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.
Happy Friday Bailey’s ES Families!
It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the first quarter! We could not have made it this far without your support. Thank you for your partnership and encouragement as we work together to ensure that students have a successful year!
Satonya Dews, Principal
Jillian Bell, Assistant Principal
Elisa Alexander, Interim Assistant Principal
New Health Department Process to Expedite Communications for Students Awaiting COVID-19 Contact Interviews
The Fairfax County Health Department announced a change in their communication process for students waiting for COVID-19 contact interviews. You may read about these changes on the FCHD website. You may also wish you review the FCHD FAQs for parents of school-aged children. We appreciate the continued partnership between FCPS and FCHD.
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.
Keep Bailey's Safe
At Bailey’s ES we have established procedures for drivers to ensure everyone’s safety. Please be aware of our Kiss and Ride procedures and the following traffic guidance when dropping off your student.
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Dropping off your student in an area other than the designated zone. If you are dropping off your student, you need to use the Kiss and Ride line and NOT park on the street or street corners. This is a major safety issue, and your student(s) could be in danger of getting hit by either a school bus or car especially if they are crossing the street without using the cross walk.
To help promote a safe environment Bailey’s ES, we have put in place a Kiss and Ride program that provides a safer environment to drop-off/pick-up your student. Once the drop-off/pick–up periods begin the process usually takes no more than 25 minutes and is not an unreasonable amount of time for the safety of our students. We ask that once you commit to the Kiss and Ride that you drop-off/pick-up your student in the designated area and maintain in the line throughout
We thank you for making sure you follow these safety measures. The safety of our students, staff, visitors and surrounding community members is essential to all at Bailey’s ES.
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Stay Connected!
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Advanced Academic Program (AAP)
Information Sessions
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services rather than labeling students. Students have:
- Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
- A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.
Elementary Parent Information Meetings (Virtual)
Parent information meetings will be offered virtually for Bailey’s Elementary School on the following dates and presented in the following languages:
- Tuesday, October 19th at 6:30- English
- Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30- Spanish
- Thursday, October 21st at 6:30- Arabic
We all know attendance is important. The school counselors Ms. Crummett and Ms. Wilkins will be implementing an attendance program to recognize students with perfect attendance each month. We are calling this the HERO program as we are seeking to reward students who are Here Everyday Ready and On time for learning.
Students with outstanding attendance will receive a certificate and a coupon for a free kid meal at Panera Bread. Please review the FCPS attendance policy and the impact attendance has on student learning here. You can also consider watching this video with your student to support their understanding of attendance and school.
Birthday Treat Policy
Birthdays are special days for our students! If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, here are a few options you can choose from:
- Bring in a favorite book to share/read
- Donate a book to the school library or classroom in honor of your child’s birthday
- Donate a board game to your child’s class to be used for indoor recess
- Send in small, tangible items to be distributed to the class (pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.)
To adhere to COVID-19 related health and safety procedures, students may not bring food to share with their class on their birthdays. Thank you for your understanding and support of our Birthday Treat Policy.
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Digital Resource Consent
Throughout the year, we will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use will require your consent before students can access them. Please complete the Parental Consent for Digital Resources Form as soon as possible. Your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission.
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FCPS is Looking for Substitutes
Are you or someone you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of the Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session, visit the FCPS substitute information page here.
Save the Date
October 11th- Indigenous Peoples' Day- Student Holiday/School Planning Day
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