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Greetings Frost MS Community!
I hope you are enjoying this gorgeous weather! There is a lot going at Frost MS over the next few weeks and I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of these events. More details can be found below.
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After School Program: This week we started our after school program! It is so exciting to see so many students taking advantage of the many offerings we have after school! All students must register in advance before attending any after school activities. Please click here for registration information. You can sign up here if you haven’t done so already! There are a lot of reminders and more information concerning the after school program below in the In Other News section.
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PTA Meeting: The next PTA meeting will take place October 5 at 7:30 PM. This is a wonderful organization that has a place for all FMS families. The link for this session can be found below. We hope to see you there!
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Picture Day coming soon: Lifetouch photographers will be at Frost in a couple of weeks to take individual student portraits during your student's Health and PE class.
It looks like there is going to be some incredible Fall weather during the next few days. Have a wonderful weekend.
As always, “Work Hard. Be Nice. Widen Your Circle!” We are #ONEFrost!
Anthony Harris
October 5 PTA Meeting (Information Below)
October 11 School Planning Day/Student Holiday
October 13 School Picture Day (Odd day PE classes)
Choir Pyramid Concert at Woodson HS
October 18 School Picture Day (Even day PE classes)
October 20 Orchestra Concert at Woodson HS
October 27 Symphonic Band Concert at Woodson HS
October 29 End of 1st Quarter
November 1 – 2 Teacher Workdays/Student Holidays
November 11 Veterans’ Day – Two Hour Early Release
Frost MS PTA Meeting
We look forward to welcoming families to our next PTA meeting on October 5th at 7:30 PM. We will hold the meeting in person in Room 508 and also live stream the meeting as well. The link is provided here: Join Zoom Meeting https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/93798697120?pwd=SUg0ZjlpQzZYY0J0Vmg5M0dEK1RpQT09
Frost MS After School Program Information
The Frost MS After School Program will meet in-person, five days a week beginning on September 27th, from 2:30 - 4:30pm. We will have late buses three days a week on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday. Parent Pick up days are Tuesday & Friday (No late buses).
Our goal is to provide quality programming in the areas of recreation, academic enrichment, social skills, youth development, physical health, wellness, and for students to create connections to their peers, their school, and their community. Students choose specific clubs of interest and attend on those meeting dates.
Please note the following important reminders about the after school program:
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Communication is key! Now that the after school program has begun it is important that you communicate with your child to know if and when they plan to stay after school. Students can stay after to get academic support from teachers or to participate in one our various club offerings. You should know which club(s) your child plans to attend and what time you plan to pick them up if they are not riding the late bus.
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Late Buses- There are only three late bus days- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Students and families are reminded that on Tuesday and Friday students should only stay after if they know, in advance, that their parents will be able to pick them up from school. Please communicate with your child and discuss their plans so that they know you are able to pick them up on Tuesday and Friday if they plan to stay on these days.
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Late Bus/After School Dismissal- The late buses will begin to arrive at Frost MS starting at 4:30 pm. Most often, the late buses leave Frost MS grounds between 4:45-5:05 pm. Please make note that students may not be home until after 5:30 or 6:00 pm in some instances on late bus days.
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Stops may be different. Please note that your child’s late bus stop may be different than their normal bus stop for the regular buses. Please review your child’s late bus stop, late bus number with them. This information can be found in Parent Vue where the bus information is located. You will see FILR in front of the bus number- this will identify the late bus run.
- Picking up early? No problem! Parents can pick up their children at any time if they are staying after school.
- Only students identified as walkers can walk home from the after school program.
- For safety and security and accountability purposes, once a student leaves campus they are not allowed to return to participate in the after school program. (for example: a student can not go to Fair City Mall, or to a friend’s home and then return to participate and then ride a late bus home) Parents will have to pick up your child in these cases.
- For any and all questions regarding the after school program, please contact Ms. Metzker at dlmetzker@fcps.edu
StreamIN/CheckIN
StreamIN/CheckIN is FCPS’ solution for providing meaningful instructional support to students who are paused, quarantined, or isolated due to COVID-19. No later than Day 3 of a student’s COVID-related absence, schools will provide student supports that include:
- Livestreaming (StreamIN) of direct instruction via Zoom or Google Meet. Teachers may choose to record lessons instead of livestreaming. This is NOT concurrent or hybrid learning. The remote student’s camera and audio will be off, but they will be able to watch and listen.
- Asynchronous access to class assignments.
- Interactive check-ins with teachers every other school day for academic and social-emotional support. Students will also have weekly check-ins with an assigned staff member.
StreamIN/CheckIN will be implemented no later than Monday, September 27. After that date, teachers will begin to livestream no later than Day 3 of a student being paused, quarantined, or isolated. If the teacher is already streaming for another student, access may be available sooner. Teachers may choose to record sessions instead of livestreaming them. Teachers will make the materials assigned during the class available, via Schoology, to any student not physically present.
Please note that StreamIN/CheckIN will not be provided unless a student within a class has been paused, quarantined, or isolated due to COVID-19 exposure. These supports are NOT available to students who are absent from school for any other reason.
AMC 8 Competition
This mathematics competition is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 is being held on Tuesday, January 18th during Falcon Focus. Math teachers have shared information about the exam, but additional information can also be found here. In order to participate, a student needs to register before Friday, October 22nd using the google link here.
AAP Advanced Academics Fall Screening
This pertains specifically to those students newly enrolled in FCPS and attending after January 2021. Information regarding the Level IV Advanced Academics Program in FCPS can be found here. The referral form and optional screening materials are due to your child’s school counselor no later than October 7, 2021 if you would like to pursue eligibility (final decisions to be shared in December). Students who do not have cognitive testing score on file will be offered the opportunity in late October to take the CogAT. Please contact your child’s counselor with questions.
SOS Prevention Program
On September 10th, families of all 7th grade students and new 8th grade students to Frost , were sent information via email of the upcoming SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program. The materials used in the education and screener are utilized in all secondary schools in FCPS. The program is primarily educational in nature and has proven to be successful at increasing help seeking behaviors by students concerned about themselves or a friend. It is the only school-based suicide prevention program listed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on its National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices that both addresses depression and suicide risk and reduces suicide attempts.
The wellness education video, which we will show during Falcon Focus Advisory, focuses on depression awareness and suicide prevention by teaching students to “ACT,” or Acknowledge, Care, and Tell when they are worried about a friend. After the video, students will have the opportunity to complete a short wellness screener (BSAD). The screening does not provide a diagnosis of depression. School counselors and clinical staff will be available to address any concerns raised following the screening and work with families to connect with outside resources as needed.
Parents are encouraged to learn more about the ACT acronym and suicide prevention by watching this video. Your student will automatically view the educational video and complete the wellness screener on Tuesday, October 12th, unless opted-out. Please either complete this opt-out form or return a copy of the form (that should be received in the mail this week) to Student Services no later than Wednesday, October 6. An email confirmation will be sent that the opt-out was received.
World Languages Credit Exam
Students who are able to read and write fluently in another language can earn high school graduation credit through the FCPS World Languages Credit Exam. Registration is open from September 13 – October 13. Students/parents can register with their counselor by completing this Google Form. Parents will receive a confirmation email once registration is completed. Exams are offered in 30 languages, and will be administered on November 16, 17, & 18. Students must be able to read and comprehend exam instructions and writing prompts in the exam language. The Credit Exam requires students to write multiple well-developed essays about personal experiences using complete sentences and at least three cohesive paragraphs. For more information, please visit the World Languages Credit Exam website.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Application Process for Eligible 8th Grade Students: The application will open on Monday, October 25th at 4:00pm and close on Friday, November 19th at 4:00pm. Detailed information is posted on the TJ Admissions Office website:
https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-admissions/tjhsst-freshman.
New Process to Speed up the Return of Fully Vaccinated Students to the Classroom
FCPS heard from many of you about your concerns regarding the amount of time fully vaccinated students are being paused from in-person instruction when identified as a potential close contact to a COVID-19 positive case.
FCPS collaborated with the Fairfax County Health Department to adjust this process and speed up the return to the classroom for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic students. We all share the goal of ensuring our students are in the classroom as much as possible, while also keeping our schools safe and healthy for everyone—staff, students, and visitors.
The new process benefits all students, including those of elementary school age who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Because contact tracers will no longer have to contact families of students who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, they will now be able to focus more resources on elementary school investigations. This will allow elementary school students, among others, to return to the classroom quicker.
More information is available online.
Schoology---Resources for Parents
Need help logging in to Schoology? Use the quick videos on this page for more information!
Schoology Information
We are excited to share that students, families, and teachers throughout FCPS and in our school community will use Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/) as our learning management system beginning Summer/Fall 2021.
- Schoology has a connected web conferencing tool, Zoom
- Schoology works with Google Drive
- You need a SIS/ParentVUE account to login to Schoology
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Click here to learn more about Schoology
- Parent accounts will be available in mid-August
- Information about how to login to parent accounts will be shared with you closer to the start of the school year
- Students will have a Schoology account by August 18, 2021
- Students will not see any classes until the grading period starts
Students use their FCPS student ID and password to login to Schoology. Look for the FCPS logo to make sure you are on the correct login page.
How to Report an Absence
If your child is sick or will be absent for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible by reporting an absence. Form submissions are monitored throughout the day by our office staff and your child’s attendance will be updated in SIS for our teachers. You can find the form at the bottom of our Frost MS Webpage. You can use this direct link also.
Frost Needs Student Monitors and a COVID Case Manager!
We are always looking for support to provide student supervision during the school day! If you know of anyone who is interested in working at Frost MS as a student monitor or a COVID Case Manager or if you would like to apply, please visit https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/current-job-openings and look for Operational Job openings to apply or contact Ms. Kenya Champ for more information.
Label Everything with Your Child’s Name!
We are already experiencing things being left behind in classes and during lunch. To ensure you are getting your belongings back home each day, it is VERY important that you LABEL EVERYTHING! If there is a name on an item, it is much easier to get things back to the correct student.
As we get into fall and winter weather (it will eventually get here), please be sure to label your child’s jackets, coats, hats, and any other outerwear they will bring to school. Many students will have the same jackets - so a label makes identifying who an item belongs to so much easier. Please LABEL EVERYTHING!
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