 Good morning!
Today we officially kick off the start of the school year with our innovative and passionate teachers and staff. Mr. Birge and I look forward to this day every year – almost as exciting as the first day of school. Just like every year, we will be looking for special ways to show our staff how much we appreciate them. If you have ideas or would like to help, please email me (aocastillo@fcps.edu) directly.
Thank you to all our families and staff who joined our fun family engagement events last week – a kindergarten meet up as well as a new family gathering! These events are a fun way to welcome our newest lions to our school community. I’m so glad we found ways to connect in this virtual setting. Finally our turnout was fabulous for our Return to School Principals’ Coffee. Here is the recording for anyone unable to join us or wishing to watch again. As you may know, we shared the draft of our 2020 – 2021 virtual instructional schedule. A few notes about our schedule:
- The schedule represents the allocation of staff time which includes several daily opportunities for small group instruction.
- Not every child will meet in a small group setting every day during language arts, math, and small group time thus decreasing the amount of synchronous screen time across the week.
- During the full reading, writing, and math workshop blocks, there will be learning time spent away from computers.
- Teachers will build up to the full instructional block during the first few weeks of school. While instruction will start at the beginning of each block as written in the schedule, lesson length and frequency of small groups will increase over time up to the full schedule.
- Final classroom schedules will be shared with families by their child’s teacher the week before we return to school.
- In the first few weeks of school, office hours will be offered if/when small group instruction is not to offer drop in support to students or parents.
We are just a few weeks away from reuniting with our lions and we couldn't be more excited. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can support you as you prepare for September 8th! Thank you ~ Mrs. Castillo
Last week, we sent out an eNotify to all families regarding laptop distribution. Please be sure to sign up for a time on August 31 (preschool and kindergarten) or September 1 (grades 1 – 3), or September 2 (grades 4 – 6) now so our staff is ready to help your child with a device. We have enough laptops for anyone who wants one, so do not feel like you are taking resources away from another student by requesting one. Please be aware, laptop distribution is available by appointment only. If none of the times work for your family schedule, please email Mr. Birge directly. If you do not need a laptop, please mark your calendar for the afternoon of August 31 – we plan to offer curbside pickup of EPI school supplies, supplies provided by the school, and 2019 – 2020 yearbooks if they arrive in time. More information will be shared next week, but appointments will not be necessary for the afternoon specifically for families not requesting a laptop.
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The SIS (Student Information System) Parent Account is an online tool parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, report cards, discipline incidents, health information, and more.
Using the SIS Parent account, parents will also be able to view school information, including teacher e-mail addresses, the FCPS calendar, and emergency contact information. Visit the FCPS website and use the search function and keywords SIS Parent Overview for more information.
If you have previously activated your account with the activation key but are unable to login to your account, you may need to reset your password on the SIS Parent Account login page (https://sisparent.fcps.edu): Select the “Forgot Password” button. Your username is the primary email address you have on file with us in our Student Information System. More information is available here.
Please take action now to ensure your account is active, so that you won’t miss a beat as we start the school year.
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Every school year we collect vital information from our Lemon Road families during the first few days and weeks of school. Below you will find links for downloadable copies and some digital submission options for these important forms. If you are able, we encourage your family to complete and submit the forms digitally (when possible). Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us obtain this information prior to the start of our school year.
Required Forms
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Emergency Care Card Form - Please be sure that all information on this form is correct. While you may download this form and return a physical copy to school at a later date, we request, if possible, you make any changes using weCare@School via your FCPS 24/7 Parent View account. We must have an updated form for every student on file at the school. It is extremely important that we have the name and phone numbers of at least two people in the “Other Contact Information” section of the form. Please be sure to notify the school office of any changes in phone numbers or email addresses that occur during the school year by using weCare@School via your FCPS 24/7 Parent View account.
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Health Information Form (Grades 1- 6 ONLY) - This form needs to be completed annually to inform us about your student’s health condition that affects his or her school day. Please sign and date prior to returning
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Digital Permission Form (coming soon) - This form asks for the required parental consent of certain apps and instructional software that may be used in instruction. We will ask for a digital submission of parental consent after the form is generated by FCPS.
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Students Rights & Responsibilities (coming soon) - Finalized SR&R documents will be posted here in mid to late August. We will ask for a digital submission of your parent acknowledgement after the 20-21 SR&R handbook is completed.
Optional Forms (Return ONLY if applicable):
- Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
- School Counseling Opt-Out Forms
- Objection to Release of Information for Commercial Purposes
If you have no objection to the activities described in this booklet, do NOT sign or submit any of the forms.
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Family Life Education Opt Out Forms - Please read and return the opt-out form for your child’s grade level ONLY if you do not want your child to participate. Program questions may be addressed at our school by contacting our assistant principal, Morgan Birge. If you choose to have your child participate in the Family Life Education Program, you do not need to return the form.
- Identification of Military Connected Students - Local school divisions are required to identify students who have a parent in the United States uniformed services.
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Please use this link to access the most up to date locations and times for food distribution. If you need additional support, please contact Mrs. Morales.
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Free/Reduced Lunch Applications are available for those who qualify and wish to initiate or renew their applications for the 20-21 school year. Your child(ren)’s application from last school year is only good for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new household application for each school year. The application is available HERE.
As mentioned during Friday’s coffee, families that pre-purchased school supplies through EPI will be able to pick them up with their child’s laptop on August 31, September 1, or September 2. The supplies from EPI were selected specifically by your child’s grade level teachers and should include what they need for a virtual start with the exception of a pencil sharpener and possibly liquid glue. If you have not yet purchased school supplies, we recommend a modified list to start the school year. Your child’s teacher may share more specifics later, but these items will get them started in a successful way. If you would like to review the full supply lists, check them out on our school website here.
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Rising 1st-6th grade student passwords will not expire this year! Your student can continue to login to their FCPS computer, Google Apps, FCPS 24/7 Blackboard and other FCPS applications that require their username and password.
For rising kindergarten students, we will set up your password the day of distribution.
Password Recovery: (Rising 1st -6th only) We encourage parents to setup password recovery information for their student using the FCPS Account Manager System located at https://itweb.fcps.edu/AccountManager/
Tuesday, September 1: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Register Here)
Friday, September 11: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (10:00-11:30 a.m. - Register Here)
Friday, September 18: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: 10 Ways to Stop Power Struggles & Start Motivating Your Kids (10:00-11:30a.m. OR 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Register Here)
Thursday, September 24: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Encouraging Positive Behaviors at Home Series - Setting the Stage for Good Behavior: Routines, Procedures, & Expectations (10:00 - 11:30 a.m. OR 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Register Here)
Monday, August 31: AM Preschool & Kindergarten Laptop and Supply Distribution; PM Student Supply Distribution
Tuesday, September 1: By this date, all classroom teachers will reach out to each child in their class; Grades 1 – 6 Laptop and Supply Distribution
Wednesday, September 2: Grades 1 – 6 Laptop and Supply Distribution
Thursday, September 3: Virtual Open House
Friday, September 4: By this date, parents of students with disabilities will hear from their child’s case manager for the year; Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 7: Labor Day Holiday
Tuesday, September 8: First Day of School
Thursday, September 24: Virtual Back to School Night (6 – 8 PM)
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