Westlawn Family Message
Summer Edition - July 2, 2020
Keeping Westlawn Families Informed
~ Sincerely Linda Ferguson
 FCPS Virtual Town Hall on Monday, July 6
Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand
Join FCPS Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Sloan Presidio, and director of the office of special education procedural support Jane Strong for an FCPS virtual Town Hall on Monday, July 6, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. View the livestream on fcps.edu/tv/ch99 or Channel 99 (Verizon, 11). Ask questions before or during the forum by emailing ReturntoSchool@fcps.edu or calling 1-800-231-6359 (during the forum). Questions will be answered about the Return to School options for the 2020-21 school year.
A Spanish language virtual town hall will be held on Wednesday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m., also on Channel 99 and livestreamed, featuring Superintendent Brabrand, and other school officials.
These are among many opportunities to share feedback on FCPS’ plans to reopen schools this fall.
Return to School
Online Instruction or In-Person Instruction
Dear Westlawn Parents, you received an email or letter this week from FCPS asking you to choose a learning option for your child for this school year. Your choices are either full-time online instruction or in-person instruction 2 days a week. Responses are due by July 10, 2020.
To make the selection, parents need their child's student identification number.
If you do not have your child's identification number, you can:
1. email Silvia Caballero, Westlawn's Registrar at scaballero@fcps.edu and inform her of your selection to either have your child return to online instruction or return to in-person instruction.
OR
2. call 703-241-5100 and leave a message telling us of your selection to either have your child return to online instruction or return to in-person instruction.
Thank you!
------------****------------****------------****------------****------------****------------ ****
Details about the reopening options are below:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is planning to reopen schools in August.
For the coming year, parents and caregivers have two learning options for their students:
- Full-time online instruction OR
- In-person instruction with social distancing in our school buildings.
FCPS encourages families to choose their option based on health and safety concerns rather than on the availability of course or program options. School schedules, available courses, and participation in school activities may be limited in either option. However, both options will meet all state standards of learning and graduation requirements.
To help staff plan, parents and caregivers need to commit to one of these options for the entire 2020-21 school year for each child. If health conditions improve that would allow FCPS to resume in-person instruction for all students, we would reassess FCPS's operating status at that time.
Responses are due by July 10, 2020. If no response is received, the student will automatically be enrolled for in-person instruction for the year. https://www.fcps.edu/enroll2020
Return to School Frequently Asked Questions by Families
https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/return-school/return-school-questions-and-answers
FCPS Summer Meals Update
USDA and VDOE have approved meal service at all existing food distribution sites (including bus routes) over the summer months. FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will continue to monitor data and community feedback to adjust grab and go delivery points as needed. Meal distribution information is kept current on the FCPS web page: https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-food-resources.
What is Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)?
Westlawn administrators and teachers have received questions from parents about Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). This is a benefit provided by the State of Virginia. Here is information from the State of Virginia website. Click on the link for more details: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/pebt.cgi
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a temporary food benefit available in Virginia to families with children who would have received free or reduced-price meals if schools were open. The program is authorized through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) are working together to operate the program.
What is the purpose of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)?
The purpose of the P-EBT benefit is to supplement existing nutrition programs for low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. It does not replace meals provided through the school programs during unexpected closures, such as the summer meal programs that will begin when the school year is over.
The P-EBT benefits are calculated at the rate of $5.70 per day per child for the 66 days Virginia's schools will be closed. VDSS will issue benefits to eligible households with a total benefit of $376 per eligible student. Benefits will be provided for eligible students.
Click on the link for more details: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/pebt.cgi
Friendly Reminder
Summer Continuity of Learning
FCPS school buildings will remain closed through the end of July. FCPS will continue to provide recommended distance learning opportunities for students throughout the summer. Students will have access to skill practice through the iReady digital lessons through the FCPS Public Universal Screener website. Students will need to enter their FCPS login credentials to access these resources. These digital activities will be available until Friday, July 31, 2020..
Additionally, students currently in grades K-6 will receive both a Mathematics and a Language Arts Essentials Summer Practice Book in the mail by the June 29. The ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and special education offices are also developing practice books that will be mailed to select students and posted to FCPS 24-7. Digital versions of the books will also be posted on the Continuity of Learning Blackboard page. These books will provide recommended practice activities for students to review essential content from the 2019-2020 school year; they are not intended to preview content from next year’s grade level but rather reinforce essential learning from this past year. Practice books are expected to arrive at the end of June and will be posted to the FCPS 24-7 Learning Distance Learning Support site by June 29.
As students access these activities from June 29 to July 31, they will have the opportunity to attend one virtual office hour each week. If you would like for your student to participate in office hours, use this link to sign up:
https://forms.gle/KVwXrsBmuwEvX8Vf9
Your child will then receive an invitation for the sessions in their fcpsschools.net account so that they can join. Below is the schedule for office hours:
Office Hours June 29-July 31
Kindergarten-Wednesdays from 1:00PM-2:00PM (Ms. Tolbert/Mr. Stuebner)
1st-Wednesdays from 2:00PM-3:00PM (Ms. Setash/Ms. Cardenas)
2nd-Wednesdays from 9:00AM-10:00AM (Ms. Perez/Ms. Villeda)
3rd- Tuesdays from 10am-11am (Ms. Terrell/Ms. Villeda)
4th-Tuesdays from 2:00PM-3:00PM (Ms. Rhodes/Ms. Gross)
5th- Wednesdays from 11:00AM-noon (Mr. Maloney/Ms. Osther)
6th-Thursdays from 1:00PM -2:00PM (Ms. Roegner/Ms. Osther)
Special Education Tuesdays from 9:00AM-10:00AM (Ms. Brannan)
 Fairfax County Library
Summer Reading Program 2020
Correct Link is below.
Get details and information at this direct link:
https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/summer-reading
We hope you continue to stay safe, remain healthy and stay positive in spirit. Have a good summer. Thank you for your continuing support. Embrace hope!
With appreciation ~Westlawn Administrator Team
Linda Ferguson, Stephanie Carpenter and Christoph Hill
|
