FCPS January 2022 COVID-19 Update
FEA has been regularly communicating with FCPS leadership over this winter break. We will continue to watch the health data in our community and next week in our schools. If you have symptoms, please let your supervisor know and get tested. DO NOT return to FCPS worksites on Monday, if you are sick.
Substitutes are being recruited now to fill in for instructional and operational staff who are COVID positive or those experiencing symptoms. FCPS is testing symptomatic and/or exposed employees and students as we return. You may have seen the email from the Superintendent yesterday. It outlines several important items. You can read it here: https://bit.ly/FCPSemail1228
A drive through testing site for employees and students will be open Thursday and Friday at the Gatehouse Parking Garage (Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042). You must be registered with FCPS’ testing site to get tested but appointments are not needed. Only employees will be tested from 9 a.m. to noon.
We know that FCPS employees are not expected and many are even told not to check their emails while not on contract time. That may keep employees from feeling informed at this time.
The following email was sent to FCPS staff Friday afternoon, Dec. 31:
Dear FCPS Staff and Community;
FCPS is offering additional diagnostic testing Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2 for symptomatic staff and students. Please note that the location has changed to South County High School. Testing will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This testing should only be utilized by students and staff who are symptomatic, and want to know their health status before returning to school or work. Please note that this testing is not mandatory to return to work or school.
Scheduled appointments will not be available; however, you must register for an account in advance. The building will not be open for use so please plan accordingly. Updates regarding capacity limits will be posted to the FCPS Twitter account and as an alert on the homepage of the FCPS website.
Students and staff should come ready to share their FCPS ID or student ID number. For students, registration will also automatically enter the child in their school’s optional screening testing. Parents/guardians must log in to the online portal after the diagnostic test is complete and withdraw their consent, to remove the child from the weekly screening testing pool.
For our regular drive-through diagnostic testing information and schedules starting January 3, visit our website. For information about other testing opportunities in Fairfax County, visit the Fairfax County Health Department’s website.
Fairfax County Public Schools
The following email was sent to FCPS staff Friday morning, Dec. 31:
December 31, 2021
Dear FCPS Staff and Community;
We want to remind you that we are planning to return from winter break to in-person learning on Monday, January 3. Our intent is to remain open as we navigate this COVID spike - doing everything we can to mitigate spread and cover classes to keep us operational.
After hearing from the community regarding the limited availability of testing, we worked very hard with our vendor at the last minute to offer diagnostic testing to staff and students who are symptomatic, and would like to know their health status before returning to school or work. Please note that this testing is not mandatory to return to work or school.
FCPS will be offering additional diagnostic testing this weekend - both Saturday, January 1 and Sunday, January 2 for symptomatic staff and students. This is in addition to diagnostic testing being provided today, Friday, December 31 from 9 a.m. to noon for staff and noon to 4 p.m. for students. This diagnostic testing opportunity is limited to FCPS students and staff, and students and staff should come ready to share their FCPS ID or student ID number.
Once again, this testing will be provided at our Gatehouse Administration Center drive-through diagnostic testing site. Scheduled appointments will not be available; however, you must register for an account in advance. We anticipate long lines with wait times between 3-4 hours. The building will not be open for use. Please plan accordingly. Updates regarding capacity limits will be posted to the FCPS Twitter account and as an alert on the homepage of the FCPS website.
For students, registration will also automatically enter the child in their school’s optional screening testing. Parents/guardians must log in to the online portal after the diagnostic test is complete and withdraw their consent, to remove the child from the weekly screening testing pool.
For our regular drive-through diagnostic testing information and schedules starting January 3, visit our website. For information about other testing opportunities in Fairfax County, visit the Fairfax County Health Department’s website.
Fairfax County Public Schools
The following email was sent to all FCPS staff Thursday evening, Dec. 30:
December 30, 2021
Dear Staff,
We are planning to return from winter break to in-person learning on Monday, January 3. Our intent is to remain open as we navigate this COVID spike - doing everything we can to mitigate spread and cover classes to keep us operational.
We appreciate everyone’s patience regarding today’s COVID-19 testing site at Gatehouse. We worked very hard with our vendor at the last minute to offer this service to staff and students who are symptomatic, and would like to know their health status before returning to school or work. Please note that testing is not mandatory to return to work. We anticipate long lines again tomorrow, with wait times between 3-4 hours. Please plan accordingly.
For our regular drive-through diagnostic testing information and schedules starting January 3, visit our website. For information about other testing opportunities in Fairfax County, visit the Fairfax County Health Department’s website.
We also want to ensure that we are prepared, should we need to temporarily move to asynchronous or synchronous virtual instruction for an individual classroom, school, or as a last resort, our school division. We know that many of the tasks outlined below were completed at the start of the school year or as part of normal operations. Please use the week of January 3rd to review protocols with your students and colleagues to ensure readiness if a brief transition is necessary.
Health and Safety Considerations and Reminders for In Person Learning
Follow all layered prevention strategies to include correct and consistent use of well-fitted masks at all times (except when eating), washing hands frequently, and staying physically distant as much as possible in classrooms, cafeteria, hallways and other areas.
Send reminders and reinforce with your students that if you are sick to STAY HOME until you are tested and/or feel better.
Staff who test positive for COVID should continue to report that information to their principal/program manager and complete the Release to Return to Work Form prior to coming back to work. Given the current challenges with obtaining a doctor appointment, asymptomatic staff members who are unable to obtain a doctor’s release or Health Department clearance letter may submit the COVID Self Authorization-Asymptomatic Employee Return to Work Attestation form in lieu of Release to Return to Work Form. This new option will remain in place for the duration of the current COVID surge.
Have hand sanitizer readily available throughout the building and in classrooms and use often.
Use outdoor spaces as much as possible for eating, learning, and/or other extracurricular activities.
All field trips and Middle School After School Activities will be canceled for the first two weeks of January. We will reassess these precautions on January 14. Large group in-person gatherings are discouraged at this time to include dances, pep rallies, student and parent curriculum nights and visits to other buildings, etc.
High School athletics will continue with limited spectators. There will be no general admission to any sports contests through Friday, January 14th. Spectators will be limited to family members of both the home and visiting teams and select guests as determined by the principal and director of student activities.
Conduct large collaborative team and faculty/staff meetings virtually at this time. Each school was supplied a Zoom Webinar license during this school year to support large virtual events.
Devices and Connectivity for All
While keeping our classrooms/schools open for in person learning is our top priority, we want all students and staff to be prepared should a classroom or school have to move temporarily to asynchronous or synchronous virtual instruction. To prepare, beginning the week of January 3 work closely with your school’s administration, SBTS and TSSpec to ensure that every student has an assigned device that can be taken home and that students who do not have connectivity are provided a MIFI. Also ensure that you have connectivity and that you are taking devices and a power adaptor home daily. It is suggested that you also determine if there are paper materials that you may want to send home to support learning for students if needed.
Technology Application Reminders
Teachers can also prepare by ensuring that their classes are set up in Schoology and can run quick Zoom test sessions to ensure that students are able to log into Schoology to access Zoom and assignments. More instructions and support are available from your school’s administration team and SBTS.
Taking these proactive steps will assist us in having a smoother transition should there be a need for virtual instruction. Again, every effort will first be made to provide in person instruction as we know that is best for our FCPS students and families. We will continue to monitor the health and staffing needs at each school on a daily basis and will provide updates as needed.
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to FCPS. Working together we can continue to provide a safe learning and work environment as we start the new year.
Scott S. Brabrand
Superintendent