This Week at Frost - January 29, 2021

This Week in Review

Snow

 

Greetings Frost Middle School Families,

Let it snow! Let it snow!

We are all excited to see the first sign of snow in the DMV area in a couple of years! I wonder how many inches will be on the ground next week! Get your hot cocoa and warm blankets ready! And maybe your favorite chili recipe!!!

We are all anticipating the decision surrounding the Return to School plan as well. The school board will meet on February 2nd to discuss the plan and to determine if we are moving forward! February 2nd is going to be a busy day at Frost as we plan to have our faculty meeting that afternoon to review Health and Safety protocols.

The admin team has been meeting regularly with the Office of Design and Construction and architects to discuss the renovation plans! Things are moving along very quickly, and I anticipate presenting more information to the community at large in the coming weeks. This will be quite the undertaking, possibly returning to school with social distancing and preparing for renovation at once, but your admin team is up to the task.

Have a great weekend!

As always, Work Hard. Be Nice. Widen your Circle. We are #ONEFrost!

 

Take good care,

Anthony

 

 

Upcoming Dates - Mark Your Calendars

February 15    Holiday - Presidents’ Day

February 16    Make-up Picture Day (details below)

March 5           Two-hour early release

March 8           Staff Development Day (No school for students)

  • The calendar will be updated with additional dates for parent/community events as they become available.

 

In Other News....

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

 

 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!

Yearbook Flyer

 

 

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

Parent's Corner

 

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.

Mental Health Resources