Message from Dr. Smith
Hi Bruin Family,
I hope you have enjoyed this week of Spring Break and are continuing to stay healthy and safe. We are celebrating our hard working and passionate administrators for National Assistant Principals Week. We are grateful for their dedication and positive impact on the Lake Braddock community. Please join me in giving them a huge virtual thank you, and feel free to send them a note of appreciation.
Our faculty, teachers and staff are looking forward to getting started next week with a teacher work day on Monday, followed by the kick off of the rest of our school year with our students. All of us have missed seeing them in the halls and look forward to reconnecting with each and every one of them. We have created a Virtual Spirit Week, and we hope that you will join us with some of your activities! If you take a photo and post it to twitter, please tag Lake Braddock @FCPSLBSS.
As we move forward, we ask for your patience and understanding as we embark on this new form of teaching. The LBSS Community is strong and we appreciate the support that we have received. Please reach out if we can help in any way.
Stay Strong Bruins,
Dr. Daniel W. Smith
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What is Important Next Week!
Lake Braddock Virtual Parent Coffee
I would like to invite you to join me for a "Virtual Parent Coffee" on Thursday, April 16, from 6:30-7:30 pm. I will share information about FCPS and Lake Braddock's Distance Learning plan and will allow time for a Q-and-A Session. This virtual meeting space holds a maximum capacity of 250 participants, so we do plan to record the session and will send it out to the community as a reference.
To join the Virtual Parent Coffee session, click here.
Distance Learning Resources
Please take some time to review the various resources we have prepared to help our families during this transition to distance learning:
• Lake Braddock Secondary School Distance Learning playlist: two videos for students: one from me about Lake Braddock's Distance Learning Plan and one that is titled "Online Learning 101." These videos contain valuable information for you and your students to get ready for the start of Distance Learning on April 14.
• Continuation of Instruction Student Support: instructional schedule; office hours for teachers; office hours and contact information for counselors, other support staff, and technology support; and contact information for administrators.
• LBSS Tips for Working and Learning from Home: a compilation of resources for you and your students sharing ways to make the best of this time together.
• LBSS Digital Planner: If you would like a planner to help you structure your day, this link will have you make a copy of a digital planner that you can personalize for your needs.
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Tips for Parents
As we embark on Distant Learning, we recognize it can present different opportunities and challenges for families and students. While our number one goal is to continue high-quality instruction, we recognize the challenges and obstacles our students and families may face in the upcoming weeks will be exciting yet apprehensive. To prepare for this new approach to learning, it is important that we help our students adjust to the new normal and begin to develop good learning habits. Here are few tips to help students find success in this new environment:
- Take a deep breath
- Be there for your child as a parent
- Continue to maintain family norms and be supportive
- Know that you are doing the best you can
- Celebrate your accomplishments and progress!
Information for All
PTSA Updates
Rachel Bailey is a parenting specialist who was set to provide a workshop to Lake Braddock parents in March titled "Raising Resilience: Teaching Kids to Handle Life's Inevitable Obstacles." With the school closure, her workshop was postponed. However, we have good news! She is going to record her workshop for us so that you can still take part in it.
She is planning to have the video ready in the next few weeks and would like your input to prepare for it. If you have questions you would like to ask, she will answer them for you in her video. Please submit your questions in this google form: https://forms.gle/Mgzy8EugZbvTf25x5
All PTSA information can be found on the PTSA web site: https://lbssptsa.org/
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MS Information
FCPS Learning Packets and Going Paperless
Our wonderful Lake Braddock teachers have spent the past several weeks preparing rich distance learning activities for your children. FCPS has also sent home paper learning packets to your home address in SIS. Electronic copies of the learning packets can be downloaded from Blackboard by clicking here. If you would like to opt-out of receiving the paper packets at home, please click here to complete the form.
HS Information
High School Yearbook
The high school yearbook is now available for purchase via MySchoolBucks and the online site:(www.yearbookordercenter.com with school code 5061). Not sure if you’ve already pre-ordered your student’s 2020 book? Email tbpoquis@fcps.edu
Do you have a spring sports athlete or theatre student in your home? You can help us finish the spring supplement by submitting photos. We’d love any pictures you have that were taken in March and after. Submit to the online eShare site at www.yearbookordercenter.com using school code 5061.
When we have more information about the book arrival, we will communicate the distribution plan.
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Lake Braddock Congratulations!
Congratulations to Bruin 8th grader, Hannah Cha. Hannah was awarded a National Scholastic Art Silver Medal for her work, Hide and Seek.
FCPS Resources
FCPS is now publishing daily updates for the FCPS community, highlighting things you need to know such as updates on the FCPS digital learning plan, major county and state announcements, and news articles.
• A new web site from FCPS, Learning at Home: Support for Families, provides resources and strategies to support students as they prepare for distance learning.
• The Parent Resource Center is open (virtually) during this time of FCPS Distance Learning.
• Learning Packets for Middle School Students: Learning Packets are available online. Click here for directions. Parents can opt out of receiving paper copies by completing this opt out link. While the distribution of the first edition of learning packets was delayed, adjustments have been made so that the packets should be delivered by Friday or Saturday each week for the remainder of the school year. Week 2 packets are scheduled to arrive by Saturday, April 11. Families who have still not received their packet should contact their teachers.
• Advanced Placement Exams: The College Board published a schedule of online exams for each course. (Traditional face-to-face exams will not take place.)
Quick links to resources previously shared:
FCPS Updated FAQs
Food Resources
Talking to Students about COVID-19
Fairfax County Resources (Assistance from a Distance) Flyers posted below
Ways to Support Local Organizations
Academics and Continuity of Learning Plan
FCPS cable channels with learning activities are available. Channel 25 includes middle school programming and Channel 99 includes high school programming. This content will also be available online at www.fcps.edu.
Counselor and Clinical Team Support
During this difficult time, our Student Services teams continue to be available to help support our staff, students, and families. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have student concerns. If you have sensitive information that you do not want to send in an email, you can simply say you have a student concern you would like to address and include a phone number where a counselor or clinical team member can reach you. See Continuation of Instruction - Faculty and Staff Support for contact information and office hours of our Student Services staff.
Other Mental Health Resource Links
FCPS website for Mental Health Resources and information for emergency mental health services:
FCPS Fields are Closed
Due to COVID-19, all FCPS fields remain closed. Please refrain from entering any FCPS fields, including ones at Lake Braddock. Thank you for your cooperation.
Fairfax County Family Services Resources
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board is still operating but with continually evolving changes. Please check their web site for updated support options.
 
Spanish
Korean
 
Other Resources Available
Audible: Free Collection
Audible is offering for free a collection of audiobook playbacks while schools are closed during this COVID-19 crisis. The collection has been handpicked by their editors and is a mix of stories to entertain, inform and engage young people ages 0 to 18. To access the free titles, visit stories.audible.com from any web browser.
Families Needing Internet
Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering 2 months free to new Internet Essentials customers in response to recent and anticipated emergency measures associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please use this website for more information: https://www.internetessentials.com/
How to Stay In-Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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