Dear Beech Tree Families:

This week, our students celebrated their love of reading with great spirit! I’d like to remind you that schools are closed tomorrow, March 4^th, for a staff development day.

On Tuesday, March 1^st, masks became optional for all students and staff.
The day, as well as the rest of the week, went smoothly. Respect for each
individual’s decision was respected and honored. I am choosing to model both the wearing of the mask, as well as not wearing the mask. I want students and staff to know either decision is valued. We are continuing to practice social distancing, hand washing/sanitizing, and disinfection of high touch areas. We will continue to do our part to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. I remain grateful for your partnership and support, as we move towards better days ahead.

Our FCPS Virtual 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held Saturday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (EST)

Live stream presentations by our guest speakers and asynchronous (pre-recorded) conference presentations by FCPS Staff and Community Partners will be available during sessions 1 and 2.

Register for a live session by clicking the registration link in the schedule below:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_
ROpC4chwSamnxx_yzVuWng  

• You must register for each individual session you plan to attend. 
• You will receive an individual link to each Zoom session after your submit your registration. 
• If you need a foreign language interpreter (Spanish, Korean, Amharic, or Arabic), American Sign Language
  (ASL), or Cued Language Transliterator (CLT) interpreter, or any other accommodation to attend this conference.
  For questions, please contact the Special Education Conference
  Planning Committee at specialedconf@fcps.edu.

Each year our Special Education conference draws an audience of parents, educators, administrators, preservice teachers, and community members eager to hear the latest research, strategies, and trends in the education of students with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Our virtual exhibit hall showcases the important services FCPS and local organizations offer. Exhibitors include Fairfax County Public Schools groups, local government agencies and non-profit organizations. Guest speakers are well-known professionals in the community and will cover a variety of high interest topics for parents, FCPS educators, and administrators. The presentations will be synchronous (live) and hosted through a zoom webinar.

First-Class Award Nomination Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf8q1Bworv9QOsF1HM
_rjMC3iZcwgwI8893cbcBcPGL1Lja2A/viewform

Now is the time to nominate an administrator, a staff member, or a student who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close March 4, 2022. Email SpecialEdConf@fcps.edu with questions.

As a reminder, here are some summer enrichment opportunities you may wish to consider for your children:

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA): Camps and Institutes is a summer exploration of the arts for elementary school students currently in grades 2-5.E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for elementary-aged students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theatre, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Students have four classes every day. There is one, 70-minute class in dance, music, theatre, and visual art every day. Students will have a 30-minute lunch break every day. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. There is bus transportation from select FCPS high schools and middle schools outside of the Lake Braddock Secondary School pyramid. Transportation to and from these schools is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Transportation information will be communicated to families prior to the start of the program. Registration will begin March 1^st: https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/default.aspx  Contact EIFTA@fcps.edu

Tech Adventure Camp is a summer enrichment and exploratory program in career and technical education for students in grades 2 - 6. Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a weekly exploratory camp designed to give students the opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, business and marketing areas. The camp is open to students in grades 2-6 during the 2021-22 school year. Dates are: July 11 - 29, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Early drop off begins at 7:30 a.m. Tuition is $275 per week. Students eligible for free and reduced lunch pay no tuition. To be eligible, students must apply on the Free and Reduced Meals website: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals  You must allow your benefits to be shared or submit the Consent to Share Information Form. Students have five classes every day. There is one 55 minute class in STEAM, health and medical, trade and industrial, culinary, and computer science every day. There is bus transportation from select FCPS high schools and middle schools. Transportation to and from these schools is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Transportation information will be communicated to families prior to the start of the program. Register here: https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/AcademicSubjectListing.aspx?CategoryID=10701&ProgramID=582&ProgCatgName=CTE%20Summer%20Enrichment&IsCourse=1&SubjectID=10787&AreaName=Tech%20Adventure%20Camp

Tech Adventure Camp at Home

Explore Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses from home at your own pace! This FREE resource includes activity guides and supply lists needed to create several fun projects in STEAM, cooking, health, trades, business and marketing areas.

Students can access these guides by visiting the Enrichment Activities Google Site: https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/cte-enrichment/enrichment-activities  Students must log in using their FCPS G Suite account (a student's ID number followed by @fcpsschools.net). For more information about Tech Adventure Camp, contact Beth Mehr at bgmehr@fcps.edu.

*Beech Tree will have a limited summer program from July 11 through July 29, 2022. The Summer Site Director will be our school counselor, Yolanda Adams and the program will be available by invitation only for Bridge to Kindergarten (B2K), Young Scholars, and targeted intervention classes. These invitations will not go out until we are closer to the end of the school year. All current 1^st through 5^th graders will continue to have access to iReady online instructional resources in Math and Reading over the summer months. Grade level teachers will share more information with you regarding access.

Upcoming Beech Tree Calendar Dates To Remember:

3/4 =          No School: Staff Development Day

3/10 =        Family Life Education Question & Answer Session  5:30pm

                   *Private Zoom link will be sent via eNotify the day of the meeting.

                   PTA Meeting at 6:30pm

                   *Private Zoom link will be sent via eNotify the day of the meeting.

3/15 =        PTA Restaurant Night 11am to 10pm

                   Dogfish Alehouse 6220 Leesburg Pike at Seven Corners Center

3/24 =        Partners In Print Night for PreK through 2^nd at 6:30pm

                   *Private Zoom link will be sent via eNotify the day of the meeting.

3/31=         Kindergarten Orientation at 2:30pm

                   *Cafeteria

4/1 =          Deadline for Yearbook orders: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/LookupJob?jobNumber=14478822

                   *Yearbooks will ONLY be sold online, using the link above. The office will NOT have extras.

Please share with your neighbors that Kindergarten Registration has begun for the 2022-2023 school year. Please contact our registrar, Ms. Susan Do at sndo@fcps.edu to begin the process. This link helps other families you may know, to identify their base school, using this link: http://boundary.fcps.edu/boundary/. Additionally, more information about registration may be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration

Please continue to reach out to our PTA President, Megan Laboy at meganlaboy@gmail.com to offer any help you are able to provide for our Fun Fair at the end of April. Thank you!

As always, I thank you for your trust. Let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns.

Karim Daugherty

Principal

Beech Tree ES

703-531-2600

https://twitter.com/BeechTreeElem

https://beechtreees.fcps.edu/

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell