The LCPS Letter

LCPS is busy planning for next school year. Pre-registration for kindergarteners and new LCPS students opened on February 1. Next school year, we will also celebrate the second year of our Dual Language Immersion program. We will also continue to grow the school division as we open two new schools and launch the Health and Medical Sciences Academy. These are just a few of the exciting changes coming to LCPS in the next few months.

As we plan for next year, we will keep working to support our new programs and initiatives, and continue our focus on students and staff. The FY25 budget adopted by the School Board on Tuesday reflects these priorities. The FY25 budget holds students at the center of our work, enhances staff recruitment and retention, and focuses on new initiatives, while at the same time strengthening existing initiatives. The adoption of the FY25 budget is a great example of administration and our school board working together to serve each and every student and staff member.

Also, as we move through the remainder of this school year, I look forward to continuing the dialogue about LCPS. I hope you attend a Community Listening Session if you have not done so already. These sessions have been incredibly useful to me and have helped inform my understanding of LCPS. Once the listening sessions are complete, we will review and address areas of concern. We will also continue the dialogue and engagement about how to improve LCPS and keep the school division moving forward. It is only through communication and connection that we can learn from and understand one another and work toward shared goals.

Aaron Spence, Ed.D.
Superintendent

To celebrate Black History Month, Historic Douglass High School alumni look back on the creation and restoration of the campus and what it means to them. The Douglass High School Commemorative Committee and Loudoun County Public Schools renovated the building, which was the only African American high school in Loudoun County until the end of segregation in 1968. Learn more about the important legacy of this storied learning space.

The Loudoun County School Board adopted the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget during the Operating Budget Adoption and Public Hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Over 60 community members provided comments and feedback for the Board to consider as they finalized the over $1.8 billion operating fund. The School Board’s Adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget will now be considered by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, starting with a Joint Work Session with the School Board on Thursday, Feb. 22. Read more about the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.

The LCPS Division of Safety and Security presented a See Something, Say Something award to two Broad Run High School students for exemplifying LCPS' commitment to safety. Everyone is reminded to report any concerning information to law enforcement, your school’s principal or through the anonymous tip app Safe2Talk.

Through a partnership with Varsity Tutors, LCPS kindergarten through 12th-grade students have access to free tutoring and enrichment opportunities. The free Varsity Tutors program offers homework help, writing support and live enrichment sessions available 24 hours per day/7 days per week in a wide variety of subjects, including math, science, writing and more. Parents/guardians can contact Varsity Tutors to learn more about all the available services. All classes are English only. LCPS is making these resources available in accordance with the Virginia Department of Education’s All In VA, which seeks to provide maximum support to each and every student.

LCPS partnered with two services – ParentGuidance.org and Care Solace – to provide parents/guardians and staff with resources to support their families and themselves. ParentGuidance.org provides parents/guardians with access to online seminars and parent coaching. Care Solace helps students, staff, and families find mental health and substance use treatment matched to their needs. These resources are available at no cost to LCPS parents and staff. LCPS provides these resources and services to promote the well-being of students, their families and staff and to foster a collaborative and supportive environment with no barriers to access. Learn more.

The LCPS Department of Teaching and Learning is developing an Instructional Framework, which will be the foundational driver of curriculum, teaching, assessment and professional learning for the division. The Instructional Framework Project Page provides detailed information on the Instructional Framework and includes access to slide decks and other resources to inform the LCPS community of progress on the framework. Please submit questions or feedback about this process via this online form.

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 February:

• Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Lightridge High School
• Thursday, Feb. 29 at Loudoun Valley High School

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.

Attend a fentanyl awareness session on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Woodgrove High School to learn more about opioids and fentanyl and what you can do to protect your family and community. The presentation will include information about naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversing medication, as well as other resources. Representatives from the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, to include the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Williams Center for Wellness and Recovery will also be in attendance. Information will be provided in English and Spanish.

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

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.

• High School Connection: Moving on from Middle School to High School with an IEP. Thursday, Feb. 15, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Ct., Ashburn). Registration required.
• The Problem of Perfectionism. Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:30-8 p.m., LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Ct., Ashburn). Registration required.
• World Language Opportunities for Your Student. Thursday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m. in English and Spanish; 7 p.m. in English and Arabic, Virtual. Learn more.

Do you have a child who will enter kindergarten next year? Or do you know someone new to LCPS? The online pre-registration portal for kindergartners and all new students is open! 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. Registration appointments will occur starting on March 1. Pre-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

This school year, LCPS launched the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, where students develop proficiency in Spanish and English through content instruction. As we prepare for next school year, Loudoun County residents with rising kindergarten students are invited to express in having their student participate in the DLI program. In addition, parents of rising 1st-grade students can submit their interest by entering their student into the DLI lottery waitlist. Dual Language Immersion is offered at Potowmack and Saunders Corner Elementary Schools. Learn more about the DLI program.

Virtual Distance Learning will continue as an offering for middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grades 9-12) based on academic preference in the 2024-25 school year. All students and their families interested in Virtual Distance Learning must apply through the web application for enrollment consideration. The Virtual Distance Learning application portal opened on Monday, Jan. 29, and will close on Friday, May 3. This application window is the only opportunity to request Virtual Distance Learning for the 2024-25 school year. Interested students and their families can learn more about Virtual Distance Learning, including courses offered and frequently asked questions.

While the start of the 2024/25 school year is still several months away, it is important that you begin to schedule vaccinations for your student now. Students in grade 7 and grade 12 are required to receive the following vaccines before the start of school.

Required Vaccinations for All 7th-Grade Students:

• One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) given at age 7 or older
• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo) given at age 10 or older

Required Vaccinations for All 12th-Grade Students:

• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo) given at age 16 or older

Once your student is vaccinated, please provide their school with the appropriate documentation. For more information, please see LCPS' Immunization Requirements webpage. For more general information about back-to-school immunizations for students of all ages, see this Virginia Department of Health website.

The Department of Teaching and Learning’s Office for Early Literacy, Elementary Reading and Writing invites LCPS families to participate in a review of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading for grades 3, 4 and 5. Physical materials for Into Reading are available for review at all LCPS elementary schools and the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn). LCPS families can also access the digital resources by visiting www.lcps.org/textbooks. Once on the site, resources are available through the LCPS 3-5 Literacy Primary Resource Review & Adoption link. Provide your feedback via the online form. If reviewing materials in person, provide feedback via the QR code at the materials tables. The feedback link is also on the textbook webpage for those reviewing materials digitally. Resources are available for review and public comment until Friday, Feb. 23. The LCPS School Board will vote to approve Into Reading for grades 3-5 at the Tuesday, Feb. 27 School Board meeting.

The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) is accepting nominations for educators, students, parents, community members and LCPS programs that have demonstrated excellence in supporting meaningful efforts toward a more equitable learning environment for LCPS students and staff. Submit nominations using the 2023-2024 MSAAC Award Nomination Form by Thursday, Feb. 29 by 5 p.m. Individuals selected for these awards will be recognized at the MSAAC EquiTEA and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 27, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Historic Douglass High School (407 E. Market St., Leesburg).

Do you know an exceptional LCPS employee? Nominate them for an LCPS Instructional Award or an LCPS Operational Award. Any member of the LCPS community can nominate a staff member for one of these awards.

For Instructional Awards, recognition is given to the following: Professional Employee of the Year, Administrative Support Employee of the Year, Instructional Support Employee of the Year, Student Services Support Employee of the Year, and Substitute of the Year. A complete list of eligible positions within each category can be found at LCPS Instructional Awards Eligibility. To nominate an outstanding employee for an Instructional Award, submit a completed 2023-2024 LCPS Instructional Award Nomination Form by 5 p.m., Friday, March 22.

For Operational Awards, recognition is given to the following: Bus Attendant of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Custodial Employee of the Year, School Nutrition Services Employee of the Year, Information Technology Employee of the Year, Maintenance Employee of the Year, Safety Employee of the Year, Support Staff Employee of the Year. A complete list of eligible positions within each category can be found at LCPS Operational Awards Eligibility. To nominate an outstanding employee for an Operational Award, submit a completed 2023-2024 LCPS Operational Award Nomination Form by 5 p.m., Friday, February 23.

Please visit the Employee Recognition website for additional details.

LCPS is hosting a virtual licensed educator job fair on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Individuals eligible to attend this event must be licensed educators or eligible to be endorsed. Please see the One LCPS Critical Needs Licensed Educator Job Fair website for the areas of need and to register for the event. Registration for this job fair closes on Sunday, Feb. 18. Once registration closes, qualified candidates will receive information regarding interview scheduling. All interviews will be virtual and by appointment only. Please note that due to availability, endorsement area, and/or licensure eligibility, all candidates who apply may not be selected to participate. However, we encourage you to participate in one of our other recruitment events! Please check our website for updates.

The 42nd Annual Loudoun County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held Wednesday, March 20, at John Champe High School. This annual event will involve more than 300 LCPS high school students. LCPS is seeking award sponsors and judges for this event. Please see the Regional Science and Engineering Fair website to learn more. Email questions to rsef@lcps.org or call the LCPS Science Office at 571-252-1360. Current LCPS teachers are not allowed to participate as judges.

LCPS invites parents/guardians and educators to participate in the Virginia Speak Up survey, which helps answer questions about technology use in schools and beyond. 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. The deadline to Speak Up is Friday, Feb. 9.

Upcoming Holidays and Events

• Friday, Feb. 9, is a student and staff holiday in observance of the Lunar New Year.
• Monday, Feb. 19 is President's Day and 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.

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

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