LBSS Weekly News - 1/24/20


Information for ALL

Attendance Matters
This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance so we wanted to stress the importance that your children are at school every day.

Each year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. We wanted to provide some helpful tips on building a healthy habit of attending school.

Please keep in mind, that if your child has future absences, we will communicate with you directly to offer individualized supports.  

 

Sam Lucania Student Program
We are pleased to welcome Sam Lucania to Lake Braddock in February!  Sam will be here to speak with students about his personal experience dealing with substance abuse and mental health struggles.  Sam is an engaging speaker and has given multiple presentations in the area, that include leading a workshop at the FCPS Parent Resource Center in October and a Ted Talk this past April.  Sam is here to speak directly to students about how you can seek support and support one another with their own struggles.  Some topics might be hard to hear so we will be providing time for students to process their thoughts after the presentation..

Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, we wanted to inform you about it in advance. We encourage you to ask your student about the presentation and discuss it together. If for any reason, you would prefer that your child not attend this presentation, please email your school counselor prior to Friday, February 7th. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact your child’s school counselor.

A parent program will also be taking place on Wednesday, February 12th at 7PM in the Little Theatre.  More detailed information is available here.

Building Better Bruins

Psyched

 

Psyched for Success
A Message from Your School Psychologists

Substance Use Prevention Group

FCPS offers activities and learning experiences which focus on the many ways marijuana, alcohol, tobacco/vaping, and other drug use can negatively impact student lives. Our students’ lives matter to us and as a proactive approach, we want to provide students with the most accurate and up-to-date information on the dangers of substance use and addiction, as well as treatment options. Since we know that experimentation is very common within adolescents, we are seeking students who would be willing to participate in a new substance use prevention program that we are implementing this school year thanks to a very generous grant from LBSS PTSA. The Too Good for Drugs group is an optional 10-lesson program that students must sign up for. The program focuses on goal setting, decision making, identifying and managing emotions, effective communication, bonding and relationships, effects of alcohol use, nicotine, marijuana, prescription, OTC and street drugs, as well as healthy alternatives to substance use.   There will be parent information forms sent home to facilitate your understanding and enhancement your child’s learning. The group will be held during “Bruin Block” once a week/every other week, for approximately 10 weeks. For more information about this program please visit: https://toogoodprograms.org/pages/what-is-too-good.

If you and/or your child would like to take part in this program, please contact Ms. Mary Olsen (molsen@fcps.edu) or Ms. Carleen McKenzie (crmckenzie@fcps.edu).

 

Fairfax Public Access Summer Camps for Teens (ages: 12-18)
TV101 introduces youths from ages 12 to 18 to all aspects of Television Production. As part of each camp students will work as a team to create a 30-minute TV program; therefore, we are looking for the best, most dedicated students interested to learn about this exciting media. Students will develop a script / story board idea, learn the appropriate equipment and shoot their show. As part of the TV Studio and Field Camp, the instructor will highlight how to edit the video footage but students will not learn how to edit themselves.
For students interested in learning how to edit we recommend attending the TV Post-Production Camp instead. Each camp is open for students ages 12 – 18.

To find out more information about the camps, including schedules and registration forms, visit:https://www.fcac.org/summer-camp-registration-forms

 

PTSA
The Lake Braddock PTSA invites you to become a member. Your membership provides you with important information and a voice on issues concerning children’s education, health, and safety! When PTSA and its members get involved, all our children benefit. Online applications can be found on this link: https://lbssptsa.org/membership/join-now/ If you have any questions, please contact membership@lbssptsa.org.

 

Summer 2020 Enrichment Institutes and Camps
Enrichment institutes and camps focus on specific areas such as fine and performing arts, technology, study skills, science, and world languages.  FCPS and non-FCPS students are welcome.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC), Institute for the Arts (IFTA), Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA), and the new CTE Summer Academy classes will be held at Fairfax High School.  Programs run July 6 to July 31, 2020.  Bus transportation is provided from select high schools and middle schools outside of the Fairfax High School pyramid.  Transportation to and from the selected high schools is the responsibility of the parent/guardian or student.

Grade level eligibility for each program refers to the current 2019-20 school year.  Visit central institutes and camps (https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/summer-camps-institutes) for additional information.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will host a technology institute (https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-summer-learning) for middle school students.

ACE enrichment classes stimulate students’ curiosity and provide creative learning experiences. ACE also offers a premier driver’s education Behind the Wheel program to prepare students to obtain their driver’s license.  Visit ACE enrichment classes (https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/default.aspx) for additional information.


LBSS In the News

Successful College Admissions
Congratulations to four of our Bruins students who had successful on-site admissions at the HBCU Fair at Edison HS! (Check out their photo below!)

hbcu

 

NASA "Name the Rover" - Vote for Alexander Mather!
Alexander Mather, 7th grader here at Lake Braddock, has been selected as a semifinalist for the Mars 2020 “Name the Rover” contest. Alexander’s name will enter the next round of consideration to become the official name of the Mars 2020 rover.

This student’s entry was selected as Virginia’s winner in the middle school category. The suggested name, "Perseverance", and Alexander’s essay can be viewed at https://www.futureengineers.org/nametherover/gallery/6989Voting closes Monday, January 27th at midnight.  It only takes a moment to vote – just open the camera on your phone, and the QR code (below) will automatically send you to the voting link; or click on the link above. 

The results of the poll will be a consideration in the final naming selection.  The grand prize winner will receive an invitation to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

NASA’s feature on the selection of the “Name the Rover” semifinalists can be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasas-mars-2020-rover-closer-to-getting-its-name

The Mars 2020 Rover has entered the final stages of preparation for launch. The currently unnamed Mars 2020 Rover is a robotic scientist weighing more than 2,300 pounds. It will search for signs of past microbial life, characterize the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. The spacecraft is targeted for a July 2020 launch and is expected to touch down on Mars in February 2021.

Mather

 

Science Olympiad Team Advances to Regionals
Congratulations to the our Science Olympiad team who competed in the Duke Invitational this past weekend. They placed fifth overall and will advance to the regional competition. Great job to our students and Ms. Emily Owens! (Check out their photo below.)

science

MS Information

Middle School Second Semester Schedule Distribution
All middle school students will all pick up a new schedule for second semester during fourth period Bruin Block on Wednesday, January 29th.  If your student had a semester-long class or Health & PE during fourth period, they will be able to locate their new fourth period class on a master list that will be posted outside Middle School Student Services and the Main Office.  Students should also be able to access this information using their SIS StudentVue account beginning on January 29th.

 

Bruins Stay After Program
Please visit this webpage for the Bruins Stay After program schedule:
https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/middle-school/after-school-program

Don’t see a club you are interested in attending? Please fill out this google form if you have a new club idea!  https://forms.gle/uChtEHtZQVw5U1k98


Calendar at a Glance

January 27: Teacher Workday. No School for Students.

January 28: Staff Development Day. No School for Students.

February 17: George Washington's Birthday. No School for All.