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Greetings Frost Middle School,
We had another great week at Frost Middle School! The hallways, cafeterias and classrooms were abuzz with activity and chatter! We are gearing up to show appreciation for our teachers and staff next week! If you have a moment, take some time out of your day to thank a teacher. I’m certain they will appreciate it! Thanks in advance the support for next week’s PTA gifts and snacks in appreciation for the faculty and staff!
Finally, as in every year as the weather gets warmer and the schedules get busier, and students may begin to dream about summer, and for our 8th grade students, high school; we wanted to ask that you support us in speaking with your students about remaining engaged in class. Whether they are receiving instruction virtually or in-person we are looking forward to finishing the year strong.
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! As always, “We are #ONEFrost!”
I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! As always, “We are #ONEFrost!”
All the best,
Anthony
May 3-7 Teacher Appreciation Week!
May 10 Reading SOL for 7th and 8th Graders
May 17 Science SOL Date for 8th Graders Only
May 24 Math SOLs (ALL Math Courses) for 7th and 8th Graders
May 31 Memorial Day Holiday- No School or Check- in for students
June 8 New-Virtual Synchronous Learning for All Students- Election Day
June 11 Last Day of School- 2 Hour Early Release
- The calendar will be updated with additional dates for parent/community events as they become available.
SOL Testing
We will conduct SOL testing on May 10 and 24 for 7th and 8th grade and on May 17 for 8th grade only. Students who are testing in person must arrive at school by 7:20am. Parents can pick their students up between 11:00 and 12:00.
Students who have selected bus transportation will receive bus stop and pick-up information next week. Buses will depart school at 12:00 noon.
A detailed email about SOL testing will be sent next week. For questions, please contact Ms. Debbie Metzker at dlmetzker@fcps.edu.
Frost Month of the Military Child
As April comes to an end, we want to thank all of our Military connected students and families. Thanks to everyone who posted to the map all the places you have lived, and to the students who submitted pictures and videos. Please take a few minutes to watch this compilation of all the contributions. The video was also shared with students in Falcon Focus on Friday.
Frost Month of the Military Child Video
Woodson Freshman Football Interest Meeting
Rising Woodson Freshman! The Freshman Football program is looking for anyone interested in playing during the 2021-2022 school year. Head Coach, Max Crush, along with his coaching staff, will be holding an interest meeting in the coming weeks (date, time and link will be provided soon). During the Interesting Meeting, Coach Crush will review program expectations, lifting and conditioning, required paperwork and forms such as the VHSL Sports Physical, and other pertinent football guidelines.
Prior to the interest meeting, they are asking for rising 9th graders to submit their information via this Football Interest Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrCHyt0c0cHvviOTwSqZ3QLbIS5aTZ1M8gqM7SuYDxU2MAMA/viewform?usp=sf_link)
If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please feel free to email Coach Crush at mcrush@fcps.edu
All Students to Be Virtual on June 8 Due to Democratic Primary Election
Tuesday, June 8, is the Democratic Primary Election. Because the Fairfax County Electoral Board and City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using 165 school facilities as polling locations, June 8 will be a virtual synchronous learning day (no in-person classes) for students.
Frost Library Update
Due to the upcoming library move, please note the following dates:
- LAST DAY for CURBSIDE library book pick-up for virtual students is May 3rd.
- LAST DAY for STUDENT CHECKOUT is May 7th.
Mindful May
Mindful May kickoffs next week! The focus of each week in May will be: Relaxation, Be Physically Active, Laugh More, and Self-Care. Each week will start with a Tuesday announcement from Student Services, and on May 5th students will receive a 20-minute (teacher guided/presentation provided) Study Break Yoga lesson during Falcon Focus. Thank you for supporting this focus at home, as mindfulness and stress management are very important as we move into SOL testing and towards the end of the school year. Additional information about ways to incorporate Mindfulness into your daily practice can be found here: Seven Ideas for Incorporating Mindfulness into Your Routine
Returning Strong: Multilingual Parent Podcasts - Yes, We Want Your Child Back in School! Attendance Matters!
Last year and 2021 have posed many challenges for all of us. We miss our students who have been absent. FCPS wants your child back in school and is ready to help. Listen to the latest Spanish, Arabic, and Korean podcasts on why we want your child back in school. We care and attendance matters.
Podcasts hosts and guests engage in a passionate discussion on how we care, why attendance matters, common reasons for absence, school procedures regarding attendance, and what parents can do to partner with the school to get students back on track and in school.
Listen and Subscribe:
What Should Families Know About ESOL Services?
Listen to the latest Spanish, Arabic, and Korean podcasts on what FCPS families should know about English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services. Nearly 49%, or 87,571 students, in Fairfax County Public Schools speak a second language. This week's podcasts include a discussion about FCPS English Language Services. Rich Pollio, director of FCPS ESOL Services, talks about why ESOL services are important, how families are notified about ESOL services, how families can help at home, new school to home communication tools, and adult English Language Classes.
Listen and Subscribe:
NOTE: The COVID-19 vaccination is NOT required by schools for the 2021-22 school year but some others are.
Seventh grade students cannot begin school in August without documentation of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines.
Seventh-grade students need:
Face Mask Message to Update and Clarify for Your Communities
Face Masks Are Required at All Times at All FCPS Sites, Indoors and Outdoors
Despite the recent change in guidelines from the CDC on wearing face masks outdoors, Fairfax County Public Schools is still requiring that face masks are worn by spectators at all sporting events. Please make sure you have one with you when entering FCPS facilities. Universal masking is the best way to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all spectators.
Please Note: Face masks are not required for athletes when engaged in competition.
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New Bus Schedules Coming May 4
The software issues with student transportation have been resolved. The Office of Transportation Services (OTS) will implement the new schedules starting Tuesday, May 4.
Our Here Comes The Bus app will be inactive until May 4, 2021 and parents should check their ParentVue account to receive the updated schedule for their child.
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Sign Up to Make Your Voice Heard on FCPS’ Budget for Next School Year
The Fairfax County School Board will hold public hearings on the FY 2022 budget Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12 (if needed). Both public hearings are at 6 p.m. To bring your voice into the room on the proposed budget, register to speak at a School Board meeting or call 571-423-1075.
See more details on the FCPS FY 2022 Budget and planning documents.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering an updated Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget that includes a 2% salary boost for FCPS employees, funded in part with dollars from the Commonwealth. More details about the updated FY 2022 Fairfax County budget are available here.
Video: Watch Fairfax County School Board Chair Ricardy Anderson’s comments on the FY 2022 Advertised Budget.
Stay up to date with FCPS’ budget calendar here.
FCPS Seeks Input on Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Curriculum Policy
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to educational equity in which every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. FCPS wants to empower students as the next generation of change leaders for a more just world. To achieve educational equity, FCPS will be analyzing and addressing the beliefs and policies that inform teaching practices along with what is taught in schools. The school division will begin this process by revising the existing Controversial Issues Policy and developing a new Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Education Curriculum Policy.
Families and staff will be asked to participate in a survey seeking input on what should be included in the Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias Education Curriculum Policy. The survey will be sent to all families and staff in early May. In addition, FCPS will conduct a series of focus groups to gather perspectives and input of all stakeholders.
FCPS is working with a consultant The Leadership Academy to support stakeholder engagement on the revision and development of these two curriculum policies. An update on the draft policy will be presented to the Fairfax County School Board in the summer.
Resources:
Lewis High School Rededication Videos
Enjoy and share two new short videos (about two minutes each) that highlight the historic John R. Lewis High School rededication held Friday, April 23.
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Setting the Record Straight on Proposed Changes to Virginia’s Mathematics Standards—Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative |
- The Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI) is a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) proposal to modernize and update Virginia’s mathematics curriculum in grades K-12 to align instruction with the essential knowledge and skills students need to succeed in the 21st-century economy. Every 7 years, VDOE revises the standards in each content area and reassesses graduation requirements, and follows an established procedure for standards revisions that includes public comment windows and public hearings.
- A key component of VMPI is the shift from a traditional high school mathematics course sequence (Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2) to an Integrated Mathematics course sequence. The VMPI initiative establishes a course sequence that integrates existing math content into blended courses for students in grades 8, 9, and 10.
- The content from Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 is not being eliminated by VMPI, but rather the content of these courses would be integrated into a progression of connected learning. Under VMPI, students in 11th and 12th grade would continue to have access to a wide variety of rigorous mathematics courses to meet their interests and post-secondary plans.
- The VDOE is proposing that this model would encourage students to connect mathematical concepts and develop a much deeper and more relevant understanding of each concept.
- Any changes made to the Mathematics Standards of Learning would be scheduled for classroom level implementation in the 2025-26 school year. See the complete VMPI talking points.
2020-21 End of Year Grading Flexibility for Middle School Students
During the current 2020-21 school year, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has adopted a grading policy change to provide flexibility for students in middle school to designate their current school year courses as “Pass” or “No Mark” status instead of a letter grade for their final mark.
As you review your middle school student’s third quarter report card, please consider the flexibility that will be applied to final marks:
- Students receiving a final mark of “D” or “D+” in any course will be automatically assigned a mark of “P” (pass) as the final mark at the end of the school year.
- Students receiving a final mark of “F” in any course will be automatically assigned a mark of “NM” (no mark) as the final mark at the end of the school year.
- Students may select a mark of “P” (pass) for any courses for which a passing grade is earned for the final mark. ○ Action Needed: Should you wish to designate one or more courses as Pass status for anticipated grades of “A” through “C-”, the Pass-No Mark Status Form linked here: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se358.pdf must be submitted to your school counselor/Student Services by May 10, 2021.
- Students and families are encouraged to carefully consider the option to request a Pass instead of a passing letter grade or final mark. Additional information including considerations and frequently asked questions are available at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/grading-and-reporting/secondary
An additional option is available for high school credit bearing classes taken in middle school. High school credit-bearing courses will be reflected on the middle and high school transcripts. In accordance with Virginia state regulations, FCPS Regulation 2408 permits parents of students who take a high school credit-bearing course in middle school to request that the grade be omitted from the student's high school transcript and the student not earn high school credit for the course. Parents must make this request no later than the end of the first nine weeks of the school year following completion of the course. The request to expunge as well as guidelines and the procedures for expunging grades for high school courses taken in middle school can be found at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is104.pdf
You can reach out to your child’s counselor if you have additional questions.
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