Message from Dr. Smith
Hello Bruin Families,
This week has been a wonderful week of continuing to connect with our students and get back into the swing of school. We have adjusted our traffic pattern for morning arrival and have gotten positive feedback from our families on how this has improved their experience with Kiss and Ride in the mornings and even got back to pre-pandemic times of getting their student to school. We will continue this new traffic pattern moving forward and the directions are below. Please remind students driving to campus that they should not be parking in yellow spots in the parking lot and that school parking enforcement will begin September 13th.
There are two opportunities next week to connect with Mrs. Kearns and me. The PTSA will hold a virtual membership meeting with a town hall to follow on September 8th at 7:00 pm. Register online for the meeting link. There is also a virtual parent coffee on September 10th from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Register for this parent coffee through this form.
We hope to connect with many of you at this event. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to school staff with any questions you may have.
United as Bruins,
Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.
In this Issue
NEW Information
School Lunch Update
School Planning Council
FCPS is Seeking Individuals to Serve as Student Monitors!
FCPS is Seeking Individuals to Serve as Substitute Teachers!
AVID is Hiring!
SR&R Reminder
Enforcement of Tardies will Begin September 13th
Purchase Tickets to Lake Braddock Athletic Events thru ETIX
Green Club
Reminder of New Traffic Pattern
High School Information
Post-Secondary Workshops for Seniors September 7th and 9th
12th Grade College Planning Parent Night
Student Parking Pass Updates
PSAT/NMSQT for all 10th and 11th Graders Wednesday, October 13th
SAT School Day for Registered 12th Graders Wednesday, October 13th
High School Picture Day-September 9th-10th
Middle School Information
Middle School After-School Registration NOW OPEN
Middle School Picture Day-September 16th-17th
Important Reminders
Parent Academy Virtual Parent Coffee
Calendar Reminders
Digital Consent
Family Life Education (FLE) Opt Out
Free/Reduced-Meal Applications
PTSA Information
Join the PTSA!
FCPS Information
Sharing Our Success!
FCPS to Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Athletic Participation
Returning Strong: How Pausing, Quarantining, and Isolating Keeps Our Schools Safe
Safety Reminder: Mask Wearing on School Buses
Telephone Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Office of Ombudsman
Important LBSS and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
LBSS Attendance Lines
Procedures for Picking Up a Student Early
Schoology
FCPS Technology Support for Families
FCPS Mental Health Resources
New Information
School Lunch Update
We apologize for the confusion with the purchasing of ala carte lunches this past week. Food Services is working on a solution, and we hope to have ala carte purchases open soon. We will keep you updated.
School Planning Council
We are excited to announce that LBSS will continue our School Planning Council (SPC) as we enter the 2021-2022 school year! The purpose of the SPC is to bring together various stakeholders to provide input and guidance on the direction of Lake Braddock. Providing an excellent and equitable education for all our students is our primary goal and we recognize the important role our community plays in shaping the direction of our school. Last year’s SPC focused on putting Equity at the center of our work. During the 2021-2022 school year, the SPC will focus on our school’s theme, Every Bruin Has A Story. We will be exploring how we support the individual needs of our students and celebrate the individuality of all Bruins. The council will meet in person four times during the school year (10/13, 12/15, 2/16, 5/18) from 6:00PM-7:30PM with dinner provided during the first 30 minutes. We ask that members be able to commit to attending all sessions. If you are interested in participating, please complete this form by September 24th. Returning SPC members should still complete the form to continue their service on the committee.
FCPS is Seeking Individuals to Serve as Student Monitors!
Enjoy working with students? FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as student monitors . Student monitors provide supervision support in the classroom, lunchroom, and outside. If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and apply online.. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.
FCPS is Seeking Individuals to Serve as Substitute Teachers!
Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session visit our substitute information page here. Say Yes to FCPS!
AVID is Hiring!
AVID is hiring…Tutors may work 1 to 25 hours per week, depending on tutor availability and openings in select Fairfax County public schools. They earn $17.71 per hour. Candidates must be currently enrolled in college or be college graduates. They should be willing to serve as positive role models for middle and high school students. Comfort with higher-level math is especially needed, though not required.
Tutors must have reliable transportation as most of our schools are not accessible using public transport.
Interested applicants should send a resume to Bridget Wright.
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SR&R Reminder
FCPS’ updated Student Rights & Responsibility booklet is now available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents to review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. There are two ways for parents to acknowledge that you have received the document:
1. In ParentVue, you may now download and digitally sign the SR&R. Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed. E-signing for one child will suffice for all siblings within the household. Your name in the digital signature box must match the parent/guardian’s first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted.
2. Download and sign the Parent Signature Sheet and please return the signed signature sheet to your child's subschool.
Signatures are due by October 29, 2021.
Enforcement of Tardies will Begin September 13th
We will start to enforce tardies (late arrivals to class during the school day) starting September 13th. Any student arriving late on a bus will receive a special pass to enter late to class without consequence.
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Purchase Tickets to Lake Braddock Athletic Events Thru ETIX
Are you planning to attend a Lake Braddock home game to support the Bruins? Purchases may be made well in advance, before you leave the house on game day, or at the gate with your cell phone using posted QR Codes! All home game admission tickets must be purchased through ETIX.
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Reminder of New Traffic Pattern
We hope that everyone is finding the new traffic pattern beneficial and efficient in easing congestion during our morning arrivals. Please read the following carefully for instructions:
KISS AND RIDE: Parents entering from Burke Lake Road will need to stay in the far right lane and follow the direction of security to drop off students at Doors 15 and 16. The secondary entrance is from Lake Braddock Drive and students may be dropped off at Door 3. Do not park or leave your car unattended in either of the two drop-off locations.
STAFF AND STUDENT PARKING: From Burke Lake Road, students and staff will be able to park in the lot on the right hand side of the school. If entering from Lake Braddock Drive, students and staff will only be able to park in the lots on the left side of the building. No one will be permitted to cross through the median for entrance to another parking lot. Hang tags must be displayed to obtain entry to either of these parking lots. Students must park in the white parking spots. Yellow parking spots are reserved for Lake Braddock Staff.
BUSES: All buses will enter from Burke Lake Road and will use the far left lane. They will merge with cars as they exit the school parking lot; this process will be facilitated by security.
Please be patient and respectful at all times. Every Bruin’s safety is our priority.
High School Information
Post-Secondary Planning Workshops for Seniors September 7th and 9th
On September 7th and September 9th, counselors are hosting post-secondary planning workshops during WIN/Advisory. Seniors will be able to attend one out of three different sessions. The workshops will be from 10:00 - 11:10 am, so seniors will be released at 10:00 to attend their workshop of choice. We know some students may be out on September 7th for a religious holiday; those students may attend on the 9th even if it is not their designated day.
Half of the advisory teachers will send their students on Sept. 7th and the other half of the advisory teachers will send their students on Sept. 9th. Please see the list below to find out which day you will attend. The 4-Year College session and the NOVA session will be offered on the both days. The Career Research session will only be on Sept. 7th and the Apprenticeship/Trade School/Military session will only be offered on Sept. 9th. If you would like to attend one of those sessions, you are welcome to come on either day.
Please refer to the chart below for locations:
12th Grade College Planning Parent Night
Parents of 12th grade students are invited to join LBSS High School Counselors for a virtual College Planning Parent Night on September 14th at 6:30 pm. There will be sessions for those interested in 2-year and 4-year college options. All 12th grade students will have their own in-person postsecondary planning workshops to choose from the prior week.
The virtual sessions will take place through Schoology parent accounts, which use your SIS ParentVue login, so please be sure your account is active. If you need to request an account, please submit a ticket. Recordings will be stored in Schoology for those who cannot attend.
Directions to access the virtual sessions
When the sessions are set to begin you will login to Schoology, click on courses, click on “All Parents,” and then click on “Zoom.” Review the list of scheduled sessions and select the one you will attend. The sessions that will be offered are:
2-Year College Planning - 12th Grade Parents
4-Year College Planning - 12th Grade Parents (Student Last Names A-M)
4-Year College Planning - 12th Grade Parents (Student Last Names N-Z)
Student Parking Pass Updates
Students who were selected from the parking lottery to have a LB parking pass for the 2021-22 school year were sent an email to their FCPS email address with a link to pay for the spot for the year. Once payment is received, the student will receive the forms to complete and turn in to Ken May, Security Specialist, and obtain their pass. If the payment and forms aren't completed by September 10th, the pass will be offered to a student on the waiting list. Information on painting spaces will be made at another time. If you have questions, please contact Ken May
PSAT/NMSQT for all 10th and 11th Graders Wednesday, October 13th
On Wednesday, October 13th LBSS will host both the PSAT/NMSQT for all 10th and 11th graders. Students are automatically registered and no further action by families is needed. All 10th and 11th grade students who report to school on Wednesday, October 13th will take the PSAT/NMSQT at no cost to families. All FCPS students have access to Khan Academy’s free online test preparation, whether they are taking the PSAT for the first time or preparing for eleventh grade National Merit Scholarship qualification. The Khan Academy online curriculum is customized for students based on any previous PSAT or SAT scores, and their website also offers general test preparation tips for students. Students will receive their testing locations in early October.
SAT for Registered 12th Graders Wednesday, October 13th-Sign-up Required by September 8th
On Wednesday, October 13th, LBSS seniors will have the opportunity to take the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any 12th grade student to take this test. However, students must register by September 8th as we cannot accept walk-ups on test day for the SAT School Day. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day and scores will be released on or around November 3. Students will receive their testing locations in early October.
Registration for seniors for SAT School Day:
Lake Braddock Secondary School: 2021 SAT School Day Intent to Participate Form https://forms.gle/f8rFrsehyJzV1c7F6
Your student will need to use their @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. Families will not be able to access the form using a personal Gmail account. After logging out of all personal Gmail accounts, including apps that use your personal Gmail accounts for access, if you are still having difficulty accessing the form, try accessing the form from the student’s FCPS-issued computer and from a non-Google search engine, such as Internet Explorer.
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High School Picture Day is next week, on September 9th-10th. Pictures will be available in the week or so following. Keep an eye out for order forms being sent home with students. Save time and Pre-order online here. All underclassmen will have their yearbook pictures taken through their Health, Physical Education, and English classes. |
Middle School Information
Middle School After-School Registration is NOW OPEN
- Open to all 7th and 8th grade Lake Braddock students
- Program is scheduled to begin September 20, 2021 (Updated Clubs & Activities Calendar – COMING SOON!)
- FREE for middle students (please note – some clubs may have a small fee for competitions or material costs)
- REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/BJjFtiTBtSrArWnWA
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Middle School Picture Day-September 16th-17th
Middle School Picture Day is just a few weeks away on September 16th-17th. Pictures will be available in the week or so following. Keep an eye out for order forms being sent home with students. Save time and Pre-order online here.
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Important Reminders
Parent Academy Virtual Parent Coffee
The first Virtual Parent Coffee will be held September 10th from 9:30am to 10:30am. Please use this link to register.
Calendar Reminders
Reminder: FCPS celebrates the Labor Day Holiday Friday, September 3, and Monday, September 6. Enjoy the long weekend everyone!
Tuesday, September 7, is Rosh Hashanah, the start of the two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year. L'shanah Tovah, Happy New Year, to all who celebrate.
See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar
Digital Consent for Students
Attention Bruin Families! Don't forget to submit your Digital Consent Form! Click here to access the LBSS website.
Family Life Education (FLE) Opt Out
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, please complete the form that accompanies this letter or access the opt out forms online. The detailed grade-level program descriptions and opt-out forms are available on the FCPS website at
Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
For more information or questions regarding the FLE program, please contact Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or email Carrie Reynolds.
Free/Reduced-Meal Applications
While every student in FCPS is receiving free meals this year, the application for Free/Reduced Meals will still need to be completed if you require reduced/waived fees for course fees, instrument rentals, parking passes, etc. Parents/guardians must also complete the Consent to Share form. These forms can be found here.
PTSA
Join the PTSA!
Join the LBSS PTSA today. Your membership will include our bi-weekly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, free access to the student A to Z directory, discounts with PTSA partnerships, eligibility for student scholarships, voting rights at our membership meetings, and more. The PTSA has membership options for students, faculty, adults, and families (includes 2 adults and unlimited students).
Visit the PTSA website to join.
Our first general membership meeting will be on Wednesday, September 8th at 7 pm via zoom. Register online for the meeting link.
FCPS Information
Sharing Our Success!
Our strong return builds on a foundation of success. Take a look at Sharing Our Success, stories and highlights from the 2020-21 school year. We love reading about the great things happening in FCPS and Lake Braddock!
FCPS to Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Athletic Participation
Beginning November 8, FCPS will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination for any student participating in Virginia High School League (VHSL) winter and spring sports for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.
Proof of a COVID-19 vaccination will also be required for participation in any other activity that requires a physical. This includes dance team and step team, as well as out-of-season practices and workouts.
Read Dr. Brabrand’s letter to the community.
Please note: Exemptions will be permitted on religious and medical grounds.
We know you have lots of questions! Check back next week for more details and answers to frequently asked questions. We are still working through some of the operational aspects of this decision.
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Returning Strong: How Pausing, Quarantining, and Isolating Keeps Our Schools Safe
Since the beginning of August, the majority of COVID-19 cases have been acquired through community spread, outside of school buildings.
FCPS’ layered prevention strategies are working to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. Pausing, quarantining, and isolating are tools we use to keep schools safe when a positive COVID-19 case is reported. Understanding the difference between the three scenarios can help families be prepared.
Pause
A pause to in-person instruction is a short-term safety measure used by FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) to allow time to investigate and determine the safest way to address a positive case within our school community. The pause will be initiated by the FCHD for anyone who interacted with an individual who reported a positive COVID-19 case.
- A pause typically lasts between 24-48 hours while FCHD verifies vaccination status and completes contact tracing.
- Vaccination status may reduce the time spent in a pause, but must be verified every time an individual is put on a pause.
- The FCHD does not accept a negative COVID-19 test to release an individual from the pause.
- You will be contacted by the FCHD with a date they can return to school or work.
- This flowchart best explains what happens when there is a pause.
Close Contact
A close contact is any person, regardless of vaccination status, who is within six feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for equal to or greater than 15 minutes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) K-12 Exception indicates that students will not be identified as close contacts if they are at least three feet apart and are consistently wearing masks in the classroom setting. Adults are not included in this exception.
Quarantine
When a student is identified as a close contact, there are two things that may occur as a result:
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Not fully vaccinated students who are identified as a close contact with someone with COVID-19 must remain home for 14 days after their last exposure. FCPS will notify a student of their return date.
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Fully vaccinated students must remain home until their vaccination status is verified. Upon verification of vaccination status by the FCHD, and if the student/staff is asymptomatic, they may return to in-person learning and activities once notified by FCPS of their return date.
Isolation
Isolation is the response when someone tests positive for COVID-19. Students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 may not return until:
- It has been at least 10 days since the student first had symptoms, AND
- The student must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, AND
- The student’s symptoms are getting better.
FCPS is committed to providing students with opportunities to remain engaged in learning when they are in a pause, quarantine, or isolation period. This chart outlines the ways students receive instruction and materials.
FCPS’ goal is to keep students learning in-person all year. We are doing our part by implementing layered prevention strategies and working with FCHD to address positive cases and potential exposures. Every FCPS student and family can do their part by wearing masks, getting vaccinated when they are eligible, practicing healthy hygiene, and staying home when sick.
To learn more about COVID-19 case notifications, watch this video.
FCPS Covid-19 Dashboard
Safety Reminder: Mask Wearing on School Buses
Masks are an essential tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting those unable to be vaccinated. To ensure a safe start to the school year, masks will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, inside FCPS buildings and on school buses.
Telephone Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
Office of Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman provides an independent, confidential resource for students, families, employees, and community members, offering informal help to resolve concerns, problems, complaints, and other student-related issues.
The staff of Office of the Ombudsman will listen, review, and provide resources for information and referral, serve as a neutral advocate for fairness, equity, inclusion, and consistency, and foster positive working relationships.
Brochures for parents, students, and community members are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese and are available in PDF format on the Ombudsman's website.
Important LBSS and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
Attendance Lines
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS:
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Procedures for Picking Up a Student Early
Prior to 8:00 am, the student must present a note from the parent to their subschool office. Notes must include time of dismissal, reason for leaving, and a contact number. Parents of middle school students must also include the name of the person picking the student up. Please note that this person must be listed as an emergency contact. If you use the online attendance form for an early dismissal, please tell your student to stop by their subschool office to pick up the dismissal pass.
At the time of early check-out, middle school parents must come in Entrance 1 and meet their student at the security desk. Anyone picking up a middle school student must bring a photo ID with them. High school parents may pick up students outside Entrance 1.
Without advance notice provided by a note, there may be a wait until our staff is able to locate the student, particularly if the student is at lunch or in a physical education class. We further regret that without advance notice, we are unable to accommodate requests for early dismissal after 2:15 pm.
Read our full Attendance procedures at our website.
Schoology
Students, families, and staff throughout FCPS and in our school community will use Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/) as our learning management system.
Here is what you need to know now:
FCPS Technology Support for Families
The Parent Technology Help Desk is available to support parents and students through this new school year. Parents and students can visit the Parent and Student IT Support Portal to find self-help resources or submit a tech support request ticket.
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.
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