Spring is upon us, and it’s great to be home with all of you and able to take part in events with our community. Enjoy the Cherry Blossoms, and let’s hope that by the time they all fall we have an incredibly qualified new justice on the US Supreme Court; some salve for the soul.
Community Connections
This week, while waiting for my boys at a sports event, I joined friends at We of Action Virginia to discuss our work towards a budget that puts Virginians first.
And on Wednesday morning, I joined the Arc of Northern Virginia for breakfast. I appreciate the critical work that The Arc does in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
FCPS Tutoring Service
Fairfax County Public Schools announced this week that all FCPS students will soon have unlimited, 24/7 on-demand access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com. Tutoring Program Details:
- Student participation in online (voice and/or text chat) tutoring services is completely optional.
- Students will use the same FCPS-sponsored platforms they are familiar with for online learning.
- The tutors employed by Tutor.com do not work for Fairfax County Public Schools.
- All tutors must pass a thorough background check conducted by Tutor.com and meet federal and state requirements (aligned to FCPS practice).
- FCPS school staff do not participate in the online tutoring sessions between a student and their tutor.
- FCPS does not assume responsibility for supervision during tutoring sessions.
- For the purposes of safety and security, every tutoring session is recorded, and transcripts are available (up to 6 months) for students, parents and FCPS staff to review if needed.
Learn more about the program here.
Academy Day
On Saturday, April 23, from 10:00am-12:30pm, Senator Mark Warner invites high school and middle school students, parents, guardians, and school counselors to participate in a virtual Academy Day 2022. Attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout sessions with representatives from the United States service academies for presentations and an interactive question and answer period. On the main stage, you will hear from representatives from the Virginia congressional delegation about the application procedures for congressional nominations to the academies as well as speakers from the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board, the University of Virginia ROTC programs, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, the Virginia Military Institute, and the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin University. There will also be time to speak in more detail with any of these representatives at their virtual resource tables. For more information on the nomination process, visit www.warner.senate.gov, and please email academy_noms@warner.senate.gov if interested in attending.
Frost Middle School PTA Board Elections
Frost Middle School PTA is seeking to elect a new board for next school year. The two-year terms of the Secretary and Treasurer are ending, and Vice President and President positions will be open as well. If you or someone you know are interested and have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PresidentFrostMSPTA@gmail.com or Susanne Fitch at SecretaryFrostMSPTA@gmail.com. PTA Elections will be held at the next PTA meeting on Tuesday, May 3rd.
Community Resources
If you or someone you know needs assistance, I have provided resources below that may be helpful. In addition, you may always reach out to our office by email at DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov – and we will work to connect you with community partners.
In light of the rising gas prices, to find the cheapest fuel prices, you can visit sites like this, which allows you to compare gas prices in your area. Also, consider checking your tire pressure to improve your gas mileage.
General resources:
- Commonhelp: https://www.commonhelp.
virginia.gov/ - Fairfax County Family Services: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/
familyservices/ - PWC Mutual Aid: Prince William County Mutual Aid’s Resources and Services Request Page is available to those living in the region, as well as those from Fairfax County. You can also contact them directly at pwcmutualaid@gmail.com, or find more information about the organization on their Facebook page.
Food resources:
- Food for Others: https://foodforothers.org/
- Western Fairfax Christian Ministries: https://wfcmva.org/; provides food and rent assistance to community members.
- FACETS: http://facetscares.
org/ ; FACETS’ Hot Meals program is a no-barrier food distribution that provides a nutritious meal every night, 365 days of the year, and Sunday breakfast as well.
Labor resources:
- The Centreville Labor Resource Center: http://
centrevilleimmigrationforum. org/centreville-labor- resource-center/ - Virginia Career Works: https://vcwnorthern.com/fa-
booking/
Rent and housing resources:
- Cornerstones: https://www.cornerstonesva.
org/ - FACETS: http://facetscares.org/
And, if you are interested in helping the citizens of Ukraine during this time of crisis, visit this page. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) has partnerships across the world, and has been doing all that they can to help the millions of people who find themselves displaced.
Northern Virginia Community Health Assessment Survey
Inova is conducting a short, anonymous survey to identify the most pressing health-related needs in our communities. Your input will help inform their ongoing efforts to deliver accessible, quality, patient-centered care throughout the region. The survey is available in nine languages and can be accessed here. The survey takes 3-4 minutes to complete and includes questions designed to gather community feedback on local health issues, improving quality of life, and understanding the strengths of the community.
COVID-19 Updates
As of March 15, 2022, the VDH Level of Community Transmission dashboard is no longer being published. Please use the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on health and healthcare systems in your local community.
The CDC has introduced a new tool to provide clarity for folks unsure about how long they need to quarantine or isolate after a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Check it out here.
Favorites of the 40th
With the arrival of Spring, this week’s favorite of the 40th is the Bull Run Marina Trail. Located on Old Yates Ford Rd in Clifton, VA, the Bull Run Marina is situated at an entry point for the 19.7 mile Bull Run Occoquan Trail. The Marina offers many activities such as a launch for boats, kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards, and the trails are open for walking, hiking, running, and biking from dawn to dusk.
Runners seeking a moderately challenging route should check out the Bull Run Marina Loop, a 2 mile loop that features nice views of the Occoquan river. Click here for directions to the loop trail.
And on February 26, a new sign was unveiled at Bull Run Marina identifying the gravesites of five enslaved people. You can read more about the new sign here.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.