Lanier MS - September 18, 2020


dates

September 21:  Virtual FLE (Virtual Family Life Education) Information Meeting at 6:00PM

September 21:  Lanier PTA Virtual Meeting at 7:00PM

September 24:  Information Night for ESOL Families

September 29:  8th Grade Virtual Back to School Night 6:30PM - 8:30PM

September 30:  7th Grade Virtual Back To School Night 6:30PM - 8:30PM

October 12:       Indigenous Peoples' Day - Student Holiday


principal

Dear Lanier Families,

 

What an exciting first two weeks we had. Our City School Board has approved the decision to change the name of Lanier, effective at the start of the 2021-22 school year. More information will be coming from the City regarding the process and timelines. Thank you to all who submitted written comments and participated in the live public hearings. Additionally, we are currently looking for a parent and a student who would be interested in serving on our LMS Equity Team. If you would like to be considered, please complete this form. We will meet on 10/5 and 12/7 at 2:00 PM for our first two meetings to discuss how we can ensure equity and access to programs for all students, staff and families at LMS.

 

Thank YOU for encouraging and helping your children get to their classes on time and to work independently on Mondays. To clarify, EVERY student needs to login to their 4th period/TA on Mondays at 9:15-9:30. If they have appointments with teachers (by student or teacher request), then those meetings occur from 9:30-noon. 

 

For THIS Monday ONLY, our teachers will be standing by in their BBCU links during the following times to help your child learn to navigate better on Google Classroom, StudentVue, BBCU, or Gmail. In case we receive connection outage in the area, asynchronous activities on Google Classroom and BBCU.  Basically, they can ask any tech questions they have to any of the teachers at the appointed times below. IF your student has been given an email or verbal invite, they should definitely meet with that teacher during the requested time. Some teachers may NOT be available to help if they have pre-booked appointments so be sure to have your child check their teachers’ BBCU/Google Class Pages for announcements about availability for this tech help event. 

 

TECH HELP THIS MONDAY, Sept. 21, FROM TEACHERS

9:30-10:00

Math

Computer Tech Engineering

 

10:00-10:30

English

Health & PE

 
 

10:30-11:00

Science

Visual Arts

 

11:00-11:30

Social Studies

Performing Arts

 

11:30-12:00

World Languages

FACS

Literacy Support

 

 

Lanier MS staff will be coming to your neighborhood along with Fairfax HS. We just want to connect and say hello and also hope to answer any questions you might have, as well as provide your family with information about different resources. Our hope is to connect and support our Lanier/Fairfax family and we look forward to seeing you safely (masked and socially distanced) in the coming days.

 

Be on the lookout for a yellow school bus on the following dates, times, and locations below:

Monday, September 21 at 1:45PM – Harvey Dr. -  Cardinal Court Apartments

Monday, September 21 at 2:45PM – Fairfax Lakes Promenade Parking Lot (Near Barnes & Noble/Nordstrom Rack)

 

Soon, you may be getting targeted messages about supply runs near your home. As we expand this service to include things like library book checkouts, we will send more information. For the time being, if your child/you receives an email about a supply run to a stop near you, please make every effort to go to the stop to secure items your child may need for classes such as art and band on these initial test runs. 

 

Finally, this Monday, September 21 at 6:00, you can join us for information on the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum. Virtual session info was sent to Lanier parents of 7th and 8th graders, please check your email.  Additionally, the School Board has approved a revision to allow for the distribution and collection of electronic FLE opt-out form for SY 2020-21.  Parents/guardians wishing to opt their child out of instruction may complete and return the opt-out form or scan and email a copy of the completed form.  An opt-out request can also be made in an email which indicates the lesson(s) the child will be opted out of.  The actual opt-out form is not required. All forms and communications related to opt-out and translations are available on the Intranet at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/is/hpe/index.html

 

Immediately after the FLE presentation at 7:00, our PTA will have its first meeting. In order to ensure the safety and security of the PTA virtual meeting, the PTA will be sending individual links to BBCU meetings.  Please use the link HERE to RSVP.

Thanks for helping us continue to soar,

 

Tammy Hanna

Principal, Lanier Middle School

https://lanierms.fcps.edu/

Was my communication helpful?  FEEDBACK PLEASE

@DrTammyHanna


JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)-Update

The application window for current eighth-grade students has changed. We will post the updated window as soon as it becomes available. A news release is included below, with the most recent information that was presented September 15 at the FCPS School Board Work Session.

https://www.fcps.edu/news/superintendent-presents-recommendations-improve-diversity-tjhsst-establishing-merit-lottery?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

If you have any questions, please email our TJ Liaison, Karen Bach at kabach@fcps.edu


how

Tech Check

Below you will find supports and details to help with some of the challenges you and your child may have faced yesterday in accessing BBCU.  Please take a moment to view the links below.

Video – CLICK HERE

Spanish version - CLICK HERE


grab & go

Meal Service Fall 2020

Please note, FCPS is providing no-cost Grab and Go breakfast and lunch meals from 8AM-12:30PM, Monday through Friday at Daniels Run ES.  The meal distribution area will remain outside Daniels Run ES (close to entrance #1) and under a canopy.  Available for families to walk up or receive curbside service in vehicles.  All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible for no-cost Grab and Go, 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.  For further information please visit HERE


Attendance

Attendance:  Students will use BBCU links to attend classes according to the schedule below

belll

Monday Attendance Is Required For ALL Students

 

Please note on Mondays ALL students will go to 4th period. Attendance in 4th period on Monday is required.  Students will start the day with their 4th period TA (Teacher Advisory) check-in before beginning their asynchronous work.  Directions for Monday assignments can be found in Blackboard on the Learning Grid for each class, or in teachers' Google Classroom.  In addition, teachers may invite students for extra help on Mondays, or students can email their teachers and request academic support on Mondays.  If invited to a Monday academic support session, attendance is required. 

 

Student Attendance for the 2020-21 School Year

FCPS welcomes new and returning families for the 2020-21 school year.  

In Virginia, public school students aged 5-18 are required to attend school regularly. That is true whether FCPS is offering distance learning or in-person instruction. Teachers will take attendance during learning sessions and ensure that all students are counted. Parents can assist with this process by doing the following:

  • Ensuring that their student(s) logs in to classes on time, and throughout the day.
  • Calling or emailing the LMS school attendance line if their student(s) are unable to participate:
  • Returning phone calls or emails when notified that their student(s) did not participate that day.
  • Ensuring that your student(s) submit activity logs as directed.

If your child is unable to login to live, face-to-face online instruction with their teacher, the teacher will be recording the class and posting the video within Blackboard/Google Classroom so it can be viewed at a different time. The video can also be used to provide review for all students.

If a parent calls and indicates their student will not be there for a certain class period, they are excused for the class period. Accessing the material later will not change the status of the absence.

If there is no parent contact, and the student failed to log in, the student is unverified for that class period. FCPS bases attendance for secondary students on “present” one or more periods of the day, and reports which periods a student did not appear in class.

FCPS staff members will work with parents to ensure that the transition to virtual learning is as smooth as possible. Help us to help you set your students up for success.

Difficulty logging into FCPS? The Parent Technology help desk may be able to assist: 833-921-3277 or https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/ Communicating any concerns to the school, such as difficulty logging in or having access to FCPS classes.

More information about attendance is available online


Spanish Parent Liaison

Si necesita comunicarse con nuestra enlace de padres, por favor llame al 703-934-2454 y deje un mensaje con el nombre de su estudiante y numero de telefono. Tambien puede comunicarse con ella por email a: ajmaxey@fcps.edu


Student Services

Parent Accounts

SIS ParentVUE - Use this to check your student’s schedule, attendance, and grades.

Blackboard (FCPS 24-7 Learning) - Use this to view Learning Grids for your student’s classes. Learning Grids are a weekly overview of what your student will be doing in class.

Google Classroom - Only students are able to join Google Classroom with their FCPS Google account. Teachers post material and assignments for students to complete on Google Classroom.

  • Students log in with username = StudentID@fcpsschools.net, same password as everything else

Lanier Middle School Virtual Landing Page

Please note the link below is only accessible when students are logged on to the FCPS Google account.   Please take an opportunity to access our brand new Lanier Middle School Virtual Landing Page found at CLICK HERE . This site is designed to help students transition into a virtual learning environment while continuing to promote our best educational practices. What makes our Eagle’s site stand out are the videos from our caring teachers, staff, and administrators welcoming students back with a little information about themselves in order to begin building those very important connections and relationships. Pay particular attention to the Student Services section that highlights wellness resources and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) content..


REQUIRED FORMS

Due to the virtual start for this school year, all forms, required and optional, will have to be completed and submitted electronically.  All forms can be found on our website:  Return to School Forms.  It is more important than ever that parents have their own Parent SIS Account.  If you do not yet have an account, you can learn more about how to obtain one at ParentVue New Account Registeration

 

REMINDER FOR 7th GRADE FAMILIES WHO HAVE NOT TURNED IN UPDATED VACCINATION RECORDS:  The TDAP Immunization is a mandatory requirement for all 7th graders attending Fairfax County Public Schools. In order for your child to attend school on the first day, an updated immunization card/sheet must be turned in to Ms. Holmes, aholmes@fcps.edu by October 8, 2020.  An exemption note from your child’s pediatrician is required for verification.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Holmes.  You can also fax the forms to 703-934-2497 for your convenience.


FCPSOn

Parent and Student IT Support Portal

The Parent and Student IT Support Portal is a way for parent and students to submit a ticket for technology help, including parents to submit a ticket for help with your parent account in SIS, FCPS 24-7 Blackboard. When your student need help with their student device, student accounts, or student virtual learning, please click: Parent/Student Portal.  They are open 7:00AM - 11PM, 7 days a week.

 

We Need Your Consent for Select Digital Resources

At Lanier Middle School, 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 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: https://lanierms.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources

 

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 digital resources until we have received your permission. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or Kelsea Owens (kfowens@fcps.edu) if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.


Important Information About Receiving Communication from FCPS

FCPS communicates all emergency and essential information to parents via email.  The information is also translated into eight languages:  Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.  Information communicated via email includes:

  • School closings and delays
  • Attendance
  • Emergencies at school
  • Power, phone, or internet outages at school
  • Bus delays
  • Testing dates

When providing an e-mail address to FCPS, please avoid using an educational (.edu-including fcps.edu), military (.mil) or government (.gov) email addresses.  The security settings on government servers often block messages from FCPS.  It is a best practice to not use work related email addresses; therefore, it is important to use an email address from another internet service provider such as Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.

 

Parents can receive text messages for emergencies and essential information.  Please make sure your parent cell phone numbers are listed in the "cell telephone" fields in the parent/guardian contact information section on the emergency care information form for each of your children.

 

Parents and guardians can view and update emergency contact information online using the weCare@school feature of FCPS24-7 Learning.  Standard message and data charges may apply for text messages depending on their cell phone service plan.  More information.


If you have a question or concern, please use the chart below to determine who to direct your inquiry to.  Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website-just click on the name of the person you wish to contact to be redirected to their email address:  LMS Staff Directory

contact

FCPSCares

Do you want to celebrate a Lanier employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.


informationline

Please visit HERE to find compilation of Dr. Brabrand's messages to the community.

superintendent