Update from Dr. Smith
Lake Braddock Families!
We end this week with more days of synchronous learning for our teachers and students. I am appreciative for the engaging activities that teachers are providing to students during this time.
Next week we will be meeting with our 12th Grade students and parents to discuss the latest developments regarding the end of the year and the ways we will celebrate the Class of 2020. Parents of Seniors are invited to attend a virtual meeting on Monday, May 18th at 6:30 pm, and the link for that meeting will be emailed out to Senior parents on Monday morning. Seniors will be meeting on Monday afternoon by subschool through Blackboard Collaborate. The students will be emailed an individual link emailed to their fcpsschools.net email account. The times that each subschool will meet is listed below:
1:00 pm - Subschool 3
1:30 pm - Subschool 4
2:00 pm - Subschool 5
2:30 pm - Subschool 6
We are also continuing to engage our rising 7th grade parents and students. This week we will host a virtual parent meeting for those families on Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30pm. The link for those meetings was sent in an email to those families Friday, May 15th.
One additional important announcement I want to bring to your attention is the student item pickup. If you have personal belongings, please take time to fill out the form below. We are anticipating a drive-thru system the week of Memorial day for students to come through to pick up their personal items.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to your teachers, administrators, and counselors if you have any questions or needs. We are here for you and we will get through this together.
United as Bruins,
Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.
Important This Week
Student Item Pickup
We are finalizing plans for student pickup of items from lockers and other locations. To help with our planning, please complete the following survey regarding your student(s) and items they would want to retrieve: Student Item Retrieval From.
Stay tuned for final details and sign up information.
Do your students miss connecting with their classmates and friends? Join us for our first ever distance learning lunch group, “Bruin Bites” from 11-12 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Blackboard Collaborate. Some of our students have created a way for students and staff to connect in a more relaxed environment including a few games, music, and even “lunch tables!” We would love to see you there!
HS Students - Sign up here
MS Students - Sign up here
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To promote physical activity and overall well-being, the LBSS Health and PE Department is kicking off its first “Mile a Day in May” Challenge (#LBMileADayInMay)! Starting this week, we are challenging other classes, grade levels, and staff to see who can accumulate the most miles overall each week, and for the entire month of May!
To accumulate your mile, you may walk, run, bike, treadmill, elliptical, swim, ride a scooter, or move any other way you can think of that does not involve being powered by anything other than you! Don’t feel comfortable leaving the house to get your mile in, no worries! You can use the following link to help you complete your mile in your house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njeZ29umqVE
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Report Cards
Report cards will be mailed for both third and fourth quarters unless you have opted to "Go Paperless." To go paperless, log into ParentVUE, go to "My Account," and select "Go Paperless." Every parent who has a Parent VUE account for a student must choose Go Paperless to avoid having report cards mailed.
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Information for All
Final Day of School
The final day of school for Seniors is May 29 and the final day for 7th through 11th grade is June 12.
Office Hours for Parent Questions
Our administrative assistants are available to answer parent and student questions via Blackboard Collaborate. Please use one of the following links to access the sessions:
• Monday-Friday 9:00-11:00 am
• Tuesday-Friday 1:00-3:00 pm
• Monday 5:00-7:00 pm
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.
My SchoolBucks Meal Account Refunds
If you wish to request a refund from your child’s MySchoolBucks meal account, please click here.
Support for the Community From One of Our Students
One of our very own 10th graders, Michael Weon, has been volunteering his time to make washable handmade masks. The masks have been donated to senior centers, police departments and the Children's National Hospital. If anyone would like to pick up a mask, they are available at 2985 District Ave. Fairfax, Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition, Michael has set up a go fund me page (Free Masks for the DMV) for donations toward supplies and Children's National.
PTSA Updates
All PTSA information can be found on the PTSA web site: https://lbssptsa.org/
MS Information
Bruins Stay After Meets Virtually
Check out the MS After-School Program Google Classroom for lots of fun, engaging and FREE material!! The classroom code is: rdax7rb.
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Bruins Stay After on Instagram
Join the MS After-School Program: Bruins Stay After on Instagram @bruins_afterschool. Tag @bruins_afterschool to be featured!! We want to know what our Bruins have been up to! Don’t have an Instagram account? No problem! Please email Ms. Bryan at ambryan@fcps.edu to submit.
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Mathcounts is back! Interested in accessing our Mathcounts Google Classroom?
We will meet on Monday afternoons from 3-4pm. Mr. Edwards provides the problems and you provide the snacks! 😊 If you are interested in attending remotely, the Google Classroom Code is: uoxemrw
FCPS Learning Packets and Going Paperless
A reminder that electronic copies of the Middle School 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
Class of 2020 Updates
A letter from Dr. Smith was emailed home on Wednesday, May 13. Seniors should check their fcpsschools.net email for their individual Blackboard Collaborate Link. Senior parents will be invited to meet with Dr. Smith virtually on Monday, May 18th at 6:30 pm. The link for the parent meeting will be emailed out to Senior parents on Monday morning.
Seniors Opportunity “National Graduation”:
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Seniors Celebrate Together: The class of 2020 has faced a senior year like none other in history. The XQ organization has partnered with The Lebron James Family Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to celebrate high school seniors throughout the country with a first-of-its-kind national graduation that will air simultaneously on network television, social media and streaming platforms on Saturday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m. EST. The event will feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Yara Shahidi, H.E.R., Megan Rapinoe, Bad Bunny, Lena Waithe, Pharrell Williams, Ben Platt and others. Former President Barack Obama will give the commencement address.
Here's how you and your students can participate:
--Ask your seniors to submit photos for the first-ever National High School Yearbook in partnership with JR’s global Inside Out participatory photo project.
--Share your stories about remote learning quirks, inspiring tales of educators going above and beyond, or anything else that you think needs to be told on Graduate Together’s website.
--Encourage your seniors to submit photos and short video segments that tell the stories of their achievements.
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AP Testing
The College Board and International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) continue to provide 2020 AP/IB program guidance and testing updates directly to students and parents. Based on this information, FCPS is providing additional information to ensure students and parents understand how schools are supporting students with these changes. The most recent updates by program are published on the FCPS public web at Coronavirus Update – Frequently Asked Questions.
The College Board has released the 2020 AP Exam Day Checklist and an Exam Day Experience. Please note, it is important that AP students review the checklist and immediately complete the AP Exam demo to confirm that their testing device and browser will be able to access the AP exam on test day. If a student cannot complete the AP Exam demo, contact the school AP Testing Coordinator for assistance. The following resources from the College Board are now available: 2020 AP Testing Guide, Explainer Videos and new Course Specific Exam Information.
NOVA Placement Test
NOVA will not be offering the Virginia placement test (VPT) but has created alternate placement for students to qualify: https://www.nvcc.edu/dual-enrollment/fall-2020-policy.html. Students can apply with the option to now use a PSAT score or the GPA option (3.0). FCPS is waiting for guidance from NOVA regarding the online intent form. Once the information has been solidified, information will be sent out to students.
Yearbook
The high school yearbook is still available for pre-order using MySchoolBucks or via the online site (www.yearbookordercenter.com using school code 5061). Not sure if you pre-ordered? Email Mrs. Poquis at tbpoquis@fcps.edu and she can let you know.
Want to help us finish the spring supplement? Share your quarantine life photos with us via the online site (www.yearbookordercenter.com). Make sure to give us your name and some background information so we can include it.
Follow the yearbook on Twitter (@lakebraddockybk) and Instagram (@lbyearbook) for more content.
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FCPS Senior Surveys
There are many seniors that have not yet completed the mandatory FCPS Senior Survey. The Survey must be completed by May 22, 2020 and can be accessed through Naviance. For specific instructions, click here.
Parking Pass Reimbursements
Parking passes will be refunded at a prorated amount. A check will be issued by FCPS to the name and address of the enrolling parent. No additional steps will need to be taken by you.
Information from the Career Center
Click here to view past newsletters from the Career Center.
FCPS Resources
Special Education Resources
Special Education Instruction
Are you looking for ways to support your child during this time of uncertainty? Check out the FCPS Elementary School, Middle School, and High School special education resources which cover a variety of topics for families of students with disabilities such as: reading/ language arts, mathematics, communication, behavior, executive functioning, accommodations, adapted PE, physical and occupational therapy, hearing services, and vision services.
Executive Functioning Strategies
Does your child have executive functioning challenges? Is it difficult for your child to begin work, stay focused on tasks, manage time, or follow through on assignments or projects? Check out these great executive functioning strategies.
Prompting to Independence
Are you finding that you must prompt your child through everything? Are they waiting for you to do everything for them? Check out the Promoting Independence tip sheet. Teaching independent skills improves quality of life, teaches constructive use of free time, and develops age appropriate interests.
Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Support
The Student Safety and Wellness Office offers virtual alcohol and other drug prevention support to all students through pyramid substance abuse specialists. Unfortunately, substance use and addiction don’t stop for a pandemic. If you need support for your child or if you are trying to have conversations about addiction, drugs, and alcohol and need material, please feel free to reach out to the assigned Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for your child’s school or call 571-423-4270.
Helpful Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are parents of special education students being asked to sign confidentiality agreements?
Answer: There are two separate notices for parents to consider.
- The first notice does not require consent: FCPS developed a Confidentiality Notice for parents/guardians related to the use of Blackboard Collaborate and Google Meet as online platforms used by Fairfax County Public Schools for distance learning. This notification includes information related to the disclosure of a student’s personally identifiable information and guidelines and expectations to ensure that the confidentiality rights of all students are protected when live video sessions are used. Parents are not being asked to sign the Confidentiality Notice.
- The second notice requires consent from parents: Parents are asked to sign consent for some related services because of licensing requirements for teletherapy. When a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, or school social worker works in a real-time, multimedia format, parental consent must be obtained for services to occur in this manner in accordance with applicable law and/or licensing. This includes video interaction with students/families and also special education meetings such as IEP, Re-evaluation, and Eligibility meetings.
What are the next steps being offered if I do not wish to sign the TLP?
Answer: The Virginia Department of Education advised school divisions to develop a plan that meets its own individual needs during the time of the emergency school closure. Like other large school divisions in Virginia, FCPS developed the temporary learning plan model to identify what goals, accommodations and services could be provided to students during this time of closure. The TLP is not an IEP and it is not a waiver of rights under IDEA. Your child’s IEP will be implemented when we resume school. A parent may elect to not provide a signature on the TLP. If you do not sign the TLP, school staff will collaborate with you to resolve your concern. This may include having an administrator, department chair/ lead teacher, and or procedural support liaison (PSL) participate in the conversation. If necessary, an IEP meeting with relevant members of the team can be scheduled. If you choose not to sign the TLP, the outlined service(s) will still be offered and will be delivered, unless you choose to opt out of instruction.
Contact Information
If parent(s) or guardian(s) need further assistance, please reach out to the:
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.
The Fairfax County Department of Family Services has a new parenting support line for families of children 0-18: Parent Support Line
How to Stay In-Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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