpage.
Do you have a child who will enter kindergarten next year? Or do you know someone new to LCPS? Access the online pre-registration portal to begin the enrollment process. Once pre-registration has been submitted, the school will contact the parent/guardian to schedule a registration appointment, or parents/guardians can contact the school directly. Schools began holding registration appointments on March 1. Registration is only for:
- Students, grades kindergarten to 12, who are new to LCPS
- Current LCPS pre-kindergarten students entering kindergarten
- Students who were formerly enrolled and may be returning to LCPS
Families of rising first-grade students (current kindergarteners) who are not currently enrolled in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program but who wish to express interest in being a student in the DLI program will need to resubmit their interest. Although there are no current or anticipated vacancies in the Potowmack Elementary and Sanders Corner Elementary programs, there will be a newly established waitlist for first graders in both schools.
The interest window for this program is March 1 to April 19. Interested parents/guardians should follow the provided step-by-step directions on how to show interest in having their student be included in the lottery for the DLI program. Any parent/guardian who submits interest after the April 19 deadline will be added to the established waitlist in date and time order. For additional information about the DLI program, please visit www.lcps.org/DLI.
The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is currently accepting nominations of educators, students, programs, parents and community members who demonstrate excellence in the LCPS special education community and have gone above and beyond what is expected to be meaningfully inclusive. To submit a nomination, fill out the 2024 Nomination Form. Nominations must be received by midnight on Friday, March 22, to be considered. Winners will be notified by SEAC by the first week of May 2024. The SEAC Awards Ceremony will be on June 5 at Rock Ridge High School.
This year, spring break is Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29. We will be eager to welcome your student back to school on Monday, April 1. After a school break, some students experience anxiety and struggle with the return to school. This mental struggle is developmentally normal and not unusual. Below are some tips for supporting your student in easing the transition back to school following the break. Your child’s Unified Mental Health Team is a great resource for planning for a return to school after Spring Break. In addition, more information regarding school anxiety, avoidance, and refusal is available on the LCPS website.
- Maintain routines and schedules as much as possible during Spring Break. Continue to engage in morning routines and maintain appropriate sleep schedules to help make the transition back to school day routines as easy as possible.
- Anticipate anxiety and plan for it. Children who struggle with anxiety may need higher levels of support after a school break. A temporary backslide does not mean your child is getting worse or losing skills – it’s normal and expected.
- Set the expectation that school attendance is expected. Avoid extending holiday breaks, and make sure your child returns to school with everyone else. The first day back is the hardest, and everyone is feeling some degree of anxiety. Establish the expectation with your child that school attendance is expected.
During Give Choose Day -- Tuesday, March 19 -- Loudoun Education Foundation is raising funds for its Diversifying the Teacher Workforce Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to qualifying high school seniors or classified employees pursuing teaching degrees. Please consider donating any time between now and March 19 to help LEF reach its fundraising goal.