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Week at a Glance
Monday - Teacher Introduction Email to Parents AM / SIS Generated Email to confirm teacher assignment PM. BBCU links will be sent to child's FCPS google email account (more instructions coming).
Tuesday - Virtual Orientation/Open House 10 AM or 10:30 AM
Wednesday - Supply Pickup 3PM - 7PM;
Additional Laptop Distribution 3 PM - 7PM
Throughout the week: Individual 5 minute meeting with the classroom teacher in BBCU to be scheduled this week.
Back to School Night will be held September 16th in the evening.
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Principal's Message
This Weekly Message is long, but filled with very important information and actionable items for parents.
Our staff has worked incredibly hard the past two weeks immersed in professional development, building relationships with new staff and planning for instruction. On Monday morning, teachers will be emailing parents a welcome letter introducing themselves as your child's teacher. A verification email will follow from our e-notify notification system midday. If you do not receive an email from your teacher or a notification through e-notify on Monday, please contact Holley Remer in the front office, so she can assist in providing this information.
Your email from your teacher will contain information on connecting with them during our Virtual Open House/Orientation on Tuesday Morning at 10 AM or 10:30 AM. Our virtual Open House will be held on Google Meet. You will also be provide an opportunity for you and your child to sign up for an individual virtual meeting with the teacher.
During these meetings, our goals are to begin building relationships and also ensure our families are connected with the virtual tools they will need for the first day of school, September 8th. Your teacher will also provide a specific schedule for your child's class.The school day will run from 9AM - 3:30 PM with breaks and independent work time built in for each grade level.
We are working to eliminate multiple links for students to transitioning to specials teachers. To begin the school year, students will access their main classes and specials through the single BBCU link of their homeroom teacher. Students will practice with this later this week. Students may also use Google Meet for some small group sessions. Google Meet is adding more features in October which may allow us to transition to this tool for more core content classes, as they will incorporate new features such as hand raising, chat and mic control for teachers as well as breakout rooms. Until these tools are fully in place, BBCU has been determined as the appropriate whole class virtual platform for Chesterbrook to begin the 2020 school year. Teachers will explicitly teach students how to use breakout rooms and other valuable learning tools within this platform to help them gain independence while increasing their classroom engagement and participation.
This week, spend some time organizing your child's space, setting up their supplies and helping them get in a positive frame of mind for our year. On a late night trip to target last night, I picked up a calendar post it organizer and new file organizer for my kids. When I arrived home with a surprise for them, they were so excited. Closing their eyes I revealed a couple new tools for them and this sparked new joy to work on their work spaces.With a positive mindset and a collective effort, I'm positive we can make the most of our new virtual start. As our 2020 theme states "Together We Can." Our Chesterbrook staff commits to working collectively with our families to support your children.
We are set for a great kick off with our Chesterbrook Chipmunks and look forward to supporting our families as we virtually connect this coming week.
Sincerely,
Stacy Kirkpatrick, Principal
Supply Pickup - Wednesday, 9/2 3PM - 7PM
A reminder that supply kit pickup is being held this week. You may come at anytime during this window.
Parent Action Item for Supply Pickup
Complete the following form to expedite pickup and help our team of volunteers collect your supplies.
Every Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade student will have teacher provided manipulates and should plan to come to school during this time to pick up supplies.
Laptop Distribution 9/2 3PM - 5PM
We will have another window to pickup a laptop if you did not have an opportunity last week. Please make sure you have completed the laptop request for your child(ren) here. You may pickup your laptop and supplies during the same trip. You will need to have your child's login and password with you and log into the machine before checkout.
Select a time on Wednesday from 3-5 PM for pickup: Sign up genius link.
Important Parent Permission Needed for Use of Digital Applications
Across FCPS, teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. You can find our school’s list of the resources that require parental consent here.
Parent Action Item- Complete as soon as possible, to allow your child to access digital tools.
Parent Consent for use of digital applications is found here.
The enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval and why we must request your consent before using certain tools. We encourage you to complete the parental consent for digital resources form as soon as possible, as your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.
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Back to School Tips for Parents
Make the Most of Virtual Learning
Parent Resources from Parent Session 8.25.2020
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On Tuesday night, many parents came together to hear from the McLean Pyramid counselors and clinical team members to discuss ways to support students during virtual learning. Attached you will find the General Session PowerPoint as well as the Elementary Breakout Session PowerPoint and the video recording of that session:
General Session Recording
Elementary Breakout Session Recording
Referenced throughout both sessions was the importance of taking brain breaks during virtual learning to refresh our minds and bodies. The article, Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused Attention, offers numerous examples of quick brain breaks that don’t require additional supplies and are fun for the entire family. Attached you will also find a free resource from the company Little Renegades. This slide deck offers some great brain breaks for our younger students (or young at heart!) that goes through the exercise, guided questions, as well as to the purpose behind the activity.
Presentations and Resources for Parents
Main Parent Session K-12 Back to School
Elementary Breakout Session
Little Renegades Classroom (Free Resource for Parents)
The Chesterbrook Clinical Team is here to support our families throughout the school year. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please do not hesitate to reach out:
Heather Lomelin, School Counselor, helomelin@fcps.edu (Grades Kinder, 3,4, and 5)
Lindsay Pence, School Counselor, lpence@fcps.edu (Grades 1,2, and 6)
Maria Mahoney, Social Worker, mtmahoney@fcps.edu
Class List & Parent Contact Information
In our virtual world it is more important than ever to keep our students connected and socializing with others in a safe virtual manner.We want to bridge the gap in helping parents connect to classmates. We are not allowed to share this information without your consent.
In an effort to help our teachers as they prepare for the school year, we will collect information centrally. Contact information would then be posted on blackboard, which is password protected but accessible to parents. We would ask parents to only use this data for personal connections for their children as you would the PTA directory. If you would like to be included in your grade level contacts, please complete this quick form. If you have multiple children, please complete one entry for each child.
Parent Action Item to be included in Grade Level Contact List
Input Parent Contact Information Here for Grade Level Directory
Technology Support for Families- Parent Technology Help Desk
On Monday, August 24, FCPS launched a toll-free Parent Technology Help Desk to assist families with technology issues. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered 7 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days a week. Parents who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and an interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS has Parent Information Phone Lines available in eight languages to assist with general questions about FCPS.)
FCPS has also created an online portal for older students and parents/guardians to request technology help.
Meet our Chesterbrook Technology Team
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Kathleen Fugle is our School Based Technology Specialis(SBTS)t. In this role, she provides leadership, planning, and coaching to Chesterbrook staff in support of student learning and achievement through technology integration. Kathleen promotes digital citizenship, assists teachers in creating learner-centered digital environments, and addresses issues related to instructional applications and hardware. In distance learning, she provides teachers, students, and families with support to ensure successful connection and access to digital tools. |
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Jordan Craig-Kuhn is our Technology Support Specialist(TSSPEC). The duties of this role include maintenance of FCPS-based servers, preparing and distributing technology to staff and students, and live troubleshooting services. Jordan served as a School Based Technology Specialist for 8 years prior to accepting this new role. For the duration of distance learning, Jordan will be on the forefront of ensuring the smooth operation of technology remotely.
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Emergency Care Form Update & Access to Opt Out and other Forms
Complete Emergency Care Card now Electronically in FCPS 24-7 / WeCare
In FCPS 24/7 Blackboard, you can access the weCare module to update emergency care information. We are required to have this completed at the start of each school year to meet regulations. Forms are due by September 7, 2020
Parent View Access for New Families: We will work with new families this week to ensure Parent View access to FCPS 24-7. Contact Dave Troskey in our front office if you need assistance obtaining a parent view account.
Other Beginning of the Year Forms
If completing opt out forms, you may mail, send via email to Holley Remer or bring them to supply pickup in a sealed envelope.
Health Information Form (if needed updates)
FLE Opt Out Forms - Link to all grade levels
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy and Related Rights and Opt Out Forms
Objection to Release Directory Information to Public, School Counseling Opt out, Object to Release Information for Commercial Purposes
For Notification Only
Scoliosis Fact Sheet
2020 FCPS Student Calendar Quick Glance
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