A Note From Your Principal
What a week! It was amazing seeing those 3-6 graders coming into the building for the first time last week. Smiles under masks were a mile wide. Teachers are working hard to make online and in-person instruction feel as natural as it can, please continue to give our staff members grace as they become more comfortable with the technology and the guidelines we are working under.
Last week the School Board approved the 2021-2022 calendar. Below is a portion of the message from FCPS. For full details about the calendar please view it online View SY 2021-22 Calendar.
The calendar recognizes a diverse range of 15 religious and cultural observances including Eid al-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Día de los Muertos, Diwali, Bodhi Day, Three Kings Day/Epiphany, Orthodox Christmas, Orthodox Epiphany, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Good Friday, Theravada, Orthodox Good Friday/Last Night of Passover and Eid al-Fitr - all religious and cultural observances where Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has seen above-average absences over the last five years. It also decouples Good Friday from Spring Break.
Last week the CDC changed its guidance on social distancing for schools. As we get more information from the county and if changes are made to accommodate this new guidance, we will continue to communicate with our families. Please stay tuned.
National Reading Month is concluding this week with a Book Drive on March 24 & 25. Boxes will be setup at the main entrance door and at Door 8 (SACC) for spring pictures when students come for their scheduled picture time. Students may bring a gently used book to donate. All reading levels welcome.
Health Screening Commitment Form
If your student(s) are coming back to in-person instruction, the county is asking you to complete the Parent/ Guardian Health Screening Commitment form either in paper or in ParentVue prior to the return of your student(s) group. Please visit the FCPS website for more information on the Commitment Form.
Transportation
As your return date gets closer, transportation information will be available through ParentVue. Please login to get the most current bus stop and route information from there. If you do not have a ParentVue account reach out to our Technology Specialist, Erica Demick (eademick@fcps.edu) for assistance.
As indicated in previous editions of the Scottie Takes, our bell schedule has changed as of February. Please take a few minutes to check out the New Bell Schedule to find your grade level specific schedule.
As always, we are going to come out stronger because of each other. Stay safe, take care of yourself and take care of each other.
Best,
Principal Skerker
#Scottiepride
Upcoming Events
- March 24 & 25 - Spring School Picture Day
- March 26 - 2 hour early release - Spring Break Begins
- April 5 - No School - Teacher Workday
- April 5- K Registration event 12PM - 4PM
- April 12- K Registration event 9AM - 2PM
- April 15- PTO meeting
- April 16- PTO Virtual STEAM Night
- April 19 - K Registration event 4PM - 7PM
Spring School-Based AAP Services
ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP)
SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED (LEVEL II-III) SERVICES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8. Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS). Teachers, administrators, and advanced academic resource teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:
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Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students in kindergarten through grade six receive level I services which consist of model lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills. The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and the thinking strategies are then used throughout the year by classroom teachers and other teachers who work with students. Student responses to these model lessons are used as part of the identification process for AAP services. Parents may also practice the thinking strategies during family conversations and activities. A description of the nine critical and creative thinking strategies can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics/critical-and-creative-thinking.
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Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)
The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenge through lessons and resources that extend and enrich the POS. Level II services are part of a talent development pool. Students are rescreened annually to make decisions about the need for this level of service.
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Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Students identified by a local school screening committee for part-time advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Students receive direct instruction from the AART at the local school using curriculum from the AAP Curriculum and Resources to Support the Differentiated Framework. Students identified for Level III services continue to receive level III services through grade 6.
Screening for school-based services can happen at any time during the school year but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (level II and III) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form (available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/elementary-school/current-fcps at the bottom of the page in Forms) to Kaitlin Burg, AART at Bonnie Brae Elementary School, prior to spring screening by April 15, 2021. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels of AAP services. Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by Bonnie Brae Elementary School of their student’s eligibility status by May 28, 2021.
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to Jason Skerker via email to jsskerker@fcps.edu by June 4, 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact Kaitlin Burg at kmburg@fcps.edu.
Celebrate the Students
Shhhhh, don't spoil the surprise! There is still time to swing by the school without your student(s) knowing and leave a message of encouragement and support for our students to see as they come to school this week. Sidewalk chalk is available for you by the front door. Let's fill up the sidewalks of our school with messages for all our students. #Scottiepride
School Picture Day
Spring Pictures will be happening March 24 and 25 for both in-person and virtual students. Please check the Bonnie Brae website Spring Picture Day page for all your order information, how the days will look, and sign up if you have a virtual student.
5th / 6th Chorus Signup
Mrs. Oedemann and Miss Warr are excited to welcome students back to the school!
We are also excited to offer choir classes in person and virtually starting in April! Students will wear masks and be socially distant during choir rehearsals. Virtual students will join through a Google Meet link that will be sent out at a later time. Below are the choir days and times.
5th Grade Choir: Tues/Thurs – 9:30-10:00am
6th Grade Choir: Wed/Thurs - 1:45 -2:15pm
Beginning in April, we will also be offering an optional Monday choir rehearsal for students that are interested. Parents and students are responsible for transportation to and from the school on Mondays. This rehearsal will be on Mondays at the following times:
5th Grade: 10:00-11:00am (during 6th grade band rehearsal)
6th Grade: 11:00am-12:00pm (during 5th grade band rehearsal)
Please fill out the sign up form below to enroll in choir. Once you are enrolled, Mrs. Oedemann and Miss Warr will send an email with more information.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJW_OfYj3QcqNQSvUBFmjYWTDCRJGKm-qQgGBKt23bHDPY1g/viewform
If you have any questions, please email Miss Warr at jwarr@fcps.edu and Mrs. Oedemann at rloedemann@fcps.edu.
We can’t wait to see you!
Miss Warr
Mrs. Oedemann
Calling All Rising Kindergartners
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, 2021? If so, Bonnie Brae will be hosting three Kindergarten Registration days:
Monday, April 5th from 12-4 pm
Monday, April 12th from 9:30 am-2:00 pm
Monday, April 19th from 4-7 pm.
Please use the following link REGISTER HERE to schedule a time for in-person registration.
All kindergarten requirements and registration forms can be found on the Fairfax County website at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration. Please complete these forms and bring them with you, as well as proof of address, an original birth certificate, parent ID and record of a physical examination. Physicals need to be dated August 23, 2020 or after and may be provided at a later time.
If you prefer, you have the option of emailing the completed forms to Michele McLaughlin at msmclaughlin@fcps.edu. You can either bring the other documentation with you to one of our in-person registration days or email Michele for an appointment. Due to social distancing guidelines, we ask that only enrolling parents come to registration.
Spread the word that Bonnie Brae Kindergarten Registration is now open to family and friends in your neighborhood!
Looking for a way for your family to help a neighbor? Consider volunteering your family's culunary skills and joining the Lasagna Love network.
Resources from the BBES Mental Health team
If you are ever in need of support for your students the mental health team at Bonnie Brae is here for you. Whether it be for a family transition, anxiety over the pandemic, or something else you might need support with our counselors, social worker and psychologist are an email away. There is a bounty of resources as well as staff contact information at on the Bonnie Brae website in the Mental Health & Student Wellness section which you can access at the link below. https://bonniebraees.fcps.edu/student-services/mental-health-wellness-team
Future Scottie Tales
Please share our news with any neighbors or community members that might not be receiving this newsletter. If you need help signing up, head to the Bonnie Brae website and signup for News You Choose at the bottom of the home screen You may also click here to sign up.
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