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Dear Wakefield Forest Families,
We’re excited to be one week into the 2020-21 school year. Thank you for your grace and understanding as we navigate the start of school in a virtual format. Please know that the staff are working exceptionally hard each day to develop the best learning for our students. There will be bumps along the way and we will continue to improve over time.
We look forward to seeing you virtually tonight for Back to School Night. Your classroom teachers should have reached out about joining them tonight. I will host an optional brief principal session at 6:30 PM https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/f3a0b4d64aad4bb4a6a95aefc8276439. This will be posted on the homepage of our website afterwards, along with the videos from our FCPS School Board Members.
On Mondays we will host grade level class meetings from 8:30 – 9:00 AM. We will engage in a variety of activities across the grade and also mix students up so they get to know all of the students and staff. Teachers have already begun assessing students individually. Based on the data collected, teachers will develop small groups Monday mornings and Tuesday – Friday afternoons. This information will be provided to you directly from the teachers. Small group instruction cannot be recorded and we ask that you have your child participate during the scheduled time. Attendance is taken on Mondays (please see Attendance section below).
This Friday, September 18, 2020 is a spirit day. These optional days are great ways for us to feel connected in our virtual world. This Friday we hope you will dress like your favorite hero – it can be a parent, teacher, health care worker, first responder, superhero, etc. Tweet your photos! @wakefieldforest #WFESSpiritDay
Thank you.
Sharyn Prindle
Principal
Virtual Back To School Night is tonight, September 15, 2020
We are excited to review information about learning this year at our Back to School Night tonight, Tuesday, September 15, 2020. Your classroom teacher will host two sessions, one 7:00 – 7:30 PM and one 7:40 -8:10 PM. These sessions will repeat the content. A brief principal session will be available at 6:30 PM https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/f3a0b4d64aad4bb4a6a95aefc8276439. Your classroom teacher will provide additional information on joining Back to School Night.
Attendance – Monday through Friday
- If your child is not able to log in and attend class at all on a given day, or will be late, because of illness, appointment, trip, connectivity issues, etc., please make sure to notify not only your teacher but the attendance line as well. You may call 703-503-2323 and leave a message, email at WakefieldForestESAttendance@fcps.edu , or submit an online attendance form from the WFES website home page. Make sure you tell us if your child will be doing asynchronous work (for ex, watching the teacher’s recordings).
- You are always welcome to speak to the front office staff about your child’s attendance at 703-503-2300
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.
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/distance-learning/instruction/learning-at-home
Assessments
In the next few weeks your child will be taking a variety of assessments across content areas. The purpose of these assessments is to determine students’ areas of strength and growth. This data will help drive the teachers’ instruction and enable differentiation to best support your child this school year. These assessments will not be graded. To ensure equity, these assessments should be completed independently by the student. Below are a few suggestions on ways to encourage your student, rather than help, while they take assessments in the virtual environment.
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Remind your student that the assessment is not graded and will be used by their teacher to help them learn this school year. It is okay if they do not know the answer to a question as it will tell the teacher that they need help to learn that concept.
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Examples of How You Can Encourage Students During Test Taking
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Please Avoid Using These Ideas While Students Take a Test
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- I noticed you are working hard on this question, keep it up
- Go back and read the question carefully
- Try your best
- Take your time, if you need a break get up and stretch
- Sound out the word, use the part you know
- Reread, think about what makes sense
- Don’t spend too much time on any one question
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- Providing the answer
- Giving the definition of a word
- Sounding out a word with a student
- Counting with a student
- Process of elimination with the student
- Pointing to a specific part of the question
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Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's learning. We look forward to a great school year!
Breakfast and Lunch Distribution at Wakefield Forest
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Food and Nutrition Services is offering healthy breakfast and lunches at locations throughout Fairfax County this school year under the USDA National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Through December 31, 2020 the grab and go meals will be provided at no cost for students at several sites throughout the county. FCPS students are welcome to come to any of the sites to pick up a meal during these time periods. All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible for free grab and go breakfast and lunch, as well as other county children, under the age of 18. Adults picking up meals for children should let staff know how many children's meals they need. Adults may pay $2 for the meals as well.
Breakfast and lunch will be available to pick up at the same time. Meals will be served at some school sites and on bus routes throughout the county. Breakfasts and/or lunches are available at Wakefield Forest Elementary from 7:25 – 7:35 am Monday through Friday. Please look for the school bus in the Kiss and Ride line.
As a reminder, it is important to follow social distancing guidelines. Be sure to stand a minimum of 6 feet apart from others and practice regular hand washing, including prior to leaving a residence to pick-up meals, upon returning home, and before consuming food.
For more information, go to the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/food
iReady Assessment
The online iReady assessment (also known as the universal screener) provides an initial view of all students’ foundational skills to help teachers identify where students are in reading and/or mathematics. This assessment will not be part of your student’s grades. Between September 11th and October 30th, students in grades 1-6 will take the iReady Reading and Math assessments. Students in Kindergarten will take the iReady Reading assessment only. More information about the assessment can be found on the FCPS Universal Screener Parent Notification webpage.
This fall, students will take iReady at home instead of at school. Teachers will discuss the assessment with students in advance, including how to log in and what to expect. Resources to help families administer the assessment at home can be found on the FCPS Universal Screener webpage. There are short videos to explain your part and what to expect. These videos are in multiple languages.
For questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Technical Support (FCPS Laptops only)
If your child is having technical problems with their laptop (for ex, microphone not working, screen going dark, etc.), please go to this site:
https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/technology-support-families
You will be able to reference troubleshooting videos or place an online request for assistance (you will need to scroll down to Parents and Families – Do you need Tech Support?). Those requests go directly to WFES tech staff, who will respond as quickly as they are able.
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