September 4, 2020
Dear Providence Residents, 

To our wonderful community of students, teachers, faculty and staff: Welcome back to school! Fairfax County Public Schools will head back virtually on Tuesday, September 8th. This school year will look and feel very different. I know the FCPS team has worked tirelessly to make this new reality of virtual learning a positive and educational experience for the students. Our Providence District School Board Representative Karl Frisch extends his full support and a warm welcome in a letter to you and your family below as our students head back to school.
 
With Gratitude, 
Supervisor Dalia Palchik 
Message from our School Board Rep Karl Frisch
Welcome Back to School!

I hope you and your families have enjoyed a safe and healthy summer during these challenging times. I do not have to tell you that next week’s return to school will be as exciting as ever, but it will not look as it has in years past. This reality has some students and parents feeling understandably anxious and uncertain. Please know that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has made tremendous investments in technology and professional development to help make this virtual start to the school year a success.

To support families working with their children during virtual learning, FCPS has launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week. We have also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents or guardians to request technology assistance directly.

Parents and guardians can help set their children up for success by helping them to develop new routines, making sure they have a comfortable workspace when possible, minimizing distractions, creating a space where their supplies are easy to find, providing positive feedback, and using a checklist to help them focus.

My partner is a high school teacher in Fairfax County. He and his colleagues have been preparing to return to school for weeks – participating in many hours of professional development to sharpen skills and become even more familiar with distance learning technology. They are working hard to make sure our students are successful and have a smooth start to the school year.

Our ability to make the most of this difficult situation is incumbent upon parents, students, teachers, and staff sharing their honest feedback – the good and the bad – about their experiences with distance learning. We need to know what is working and what needs improvement, so please do not hesitate to contact me. During this time of social distancing, hearing from you directly is critical to our success.

We are all in this together. Thank you for all you have done to help and support our students, teachers, and staff.

Karl Frisch
Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Healthy Minds Podcast
Healthy Minds Podcast: A Healthy Start to the School Year

As we countdown to the first day of virtual school, some families may be feeling anxious about this change to the normal routine. In this Healthy Minds podcast we hear from Bethany Koszelak, a mental health specialist for FCPS. Bethany talks to us about self-care and mental wellness practices families can use to cope with any stress they might be experiencing. She also has some advice for parents about how to speak with their children about their feelings.
Special Education Resources
The Special Education Return to School webpage has been updated and includes the latest information for families. Another excellent resource recently suggested from the Office of Special Services is the Family Guide to At-Home Learning. Additional supports for our special education community can be accessed through these resources:


The Virginia Autism Council (VAC) is offering a free webinar series on supports and services, transportation, trauma and resilience oriented care, communication with first responders, and a review of the 2021 VAC skills competencies.

These free seminars are held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The next seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2020- The Spectrum of Transportation with Mary Breister and Anne Brie – register online here.
Support for Students with Disabilities
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This page has information for parents of students in grades PreK-12, accessing instruction in school-based programs.

FCPS has a number of Public Day Schools and Career Center Programs that serve students with disabilities.

These programs will continue to be an alternative options for students during the 2020-2021 school year. The principals of these programs have worked hard to develop comprehensive instructional programming for the students who attend their programs and they have developed daily schedules that will best meet the needs of the students whom they serve.
FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference
FCPS will host its 7th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference during a three-week period from Monday, September 14 to Saturday, October 3. The virtual event will focus on resiliency. Our Minds Matter will also host a student strand.

Register HERE
Stuff the Bus Food Drive
Contact Us
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Office Phone: (703) 560-6946
 
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