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Greetings Frost MS Community!
Fall weather is here and our students are excited to see the changes the fall season brings. The second quarter is in full swing! Our students have settled into the groove of school! We are extremely proud of our students and the efforts they make every day to embrace what it means to be #ONEFrost!
As you may have heard, there will be optional COVID-19 screening testing for students who are not fully vaccinated at Frost MS and across FCPS. FCPS is partnering with LongView International Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) to provide testing services for students.
One-time parent/legal guardian consent is required to begin COVID screening testing for a student to be tested at school. You may withdraw your consent for testing at any time. If you want your child to begin participating in COVID-19 screening testing, you must pre-register your child(ren) and provide consent using the LTS secure online portal (more information concerning registration below). If you do not want your child to participate in COVID-19 screening testing, no action is required. You will have the option each week to update your child’s vaccination and consent for testing.
For all the details about optional COVID-19 screening testing, visit the FCPS website and review the FCPS COVID-19 Screening Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
Finally, as we enter this season of thanks, let us be reminded of all of things we have to be thankful for! This week I received notes from students expressing their thanks for Frost MS and our faculty and staff. They were so heartwarming to read! I love our students and our community. I am thankful for Frost MS!
As always, “Work Hard. Be Nice. Widen Your Circle!” We are #ONEFrost!
Anthony Harris
November 22 No After School Program
November 23 No After School Program
November 24 – 26 Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1 Picture Day Makeup
December 9-11 Winter Play- Alice in Wonderland (details coming soon!)
December 17 No After School Program
December 20 – 31 Winter Break
Registration for Optional Student Testing is Now Open
Pre-registration for optional COVID-19 screening testing for students who are not fully vaccinated began this week. Parents/guardians may pre-register their children and provide consent using the LTS secure online portal.
https://fcpstestingsite.com/
Parental/guardian consent will be required for all other students to be tested.
Screening testing is a highly recommended strategy to reduce COVID-19 transmission and keep our schools and workplaces safe.
Testing Timeline
Week of November 15- Optional Screening testing begins for unvaccinated elementary, middle, and high school students, including student-athletes
Optional Screening Testing for Students Not Fully Vaccinated
Each week, 10% of students who are not vaccinated and have opted-in to testing will be randomly selected for screening.
Registration and Consent
- Parents/guardians will be provided a link to register their child to participate in testing and/or other services and provide the requisite consent
- Participation in testing for students (excluding VHSL student athletes) is optional
- Only students with parental consent will be tested
Testing Sites
- All schools and centers on a rotating schedule.
- Students tested in schools will be given a PCR test.
There is no cost to families for student testing.
Test results will be kept confidential. Parents/guardians will be able to review results through the secure vendor portal. Parents/guardians may select an option to share their child’s test results with FCPS. Sharing results with FCPS is optional.
Students who have opted-in to testing will be tested during the school day.
Lost and Found is Growing!
Is your student is missing a sweatshirt, jacket, water bottle or lunch box? Our lost and found is located in the cafeteria and it is quite full! Please remind your student to check for their items.
How the School Year Calendar is Developed
The school year calendar is created with community feedback while also ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and policies. To understand the process and the framework FCPS is using, watch this video or visit the FCPS website. The School Board has final approval on the calendar and is scheduled to vote on January 27.
Woodson/Frost Pyramid 6th Grade Elementary Area Chorus
The Chorus teachers at Frost and Woodson are excited to announce an Area Chorus for all interested 6th graders in the Frost/Woodson Pyramid! No audition is required; all students are welcome.
There will be 4 rehearsals in January, February, and March, culminating with a performance in March! For more information, please see the attached flyer!
Woodson Pyramid Elementary Area Chorus Letter 2021-22.doc.pdf
Registration is due December 10th.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmuRfdrYz3hZq7RowW5AVIZ-b4oMeLEMEjsiUsNGJ2A7X5Zg/viewform
Questions? Email Meredith Lee at malee1@fcps.edu!
After School Program Information/Updates
All Frost MS students are welcome to attend the After School Program. There is no After School Program on early release days or student holidays. Our late bus days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with parent pick up on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are some upcoming new activities. Beginning November 10th there will be Cheerleading and on beginning November 15th we will have Weight Training and Fitness. For questions regarding the After School Program, contact Ms. Metzker.
Frost MS After School Program website- https://frostms.fcps.edu/activities/after-school-activities
Club Listing- https://frostms.fcps.edu/node/4851
Vaccine Availability for Children Ages 5 - 11
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) remain committed to utilizing all available public health interventions to create a safer school environment. We are pleased that the authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 provides our community another effective way to keep our children safe and further reduce the impact of the pandemic.
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director endorsed CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation to adopt the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11. This means that children ages 5-11 are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccine, which is about one-third the strength of the adult vaccine, has been studied in this age group and shown to be as safe and effective as it was for older children, and we encourage everyone 5 years of age and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible. FCPS and the FCHD have worked collaboratively with the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Inova Children’s Hospital on planning to provide families broad access to vaccinations.
The COVID-19 vaccine authorized for the 5-11 population will soon be widely available in the community. Many pediatricians and family practice offices stand ready to make appointments for families who prefer their child to receive the vaccine in their familiar “medical home.” Talk to your child’s healthcare provider if you have questions or need an appointment.
There are multiple opportunities to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Fairfax Health District. Most sites will be providing vaccines by appointment only. These include:
- oFairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, 22035
- oMount Vernon District Office (Gerry Hyland Government Center), 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, 22309
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Tysons Community Vaccination Center, 7950 Tysons Corner Center, Tysons: visit here to make an appointment or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 711). Appointment assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages.
Inova Children’s Vaccination Clinic: visit here to make an appointment for their weekend clinics at the Inova Center for Personalized Health, 8100 Innovation Park Drive, Fairfax.
When looking for an appointment, be sure to search for Pfizer pediatric vaccine since it is the only vaccine currently available for use in children 5-11 years old. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or another adult at all community vaccination sites.
The health department is also working with FCPS on strategies to ensure equity in access to vaccination for families who have difficulty scheduling an appointment for their child or in getting to one of the other community options. Vaccine clinics will be offered in some schools and at community centers during off-school hours in the weeks ahead. Details will be shared as soon as possible.
If you have questions, talk to your child’s healthcare provider, or call the Health Department’s COVID-19 information line at 703-267-3511. There will be enough vaccines for every child who is eligible, however, it is possible that during the first week, certain locations may not have received their full allocation. Appointments should become available starting later this week.
We look forward to working with each of you to ensure the health and well-being of the FCPS community. Thank you for your patience and partnership in ensuring our children are protected from COVID-19 and other vaccine preventable diseases.
Kiss and Ride Reminder for 2nd Quarter
As we start the 2nd quarter, we offer a reminder regarding Frost MS Kiss and Ride procedures. To ensure the safety of our students, we’ve implemented a traffic plan for morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. We understand that you have pressing appointments and engagements; however, we must make certain all Frost students arrive and depart in an orderly and safe manner.
Morning arrival: 7:00 – 7:25 A.M. School begins at 7:30 A.M.
If you choose to drive your child to school:
What you should know:
- No traffic will be permitted past the crossing guard at the first parking lot except for buses and Frost Middle School staff.
- Students should not be dropped off along Pickett Rd so drivers can make U-Turns. Please follow the guidance of Frost Middle School personnel.
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Door 5 will be open in the morning to assist with ease of entry into the building as Exit 1 will be difficult to get to because of the renovation.
- Students should not be dropped off in the parking lot to cross over Kiss and Ride Traffic. Make sure that your child exits your car on the building side only (To include Loop in front of the Finance Park Building).
- Drivers are to remain in the driver’s seat.
- Do not pass other cars in line.
- No cell phones should be in use in the Kiss and Ride lane.
- Be mindful of your fellow motorists and pedestrians! Keep your eyes peeled and your speed down so that there are no unfortunate accidents.
What you should do:
Use the right-hand lane once on Pickett Road. Follow the traffic into the first parking lot for student drop-off and make a full circuit of the parking lot. Please continue to pull forward as directed by the school staff members who will assist with efficient flow of traffic.
The Kiss and Ride Lane for the afternoon is different than morning arrival. In the afternoons, parents will need to find a place to park on Pickett Rd, between 2:00 and 2:30 P.M. Please do NOT double park but find a parking space on Pickett. Your student will be walking out to meet you.
No traffic will be permitted into the parking lane directly in front of the building or in the parking lot on the right side of the building as this is where buses will be loading students. We highly encourage students to ride the bus due to our traffic pattern this school year. Buses will dismiss at 2:25 each day. At that time, cars will be allowed to re-enter the parking lane at the front of the school.
Our Kiss and Ride is typically very congested, so it is important to exercise patience and awareness when traveling through our Kiss and Ride lanes. Please remember, the safety of our students is of the utmost importance. We serve over 300 families in the morning and the afternoon in our Kiss and Ride Lane. Our staff moves cars through safely and efficiently. It is imperative that everyone follows the procedures in order to keep our students safe. Walkers and staff members should remember to cross at the crosswalks. It is also important to note that while we are under renovation there will be increased traffic from the construction crews and supply deliveries that will be arriving in the morning. It can not be overstated. If your child is assigned a bus, they should ride the bus in the morning and the afternoon. This will alleviate traffic congestion and ensure students arrive to school on time.
In our continuing effort to ensure the safe arrival and departure of our students, please take note of the following items:
Free bus transportation is provided for most Frost MS families unless you have been designated as a “walker”. Having your student use the bus helps reduce traffic congestion, especially in the morning. Again, taking advantage of bus transportation is strongly encouraged. Late arrival to school due to traffic is unexcused.
Are you getting too many Schoology Messages? Or not getting enough information about your student’s classes in Schoology?
You can choose to get an email digest of your child's activity in Schoology using the directions here:
https://www.fcps.edu/schoology/parents/communication-tools (scroll to Schoology Email Digest)
The Parent Email Digest contains:
- the date range for which information is displayed
- each of your children's names at the top of the email summary
- upcoming assignments/class activities
- up to 10 recent activity items, like the student's post and updates in courses, assignments, tests/quizzes, and discussions
- overdue items
You can also choose which Schoology notifications to receive in Settings using the directions here:
https://www.fcps.edu/schoology/parents/communication-tools (scroll to Schoology Notification Settings)
Learn more about this tip and other helpful Schoology information in the Schoology Parent Resource Kit: https://www.fcps.edu/node/41906
To learn more about your ParentVue SIS/Schoology account or to activate it if you have not yet done so, please review this site:
https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-registration
Sub and Save the Day!
FCPS needs substitute teachers. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, and anyone who wants a flexible work schedule. Like many school districts across the region and country, FCPS is looking for kind and caring substitute teachers to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers need to be out of the building. If you are interested in substitute teaching, you can set parameters for the days you are available, the grade levels you would like to teach, or the schools where you want to assist.
For more information, follow this link: https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities.
Off and Away for the Day – Consequences for Non-Compliance
As you know, Frost MS is an Away for the Day School again this year. Students will be required to turn phones/electronic devices off and keep them in their backpacks from 7:30-2:15 with the following exceptions:
- Before School- during breakfast
- Brain Breaks
- Lunch
Students who are observed using their phones during the school day can expect the following consequences:
- The first and second violations will result in the phone being confiscated from the student and kept in the front office for the student to pick up at dismissal.
- The third and subsequent violations will require a parent/guardian to pick up the phone in the main office.
- Parents/guardians will be notified after the 2nd violation as a reminder.
Please review this policy and the consequences with your students.
Going Home with a Friend on a Different Bus? Here’s How….
If a student wants to ride home on a different bus with a friend, each student will need to submit a note from their parent/guardian giving permission to ride home with another student. Students must give those notes to the front office before the end of lunch in to allow for sufficient time to issue a bus pass to the student.
How to Check Your Student Out Early
If you know in advance that you will need to check your student out of school early, please have them bring a note to the front office that morning and a pink check-out form will be given to your student to allow them to leave class at the time noted. You will need to meet them in the front office with your ID to sign them out.
If they are coming back that same day, a parent does not need to sign the student back in. Students will come to the front office and sign themselves back in and we will give them a pass back to class. NOTE: Please check to make sure your emergency contact list is accurate. Only adults listed on your student’s emergency contact list can sign a student out (with photo ID).
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.
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