As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, for the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, and on Wednesday, January 20, for Inauguration Day.
Friday, January 22, is the last day of the second quarter and is a two-hour early release day. Monday, January 25, is a teacher work day and a student holiday.
See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
We are happy to announce that Picture Day is Wednesday, February 3! If you have participated in school pictures before, the process will be a little different this year. Pictures will be taken by family this year instead of by class. Click here to sign-up for a time slot for the Clermont students in your family. Parents may order photos at www.mylifetouch.com using picture day ID: EVT6BG86D (This code is good up until 24 hours after picture day.)
Pictures will be taken in the Clermont cafeteria from 9:00am – 3:00pm, at your designated time. You will enter through door #2, which is at the cafeteria near our Kiss and Ride loop. We have safety protocols in place that must be followed before you can enter the building. Everyone present will need to wear a face covering at all times. Temperatures will be taken before entering the cafeteria. At the exact time when the student is being photographed, the photographer will have the child take their mask off and hold it down where it will not be seen in the photo. We will send a link the night before for you to answer some health questions online. If you do not receive the email, or forget to answer the questionnaire before coming, we will have a QR code at the door that you can scan with a mobile device and complete onsite.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lisa Gibson at lmgibson@fcps.edu or Coral Mullin at cjmullin@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-921-2400.
Our classroom lessons during January will focus on the following topics:
Kindergarten- Gaining a deeper understanding of the CARE traits. This month we will focus on Cooperation and Acceptance.
1st grade- Understanding the importance of perseverance and working hard when trying to achieve a goal
2nd grade- Understanding how mistakes are essential for learning
3rd grade- Learning how to set, monitor and achieve goals
4th grade- Identifying study techniques that appeal to individual learning styles
5th grade- Identifying and understanding personal learning styles
6th grade- Understanding and Utilizing Empathy for Students of Bullying and Harassment
If you or your child would like to make an appointment with the counselor, please email us OR submit this referral form and we will contact you.Mrs. Treger (pmtreger@fcps.edu) & Mrs. Manzo (mlmanzo@fcps.edu) -School Counselors
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What to Tell Kids When the News is Scary
Here are the key points from an NPR Upfirst podcast from Jan. 10, 2021.
Click on the link below to read the script or listen to the podcast. https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716704917/when-the-news-is-scary-what-to-say-to-kids
We can control the amount of information we share with our children.
- Keep it on a need to know basis.
- Supervise them when they are listening to the news.
- Don’t have the news on all day.
When you decide to talk to them, allow them to reflect.
- Pick a quiet time.
- Ask what they see.
- Ask how they feel.
- Ask who they think the story is about.
- Their imagination can cause them to make up things that might be worse than reality. For example, a young girl who was hearing reports of guerrilla warfare had wild misconceptions/fears because of her limited background knowledge.
- Children may not have a concept of the geological location. Get a map out to show the distance. IF the scary event WAS nearby, remind them that it is rare - that’s why it’s on the news. Media can’t tell every story. The stories they don’t have time to tell are stories of the many children who are safe in their homes.
Give facts and context based on the questions they ask and what you think they need at the current time. You know them best.
- Don’t overload them with details.
- Different children need different facts.
When they ask WHY it happened…
- Avoid easy answers that label people. For example, “bad people” do “evil things”. It is overused.
- It is okay to admit you don’t have all of the answers and that you don’t know why.
- We get in trouble with children when we don’t know the answers and we fake it.
- Highlight the good! Look for the stories of helpers. This can be empowering.
- Research shows that talking about the helpers helps children shift their perceptions.
Encourage children to process by letting them tell their own story.
- Have your child draw, write, play, create music, etc. to reconstruct the story in their own way.
- Helps them make sense of the world around them.
- Adults do this when they have conversations about the events with their friends.
Don’t just talk, take action.
- Ask how do you see yourself as a helper? Don’t just look for heroes, be one!
- Ideas to take action:
- Go to a peaceful protest.
- Raise money.
- Write to elected officials.
- If the scary situation is a natural disaster, include your child in the safety preparation/procedures.
Remember, Mrs. Treger and Mrs. Manzo, your school counselors, are available to support your child if they are struggling. Please feel free to reach out to either of us with your questions or concerns.
This weekly summer program gives students the opportunity to explore the exciting pathways in Career and Technical Ed including STEAM, culinary, health, trades, business and marketing.
Camp Details
• Time: 8:30 am to 2 pm
• Cost: $275 per week
• Eligibility: Current 2 - 6 grade students
For more information and to register, please visit the Tech Adventure Camp website bit.ly/FCPS_TAC
For questions, please contact Beth Mehr, CTE Summer Programs Educational Specialist, at bgmehr@fcps.edu.
From Chaos to Calm: Strategies for Families to Create Calm and Confidence in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty: A Webinar for Families
How are YOU doing? Really, how are you?
Trying to lead a family during these times can be exceedingly difficult. Children's mental health is declining, and parents are concerned about their own mental health.
- Are you feeling helpless and overwhelmed by the uncertainty and fear surrounding your child’s future and the impact this time is having on their ability to learn?
- Are you worried about increased anxiety and stress leaving you feeling depleted and overwhelmed?
Learn practical tools that can be applied IMMEDIATELY to restore your sense of calm and focus so you have the energy and confidence you need to cultivate joy and connection in your family.
Presented by Corinne Coppola, M.A., and Well-Being Professional.
Friday, February 12, 2021 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for From Chaos to Calm: Strategies for Families to Create Calm and Confidence in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty: A Webinar for Families
Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home: A Webinar for Families
Social and emotional learning starts at home. Parents and families are critical partners in helping their children develop social and emotional know-how. They can model the kinds of skills, attitudes, and behaviors we want all students to master.
This webinar will highlight:
- What is social-emotional learning?
- Strategies to use our children’s behavior and emotion as forms of communication.
- Strategies to create emotional safety.
- Strategies to recognizing and supporting personal and family strengths.
Join FCPS Social Worker, Jeanne Veraska & FCPS School Psychologist, Lisa Phifer for this important webinar.
February 17, 2021 6:30 - 8 p.m. or February 19, 2021 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Register for Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home: A Webinar for Families
FCPS has developed multiple resources that can help with basic technology issues to support learning at home.
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If there is a problem with your Clermont issued laptop, you may enter a support request ticket via the Parent and Student IT Portal.
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FCPS' Parent Technology Resource page includes tip sheets in multiple languages that provide answers to basic questions about FCPS technologies.
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FCPS’ YouTube channel has videos on basic technology topics that highlight some of the key FCPS tools, such as Google and Blackboard. These videos are designed to provide solutions for quick, simple questions.
- Broader inquiries about FCPS programs or resources for families may be directed to the Parent Resource Center at 703-204-3941, or use one of our eight Parent Information Phone Lines for information in multiple languages.
January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 20: Inauguration Day - No School
January 22: Spirit Day! Movie & TV Show Character Day
January 22: End of 2nd Quarter- 2-hour Early Release
January 25: Teacher Workday - No School
2020-21 Standard School Year Calendar.
February 15: Presidents Day - No School
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