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Fairfax County Public Schools students earned hundreds of regional art honors as the division warned families about high influenza activity and announced updates involving employment, school boundaries, budgets, instructional materials, and student events.
Students in grades 7-12 received 809 honors in the 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Awards. The total included 210 Gold Key awards, 235 Silver Key awards, and 364 Honorable Mention awards.
Flu activity rises across Fairfax County
Fairfax County is experiencing high levels of influenza illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like symptoms have increased, particularly among children, and multiple outbreaks have occurred in schools and the wider community.
Health officials recommend covering coughs and sneezes and wearing a mask around others when ill. Residents should wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, use alcohol-based sanitizer when soap is unavailable, and clean frequently touched surfaces.
People who become sick should remain home and avoid contact with others until their symptoms improve and they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours.
FCPS recruits public-service professionals
FCPS will hold a job and career information fair Wednesday, February 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event is intended in part for professionals moving from federal or state government roles into public education.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will open the session. Chief Human Resources Officer William Solomon and other human resources leaders will discuss educational and operational positions, along with salaries, benefits, and retirement plans.
People with bachelor’s degrees may be able to obtain provisional teaching licenses within several weeks. Other openings include positions in finance, human resources, safety and security, food service, transportation, and facilities. Registration and location information was expected to be announced later.
Kindergarten registration begins
Kindergarten registration and orientation events usually take place from January through April, although eligible children may also register during the summer. Registering early helps schools estimate the staffing and resources needed for the first day.
After determining which school their child will attend, families should collect the required documents and complete the necessary forms. Registration assistance is available in multiple languages.
Students deliver handmade valentines
Waynewood Elementary School students made Valentine’s Day cards on January 24 for people who are seriously ill, homebound, or living in long-term care facilities. The effort was conducted in partnership with Valentines by Kids.
Students in Chantilly Academy’s medical assistant class also created cards for adults and children who are seriously ill, confined to their homes, or receiving long-term care.
Career programs introduce students to new paths
February is Career and Technical Education Month. FCPS career and technical education programs teach the practical applications of different occupations while preparing students for college or entry-level employment.
Academies at six FCPS high schools provide advanced technical and specialized courses that combine academics with career preparation. Cassandra Deedy, a counselor at Edison Academy, helps students, parents, and high school counselors learn about the available programs.
Students prepare for social-emotional survey
Students in grades 3-12 are scheduled to complete the Social and Emotional Learning Screener in March. Administered twice a year, the survey asks students whether their schools and communities make them feel valued, included, and supported.
Results will be placed in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE after each screening. Families without ParentVUE accounts will receive results by mail. Questions and opt-out information are also available to families.
Stone Soup turns cooperation into a classroom lesson
Second graders at Cunningham Park Elementary School made Stone Soup while studying a Benchmark Advance language arts unit.
Following the story of a hungry traveler, each student contributed one ingredient to a shared soup. Teachers used the activity to demonstrate cooperation and the value of people working together as a community.
FCPS highlights limits of national testing sample
During the February 6 public meeting, Reid discussed the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card. The assessment measures reading and mathematics achievement among fourth- and eighth-grade students.
National results show 30% to 40% of fourth graders reaching proficiency in reading and math, while fewer than 30% of eighth graders meet that benchmark. Only 1.8% of FCPS students, however, are included in the assessment sample.
Standards of Learning data indicate that about 75% of FCPS fourth graders and between 76% and 79% of its eighth graders are proficient in reading and mathematics.
Boundary review advances toward draft scenarios
FCPS has completed the final community meeting in Phase 1 of its comprehensive school boundary review. More than 2,500 employees, relatives of students, and community members submitted feedback.
The first phase will continue through the spring as FCPS and its consultant collect and analyze data. The division will evaluate existing boundaries, identify major themes, and prepare draft scenarios shaped by community input.
No boundary changes have been proposed. Draft scenarios are expected to receive another round of public feedback during Phase 2.
Budget deliberations continue
FCPS says more than 85% of its budget remains in classrooms and 92.5% of its employees work in schools, a higher proportion than in neighboring divisions.
A work session on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18. The annual budget process includes opportunities for public comment.
Local education officials also approved the annual update to the Capital Improvement Program, which outlines the schedules and costs of renovations, additions, and new school buildings. Planned projects include renovation of the courtyard at Louise Archer Elementary School.
Community invited to review new math materials
FCPS plans to introduce new secondary mathematics resources during the 2025-26 school year and new elementary materials in 2026-27.
A committee of teachers, administrators, and community members will evaluate materials submitted by vendors through a competitive request-for-proposals process. Online access and public review begin Friday, February 14.
Hard copies will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 100. In-person reviews will not be offered February 25, February 27, March 11, or March 12.
Residents may submit comments digitally. Their feedback will be shared with the review committee and local education officials before a vote planned for spring 2025.
Holiday closure and teen job fairs approach
All FCPS schools and offices will be closed Monday, February 17, for Presidents Day. Families can subscribe to division calendars through Outlook or Google Calendar, including schedules for holidays, public meetings, arts events, featured activities, and religious and cultural observances.
The 2025 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series and Career Building Workshops will begin Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Springfield High School. A second event will take place Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Chantilly High School.
Sponsored by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity in collaboration with FCPS, the fairs will connect students with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. Workshops will address résumé writing and interviewing.
Most positions are intended for students older than 16, although some opportunities may be available to younger participants with parental permission.