Dear Providence Residents,
Fairfax County Public Schools have come to the tough decision to start the 2020-21 school year 100% online.
Superintendent Scott Brabrand noted that the shift to a fully virtual start is based on health data. I've included the Superintendent's message below. As Fairfax County officials, our first priority will always be the safety of the community, and that comes with difficult choices. I am dedicated to providing support for working parents and caregivers during this challenging time and will continue to push for important services to meet our community's needs. Please reach out to me if you have a specific issue you would like to discuss.
Providence District updates can be found in this edition of our newsletter:
- Message from the FCPS Superintendent
- Local Clinics Offering Childhood Immunizations
- Transportation Updates
- Metro Updates
- Yard Waste and Special Pick-up
I hope this finds you and your family safe and well.
With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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Message from the FCPS Superintendent
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FCPS Will Begin School Year September 8 Virtually
By FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations
Message from the Superintendent
July 21, 2020
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Staff,
The changing course of the COVID-19 pandemic with infection rates surging both nationally and regionally has required us to alter our plans for school year 2020-21. Today, the Fairfax County School Board supported my revised recommendation that we begin the 2020-21 school year with virtual learning for all students. The online school year will begin, as scheduled, September 8. Should health conditions improve, we would first bring back students for intervention supports on a limited basis. Following that, we would work to bring students back to school as soon as possible starting with elementary school students, select PreK-12 special education students and English Learners.
This was not an easy decision, but after reviewing the best available health data and continuing to gather input from teachers, staff, students, and families, we have determined that full-time online instruction is the only safe option at this time. The pandemic looks much different now than it did even three weeks ago. Although infection rates in Fairfax County have declined and are relatively stable, 33 percent of our employees live outside the county. The threat posed by the virus does not recognize borders or boundaries.
We know this is very disappointing news for the families who chose the two-day-a-week in-person learning option in our recent preference questionnaire. We all want in-person learning to resume as quickly as possible. We will reassess health conditions regularly to determine when students can begin in-person instruction, if science and data suggest it is safe to do so.
The Board also directed my office to determine clear multifaceted metrics to be used to determine if we can start to offer in-person instruction starting with our most vulnerable students. They requested an update regarding the metrics to be presented to the Board no later than August 15.
The online instruction model will be the same one offered to families in our recent survey. For distance learning, our first priority is to provide access and equity in the learning experience for each of our students. We understand that there are significant academic and social/emotional challenges to our students learning remotely. We have strengthened our digital learning model so that we can provide an even more rigorous and engaging virtual-learning program with greater connections for all students at all grade levels.
- Online learning provides four days (Tuesday through Friday) of live, face-to-face instruction with teachers.
- At the elementary level, students will receive real-time, interactive instruction each day.
- The elementary day will also consist of additional small group instruction, intervention supports, and independent learning activities assigned to students.
- Middle and high school students will follow an A/B block schedule.
- Student work will be graded and attendance is required.
- Mondays will remain a teacher planning day with intervention supports for selected students that we hope can be provided in-person.
We will dedicate ourselves to spending the weeks before September 8 preparing resources and help for parents and students. We will provide additional training for our teachers to better meet the needs of our students and provide distance learning supports and guidance for our families. Your child’s school will be communicating with you regarding schedules and other information to prepare for online learning.
As we move forward, our decision-making will remain guided by safety, equity, science, and the many needs of our stakeholders in the midst of a dangerous global pandemic.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Scott Brabrand, Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
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Local Clinics Offering Childhood Immunizations
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The Fairfax County Health Department is offering nine additional community childhood vaccination clinics and has expanded district office hours to provide Tdap vaccine at three clinics in Fairfax County. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of one of the free vaccination clinic opportunities soon so their children are immunized in time for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
Vaccines are still required to enroll into Fairfax County Public Schools even though all students will start the year with virtual learning.
Today’s childhood vaccines protect against potentially life-threatening illnesses, including polio, measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox. Seventh graders and transfer students also need a booster dose of Tdap vaccine before entering 7th grade. Preteens and teens need vaccines like HPV, which protects them against certain types of cancer later in life.
Community vaccination clinics offering childhood immunizations:
- July 25, 10am–2pm: Bethlehem Baptist, 7836 Fordson Rd., Alexandria
- July 30, 2pm–6pm: Lincolnia Senior Center, 4710 N. Chambliss St., entrance D4, Alexandria
- August 15, 10am–2pm: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Rd., Bailey’s Crossroads
- August 17, 2pm–6pm: London Towne Elementary, 6100 Stone Rd., Centreville
- August 20, 2pm–6pm: Annandale District Office, 7611 Little River Tnpk, #400E, Annandale
Vaccination clinics offering school required Tdap immunizations at the
Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax:
- July 31, 1pm–4pm
- August 14, 1pm–4pm
- August 21, 1pm–4pm
- August 28, 1pm–4pm
To schedule an appointment, call 703-246-6010, TTY 711. To minimize face-to-face time during the vaccination clinic, families are encouraged to send a picture of their child’s vaccination record ahead of time.
Parents, especially those with children under 2, are also encouraged to call their child’s provider to see if any vaccinations are due. Now more than ever, it’s important that families stay connected to their medical home and get their children vaccinated on time.
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I-66 Construction
The
planned closure and detour of the W&OD Trail
at Idylwood Park that was scheduled to begin on or about July 27
has been postponed
for additional project coordination. Updates will be announced later.
I-66 West will be reduced to one travel lane
approaching Vaden Drive near the Vienna Metrorail Station nightly through Thursday, July 23, from 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., and Friday, July 24, from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should expect periodic stoppages and slowdowns each night. All lanes will reopen by 4:30 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Nutley Street North to I-66 West:
With the closed loop ramp from northbound Nutley to I-66, drivers now access I-66 West by turning left at a temporary traffic signal onto a new temporary ramp that merges with the existing ramp from southbound Nutley to I-66 West. Two travel lanes will continue through the interchange in both directions on Nutley. Drivers traveling south on Nutley should remain alert for traffic turning left from northbound Nutley heading to I-66 West. The temporary traffic signals and ramps will remain in place for approximately two years while the new interchange is constructed.
Construction and lane closure updates are available at
Transform66.org
and on Twitter @
VaDOTNOVA
. To receive updates automatically by email, sign up
here
.
Some
Fairfax Connector
bus routes are operating Saturday service during weekdays, and other routes are temporarily suspended. The website,
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/service-reduction
has information and riders may want to call Customer Service at 703-339-7200, TTY 703-339-1608; Mon - Fri 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sat - Sun 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Se habla Español. Also, riders may sign up for text and email alerts at Fairfax Alerts by subscribing to “Fairfax Connector Passenger Information,” and follow Fairfax Connector on Twitter and Facebook.
Connector rides are still free, face masks are still required, and passengers board and exit through rear doors with exceptions for the handicapped who may enter and leave at the front.
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Metro Reopening Six Stations August 16
Metro will reopen six Fairfax County stations and restore Silver Line service on August 16, weeks earlier than originally planned. The six stations reopening on August 16 are McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East plus one Orange Line station: West Falls Church
Face coverings
are mandatory on Metro trains and buses, including buses in Fairfax County.
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Metro will add more buses, more trains, and more hours of service beginning on Sunday, August 16, 2020, restoring most service to pre-Covid levels while maintaining a strong response posture to Covid-19. Metrorail will add 15 hours more service per week, with opening times returning to normal and the system closing two hours later each night in anticipation of potential increases in ridership after Labor Day.
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Metro Board seeks individuals to serve on new Metro Transit Police Investigations Review Panel
The new Metro Transit Police Investigations Review Panel (IRP) is an independent advisory body that can recommend changes to MTPD training and policies. Any member of the community with an interest in serving is welcome to apply. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. July 31, on Metro’s website at
https://wmata.com/mtpd-irp
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Message from Yard Waste and Special Pickups
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Special pick-up delays:
Special pick-up
(brush & bulk)
continues to experience delays. Pickups are now about 1 week behind on collection.
Yard waste collection:
Pickup is running behind on yard waste by 4 days.
If your special pick-up or yard waste is not collected on the regular collection day, you should leave it at the curb or street line and it will be collected as soon as possible. Staff is currently working through Saturdays to service customers.
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- Native Amphibians on Aug. 4 and 6
- Backyard Birds on Aug. 16 and 18
- Native Plants and Trees on Aug. 23 and 25
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello.
Office Phone
: (703) 560-6946
Email us
HERE
if you would like events included in our newsletter or you would like a member of our team to join your HOA meeting.
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