Falls Church School Year To Start Earlier Under New Calendar Policy

FALLS CHURCH, VA — On Tuesday, the Falls Church City School Board voted on a new school calendar policy and took other actions at its latest meeting.

The board's 6-1 vote sets guidelines for creating future school year calendars. One of the notable changes will require the school year to start before Labor Day starting next school year. The current school year began one week before Labor Day, while neighboring Fairfax County Public Schools started two weeks before Labor Day.

Under the new start date, Falls Church City Public Schools will aim to end school years no later than June 10. The policy does not change fall, winter and spring breaks. Fall break must start the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and end the Friday following Thanksgiving. Winter break must include Dec. 2 and Jan. 1 and ideally last two weeks under the policy. Spring break must be one week and align with nearby jurisdictions.

In December, the School Board will adopt calendars for two school years — 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. In future years, one school year calendar would be adopted each December.

As the School Board approved its calendar policy, Superintendent Peter Noonan presented regulations on school calendar religious holidays. Under the policy, verified student absences will not be penalized on the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali and Eid al-Fitr religious holidays. A case-by-case allowance for other religious holidays can be coordinated with school principals.

In addition, the policy instructs FCCPS staff to not schedule tests or other assessments, field trips, school-sponsored special events, sporting events unless required by the Virginia High School League, auditions and safety drills during these religious holidays.

Other School Board Meeting Actions

The School Board honored business and media partners who have contributed to FCCPS. The business awards were presented by Falls Church Councilmember Marybeth Connolly, who is the community outreach director for FCCPS.

In the business category, the School Board recommended three businesses for the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2022 Business Honor Roll: Ascension Chiropractic, The Gaskins Team, and The State Theatre.

According to board documents, Ascension Chiropractic was recognized for owner Dr. Chantay Bess participating in a 2021 Black History Month forum for high school students, presenting at career fairs, hosting students for anatomy internships, and participated in the 2022 Entrepreneur’s Speaker Series at Meridian High School.

The Gaskins Team was recognized for being a sponsor of the Falls Church Education Foundation Run for the Schools, Home and Garden Tour, Little City Scramble Golf Tournament and Annual Gala and Auction, as well as staff supporting career fairs and sports teams.

The State Theatre got recognition for co-hosting the high school's 2021 outdoor All Night Graduation Celebration, holding fundraisers for the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School PTA, and being a packet pickup location for the Falls Church Education Foundation Run for the Schools.

Businesses recognized as Falls Church Honored Partners were Brown's Hardware, Chipotle on West Broad Street, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Welcoming Falls Church.

According to board documents, Brown’s Hardware regularly donates seeds, soil, tools, paint and supplies to support school programs and also donated supplies for a teacher to make a wall mural at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.

Chipotle on West Broad Street has donated thousands of dollars through its fundraisers for FCCPS organizations, including Band Boosters, GIVE Day, All Night Graduation Celebration, Junior Prom, Meridian Lasso Newspaper, and Freshman Class.

Nothing Bundt Cakes was recognized for sponsoring Falls Church Education Foundation events, and working with PTA organizations.

Welcoming Falls Church earned recognition by partnering with the schools to offer Welcoming Week activities for students and families. Activities have included adult English classes for FCCPS parents, cultural programs on school holidays, community service opportunities, hosting authors for book discussions and more.

The School Board also recognized media partners for the Virginia School Boards Association's 2022 Media Honor Roll Program. Noonan presented the awards to The Lasso student newspaper managing editors Isabel Costa and Clara Kasik (editor-in-chief Stella Turner was not present), Falls Church News Press publisher and editor-in-chief Nicholas Benton and Patch's own Mark Hand.

The School Board also approved resolutions to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, Filipino American Heritage Month and Italian American Heritage Month. FCCPS staff presented five two-year school action plans to maintain performance in targeted areas: IB Infused Teaching and Learning; Wellness, Equity, and Belonging; Resource Management and Continuous Improvement; Communication and Engagement; and Investing in our People.

The full meeting is available to view on the FCCPS YouTube channel.