October 18, 2017
Highlights:
- Digital Citizenship Week
- FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference This Saturday, October 21
- Parent-Teacher Conferences Coming Soon!
- Dr. Brabrand Launches “Community Conversations”
Good afternoon, Laurel Hill Parents & Guardians!
Fall has finally fallen! It finally feels like October! We hope you’re enjoying the cool, crisp sunshine, as the leaves begin to change color rustling in the autumn breezes. It’s a beautiful time of year, and a busy time of year, with testing, conferences, fall-themed field trips, and other special events filling the calendar. Please be sure to read newsletters and fliers sent home by your child’s teacher as well as school-wide information sent home via email and posted on our school website.
FCPS also has many special county-wide events scheduled for the next few months, including Digital Citizenship Week this week, the Mental Health and Wellness Conference this weekend, and Superintendent Brabrand’s Community Conversations, which begin tonight in Reston and continue through December. You’ll find more information on all of these events below.
We do understand that you are busy and that your time is precious, but there is something even more precious – the safety of our Laurel Hill students, staff members, and community members (including you!). We have noticed that traffic behavior in our Kiss and Ride area during arrival and dismissal is becoming more and more dangerous. Please remember these key points when dropping off or picking up your child:
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Please allow your child to get out of your car on the passenger side by him or herself. Please DO NOT get out of your vehicle. It is simply not safe for you or your child. We cannot control the impatient drivers behind you that may want to speed past you. If your child cannot get out of the vehicle without your assistance, then please park your car and walk him or her to the doors.
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Please make sure that you do not speed down the Kiss and Ride line if there are no vehicles in front of you.
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Please listen to the adult flag wavers who control the flow of traffic and are in charge of stopping traffic for parents and children to cross.
For more information on our Kiss and Ride rules, please see the brochure posted on our school website.
Have a great week, and stay safe!
~ Mrs. Dalton, Dr. Duling, and Mrs. Smith
Quick Calendar
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Wednesday, October 18 – TONIGHT! – LHES PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
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Friday, November 3 – End-of-quarter early release; dismissal at 2:05 p.m.
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Monday, November 6, and Tuesday, November 7 – Teacher Work Days/Parent-Teacher Conferences – STUDENTS DO NOT REPORT!
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Thursday, November 9 – Make Up Picture Day
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Friday, November 10 – Veterans Day Celebration (information coming soon!)
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Wednesday, November 15 – FLE Preview Night, 6 – 7 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 15 – PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
School News & Notes
FCPS Celebrates Digital Citizenship Week, October 16 – 20
In today’s society, connected by electronic devices of all kinds, you may hear a lot about “digital citizenship,” but what exactly does that mean? Digital citizenship can be described as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior (and its positive and negative impact on self and others) with regard to technology use. To help parents and students understand this multifaceted topic, FCPS has created a special page on its website, as well as lessons for teachers to use in classrooms at all levels, and even an online course just for parents.
Virginia legislation requires schools to include a component on internet safety for students in the division's acceptable internet use policies and integrated within the instructional programs. You can find out more about those lessons on the Virginia Department of Education Internet Safety website.
The free online course for parents is a four-module program that covers a wide variety of topics. The first module is designed for parents and guardians only, with subsequent modules for families to view together. The course was designed with teens in mind, but some material is appropriate for parents of younger children as well. You may wish to preview the modules before sharing with your children. Course topics for family-viewing include respect for self, respect for others, and online communities and civic engagement. You can launch the course directly at http://bit.ly/fairfaxdigcit.
FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference – This Saturday, October 21, 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Fairfax High School
The fourth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference will be held this Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Fairfax High School from 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Dr. Scott Brabrand, FCPS Superintendent, will open the conference, and Dr. Jonathan Dalton, founder of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, will be the keynote speaker. Participants in this conference will be able to choose from over 50 breakout sessions, and there will be many resource tables available representing public and private offices and agencies providing services within our schools and community. Visit https://www.fcps.edu/mentalhealthwellnessconference for more information and to register.
Laurel Hill Art Teacher to Participate in 10th Annual Artist Teacher Exhibition
Congratulations to art teacher Ashley Birkmaier, who was recently selected to participate in the 10th annual Artist Teacher Exhibition, sponsored by FCPS. This prestigious art show will feature original artworks by 29 FCPS art teachers. More than 110 pieces were submitted for consideration, but only 48 were accepted.
The artworks will be on display in the McGuire Woods Gallery at the nearby Lorton Workhouse Art Center until October 28. All Laurel Hill families are invited to visit the gallery and view Ms. Birkmaier’s masterpieces.
Parent-Teacher Conference Days Coming November 6 and 7; Early Dismissal on November 3!
It's still early in October, but it’s never too early to make note of upcoming schedule changes later in the fall.
The end of the first grading period is Friday, November 3. That day, students will be released two hours early at 2:05 p.m. so that teachers can get a jump on completing grades and other end-of-quarter paperwork. The following Monday and Tuesday – November 6 and 7 – are full Teacher Work Days, and students DO NOT REPORT. The office and SACC will be open.
Dr. Brabrand to Host “Community Conversations” at Hayfield Secondary School November 8, Irving Middle School November 14, 6:30 p.m.
FCPS Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand will host five Community Conversations this fall to hear what students, parents, employees, and members of the community are thinking about and what issues are important to them. The two closest locations to Laurel Hill will be the meeting at Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Road) on Wednesday, November 8, and the meeting at Irving Middle School in Springfield (8100 Old Keene Mill Road) on Tuesday, November 14. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by discussion and questions from the audience from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information and other dates and locations, visit the FCPS website.
Family Life Education (FLE) Preview Night – Wednesday, November 15, 6 – 7 p.m.
All parents are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education (FLE) media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The Preview Night will be held on Wednesday, November 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Laurel Hill Library, prior to that month’s PTA meeting. There will not be a formal presentation, but all program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for review at this time.
Strengthening the Home-School Connection
PTA Reminders
- Our PTA meeting for the month of October will be held TONIGHT – Wednesday, October 18 - at 7 p.m. in the library. Please come out and join us so that we can continue to build a great parent-teacher community. The meeting will focus on upcoming events and learning from one another how we can continue to create a solid foundation for our children. There will also be a guest speaker from the Lorton Library!
- The deadline for Reflections entries has been EXTENDED to this Friday, October 20! Visit https://www.vapta.org/arts-and-education/reflections for information on this annual creative arts contest. If you have any questions about the theme or how to apply, please contact Hanan.Daqqa@gmail.com. Please do not miss out on this great opportunity to show off your child’s artistic skills!
- Thank you to all of the families who participated in this year’s Annual Appeal fundraiser! The PTA is tallying up response cards received to see which class will get an extra Rockin’ Recess.
- Our next fundraiser starts today, and it will bring a hint of spring to the fall feeling in the air. The PTA is selling flower bulbs that you can plant now for beautiful blooms in the spring! In today’s Wednesday Folder, you’ll find a flier explaining the sale and a colorful brochure with an order form. You can sell bulbs to friends and family using the paper order form (checks should be made payable to “Laurel Hill PTA”) or you can visit the online portal to order with a credit card and have your bulbs shipped directly to your home. Please copy and paste this link into your browser: groups.dutchmillbulbs.com/shop/?affiliates=laurelhillptaflowerbulbs.
If you don’t need bulbs for your home landscape, consider purchasing a bag or two to help beautify the school grounds. Each pack costs just $10 and the school receives a full 50% ($5) of each bag sold.
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Box Top collections are underway, so please keep clipping! Please send your Box Top's in a Ziplock bag with your child's name and teacher’s name written on it. Laurel Hill thanks you!
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Volunteers are needed to help with organizing books in the library, Monday through Friday. Please come out and help our librarians keep our library tidy and in order.
- Thank you so much to ALL of our wonderful volunteers and donors who made our Quarterly Teacher's Luncheon a huge success last Friday. It was awesome – and delicious!
- The PTA’s Sixth Grade Activities Planning Committee would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Lucia Buethe and the team of parents who helped with Screen on the Green sales. Sixth grade raised about $1,000!
Next up for the sixth grade committee is working with Mom's Apple Pie, which has offered to partner with the group to sell pies, just in time for Thanksgiving! More information is coming soon!
The next meeting of the Sixth Grade Activities Committee will take place on Tuesday, October 24, at 7 p.m. in the Laurel Hill Library. All sixth-grade parents and guardians are welcome! Discussion will include T-shirt designs, an update on fundraising, and the initial plans for the end-of-the-year event!
Community Events & Announcements
Fall for Fun and Learning at Lorton Library!
Warm up chilly fall days with special events at the nearby Lorton Library. There are reading-centered activities for all ages on the schedule. Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
A complete calendar of school events is available on our website.
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