The LCPS Letter
Twelve Loudoun County public schools have been designated as Purple Star Schools by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children for this school year. This year’s LCPS Purple Star honorees include seven schools earning the designation for the first time, four schools being recognized for the second time and one school earning this recognition for the third time. The Purple Star designation recognizes the schools’ outstanding support for military-connected students and families. They are among 288 schools across the Commonwealth to receive the designation this year, which remains valid for three years. An additional 13 LCPS schools earned the Purple Star distinction in previous years, reflecting the division’s ongoing commitment to serving military families. Read about LCPS' Purple Star schools.
During a pep rally last Friday, Stone Bridge senior Kamila Cordero was honored with the Purple Heart IMPACT Leadership Award. Kamila is one of only seven students statewide to receive this award. Presented in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the IMPACT Award recognizes military-connected students for leadership, resilience, and service. For the past four years, Kamila has been an active member of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Explorer Program, which provides students with hands-on experience in service-oriented careers. Kamila has also served as co-president of Stone Bridge’s Purple Star Ambassadors Club, which supports Stone Bridge’s military-connected students. Kamila credited her experience in these two programs with helping her grow her leadership skills. Kamila’s family joined her on Friday as she received her award, including her father who is an Army Reservist and was about to start a new deployment.
Lovettsville Elementary School was recognized as the national Thinking Maps Spotlight School for October for its innovative schoolwide pilot that builds critical and creative thinking. Teachers have seen immediate results as students use visual patterns to organize ideas, deepen understanding and take ownership of their learning. Principal Daniel Lani shared, “The sky is the limit for our students and teachers, and partnering with Thinking Maps is the best instructional decision I have made in my 16-year career.” Through professional development and parent outreach, the initiative connects learning from school to home and supports the One LCPS 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence by empowering students to think deeply and confidently. Read more about Lovettsville Elementary's recognition.
The Lightridge High School Marching Storm band has been invited to participate in the 2027 London New Year’s Day Parade. One of the city’s most celebrated annual events, the parade draws an estimated 500,000 spectators along its route through the West End of London. The parade will be broadcast live across the U.S. on PBS, offering the Marching Storm the opportunity to shine on an international stage.
The Park View High School Marching Band recently took center stage, performing the National Anthem before a Washington Wizards game at Capital One Arena. Thanks to Director of Bands Claude LeGrand’s ongoing connection with the Wizards, the band has received annual invitations since 2022. Mr. LeGrand shared that students love the experience, which combines a glimpse into a professional performance environment with a bit of fun.
In this week's LCPS Podcast, Public Information Officer Dan Adams sits down with Jack Garvin, a Riverside freshman and the champion of TSA’s 2025 National Dragster Competition. For the contest, Jack designed and built a miniature dragster—a sleek, black, 3D-printed miniature racing car. He shares how he became involved in the activity, the value it brings to his learning and the support he received from his LCPS teachers and advisors.
The LCPS Podcast brings you behind the scenes with educators and students to explore trends shaping K–12 education and incredible moments you won’t find anywhere else. New episodes drop every Thursday. Find the LCPS Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeart Radio. Check out the LCPS Podcast webpage to listen to this week's episode and to catch up on episodes.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to attend Empowered! English Learner Family Conference, a dynamic event where learning meets fun for the whole family.
What to expect:
Interactive sessions led by LCPS staff and community partners offer practical tips for supporting learning at home, boosting reading and math skills, college readiness, positive behavior and more.
Connect with resources to help your student thrive. Community partners guide you through services available to support your family.
Fuel Up! Food trucks will be on-site with delicious meals and snacks for purchase. The first 100 families in attendance will receive a $10 food truck voucher.
Worry-Free Fun: Child care for children ages 4 and older (potty-trained only) will be provided.
Interpreters from multiple languages will be available.
Don't miss this chance to learn and grow together! We can’t wait to welcome you! Learn more. This event is hosted by the Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement Office. No registration required.
Join Loudoun County Parks, Recreation, and Community Services on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Claude Moore Recreation and Community Center (46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, VA) for a day filled with heart, purpose and connection. This free, all-ages event celebrates the power of giving back, featuring local small businesses, nonprofits, community groups and resources that make Loudoun thrive. Attendees will be able to:
- Shop local
- Support donation drives
- Discover volunteer opportunities
- Cheer on young entrepreneurs
- Connect with nonprofits and service providers
For more information see the Loudoun County Government announcement. See the PRCS events page for more upcoming events.
One LCPS Spotlight: Inclusive Math Practices
At the Tuesday, Nov. 11 School Board meeting, the One LCPS Spotlight highlighted Inclusive Math Practices at Freedom High School. Learn how, through shared planning, tiered supports and purposeful intervention, Freedom High School is helping every student build confidence and success in math. Want to learn more? The full spotlight is available in BoardDocs.
School Board Summary and Meeting Schedule
Read a summary of the School Board's Nov. 11 meeting. The next regular School Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2. All School Board meetings are live-streamed. The full meeting agenda will be available on the Loudoun County School Board website (under Meetings) on Thursday, November 27.
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 policies listed below is currently under review:
Policy 8655, Student Personal Device Use
Policy 8205, Authority To Take Disciplinary and Other Action Against Students
Policy 4190, Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Funding Policy - NEW
Policy 4170, Insurance Management
Policy 4310, Purchasing Authority
Policy 4350, Vendor Relations
Policy 4340, Procurement Procedure Exemptions
Policy 5140, Advanced or Accelerated Mathematics - NEW
Please see the Policy Review webpage for more details and feedback submission deadlines. Providing input 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.