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Fairfax County Public Schools ended a key phase of its comprehensive boundary review during a busy week that also included school visits, community meetings, student competitions and preparations for the fiscal 2027 budget.

In her Dec. 15 reflections, Superintendent Michelle Reid said crews had checked area roads amid the weekend’s cold weather and found conditions ready for school. She urged students and employees to dress warmly, drive carefully and allow extra travel time.

Reid also acknowledged tragic events in the United States and abroad, saying FCPS remained focused on student and staff safety and well-being. Support services are available to struggling students and families, while employees and their families can use the district’s free, confidential Employee Assistance Program around the clock.

Boundary review moves toward School Board action

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its final meeting Friday evening. Reid will consider the committee’s input before presenting final recommendations and a proposed implementation plan to the School Board.

Board members are expected to review the proposal, conduct a public hearing and vote on any boundary changes in January.

Earlier in the week, Reid met with families from Bren Mar Park and Parklawn elementary schools and Glasgow Middle School to hear questions and concerns about possible adjustments.

Boundary issues were also discussed during the final Community Conversations of 2025, held Tuesday at Fairhill Elementary School and Thursday at Bull Run Elementary School. Other topics included volunteer security checks, technology use, the FCPS budget and state and federal funding. Another round of meetings is planned for the spring.

Graham Road tests a new approach to math

During a Tuesday visit to Graham Road Elementary School, Reid observed the school’s “Walk to Read” model, which sends students to designated spaces for focused literacy instruction.

Third-grade teacher Stephanie Jutz and advanced academic resource teacher Alex Poole led small groups working on sound blending, reading fluency and comprehension. Students in reading teacher Sarah Endorf’s room also practiced fluency skills.

Graham Road is one of five schools piloting Clear Math. In kindergarten teacher Lindsay Rodriguez’s classroom, instructional assistants Ruba Saah and Pamela Boatman helped students use plastic chips to practice subtraction within 10. Students in Julie Kercher’s kindergarten class used counting strategies and explained their reasoning.

Second-graders in Annie Otarola and special education inclusion teacher Carolyn Vachon’s classroom reviewed addition and subtraction in groups. In Taylor Swen and multilingual teacher Casey Policy’s class, students used a hundreds chart to explore subtraction patterns.

New writing mentorship planned at Falls Church High

Falls Church High School plans to launch an Alumni Author Mentorship Program in April 2026, connecting graduates who have written books with current students.

Reid discussed the initiative with Craig Day, a 1977 Falls Church graduate who serves as the school’s track coach and resident historian; Assistant Principal Mary Bermingham; and alumni author Carolyn McBride.

Day said the program is intended to inspire students to write while reconnecting alumni with their former school. Its slogan is “You too can write books!”

Falls Church Academy students also recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a tour of Gallaudet University. The American Sign Language students visited a Starbucks staffed by deaf employees, giving them an opportunity to use ASL outside the classroom. ASL teacher Michael Walton shared a video of the trip.

FCPS also released winter learning resources, including activities for days when schools are closed and a literacy adventure calendar for elementary students. The calendar offers 10 winter-themed exercises designed to reinforce literacy skills during the break.

Inclusion and student support remain in focus

A Special Olympics professional development session held Oct. 13 at Annandale High School brought administrators and teachers together to discuss expanding inclusive opportunities.

Assistant Principal Jae Lee said the growing energy around Special Olympics has been one of the most encouraging parts of the division’s work.

“Every time I see a school take its first step into the Special Olympics, I’m reminded that we’re building something bigger than a program — we’re building a culture where every student is seen, valued, and included,” Lee said.

The Military Family Advisory Council met Monday at the Gatehouse Administration Center. FCPS serves approximately 13,000 military-connected students, many of whom face school transitions related to a family member’s service.

On Wednesday, the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee for Twice-Exceptional Programming reviewed the Advanced Academic Program identification process, its 2025-26 project plan, a multiyear plan and questions for student focus groups. The work supports the inclusion and engagement priorities in Goal 2 of the district’s 2023-30 strategic plan.

Students take the stage, mat and robotics field

Reid attended Hayfield Secondary School’s winter orchestra concert Tuesday evening and a girls’ wrestling tournament at Madison High School on Saturday morning.

She then traveled to Hayfield for a LEGO Robotics competition, where students designed and programmed robots to tackle challenges requiring creativity, teamwork and STEM skills. Teams from Oakton and Garfield elementary schools were among the competitors.

Teacher and Hayfield alumnus Joseph Kerns led support for the event, which also involved current and former students mentoring younger participants.

Later Saturday, Reid attended South County High School’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life. Director Jewel Schrader Orem described the play as a story about resilience, community and the ways one person can affect many others.

All FCPS schools retain accreditation

The first ratings under Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework found that every Fairfax County public school remains fully accredited.

The new standards place more weight on mastery of standardized tests and less on individual student growth.

Reid said maintaining the district’s programs will require funding for educators, academics and career-focused learning. Development of the fiscal 2027 budget is underway, with the superintendent’s proposal scheduled for presentation to the School Board in late January.

FCPS is directing families and employees to its Budget Story webpage for information about the district’s finances and concerns over Virginia’s school funding formulas.

Reid also attended Friday’s Regional Elected Leaders Initiative Awards Luncheon at George Mason University, which recognized regional officials for civility, collaboration and effective governance.

Classroom grants reach nearly 47,000 students

Educate Fairfax returned more than $1.27 million to FCPS during the previous year. For its 2025-26 grant cycle, the organization awarded 129 grants totaling more than $210,000.

The grants are expected to benefit nearly 47,000 students at 117 schools.

Teacher Sally Milian, whose students grow and harvest kale in a school garden, supports the organization after seeing how its classroom grants expand learning opportunities. She said the funding can turn “limited resources into limitless learning.”

Reid closed the weekly update by encouraging the FCPS community to make time for gratitude, reflection and quiet during the winter season.