This Week at Frost

Greetings Frost Middle School!

We started the month of May by expressing our endless gratitude for our teachers.  There will never be enough thank you’s for all that teachers do on a daily basis here at Frost Middle School. While we know that teachers should be celebrated more than just one week a year, we hope that this week they felt valued and appreciated.  We could not have pulled off this amazing week for our teachers without the support from the parents/guardians and the community.  We are extremely fortunate and thankful for all the donations that were provided to make this week a success.

As we continue with the month of May, let’s remember that May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  After the last two years of pandemic living, many of us have realized that stress, isolation, and uncertainty can take a toll on our well-being. We hope that some of the mindfulness strategies that our students are learning this month might bring a little peace and calmness to their days.

Looking towards next week! Progress reports will be emailed on Wednesday, May 11^th.  On Thursday, May 12^th we will be following a different bell schedule to accommodate our 8^th grade students taking the Science SOL.  During this testing time, our 7^th grade students will be participating in math and literacy review in Falcon Focus classes. Please see the bell schedule below. There will be some fun for our students and staff on Friday, May 13^, when they go to Busch Gardens for a musical field trip.  Finally, on Saturday, May 14^th some our Theatre students will be going to the city that never sleeps for the day! 

Bell Schedule for May 12th

Period 4 - 7:30-10:33 Testing block

Period 6 - 10:40-12:40

Period 2 - 12:47 - 1:27

Period 8 - 1:34 - 2:15

It’s great to be a Frostie!

Upcoming Dates - Mark Your Calendars

May 3 – May 24          No After School Program on Tuesdays and Fridays

May 12                        SOL Test - 8^th Grade Science

May 17                        7^th and 8^th Grade Reading

May 19                        7^th and 8^th Grade Math (including Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2)

May 26                        Last Day of the After School Program

May 30                        Memorial Day Holiday

May 31                        Yearbook Distribution – 4^th Period

June 3                         8^th Grade Celebration

June 10                       Last Day of School

New This Week

Monitor COVID-19 Symptoms and Stay Home When Sick

Fairfax County Public Schools continues to monitor cases and report COVID-19 outbreaks, as outlined by the Virginia Department of Health. Currently,  Fairfax County's Community Level remains low as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our layered prevention strategies are being implemented based on our COVID-19 Community Level, as recommended by the CDC.

However, FCPS has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and outbreaks and parents/legal guardians are reminded of the daily health screening requirement to check their students for mild, cold-like symptoms each day, such as fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath. Parents and guardians are advised to keep their students home if sick and get them tested to stop further spread from occurring. 

VaxUp

We continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated or boosted as soon as they are eligible. COVID-19 vaccination keeps children safely in school and childcare settings, and also while participating in sports, playdates, extracurricular activities, and other group activities. Strong community vaccination rates help keep our schools safe for in-person learning. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine or find a vaccine provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website.

Masking

As a reminder, students may return to school after five days of isolation if they are fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving. As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) individuals should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period. If individuals are unable to wear a mask when around others, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days at home. 

While not required, wearing a mask while indoors is still considered an important way to protect yourself and others. Families are encouraged to discuss mask wearing as an additional layered prevention strategy.

Additional recommendations to prevent COVID-19 are available online.

In Other News....

After School Program Changes

Beginning on May 3, the after-school program will not be in session on Tuesdays and Fridays.  The program will end for this school year on Thursday, May 26. 

Mindful May!

Welcome to Mindful May! Mindfulness is a particular way of paying attention and purposefully bringing awareness to what is happening in the moment. By learning the skill of focused attention, mindfulness can be applied to the five senses as well as thoughts and emotions. Through the use of mindfulness, we learn to create space which allows us the opportunity to change impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses.

During Advisory on 5/02/22, 5/10/22, 5/18/22 and 5/23/22, Falcon Focus teachers will provide lessons on breathing techniques to help students incorporate Mindfulness into daily practice. Through morning announcements on 5/09/22, 5/16/22 and 5/23/22, students will be encouraged to take a Mindful Minute. Additionally, counselors will begin each week in May by announcing a Mindful Monday Tip to provide students with a weekly strategy to try out. Finally, each Friday we will enjoy relaxing music in the cafeteria during all lunch shifts. We hope that these activities will help students find ways to bring peace to their day throughout the month of May!

Update on Isolation Procedures for Students

Since the start of the pandemic, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has regularly reviewed and adjusted our health and safety guidance in alignment with recommendations from local, state and national health experts.

As a result, FCPS will be changing current isolation procedures for students who have tested positive for COVID-19. Beginning May 1, 2022, your child may return to in-person instruction and activities, including athletics, after at least five (5) days of isolation when your child has met the following criteria:

• Student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
• Student’s symptoms have improved or resolved; AND
• Student wears a well-fitting mask for 5 additional days (day six through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance

If students are unable to wear a mask when around others, they are to continue to isolate for a full 10 days at home.

Children who are in isolation will continue to have access to our StreamIn/CheckIn during this time. 

The new procedure aligns with the timeline recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). It also follows improving vaccination rates in the Fairfax Health District, as well as a continued community level of low in Fairfax County.

We continue to balance the need for students to have a high-quality in-person learning experience with student and staff safety. By adhering to our layered prevention strategies and increasing vaccination rates, we are all doing our part to keep schools safe.

Important Kiss and Ride Reminder

As we continue with a strong finish for the 2022 school, we offer a IMPORTANT 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.  To support this it is imperative that we follow the steps below to support student safety. 

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.  
• 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. 

Free Online Tutoring Services for All Students Started April 14!

All FCPS students have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost. Funds to support Tutor.com for school year 2022-23 and 2023-24 will come from an ESSER III Unfinished Learning Grant. 

Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing student’s strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology. 

All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check. No personal information is shared between a student and tutor. All sessions are recorded and transcripts are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians. 

Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. All FCPS families will soon receive an email including an online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. Additionally, a hard copy form will be sent home with every student. 

For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website

Student Intentions for Next School Year

For students who will NOT be attending Frost, Woodson, or a boundary FCPS high school next year, please complete the Student Intention for the Next School Year form, https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/it110.pdf,  and return it to Emily Cheng in the Frost Student Services office, or via email ECheng@fcps.edu.

This includes students who are transferring to:

• Another FCPS school other than Frost or Woodson or boundary HS
• A private school in Virginia or out of Virginia
• Another Virginia public school division outside FCPS
• Another state public school outside of Virginia
• A school outside of the United States

ESSER at Frost

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) is a federal grant which requires that spending be used in specific areas.  Part of the Fairfax County Public Schools spending plan identifies funding to be used for Unfinished Learning and Student Academic and Social, Emotional, Mental Health (Wellness) Needs.  Schools have been given funding allocations to support the academic and wellness needs of students.  Schools are required to create plans in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Wellness highlighting the strategies they will use to support these areas using their ESSER III funding.  These strategies are shown on the following website: https://frostms.fcps.edu/about/school-improvement-plan

Opportunity to Expunge High School Classes and Algebra Summer Learning Opportunities

Students enrolled in high school classes (Algebra, Geometry, World Language level 1 or 1B) in Middle School have the opportunity to expunge or remove the class from a student’s transcript.   Information regarding that process can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/grading-and-reporting/secondary/taking-high-school-courses-in-middle-school.  If a student would like to expunge the course from his or her transcript, this form needs to be returned to the school counselor before the end of the first quarter of the 22-23 school year.  The student then has the opportunity to retake it in the 22-23 school year or over the summer, depending on readiness. 

Summer course registration information can be found at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-programs.  There is a change for those students currently enrolled in Algebra 1 this year and wish to retake the course over the summer.  These students are able to enroll in either Summer Online Campus Algebra 1 or Credit Recovery.  Further details are on the website above.

• Summer Online Campus Algebra 1 (new option) is for current middle school students who want to improve their understanding of course content.  Middle school students may use this summer online course to replace their expunged  2021-22 school-year grade.  Students will complete the appropriate SOL test at the end of the course if needed (if not already passed during the school year). No honors credit will be awarded. The course will run June 21 to July 22, and students will meet with their instructors, virtually, for one hour each day.
• Credit Recovery Academy Algebra 1 (in-person) - This course is for FCPS students who have taken Algebra 1 and have been unsuccessful in earning credit.  Students cannot take the in-person Credit Recovery Academy Algebra 1 course if they have already passed Algebra 1 or Honors Algebra 1, or for new course credit.

Summer Arts Program Registration Opens March 1

All students with an interest in continuing to explore the arts are eligible for two summer enrichment programs. Registration opens on March 1 for the Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) Summer enrichment programs. 

Elementary Institute for the Arts (for rising 3rd through 6th graders) and Institute for the Arts (for rising 7th through 12th graders) will be held July 5-29 at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Classes are offered every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. Both programs have fees, waivers are available for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.  

For more information or to register, visit the Summer Learning webpage

CTE Summer Academy

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again planning an engaging summer enrichment program for students! For our current 7th to 11th grade students, we have CTE Summer Academy.

4101 Pickett Rd Fairfax, VA 22032  | Main Office: 703.426.5700
Attendance: 703.426.5702 | Web | Twitter