parent & community
connection
a newsletter for stafford county public schools families & the community
in this issue 2 . . . . . . . . . . . from our superintendent 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . school buzz 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .for parents 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .building for the future . . . vsba bullying prevention month 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .upcoming events 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .partners in education
Stafford County Public Schools scpscommunications@staffordschools.net
october 2016
fully accredited
scps sustains full accreditation for 2016-2017 For the second year in a row, Stafford County Public Schools is the largest school division in the state of Virginia to achieve full accreditation.
success. There is more that occurs in our schools. We want to ensure that our students are prepared for further education, work, and citizenship.”
This is an amazing accomplishment for the school division. Every school in the division has the designation of “Fully Accredited.”
According to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) State Accreditation Report, all 30 schools in Stafford County earned the highest accreditation rating of “Fully Accredited” for the 2016-2017 school year. Based on the 2016 revisions of the Standards of Quality (SOQ), 97 percent of SCPS schools will be ‘Fully Accredited” for the next three years.
“This is an exciting time for SCPS. This accomplishment speaks to the tremendous work taking place in our schools not only from our teachers, but students and staff as well. We are very proud of the work done in our division to prepare our students to be successful,” said Superintendent Dr. Bruce Benson. “It is important to keep in mind that achievement on Virginia SOL tests is but one measure of
The community may view detailed information regarding Stafford Schools’ accomplishments on the Virginia Department of Education Website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov.
from our superintendent Dear Stafford Families and Community, I invite you to take some time to read the first edition of Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) Parent and Community newsletter. Some exciting things are happening within our schools and around the community. We publicized our Strategic Plan, launched a new website in September and hope to launch a Mobile App in November. One of the major goals of the Strategic Plan was communication and to communicate effectively at all levels. Our goal is to foster proactive and positive communication to ensure our families and community are engaged and well-informed. For the second year in a row, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) State Accreditation reported all 30 schools in Stafford County earned the highest accreditation rating of “Fully Accredited” for the 2016-2017 school year. The SCPS vision is to create a dynamic, goal-oriented learning community committed to preparing our students for success in further education, work, and citizenship. We cannot reach our destination of success for every student without the support of our families and the community. We appreciate your support and shared vision. Happy reading! Sincerely,
W. Bruce Benson, Ed. D Superintendent
in the classroom
superintendent visits schools for a citizen focus On October 7, Dr. Benson visited Shirley Heim Middle School and Widewater Elementary School. Dr. Benson writes on his blog, “We want our students to make a positive impact in our community and the world through acts of service and by demonstrating compassion, empathy, respect, and integrity. In other words, we want our students to be good citizens – something we need to expect, model, and practice in our classrooms.”
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Parent & community connection
school buzz
news from our schools Virginia Living Selects Stafford High School for “Top High Schools and Colleges” Stafford County Public Schools is pleased to announce the selection of Stafford High School for Virginia Living’s 2016 Top High Schools and Colleges. Stafford High School was chosen for this award in the category of Capital Improvement. From Virginia Living: “The new Stafford High School, which serves as a base site for Commonwealth Governor’s School, opened in fall 2015. The $66 million school provides 281,600 square feet of space and capacity for 2,150 students. The building has Wi-Fi throughout, an enhanced security entrance, state of the art labs and a black box theater. A building dashboard allows staff and students to monitor energy usage.”
What is C5W?
and local community businesses will partner to provide coats for Stafford County children in need. To date, Operation Warm has given new winter coats to over 1.4 MILLION children throughout America. Providing brand new winter coats brings families facing challenges closer to reaching their goal of financial independence. We invite you to become our partner, a hero in your community, and help ensure all children feel warm, healthy and valued. Click the link below or drop off a new coat at one of the drop-off locations. Make a Donation Drop off Locations Stafford County Fire and Rescue Station 12 20 Sebring Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22406 Stafford County School Board Office 31 Stafford Avenue Stafford, VA 22554 For more information about Operation Warm visit www.coats-forkids.org.
At the core of the new strategic plan is C5W, the set of skills and abilities that all Stafford County Public School graduates will possess to succeed in further education, work and citizenship. C5W encompasses communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship and wellness, and embodies the philosophy of preparing students to become not just 21st Century Learners, but All Century Learners.
Coats for Kids Winter is just around the corner. Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department, Stafford Professional Firefighters Association Local 4012 Parent & community connection
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for parents
helpful news for your family Website FAQs The SCPS website has a new look. There are new features and changes to the website. Here are a few FAQs to help you navigate. How do I access ParentVue/StudentVue? ParentVue is a separate website from www.staffordschools.net and is managed by your child’s school. Login and account access questions should be directed to your child’s school. Access ParentVue at https:// psp.staffordschools.net/. Help! I can’t login to the website. The new website does not require login for parents or students! Elementary Parents - Use teacher websites found on individual school pages. 1. Go to www.staffordschools.net 2. Select a school (at the top right) 3. Go to grade levels on the menu 4. Select the grade your child is in 5. Click on your child’s teacher on the left side navigation 6. This is the new teacher website where you will find class schedules, assignments and more. Middle & High School Parents - Use ParentVue 1. Access ParentVue at https://psp.staffordschools.net/ 2. Login information is provided by your child’s school What happened to the Daily Digest? The Daily Digest is a tool connected to the old website (School Fusion). This tool and functionality will be available with the release of the mobile app coming January 2017.
SCPS Unveils New My Stop App for Bus Routes SCPS unveiled a new My Stop application. The app was released in August; however, administrators needed to make a few repairs to the app and disabled it for a few weeks. The app is currently available to use once again. This exciting new feature allows parents to see GPS information on the location of their child’s bus. It’s a proactive move by the school system to keep parents informed on students’ bus location. There are two ways to access My Stop: • Desktop: Visit mystop.staffordschools.net • Mobile: Download Versatrans My Stop in the App Store or Play Store This app allows parents to see an icon moving on a green route. The icon represents the actual location of the bus within two to six minutes. Arrival times at the bottom of the screen will automatically recalculate if the bus is running late. Parents can see the route for 30 minutes before the route begins and for 30 minutes after the child is dropped off.
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Sibling Linking Removed: Bus information for each child requires a separate login. Siblings are not linked. Previously some siblings were linked, but the feature did not function consistently. We are working to re-enable this functionality in the future. Help Contact Created: Users experience any issues may email mystophelp@staffordschools.net.
Logging Into the App: Username: Student ID Number (contact your child’s school to obtain, if needed) Password: Student’s Date of Birth (Format: mmddyyyy) Example, January 8, 2001 = 01082001 Using the App: When The Bus Is Active • The triangle icon depicts the bus’s location within 2-6 minutes. • The green line depicts the bus route. • The red pin indicates the bus stop. • The Estimated Time of Arrival at the bottom is automatically recalculated. • No Active Routes Found indicates this bus is currently either more than 30 minutes prior to, or after, the scheduled bus stop time.
SAT School Day 2016 October is an exciting month of opportunities for students and families. On Wednesday, October 19, 2016, all Stafford County Public School Students in grades eight through twelve will participate in the College Board’s Suite of Assessments. Students in grades eight and nine will take the PSAT 8/9, and students in grades ten and eleven will take the PSAT/NMSQT. Students in grade twelve will participate in the College Board’s Digital Pilot of the SAT; students will either test digitally or via the traditional paper test format. Testing for all students will be at no cost to families, and results and scores will be available to students for submission to colleges and programs. This opportunity provides open access to all learners, and contributes to the district’s mission to inspire and empower all learners to thrive.
Recent changes to the app include: • Password Security Improved: The password is now the student’s birthday. Previously the Student ID was the password. Users may also change their passwords, and are encouraged to do so. • Password Self-Recovery Enabled: Password recovery email address is available and is encouraged to be setup after initial login. 4
Parent & community connection
building for the future
construction projects at our schools Moncure Elementary School Rebuild Funding has been approved by the Stafford County School Board and Board of Supervisors to build a new Moncure Elementary School. It will cost $34.8 million and anticipated to be completed in October of 2018. The building will include a larger gym with a full size court to support community use and multiple collaborative learning spaces to support our C5W All Century Learning Philosophy. “This is an exciting project,” says Scott Horan, assistant superintendent of Operations, “the advanced features support 21st century learners.”
Library Overhaul at North Stafford High School The Capital Improvements Plan FY 2017-2026 approved the renovation of the North Stafford High School library for Summer 2017. The proposed design will have a large open space with additional rooms for collaboration and makerspace activities. The vision for the project is to replace the existing library with a highly flexible and adaptable environment that reaches a broad range of learning types. The library is a central hub for access to information through “staffulty”, peers, books, technology, and collaboration. The project recently completed the schematic design phase. We anticipate beginning of renovation in May 2017 with completion in August 2017.
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vsba bullying prevention month In an effort to promote awareness of school bullying, the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) Board of Directors has designated the month of October as VSBA Bullying Prevention Month. Childhood bullying is a significant problem nationwide. It can cause school absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor school performance, poor self-esteem, and in some cases, school violence. Statistics show that 160,000 children in the United States miss school each day as a result of being bullied. School board members, superintendents, teachers, and parents play a critical role in creating a climate where bullying is not tolerated. It has been proven when adults and children stand together, bullying ends. Please visit the Virginia School Board Association’s Bullying Prevention Month Resources Page Free Mobile App - Bullying Prevention Written by: Tanja Hill, Education Coordinator, Snowden at Fredericksburg To reduce bullying or to help if you believe your child or someone you love is being bullied, be present when engaging with your child and ask open-ended questions. KnowBullying by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a free mobile app that encourages conversation between you and your children. Visit SAMHSA at http://www.samhsa.gov or call 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). Parent & community connection
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Superintendent & School Board Listening Tour Thursday, October 27 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Brooke Point High School Library This is an opportunity for parents to engage directly with Superintendent Dr. Bruce Benson and school board members to provide input on issues that impact students and families. This is the first of a three series tour.
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upcoming events Education Appreciation Days for October Disability History and Awareness Month Head Start Awareness Month National Bullying Prevention Month October 16-22: American’s Safe Schools Week October 19: National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
October 21-23
Stafford County Agricultural & Homemaking Fair 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday | 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday | 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. | 2135 Mountain View Road, Stafford, VA 22406
October 22
R-Board Drug Take Back Day 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Stafford Hospital Partners in Aging is hosting Operation Medicine Cabinet for the proper disposal of expired and unused medications and sharps. For additional locations throughout the area, call 540-741-1404.
October 23
Pathways to College (Military Families) Free 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Quantico, VA
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October 24
Know What Your Kids Know About Technology 7:00 p.m. | Mountain View High School MVHS partners with Stafford County Sherriff’s Office Detective Daryl Wells to present a workshop for parents. Learn about the apps and technology that teens use today, and how using these apps inappropriately can lead to criminal, legal or school issues.
October 25
Orlando: 2016-17 Festival Competition Play 7:00 p.m. | Stafford High School | Free admission The age was Elizabethan. . .their morals were not ours. Sitting under a large oak tree, Orlando began by writing a poem; and when all was said and done, he would go on to live out the longest love letter in the history of English letters.
October 26
Signature Programs Night 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Brooke Point High School SCPS provides amazing, application-based and specialty-type programs for students at their high schools. Signature Programs Information Night will help students and families make informed decisions about the numerous academic options available at their high school. It will provide an overview for families and students in a “college fair” type setting. Coordinators and representatives for each program will provide general overviews through brief, small group sessions. Additional information about high school offerings and resources to prepare students for college and careers will be available at table exhibits.
October 27
Mark Wood presents: Electrify Your Strings 7:30 p.m. | Mountain View High School Electrify Your Strings is a ‘Rock Orchestra’ featuring SCPS high school strings students and Mark Wood, original member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The performance is for students, families and community members to attend and is not an experience to miss! Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child ages 5-18. Free entry for children ages 4 and under. All ticket proceeds go toward the cost of guest artist Mark Wood. Click here and select High Schools from the menu on the left. Select Mountain View High School and you will find the event there to make the purchase. Once tickets are purchased, please print the confirmation and plan to pick up your tickets at will call prior to Thursday evening’s performance. Will Call will open at 6:45 p.m. This event will SELL OUT! Order your tickets now!
October 29
R-Board Stafford Shredding Event 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Stafford County Sheriff’s Office The Stafford County Crime Solvers is offering a document shredding event. The cost is $5 per box and each vehicle is limited to 100 pounds of paper. Contact 1st Sergeant Darrell English with questions at 540-658-4428. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
save the date November 5
Middle School County Band Concert 3:00 p.m. | Stafford High School Featuring students from our eight middle school band programs. Free admission.
November 7
Band Together to Fight Hunger Gates Open 5:30 p.m., Performances Begin 7:00 p.m. | Mountain View High School Stafford County Public Schools Band Parents Association presents the 6th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger. Stafford’s five high school marching bands will perform their shows and collect canned food for local families. The event will conclude when the students at all five schools “band together” for a grand finale. Bring your canned food donation for entry. Parent & community connection
partners in education Stafford Education Foundation
Rappahannock United Way
Stafford Education Foundation is the official charitable foundation for SCPS offering financial support to teachers and students through grants and scholarships. Initiatives include:
Day of Action SCPS participated in the Rappahannock United Way Day of Action on September 23, 2016. Employees volunteered at the Children’s Museum in Fredericksburg and George Washington Foundation Ferry Farm. Volunteers also made their way to a few SCPS schools completing various projects.
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Student Scholars: Supporting the dreams and aspirations of students who exemplify excellence through scholarships and grants. Instructional Enrichment: Enhancing classrooms by providing teacher grants for innovative and creative programs
To donate to the Stafford Education Foundation, please email twinetn@staffordschools.net. Golf Tournament raises money for teacher grants and student scholarships The Stafford Education Foundation hosted the 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament. With the help of players and sponsors, over $25,000 was raised for the Foundation. A special thank you to the top sponsors for their contribution: Branch and Associates, Inc., Beyon, GCA Services Group, Bowman Consulting, FieldTurf, and Communications Specialists, Inc.
Parent & community connection
Become a SCPS Business Partner SCPS seeks partners to work with us in designated platforms and meet specific engagement thresholds. The Community and Business Partner program provides opportunities to link schools, administrative departments and division employees with businesses and organizations in the community to promote the common goal of improving educational opportunities for SCPS students. We are excited to learn more about your goals and the possibility of a mutual partnership. Begin your partnership by completing our Community and Business Partner Starter Form.
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stafford county public schools 31 Stafford Avenue Stafford, VA 22554 540.658.6000 • www.staffordschools.net
parent & community connection
october 2016
about scps Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) has an enrollment of more than 27,000 students with 30 schools. The district is located south of Washington, DC and serves a diverse population with suburban and rural communities. Although the school district has experienced rapid growth, the county has maintained a commitment to educational excellence. Support from the board of supervisors and the community have enabled the school district to maintain, improve and expand school facilities, transportation offerings, and instructional programs. Commitment to an excellent student-teacher ratio has enhanced quality instruction and attention for students. Significant technology advances ensure that students have the opportunity to learn practical work.