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Greetings Frost Middle School Families,
First, I’d like to apologize as it seems we did not send out the correct bell schedule for today’s catch up day and that caused some confusion and consternation. I will do better to ensure schedule change information is communicated in multiple places for easy reference.
We did it! We’ve finally made it to the end of the first semester. I am excited to share that we are looking to return to school based on the draft revised timeline (below) provided to the School Board last night. The School Board will hear the full Return to School Plan on February 2, 2021. The School Board Work Session will be available streaming on the FCPS website, or on your local cable channel 99 (Verizon channel 11).
As we look towards Return to School possibilities, we will be in touch with families who have opted to come back in person. We will share details around transportation, social distancing, hallways, lunches, classrooms, and other protocols. Please stay tuned as we will be in touch.
FCPS Proposed Timeline
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Student Groups
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Student In-Person Start Dates
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Required Work from School Dates
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Prep Days
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VHSL Activities and HS Co-Curriculars
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January 26
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NA
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NA
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Intervention Cohorts (ES, MS, HS)
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As early as January 26
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NA
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NA
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Groups 1-4
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February 16 New Bell Schedule to begin
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NLT Feb. 9
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TBD
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Group 5
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February 23
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NLT Feb. 16
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Completed
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Group 6
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March 9
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NLT March 2
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March 4-5
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Group 7
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March 16
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NLT March 9
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March 11-12
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Group 8
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March 2
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NLT Feb. 23
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Feb. 25-26
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As always, Work Hard. Be Nice. Widen your Circle. We are #ONEFrost!
Take good care,
Anthony
January 25 Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
January 26 Start of 3rd Quarter
February 15 Holiday - Presidents’ Day
February 16 Make-up Picture Day (details below)
- The calendar will be updated with additional dates for parent/community events as they become available.
Second Quarter Grades and Second Semester Schedules
Today, Friday January 22nd marks the end of the second quarter. Report cards will be mailed to those who have not opted out of receiving a paper copy. Families can expect these to arrive the first week of February. As a reminder, with the rolling gradebook, the second quarter grade is a current snapshot of your child’s progress at this time.
All students should have received an email to their fcpsschools account with their second semester schedule on Thursday, January 21st. This schedule will be able to be viewed in ParentVue beginning Friday morning. If a student has a new class or a change in class periods, he or she will be receiving an emailed link from that teacher before the weekend. If there is no change to a class or period, the student should continue using the links provided at the start of the year. Please encourage your child on Monday, the student holiday, to organize his or her links. All students will begin attending their second semester classes on Tuesday, January 26th.
Course Selection for 2021 – 2022
All Frost rising 8th and 9th grade students received course selection presentations through Falcon Focus on January 13 & 15. Students should be accessing resources on their counselor’s Google Classroom as well as the Frost Student Services website. Upcoming dates for course selection:
- January 25 & February 1 – Rising 8th grade open office hours; Rising 9th grade office hours by sign-up appointment. Students can email counselors questions if unable to attend office hours. See counselor Google Classroom announcements for information specific to each grade level.
- February 1 by 5pm – Rising 8th Grade Course Selection Assignment due in counselor Google Classroom.
- February 9 & 10 – all Rising 8th and 9th grade students will enter course selections into SIS through all PE classes.
Student Services Quarter 2 Newsletter
School Counselors are an important resource to students, families, and staff. Check out Frost’s Student Services Quarter 2 Newsletter (Attached) to see what our counselors have been up to. Additional resources are also available on the Student Services Google Site.
Frost Student Services Quarter 2 Newsletter.pdf
FCPS All Virtual Choir Debut!
I am excited to announce that we will have our first ever All-FCPS virtual choir premiere next week, Wednesday at 7pm. Hundreds of students from FCPS Middle and High Schools rehearsed, recorded and performed this piece, sponsored by the Fairfax County Choral Director’s Association.
It is approximately 12 minutes in length and will air on Wednesday, January 27th at 7:00 PM on channel 21 and 25. Click on the link below for more information and how to view. FCCDA – We are the Voices
There are included interviews from students and adults about the power and need for music, and a lovely message from the composer, Jim Papoulis.
Please join in viewing the premier live on Wednesday! Eleven students from Frost are involved in the performance!
Stay tuned to hear the first ALL FROST Virtual choir performance, coming soon!
The Principal Chew and Frost 30
There a couple of new features being rolled out this year! Mr. Harris will have a daily spot on the Frost New Show called the Frost 30…..News and announcement in 30 seconds or less! I will try to communicate important things to remember or consider. I hope the kids like it! In addition, beginning February 4th, I will have weekly chat and chews each Thursday during lunch! Students can drop by to ask me questions about Frost, share their thoughts about things, or just hang out! Information has been shared in each of the grade level Google Classrooms!
Classroom Monitors Needed
We are seeking individuals to serve as classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual. Candidates should be comfortable with basic technology tools; have knowledge of and ability to ensure all CDC/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; and have the ability to interact effectively with students.
Please reach out to Ms. Melanie Porter or Ms. Kenya Champ if you know anyone or if you are interested in interviewing for a possible classroom monitor position. To interview, you must apply through FCPS officially by following this link:
https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-seeks-classroom-monitors-and-substitute-teachers
Please contact us for more information at mnporter@fcps.edu or kschamp@fcps.edu.
Support for Parents Concerned About Their Child's Mental Health
Ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and school closures continue to have a significant impact on children’s mental health. As an example, according to the CDC, from April to October 2020, the proportion of mental health-related emergency room visits for children aged 5-11 and 12-17 years increased approximately 24% and 31%, respectively, compared with 2019.
You or your staff may be hearing from parents who are concerned about their child’s emotional well-being. This one-pager (https://bit.ly/38k8Xyz) from Healthy Minds Fairfax provides easy-to-digest information and would be a valuable resource for your school community. Please consider sharing it with them in your next newsletter and/or during a virtual parent meeting. If you have questions or need additional resources, please let us know.
Health Commitment Form
Even though return to in-person instruction has been delayed, parents/caregivers are being asked to acknowledge a Health Screening Commitment form before their student(s) return to school buildings. This document confirms that a parent/caregiver/guardian will complete a daily health screening and will keep their students home when they are ill.
The Health Commitment form can be submitted electronically through in ParentVUE (PVUE) beginning January 4. Or you may print the form, below, and scan and email it to Susan Morningstar at sjmorningsta@fcps.edu. If you need a hard copy, please call the school at 703-426-5700.
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/HealthScreeningCommitment.pdf
TJHSST Applications Opening February 1
Interested in applying to TJ? Read on for an important Admissions Update:
On January 7, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology posted an update to their Freshman Application webpage, https://www.fcps.edu/node/42685, announcing the Application Window will begin on February 1 at 8:00 am and close on February 26 at 4:00 pm. It is anticipated that additional information will be posted beginning next week. Visit https://www.fcps.edu/node/42685 for up-to-date information. This information has been shared directly to Frost MS students as well through their grade level Google Classroom.
TJHSST Admissions Policy Update
The Fairfax County School Board voted to enact several changes to the admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). The Board sought to develop an admissions policy that recognized and addressed cultural and socioeconomic barriers to access while maintaining the high standards for which the school is known.
The new criteria, which will be used to select the class of 2025, is based on a holistic review aimed at improving diversity and access at the school. The changes to the current process include the following:
- Increase of the capacity of each admitting class to 550 from 480;
- Elimination of the Quant-Q, ACT Aspire Reading and Science tests;
- Elimination of the application fee;
- Elimination of the teacher recommendations;
- The top 1.5 percent of eighth-grade students at each public middle school who meet the minimum standards will be offered admission
The holistic process will evaluate students on 1) grade point average (GPA); 2) a student portrait sheet where students will need to demonstrate Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st Century Skills; 3) a problem-solving essay; and 4) experience factors – which include provisions for economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, special education students, and/or students who are currently attending underrepresented middle schools. The new admissions policy also includes recruitment communications to all eligible students and targeted recruitment of students from such disadvantaged groups.
The Board also approved several follow-on motions to further strengthen the admissions policy including the administration of the essay and student information sheet to all eligible students at their middle schools. This change will be effective for the 2026 class and opts eligible students into the application process. The School Board also voted to establish a process, effective for the 2027 class, that will proportionally allocate seats to the top eligible 8th grade students in each of Fairfax County’s middle schools.
Save the Date! Picture Day Make-up on February 16 – Sign-Up Open Now!
Picture Day Make-up is scheduled for February 16 from 2:30 – 6:30 pm. Our first Picture Day was a great success, with 563 students moving safely and swiftly through the building. We know this Picture Day will go as smoothly!
If you were not able to attend the first picture day, please follow this link to sign-up for February 16.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945AFA62FABFC1-frost1
Frost Middle School 2020 – 2021 Yearbook
Have you asked yourself, “Is this happening this year?” Of course, it is! There’s never been a more interesting year to document than 2020 – 2021. Make sure you reserve a copy of the Frost MS Yearbook today!
Students Recognized by Teachers and Staff
Despite our virtual setting and physical distance, Frost teachers and staff still want to recognize the wonderful contributions our students are making to their classes. Monthly drawings will be made from the submitted names. Every student entered has a chance to win. We are ONEFrost! Keep up the great work – we appreciate every student! https://frostms.fcps.edu/resources/students-being-recognized
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Summer Enrichment Program
CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas and encourages skill development and career exploration. Students will be able to choose 4 classes related to CTE program areas and learn new content, discover interests, and build their skills. For more information on this enrichment program, please visit our website: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-CTE-summer-academy. Registration is open from February 1 through June 18, 2021. More information is on this flyer:
CTE Summer Academy.pdf
Self-Care and Mental Health Resources for Students and Families
Student Services is sharing self-care tips and mental health resources with students prior to winter break. We were hoping you would include the message below in your weekly email to families:
Due to safety restrictions, we know this winter break will look and feel different for students and their families. To help support students’ wellness over the two-week break from school, we encourage students and their families to explore the mental health resources below:
Frost’s Student Services Site
Frost Zen Garden
FCPS Mental Health Resources
We wish you a safe and relaxing winter break and look forward to welcoming you back in 2021!
Please do not wait if you feel that your child is experiencing significant mental health difficulties. Please contact your child’s pediatrician or mental health provider to ask for more immediate assistance.
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