Bee Hive, September 3, 2021

Bee Hive

September 2, 2021


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For a translated version of this newsletter, please click HERE. Next click on the language icon in the upper left corner to choose your preferred language.

Para obtener una versión traducida de este mensaje, haga clic AQUÍ. Luego, haga clic en el icono IDIOMA en la esquina superior izquierda para elegir su idioma preferido.


News from Herndon Elementary


Dates to Remember:

September 3: NO SCHOOL, Labor Day Break

September 6: NO SCHOOL, Labor Day 

September 7: Positivity Project Day: Wear Green!


4th grade team

Team building in 4th grade!


NO SCHOOL September 3-6 for Labor Day Break

Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day.

As a result, Friday, September 3, is a holiday for students and staff members in addition to the Labor Day holiday, Monday, September 6. See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar.


world and children

Herndon ES is Hiring!

Love our school community and want to work here? Join our fun, friendly, and energetic family!

Classroom Monitor:

Classroom monitors provide in-person classroom assistance for students.  This is fabulous for those who want to work only when the students are in session. Training will be provided!

Dining Room Assistant:

Assists students in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Supervises student clean-up, keeps order and dismisses students to their teachers. This is a great part-time job!  No experience needed.

Family Liaison

We are looking for an additional family liaison.  Family liaisons serve as a link between families and schools.  Please click here for more information.

Behavior Intervention Teacher

Behavior Intervention Teachers (BITs) provide support to schools in the expertise of Behavior and Wellness. Please click here for more information.

School Public Health/COVID Case Manager

Monitors and manages COVID case data in schools in concert with the local health department.

To Apply: Email, Mrs. Elizabeth Baxter, eabaxter@fcps.edu


Pause

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:

  • 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.
  • 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.

It is important to note that more than one case reported by a student, staff, or visitor to a particular school or building does not always mean there is an outbreak. An outbreak is defined as two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases with onset within a 14-day period who are epidemiologically linked (a case in which the person has been exposed to a confirmed case in a way that a known transmission can occur), do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in a setting outside of school during the health department investigation. 

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


LAST DAY to Submit Parent Input on our next Assistant Principal

We value our partnership. Please complete this form to give us your feedback on what you value in our next Assistant Principal. Responses should be submitted by Friday, September 3rd.

Opinión de Padres sobre nuestro próximo Subdirector/a

Nos interesa su opinión.  Por favor complete este formulario para darnos su opinión sobre lo que valora en nuestro próximo Subdirector/a. Por favor hágalo hasta el Viernes, 3 de Septiembre.

Assistant Principal

eco tech

4th and 5th grade Eco-Tech Club

If students choose Eco-Tech club during their morning club time, the students will be using technology to identify and solve authentic environmental issues at Herndon Elementary School, as well as the Herndon community. Please click here (aquí) for more information in English and Spanish.


HES logo

Order your HES Spirit Wear from the PTA!

Our PTA has unveiled new spirit wear designs!  Click here for the order form.  The deadline is Friday, September 17th. 

Not a PTA member?  Sign up today and support our PTA!

PTA Sign up forms: English and Spanish


FCPS Cares

FCPS Cares

Do you know a Herndon Elementary employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.


The vision of Herndon Elementary School is to provide students with a safe, nurturing learning environment where all students will work to their full potential.

The mission of Herndon Elementary is to develop children to their full potential by ensuring a high level of success for all students. Teachers will work to differentiate instruction, provide a safe environment, and develop goals with students. Parents and teachers will work together as a community to prepare students to become productive citizens.

Our vision for the 2020-2021 school year is…

  • Strong relationships with each other and our bees will drive all that we do.
  • We will know our bees as scholars.
  • Every student will know #YouBeelonghere

Important Contact Information

Herndon Elementary Phone Numbers:

  • Health Room 703-326-3110
  • Cafeteria 703-326-3121

Administration e-mail addresses: