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Dear Gator Parents/Guardians,
As a fellow FCPS Parent, as well as your Gator Principal, I am happy to share these several tips that will lead to better learning for each of our Gator Students. These tips are also perfect for reducing our kids' stress about school....and life, in general!
Thanks,
Sam
Our doors open at 8:25…learning begins at 8:40!
Lately, there has been a substantial increase in the number of students arriving after the tardy bell rings at 8:40 am (140 unexcused tardies since October 1!!). Please make every effort to help your child arrive on-time each day. For any student arriving after 8:40, his/her parent is required to walk the child into the building (and sign-in him/her), per FCPS protocol.
Missing school for family travel
Taking trips to spend time with family is a wonderful part of your children’s learning, helping them to experience opportunities to grow as young people. The School Board recognizes this, as they set the annual school calendar. Please plan to travel during the times when school is not in session (teacher workdays, winter break, spring break, etc.) so that your child’s learning is not negatively impacted.
Coming to school prepared
Helping our Gators to foster solid organizational habits is one of the most important skills we can all do (at home and school) to help prepare them for greatness at Lake Braddock and beyond. Thank you for checking to make sure your child comes to school each day with everything they need, including homework, lunch, band/strings instrument….and more!
Technology / Social Media – handle with care!
Would we ever toss the car keys to our 11-year-old, asking them to drive to Tysons?! Well, of course not! And yet, the cell phones that many of our kids carry can certainly lead them to just as much “adult danger” as any road hazard out there. As a fellow FCPS Parent, I can’t stress enough how critical it is to make sure you know your child’s current passwords for any device/app/site you allow them to access. If you’re like me, you make your kids well aware that the phone/computer they use belongs to me, and not them….and can be restricted whenever I deem appropriate. (And, to borrow a phrase from my grandfather, “you’re skating on thin ice” if you allow any electronics out of the kitchen/living room area.)
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