TJHSST First Day Report

First Day Report

Dear TJHSST Families:

We thank you for such a successful first day! Parents stood at the TJ entrance with welcome signs, commuters in cars arrived early which helped with traffic flow, all but five busses were within five minutes of being on time in the morning, and most of all, students found their way to classes and looked happy to be with their teachers and friends. Teachers immediately started building relationships within their learning communities. It feels wonderful to be whole again!

Here are some areas that we know need attention and will continue to improve after day one:

  • Bus service in morning. There was a glitch with Arlington busses that has been resolved. Most busses throughout Fairfax and other counties, even if a little late arriving to depots, made it to school on time.
  • Timely afternoon dismissal of busses. New drivers and afternoon traffic delays contributed to busses releasing nearly 30 minutes later than normal. The good news is that no student reported missing their bus in the afternoon.
  • Lunch service. Meals are free this year and it is natural to underestimate how many students might take advantage of this service. Our Food Nutrition Services staff will work hard to adjust meal preparation to ensure any student who needs a lunch will have one. In addition, students can look forward to improved signage around the cafeteria to make sure the food serving process is more efficient.
  • Masks: Students did a great job wearing masks in class and hallways. Continue to wear masks at lunch when not actively eating and drinking.
  • Safe distances in hallways and lunchtime. Students were excited to see each other for the first time in over a year. This led to socializing that at times was a bit close for comfort. Please encourage your child to maintain 3-feet nose-to-nose distance. Avoid hugging, sitting, or lying on others, walking arm-in-arm, congregating in closed circles in the hallway, blocking traffic flow in hallways, etc. Any close and sustained contact can potentially transmit a virus. Encourage your child to find a quiet corner or new area to eat with a small group of friends where they can be distanced. If students cannot find adequate spaces to spread out and stay masked during lunch when not eating, we may have to institute staggered lunch shifts and assigned seating areas.

Many of the logistical glitches get worked out within a few days. Our day-to-day health- body, mind, and spirit- will be paramount. If you have any concerns as the next week or two progress, please feel free to reach out to administrators, counselors, and teachers. If you are unsure who to reach out to, please contact my Communications Support Specialist Mike Roth at mbroth@fcps.edu. He is here to answer your questions or direct your inquiry to the proper person. We are here for each other and commit ourselves to ensuring your child optimizes opportunities at TJ.

Looking forward to a continued successful opening of the school year. We would not have had such a great first day if not for all the support our parents and caregivers extend to our children. We offer our sincerest thanks.

Regards,

 

Dr. Ann N. Bonitatibus

TJHSST Principal