LBSS Weekly News - November 20, 2020

Front Door

Message from Dr. Smith

Hello Bruin Families, 

With the Thanksgiving Holiday less than a week away, I wanted to take a few moments to show appreciation for our partnership with you, our families, that make Lake Braddock Secondary School such a special place. This month has been recognized by the the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education as Family Engagement Month. Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and ability levels achieve at the highest levels. We will continue to explore ways to strengthen this partnership with our families to ensure the success of all our students.  

The upcoming week will be shortened for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Lake Braddock will be closed from Wednesday, November 25th through Friday, November 27th. We are encouraging all of our staff and students to take this time to connect with loved ones, rest and rejuvenate. Students should not have been assigned new work over the break and there should not be major assessments immediately upon return from this break. Also, as a result of our offices being closed at the end of next week, there will not be a News You Choose next Friday. 

One announcement for families, as we look into December, is the continued conversation about student workload. Dr. Brabrand asked schools to identify Catch-Up Days that would allow students time to complete assignments they might be missing or need to complete. The Catch-Up Days for us will be December 10th and December 11th. Students will follow their schedule and log into Blackboard Collaborate. Teachers will take attendance and remind students about any work they need to complete; no new lessons or additional assignments will occur on these days.   

Thank you so much for your continued partnership and support!  Go Bruins!   

United as Bruins, 

Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.


In this Issue

Important Information for All
Parent Academy
LBSS Staff Shout Outs
E-Mail Communication from Lake Braddock
IT Reminders
Peer Tutoring
Wanted: Hour of Code Guest Speakers
LBSS Student Award Winner

High School Information
Senior Stamp Event
High School Yearbook
Senior Yearbook Ads
High School Portrait Retakes

Middle School Information
Middle School After School Program
Middle School Portrait Retakes
MS Lunch Bunch

FCPS Information
Family Guide for Return to School
Family Engagement Month
Important Update on Grab and Go Meals
FCPS Tech Support
FCPS Mental Health Resources

Important Lake Braddock Contact Information
Attendance Procedures
How to Stay In Touch


Important Information for All


Parent Academy

Upcoming Events

Military Family Information Night
Hosted by: Military Ambassadors Club
December 3, 2020 from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

The LBSS Military Ambassadors Club will host a Military Family Information Night for Lake Braddock parents and students on December 3, 2020, from 7:00 -8:00 PM. During this time, we will introduce our club and what we do, introduce Lake Braddock's Military Family Life Counselor, and provide helpful new student information about online FCPS protocols and how to succeed as a new student at Lake Braddock. We will also discuss the ways to join both sports and clubs during this online environment and answer any questions you may have. Time will also be provided for students to virtually meet each other. Please join us!

Registration form (due by 12/1):  https://forms.gle/s8dePLtV6srK8VoC6 

Questions? Contact Ms. Jennifer Iverson at jsiverson@fcps.edu

Past Events

Please see our website for previous Parent Academy event materials, including recordings and slides.


staff shout out qr code

LBSS Staff Shout Outs

I hope you and your family are doing well! I can speak confidently on behalf of all staff at Lake Braddock Secondary School when I say that “We miss your student!” Next week is Thanksgiving, and we need your help! It will only take a few seconds 😊

Has a staff member at Lake Braddock Secondary School gone above and beyond to support you or your student? Someone who is your student’s champion? Is there someone that you would like to recognize for his/her hard work or dedication? Send a quick Staff Shout Out or Nominate an outstanding staff member who has made a difference! Please scan the QR Code or use this link to make a nomination: https://forms.gle/pScxWrzJyqjYYpgz9

Feel free to submit more than one nomination! Submissions will be shared with staff before Thanksgiving!

If you would like to complete a more formal nomination, FCPS Cares is also taking nominations at https://www.fcps.edu/careers/employee-recognition-programs/fcps-cares-program


E-Mail Communication from Lake Braddock

There are two main ways we communicate with our families through email. The first is this newsletter, which we refer to as the News You Choose. It is sent weekly on Friday afternoons and is set to families who register through this link.

The second is through eNotify, which links to SIS and parent/guardian emails as registered. eNotify messages are used to send important information that must go out to parents and guardians of Lake Braddock students. We have recently learned that many of those email addresses have been blocked. We were informed that the email addresses are blocked when the parent or guardian marks the email as spam or unsubscribes. Please note that, if you choose to block the eNotify messages, you may 


IT Reminders

As a reminder, should your student experience any problems with FCPS issued equipment (including the power cord) or software, please use the link below to place a service request with our IT department. All service requests are handled in the order of which they are received and may take up to 48 hours before you are contacted. Our IT department will contact you by either a phone call to troubleshoot or an email response with instructions sent to the email you used when the original ticket was created. In the event that our IT department determines that equipment does need to be replaced, they will give you instructions on the process and assist you further. 

https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/


peer tutoring

Peer Tutoring

The LBSS Peer Tutoring program invites your student to be tutored by one of our student peer tutors. The Peer Tutoring Program is run by students who are taking the Peer Tutoring class, and we are so excited to officially open!

The Peer Tutoring Center will be open on Mondays from 9:15 - 10:15 starting November 16th, and yes, it is free! In the future, we may be offering more times once we get the hang of things. Please visit the following link to sign your student up to be tutored: https://sites.google.com/view/lbsspeertutors/home

Tutoring subjects we offer:

All MS and HS Sciences - excluding AP Bio and physics
Math 7th - Precalculus
English 7th - 11th
History 7th - 12th (all levels except AP World History/Government)
Latin levels 1 - 3
Spanish 1 - 2
Organizational/study skills


Wanted:  Hour of Code Guest Speakers

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13), Lake Braddock will participate in the global movement called Hour of Code. During this week, students will be offered an opportunity to participate in coding activities both during and outside of school hours. On Friday December 13, students will have a chance to talk to guest speakers in the computer science profession during their advisory class. If you are interested in talking to a group of students about your career, how you got there, and things they can start doing now to get into your profession, please consider signing up here. After signing up we will contact you with more information. Thank you!


LBSS Student Award Winner

The following was received from the Executive Director of J.LIVE Talk 2020:

It is our pleasure to report that Ms. Emily Coyne, who studies Japanese at Lake Braddock, won the Gold Award in the High School Division of J.LIVE Talk 2020, a national Japanese presentation contest this past Saturday (November 14).

Since 2015 we have held J.LIVE Talk as a 21st century style college-level national presentation contest in Japanese at the George Washington University. This year, due to the pandemic, we held the competition virtually on Zoom and live streamed it on YouTube, and we were able to go ahead with our plan to inaugurate the high school division. Emily, therefore, is our very first high school division Gold Award winner. 

With the guidance of her mentor, Ms. Melvin, Emily gave a well-structured and engaging presentation, thoroughly impressing our panel of final round judges comprising a Japanese diplomat, three university professors, and the general manager of the Washington office of a major Japanese corporation. 

For more details about the contest please see: https://online.flipbuilder.com/otyu/rjph

You can find the YouTube video (currently has over 1K views) link here:

https://youtu.be/mshVRnh-DCc


High School Information


Senior Stamp Event: Monday, November 30 1:00-4:00 pm

This event is to Celebrate the Class of 2021. Seniors can show their school spirit by painting /stamping a parking space in the Senior Lot. The cost is $25.00 per space. Seniors in groups no larger than 4 can paint a parking spot. Groups must arrive in one car together to be considered a group. All participants must wear a mask and bring their own paint brushes. The school will provide paint in bowls, tape, and stencils of paws for students to use. Seniors will sign up in 1-hour slots and must always remain in their parking spot. Once they have completed their stamp or their time has elapsed, they must leave the parking lot. 

Please use this Google Form to sign up. 

Event Details:

  • Cost: $25 to paint a parking space
  • Cash or check are acceptable forms of payment upon arrival.
  • Available time slots: 1-2 pm, 2-3 pm, 3-4 pm

Participants must:

  • wear masks
  • remain with their group
  • bring a draft of their parking space plans
  • follow all campus rules

Please remember, this event is to celebrate the class of 2021 and no inappropriate behavior will be permitted. For additionally information please visit our Senior Page: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/senior_class.


HS yearbook 2020

High School Yearbook

The 2021 high school yearbook is currently available for purchase. Go to
www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 5061. The discounted price of $65 is only available until the end of 2020, so don’t wait! Yearbooks make good gifts!

Senior Yearbook Ads

Help your senior remember the good times. Create a senior ad to be published in the 2021 yearbook! We’ve lowered the prices considerably this year, so take advantage of this offer! Ads will be available until December 1 (or until we have sold out), so don’t wait! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 5061 to get started. Email Mrs. Poquis at tbpoquis@fcps.edu if you have questions or need assistance.


High School Portrait Retakes

High School student portraits are now available to view and order online (orders placed online will ship home) at vosphoto.com/lakebraddockHS. Use your student’s FCPS ID as the online code. 

Portrait retakes will be on December 2, 3 and 7. Please use the following link to sign up for a  time: http://pickatime.com/vos/lakebraddockhsmu. Questions or concerns can be directed to underclass@vosphoto.com


Middle School Information


Middle School After-School Program: Bruins Stay Virtual

There have been a number of new clubs and activities updates added to our after-school program at Lake Braddock including:

  • MS Lunch Bunch
    • Come and hangout with other students and staff during lunch – talk with friends, listen to music, play games and have some fun during your mid-day meal!
    • Register here: https://forms.gle/NDJMT9Drqu4sHKKE7
  • New AS Programs as of 11/10
    • Region 4 Soccer Academy
    • Coding for Beginners
    • Game Club
    • Sports Trivia
  • New AS Times as of 11/10
    • Tuesday Trivia will now be 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  • New Asynchronous Activities on the Bruins Stay Virtual After-School site
    • Sports Locker Room
    • Meditation Room
    • Mindfulness Room
    • Fitness Room
    • STEM Room
    • Art Room
    • Plus Arts & Crafts workshops

Here is our most updated LBMS After-School Activities Calendar

If students are interested in participating:

  1. Complete the student interest form: https://forms.gle/7FL8qVvW3oSfVTxU8
  2. Parents/guardians should complete the parent permission form: https://forms.gle/Z5CZnfmkoNAfR1Ea8

Questions to After-School Specialist, Jamaal Hines, jlhines@fcps.edu


Middle School Portrait Retakes

Middle School student portraits are now available to view and order online (orders placed online will ship home) at vosphoto.com/lakebraddockMS. Use your student’s FCPS ID as the online code. 

Portrait retakes will be on December 2, 3 and 7. Please use the following link to sign up for a time: http://pickatime.com/vos/lakebraddockmsmu. Questions or concerns can be directed to underclass@vosphoto.com.


MS Lunch Bunch

Join your friends and fellow bruins during your lunch period. Register by scanning the QR code below or use this link.

MS Lunch Bunch

FCPS Information


Family Guide for Return to School

Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with families to ensure we keep students and staff safe and healthy as we return to school buildings for learning. Working together, we will follow recommended health guidance that focuses on student and staff health, safety, and emotional well-being. 

The FCPS Family Guide for Return to School has a wealth of information on topics like concurrent instruction, lunch, the mandatory mask policy, recess, laptops, health protocols, and more.


Family Engagement Month

The Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education recognize November 2020 as Family Engagement Month. Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and ability levels achieve at the highest levels. The importance of parental and family support is highlighted during the month of November as we celebrate and strengthen family-school partnerships together. 

To support schools with best practices in November and year-round, the Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement and the Virginia Department of Education have an array of resources to support equitable family engage-ment practices.


Important Updates on Grab and Go Meals

Fairfax County Public Schools is offering no-cost nutritious meals to ALL students through June 30, 2021. Meals are available at school sites and along bus routes. Beginning Monday, November 9, grab and go bus delivery times and some bus stop locations will change. The updated bus schedule will be posted on November 6. 

Breakfast and lunch meals are offered Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Breakfast and lunch are served at the same time. Breakfast and lunch are also offered at no cost to any student who attends in-person instruction at a school Monday-Friday. Meals for Saturday and Sunday are offered at sites and on bus routes every Friday.

More information is available online, or by calling the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.


FCPS Tech Support

If you find your student in need of tech support for their school-issued laptop, please to go FCPS Technology Support. There are a number of tips, suggestions, and links for assistance. If you are not able to solve the problem, please submit an IT request online. This request will be routed to Lake Braddock's IT team, who will get in contact with you and/or your student to solve the issue. Please do not submit multiple requests or call the school office directly. 

Please keep a close eye on your email. This is how our IT department will communicate with you and your student. The email will come from FCPS and will have a subject line beginning with INC followed by a number. Please also give one to two school days for a response. 


FCPS Mental Health Resources


Important FCPS Contact Information


Attendance Procedures

  • Monday attendance form:  Students must complete the required attendance form between 8:00 and 10:00 am each Monday to be counted as present. Students need to be signed in to their FCPS Google accounts to complete the form. Your child’s 4th period Advisory teachers will remind them and post the same link every week. Please encourage and remind your child to complete the form EVERY Monday morning.
  • Reporting absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals: Use the following form to report absences, late arrivals and early dismissal: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/about/attendance. You can also call the subschool attendance phone numbers shown below:
ss attendance

How to Stay In Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by: