Timber Lane Times 10/15/2021
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/15/2021 04:59 PM EDT
Dear Timber Lane Community,
A panel of Timber Lane staff members and parents have been hard at work, helping us find the new addition to our administrative team. We are thrilled to announce that our new Assistant Principal will be Tracey Brown Rice! Tracey joins us from Key Middle School, where she most recently served as Key Middle School’s Equity Lead, Prealgebra Collaborative Team Lead, and Math 7 and Math 8 Teacher. For the last two years, Mrs. Brown Rice has served Key Middle School. Prior to her time at Key Middle, Mrs. Brown Rice taught across multiple elementary grade levels for close to a decade at both Braddock and Bull Run Elementary Schools.
Throughout the course of her career with Fairfax County Public Schools, she has served as a classroom teacher, Collaborative Team Lead, SELT Coordinator, Equity Lead, and Summer School Site Administrator. Mrs. Brown Rice brings rich experiences supporting students in Title I schools. She has lead Sheltered Math Instruction at Key Middle School; providing bilingual math instruction to “newcomer” ESOL students. Most recently Mrs. Brown Rice brought Math Workshop to Key Middle School, modeling and leading the Math Workshop Framework for Key Middle School Math teams. Mrs. Brown Rice was also nominated and earned multiple FCPS awards for outstanding teacher across many of her schools.
Mrs. Brown Rice earned her Administration and Supervision endorsement from University of Virginia, holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University in Elementary Mathematics, K-8, and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in Elementary Education. Mrs. Brown Rice looks forward to serving the community through her passion for teaching and learning.
Please join us in welcoming Tracey Brown Rice as our new Assistant Principal!
Sincerely,
Ben Chiet, Principal
Shele Banford, Assistant Principal
Students showcasing art work from the week!
Students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month!
Outdoor Lunch Updates!
Due to an increase in funding for schools from the ESSER Grants, we have been able to hire additional full-time Cafeteria Monitors to support our outdoor lunch efforts Mondays through Fridays through the end of the school year! This week we started with grade levels whose lunch blocks do not overlap with other grade levels, in order to use all staffing outside for initial supervision purposes. Kindergarten, Second, and Fifth grade now has outdoor lunch daily. All other grade levels will continue alternating days outside for lunch until additional staffing and additional tents come to fruition. We would like to thank our Cafeteria Monitors, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Henriquez and Mrs. Merino. We would also like to thank the following Instructional Assistants who are making outdoor lunch possible - Mrs. Selmani, Ms. Sheehy and Mr. Boachie. We look forward to continuing to expand this outdoor lunch venture. Thank you to all of our parents supporting this effort!
Important Forms to Complete
Per the Office of Equity and Student Conduct, printing of hard copies of SR&R has been delayed. You can find digital version here. Please complete the Parent/Guardian Signature sheet below and submit the signed copy to the office.
Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet
Returning to school after being sent home with a Covid-like illness
With cold and flu season upon us, your child may be sent home from the care room after presenting COVID-like symptoms. We all want them back in the classroom as soon as they are well. Starting Monday, October 4, the Return to School form is no longer needed, we will follow the following guidelines.
Students may return to school when their symptoms have improved and they have not had a fever without fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours, AND have at least one of the following:
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Proof of a Negative COVID-19 Test:
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OR |
Physician’s Note Note from a healthcare provider following a clinical evaluation stating the cause of symptoms is not COVID-19 and clearing the child to return to school. |
Please note, if your child has been identified as a potential close contact or close contact to a positive case, your child will follow the guidance provided by the health department to be cleared to return to school.
If you have any questions about this new process, or how to navigate your child’s return to school, please call the school at 703-206-5300.
October is Disability History and Awareness Month in Virginia. Here at Timber Lane, we honor those with disabilities and promote equal opportunities for all. Read one student’s story here.
News from Mrs. Grabel, AART
For parents/guardians who are interested in the level IV screening and identification process but were unable to attend the meeting a few weeks ago, please watch the following recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCs5W21YPuI The power point presentations are attached.
If you are interested in having your child referred for level IV services, please find the referral form here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms Please click on level IV referral form and submit to Alyssa Grabel, the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher.
The referral window for level IV services closes at midnight on December 15th. Please be sure to submit your documents by this date. Documents can be submitted via email to Alyssa Grabel at angrabel@fcps.edu or by dropping off your forms at the main office. If you email it, you should expect a confirmation email back within 24 hours.
Please continue checking the school website by way ofàAcademicsàAdvanced Academics for updates, due dates, and documents in the coming weeks. Please contact Alyssa Grabel at angrabel@fcps.edu with any questions.
News from our School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS)
Digital Resources Consent
At Timber Lane, we will use a variety of FCPS-approved digital tools to support in-person learning this year! We need you to give consent for your child to use them as soon as possible so we can start using them for learning right away! Please visit https://timberlanees.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources to fill out the online permission form and read more details. You can fill out the online form here. Thanks for helping so we can use these digital tools to communicate and collaborate in our classes at Timber Lane!
Digital Citizenship Week October 18-22
Digital Citizenship Week kicks off next week! We’ll be doing daily activities that promote students' well-being. Plus, they'll reflect on how they can use technology to be a positive influence in their community. Use these conversation starters to help your kids talk about their digital lives:
We'll also participate in Spirit Week to get us excited about digital citizenship! Check out the spirit days coming up:
- Tuesday 10/19: Pajama Day - "Take a rest" from technology
- Wednesday 10/20: Superhero Day - Be a leader and make responsible decisions online
- Thursday 10/21: Twin Day - Take care of each other online
- Friday 10/22: Timber Lane Spirit Day - Be a part of our safe online community. Wear a spirit day shirt or school colors!
Does your child enjoy writing stories or poems, making art or music?
Do they like thinking about how they can change the world?
We have just thing to let their artistic & activist spirit shine! Encourage them to enter this year’s PTA Reflections Art Showcase! Students are invited to submit a drawing, painting, story, poem, original song, photograph or collage based on the theme “I Will Change the World By…”. All participants will be recognized at a special Awards Ceremony & Art Showcase the week of October 25th to celebrate their artistic skills and expression.
Submit entries by Monday, October 18 to the school office
(please include the student’s name, grade & teacher on the submission)
Questions?? contact Megan Dho at megandho@gmail.com
Oct. 28: Wexford Manor, “Tiger Talks” (Spanish/English) 6:00 PM
- Communicating between home/school
- Explanation of School Routines
- Setting up routines at home
- Family Resources Available
Oct. 29: End of Quarter 1; 2 hour Early Release
Nov. 1 and 2: Student Holidays
