Mustang Message - 11/1/2020

BMP Student Starts

A Message from the Principal

What an amazing week!  We are so excited to have small cohorts of staff and students returning to our school building. 

Tomorrow and Tuesday are student holidays, which means no asynchronous work or teaching will take place.  Teachers will be involved in professional development, collaborative planning and virtually connecting with some families.

This marks the end of the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year.  It is hard to believe how quickly it has gone by!  Progress reports will be printed and mailed home to families on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Williams

Principal

 

Returning to In-Person Instruction

We continue phasing students to in-person instruction. As was shared in Dr. Brabrand's message last Friday, students will be involved in independent work on planning days as we prepare for in-person students to return to the classroom. Be on the lookout for more details soon, and more information can be found on the FCPS Return to School Family Guide website.

Group 5 - FECEP, Kindergarten and Intensive Support Needs

Expected Return to In-Person Date:  Tuesday, 11/17/2020

Independent Workdays for Teacher Preparation:  Monday, 11/9

                                                                               Thursday, 11/12

                                                                               Friday, 11/13

 

Group 6 - Grades 1 and 2

Expected Return to In-Person Date:  Tuesday, 12/1/2020

Independent Workdays for Teacher Preparation:  Monday, 11/16

                                                                               Friday, 11/20

                                                                               Monday, 11/24

                                                                              Tuesday, 11/25

Group 7 - Grades 3, 4 and 5

ExpectedReturn to In-Person Date:  Tuesday, 1/4/2021

Independent Workdays for Teacher Preparation:   To Be Determined

 

Parent Information Sessions on Return to In-Person Instruction

We hope that you will join us for Parent Information Sessions on Returning to In-Person Instruction at Bren Mar Park Elementary School.  While they are divided up by grade levels in order to allow for smaller groups and more opportunity for grade-level specific questions, all families will receive the link to participate in any of the upcoming parent information sessions. All sessions begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held virtually. 

     HeadStart & Kindergarten -  Tuesday, November 10, 2020

     Grades 1 & 2 -  Monday, November 23, 2020

     Grades 3, 4 & 5 -  Tuesday, December 8, 2020

 

Family Market - Nov. 5 , 4:30 p.m.

Our next Family Market is Thursday, November 5th.

The Capitol Area Food Bank will hold our next Family Market here at Bren Mar Park Elementary this Thursday, November 5th from 4:30-6p.m.

Family Markets are monthly no-cost, market style grocery distributions  of dry goods and produce at our school. All BMP  families are welcome.

This year food will be distributed in a drive-up/walk-up model following all safety guidelines including masks which must be worn at all times and distancing 6 feet apart. Families will grab a prepackaged bag or box of shelf stable items and produce to take home.  Please note: these boxes are heavy, and might possibly be too heavy to carry if you have a long walk home.

Please share and let your BMP neighbors know of this valuable resource.

Student Health & Safety Guidance

  • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

 

Ways to Help Your Child at Home

Virtual Learning Tech Tips: Connecting to a Bluetooth device

FCPS has created some student friendly 'how to' videos for distance learning.  We will share this series of videos here.  Our next video goes over how to connect to a bluetooth device.  Please take a moment to watch this video with your Mustang.

 

Parent Technology Help

The Parent Technology Help Desk is available at 1-833-921-3277, open from 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week.  Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English, interpreters are available and FCPS also has parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages.

The online portal allows older students and parents/guardians to request help directly. Please use this to submit help request tickets to help you faster!

Limited BMP Technology Team support is available by appointment only and only on select days and times.  We ask that you submit a ticket first, however if you feel you need an in-person appointment, please call the BMP front office during regular school hours to schedule an appointment.

Get more information about the new Parent Technology Help Desk

 

Specialist Spotlights

Advanced Academic Spotlight:

As we finished up the quarter we continued to think about the critical and creative skill, visualization.  Students across the school also focused on using AAP resources including: Jacob Ladder, Socratic Seminar and Project Clarion Science lessons.   At the beginning of second quarter, we will be focusing on the critical and creative skill, questioning.  Questioning leads students to deeper understanding of a concept.  Active learners are always questioning.  Students who take responsibility for asking their own questions become more productive and engaged in their learning.  

 

At home connection: Have students make a list of questions they are thinking about.  Think about ways we can learn more to find answers to our questions.  Create a poster of the new knowledge you learned from looking for an answer to your question.  Write the original question on the top of the poster.  After completing the poster, snap a picture and tag @Mrs_TropeAART #BMPaap or share it with my at cjtrope@fcps.edu.  I can’t wait to see your creations!

 

Important Upcoming Dates/Events

November 2        Student Holiday:  Professional Development

November 3        Student Holiday:  Teacher Workday

November 5        Family Market, 4:30 p.m.

November 10      Parent Information Session:  HeadStart & Kindergarten, 5:00

November 11      2 hr Early Release (School day ends at 2:00 p.m.)

November 12      VIRTUAL:  Family Literacy Night 

November 17      FECEP & Kindergarten In-Person Instruction Begins

November 23      Parent Information Session:  Grades 1 & 2, 5:00 p.m.

November 25, 26 & 27      Holiday:  Thanksgiving Break

December 8        Parent Information Session:  Grades 3, 4 & 5, 5:00 p.m.