Cobra Times

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” –Barack Obama

Admin Announcements

Frank Tranfa, Principal

Dear QRS families-

February is Black History Month. Black History Month was started in 1926 by Howard University historian, Carter G. Woodson, who chose February because it included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Both Blossoming Beauties and Men of Character will be hosting events this month to honor and celebrate the month. Currently, Men of Character are hosting a coat drive. If you have coats that you are ready to donate, please put them in the blue storage bin in the main office.


Clinician’s Corner

Carlos Fernandez, School Psychologist

Are you finding that your son or daughter immersed in Video Games?

gaming

When young people spend most of their time playing video games despite the fact that they have to do schoolwork, exercise, attend family events or social activities, the benefits of gaming seem less useful.  Young people have become increasingly caught up with video games.  Consequently, these video game have lost important priorities such as caring for themselves, performing in school, doing chores at home or socializing with others. 

Recent studies report that gaming is absolutely taking over the brains of children.  According to the US National Library of Medicine, gaming addiction is a behavioral problem which is described by: 1) a preoccupation with gaming; 2) the ability of gaming to modify a person’s mood; 3) the development of tolerance; 4) the presence of withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of gaming; and 5) the development of interpersonal conflict because of gaming. 

Research report that excess video gaming does not prepare children for the reality of socializing with their peers and other people.  Therefore, learning how to interact with others in a real-world setting is an important social skill, which might be neglected by individuals who spend too much time gaming. Moreover, the rapid movements and fast-paced action of video games promote a loss of concentration in players which negatively impacts a child’s ability to read books which requires more focus, care and attention.

Game Brain

Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and personal development.  If video games are used appropriately, they can help children learn and apply valuable character traits that may help them in their interactions with others.  However, if used as an escape mechanism, it hinders children from going through developmental challenges of growing up appropriately.  It is recommended that parents monitor the time their children spend playing video games.  It is important to engage in conversation with your child about the effects that excess video games has on their social, academic, and emotional development.


Counselor’s Moment of Clarity

Summer Planning Starts Now

Greta Nichols Thomas, School Counselor

Brrrrrrr!  While winter is certainly upon us, it is never too early to begin to plan for summer learning.  Information about 2020 credit recovery and enrichment institutes are now available on the Summer Learning webpage for FCPS.  Registration opens for the enrichment institutes and camps on February 3, 2020

The following CTE courses will be offered: 

Information Systems,Exploring Health and Sciences, Construction Tech 1, and Electrical Construction and Engineering.  Credit recovery registration will begin on April 27, 2020.  Please contact school counselor, Greta Thomas, for more information.


Calendar Events

As we begin the third marking period, please be aware of the following important dates:

February

WIDA English Language Proficiency Assessment    

11th – 13th, 18th – 20th

WorkKeys – (11th and 12th grade students)

18th – 21st            

President’s Day

17th

March

SOL EOC Writing Spring Window (Students who are enrolled in or have previously passed English 11)

2nd – 18th              

Staff Development Day (student holiday)

3rd

WorkKeys – (11th and 12th grade students)

23rd – 27th            

April

End of 3rd Quarter

3rd

WorkKeys – (11th and 12th grade students)

14th – 24th

SOL EOC Non-Writing Window        

20th – 24th             

Spring Break

6th – 10th



“If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.”

~ Dr. Haim Ginott