News from the Nest - May 7

HES School House News

May 7, 2020


We were so excited to see our students in their virtual classrooms for the past two weeks!  The students are doing a great job participating in their lessons and being good digital citizens. Our staff continues to work hard planning and preparing for synchronous and asynchronous learning. We appreciate our teachers year-round, but this week is a special time to say thank you and honor their service to our students and our community. We appreciate their dedication and commitment to all of our HES Hawks!

Jessica Lewis & Samantha Goldstein

 


 

Tips for FCPS Families

Dear Hayfield Families,

As we all navigate through these challenging times, the student support team has come together to share some resources you might find helpful when working with your children. These resources include, but are not limited to, stress relief tools, internet safety and student wellness. As always, we are here to support you and your family and know that we will all come out of this as stronger and more resilient citizens. We hope you find these tools helpful.

Visual Schedule

Most students are more comfortable knowing what is coming next in their day so a visual schedule can be a very helpful aid. We all know that flexibility is necessary as well, but it is still beneficial for kids to have a basic outline. This can be as easy as a chart you draw on a white board or paper that breaks up the day into chunks. Wake up time, breakfast, quiet reading, TV time, online school work, outside time, exercise, and lunch times are all examples of different categories to incorporate.You can work with your child to create this schedule and don’t worry about scheduling every minute, just use a broad approach to breaking up the day. The students are used to seeing their days broken up and it prepares them for transitions. Some students may even need a 5 minute warning before transitioning to the next activity. This may be particularly needed when a student is moving from a preferred activity (video games) to an unpreferred activity (reading). Some students benefit from doing a little school work then a break and then returning to school work while others may do best getting all the work done and then transitioning to activities they choose. Choose the system that you think will work for your child and let them know that you can work together to make changes if something isn’t working. Here are a couple articles and examples of visual schedules.

http://gelds.decal.ga.gov/Documents/LearningResources/PositiveBehavioratHomeTipsheet.pdf

https://blog.chocchildrens.org/establishing-structure-and-routine-for-kids-during-covid-19/

Calm Corner

Creating a calm corner or "take a break" spot can be really beneficial for kids that are dealing with big feelings. This is not a punishment but an opportunity for a child to calm him or herself down so that they can discuss and work to solve whatever situation is causing the turmoil. There are a lot of different resources you could have at this space but it will differ for each child. Some may want his/her headphones with music, drawing tools and paper, or a stress ball and bubbles.Talk to your child about what works for him/her and then make a list of the options they came up with so they have some choices available. See the link for more ideas on creating a calming corner in your home.

https://www.counselorkeri.com/2020/04/18/calm-corner-at-home/?fbclid=IwAR0PECIKVd-x_SNdekcmzrkCvD9Q2AfbeRxZ_WAQwUjomjzSCeHHNlYy21s

Breathing Strategies

Breathing strategies may seem simple and cliche but they really work when they are done effectively. Think of times when you are frustrated or angry and how a few minutes away from the situation with some deep breaths can help you regain composure. The same is true for children. We have worked with our students on breathing exercises at school so they should be familiar with the term “Elevator breathing”, “Hot Cocoa breathing”, and “Figure 8 breathing”. No matter what it is called, the best strategy is to breathe in through your nose and hold for 4 seconds and then exhale slowly through your mouth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCACkuZ2bU&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3G7BO71x7Pf6MiSSEmjYU2AKSYJStIlgOlB9y9DJKH24vUCiNFbI7a1P4

This site offers some great mindfulness and breathing tools for students and tips for parents.

https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-for-children-kids-activities/

Grounding Technique

Utilizing grounding techniques can be useful for anxiety in kids and adults. Try this simple one if someone in your home is struggling with anxiety.

5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique for Anxiety

5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pen, a spot on the ceiling, anything in your surroundings.

4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. ...

3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. ...

2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. ...

1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste.

Model

One of the best things you can do for your students during this time is to talk to them about how hard this is and ask them to tell you how they are feeling. However, there is a fine line between complaining and venting to our children and talking to them about our feelings. A great strategy is to use “I feel” statements as much as possible. “I feel really frustrated that your class was cancelled today. How are you feeling?”. It is also important to think about the next step in the process, the “now what” part. It is great for you to talk to your student about what you do when you feel angry or even model it in the moment. “I feel really angry and overwhelmed right now so I need to take some deep breaths before I talk with you” or “I feel frustrated and I need to take 5 minutes outside”. You can show your kids that it is okay to feel those big feelings but that you also need to use strategies to help cope with them. Of course, none of us do this perfectly every time and we can still use it as a learning tool when we let our frustrations get the best of us. Once everyone has calmed down, you can go back and address the situation. Something like “We both lost it earlier. I wish I would have walked away instead of yelling like that. What do you wish you did differently?”.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/communication-discipline/Pages/How-to-Shape-Manage-Young-Child-Behavior.aspx

https://elunanetwork.org/resources/eluna-resource-strategies-for-thriving-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Internet Safety

Students are spending a lot more time online these days and for good reason. The internet is full of great learning resources and is a way for kids to connect with their peers. We have gathered a few online safety resources for you to review with your students to ensure they are being safe with this extra time online.

http://www.nick.com/blab/safety/ - 10 online safety tips.

http://www.komando.com/kids/commandments.aspx - Great computer use contract for children and parents

Student Wellness Tips

Let’s make sure we are trying to keep our immune systems as healthy as possible during this time. Try to keep a healthy diet and work some fruits and vegetables into each meal. It can also help to stick to a routine bedtime/wake time to ensure kids are getting the sleep they need (8-10 hours). Try some mindfulness videos or soothing music as you (or your student) is getting ready for bed to try to unwind your brain and prepare for sleep. Try to get outside as much as possible! Vitamin D can make a huge difference in our mood and is important to building our immune system. Bring your lunch outside and have a picnic, take the dog for a walk together, play tag, or just sit outside and take some deep breaths. Make sure to model the self care that you need so that your kids can see how important it is!

https://www.fcps.edu/student-wellness-tips

 


 

Reminder Regarding Teacher Requests

at HES for the 2020-2021 School Year

As we begin planning for the next school year, one of our most challenging tasks is creating class groupings. It is very important to have balanced classes that reflect the diversity of our students. These decisions are made with input from your child’s current teacher. We ask parents who have special considerations to submit their requests in writing, telling us about your child’s learning style, strengths and weaknesses. You may also want to list characteristics of a teacher that would best match your student’s needs. Requests for specific teachers will not be honored. All requests should be emailed to jrlewis@fcps.edu. The deadline for submitting requests is the last day of school for students (June 12). We appreciate, in advance, your support and cooperation with this process.

 


 

Has Your Address Changed or Will It Be Changing?

If you have moved or will be moving before the end of the school year, please be sure to contact Christina Spencer at cmspencer@fcps.edu to let her know. This is to ensure that your family will receive learning packets and other important information for the rest of the school year. Please note that even if you have moved or do move out of the Hayfield boundary before the end of the school year, your child(ren) can continue to access Hayfield distance-learning resources through the last day of school.

 


 

Registration for School Year 2020-2021

Children residing in our boundaries who will turn 5 years old on or before September 30, 2020, as well as students in grades 1-6 transferring from Private/Home Schools or moving into our boundaries prior to the start of the new school year may visit our website and select an appointment to register. Due to the closure of schools, appointments through June are cancelled.  However, we are asking that anyone needing to register new students for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year select an available appointment by visiting our Student Registration page and clicking the button. This will allow our registrar to notify you of any steps that may be taken in the meantime to process the enrollment, get immediate information to you for when we are back up and running and if earlier appointments become available, as well as allow us to adequately prepare for next school year.  Please note that staffing for next school year is supported by early registration. Please do not wait to sign up for an appointment. We appreciate your support in this effort!

All information pertaining to registration, including eligibility and forms is outlined in the Sign-Up Genius where the appointment selection is available.https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f49aca62aa46-20202021

 


 

Resources for Families from the Parent Liaison

Fairfax County Parent Support Line

Are you parenting a child 0-18? The Department of Family Services is responding to your needs. They created a support line just for you to answer any parenting questions you may have. Talk to a live person ready to help you. The Parent Support line number is 703-324-7720. See the flyer below.

 

Here to Help

 

Stay Safe at Home

For some people, staying home doesn’t always feel safe. If you know someone that you use this hotline information, please have them call the Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 703-360-7273. See the flyer below. 

 

Staying Safe at Home

 

Recharge, Refresh and Improve Your Mood with myStrength

Now you can use myStrength’s web and mobile tools can help you overcome the challenges we face and stay mentally strong. See the flyer below. 

 

MyStrength

 

Find COVID-19 Geospatial Resources in Fairfax County, VA

Resource such as these and more can be found on the site!

https://fairfax-county-covid-19-geospatial-resources-fairfaxcountygis.hub.arcgis.com/

 

USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Fresh fruit and/or vegetable snacks available for students. 

https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-food-resources/usda-program

USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | Fairfax County Public Schools

FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will resume participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) at these four emergency food distribution sites beginning Tuesday, April 21, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Hayfield ES parents would need to go to Hybla Valley ES.

 


 

Hayfield Helpful Links

Click on a link for information

Hayfield Elementary School website

Attendance

Parent Resources (registration, SIS Parent Vue/Blackboard 24/7, Cafeteria, and BYOD)

Hayfield ES PTA

Inclement Weather

Blackboard 24/7 and SIS ParentVUE

School Menus

2019-2020 School Calendar