Updated 6:20 p.m. — Corrects a reference to the survey as a study and that the 825 were FCPS staff members — not all teachers.
After COVID-19 disrupted Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) earlier this spring, teachers, staff and school board members are trying to find ways to offer more mental health support.
Throughout the last several months of remote learning, the focus has been on a combination of peer-led programs, remote family check-ins with school-sponsored mental health staff and a message of “resiliency,” according to Bethany Koszelak, a mental health specialist for FCPS.
“Yes, this has been hard on a lot of people, but most youth are resilient and bounce back,” she said, adding that FCPS has been coordinating with teachers to keep an eye on students who might need help.
Mental Health Chain of Command in FCPS
In the FCPS system, regardless of age or year, students typically have access to a therapist, psychologist and social worker who can provide social-emotional support.
Counselors, which Koszelak considers to provide something called “tier one” support, provide guidance lessons to cope with emotions and social issues. If students need additional support, they will be referred to the school-sanctioned therapists and psychologists by the counselors.
As the county’s school board considers a boost in funding for social-emotional learning in the next school year, part of the funds — if approved in the next few weeks — would go toward hiring more staff and possibly bringing on additional mental health professionals full time, according to Koszelak.
Though nothing is set in stone, Karl Frisch, who presents the Providence District on the school board, said he wants to improve the infrastructure for mental health.
“The last several months have likely caused some trauma here and we need to be in a position to respond to it,” he said. We anticipate students will have an increased need.”
Rising Demand for Mental Health Support
Though Koszelak said she doesn’t have statistics to back up an increase request, a survey released by the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers reported that 55% of the 825 staff members who responded said that their students’ mental health had deteriorated since the start of distance learning.
Still, students are not the only ones at risk for mental health challenges.
More than 90% of the teachers said that their stress level has increased since the start of distance learning in March.
“Respondents chose school counselors to have the highest positive direct impact on student mental health and social-emotional needs, followed by social workers, psychologists and parent liaisons,” the survey takeaway said, backing up the school board’s idea.
Among top sources of stress for teachers, many said that they felt anxiety over technology failures, a lack of direction from FCPS leadership and difficulty adjusting to new technology.
“They need to check in with teachers and really care how we’re doing. Right now, the only message we hear is you’re failing. Not providing mental health support to elementary during this time is so WRONG! These kids need it just as much as the middle and high school kids… If anything, we will all need increased mental health support when returning to school because we are all struggling right now,” one survey respondent wrote.
FCFT sent the survey results to Tysons Reporter on May 12, before the murder of George Floid that re-sparked wide-spread outrage over systemic racism and police brutality.
It is unclear how this might add a toll to students/staff mental health but Koszelak said that there are options for students to incorporate discussions about civil rights and current events in the classroom. She added that students even begin to learn about civil rights and Martin Luther King Jr. in the second grade.
Meeting an Invisible Need
In reality, though, the need for help is likely elevated since Frish said that students and families don’t always know how to ask for help when they need it or even realize that it could help.
Around the country, statistics show that issues like domestic violence and child abuse have risen since the start of lockdown since places like child care centers, schools and offices that would typically recognize signs of abuse in-person are closed.
“Children are specifically vulnerable to abuse during COVID-19. Research shows that increased stress levels among parents [are] often a major predictor of physical abuse and neglect of children,” the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said in an online article.
To combat this, FCPS teachers were told to look for signs of violence and abuse while interacting with their students over Zoom, Koszelak said, noting that if a student wasn’t coming to class, a school counselor would be sure to reach out to the family.
“The teachers still had live video conference calls with students,” according to Koszelak. “You can gauge when there are some concerns and the teachers know there are protocols to reach out to the clinicians.”
In addition to basic screening measures, FCPS mental health experts were also keeping a keen eye on families with a history of known problems, she added.
Additional Resources for Students and Families
FCPS offers a variety of programs to assist both students and families.
They include:
- Parent Resource Center: tips on how family support will benefit students
- KOGNITO: a walk through difficult conversations with students
- Student Voice Campaign: student sourced media on healthy coping mechanisms
- Mental Health First Aid for youth
- Our Minds Matter Virtual Club Meeting
- Parent Wellness Consultations: for middle and high school students
Some of these resources are met with concerns though: “I did Mental Health First Aid training several years ago, but it was never implemented at my school,” one teacher wrote in the FCFT survey.
“I think there needs to be widespread training in this program at each school for any and all teachers, coaches, counseling staff, and administrators who are willing and able to handle it because we need as many resources for students and staff as possible,” the teacher added.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming School Year
Though kids are on summer break, the Fairfax County School Board is considering hiring 10 more mental health care specialists and increasing funding for various social-emotional learning programs.
Board members are considering a $7 million addition to the program but it is still uncertain how the money would be distributed.
They are expected to vote on changes and plans for the upcoming school year during the upcoming June 26 meeting, according to Koszelak.
Photo via Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
On Friday, local Lions clubs donated nearly $20,000 to Merrifield-based Food for Others.
The Fairfax Lions Clubs, along with several other local clubs and the Lions of Virginia Foundation (LOVF), raised $19,525 to support Food for Others’ mobile food program for people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Food for Others and the Fairfax Lions Club.
“LOVF matched donations of individual Lions clubs,” the press release said.
The contributing clubs included:
- Fairfax Lions
- Falls Church-Annandale Lions
- Burke Lions
- Springfield Global Lions
- Clifton Lions
- Alexandria Asian-American Lions
“It is deeply gratifying how the various Fairfax area Lions Clubs quickly teamed together and partnered with LOVF to contribute this money to put help put food on the table and provide some comfort to our neighbors in need in these hard times,” Mike Rumberg, the president of the Fairfax Lions Club, said.
Food for Others’ mobile food program delivers emergency food to people who can’t get food from distribution centers, according to a press release.
People who want to support Food for Others can donate items like canned chili, canned chicken, rice, pasta sauce and canned fruit; start a vegetable or herb garden to grow produce; and spread the word about Food for Others’ efforts.
Photo via Food for Others/Facebook
Chi Mc is now serving up Korean fried chicken from its new location in the Town of Vienna.
About one year after permits first surfaced for the eatery, Chi Mc is now cooking up food in its new location in Danor Plaza (126 Branch Road SE).
The eatery was tentatively expected to open in the winter following delays with the permitting process, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit Northern Virginia in March.
Currently, Chi Mc is offering pick-up and delivery. Its online menu features a variety of chicken combos, starters like fries and onion rings, kimchi, pickled radish, pork belly buns and several Korean dish entrees, including japchae and pa jun.
Recently, Chi Mc has posted on Facebook about free samples at the Vienna location.
Chi Mc, which means “chicken and beer” in Korean, also has locations in Chantilly and Alexandria listed on its website, which notes that the Annandale spot is no longer a part of Chi Mc.
According to the Vienna location’s Facebook page, Chi Mc is open from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Photo via Chi Mc Vienna/Facebook
Plans to Make Juneteenth a State Holiday — “Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday he will propose legislation to make Juneteenth, a celebration observed on June 19 commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, be recognized as a paid state holiday.” [Vienna Patch]
Transportation Webinars Start Today — The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, the City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, the Coalition for Smarter Growth and Mason’s Department of Parking and Transportation teamed up on a series of webinars on active transportation. The series kicks off today at noon. [George Mason University]
No Phase Three Yet — “Virginia won’t enter Phase Three of its reopening plan this week, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday. Speaking during his twice-weekly news conference in Richmond, Northam said that although the state’s health metrics are trending in the right direction, he’s not ready to lift restrictions further that were designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus.” [Inside NoVa]
After the coronavirus pandemic altered plans to open Super Bit Video Games, owner Chris Jackson decided to temporarily shift his model so he could safely supply customers with video games and toys.
Instead of inviting people into the store (101 E. Broad Street), which sells retro video games and other similar items, Jackson said he set up a curbside pick-up system so customers could limit in-person contact.
“We were pretty much in a bad spot,” he said but added that between pick-up options, eBay sales and Instagram advertising, the business still ended up being sustainable.
Now, two weeks after customers have finally been welcomed into the store, sales have “substantially” picked up, according to Jackson.
“It’s been awesome to finally get to meet these people,” Jackson said. “The first two weeks have been outstanding.”
Though people were still stopping by for curbside pickup, many customers were awaiting the day when they could visit the interior of the store, he said.
“A lot of the people coming by seem to understand who we are and what we do,” he said. “Because of that, we have a good chance of this level of interest being maintained over a period of time.”
Since people aren’t really out-and-about like they used to be before COVID, Jackson also expects foot traffic to pick up in several months.
As a “destination retail location,” Jackson sees customers stopping by from all over the greater D.C. area, including Falls Church, Vienna, Arlington and even Maryland.
Because the store wasn’t open before the pandemic, Jackson isn’t sure if sales picked up because of quarantine boredom, but he did say the community seemed very supportive on social media before the pandemic hit Northern Virginia.
“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to open this place was to provide a place for the retro gaming community,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of places in this area that do this.”
Bestsellers so far, according to Jackson, include older Nintendo gaming systems along with GoldenEye, Super Mario 64 and even Sega systems, which he said he grew up with.
To keep customers safe, Jackson requests that customers wear masks and social distance while they browse.
“So far everyone has been great with that stuff,” he said, adding that they allow roughly four people maximum in the shop at any one time.
If people want to check out the shop, they can visit Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. The shop is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Photo courtesy Chris Jackson
Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. defended his department’s longstanding use of force policies and commitment to the sanctity of human life as national protests call for dramatic police reforms.
At a meeting with county officials today (Tuesday), Roessler stated that FCPD’s policies surrounding use of force, the use of chokeholds, and de-escalation are well ahead of many reforms requested by protestors across the country.
Currently, chokeholds are not allowed as a use of force options. De-escalation is required when possible and officers are trained two times per year in order to reinforce the use of force continuum and training. Shooting at moving vehicles is prohibited unless there is a “threat of death or serious injury” to the officer or another person, according to police documents.
“These reform endeavors have not ended as we continue told ourselves accountable,” he said.
FCPD’s use of force policy aims to gain voluntary compliance from the other person using seven core pillars, which include principles like self-control, empathy, balance, realism, and a commitment to lack of humiliation.
A study on FCPD’s use of force culture is underway. The report, which is conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio researchers, was prompted by another study that found roughly 40 percent of all use-of-force incidents involved Black individuals.
Earlier the month, FCPD officer Tyler Timberlake was charged on three counts of assault and battery in what FCPD said was an “unacceptable” use of force.
When prompted by Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Roessler noted that FCPD’s training requirements “typically exceed state mandates.”
The county is currently working on implementing a county-wide body-worn camera program. Although the Reston District Station and three other stations have body-worn cameras, the full implementation of the program was delayed due to budgetary concerns.
Recent events, including the killing of George Floyd, have prompted the board to expedite funding for the program. An updated plan will be developed by the end of the month, according to FCPD.
FCPD is also testing a new technology that would automatically turn on the body-worn camera when an officer takes a gun out of the holster.
Major Paul Cleveland noted that the department follows a co-produced policing model, which relies on community support and input to develop policing practices in line with community expectations.
Currently, the police department is taking a look at ensuring its internal culture emphasizes the well-being of officers and de-escalatory practices.
He says FCPD will continue to monitor ways to improve its practices.
“Reform is the right way to go,” he said.
Image via Fairfax County
Robert Ames Alden was a “walking institution” in the D.C. area, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust recently told his fellow county officials.
Alden died at the age of 87 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease on June 7, the Washington Post reported. Foust shared highlights of Alden’s career and life during the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ meeting last week.
Born in D.C., Alden worked as a sportswriter for the Cleveland Press before joining the Washington Post in 1952, Foust said. Alden covered wars, riots, natural disasters and more during his nearly 50-year career at the Washington Post.
Alden was a founder of the National Press Foundation. Foust noted that Alden, who was the National Press Club’s president in 1976, was a “leading advocate” in the 1960s and 1970s to allow women to join the Press Club.
Foust remembered Alden as a “living legend in McLean.” On the local level, Alden advocated for the community complex that houses McLean Central Park, the Dolley Madison Library and the McLean Community Center.
Foust said that the then-governing board of the community center wanted to name the building after him.
“If you knew Bob, you know he refused,” Foust said. “That would not be acceptable to him. He wanted it named the McLean Community Center.”
The community center’s auditorium and theater were named after him instead.
“He was an amazingly successful, amazingly accomplished and unbelievably nice, friendly, courteous, kind guy,” Foust said. “We are going to miss him so much.”
Photo via Alden Theatre/Facebook
As Northern Virginia continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions, Tysons-area restauranteurs are not only unveiling new eateries but also re-envisioning dining experiences.
Restaurant owners shared with Tysons Reporter their varying reopening plans.
Solace Brewing Company, a collaboration of D.C. restauranteurs Eric and Ian Hilton and BlackFinn Ameripub co-founder Steve Ryan, was originally poised to open a new location in Falls Church by May 1.
But the opening got delayed due to the pandemic, Jon Humerick, Solace’s co-founder and director of operations, said.
“When everything started, we obviously had to put everything on hold,” said Humerick.
The brewery, boasting several unique offerings of in-house IPAs, now plans to open within the next two weeks, operating under Phase 2 guidelines requiring seating at half-capacity for indoor and outdoor dining.
Taqueria Loca, a Mexican restaurant run by the Great American Restaurants group (GAR), debuted a “ghost kitchen” in Vienna in addition to their Sterling location before Northern Virginia began its transition into Phase 2.
This meant that they were available online and cooking in the kitchens for curbside pickup and delivery — however, they were not serving customers in-person, according to Jon Norton, the CEO of GAR.
“We are also creating a ‘patio and beer garden’ in the valet area of Coastal Flats [Tysons Corner] so that guests may begin to enjoy the Taqueria Loca experience in a physical space as well,” according to Norton.
As of June 12, all GAR restaurants officially reopened at half-capacity.
Shipgarten, a new food and dining concept from the owners of the now-closed Tysons Biergarten, was originally planning to open in June. However, they are now pushing their opening until the end of Phase 3.
“We are going to use paper products and more disposable items like disposable menus,” Managing Partner Matt Rofougaran said in describing the safety measures they will be taking.
In addition, there will be plexiglass sneezeguards to separate the bartenders from the customers, and the tables in the 30,000-square-foot facility will be separated by 10 feet rather than the 6-foot guideline to ensure extra distance.
“We’re going to have plenty of room for social distancing,” Rofougaran said.
Photo via Solace Brewing/Facebook
Law firm King & Spalding plans to come to Tysons, per Fairfax County officials.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced the newcomer at 1650 Tysons Blvd today.
“Firms that bring global expertise in corporate law are absolutely essential for a strong business and technology ecosystem, so we are delighted to welcome King & Spalding to Fairfax County and Northern Virginia for its 22nd worldwide location,” FCEDA President Victor Hoskins said in a press release.
Hoskins noted that this announcement adds to the growing business community in Fairfax County. Last month, Microsoft said that it will create a new technology hub in Reston.
Based in Atlanta, the corporate law firm will have a 25-person team in Tysons, according to the press release.
King & Spalding Chairman Robert Hays, Jr. said in a statement that the new office will allow the law firm to serve the tech sector in the D.C.-area.
Image via Google Maps
People in the Tysons area now have an option to leave their homes to watch movies this summer.
The Boro announced yesterday on Facebook that drive-in movies will be available for four weeks, starting this Friday.
“A section of Boro Place will be pedestrian-only with extended restaurant outdoor seating, as well as live entertainment from 7-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays,” the Facebook post said.
This weekend, the drive-in series will screen “Dreamgirls” on Friday (June 19), followed by “Grease” on Saturday. Upcoming movies haven’t been announced yet for the following dates:
- Thursday, June 25
- Friday, June 26
- Saturday, June 27
- Thursday, July 2
- Friday, July 3
- Thursday, July 9
- Friday, July 10
- Saturday, July 11
People are encouraged to reserve tickets because space is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets cost $20 for a vehicle or non-vehicle space for up to four people. People can bring blankets and chairs.
The gates will open at 7 p.m. ahead of the 8:30 p.m. showing time, according to The Boro. Restrooms will be available at the site.
“We ask you to stay in your vehicle for the duration of the event, unless needing to access the restrooms or Boro Place,” according to the Facebook event page.
ShowPlace ICON in Tysons is sponsoring the films, while DC Fray & District Fray Magazine are handling production, according to the post.
Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
