Message from Dr. Smith
Hello Bruin Families,
We had an exciting week here on campus as we welcomed over 900 students back for four days of in-person instruction. It is wonderful to hear the voices and see the students filling our halls and classrooms.
As we move into May, we are finalizing our plans for final exams and the end of school. We will have the final end-of-year schedule confirmed soon and will publish that when it is ready.
Plans for graduation and other senior events are coming together. Keep an eye out for communication from Ms. Hampton and through the Senior Class website.
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I want to add my heartfelt thanks to our teachers and staff who have worked so very hard this year to teach in a way we never thought possible. I am so grateful for their hard work and dedication to our students. Please take a moment next week to send our teachers a note of appreciation.
United as Bruins,
Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.
In this Issue
NEW Information
Student Congratulations
April Student of the Month Winners
Monday Check-in Reminder
Movie Night
LBSS Garden
Staff Updates
Important Testing Information
SOL and AP Testing Calendar for May
SOL and AP In-Person Test Dates
Transportation Requests for SOL Tests - due April 30
Important Reminders
Teacher Appreciation Week
Early Releases
High School Information
High School Yearbook
Middle School Information
Middle School Yearbook
Middle School After-School Program
Class of 2021 News
Class of 2021 Formal Event: Starry Night
Graduation Photographs
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
Student Congratulations
Our congratulations to Senior, Lidya Demilew, who along with 149 other high school seniors across the United States, became part of the 33rd class of Coca-Cola Scholars! These 150 seniors will each receive a $20,000 college scholarship and join a family of 6,450+ alumni who are leading positive change in their communities and around the world.
Less than 1/6th of 1% of applicants were chosen to receive this extremely competitive award. Furthermore, Lidya was one of 3 students from Fairfax County and from Virginia to earn the award.
These 150 students, who were selected from an initial pool of 99,403 applications from across the country, not only exemplify superior leadership, service, and academics – they are change agents, positively affecting others in their communities.
Lidya found her passion for STEM through her work with the STEM Impressionists Program starting in 8th grade. With the mission to support girls, she honed her STEM skills in the program and turned her classes into hands-on community service projects. She judged robotics competitions, worked as a project manager for several STEM projects for underrepresented students; became recognized as a state winner by NCWIT, and developed STEM curriculum and educator skills as she taught STEM to teachers and students alike at events like JOSTI, GMU's FOCUS camp and present at national conferences like ITEEA. Next year, Lidya will be attending Yale University to study computer science and continue her work shaping the role of women of color in technology.
In addition to receiving college scholarships, those students selected as Coca-Cola Scholars will be welcomed into a vibrant and growing family of alumni that have become a powerful force for positive change in the world. Through networking, collaborations, and friendships, the group strives to make a greater impact together. Recent initiatives include a podcast called The SIP, Coke Scholars Care (Coke Scholars doing good in the midst of the pandemic), and the fifth year of a coaching program that partners seasoned alumni with first-year Scholars as they transition to college. Every 5 years, all alumni are invited to a Coca-Cola Scholars Leadership Summit.
Lidya, we are proud to call you a Bruin and wish you the very best as you move forward.
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April Student of the Month Winners - Adaptable
Bruin Pride wants you to know that, despite our social distancing, we still want to celebrate and recognize our students and our staff. Each month, staff are able to recognize students who have demonstrated characteristics of our Shared Vision. The four main attributes of our theme #BruinsCARE are connected, adaptable, resilient, and engaged. Read more about them here.
April Student of the Month Winners – Resilient:
- 7th grade: Adam Birye
- 8th grade: Neelashree Das
- 9th grade: Michael Reaves
- 10th grade: TIE! Kate Dietz and Emma Willis
- 11th grade: Marta Rosales Constanza
- 12th grade: Shannon McDermott
Next month’s theme is ENGAGED. May winners will be announced at the end of next month.
Monday Check-in Reminder
Parents, please continue to remind your students to complete the Monday check-in form every Monday. Students should complete the form to be marked present for the day. The links to the Monday Check-In are provided below.
High School Monday Check-In
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXSZ4K4nvQOhvKWnf_ji7ErGPH3BXBak0TQLG3XbYFNO3rzg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Middle School Monday Check-In
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWHBCm-hBVSGNiGQn62wz8AHgD_JEl-gjEoR0ryQJ1tApQuQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Movie Night
SGA presents a free movie night on the Blacktop, featuring Jumanji, on Friday, May 14 at 8 p.m. Students grades 7-12 are invited to join and celebrate the end of Stress Less Week! Kona Ice snow cones for purchase. Bring your own blankets and chairs! Sign-up and masks required. See you there!”
LBSS Garden
Calling all garden-lovers! We could use help weeding in the native plants garden here at Lake Braddock Secondary School. This video shows you what to pull and what not to pull.”
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Staff Updates
Congratulations to Kristin Girardin!
We are pleased to announce that Kristin Girardin has accepted the position of Middle School Director of Student Services. Kristin has served in the Acting role since September 2020.
Kristin Girardin began her career as a high school counselor in the Bellmore-Merrick School system on Long Island. She moved to Virginia in 2003 and reentered the counseling field as a middle school counselor at Lake Braddock in 2011. Kristin has served as the Lead Counselor for the middle school, assisting with the development of the master schedule, and has worked with both 7th and 8th grade students and their families.
Since September, Kristin has filled in as the Acting Middle School Director of Student Services. Kristin has also served as Acting Assistant Principal at Lake Braddock during the summer of 2019, coordinating with the administrative team for the opening of school that fall. During her time at Lake Braddock, Kristin has become involved with a variety of school-based initiatives including the Shared Vision Committee (Caring Community subcommittee co-lead), School Innovation and Improvement Plan (SIIP) committee, the Learning Innovation team and Instructional Council. Kristin has sponsored several after-school clubs for middle school students providing additional safe and inclusive social opportunities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Buffalo, as well as a Master of Science in Education (Specialization in Counseling) and Specialist Diploma in School Administration and Supervision from CUNY Queens College. Kristin is the Troop Leader for her daughter Anna’s Senior Girl Scout Troop. She resides in Centreville along with Anna, her husband, Anthony, son Ash and cavapoo, Bear.
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Congratulations to Julie Moore!
We are also pleased to announce that Julie Moore has accepted the position of Administrative Assistant 3 for Dr. Smith. Julie began serving in the role of Acting AA3 in March of 2020. Julie started volunteering at Lake Braddock when her daughter, Beth, was in 7th grade in 2012 and continued to volunteer in the Main Office, Subschools and Student Services. She also served as Chaperone Coordinator for the LB High School Bands until Beth graduated in 2018. She was affectionally known as Mama Moore to "her" band kids.
Julie joined the staff at LB as an Office Assistant in the Main Office in August of 2018, after staying home to raise her children. She says she feels fortunate to have the job of her dreams now, combining education and office work.
Julie resides in Fairfax with her husband of 29 years, Brad, daughter Beth (JMU Class of '22), son Jon (Woodson Class of '22), Doodles Henry and Mudge, and is grandmama to Beth's bearded dragon, Zookie.
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Important Testing Information
SOL & AP Testing Calendar for May
The May testing calendar is now available and listed below. The SOL test calendar can also be accessed here: https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/about/sol-schedule .
Please note that students enrolled in Math 7 HONORS will test on May 27, with their grade level, even though they take the 8th grade level math SOL. This is in order to keep our grade levels together for class and proctor scheduling purposes.
SOL exams will start at 8:15, with the exception of EOC Reading (HS) and Science 8, which will start at 11:45 a.m. AP students should check with their AP teachers about the timing of their AP tests, both in-person and online. Breakfasts and lunches will be provided in the building for students who want 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 is included in this newsletter.
SOL and AP IN-PERSON Test Dates:
Tuesday, May 4: AP German
Monday, May 10: Reading 8 (at 8:15) and EOC (HS) Reading (at 11:45 a.m.)
Monday, May 17: Biology, Chemistry, & Earth Science/Geosystems (at 8:15 a.m.) and Science 8 (at 11:45 a.m.)
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 2, AP Physics C:E&M, AP Physics 2, AP Stats
* Wednesday, May 26: Math 8
* Thursday, May 27: Math 7 (including Math 7 Honors)
* Friday, May 28: Algebra I (both HS & MS)
*Please note that the week of Tuesday, May 25 through Friday, May 28 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 was 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 26 and Thursday, May 27 as catch-up days where students will check in (online) with their teachers for support and remediation.
Transportation Requests for SOL Tests – due April 30!
Families MUST request bus transportation if it is needed for their student’s SOL testing. Because the week of Tuesday, May 25 through Friday, May 28 is virtual for all students, students that must come to the building to test will still need to request bus transportation as needed. This includes all regularly scheduled in-person students and those that have requested to remain virtual all year. FCPS will only provide bus transportation for students who normally ride a bus. Students may also walk to school or get a ride. Students who are pupil placed are not eligible for FCPS transportation.
All buses will drop students off by 8:00 a.m. for testing and depart in the afternoon at 3:00 to ensure that students have ample time for testing. Bus riders who finish testing early will be asked to wait in the Little Theatre until the end of the day. They may work on school work during that time and lunch will still be provided. Bus riders with afternoon tests will wait in the Little Theatre and work on school work until their testing begins. Please request bus transportation as soon as possible for all the days your student will need it for testing: LBSS SOL Bus Transportation Requests.
Transportation requests should be completed by Friday, April 30. Please note that after April 30th, we may not be able to accommodate transportation requests made less than 3 weeks prior to the test dates.
Important Reminders
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!
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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.
High School Information
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.
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Middle School Information
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.
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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
If students are interested in participating in the middle school after-school program:
- Complete the student interest form: https://forms.gle/7FL8qVvW3oSfVTxU8
- Parents/guardians should complete the parent permission form: https://forms.gle/Z5CZnfmkoNAfR1Ea8
Questions to After-School Specialist, Jamaal Hines, jlhines@fcps.edu
Class of 2021 News
Class of 2021 Formal Event: Starry Night
Presenting the Class of 2021 Formal Event: Starry Night: this special night will be held Saturday, May 22 at Lake Braddock. The event is FREE!
If you are interested in attending please complete our Google Form; we must know your interest no later than Monday May 3.
Starry Night Formal Interest Form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec95eBZ13LRR9TUbZxfT8LM1FW4bSZz3MtoMwvhc5Aq2cHDQ/viewform
Graduation Photographs
Victor O'Neill Studios is proud to partner with Lake Braddock in providing photography coverage for Graduation.
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.
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
- 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
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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.
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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:
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