Week End 10.14.22

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Students participating in a scavenger hunt to learn how to find books in different locations of the library.

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Dress to Impress @ Picture Day!

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Play Ball during PE classes

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Making Friends @ Sandburg MS and creating Memories!

Community Coffee October 28th – Track for Success:

Is your child on track for academic success in school? Join us as we host our Community Coffee on October 28th at 8:00am Cafeteria.  This will take place in the Carl Sandburg Cafeteria.  The topic of our discussion will engage on “Supporting Your Child’s Academic Needs!” It is here that we will discuss ways to help ensure students success and supports that are offered here at Sandburg Middle School.  We look forward to seeing you here!

Youth Survey

Please take the time to review important information regarding Youth Survey. This year’s survey will be given to our 8th graders; however, if you do not want your child to participate in the survey, please complete and return the Opt-Out form by October 19th, 2022. ***Translated versions of the opt-out form are provided in the blue hyperlink below.  

 

Sign up for Sandburg MS updates

Please be sure to register to receive notifications from our school.

 https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/subscriber/new?qsp=Sandburg_MS

 

Health Information and Emergency Care Forms

The Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE -71) Health Information Form and the Emergency Care Information form (SS/SE-3) Emergency Care Information provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are critical in the early identification of students who may need healthcare support in the educational environment. Along with the development of Healthcare Plans (HCP) and Action Plans, the Public Health Nurses (PHNs) utilize the information contained in the HIF to develop teaching strategies for FCPS staff in order to meet the requirements of Regulation 2104 Health Services-School Health Related Needs.

For SY 22-23, these forms will be required for all students. Parents/guardians may submit these forms either through electronic submission accessed within the weCare@school (weCare) module; or thorough Back to School packets for those families without ParentVue accounts.

Social and Emotional Learning Activities and Screener  Students in grades 3-12 will be able to participate in the SEL screener. School teams and families use this information to develop positive school cultures and support students academically and personally. This year, students will participate in the screener in the fall (October/November) and spring (March). Parents are able to opt their child out of taking the SEL screener. Read more about SEL and signature practices online.

Low-Cost Internet for Free and Reduced-Price Eligible Students

VA DOE has provided the following resources to promote the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new FCC program to lower internet costs for families with children who have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals within the last 12 months. A qualifying household will receive $30 per month toward internet services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Families can check their eligibility and register at AffordableConnectivity.gov or by calling 877-384-2575. Visit our Free and Reduced-Price Meals website for more information on the criteria to be eligible and how to apply.  Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The FCPS Calendar

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career.

Take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to ensure that any trips or family events are on weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10 percent of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to the school. Most schools have links to their attendance email or notification systems on their homepages. If you are unsure of how to contact them, call the front office.

Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance.

Digital Resource Consent Forms

You can view a list of all of the instructional digital tools that may be used thar require parental approval please review our Digital Resources page. These tools have been carefully reviewed to ensure that they align with the FCPS Learning Model and FCPS conducts the same technical evaluations for all products that use student information. 

By completing this digital form, you provide permission for your child to use the FCPS-approved online tools listed below as part of an instructional program.

You can find more information about FCPS’ commitment to student privacy and how resources are vetted at Digital Resources in FCPS.

Students Rights and Responsibilities: Letter to Parents

https://sandburgms.fcps.edu/announcements/student-rights-and-responsibilities-information-families#.YwTamavr-U0.link

Tutor.com

FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, 1-to-1, online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 22-23 SY. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

 

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.

 

When Should My Child Stay Home?

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit our site for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and your school.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify your child’s counselor so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school public health nurse, and call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long. Attend today, Achieve Tomorrow!

 

What You Can Do to Prevent Substance Misuse

It’s true, youth are more inclined to listen to their peers than their parents, this is part of the way the brain develops. When a baby is born, their brain’s sole responsibility is keeping them alive, then as they grow into adolescence, finding their tribe becomes important. Think of your top three happiest memories. What were you doing? How did you feel? Who was there? Each of these memories was likely a shared experience. You were laughing and smiling with loved ones, maybe food was even involved. Now think of your three worst memories. What was going on? How did you feel? Who was there? In each of these memories, you likely were alone or felt alone. 

Substance use becomes a problem for some because they either are alone or felt alone. Connection has been shown to be important in our everyday lives, again think of your happiest memories. Fairfax County’s “Three to Succeed” describes protective factors that youth need to achieve their higher selves. If a child has at least three of these protective factors, they are more likely to succeed in life: having high personal integrity, having community adults to talk to, performing community service, participating in extracurricular activities, having teachers recognize good work, and having parents available for help. What you notice is five of the six protective factors involve connection with someone else, the first protective factor describes connection with oneself. 

 

Here’s Some Helpful Resources:

Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Substance Use Prevention & Encouraging Healthy Brain Development

REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses

FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program

 

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS. 

 

After School Sign Up

Sandburg After School Clubs and Activities will begin on September 13, 2022.  Please fill the registration form.  Please click the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb0n4YbA_nectSzLEyrWdSlmXadp3lgo2AT62lj7IJ7q1hA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Below you will see the link for our After School Website.  On this website you will get familiar with our Club sponsors and the Afterschool Schedule.  Please note students will sign up during lunches for the clubs they want to attend.  Please note that students have to sign up everyday the club is taking place.  We are a large school and some clubs have to have a cap size on it. 

Transportation is provided for students who ride the school bus.  I have that information and will provide it to the students.  Please note that the buses in After school will drop your student(s) off at a different stop in their living area.  Also, the bus they ride for the After School Program IS NOT the same bus they ride during the regular school day.  For example, if they ride Bus 16 during the  day, it could possibly be Bus 1 in the After School Program. 

ON SANDBURG WEBSITE PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REGISTERED YOUR CHILD FOR AFTER SCHOOL.  ALL STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED IN ORDER TO STAY AFTER.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jamaal Carter jlcarter3@fcps.edu

ASP Site

 

Student Vue and Parent Vue

All FCPS students have a Student Vue account. All student schedules are active and up to date in SIS Student Vue and SIS Parent Vue. If you do not have a SIS Parent Vue account, we strongly encourage you to sign up for an account. You can find directions on how to do so at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-registration. Once you have signed up for an account, you’ll need an activation code - which we will work as quickly as we can to provide to you. You can find a video that provides information on how to use SIS Parent Vue and all that you will be able to access with your account here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLwkkemipws.

 

Sandburg MS Spirit Wear

Show your Sandburg Panther PRIDE and check out these great options! 

https://www.sandburgspiritwear.com/

 

News from Student Services

Signs of Suicide (SOS) This school year, school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. On Friday, November 4th and Wednesday, November 9th students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend.

World Credit Exam : Here is the link for the  World Language Credit Exam information in There will be communications from FCPS and the Fairfax county government regarding the free student bus pass program.  The video is below.

 

Public Bus Connector

There will be communications from FCPS and the Fairfax county government regarding the free student bus pass program.  The video is below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nycsQ6H-ql4

Feel free to reach out to your school with any questions.

 

Become an AVID Tutor

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is hiring AVID tutors for various

schools throughout Fairfax County for the 2022-2023 school year.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) tutors work with small

groups of approximately 5-7 middle school students during the school

day in an academic elective class called AVID. These groups use higher

order questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of

college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.

Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and must be currently enrolled in college

or be college graduates. If interested, please email your resume to

Karen Huffman at kshuffman@fcps.edu.

 

COVID 19 Information

COVID-19 diagnostic testing is available at no cost for all currently enrolled FCPS students on select dates throughout the year when transmission may be highest. Diagnostic testing is provided at designated times and locations for those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

Testing will be available 12-14Visit the testing website for information on locations and how to register for an appointment.

News from West Potomac

WEST POTOMAC WOLVERINES!  Friday Night Lights.  Varsity Football @ 7:00 pm.

Home games are October 21, and November 4.

We want every one of you to show your school spirit!  The cost of all regular-season Varsity Football games is $5.00 for students and adults. Attendees 65 and over, and those 5 and under have free admission. 

The game starts at 7:00 PM, so make sure to dress appropriately for the weather.  All middle and elementary school students must have a parent/guardian to enter and need to be supervised by an adult while at the game.  All students must plan to have their rides waiting for them at 9:30 PM.  Let’s go WOLVERINES!

We are expecting a very large crowd so please plan on coming early.

All elementary and middle school students need a parent/guardian to enter and need to be supervised by an adult while at the game.  Any elementary or middle school student in violation of this policy will have parents called immediately and are subject to being excluded from future extracurricular events and ticket money will not be refunded.

 

Do you want your daughter to play Rugby?

Registration is now open for the Fort Hunt Gators Girls’ Fall Rugby Season! No experience necessary. Open for all Middle School and High School girls Grades 6-12. Practices are Tuesday at 6 pm at Walt Whitman MS.

If your daughter is interested in learning about one of the fastest growing sports in the world, please come out and join us! For more information and to register please go to http://www.forthuntrugby.org

 

NEWS FROM PTA

Thank you to all the families who participated in our first Clean Kitchen Night with Papa John's this week. We appreciate you supporting the CSMS PTA.

Holiday Poinsettias Available to Purchase

Believe it or not the holidays are right around the corner. To make your holidays a little brighter the PTA will be selling holiday poinsettias which will be available for pick up the second week of December. Poinsettias are on sale now until November 8th.  For $20 you can purchase a 7" pot with 8-10 blooms per pot, 14"-16" tall. You can choose from red or white plants. Farm fresh and a gorgeous addition to your holiday home, these will also make great gifts! Orders can be placed here.

If you have any questions please contact us at ptacarlsandburg@gmail.com.

 

Candy Grams are Coming 10/26-10/28

Students can buy spooky pops ($1) or candy-filled hands ($4) for their friends or themselves. Grams will be sold during all lunch periods on 10/26-10/28. 

If your student is a part of NJHS you may have already heard about these, as they have been working to help make candy hands in preparation for the sale, all while getting in some service hours. 

October Teacher Appreciation Event

The PTA will host a caramel apple bar for CSMS teachers and staff. Be on the lookout for an opportunity to donate food items to make this event great!

Save the Date 

Next CSMS PTA Meeting will be held on November 15th at 7pm. This meeting will be VIRTUAL. A link will be sent closer to the date. 

Upcoming Clean Kitchen Nights 

November 10th - McAlister's Deli

December 8th - TGI Fridays

Spirit Wear 

Still haven't purchased CSMS spirit wear? We have you covered! Our spirit wear is in stock and available for purchase today! Pick up is available at the school in the front office. Purchase your spirit wear here.

Membership

Still haven't joined the PTA? Looking to be more involved at CSMS? We are always looking for more members to make our voice, presence and impact stronger. To join the PTA, go to the link below and select the family membership. If you are able, there is also an option to make a tax-deductible donation, and 100% of all donations go directly to benefit Sandburg.

https://carlsandburgms.memberhub.com/store

Stay up to date and follow us on social media

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carlsandburg.middle.pta

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sandburgmspta/

Twitter - @sandburg_ms_pta

 

Have a great weekend Sandburg Family!