Friday, December 3, 2021, Edition 42
Yellow Springs Elementary students offer thanks to school bus drivers in an effort organized by the school's Parent Teacher Association.
A note from Dr. Alban
Just before Thanksgiving, Yellow Springs Elementary Parent Teacher Association members and students greeted school bus drivers at arrival with thank you signs, chocolates and gift cards.
The bus drivers appreciated these kind gestures, and as you can see from the photo above, the students had fun too.
It’s been wonderful to see how our FCPS community is supporting each other during this holiday season. In the last month, FCPS employees have donated more than $38,000 through our Combined Charities campaign to support local nonprofits.
At our schools, students and staff have been thinking of others in need. Led by assistant coach John Jefferson, Urbana High student athletes delivered turkeys and ingredients for side dishes to families during the Frederick Community Action Agency’s annual Thanksgiving food distribution.
Meanwhile, FCPS Career and Technology Center students donated more than 1,400 socks for local nonprofits ensuring community members in need have basic necessities.
These are all small gestures that make a huge difference. It only takes a moment to be kind. So no matter whether you are thanking others for a job well done or helping those in the community who need it most, it makes me proud to see #TogetherFCPS moments happening throughout the county.
Have a great weekend!
Looking Ahead
The full FCPS Maryland calendar is available online.
#TogetherFCPS: System highlights Photo of the Week: The slime is pouring at Waverley Elementary as Acting Principal Julie Ivins and Assistant- Principal Heather Putnam "pay up" for their students having great attendance records! FCPS cooperated with an investigation led by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding restraint and seclusion practices of students with disabilities. After several months, FCPS collaborated with the DOJ on a settlement. The FCPS 2021 Veteran in Education Service Award winner is Thurmont Middle School resident substitute teacher Juana Anderson!
Nominations for Principal of the Year are open!
Kudos to the FCPS Budget Office, earning the Meritorious Budget Award for the second year in a row.
FCPS seeks nominations for the Support Employee of the Year (by Friday, January 28).
The FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab shines brightly in December!
Latest FCPS In a Minute: Our latest FCPS In A Minute highlights some students helping the community during the Thanksgiving break, and we give a shout out to several state champs in athletics!
This week's health metrics FCPS is committed to providing the community with the latest health metrics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCPS health metrics dashboard is updated twice per week with COVID-19 positive cases that are reported to Frederick County Public Schools.
Total COVID-19 cases reported to FCPS this week (through Dec. 2): 79 Total COVID-19 cases reported to FCPS for week of Nov. 22: 89 Frederick County COVID-19 test positivity rate (as of Nov. 30): 7.49 percent Frederick County COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents (as of Nov. 30): 25.32
Health information for families
Recap on COVID-19 Protocol Changes
The Board of Education approved the following changes to our COVID-19 protocols and response at their October 13 meeting:
Modified Quarantining Protocol Began: Monday, October 18, 2021 Change: Students will be identified as a close contact and asked to quarantine if they were unmasked and within 6 feet of another student who tested positive for 15 minutes or more. The identification of close contacts for adults has not changed.
Return to Play Protocol changes Begins: Monday, December 6, 2021 Who: Students taking part in athletics, performing arts and other extracurricular activities that have interscholastic competition. What: Must either show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 OR participate in a weekly screening test program.
For more details about these changes, please see our update to the community
Check out our FCPS Health Hub for more details about our COVID-19 response.
Tweet of the Week with Dr. Alban
This week's Tweet of the Week guest is Yellow Springs Elementary Principal Hannah Feldman, talking with Dr. Alban about "other (fun!) duties as assigned."
SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Theresa R. Alban ADDRESS 191 South East Street Frederick, MD 21701 301-644-5000
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