 Positivity Project - #OtherPeopleMatter
This week we have explored the character trait curiosity. Curiosity refers to our
innate urge for discovery and exploration, and is a key element of our
human desire for wisdom and knowledge. It’s what keeps us intrigued in the plot
lines of movies and books. It’s what pushes us to try new activities or travel
to different places. All individuals experience curiosity, but differ in their
willingness to experience it – behaviorally, intellectually, and
emotionally.
Curiosity is associated with novelty-seeking. Novelty-seekers are more willing
to endure risks – such as physical risks of skydiving or social risks of
meeting new people – in order to gain the benefits of new experiences.
Curiosity is also associated with being receptive to exploring new ideas,
feelings, or values – which carry their own inherent risks and rewards.
Curiosity is also crucial in making discoveries that bring important benefits.
For example, exotic plants may yield new medicines and ancient artifacts may
illuminate astonishing pieces of human history. Curiosity is what compels
astronauts into outer space and submarines to the bottom of the ocean. It is
hardwired into us -- and it's a defining element of human success.
To learn more about the #OtherPeopleMatter movement and what that entails, please visit our website
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 Portrait of a Graduate
Portrait of a Graduate moves FCPS students
and staff members to look beyond the high-stakes testing environment and to
help our students develop skills so they can be successful in the workforce of
the future.
The Portrait of a Graduate skills are
Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical
Thinker, and Goal Directed and Resilient Individual.
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 Absences
Add Up: Attendance Matters!
As the school year begins, we want you to know how FCPS follows up on student
attendance. Regular
attendance and active academic engagement yield the best student
outcomes. In Virginia, public school students, aged five to eighteen, are
expected to attend school daily, unless their absence is excused due to
illness, a death in the family, a medical or dental appointment, or religious
obligations.
We reach out to parents when:
- Students
don’t arrive at school as scheduled. We must hear from parents within 48
hours of an absence, and will try to reach parents to find out the reason
why the child did not report.
- Students are
chronically absent (miss 10% of the school year, for any reason).
- Students
have three or more unexcused days.
- Students have 10 or excused abscences
Parents assist educators by:
- Continuing
to communicate with schools when your child will be absent.
- Planning non-school
related trips, such as those scheduled to visit relatives, or family
vacations, when schools are not in session. Doing so helps children avoid
lost learning opportunities.
- Monitoring
your child’s attendance.
- Seeking
resources, including school support, if your child is experiencing
difficulty in school.
Get more
information about student attendance.
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Safety Drills
During
the first four weeks of school Brookfield has completed four fire drills
and two lockdown drills. Staff and students have done an
excellent job practicing these drills. We have a bus evacuation drill to complete for our
opening of school safety requirements. The remainder of the year the
following drills will be conducted:
- Monthly fire drills
- Two additional lockdown drills
- One additional bus evacuation drill
- One tornado drill
Mental Health and Wellness Conference
Registration is now open for the fifth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference that,
for the first time, will also include an Our Minds Matter Teen
Summit for middle and high school students, sponsored by the Josh Anderson
Foundation. The conference will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at
Fairfax High School on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Dr. Scott Brabrand,
FCPS Superintendent, will open the conference, and Dr. Amy Przeworski,
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Case Western
Reserve University, will present the keynote message: Using
Stress to Your Advantage in Achieving Academic Success and Emotional Well Being.
Participants in this conference, which is free to staff, parents, and community
members, will be able to choose from 35 breakout options (many offered more
than once). Additionally, there will be more than 50 resource tables
available, representing public and private agencies providing wellness-related
services within our schools and in our community.
 Celebrate Scientists at TJ
Date: October 5th, 2018
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: TJHSST Cafeteria
(6560 Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312)
2nd - 8th graders are invited to present projects!
Join us at TJHSST to:
View student projects on diverse scientists
Learn about TJ diversity outreach efforts
Participate in hands-on STEM activities
TJHSST is excited to announce an event to “Celebrate Scientists at TJ”. Students and families are invited to attend the event and participate in fun, educational activities. Students in 2nd - 8th grade are encouraged to register and submit projects.
Registration is Easy as 1-2-3
1. Register on our website by September 30th: https://tinyurl.com/Celebrate-Scientists-at-TJ
Prepare a Celebrate Scientists project:
a. Research scientists. Here are some helpful websites:
https://www.famousscientists.org/
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/science/famous-scientists/
https://www.biography.com/people/groups/famous-scientists
b. Prepare a trifold display. Include:
Name of the scientist
Picture of the scientist
Personal Details including education information about the scientist
Description of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math field and contributions by the scientist in this field.
Quotes by the scientist
Attend
Oct. 5th event and share information on a 3-panel display board. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to set-up your display.
For questions, please contact: Summer.T.Keating@gmail.com
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 Health Room Volunteer Training
We welcome volunteers to
help provide care for our students and assist with administrative duties.
Training is provided by the Fairfax County Health Department and is essential
for anyone working in the school’s Health Room. No prior medical experience is
necessary. No registration required.
Wednesday, October 10
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Springfield District Office
8136 Old Keene Mill Rd,
Springfield, VA
Suite A 100
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
10:00 AM– 12 noon
Herndon Reston District
Office
1850 Cameron Glen Dr.,
Reston, VA
First floor Room 600 A
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
10:00AM – 12:00 PM
Annandale District Office
7611 Little River Turnpike,
Annandale, VA
Third Floor Conference Room
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 Parent Information about Elementary Grade Level Curriculum
A digital drop-down tool has been created for
parents and the community to learn more about the elementary standards and
benchmarks by grade level and content that is accessible by clicking on the Elementary School Academics on the FCPS public internet.
Once on this page, please select the
grade level you would like to learn more about. Inside the grade-specific page,
you may visit any of the linked pages for an overview of programs of content.
For a deeper dive into a specific content, click on View the ___Grade program of
Studies (POS) button. Within this page, you may click on any subject
(i.e., mathematics, science, etc.) and a drop down by standards and benchmarks
will appear.
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Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services
Save the date for our fall
Parent Information Meeting that will cover how Brookfield Elementary provides
these services.
**Wednesday, November 7th
following the PTA meeting**
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of
advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-8. Learning experiences
are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration,
and extension of the Program of Studies (POS). Teachers, administrators, and
Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the
following levels of services. A video showing each level of service in
action, as well as information about middle and high school services are available
at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics.
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Critical and
Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I) Level
I services are provided to all students in Kindergarten through Grade 6
and consist of lessons designed to teach critical and creative thinking
skills. Strategies are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and are used
throughout the year by classroom and other teachers. Student
responses to these lessons are used as part of the identification process
for Levels II-IV. Parents may also practice these strategies during family
conversations and activities. Descriptions and videos of the nine critical
and creative thinking strategies can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics/critical-and-creative-thinking.
Because Level I services are for all FCPS students, there is not a
screening process.
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Differentiated
Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Level II services are available for students in Kindergarten through Grade
6 for students with strength in a specific subject area. The AART
collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges
using materials from the AAP curriculum framework for Levels II-IV to
extend and enrich in the subject area strength. Screening for this level
of service is ongoing throughout the school year.
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Part-Time
Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III) Level
III services are available for students in Grades 3-6 who are eligible for
part-time direct services from the AART. Students are identified by
a screening committee at the local school. The AART uses materials
from the AAP curriculum framework for Levels II-IV in the four core
subject areas through either a weekly pull-out class or weekly co-teaching
model with the classroom teacher. Screening for this level of
service is ongoing throughout the school year.
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Full-Time
Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
- Level IV
services are available for students found eligible through a central
selection process. The program is available in Grades 3-8.
Eligible students use curriculum from the AAP Curriculum Framework for
Levels II-IV in the four academic subject areas on a full-time basis.
Screening for Level IV services occurs during specific screening
cycles:
- Fall
screening is held for students who are new to FCPS and have been referred
- Spring
screening is held for any FCPS-enrolled student who has been referred
Due to the volume of files screened centrally for Level IV
services, deadlines are strictly held.
Additional information about the holistic screening process and
information used for screening can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Ways to Stay Informed
Chantilly Pyramid Mental Health Site
Brookfield PTA has a monthly newsletter,
the Brookfield PTA Babble
Visit the Brookfield
ES website for updates.
Follow Brookfield ES on Twitter @BrookfieldES as
another way to follow what is going on at BKES.
Brookfield ES on Facebook - Like our Facebook page!
News You Choose - Brookfield ES will send
information through the News You Choose communications tool.
Access school lunch menus here
Important Dates
September 20 - Picture Day
October 2 - BBQ Lunch for Students
October 8 - No School for Students
October 10 - PTA Meeting 8:15 AM
October 19 - Fall Family Bingo Night 6-8
PM
November 7 – Advanced Academic Parent Information Meeting for parents of grades K-6 (after evening PTA meeting)
January 10 – Level IV referral files and optional materials due to Sheri Reed (grades 2-6)
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