School news: Teacher raises proposed

A student displays her research project on the effectiveness of natural and artificial preservatives on bread at the Annandale High School science fair. See more pictures from the science fair here.

School News is an occasional series highlighting news about school programs, activities and issues. The photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools.  

School board seeks funding increase – The Fairfax County School Board has adopted a $3 billion advertised budget for fiscal year 2020 (the 2019-20 school year) that includes a $55.2 million investment in teacher salary scales and a 1 percent market scale adjustment.

First-graders at Weyanoke Elementary School practice number sequencing by creating their own 100s chart.

For non-teacher employees, the budget calls for $46.8 million for a step increase and $8.2 million for a 1 percent market scale adjustment.

The school board is seeking a 4.1 percent increase ($117.4 million) over the budget approved for FY 2019. View FCPS budget information here.

The budget also requests $4.3 million to expand the FCPSOn program, which provides one-to-one computing devices to high school students; an increase in substitute pay for retirees; and an additional $2.9 million for student mental health, student safety, and substance abuse prevention.

The budget assumes a slight decrease in student enrollment which will result in savings of $6.3 million.

The School Board will present its FY 2020 advertised budget to the Board of Supervisors on April 9. The School Board has scheduled two work sessions on April 29 and May 2 to further evaluate the budget amendments and follow-on motions.

Outstanding principal – Glasgow Middle School Principal Shawn DeRose has been named FCPS Region 2 Outstanding Principal. “I am incredibly grateful to work with such an outstanding staff and supportive community and believe this recognition is ultimately a reflection of the hard work our staff and members of the PTA have shown in support of Glasgow’s vision,” DeRose says.

Woodson students on PS I Love You Day.

Woodson spreads the love – Woodson High School celebrates PS I Love You Day on the second Friday of every February at part of a national movement to decrease bullying and promote mental health.

This year Woodson students and faculty wore purple as a way to raise awareness that everyone can help students with concerns about depression or suicide. Handwritten notes with encouraging messages were posted on every student’s locker, and student leaders greeted their peers at the door with cheers and wrist bands.

Win cash for your school – The Click for Kids Contest, hosted by WTOP and Huntington Learning Center, is underway. Nominate your school by 5 p.m. on Feb. 22 for a chance to win a cash prize for your school. The grand prize is $10,000. First-place winners get $7,500 for their school, and second-place winners get $5,000.

Color of Justice – Members of the Northern Virginia legal community invite minority high school students to participate in an annual program about the law called the Color of Justice. This year’s program, March 23, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, includes a mock trial, small group sessions, a Q&A panel, and lunch. For more information and to RSVP, contact Mary Huff, 703-279-7217, [email protected].

There’s also an optional essay contest with monetary prizes for the winners. This year’s topic is on U.S. immigration policy. Essays must be submitted by Feb. 28 to Nicole Grejda at [email protected] 

Summer camp – Registration is open for FCPS summer enrichment camps and institutes, including Elementary Institute for the Arts, Institute for the Arts, STEM Camp, Tech Adventure Camp, and Adult and Community Education Extended Day Enrichment programs.

These programs will take place at Fairfax High School. Transportation from schools outside the Fairfax High School pyramid may be available.

Canterbury Woods students send bears to kids in foster care.

Bears to share – Students at Canterbury Woods Elementary School are brightening the lives of children in foster care by dressing up stuffed bears donated by Build-A-Bear and sending them to the  Fairfax County Department of Social Services to be distributed to children living in foster care. The students added books and special items, such as a letter or small toy, to the packages.

Learn about vaping – FCPS has created a student-focused webpage about vaping that discusses the risks and provides resources to learn more. Many students erroneously believe e-cigarettes are harmless, when in fact, they could contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities document was updated in September to add vaping as a prohibited activity.