School news roundup

The following news briefs and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools.

Where’s the equity? – The Fairfax County School Board passed a watered-down resolution Oct. 20 supporting educators “as they deliver FCPS-approved curriculum and classroom resources that are inclusive and meet the high aspirations of our students, families, and the Fairfax County community.”

The original “Truthful Education in FCPS” resolution, introduced by Mason School Board member Ricardy Anderson, called for the board “to protect and support educators and school-based administrators in FCPS as they develop and implement antiracist, equity, and justice-based classroom resources and pedagogy …”

The final resolution was passed on a 7-2 vote after the board took out the words “anti-racist” and “equity.” In the end, Anderson and Karen Keys-Gamarra (at-large) voted against the resolution.

The resolution approved by the board also drops references to a toxic climate around school policies.

The original resolution noted that educators are developing instructional materials to meet students’ needs and community expectations “around our historic truths, representative literature, critical thinking, and social justice.”

However, it states, “recent events have caused many FCPS educators and school-based administrators to fear that implementing these necessary curricular improvements could lead to personal or professional harm.”

That language recognized a divisive climate where conservative parents and others disrupt school board meetings and sharply criticize board members online – often about efforts to protect transgender students. In one example, some have falsely accused board members of being “groomers.”

A sensory blacktop – Beech Tree Elementary School educators are challenging traditional notions about recess by creating “sensory pathways” on the blacktop.

The new, colorful designs encourage students to take part in creative play and problem-solving. Examples include pictures of yoga poses, a map of the United States, a bean bag toss, and a conflict resolution circle.

“The students are structured all day long, so it’s great to provide them with these designs on the blacktop.” said art teacher Greg Skrtic who developed the project with school counselor Yolonda Adams.

“These are called sensory pathways because the students can take whatever path they want with the different things we have out here,” says Adams. “It gets their blood pumping and flowing. It helps with focusing when they go back inside. It helps them get the wiggles out.”

Saturday school – Glasgow Middle School invited students to a voluntary Inspire Conference Oct. 15 to help them catch up with learning lost during the pandemic. Parents were invited, too, to see what their children are learning.

Glasgow used ESSER II funds, a federal pandemic relief program, to cover the cost of the Saturday School.

Easier translations – FCPS has recently approved the use of TalkingPoints, a free two-way messaging app that allows parents to communicate with teachers in their home language.

Teachers can input messages in English, and parents and caregivers can respond in their preferred language. The app can handle 125 languages.

Solar Atoms – The School Board on Oct. 20 approved a purchase agreement with Ipsun Solar to install solar panels on the roof of Annandale High School. FCPS will pay Ipsum about $2.15 million over the 25-year term of the agreement.

The solar system is expected to result in energy savings between $11,000 and $22,000 a year.

Student fundraisers – Members of Woodson High School’s Young Hearts Club once again participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” run/walk. This year’s event was Oct. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Young Hearts Club has taken part in this annual event for the past 20 years. During that time, the club raised nearly $1 million for blood cancer research.

TJ applications – The application for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be available online on Oct. 24 at 4 p.m.

FCPS encourages middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to apply to the TJHSST Class of 2027. The deadline to apply is Nov. 18, and applications must be started by 4 p.m. on Nov. 16.