Message from Dr. Smith
Bruin families,
I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy during this time. We realize this week did not go as planned. On Tuesday this week, our the majority of our students and teachers enjoyed connecting with each other, and we remain hopeful that the necessary changes have been made to help us move forward.
Thank you to all of you that participated in our Virtual Spirit Week. It was great to see people posting photos of things they are doing during this situation. This is a photo from Flashback Friday of our SGA sponsors and mascot. Check out the Lake Braddock SGA Twitter @LB_SGA to see what other Bruins were up to this week.
We will resume with our schedule on Monday, April 20th, with planning and meetings for teachers. Students should continue to complete any work for 3rd quarter and if email their teachers if they need assistance. Tuesday we are planning to resume our synchronous learning and students will need to log into Blackboard to access these sessions. Use this link to access the synchronous sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. How to access the NEW Virtual Classroom in Blackboard
Please know that we are here for you and we are in this together. It's important to stay connected during this time and our teachers, counselors, administrators and other staff are here for you. Please reach out if you need anything.
Stay Bruin Strong,
Dr. Daniel W. Smith
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Important This Week
Lake Braddock Virtual Parent Coffee
The Virtual Principal's Coffee was postponed to next Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 pm. The link for this event will be sent out through eNotify on Thursday morning. Please make sure to check your email for that link.
Class of 2020 Graduation Survey
Senior parents, we want to hear from you regarding Graduation. By Friday, April 24th, please take a moment to fill out this survey. Class of 2020 Parent Graduation Survey
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.
• How to access the NEW Virtual Classroom in Blackboard
• Parents needing technical assistance with logging into any FCPS account can submit a request through this website.
•Students who need technical assistance can contact any staff member at LBSS with the following information. Our Technology staff will reach out to assist or schedule a time to come in if necessary:
• Barcode of student computer
• Student first and last name and ID
• Student G-Suite email address (personal email, if the G-Suite email is not working)
• Parent's contact cell and/or email
• Description of problem (i.e. won’t charge, broken screen, doesn’t turn on, can’t open Chrome)
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Information for All
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Congratulations to Lake Braddock SGA
Our Student Government Association (SGA) has been nationally recognized as a National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Student Council! This incredible recognition is a true testament of the student leadership, voice, service and activities by our student government association (SGA).
Our school is one of 4 in Northern Virginia, one of 17 schools in Virginia and one of 275 schools nationally to earn this prestigious distinction! Please join me in congratulating our students and incredible sponsors, Jocelyn Cable and Veeda Ranjber on this amazing award!
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School Counselors Available
Any FCPS parent may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student.
Consultations provide an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s emotional well-being during their time away from school. Student consultations will provide support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions during this unprecedented and challenging time.
Note: Parent consultations are available for all grade levels. Student consultations are only available for middle and high school students. Schedule a phone consultation online.
Lake Braddock Counselors are available to support you as well so please email them if you need support.
Update from our Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Kenneth Johnson is a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS) with the office of Student Safety and Wellness in Fairfax County Public Schools. As a SAPS, he meets with students either individually or in a group setting for tobacco, vaping, and other drug interventions. Additionally, he provides presentation to parents, school staff, students and the community on topics such as trends in substance use and abuse, stages of addiction, refusal skills, warning signs of substance use, and tools for parents. Mr. Johnson has been an employee of FCPS for over 15 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice and a master’s degree in Special Education from George Mason University. He is also a certified gang specialist with the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
Hello Lake Braddock community! I hope all of you are staying healthy and well. I wanted to provide some information about vaping and drugs that is relevant to what we are experiencing right now with COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently updated their website to include information about smoking/vaping and COVID-19. The WHO states that “smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19.” The full statement can be found here. A recent article from CNN Health detailed how vapers may be at increased risk for more serious complications due to COVID-19. It also discusses the concern that use of other drugs, specifically opioids and methamphetamine, may increase users' risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19. The full article can be found here.
Unfortunately, substance use and addiction don’t stop for a pandemic. If you need support with your child please feel free to reach out to me at Kwjohnson@fcps.edu . Additionally, the Community Services Board (CSB) is still providing mental health and substance abuse services. Their information can be found here. If there are any parents trying to have conversations about addiction, drugs, and alcohol while your child is a captive audience and you need material, please let me know.
College Partnership Applications
College Partnership has reopened its application window through April 24. Applications are submitted here: https://tinyurl.com/CPPapp2020
Applications are open to students in eighth through eleventh grade who are first-generation and/or traditionally underrepresented in the college setting. Through school-based monthly meetings and county programs, members are supported in their high school experience, college search and college application process with the end goal being college success.
PTSA Updates
Raising Resilient Teens During Social Distancing (Rachel Bailey)
We were scheduled to host Rachel Bailey, Parenting Specialist, during the March PTSA meeting who was going to provide a workshop called “Raising Resilience: Teaching Kids to Handle Life's Inevitable Obstacles.” Due to the school closure, Rachel took parent questions on this topic and recorded a video for you. If you had planned to attend or were interested in the content, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/NuyAODE-SXg
Here are are some of the topics she covers:
- Should you model a positive attitude or share about your own personal feelings, even if they’re not so positive?
- How do you help a child who is already struggling with anxiety and depression and is resisting suggestions?
- Tips for helping teens who are experiencing increased anxiety due to the current situation.
- Best practices or advice for scheduling and focusing around distance learning.
- How to get kids on track for distance learning.
Rachel has invited you to ask any further questions at Rachel@Rachel-Bailey.com or you may reach out to your child’s school counselor for further support:
Middle School Student Services: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/middle-school/student-services
High School Student Services: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/high-school/student-services
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PTSA Scholarship for the Class of 2020 Due by Friday, May 1, 2020
The LBSS PTSA is pleased to offer the opportunity to apply for this scholarship to all LBSS students graduating in 2020:
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Six Senior Scholarships of $500 each for LBSS students continuing their education at a 2- or 4-year accredited college, vocational or technical school, or another accredited post-secondary program.
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Four Senior Scholarships of $250 each for LBSS students continuing their education at a 2- or 4-year accredited college, vocational or technical school, or another accredited post-secondary program.
Click on this link below for more information and the application
2020 LBSS PTSA Scholarship Announcement
2020 LBSS PTSA Scholarship Application
All PTSA information can be found on the PTSA web site: https://lbssptsa.org/
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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Information from the Career Center
A lot is happening within the Career Center. Here are some highlights:
• In light of recent College Fair cancellations across our region and nationally, we have partnered with StriveScan and other associations around the country to provide a virtual alternative. Through unprecedented collaboration, we are excited to announce the Strive Virtual College Exploration Week, which will provide a unique and diverse program for students as they begin to navigate their post-secondary options: Strive Virtual College Exploration Week, from Monday, April 20 to Thursday, April 23, 2020, will include 300+ colleges from 44 states and 10 countries (including many Virginia colleges), 96 sessions over 4 days, day and evening options, panel presentations on a range of topics for juniors and underclassmen, and is free and open to students nationwide. Registration for students and parents is now live:
www.strivescan.com/virtual
• FCPS will host a virtual Interviewing Tips & Tricks Informational Session with Amazon Web Services using Blackboard Collaborate on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 between 5–7 p.m. AWS invites seniors to learn about interviewing techniques, resume tips, and hear first-hand what recruiters are looking for during the application and interview process. Students and parents will also have the chance to connect with business leaders and learn more about the company and open roles.
Click here to view past newsletters from the Career Center.
FCPS Resources
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:
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.
The Fairfax County Department of Family Services has created a resource for how to access their services from a distance.
How to Stay In-Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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