Family Connection Tip: Ask your student what helps them feel most welcome at school, then share their answers with their teacher or principal. When we listen to and elevate student perspectives, we strengthen communities of belonging together.
More than 230 families and students joined LCPS educators, staff, and community partners to celebrate and strengthen support for English Learner students across the division at the LCPS Empowered! English Learner Family Conference on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement office hosted the conference featuring practical resources, interactive workshops, and opportunities for families to connect with LCPS staff and community organizations. The event underscored our commitment to ensuring every student and family has the tools and support needed to thrive. Read more: https://lcps.pub/48l3fLP
Having more than 80,000 students and 13,000 staff members places LCPS in the top 50 largest school systems in the nation! And, our commitment to students is just as big - with over 90% of our budget supporting employees based in schools around the county. LCPS invests an average cost per pupil of $21,793!
Jonathan Schiffler, Band Director at Freedom High School, is this month’s SHINE award winner! Mr. Schiffler was nominated by a Freedom parent for his extraordinary support of her student, helping him overcome challenges and shine on the field with the Spirit of Freedom Marching Band. The parent wrote in her nomination that Mr. Schiffler “made my son feel heard and understood. He turned what could have been a very upsetting situation into a successful one…My son has learned so many valuable lessons from Mr. Schiffler, and we are so grateful to him for bringing out the best in our son.”
In celebration of his selection as the SHINE monthly winner, Mr. Schiffler received a gift worth $500 coordinated by LEF and sponsored by Ace Handyman Services.
SHINE – Spotlighting Heroes in Education – is a joint Loudoun Education Foundation and LCPS initiative that recognizes LCPS staff members who go above and beyond in support of LCPS students and the community. Members of the LCPS community – including other staff members, students, and parents – are invited to nominate LCPS staff who shine!
Learn more about SHINE: www.lcps.org/SHINE
Cardinal Ridge Elementary School earned a Green Ribbon School Award for commitment to environmental sustainability and environmental education. For Principal, Dr. Adejumo, this recognition is an expansion of the school’s mission: SOAR with LOVE – or Self-control, Ownership, Appreciation of others, and Respect, along with Leadership Opportunities, Voice, and Empowerment. “The first ingredient in our Green Ribbon journey was love, for our staff and our scholars,” Dr. Adejumo said. “We’re creating opportunities for belonging and showing that we’re in this together.”
Read more: https://lcps.pub/49YwIMP
Twelve LCPS schools have been honored as Purple Star Schools for their exceptional support of military-connected students and families. This recognition highlights the compassion, dedication and inclusive spirit that define LCPS. In addition to this year’s honorees, 13 LCPS schools earned the Purple Star designation in previous years. Valid for three years, the designation reflects a school’s ongoing commitment to student support through targeted programs, staff training and community engagement. Read more: https://lcps.pub/3JNu2Hk
Plan to attend the Course Planner Learning Webinar for Parents/Guardians on Thursday, Nov. 20. An information session for parents/guardians of students in grades 5 and 6 will start at 6 p.m. A session for parents/guardians of students in grades 7 through 11 will start at 7 p.m. Course Planner is a new platform to help students, families and school staff chart the student’s path to graduation through the academic planning and course selection process. See the webinar links and more information on the LCPS School Counseling webpage: https://www.lcps.org/o/doss/page/schoolinks
LCPS students, represented in red, outdid themselves compared to Virginia in all five subject areas. In fact, our students showed continued overall improvement over scores in ‘24. Read the Innovation and Achievement report to learn more! lcps.org/annualreport2025
Attention, parents and guardians! Student report cards are now available in ParentVUE. Need help with ParentVUE? Go to: https://lcps.pub/3YDrmzo
Attend the Empowered! English Learner Family Conference on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn).
Join us for a day of learning, fun and connection! Featuring learning sessions to support student success and development and community resources to provide guidance on local services – Empowered! English Learner Family Conference will provide information and resources to support your student. Food trucks will be on site for the purchase of lunch or snacks. Child care will also be provided for children ages 4 and older (potty-trained only), so parents and caregivers can fully engage in the sessions. Interpreters for multiple languages will be available to ensure every family feels welcome and included. Learn more: www.lcps.org/ELFamilyConference
Asista a la Conferencia Familiar de Estudiantes de Inglés Empowered el sábado 15 de noviembre, de 10 a.m. a 1:30 p.m., en el Edificio de Administración de LCPS (21000 Education Court, Ashburn).
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¡Únase a nosotros para un día de aprendizaje, diversión y conexión! Con sesiones diseñadas para apoyar el éxito y desarrollo estudiantil, y recursos comunitarios que ofrecen orientación sobre servicios locales, la Conferencia Familiar de Estudiantes de Inglés Empowered brindará información y recursos para apoyar a su estudiante.
Habrá camiones de comida disponibles para comprar almuerzo o refrigerios. También se ofrecerá cuidado de niños para menores de 4 años en adelante (solo niños que ya usen el baño), para que padres y cuidadores puedan participar plenamente en las sesiones.
Habrá intérpretes de varios idiomas para asegurar que todas las familias se sientan bienvenidas e incluidas.
Más información: www.lcps.org/ELFamilyConference
Congratulations to all our One LCPS Celebration Day 2025 photo contest winners and participants! Nearly 70 schools participated and shared a total of more than 500 photos, and we enjoyed seeing each and every one. You helped make the day a true success – thank you! #WeAreOneLCPS
For a list of all winners and participants, visit: lcps.org/celebrationday
Big congratulations to Lovettsville Elementary School for being named the national Thinking Maps Spotlight School for October!
Teachers and students are using Thinking Maps to bring ideas to life through creativity and critical thinking. Principal Daniel Lani says, “The sky is the limit for our students and teachers, and partnering with Thinking Maps is the best instructional decision I’ve made in my 16-year career.”
Families are part of the learning too, as parents use Thinking Maps at home to help their children grow as confident, independent thinkers.
Way to go, Lovettsville Bears!
Read more: https://lcps.pub/3JQAvkC
You're invited to the Empowered! English Learner Family Conference on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn).
Join us for a day of learning, fun and connection! Featuring learning sessions about student success and development, community resources and local services, the conference provides information and resources to support your student. Food trucks will be on site for the purchase of lunch or snacks. Child care will also be provided for children ages 4 and older (potty-trained only), so parents and caregivers can fully engage in the sessions. Interpreters for multiple languages will be available to ensure every family feels welcome and included. Bring the whole family and get ready to grow together! Learn more: www.lcps.org/ELFamilyConference
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¡Estás invitado(a) a la Conferencia Familiar de Estudiantes de Inglés Empowered el sábado 15 de noviembre, de 10 a.m. a 1:30 p.m., en el Edificio de Administración de LCPS (21000 Education Court, Ashburn).
¡Acompáñenos en un día de aprendizaje, diversión y conexión! Con sesiones sobre el éxito y desarrollo estudiantil, recursos comunitarios y servicios locales, la conferencia ofrece información y herramientas para apoyar a su estudiante.
Habrá camiones de comida disponibles para comprar almuerzo o refrigerios. También se ofrecerá cuidado de niños para menores de 4 años en adelante (solo niños que ya usen el baño), para que padres y cuidadores puedan participar plenamente en las sesiones.
Habrá intérpretes de varios idiomas para asegurar que todas las familias se sientan bienvenidas e incluidas. ¡Traiga a toda la familia y prepárese para crecer juntos!
Más información: www.lcps.org/ELFamilyConference
In April 2025, a new Virginia State Law was passed that restricts the use of all personal student technology for students in all grades during the school day. Key terms from this law include:
"Bell to bell" means after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the school day. "Bell to bell" includes lunch and time in between class periods.
"Smart device" means any personal electronic device that can connect to the Internet and wirelessly collect, process, and transmit data, including smart watches and tablets.
This new law will impact our existing practices and will restrict student access to personal technology during the school day, except for those students with documented accommodations. For additional details on Policy 8655, review the Student Personal Device Use Fact Sheet.
The School Board will discuss updates to Policy 8655 - Student Personal Device Use that align with the new state law. The updated draft policy was an information item at the October 27, 2025, Student Behavior and Accountability committee meeting. The target completion of a new school board-approved policy is during their December 16, 2025 board meeting.
Any potential changes would most likely be implemented when students return from winter break on January 5, 2026. The policy will be open for feedback in the committee and School Board processes. A ThoughtExchange in September gathered initial school and community feedback. For additional details, review the Student Personal Device Use Fact Sheet.
Join us for School Nutrition Services' Food Show: Flavor Forward: Powered by Students. Driven by Nutrition, next Monday, November 3, from 12-2 p.m. at Riverside High School. Help shape the future of meals at your school, meet LCPS’s own Chef Erik and try new recipes like our fall-inspired Sweet Potato Cornbread! More: lcps.org/foodshow
Your Feedback and Participation Welcomed for the LCPS 2032 Strategic Plan Development
Loudoun County Public Schools developed a strategic plan, the One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence, to guide our work through 2027. It is now time to begin developing a 2032 Strategic Plan to help guide LCPS decisions and clearly define priorities in our work together. Our goal every day is to support student excellence and well-being, be responsive to and supportive of our staff (the largest workforce in the county) and foster positive interactions across our community to build trust.
Loudoun County Public Schools is seeking input from students, families, staff and community members to help shape the future of our school division to ensure we provide the best education possible for our students.
Right now, we are entering the first phase of listening and feedback. On November 5, you’ll receive a link to the survey, and there are two ways you can help!
Take the survey. We will be sending our families, staff and students a survey about how you feel and what you might suggest as we reexamine our mission, vision, and core values, and how to bring them to life in the coming years to improve student achievement and future pathways.
Participate in a focus group. We envision that the 2032 strategic plan will continue to allow for school improvement, better student outcomes, and increased parental involvement in the school communities and the division. We would love to hear your voice in the process.
It is easy to get involved. When you take the survey, indicate you wish to be considered for participation in a focus group. If selected, you would need to be available in person January 12 - January 16 at the Administration building, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn. More information is included in the survey. We will also be asking parents and community members to become involved in a Strategic Planning Team to support this process.
Please join us as we work together to align our guiding plan for the future. Look for a link to arrive on November 5 from me to invite you to take the survey.
We value your feedback.
With appreciation,
Aaron Spence, Ed.D.
Superintendent
The most recent graduating class has a lot to be proud of. 97.2% of the senior class of over 6,900, now LCPS alumni, graduated on time! Read our full report: lcps.org/annualreport2025
Your Student’s Passport to Global Learning Starts Here
Loudoun County Public Schools is introducing the Academy of Global and Linguistic Studies, a new special high school program that combines global studies, world languages and real-world experiences to prepare students for college, career and life in a global society.
Join our free informational webinar, “Your Passport to Global Learning: Inside the Academy of Global and Linguistic Studies,” to learn more.
Date: November 12, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Online (Webex)
Register to receive the access link by email. https://lcps.pub/47XFkCq
Family Liaisons Support Families in Accessing and Navigating Resources
Every LCPS school has a Family Liaison dedicated to helping families access and navigate community resources. Whether you need assistance with food, housing, health services, employment or other needs, your school’s Family Liaison is here to help.
How Family Liaisons Support Families
Family Liaisons connect families to resources, nonprofit services and community programs throughout Loudoun County.
They help families navigate LCPS programs and resources such as weekend backpack meals, fee waivers, free & reduced meal applications and more.
They support families when a confidential referral or support is needed.
Guidance for Working with Your Family Liaison
Reach out early if your family could use support.
Share your needs so the Family Liaison can connect you with the right help.
Stay in touch to ensure continued access to resources.
Visit your school’s website or the LCPS Family and Community Engagement website to find your Family Liaison.
Why It Matters
When families feel supported, students are more confident and ready to learn. The Family Liaison helps strengthen that connection between home, school and community.
Additional Resources
Loudoun County Government’s Resources for Federal Workforce page lists help with food assistance, housing support, insurance and more.
