LBSS Weekly News - April 16, 2021

SV

Message from Dr. Smith

Hello Bruin Families, 

We are excited to be working on welcoming more students back to four days of in-person instruction at Lake Braddock. There will be communication to those families next week to start by April 27th. Additionally, our fall sports teams have concluded their season and we are so grateful for our coaches, students and families who made it a success. We look forward to seeing more of our athletes competing in spring sports that begin in a few short weeks.  We also have our first play in the building is happening this weekend with our high school students, and it is a great feeling to have students performing in the Little Theater for an audience. We hope that you’ll have an opportunity to come to campus and celebrate our students and staff who are working to bring these experiences forward for our community.

This coming Monday, we are looking forward to connecting with our Seniors and their families to discuss graduation and end of year activities. We will meet with parents families at 6:00 pm and the times that we will connect with students through their subschool are listed below. Students and parents received an individualized link to their email on file. If you have not received your link, please reach out to Scott Darwin at scdarwin@fcps.edu.  

  • Subschool 3: 11:10 am – 11:55 am
  • Subschool 4: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
  • Subschool 5: 2:10 pm – 2:55 pm
  • Subschool 6: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Please see the detailed information below regarding SOL and AP testing. Note that, during the week of May 24, all instruction will be virtual. In addition, Wednesday and Thursday, May 26 and 27, have been designated as catch-up days and no new assignments will be given. There is a Virtual Testing Q&A on Wednesday, April 21st at 6:30 p.m. to support parents with current testing guidelines and scheduling for this spring, as well as answer any general questions you may have. If you are interested in attending the LBSS Testing Q&A Parent Session, please complete the form link HERE to register.

We look forward to connecting with our community through the Senior meetings, plays, Virtual Testing Q&A and athletic events in the coming weeks.

United as Bruins, 

Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.


In this Issue

NEW Information
SOL and AP Testing Calendar for May
SOL Testing Refusals
Autism Awareness Month
Meal Kit Sites Moving to Monday Distribution
Month of the Military Child Celebration
Teacher Appreciation Week
Congrats LB OOTM

Important Reminders
Early Releases
New Attendance Procedures

High School Information
Virtual Career Fair
High School Yearbook

Middle School Information
Middle School Yearbook
Middle School After-School Program
College Access Fairfax Virtual Presentations

Class of 2021 News
Senior Parent Meeting
Graduation
LBSS PTSA Scholarship

Continuing Information
LBSS Online Book Store

Parent Academy
See Website for Information

FCPS Information
Registration Opens for E-IFTA and IFTA
FCPS Tech Support
FCPS Mental Health Resources

Important LBSS Contact Information
Attendance Procedures
How to Stay In Touch



New Information



SOL & AP Testing Calendar for May

The May testing calendar is now available and listed below. Breakfasts and lunches will be provided for students who would like one. Students may return home when they have completed SOL testing for the day, unless they are waiting for bus transportation. Information about requesting bus transportation will be provided in next week’s newsletter.

Tuesday, May 4: AP German

Monday, May 10: Reading 7 and EOC Reading

Monday, May 17: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science (Geosystems), and Science 8

Friday, May 21: AP Spanish, AP French, AP Japanese

Monday, May 24: Geometry (both HS & MS), Algebra 2 (both HS & MS) as well as the following in-person AP exams: AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C:M

* Tuesday, May 25: Reading 7 as well as the following in-person AP exams: AP Chemistry Physics 1, AP Physics C:E&M, AP Physics 2, AP Stats

* Wednesday, May 26: Math 8

* Thursday, May 27: Math 7

* Friday, May 28: Algebra I (both HS & MS)

*Please note that, during the week of Tuesday, May 25th through Friday, May 28th, all classes will be all virtual, at home. In order to accommodate the large amount of student testing that must occur in the building while also maintaining health and safety guidelines and internet capabilities for online testing, it is necessary to shift all our students to a virtual setting while we conduct testing in the building. Students who are not in the building for SOL or AP testing during this week will continue their classes synchronously at home. We will still maintain Wednesday, May 26th and Thursday, May 27th as catch-up days where students will check in (online) with their teachers for support and remediation.


SOL Testing Refusals

Earlier this week, parents were notified via email of SOL testing in May and their right to refuse testing. Please visit the LBSS testing refusal page linked HERE for more information on the SOL testing refusal process at LBSS and additional information to help guide your family’s decision. We are asking that parents complete the google form to state their intent to refuse testing by Monday, April 26th .

Additionally, we will host a virtual Testing Q&A session for parents on Wednesday, April 21st at 6:30 p.m. to support parents with current testing guidelines and scheduling for this spring, as well as answer any general questions you may have. If you are interested in attending the LBSS Testing Q&A Parent Session, please complete the form link HERE to register.


au-some

Autism Awareness Month:

"Being Au-some" Virtual Mini-Conference on April 20

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, are you invited to participate in the Autism Society of Northern Virginia’s free "Being Au-some" Virtual Mini-Conference. The conference will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 20, from 7-9 p.m. Participants will celebrate the autism journey together with short and engaging sessions. Featured speakers include self-advocates, family members, and educators. Register in advance for this virtual event.


Meal Kit Sites Moving to Monday Distribution Starting April 19

Many FCPS Grab and Go food distribution sites have switched this month from daily food pickup to weekly Fairfax Meal Kit distribution. Fairfax Meal Kits contain seven days of breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and supper items packed in bulk.

On Monday, April 19, all meal kit sites are permanently moving to a Monday distribution day. Hours remain 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or until supplies are exhausted. Grab and Go locations and bus routes remain the same. Go to the food distribution webpage for more information.


Month of the Military Child Celebration

Please help us celebrate Lake Braddock's military student. Details are in the flyer below.

momc

app qr code

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 3rd-7th is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we need your help! We want to make this year extra special for each and every staff member. It will only take a few seconds 😊

Has a staff member gone above and beyond to support you? Someone who is your champion? Is there someone that you would like to recognize for his/her hard work or dedication? Send a quick Staff Shout Out or Nominate an outstanding staff member who has made a difference in your life! Please scan the QR Code or use this link to make a nomination: https://forms.gle/4n3pXgkjgjH7JnBG7. Feel free to submit more than one nomination! Submissions will be printed, displayed on teacher’s doors or mailed home for our virtual staff, and shared with staff during Teacher Appreciation Week!


Congrats LB OOTM

HUGE SHOUT OUT to Lake Braddock’s Odyssey of the Mind teams for placing at this past weekend’s awards ceremony for the Virginia statewide tournament.

  • The combined Lake Braddock/TJHSST/Homeschool 7/8/10 grade team placed 2nd overall in their division and 3rd highest raw score; MS team members included Ella Ridgway & Jack Smith
  • The Lake Braddock 7/8 grade team placed 2nd overall in their division and 1st in spontaneous problem solving; the MS team members included Tobias Ong, Grace Sanchez, Autumn Dunlop, Adithya Pillai, Kara Kweon & Jenna Nelson


Important Reminders



Early Releases

If you need to pick up your in-person student early, please send them in with a note first thing in the morning. Students can bring a note to the Subschool to receive a pass.  The students will also sign out of the Subschool before leaving. 

Unfortunately, if you have not sent in a note, we will not be able to pull students for early release after 2:00 pm to ensure our staff are focused on the safe dismissal for all our students. 

We appreciate your assistance and cooperation in this process.


New Attendance Procedures

If your child is scheduled to attend class in-person but is unable to do so, please contact your child’s subschool. If a student does not participate in person as expected, parents will receive an automatic absence notification. 



High School Information



career fair

Virtual Career Fair

HS students - Are you interested in talking with industry leaders and professionals about career opportunities in our area?

Sign up to participate in the first ever Virtual Career Exploration Fair today! The Career Fair begins on April 19 and lasts through April 30.

More than 60 businesses and organizations across the region are participating, including Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Disney, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft  to name just a few. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss! Come to one session or attend them all!

A few of the key events are: 

  • Career fair where you can talk to representatives from colleges and local business. This is your chance to learn how to prepare for careers through various college or training pathways!  - Mon. April 19 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • Resume workshops where you can get feedback and tips from professionals on Mon-Thurs. evenings.
  • Interview practice and tips sessions with industry professionals. 
  • Panel discussions on green jobs, performing arts, STEM, women leaders in tech, entrepreneurship, and so much more!

Interested?  Sign up here  bit.ly/2021careerexp

Once you sign up, you will receive information on how to fully register to attend through the Cvent CrowdCompass event application. Once you log into the application, browse the available sessions to favorite, and add to your own event schedule. The application will be your primary access point for all information related to this career and college readiness event.

If you did not receive an follow-up registration email from CrowdCompass, check your Spam or Junk email folders. Have questions? Please contact: workbasedlearning@fcps.edu


hs yearbook

High School Yearbook

High school yearbooks are on sale via the online platform (www.yearbookordercenter.com code 5061) and via My School Bucks for $70.



Middle School Information



ms yearbook

Middle School Yearbook

Yearbooks are on sale for $35 at YearbookOrderCenter.com using school code 13596 or by searching for Lake Braddock Middle School. You can also order them through MySchoolBucks for the same price.


UPDATED:  Middle School After-School Program

Visit here for an up-to-date list of afterschool offerings at Lake Braddock: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/student-life-activities/club-activity-descriptions

After-School Activities (starting in April 2021):

  • Hip-Hop Dance (started 4/7/2021)
  • Prep Leaders / Peer Academic Tutoring (TBA)

If students are interested in participating in the middle school after-school program:

  1. Complete the student interest form: https://forms.gle/7FL8qVvW3oSfVTxU8
  2. Parents/guardians should complete the parent permission form: https://forms.gle/Z5CZnfmkoNAfR1Ea8

Questions to After-School Specialist, Jamaal Hines, jlhines@fcps.edu


College Access Fairfax Virtual Presentations for Middle School Families (MS)

College Access Fairfax (CAF) is partnering with FCPS School Counseling Services by offering two Paying for College virtual presentations specifically for middle school families. These two presentations will be offered on April 20 and April 22 at 7:00 PM. A recording of these sessions will be made available for families unable to register and attend by visiting CAF’s website after April 22. A flyer with additional details about these two virtual presentations can be accessed here. Students should access the flyer using their school login.



Class of 2021 News



Senior Parent Meeting

Our Senior Parent Meeting will be held on Monday, April 19th from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm on Blackboard Collaborate. An invitation email was sent out today to all Senior Parents/Guardians. If you did not received a link, please email Mr. Darwin at scdarwin@fcps.edu with an appropriate email address for the invitation link.


Graduation

We are so excited to announce that we are able to hold an in-person graduation this year at Jiffy Lube Live. Graduation will be on Thursday, June 10 at 9:30 am. We are working on the specific details of the ceremony and will have most of that available at our Senior and Parent meetings on April 19. 

grad

LBSS PTSA Scholarship

The LBSS PTSA Scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated responsibility, character and leadership during their high school career.

  • TWO - $1,000 Scholarships
  • NINE - $500 Scholarships
  • SIX - $250 Scholarships

Applicant Qualifications: 

  • Applicant must be a Senior at Lake Braddock Secondary School
  • Applicant must have a current PTSA Membership at the time of application - Student membership is $5.00 and you can join at lbssptsa.org prior to applying for this scholarship.
  • Applicant must plan to continue their education at a 2- or 4-year accredited college, vocational or technical school, or other accredited post-secondary program for the school year beginning in Fall 2021.
  • Application available on the LBSS PTSA Website: http://www.lbssptsa.org/

Submit ALL documentation by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, May 7, 2021: 

Questions?  Please email Aubrey Maher at scholarship@lbssptsa.org. You may also contact PTSA President, Bob Gaylord at president@lbssptsa.org.



Continuing Information



LBSS Online Book Store

The LBSS Library is hosting an online bookstore through Bookworm Central that will continue throughout the entire year. Students and teachers can purchase books and have them delivered to their house. Purchases over $30 will be delivered for free. Stock up for the holidays and support the library.

The Online Library Book Store opened December 7. Please enjoy this promotional video HERE.

Contact the LBSSLibrary@fcps.edu with any questions.

Thank you, Lake Braddock SS Librarians



Parent Academy



See our Website for more information about Parent Academy events.



FCPS Information



Registration Opens April 19 for Summer E-IFTA and IFTA Enrichment Programs

Registration begins April 19, at 8 a.m. for the Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) Summer enrichment programs. All students are eligible for these opportunities.

Elementary Institute for the Arts (for rising 3rd through 6th graders) and Institute for the Arts (for rising 7th through 12th graders) will both be held July 6-30 at Robinson Secondary from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students take part in classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. Both programs have fees, with waivers for students eligible for free and reduced meals. For more information or to register, visit the Summer Learning webpage


FCPS Tech Support

If you find your student in need of tech support for their school-issued laptop, please to go FCPS Technology Support. There are a number of tips, suggestions, and links for assistance. If you are not able to solve the problem, please submit an IT request online. This request will be routed to Lake Braddock's IT team, who will get in contact with you and/or your student to solve the issue. Please do not submit multiple requests or call the school office directly. 

Please keep a close eye on your email. This is how our IT department will communicate with you and your student. The email will come from FCPS and will have a subject line beginning with INC followed by a number. Please also give one to two school days for a response. 


FCPS Mental Health Resources

fcps mental health resources
  • If you are depressed, in crisis, or just want to talk, please text NEEDHELP to 85511 or call 1-800-273-TALK. Someone will be there to listen.
  • If you're going through a tough time, don't go it alone. Reach out to a parent, friend, or trusted adult. You can also text NEEDHELP to 85511 at any time–day or night.


Important LBSS Contact Information



How to Stay In Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:


Attendance Procedures

  • Monday attendance form:  Students must complete the required attendance form between 8:00 and 10:00 am each Monday to be counted as present. Students need to be signed in to their FCPS Google accounts to complete the form. Your child’s 4th period Advisory teachers will remind them and post the same link every week. Please encourage and remind your child to complete the form EVERY Monday morning.
  • Reporting absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals: Use the following form to report absences, late arrivals and early dismissal: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/about/attendance. You can also call the subschool attendance phone numbers shown below:
attend line