Winter Weather Advisory Prompts Fairfax County Schools to Go Virtual

All Fairfax County Public Schools students will learn virtually tomorrow (Wednesday) as the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area braces for its potential first snow of the year.

While the heaviest precipitation is expected to fall more toward the western part of Virginia, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory at 4:00 p.m. today for Fairfax County, predicting that the area will see mixed precipitation with about one to three inches of snow and sleet accumulation.

The advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. on Wednesday to 1 a.m. on Thursday.

“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the NWS says. “The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.”

That forecast is a slight downgrade from the agency’s projections on Monday, when it issued a winter storm watch suggesting that Fairfax County could see more than five inches of snow.

Still, FCPS has decided to close all school buildings to students. Here is the full news release:

All Fairfax County Public Schools’ students will participate in virtual learning tomorrow.

Students will have synchronous (teacher-led) instruction.

Information about food distribution will be sent separately.

The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:

• appointments for in-person assessments
• extracurricular activities
• interscholastic contests
• team practices
• field trips
• middle school after-school programs
• professional learning and training courses
• adult and community education classes
• recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS
• School age child care (SACC/SRS) centers are closed.

Organizers of virtual school events will reach out to participants regarding the status of the event.

Public school bus support for non-school programs is canceled.

While division operations are open, access to school facilities is limited and school work spaces for instruction are unavailable. All teachers, instructional assistants, and other less-than-12-month staff should telework from home. Program managers will inform staff if or when school building work spaces are available. School Office and Central Office 12-month employees who can telework should telework or follow supervisor direction for reporting in-person.

Staff photo by Catherine Douglas Moran