Mustang Message - June 6, 2021

Dear Bren Mar Park Families,

Can you believe it?  We are in June, and the last few weeks of the school year!  This week we celebrate our promoting 5th grade students and conclude the 2020-21 school year.  We wish you and your family well over the summer months!

And, here at Bren Mar Park, the summer work will continue to prepare for the in-person return and 5 days per week for all students.  We will be deep cleaning classrooms and common areas, reallocating instructional materials back into all classrooms, and hosting a variety of summer programs including Rec-PAC for members of our community.  

You may also continue to support your child during the summer months to best prepare for the upcoming school year.  Each Mustang would benefit from some time each week spend on activities to continue ongoing academic growth, including and not limited to:

  • ST Math - Practice and improve flexibility with math skills
  • Imagine Learning -  Practice and improve fluency on letter sounds and word reading through phonics practice activities
  • MyOn - Listen to and read fiction and non-fiction text online
  • PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next! - Listen to and read online articles and non-fiction text.  Available in Spanish, too!
  • Fairfax County Public Libraries - The Richard Byrd Library is closest to our Bren Mar Park community and offers in-person, curbside services, and online resources for book checkout.  Late and lost book fees apply to hard copy materials.  Apply for a library card HERE.
  • BMP Library Website - Accessible only from students' Google Accounts.  This database links your child to a variety of online resources that will be available throughout the summer.

In addition, FCPS will be sending home academic packets to support ongoing summer practice for all students.  Families who have not selected Paper Opt Out will receive a hard copy of the packets for your child's use.  

The Bren Mar Park staff wish you a safe and wonderful summer!

Take care,

Mrs. Williams

Proud BMP Principal

 

June 8 is an Online Learning Day

Due to elections scheduled to take place on June 8, 2021, there will be no in-person learning held on this day.  All Bren Mar Park students will participate in virtual only learning.  Students should log in to their assigned classrooms using the BBCU link in their Google email account at the start of the school day, 9:45 a.m. 

 

Strings or Band Rental Return

If your child rented a strings or band instrument from Bren Mar Park, the instrument will need to be turned in at the end of the school year.

During the following dates and times, you may return instruments (band or strings) to Mr. Johnson at Bren Mar Park.

Monday, June 7th – 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, please check in at the front door of the school

Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions: Ms. Hinkle (band) – dfhinkle@fcps.edu; Mr. Johnson (strings) – bmjohnson1@fcps.edu

 

Laptop Return

BMP is collecting back all laptops, chargers, protective sleeves and MiFis, as were checked out to students.  This allows us to prepare these items for summer programming as well as return to in-person learning in the Fall.

5th Grade ONLY: Friday, June 11th from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

PreK-5: Monday, June 14th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Items not returned will incur a replacement fee.  Please contact Mrs. Jess Russell with any questions you might have.

 

Parent Perspectives Feedback

The BMP Equity Team is seeking perspectives from our families and guardians to support their working in increasing home-school partnerships to help students thrive in their academic and social-emotional learning.

We invite families to provide their perspectives, thinking and feedback by completing the End of Year Family Equity Survey . 

 

Summer Principal Chat

As we prepare to begin our summer season, I will be inviting parents to join me in Principal Chats to share perspectives, ask questions, and suggest ideas about how we can continue to work together as return strong in the Fall with 5 days per week of in-person instruction.  These will be virtual only to allow for increased access and participation, and I do hope that you will find a time to join at least one.  Upcoming dates for these are:

    - Monday, June 28, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. - Sharing Hopes for Our Students 

    - Monday, July 26, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.- Sharing Our Stories 

   - Monday, August 8, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. - Partnership: Envisioning the Year

 

Specialist Spotlight

Spotlight on Library

Hi Families!

Wow, summer is here!  Time to relax, go to the pool or beach, get outside to play, and to read.  Read?  Yes, read!!  It is SO important for kids to keep reading over the summer.  Have you heard of the summer slide?  Kids can lose some of the important reading skills they’ve developed over the past year.  How can we prevent it?  By getting kids to read lots and lots of books, of course! 

To help you find great resources over the summer, go to the library website’s Summer Reading page.  Here you will find the following information:

  • How to find great articles and books in the Destiny catalog’s Learning Links ribbon
  • How to get to the library website’s Reading Fun page with links to awesome reading sites
  • How to find eBooks in the Destiny catalog’s Collection ribbon
  • How to use Mackin Via to find terrific eBooks that your child can read on a laptop or tablet
  • Learn about the Fairfax County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program called Tails and Tales and learn about the LEAP program where FCPS students can borrow 3 public library books at a time without a public library card
  • Learn about WETA’s ‘Start With a Book’ Summer Reading Program and see lists of great books and activities to keep your kids busy all summer long
  • Learn about the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program and how kids can earn a free book

 The truly best way to get kids to read over the summer is to give them lots of choices.  This is a great time for your child to read those light-hearted, silly books and for you and your child to read some good books together.  Make reading fun and you’ll help prevent the summer slide AND turn your child into a lifelong reader!!  Have a great summer!  Happy reading!  Mrs. Watson

 

Please Spread the Word! - Kindergarten Registration

Will your child be 5 years old on or by September 30th?  Then it is time to register your child for kindergarten!  Learn more about the registration process HERE!  The parent information form is HERE. Once you have collected and completed the required documents, you may make an in-person appointment with our student registrar, Ms. Dorian Esteban by calling 703-914-7203 or emailing dsesteban@fcps.edu.

 

Important Contact Information

Attendance 703-914-7272 Brenmarparkesattendance@fcps.edu
Clinic 703-914-7210 mlbest@fcps.edu
Counselor 703-914-7246 jblanier@fcps.edu
Parent Liaison  703-914-7227 stchetelat@fcps.edu
Registration 703-914-7203 dsesteban@fcps.edu 
Transportation 703-446-2050  

 

Important Upcoming Dates/Events:

June 7                  BMP Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony, 10:00 a.m.

June 8                  Virtual Synchronous School Day, No In-Person Instruction

June 11                Last Day of School - Early Dismissal at 2:15 p.m.

August 20            Open House & Back to School Parent Information Sessions

August 21            PTA-Sponsored Primary Playground Playdates

August 23            First Day of School, 9:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.