Dear Wakefield Forest ES Families,
Last week Dr. Brabrand presented an updated timeline for Return to School to the School Board. I anticipate that this plan will be approved at our February 2 School Board Work Session. The School Board session will be available streaming on our website, or on your local cable channel 99 (Verizon channel 11).
Proposed Return to School Plan
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Student Groups
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Student In-Person Start
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Teacher Preparation
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Group 5 Kindergarten
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February 23
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Completed
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Group 6 Grades 1 & 2
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March 9
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March 4-5
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Group 7 Grades 3 - 6
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March 16
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March 11-12
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This plan requires the bell schedule shift to begin on February 16, 2021. This will mean Wakefield Forest's school hours will be 9:00 am – 3:30 pm. It will also mean additional changes to the format of the school day. We will be increasing specials time to 45 minutes daily for K-6 and shift the schedule due to the new school hours. We know that change is challenging, but these changes are required for a transition to in-person learning. In addition, we cannot continue a schoolwide lunch block since that is not feasible once in-person. These shifts will be in place for all students. Your child’s classroom teacher will provide detailed information on the changes to the schedule next week after the School Board work session.
Once we know that the plan is approved, we will advertise question and answer sessions for families.
Thank you.
Sharyn Prindle
Principal
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Positivity Project: Supporting others when they struggle |
Supporting other people when they struggle is a critical piece of being human. There are many different ways to help people who are struggling. These can include listening while they describe an event and their feelings about it, taking action to help people in need, or simply just being there and sitting together in silence.
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Health Screening Commitment Form Required Prior to Student Return to School |
As students return to school, parents/caregivers will be 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 ParentVUE (PVUE), or via hard copy ( Parent/Guardian Health Screening Commitment form - the commitment form is available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.)
Please contact Julia Ruskin at 703-503-2300 or jsruskin@fcps.edu to have a hard copy sent to you.
Additionally, we encourage you to update your Emergency Care Information Form and Health Information Form. The data can be updated online via weCare@school in FCPS 24-7 or by contacting the school. All data should be reviewed for accuracy, such as emergency contacts and physician information.
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Guidelines for Student Masks |
If your child will be returning in person, please review the types of masks that are approved for student use. Students must wear a mask to school. We recommend students have an extra mask in their backpack.
The following cloth masks/face coverings are NOT supported by FCPS:
- Gaiters with a single layer - NEW
- Face masks/face coverings with exhalation valves/vents
- Cloth masks/face coverings with a single layer - NEW
The following cloth masks/face coverings are acceptable and supported by FCPS:
- Gaiters with 2 or more layers - NEW
- Cloth masks/face coverings with 2 or more layers – NEW
Please refer to the following resources for detailed information: Your Guide to Masks.
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Equity Presentation for Families on February 1 |
We will host a Family Listening Session on Equity on Monday, February 1. 2021 at 6:30 PM. At this session we will share about the equity work happening in FCPS, as well as at WFES. We will also have opportunities for our families to share about their experiences and to provide feedback on how we can continue to grow in supporting equity at our school. (We will not be discussing the Return to School Plan at this session.) Please join us here. https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/f3a0b4d64aad4bb4a6a95aefc8276439
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Laptop Swap on Monday, February 1 |
The FCPS School Board has purchased new laptops for all 3rd – 5th grade students. On February 1 between 12:00 and 1:00 pm (all slots filled) and 1:45 to 2:45 pm (many slots open), we will be holding an exchange for students in those grades who received a laptop in August 2020 or earlier and who haven’t already exchanged their original laptop for a new one in the last two months. You must bring your child with you. Families will stay in their car and will be asked the COVID-19 questions upon arrival. Please bring your child’s laptop and power supply, and be prepared to stay long enough for your student to sign-in on our network.
Please click here to sign up for a laptop swap appointment.
In addition, families in grades 3-5 who did not previously request a laptop are also able to sign-up to receive one at this event.
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Call for Yearbook Entries |
We are looking for a variety of family entries to our 2020-2021 WFES Yearbook. If you did not have your child take a school portrait in December, you are encouraged to submit a “head shot” of your child (actually from the mid-chest up) for their class page in the yearbook. These home shot portraits can be submitted here (use Chrome for best results). Please make sure to include your child’s and teacher’s name with the photo. We are also looking for any photos of your children at their computers, doing schoolwork at home, or dressed up for one of our spirit days; Those photos can be submitted here .
Information about ordering your 2020-2021 WFES Yearbook will be provided soon.
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Library Book Check Out |
We are continuing to offer curbside book pick up for all WFES students!
The next day to pick up library books will be tomorrow, Wednesday, January 27 from 1-4 pm. Here’s how it works.
- Students may put up to 5 books on hold for pickup.
- Students may also request additional books or fill out a form to request a “mystery bag” of books chosen for them by Mrs. Rapuano.
- Please see this link for all the details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qpOs8zofqJXdalZIY-IAC3UeP4A6rMzP/view?usp=sharing (you must be logged in to your child’s FCPS Google apps account to access the link). This flyer is also available on all the specials Google Classrooms.
- Emails will be sent to parents/guardians and to student Gmail accounts when holds are ready to be picked up and the day/date of the next pick up day. Please wait for this email before coming to school for book pick up.
Returning books
- Library books may be returned to WFES on weekdays from 8:30am to 3:30pm. There will be marked bins outside the front door for books being returned.
- Emails and printed notices were sent to the parents/guardians of all students who still have books checked out from last school year. If you received a notice, please return the books or pay the replacement costs ASAP.
If you have any questions about any library-related matters, please contact Mrs. Rapuano at alrapuano@fcps.edu.
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Counselor Check In |
We would like to remind our families that we are here to support you and your students! If your child needs a check in with Nancy Garcia-Henderson or Chelsea Boateng, WFES counselors, please complete this survey.
Healthy Minds Fairfax is also a community resource for Mental Health Concerns if there is an issue beyond the academic setting.
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Virtual Spelling Bee in February |
This year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has developed guidelines to help us continue our tradition of hosting a school spelling bee at Wakefield Forest, whether your children are learning in classrooms or remotely from your homes. We will hold an entirely virtual oral spelling bee on Wednesday, February 24 at 4 pm via the same Blackboard Collaborate Ultra platform that our students use for their virtual classrooms. As in past years, bee participation is open to all Wakefield Forest students in grades 3-6.
The first step to spelling bee participation is for you to register for the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s online testing platform by visiting https://online-test.spellingbee.com/. Registering your child will give us your contact information and will also give you access to a sample test your child may use to practice. Please note that this practice test does NOT mimic the format we will use for the school bee, and is not graded or scored in any way. There will be NO required tests given in this online format at any point during our school component of the spelling bee process.
Bee registration must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, February 1st. Parents and guardians of registered bee participants will receive a list of words to study via email on Tuesday, February 2nd, as well as the BBCU link to use the day of the bee. Our school champion will then move on to represent Wakefield Forest in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee, which may also include online testing or virtual competition components in lieu of in-person events.
Please reach out to Amy Rapuano, staff spelling bee coordinator, at alrapuano@fcps.edu, or Stephanie McNamara, PTA spelling bee coordinator, at steffielou@msn.com if you have any questions.
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Technical Support (FCPS Laptops only) |
If your child is having technical problems with their laptop (for ex, microphone not working, screen going dark, etc.), please go to this site:
https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/technology-support-families
You will be able to reference troubleshooting videos or place an online request for assistance (you will need to scroll down to Parents and Families – Do you need Tech Support?). Those requests go directly to WFES tech staff, who will respond as quickly as they are able.
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Information for Grade 6 Families from Frost MS |
Frost Orientation Night Resources and Additional Programs
Thank you for those who were able to join us for the Rising 7th Grade Parent and Student Orientation last week. For those who were unable to join, there is a copy of the presentation and a recording of the event on our website. A link is available on our main website or you can access it directly here: https://frostms.fcps.edu/student-services/course-selection/rising-7th-grade-course-selection. Please use this site to review additional course materials (course catalog and videos) to assist your child in completing the course selection google form before March 1st. Students will receive the link to the google form after Mr. Joo, Frost counselor, presents to the students at each elementary school in the upcoming weeks. We also have two additional programs available if you are interested:
Rising 7th Grade Parent and Student Math Night – Tuesday, February 2nd from 6:30-7:30
Do you still have questions about the math sequence of courses or specific courses available at grade 7? Are you still undecided about the course that is best for your child? Ms. Hornbecker and math teachers will be available for a brief overview and to answer individual questions. You can access the event using this link: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/29a43c540b1b4a91a8f0644b94fa9ead
Rising 7th Grade Special Education Services Parent Information Night – Wednesday February 3rd at 6:30 at this link.
Please join us to hear general information related to special education services at the middle school. We will also meet and hear from teacher leaders from the adapted curriculum, as well as our specialized programs of the Comprehensive Services Site (CSS) and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program.
Wednesday, January 27 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm: Library Book Pick Up
Monday, February 1 from 12-1 and 1:45-2:45: Laptop Swap, Grades 3-5
Monday, February 1 at 6:30 pm: Equity Family Session
Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 pm: Woodson Pyramid PTA Meeting with Braddock District School Board member Megan McLaughlin
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