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Dear Wakefield Forest Families,
The news this past week has been incredibly heartbreaking. As a mom I have been having really tough conversations with my girls about racism, privilege, bias, fear and hate. I believe these conversations have to happen, as a part of teaching our children that #OtherPeopleMatter. These can be very hard conversations to start, especially with children. There are many books that can help you, but a few I have read to my own girls are Rosa, The Day You Begin, The Day the Zebras Lost Their Stripes, Something Happened in Our Town and Skin Again. Readalouds of these books can be found on YouTube.
This is a list of additional books to support these conversations:
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/26-childrens-books-to-support-conversations-on-race-racism-resistance
Here are some tips for having these conversations:
https://www.embracerace.org/resources/young-kids-racial-injustice
As a leader, I am constantly reading and challenging my own thinking to continue to improve. Some of the material that has sparked the most personal reflection on this topic are the books Biased, The Hate U Give and The Other Wes Moore, "100 Humans," episode 4 – Are You Biased? (Netflix), FCPS Cultural Proficiency training and Harvard’s Project Implicit.
If you or your child needs support with this or any other concern, please reach out to us. We are here to support you.
Thank you.
Sharyn Prindle
Principal
Staff Farewells
Every year we sadly have members of our amazing staff head off on new adventures. This year we will be saying goodbye to the following folks:
• Jessica Clark is moving to Culpeper, Virginia.
• Kari Ann McDonald is moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• Alisa Bedker is staying home with her sweet baby girl Emelia.
• Stacia Aman will be around for a little bit before her move to Florida.
• Tina Cannon is moving to West Virginia.
• Kelsey Dolinger will be moving to Richmond, Virginia.
• Amanda Dyson is switching fields to pursue something on the corporate side of the world.
• Vivian Choi will be switching to a school on the western side of the county.
We very much appreciate the contributions these individuals have made to Wakefield Forest and Fairfax County Public Schools. We wish them well.
Mental Health Support
We understand that this is a stressful time for students and families. If your child needs a check in from a member of our mental health team, please complete this survey and one of our staff will reach out.
If you are seeking supports for working with your child during this time, there are some at this link towards the end of the webpage:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/distance-learning/instruction/learning-at-home
Renovation News
During distance learning our renovation plans are continuing to progress. Meetings with our architect team are continuing in a virtual format. Information about the timeline for the Wakefield Forest Renovation can be found in the Capital Improvement Program. https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/facilities-planning-future/capital-improvement-program
Summer Continuity of Learning
This summer FCPS will be sending workbooks in the mail to support your children’s continued learning. We will also have a teacher available one hour per week for virtual office hours at each grade level. More information will be coming about this opportunity as it becomes available.
Laptops
All students who have borrowed a laptop from Wakefield Forest ES and are returning next year may keep the devices through the summer in order to support the Continuity of Learning. Sixth grade laptops will be collected in August. If you have borrowed a device and are moving, please contact alwilliams1@fcps.edu to schedule a drop off time.
Parent Input Forms
Parent Input Forms were due on May 19, 2020. We have begun the extensive process of preparing class groupings for the next school year and no further feedback will be able to be considered. Thank you for your understanding.
Fairfax County Summer Library Program
While WFES are not sponsoring a school-based summer reading program, the Fairfax County Public Library system is! You can see the details here on their website:
https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/summer-reading
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