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Greetings Frost MS,
I understand we have 14 school days until the end of the year, but who’s counting! We had a great week of learning this week! We also had a great week of testing! The students are engaged in the yearly SOL testing and, as you may expect, students are doing exceptionally well for any year, but especially after being in the pandemic for the past two and half years!
We’ve also celebrated our Science Olympiad team on the accomplishment and awards they’ve won recently. We’ve also had a couple school renovation visits over the past three weeks!
We are super excited about the possibilities! For example, I plan to have a makerspace in the newly built library! I would like to have every 8th grade student work on a Passion Project next year. They would use their passion in the arts, sciences, etc.., to design and create something that helps someone! In addition to the 8th grade Passion Project, I am beginning discussions with teachers about interdisciplinary projects that Math, Science, Technology and possibly art can work on together! Again, indeed an exciting time!
As we are preparing for the end of the school year, please help us by reminding students to be on their best behavior. We’d abhor having one bad decision tarnish what has been an otherwise stellar year for any student!
As you know, COVID-19 cases have been increasing in Fairfax County and in schools. Here at Frost MS, we have seen an increase in cases and continue to encourage everyone to take the steps they feel necessary to stay safe and healthy.
We have been transparent about how the pandemic is impacting Frost MS and our students all year. We will continue to share daily COVID-19 notifications whenever there is a confirmed positive case in our school. This information is provided to make our school community aware of the current situation and be able to make informed decisions about how to protect themselves.
I appreciate the patience, support, and understanding you have shown throughout this school year as we adjust our response to the pandemic. Together, we have kept our students participating in learning and activities.
I look forward to celebrating the end of the school year with everyone.
All the best and don’t forget, “Work Hard. Be Nice. Widen Your Circle.” We are #ONEFrost!
Anthony Harris
May 3 – May 24 No After School Program on Tuesdays and Fridays
May 26 Last Day of the After School Program
May 30 Memorial Day Holiday – School and Offices Closed
May 31 Yearbook Distribution – 4th Period
June 3 8th Grade Celebration
June 10 Last Day of School – Two-Hour Early Dismissal
FCPS' Family Return to School Survey Is Coming Soon
Now that FCPS has transitioned back to a more typical school experience, the school division is interested in hearing from parents/caregivers about how the school year has gone for their students. You will have an opportunity to provide your feedback on our Family Return to School Survey which will open Tuesday, May 31, and close Friday, June 10.
The survey is being administered by the FCPS Office of Research and Strategic Improvement, which provides objective research and data-based information back to the school division’s leadership. The survey is part of the office’s continuing evaluation of the pandemic’s impact on our school division. We encourage all FCPS parents/caregivers to respond to the survey and share their experiences whether positive or negative. The information you and other families provide will be used, along with other data, to inform FCPS leadership about the return to five days a week of in-person instruction, and support FCPS’ efforts to make improvements that support schools, students, and staff. It will also be included in ESSER III reporting.
Annandale Summer Sports Camps
Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering various summer sports camps for rising 2nd graders through rising 9th graders led by Annandale coaches.
Camps run each day from 8:30am to 3:00pm. The cost of the five-day camps is only $125 (Olympics Camp is 4 days for $100). Credit cards or checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to “Annandale Athletic Boosters”. Payment is due on the first day of camp. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp, and they should bring a snack and a water bottle each day.
Click HERE to register for any or all of these camps. More information can be found at AnnandaleAtoms.net. See descriptions of the various camps below.
If you have any questions, please email John Ellenberger, Director of Student Activities, at jellenberger@fcps.edu.
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Mental Health Acceptance Month
May is Mental Health Acceptance Month. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a serious toll on the mental health of children in Virginia as young people continue to face physical isolation, ongoing uncertainty, fear, and grief,” says the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (VA-AAP). “Even before the pandemic, mental health challenges facing children were of great concern, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated them.”
Between March and October 2020, the percentage of emergency department visits for children with mental health emergencies rose by 24% for children ages 5-11 and 31% for children ages 12-17. There was also a more than 50% increase in suspected suicide attempt emergency department visits among girls ages 12-17 in early 2021 as compared to the same period in 2019. Read more in this news release from the VA-AAP.
Mental wellness is key to student success and the pandemic has added to mental health challenges facing children of all ages.
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Preparing for a Military Move? What Every Military Family Needs to Know
FCPS is hosting a new, free webinar for military families on Friday, June 3 from 10:00-11:30 am.
Did you know military-connected students experience different “seasons” as they navigate their school years?
Using tools from her book, “Seasons of My Military Student,” Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman will offer relevant tips and strategies for managing new challenges.
- Registration and withdrawal process
- How to use the Education Binder
- Why goodbyes are important
- Resources within FCPS for military families
Join Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman for our fourth of a 4-part series supporting military-connected families
June 3, 2022 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Register for Preparing for the Unexpected: Challenges of the Military Family
Attend free family and educator webinars to learn the latest information to help your child succeed. Find out more through the Parent Resource Center.
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In the month of June, we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice.
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Do Your Part: Stay Home When Sick
FCPS has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases recently as the county has transitioned to the medium community level. Schools continue to apply layered prevention strategies to maintain a healthy work and learning environment. However, each of us has a responsibility to do our part to help keep ourselves, our students, and our colleagues safe. As we enter the final weeks of the school year, we must stay vigilant so we can all enjoy the events and milestones ahead and be ready for a relaxing and healthy summer.
Easy ways to “Do Your Part” include: staying up to date on vaccinations and boosters, considering when and where to choose to mask up, practicing good hygiene, and monitoring symptoms daily.
It is increasingly important to stay home if you feel unwell and testing is a critical strategy to slow transmission. Visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for information about COVID testing and testing sites. At-home testing is also a good option. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a third round of free at-home COVID tests; visit COVID.gov for details.
FREE Tutoring is Available Now! How to Use FCPS Tutor!
Get expert help in a safe, secure virtual learning space—anytime, anywhere, on any device. Tutors can help you with reading, math, and so much more! You can connect by voice or text-chat and work together with your tutor in our online classroom.
Detailed information, including an instructional video, on how use Tutor.com is at this link:
https://www.fcps.edu/node/45565
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 5/23/22, Falcon Focus teachers will provide lessons on breathing techniques to help students incorporate Mindfulness into daily practice. Through morning announcements on 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!
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.
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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.
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
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
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