Weekly Newsletter 1/15/2025
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday - January 20th
Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. See the complete school year calendar.
This workshop is intended for parents of students with the low incidence disabilities of Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Topics covered will include:
- Understanding why challenging behaviors happen
- How To prevent challenging behaviors from happening
- How to respond and stay safe when challenging behaviors do happen
Date: January 22, 2025
Times: 10:00am -11:30am OR 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Join using this meeting link:
https://meet.google.com/vio-pmnq-dzo
All family members and caregivers are welcome to attend ABA Family Training. To request an interpreter, contact Tina Wilkerson at [email protected] and provide your name and contact information (phone number and/or email) in case we need to contact you.
Inclement Weather Statement: If FCPS announces a two-hour delay, training will take place as scheduled. If there is an early closing and/or cancellation of afterschool activities, the evening session will be canceled. If there is a full day closing, both training sessions will be canceled.
Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings
Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform.
Extended School Year (ESY) Dates Announced
The dates for the 2024 sessions of Extended School Year services have been confirmed. Students will attend from June 30 to July 25 with July 3 & 4th being holidays.
We want to thank the Key Center community for the generous donation of an abundance of sweet and savory treats for our staff's Sweet and Savory Treats Bar on December 18th. Your contributions were greatly appreciated and helped keep our staff energized and motivated as we approached the winter break. The delicious array of snacks provided a much-needed boost during this busy time of year. Your support means so much to us and truly demonstrates the strong, caring community we have at Key Center School. Thank you again for your kindness and for helping make our school a wonderful place to work and learn.
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its second meeting on December 16 at Gatehouse Administration Center. View key takeaways from that meeting and access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received. If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in a virtual meeting:
- Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m.
- Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
Language interpretation will be available.
All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared. Please stay tuned for details on how to register. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn more. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
Join Us for the Polar Plunge!
The Key Center community is invited to join our team in GOING FOR THE COLD to benefit Virginia Special Olympics and Key Center School. Our team will be participating in the Mosaic Polar Plunge on January 25th, 2025. Key Center School receives 50% of the funds raised by the Key Center Team. In the fundraising world, this is a very good percentage! We are inviting Key Center staff, families, and community partners to join the Key Center Rockets Polar Plunge Team!
Got cold feet? If you don’t want to join in the fun with our team, please consider sponsoring one of our team members at the team link above- thanks!❄️🧊🚀
Advocacy OpportunitiesAlexandria Town Hall
Save the date for the Alexandria Town Hall with Senator Adam Ebbin, Delegates Elizabeth Bennet-Parker, Charniele Herring and Alfonso Lopez.
When: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 10:00am
Location: Minnie Howard Campus
Alexandria City High School
3775 W. Braddock Road
Alexandria, Virginia
Mount Vernon Town Hall
Save the date for the annual Mount Vernon Legislative Session Town Hall with Senator Scott Surovell and Delegate Paul Krizek.
When: Saturday, February 1st
Time: 9:00am
Location: Whitman Middle School
2500 Parkers Lane
Alexandria, Virginia
Family Liaison News
We encourage you to visit the Family Academy website for valuable resources and support to enhance your child's learning journey. Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit our webinar webpage.
Important Update on Secure Email Encryption
FCPS has established a secure email portal for sharing sensitive information. Please visit our website for more information and instructions on accessing secure messages, or contact Michelle Peele (Family Liaison) for assistance in retrieving your secured email information.
Community News
The English Empowerment Center Spring 2025 online, in-person and intensive English Classes schedule and registration information can be found at this link. Classes begin February 2025.
Fairfax Community Services Planning
For assistance with basic needs such as food, clothing, rent, or utilities, families are encouraged to contact Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. CSP offers up-to-date resources and information by zip code and will conduct a full assessment to connect families with necessary services. CSP provides services in Spanish and other languages.
Bus still has openings!
Are you able to come to Richmond on 1/23 on the bus (or by driving, if you'd prefer)? Click here to sign up https://forms.gle/FhM5mi5ZrEncvVdj9. The day will be arranged, prep, and materials will be given to you. You can come and join in on the advocacy by sharing your story and joining the chorus of voices working for a more disability-friendly Virginia.
Alexandria (Rt. 1 area) advocates needed!
Del. Krizek and Sen. Surovell are having a town hall in Alexandria on 2/1. If you like to come ask a question or share a quick push for disability policy. Want to be sure they represent you? https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ will let you check.
Check out the Advocates in the News
See some of their stories at https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/01/08/voting-rights-bill-for-adults-in-guardianships-gets-support-from-local-residents/ and https://www.fairfaxconnection.com/news/2025/jan/09/how-to-spend-2-billion/
School Safety Testimony Request from our Partners- sign up today to speak tomorrow
A disability reached out as the bill ensuring safety plans for each student with a disability are included in IEPs/504s are developed will come before the K-12 Education Legislative subcommittee on Tuesday Jan 14. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am. The bill is 9th on the subcommittee agenda so Kira expects the bill to be presented at around 8:30 am. They are seeking citizens who would like to testify virtually or submit comments. If you are interested in signing up to testify or submit comments, please go to the Subcommittee webpage
https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/agendas/agendaItem.php?id=4675 If you have questions about the bill, please contact Kira Tiller [email protected]. .
You can donate directly to Key Center using our donation link hosted by Educate Fairfax. One-time donations can be made as well as recurring gifts to the school. Your donations make a meaningful impact on the students, teachers and families of Key Center. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Together we can continue to build a nurturing environment where all students thrive!
Another option for contributing to the Key Center is through support of our PTA.
PTA Membership:
Key Center PTA Membership for Parents/Family
Key Center PTA Membership for Staff
PTA Donations:
Upcoming Dates:
January 20 Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday - Student/Staff Holiday
January 29 Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
February 17 Presidents’ Day- Student/Staff Holiday
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