A Message from Principal Yacubovich

Digital Resources Permission Form

At Pine Spring Elementary, our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the FCPS approved digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. You can find Pine Spring’s list of the resources that require parental consent here: Adopted Digital Resources

 

Included on this page is also a link to a form where 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 technology 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 in each grade level.


Required Forms


Parent Tech Night- Thursday, September 3rd from 6PM-7PM

Worried about accessing school on the first day? Don’t know where to click or what your child’s schedule is for synchronous learning? That’s ok, we are here to help. We have scheduled a Tech Parent Coffee with our Technology Teacher Leader, Bridget Lovas. She will walk us through the resources and give some helpful hints.

 

Topic: Parent Tech Night
Time: Sep 3, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83325001595?pwd=YmQ5aHNUZXJ3dVZtdk9jdll0alY5QT09

Meeting ID: 833 2500 1595
Passcode: Rfn0i4


School Supplies Distribution- September 2nd

Pine Spring has been very fortunate to have so many wonderful supplies donated. We want to thank FCPS Title I office, Fairfax 9-1-1 dispatch, and each of you who stopped to donate school supplies. We will use these supplies, along with supplies we have purchased, to develop bags for each child.

The bags will have everything you need to start our virtual school year off strong. We have items like pencils, crayons, white boards, dry erase markers, art sketch books and they even have earbuds!

Please see the schedule below for picking up your student's school supplies on September 2nd from 9 AM-12 PM. Families with more than one student may pick up supplies at the most convenient time for your family. 

You are encouraged to stay in your car and someone will bring your bags to you.

9:00 AM-10:00 AM. –Early Childhood, K, and 1st

10:00 AM-11:00 AM. – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade

11:00 AM-12:00 PM. – 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade


Kindergarten Playdate

Our amazing PTA is hosting a Kindergarten Playdate on September 1st. This will be an opportunity for kids to have fun together while giving parents an opportunity to meet.

Date:  September 1, 2020

Time: 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86417307932?pwd=MmNaeVVRZkJQMk1FLzBDVFZBeG5Mdz09

Meeting ID: 864 1730 7932

Passcode: 65uWfe


Talking Points App

This year our teachers will be using the app “Talking Points” to communicate with families. This app will allow us to talk with each family in their corresponding language. The easiest way to use this feature, is to download the Parent Talking Points App. We have included some supports to help you get started. Including help with changing your language and how to use text to speech. If at any point you do not want to receive messages through Talking Points, you can unsubscribe.


Parent/Student Support with Technology

FCPS has created a new Parent Technology Help Desk.  If you need support with technology, you should reach out to the Parent Technology Help Desk. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered by staff from 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If the help desk is unable to solve the issue on the phone with the parent or guardian, they will enter a ticket on the parent’s behalf and the request for help will be transferred to the appropriate FCPS team. FCPS also has existing parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages, that can assist with general questions about FCPS. An online portal is also available to allow older students and parents and guardians to request technology help directly. 

Below are several links that will help to answer many of your technology-related questions:

Parent and Student IT Support Portal homepage

Self Help Hub

Password Management

Tips for Online Learning Success


Upcoming FCPS Parent Trainings

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)


ParentVue

SIS ParentVUE is going to be an important way to connect with your child’s education. If you have not already set-up an account, we encourage you to activate your account this week.

To access your SIS ParentVue account

  • You will need to login
    • You will need your personalized Activation Key
      • You should receive this during registration OR
      • Request the code HERE
    • You will need your personal email address

Attendance

In Virginia, public school students ages 5-18 are required to attend school regularly. Teachers will take attendance during learning sessions and ensure that all students are counted. Parents can assist with this process by:

  • Ensuring students log in to classes on time and throughout the day.
  • Calling or emailing the school attendance line if students are unable to participate.
  • Communicating any concerns to the school, such as difficulty logging in or accessing classes.
  • Reporting any hardship, such as student illness, or concern that might prevent the student from participating regularly.
  • Returning phone calls or emails when notified that students did not participate that day.
  • Ensuring that students submit activity logs as directed.

If your child is unable to log in to online instruction with a teacher, the teacher will be recording the class and posting the video within Google Classroom, so it can be viewed later. Videos can also be viewed multiple times to help students retain new information, as needed.

We understand that not every student will be able to participate in online instruction at the scheduled time. Our schools will be flexible in recording attendance and absences. We do not want to punish a student for missing an online class due to the extenuating circumstances of virtual learning. We want to partner with our families to ensure the success of each child.


Homework Policy

This year Pine Spring has a new homework policy. This year, students will not be assigned homework on Tuesday-Friday. Teacher may assign work to do on Mondays during asynchronous instruction for students to complete after the live morning meeting at 8:45 AM. As always, we encourage you to reach with your child for at least 20 minutes a night.


Laptop Insurance

FCPS does not currently offer an option for families to purchase laptop insurance. For any damaged or lost School Board property, families are responsible for reimbursement in accordance with the SR&R and School Board regulations. Families may wish to check their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies for coverage options or search online for insurance companies which offer insurance policies exclusively for student laptops.


Dr. Brabrand Town Hall Meeting

Spanish Language Town Hall on September 1

FCPS will hold a virtual town hall in Spanish on Tuesday, September 1, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will be broadcast on cable TV channel 99 or the FCPS website. It will also be shown on the FCPS Spanish Facebook page.


Girl Scouts Information Meeting

You are invited to join Girl Scouts at Pine Springs ES! There will be a virtual parent meeting on September 16th at 6PM. They will be sharing about the Girl Scout program. 

Click to join the meeting:

https://chime.aws/9297143767

Meeting ID: 9297 14 3767

If you have any questions about this meeting or our program please contact:  Michele Randall, mrandall@gscnc.org ,  Jennie Moonis, jmoonis@bens.org, or Sarah Harvey, sarahmsgc@hotmail.com


Save The Date

   

September 1

Kindergarten Play Date

September 2

School Supply Distribution 

September 3

Tech Parent Night

September 8 

First Day of School

September 10

First PTA Meeting for 20-21

September 21

Back to School Night 5PM-6PM