HES School House News

September 9, 2021

Upcoming Events

Friday, September 10 – Spirit Wear Orders Due

Tuesday, September 14- PTA Meeting 7p.m. 

How Pausing, Quarantining, and Isolating Keeps Our Schools Safe

Since the beginning of August 2021, 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 - and staff - 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 6 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 3 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 your 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 ten (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.

Outbreak

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 epidemiology 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 and the SEPTA Q&A session.

COVID-19 Case Notification Update

Many families are finding it stressful and overwhelming to receive a new COVID notification email every time there is a positive case in their child’s school. We have updated our process to provide families some relief.

Once a week, either on Friday or the last day of school for the week, school leadership will share an update if there were any reported COVID-19 positive cases in the school that week. The FCPS COVID-19 Health Metrics webpage will still be updated daily for families who wish to know about cases in real time.

Upcoming Assessments

Letters to parents/guardians have been sent home regarding the following assessments:

iReady- https://www.fcps.edu/us

Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA)- https://www.fcps.edu/node/43939

Safety Drills During the School Year

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. 

The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill. 

Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills.

Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.

Updates to Cafeteria Procedures

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we continue to work to implement layered mitigation strategies based on our available staffing and space. We have adjusted our lunch schedule times and provided additional spacing between students at the cafeteria tables. To accommodate these changes, some students are eating in classrooms. For example, in many of our 3^rd grade classes, half of the class will eat in the cafeteria while the other half eats in the classroom. This allows students to social distance more while they are actively eating. We also are utilizing seating charts in the locations students are eating should it be needed for contact tracing.

Due to these changes, we are NOT able to accommodate parents eating lunch with their child(ren). Our priority is your child’s safety and to implement as much social distancing as possible, we are not able to have additional people in these locations. As always, thank you for your understanding!

Classroom Birthday Celebrations

If your child wishes to bring a class treat for his/her birthday, parents must make arrangements with the classroom teacher in advance. Due to student allergies, treats should be single serving items that are store bought with the ingredient listed on the label. Birthday treats will be distributed in the cafeteria during your child’s lunch time. Balloons and flowers should not be brought and/or sent to school. If classmates are to be invited to private parties, arrangements must be made outside of school.

Back to School Forms

Below you will find the forms you must fill out for each student to start the new school year. If you have not already done so, please complete all of the required forms as soon as possible.

Required Forms

Emergency Care Form (Complete in SIS ParentVUE) All students must have accurate emergency care information. Parents update this information through WeCare@School via their SIS ParentVUE account. 

• Log into your SIS ParentVUE account In order to log into SIS ParentVUE it is necessary to have an active SIS Parent Account - if you need a SIS Parent Account, please contact our registrars, Lisa Warden, lbwarden@fcps.edu.
• Go to FCPS Links located on the left-hand menu
• Go to weCare@School and Log in using the same username and password as your SIS ParentVUE account

• Once you are in weCare, click on the + box next to your child’s name. There you will see the links to update your child’s Parent/Guardian Contact Information, Other Information, Current Health Conditions and Current Medical Care Details (You won’t actually see this form). Once you have completed these be sure to click on the button next to your child’s name “Send the Form”.

Digital Resources - Parent Consent Form Every student must have a Digital Resources Consent Form completed. Hayfield uses a variety of digital tools for learning. You may look through the list before signing the form. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities - Parent Signature Sheet  You can access the 2021 – 2022 with this link:  Student's Rights and Responsibilities.  Please sign the Parent Signature Sheet and return to your student’s teacher by October 29. 

Military-Connected Student Form

If you’re connected to the Military, please complete and return the Military Connected form.  If you are not, no action is required.  

School Drop-off Times

To ensure the safety of our students, we ask that students arrive no earlier than 8:20 am each day. Doors for walkers and bus riders open at 8:25 am. Kiss-N-Ride drop off is from 8:20-8:35 am each morning and begins at 3:20 pm each afternoon. The school does not provide before or after school student supervision. As a safety measure, we ask that all Kiss–N-Ride students be dropped off in the designated area only and never on the side of the building.

Temporary Dismissal Change-What is Needed

Parents/guardians MUST complete the online Temporary Dismissal Change form when a child’s normal dismissal will change for the day. Please Note: Students will not be able to ride a bus or get off at a different bus stop this school year.  A child will be sent home using his or her usual manner of transportation unless this pass is completed online. Parents are highly encouraged to schedule play-date and sleepover exchanges of children outside of school hours. Please be mindful that during the busy school day, we do not have the human resources to support verifying the volume of requests that are made on a day-to-day basis.

The Latest on Bus Transportation

Advanced Academics

Questions about AAP? Join us for an Overview of Advanced Academics Services and Screening Information Session!

Thursday, September 23rd 6PM

This will be a virtual meeting. Information on how to join will be shared soon.

Mask Updates

Parents please send an extra mask in your student’s backpack. We are finding that the masks need replacing especially after lunch and recess. We have a limited number of masks here at the school and sending an extra one or two with your child will help tremendously.

Student Monitors

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.

Description:   Provides supervision of students throughout the school day to include, but not limited to,  the classroom, hallways, lunch, recess, specials and at arrival/dismissal; helps maintain order and discipline and assists in managing the behavior of students; operates technology; performs administrative and non-instructional duties; ensures all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; works with individual and small groups of students.   

Qualifications:  Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Must be comfortable managing student behaviors in large and small groups, ensuring all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; and has general familiarity/skills with basic office technology in support of teachers, students, and the classroom.

Take-Home Thursday

Thursday has been designated as our “take home” day.  Parents are encouraged to look for communication from school each day, but we will try to limit most correspondence to Thursdays. The majority of information will be sent electronically through the "News You Choose" system. Sign up here.

Greetings from your School Health Room!

Our goal is to ensure that your student enjoys a safe and healthy school year while balancing the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies. To help us achieve our goal, please read the following information carefully:

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at school, FCPS has developed the Health and Safety Guidance Document for 2021-22 | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu) for all school staff, parents/guardians, and students to follow. Please pay special attention to the following guidelines from this document:

• Have your student wear a properly fitted face mask when he/she comes to school unless your student is exempted from wearing face mask. See Types of Masks (fcps.edu) and How to Put On and Take Off a Face Covering-Student Procedures
• Encourage your student to wash hands often and always cover coughs and sneezes.
• You are required to complete the Daily Health Screening Questionnaire prior to sending your student to school each morning. The required screening must be completed for all school-aged children in the household. Any student demonstrating symptoms of illness should stay home to help “Stop the Spread” of COVID-19.
• Students demonstrating any of the following COVID-like symptoms will be sent home from school: Fever (100.4 or greater) - Chills – Cough – Shortness of breath – Loss of taste/smell – Sore throat – Fatigue – Muscle aches – Runny Nose/Congestion – Stomachache – Diarrhea – Nausea/Vomiting – Headaches. You will be notified to pick up student within one hour and a SICK STUDENT NOTIFICATION and RETURN to SCHOOL FORM will be sent home. In order to return to school, you must have the form completed by a health care provider and provide the completed form to the school.
• Students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, may not return until:
• o It has been at least ten (10) days since your student first had symptoms AND
• o Your student has had no fever without anti-fever medicines (ex: Tylenol, Ibuprofen) for 24 hours AND
• o Your student’s symptoms are getting better
• If someone in the household has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or the student is exposed, the student must remain home for 14 days after their last exposure to the household member.

The most important thing we can all do to keep our schools safe and open all year is to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as we are eligible. Adolescent 12 years of age and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are safe, effective, available, and free. To make an appointment for your student, visit the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS).

If you have any questions regarding the above guidelines from FCPS, please contact your school administers.

Your school health room services include:

1. Care of sick (except COVID-like symptoms/illness) and injured students according to the FCPS School Health Emergency COVID Temporary Care Guidelines.
2. Administration of medication provided by parents/guardians with proper authorization completed by their health care provider.
3. Coordination of care for students with chronic health conditions during the school day.
4. Hearing and vision screening (grades K, 3, 7, 10, new to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and those students referred by teachers and parents/guardians).

How can you help your school health room provide the best possible care?

• Keep your student home when they are sick.
• Advise the School Health Aide or the Public Health Nurse of any special health concerns.
• Immediately notify the physical education (PE) teacher if your child has any PE restrictions.
• Provide current home, work, and alternate telephone numbers for the Emergency Care Information form.
• When medication must be administered during the school day, please follow the guidelines established in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2102:
• Complete the FCPS Medication Authorization forms
• Provide the school with properly labeled containers (your pharmacist will usually provide an extra container if you request it). Only a 30-day supply of medication should be brought into school at a time.
• Medications must be transported to and from school by a parent/guardian.
• Medications must be kept in the school health room or other school-approved location unless approved for the student to carry it during school hours. If a student carries his or her own medication, a backup may be kept in the school health room.
• OTC medications may be given up to ten consecutive school days with the parent’s or guardian’s signature on the FCPS Medication Authorization form before a physician’s authorization is required.
• OTC medications that are pain relievers may be given as needed throughout the school year with only the parent’s or guardian’s signature on part I of the FCPS Medication Authorization form.
• Cough drops and throat lozenges may be carried and used by students in kindergarten through grade 12 as needed throughout the school year, if they are in the original container or packaging. Students must not share cough drops or throat lozenges under any circumstances.
• Medications MUST be collected by the parent if they expire or by the last day of school. You will be reminded in June to collect your child’s medication. If not collected, they will be discarded per FCPS guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in helping to make this a safe and healthy school year for all FCPS students. If you have any questions regarding the health room services, please feel free to call either your School Health Aide, Debi Richardson, at 703-924-4510 or email your school Public Health Nurse, Nohelia Yanes, BSN, RN, at nlyanes@fcps.edu.

Sincerely,

Nohelia Yanes, BSN, RN

Hayfield Elementary School Public Health Nurse

Virtual Parenting Classes

Fairfax County Parenting Education Programs are offering virtual parenting classes for parents with children between the ages of 5-11. Parenting Education Programs are family centered sessions, proven to help parents and children develop healthy, nurturing relationships.  This program builds upon families’ strengths and positive values.   Due to COVID-19 social distancing recommendation, the class will be offered virtually via ZOOM which is a  free web-based conferencing tool that allows us to meet on line. Each week, the parent will receive a Zoom link with a password by email to access the class.  This class will be offered in English. 

Please feel free to contact me, Jennifer Cann, LCSW School Social Worker, with any concerns or questions. Hayfield Elementary School (Wednesday PM Thursday/Friday)

MFLC Introduction

Hello! My name is Shelly Oberst, LCSW and I am the new Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) here at Hayfield Elementary School. I provide confidential counseling services to military connected students and families to assist with common stressors related to the military lifestyle. I work with students in their classes, small groups and/or individually. Parents/Guardians can also contact me to schedule family sessions. Shelly Oberst is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Virginia.

Please complete the form to have your child take advantage of these MFLC services. Return the form to your classroom teacher or email it to obersts@magellanfederal.com. For additional information, please see her flyer and brochure. You may also contact Ms. Oberst directly at 571-386-7884.

PTA News & Events

Spiritwear Sale Continues through September 10th!

Order your Hayfield Spiritwear today!  The PTA's fall spirit wear fundraiser has begun!  Order online at https://hayfield21.itemorder.com/sale now through Friday, September 10th!   

Join the PTA! Next Meeting Tuesday, September 14th, 7:00 p.m.

We invite all parents, guardians, and teachers to join the PTA, and encourage all to join us at our first monthly PTA meeting on Tuesday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Hayfield ES Cafeteria. 

Become a member of the PTA here: https://hayfieldespta.ptboard.com/

Volunteers Needed

The school year has started and we need your help!  Please consider signing up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_fRPuG7fgnjKXM7p_slRSGvJP-w-5PuYUXN1UheaME6RZSg/viewform

Please note that each teacher will receive a list of individuals who are interested in volunteering as a room parent by mid September.

Questions???  Feel free to reach out to: Julie Doyle (mumsyof2girls@gmail.com)

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is coming back to Hayfield Elementary School. GOTR is a physical activity based on positive youth development program for young girls in 3rd-6th grade. The program teaches life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment, while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Practice begins September 14 (though late registration runs through September 21st) and our season ends with a 5k run at Reston Town Center November 21. 

Hayfield Helpful Links

Click on a link for information

Hayfield Elementary School website

• Attendance
• Temporary Dismissal Change form
• Breakfast & Lunch Menus
• Hayfield ES Technology Help
• Parent Resources (registration, SIS ParentVUE, Cafeteria, and BYOD)
• Parent Liaison
• Hayfield ES PTA
• SIS ParentVUE
• 2021-2022 School Calendar
• HES Student Handbook

7633 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22315  |  Phone: 703.924.4500

Attendance: HayfieldElem.Attendance@fcps.edu | Web | Twitter