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Happy Friday Bailey’s ES Families!
Our students have had a week filled with Social & Emotional Wellness songs and reading books with our teachers and classmates. Students also made paintings to represent the signs of fall and played math games to help them practice addition and subtraction.
As we come closer to the end of the quarter, we hope you have had an opportunity to check in with your child’s teacher to learn more about how they are progressing in school. If you have not, November conferences are being scheduled now. Contact your child’s teacher for an appointment.
We hope you have had a wonderful weekend. As always, thank you for your continued support of our school!
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.
A Message from our Mental Health Team
My child is being invited to a counseling group, what does this mean?
Our Mental Health program at Bailey’s Elementary offers small group counseling for our students. Small groups provide not only the opportunity for additional learning experiences, but also a time for sharing and a time of growing together with fellow students. Small groups give the students a chance to belong, a chance to express themselves, and a chance to benefit from the support of group members.
An invitation to a counseling group is not an indication that your child needs therapy, has severe behavior concerns or is in “trouble.” Small group counseling helps students who might need support with friendship skills, academic skills (listening, paying attention, etc.), emotional regulation, working with others, building self-confidence or a variety of other topics.
Group counseling schedules are worked out with the classroom teacher, so that students do not miss instruction. Counseling groups are a fun experience where students might use puppets, Legos, art materials, toys, playdough, board games, or other materials to make the learning fun and for students to feel comfortable. Often during the last few sessions of a counseling group, students’ express feelings of sadness that they will no longer be a part of the group.
If you have questions about why your child is being invited to a counseling group, please feel free to reach out to the mental health professional at our school who is leading the group- this information should be in the notification letter or email you receive prior to a counseling group starting.
Bailey’s Mental Health Team
Nicole Wilkins- School Counselor
Sara Crummett- School Counselor
Silvia Stone- School Psychologist
Mercedes Tikoyan- School Social Worker
We Need Substitutes!
FCPS is experiencing a substitute teacher shortage! Because of this, there are many days when we do not have enough substitutes to cover teacher absences. Please consider signing up to be a substitute to help our students and staff. For more information, visit the Substitute Teacher Opportunities page on the FCPS website.
https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities
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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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
Child Supervision Guidelines
Can I leave my child alone?
There are no laws in Virginia that say when or for how long a child can be left alone. Working with other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, Fairfax County has developed these supervision guidelines for parents and caretakers to consider before leaving a child alone.
Parents are ultimately responsible for making decisions about their children’s safety. Every child is different and must be assessed based on their maturity, skills and comfort level to be home alone.
Is my child ready? Does he or she:
- understand instructions and follow important rules?
- know how to ask for help from friends, neighbors, and police?
- make good decisions when away from you or other adults?
- know when to contact you and 911 when needed?
- feel comfortable and confident about staying home alone?
Age Guidelines
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8 years old and younger should always be in the care of a responsible person. Children this age should never be left unsupervised in homes, cars, playgrounds or yards.
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9-10 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 1.5 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
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11-12 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised up to 3 hours during daylight and early evening hours.
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13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised for more than three hours but not overnight.
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16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
Babysitting Age Guidelines
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10-12 years old may provide care of other children for up to three hours with the help of an adult.
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13-15 years old may babysit infants and children but not overnight.
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16 years old and older may watch children overnight.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/children-youth/child-supervision-guidelines
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.
Technology Information
Bailey’s Primary News
This year, we have a Bailey’s Primary News Show that airs daily. Take a look at the news from this week!
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Watch our Bailey’s News today!
BES Schoology Information for Parents
Includes information on the following topics:
- Help your child login to Schoology to access Zoom and Clever
- Login to Schoology with a ParentVue Account
- Parent Schoology Support Playlist
To access, click THIS link or scan the QR code below:
Save the Date
November 1-2 Día de los Muertos
November 1-Teacher Workday-Student Holiday
November 2 Election Day-Student Holiday
November 4 Diwali
November 11 Veterans Day-Two Hour Early Release
November 24-26 Thanksgiving Break
November 29 Chanukah
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