Message from Dr. Smith
Hello Bruin Families,
We had a blast this week celebrating our Counselors for Counselor Appreciation Week. Lake Braddock is so thankful for their consistent and unwavering support for our kids. Our Instructional Coaches and School-Based Technologist Specialists concluded our week by providing some much needed social emotional support for our teachers and staff. These small acts of kindness were felt and appreciated by all.
As we prepare to celebrate with friends and family this weekend, gathered to see who will win the Super Bowl or show our gratitude for those we love for Valentine’s Day, we should also consider how these small gestures of connection build our resilience and strengthen our community. This week has demonstrated that communicating and demonstrating kindness to our community is powerful and motivating. When we recognize and acknowledge the work, passion, and inherent goodness in everyone, it is uplifting and encouraging. The work we put in each day to support our students, staff, community, and each other can be daunting. Knowing that we have a supportive team to cheer us on is an essential key in making our vision and mission a reality.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller
Thank you for your continued support and we hope you have a wonderful weekend.
United as Bruins,
Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.
Bear with me on these puns, but Bruins, we cannot help but bear our thanks to our awesome Counselors and Clinical Support Team! We hope they all had a bear-y awesome week as we celebrated them!
In this Issue
NEW Information
LB High School Choir February Concert Tonight!
Introducing the New SBTS at Lake Braddock!
Calendar Clarification-Date Change for Eid-al-Fitr for 2021-22 Calendar
Lake Braddock's Annual Valentine's Day Kindness Cards Shower!
LB DECA's School Based Enterprises Receive Gold Certification
COVID Updates and Information
Vaccination Updates for Spring Sports
Contact Tracing
Update on FCPS Roll Back Plan
Reminder Regarding Optional COVID-19 Testing for Students
High School Information
Information on Spring Sports
Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo Marketing
Purchase a HS Yearbook!
Class of 2022 Information
Class of 2022 Key Dates and Announcements
ANGP T-Shirt Contest
Senior Ads for Yearbook Deadline Extended to February 18
Middle School Information
MS After-School Program
WIN Time Enrichment Activities for MS
Important Reminders
LB DECA Donation Drive
Elections Interest Meeting-Class Office, SGA, or SAC
PTSA Information
HP Instant Impact Fundraising Program
LBSS PTSA's 2nd Annual Virtual Auction Live March 9-23
PTSA Spirit Night at Jersey Mike's February 18th
NovaStar Prep February SAT Bootcamp
The Princeton Review Online SAT Practice Exam: February 19
FCPS Information
Join in the Resource Review Process
Understanding ESSER III Funding's Impact on Student Success
Substitute Teacher Job Fair February 17th
Important LBSS and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
LBSS Attendance Lines
Procedures for Picking Up a Student Early
Late Bus Information
Stay Informed with Lake Braddock Athletics!
FCPS Technology Support for Families
FCPS Cares
FCPS Medical Resources for Families
FCPS Mental Health Resources
New Information
LB High School Choir February Concert Tonight!
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Introducing the New SBTS at Lake Braddock!
Congratulations to Kim Hammond who accepted the permanent School Based Technology Specialist position at Lake Braddock. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kim traveled south to the University of Delaware where she was a track & field athlete while earning a B.A. in Secondary Math Education. Upon graduation, she moved even further south to Northern Virginia, where she began her teaching career in Alexandria City Public Schools then moving to Fairfax County Public Schools where she has remained for the past 14 years. While teaching, Kim studied at George Mason University where she graduated with a M.Ed. in Mathematics Leadership with an endorsement as a Mathematics Specialist (K-8). Kim has been a Bruin for 11 years as a high school math teacher, math department chair and acting SBTS. She lives with her husband and two sons, who she is coercing to be Philadelphia Eagles fans. You can follow her on Twitter @MsHammondCheese.
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Calendar Clarifications-Date Change for Eid-al-Fitr for the 2021-22 Calendar
The current “O” (religious and cultural observance) day for Eid-al-Fitr on FCPS’ 2021-22 School Year calendar was incorrectly listed as Tuesday, May 3. Please note that the correct date is Monday, May 2. We apologize for the error. View the updated 2021-22 School Year Calendar.
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Lake Braddock's Annual Valentine's Day Kindness Cards Shower
The LB Middle School Bruins in Action and the LB Philanthropy Club are inviting you to participate in Lake Braddock’s annual Valentine’s Day Kindness Cards Shower! The event will run this year from Friday, February 11 to Friday, February 25.
How To Participate: Develop uniquely written and designed cards or letters with heartfelt Valentine’s Day messages to senior citizens who are currently residing in one of our Burke community area nursing facilities -- Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center or Heatherwood Retirement Community. The cards or notes should be handwritten and addressed to either of these facilities.
Why Participate?: Because of COVID, visitors are severely restricted or prevented from visiting nursing facilities. Therefore, a long-distance hug with a heartfelt letter or card to seniors will let them know that you’re thinking of them. In fact, develop as many cards or letters as you can!
Where To Bring Your Cards: Drop your cards or notes off inside Door 1 at LB from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. There will be two separate boxes for the two nursing facilities - try to spread your work out evenly and share the love!
What should you know before you write your letters or cards?
- Write it by hand if you can. • Make it neat. • Make it personal. • Don’t write the date. • Start with “Dear Friend.”
- Let your reader know that you are a Lake Braddock student and why you’re writing. • Avoid religion and personal views
- Sign your first name. While it’s important that this letter or card come from you, don’t share more personal information (like your last name, home address, or phone number)—if the reader knows your first name and that you’re a Lake Braddock student, that’s more than enough.
For Information about receiving service hours credit: HS students contact Mrs. Williams and MS students contact your Social Studies Teacher!
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LB DECA's School Based Enterprises Receive Gold Certification
For the 5th year, both of Lake Braddock's School Based Enterprises, the Spirit Box and the Burger Pit, have received their gold certification! Congratulations on a job well done!
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COVID Updates and Information
For the most up-to-date information, please see the FCPS website for Return to School and COVID-19 Testing.
Vaccination Updates for Spring Sports
During the spring athletic season, student-athletes that are unvaccinated will not be required to participate in weekly surveillance testing but will be required to follow all CDC protocols pertaining to isolation and quarantine for COVID-positive persons and close contacts.
The original vaccine requirement for FCPS winter sports was due to the close proximity of competitors in certain sports and being indoors. As we transition to spring sports, our athletic activities are primarily outdoors. In addition, we are starting to see declining rates of community transmission of the virus alongside high vaccination rates among our high school students and athletes.
FCPS highly encourages all student-athletes to be vaccinated for the spring athletic season. Students who are unvaccinated and exposed to the virus as close contacts or become positive will miss both their sporting activities and valuable learning time in the classroom as they will need to follow the protocols for quarantine and isolation as outlined by the CDC.
Please contact the FCPS Office of Student Activities and Athletics with any questions.
Contact Tracing
The Virginia Department of Health recently announced that contract tracing in schools may be limited only to outbreaks. However, the CDC continues to recommend contact tracing, in combination with testing, wearing a well-fitting mask, and quarantine and isolation, as effective strategies to identify people with COVID-19 (cases) and to reduce transmission.
FCPS will continue to implement CDC recommendations to the greatest extent practicable, to prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools, and to keep our schools open for learning. As a result, FCPS will continue contact tracing until further notice.
For more information, visit the Health and Safety Guidance Document.
Update on FCPS Roll Back Plan
As FCPS mentioned in our most recent community letter, we have been working with health experts to develop a plan to safely scale back layered prevention measures. The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, guiding every decision we make during this pandemic. Our roll back plan uses community transmission data and health expert recommendations to inform our decision-making.
While we continue to see declines in COVID cases across our community, we remain in high transmission and all current layered prevention strategies, including masking, remain in place. FCPS will implement our roll back strategy when the Fairfax County community reaches moderate transmission and remains there for seven consecutive days.
Please see the Roll Back Plan Update page to see the complete list of changes that would go into effect.
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Reminder Regarding Optional COVID Testing for Students
Participation in COVID-19 screening testing for the general student population will be voluntary and will require parent/legal guardian consent for each student prior to participation in COVID-19 screening testing. Participation may be discontinued at any time upon parent/legal guardian request by revoking your consent in the online registration portal at https://fcpstestingsite.com. You may follow the process for revoking consent by unchecking the “Testing Consent“ checkbox on the homepage. This revocation can be reinstated by re-checking the “Testing Consent“ checkbox. A separate “Testing Consent“ checkbox is provided for each child listed. For support with the online registration portal, you may also email fcps@lts.com or call LTS Portal Support at 571-354-6205.
Your consent in this portal remains valid until you revoke it.
For more information, please see the FCPS website on COVID-19 testing.
High School Information
Information on Spring Sports
Please check out our Lake Braddock Athletic Information webpage! Here you can find ticket information, team schedules, scores, forms needed and more! The most up-to-date Athletics and Activities News You Choose for Lake Braddock can be found in the top banner at that site as well.
Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo Marketing
Are you interested in learning about various careers? Would you like the opportunity to connect with professionals in career fields across Northern Virginia? Do you want to learn about possible internships, volunteer, job shadowing and apprenticeship opportunities?
Then please attend the FREE Virtual Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo event scheduled for after school on:
Monday, February 14, through Thursday, February 17, 4-8 pm
Click here for more information and to REGISTER.
If you would like to see descriptions of all sessions offered and speakers, follow these directions:
Directions for Viewing the Instruction 2 Industry Crowd Compass Event Platform
- Open your internet web browser and click this link: bit.ly/2022I2Ieventplatform
- Enter the event password: CareerPathways2022
- Click the text that reads, “No thanks, I’ll do this later.” Please note that you will not be able to add sessions to “My Schedule” unless you login to the event platform.
Class of 2022 Information
For the most up-to-date information for the Class of 2022, check out the LB Website at the Senior Page and have your senior join the class of 2022 Schoology group for all of the most up to date information! The group code is: WWFX-8766-FHNJ6.
Class of 2022 Key Dates and Announcements
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Senior Fees- $75 Payable on
MySchoolBucks or you can bring exact cash or check made out to LBSS (memo Senior Fee) to the Main Office during school hours.
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Senior Yard Signs-Purchase at the PTSA website.
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100 Day Meeting-March 1st at 6pm, LB Cafeteria
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Prom-May 14th from 7pm-11pm, Fairview Marriott
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Graduation-June 6th at 9:30am, Eagle Bank Arena!
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All Night Grad Party-June 7th at the St. James.
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ANGP T-Shirt Contest
The ANGP Planning committee is sponsoring a T-shirt contest for the ANGP shirt. All entries are due by February 25. Email a scan/picture of the design to LBANGPtshirtdesigns@gmail.com. Prize for the selected design!
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Middle School Information
MS After-School Program
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WIN Time Enrichment Activities for MS
For the remainder of the school year, Lake Braddock will be offering some enrichment activities for MS students during WIN Time to engage with LBSS staff and some of their fellow Bruins. Students should signup via Schoology sign up form (see details below). For the first couple weeks, we will accept walk-ins (as long as students have a signed all pass from their advisory teacher). Once max capacity is reached, students will be asked to return to advisory and signup online to ensure that they secure a participation spot for WIN Time Enrichment Activities.
WIN Time Enrichment will occur on Gold Days during advisory from 9:45am until 10:25am with Mr. Hines and other LBSS staff in the cafeteria. In order to participate, student must sign up using the signup form and receive a confirmation note to use as a hall pass during WIN Time on Gold Days to gain access to the cafeteria.
JOIN WIN TIME ENRICHMENT SCHOOLOGY (to access the signup form; released at 8am on Gold Days).
Schoology Access Code: PHPK-C5C6-RVVMF
New Group Join Link
WIN Time Enrichment will be offered to students on a "first come, first serve" basis. The confirmation page from the signup form should be used as students’ hall pass during WIN Time. The signup form will be closed once we reach the max capacity number for signups (appx. 100 students per day). Only students that have the confirmation page from the signup form will be authorized to enter WIN Time Enrichment Activities on Gold Days in the cafeteria. We are starting at the middle school level, but activity offerings will eventually be offered to HS students on select days as well. Stay tuned Bruins!
Questions can be directed to After-School Specialist, Jamaal Hines (jlhines@fcps.edu)
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Important Reminders
LB DECA Donation Drive
Elections Interest Meeting-Class Office, SGA, or SAC
Interested in running for class office, SGA, or SAC? Rising 9th-12th grade students interested in learning more are welcome to come either Feb. 14 (WIN time) or Feb. 15 (after school) in the SGA room, A212, for more details.
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PTSA
Check out the LB PTSA website for all the latest news and happenings!
HP Instant Impact Fundraising Program
Are you looking for a less expensive and more user-friendly way to buy printer cartridges without running to the store every other week? Sign up for an HP Instant Ink program and get printer cartridges mailed directly to your home and save up to 50% per cartridge! For more information on how to sign up, visit the HP website LINK HERE. For each new HP Instant Ink subscriber, HP will donate $10 to the LBSS PTSA.
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LBSS PTSA's 2nd Annual Virtual Auction Live March 9-23!
The LBSS community will have the opportunity to bid on some amazing products, services, gift cards and more to benefit LBSS students, teachers and families. All proceeds from this auction will be used for student scholarships, educational grants, events, programs, teacher and student recognition, family engagement and general school support.
Several local businesses have generously donated some amazing items including Burke Sporting Goods, Dick’s Sporting Goods, A Dog’s Day Out, 29th Parallel Coffee, Barrel Oak Winery, Bunnyman Brewery, Fredericksburg Nationals, Glory Days, Nando’s Peri Peri, Massanutten Resort and more!
To learn more about the virtual auction or to donate to the auction, visit our LBSS PTSA virtual auction page and fill out the donation form at: https://lbssptsa.digitalpto.com/support-lbss/virtual-auction/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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PTSA Spirit Night at Jersey Mike's February 18th
Spirit Nights at Jersey Mike's will take place every Friday from February 18th to March 18th.
NovaStar Prep February SAT Bootcamp
The LBSS PTSA is partnering with Novastar Prep to offer a virtual SAT Bootcamp to LBSS students in February. Ten percent of each registration ($295) by a LBSS student will be donated to the PTSA. To register for the bootcamps, please visit the following links below:
February 26-27 SAT Bootcamp
For more information about the bootcamps, please visit the NovaStar website here.
The Princeton Review Online SAT Practice Exam: February 19
The LBSS PTSA is partnering with The Princeton Review to offer a virtual SAT practice exam on Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A percentage of the registration will be donated to the PTSA. Registration fees are $5 for PTSA members and $15 for non-PTSA members. To register for the practice exam, please visit: https://lbssptsa.digitalpto.com/programs/psat-sat-act/tpr/feb19/
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FCPS Information
Join in the Resource Review Process
Anyone who would like to have a voice in the resources selected for elementary language arts classrooms has that opportunity this month. Resource review is happening now.
You can review digital resources and leave feedback online. Physical resources for elementary language arts are being reviewed throughout the month at the Willow Oaks Administration Center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. In-person review hours will be extended to 7 p.m. on February 10.
Learn more on our website.
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Understanding ESSER III Funding's Impact on Student Success
Last fall, FCPS received $188.6 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding. These funds have helped us safely reopen our schools and to keep them open. We have also been able to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. If you are not familiar with ESSER III, here are a few things you should know about how it impacts student success. ESSER III focus areas include:
- Prevention and mitigation strategies to help keep schools open and safe for students and staff.
- Academic intervention services, such as tutoring, after-school programs, and summer learning programs.
- Professional development to ensure our schools are welcoming and culturally responsive to all students and families.
- Multilingual engagement to ensure information is accessible to all families.
- Additional support for students’ social emotional needs.
There will be two opportunities for you to tell us how well FCPS is meeting ESSER III requirements around a safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of learning. Please stay tuned for details! Visit the ESSER III webpage for more information.
Substitute Job Fair February 17th
Fairfax County Public Schools is currently hiring daily and long-term substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants. Substitutes help our students thrive when their teacher must be out of the classroom and are essential members of every school’s team.
Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Join us for our Substitute Teaching Job Fair on Thursday, February 17, from 9-11 a.m. Learn more about the fair, as well as how to apply, prepare, register, and attend.
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Important LBSS and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
Attendance Lines
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS:
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
Procedures for Picking Up a Student Early
- Prior to 8:00 a.m., the student must present a note from the parent to their subschool office. Notes must include time of dismissal, reason for leaving, and a contact number. Parents of middle school students must also include the name of the person picking the student up. Please note that this person must be listed as an emergency contact. At the time of early check-out, middle school parents must come in Entrance 1 and meet their student at the security desk. Anyone picking up a middle school student must bring a photo ID with them. High school parents may pick up students outside Entrance 1.
- Notes are strongly preferred for early check-out, but if a parent is unable to send a note with the student, the parent should call the subschool office as early as possible. All calls will be confirmed by callback to a phone number on the emergency care card. Regrettably, if the parent did not send a note with the student, the parent will be required to park, come into the school to furnish a note, and pick up the student. Without advance notice provided by a note, there may be a wait until our staff is able to locate the student, particularly if the student is at lunch or in a physical education class. We further regret that without advance notice, we are unable to accommodate requests for early dismissal after 2:15 pm.
- In either case, students must check out at the subschool office when leaving school and check in with the security desk upon return. Students who leave school without checking out properly will be marked unexcused and may face disciplinary action (if returning to school, students are also subject to search). Students must contact all teachers of any class to be missed.
Read our full Attendance procedures at our website.
Late Bus Information
Late bus days are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Buses will pick up students in the front of the building with a departure time of approximately 4:45 pm. Please check StudentVue and ParentVue for your student's late bus number and stop. If you have any questions, please contact your student's appropriate subschool.
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Stay Informed with Lake Braddock Athletics!
Want the latest information on anything Lake Braddock athletic events or announcements? Check out our Lake Braddock Athletic Information webpage! Here you can find ticket information, team schedules, scores, forms needed and more! The most up-to-date Athletics and Activities News You Choose for Lake Braddock can be found in the top banner as well.
FCPS Technology Support for Families
The Parent Technology Help Desk is available to support parents and students through this new school year. Parents and students can visit the Parent and Student IT Support Portal to find self-help resources or submit a tech support request ticket.
Telephone Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
FCPS Cares
We invite you to share and submit your story about a Lake Braddock staff member who has gone above and beyond for your child this year. Share the positivity, dedication and commitment that occurs here each and every day. Click this link.
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FCPS Medical Care Resources for Families
Whether your family needs medical care for a COVID-related issue, seasonal cold or allergies, injuries, routine exams, or mental health and wellness, our community has a number of resources for you. Visit the Mental and Physical Health and Community Resources webpage for a full list of organizations that can provide support and care.
FCPS Mental Health Resources
- If you are depressed, in crisis, or just want to talk, please text NEEDHELP to 85511 or call 1-800-273-TALK. Someone will be there to listen.
- If you're going through a tough time, don't go it alone. Reach out to a parent, friend, or trusted adult. You can also text NEEDHELP to 85511 at any time–day or night.
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