Poe Family Newsletter January 8, 2023

Mark Your Calendar

January 10th- Annandale High School Pyramid Concert – Annandale HS at 7:00pm

January 11th - Annandale High School Open House - 6:00pm

January 13th- Parent Coffee 9:30-10:30am 

January 16th – No School – Martin Luther King Holiday

January 18th- Retake pictures for students

January 18th - Falls Church High School Curriculum Night & Academy Open House - 6:30pm

January 19th- Religious/Cultural Observance

January 20th- International Night- 6:30-8:00pm

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On January 11 from 6-8pm Annandale High School will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various Annandale programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 9th graders. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities our students will have as an Annandale Atom! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office and Math Course Placement. If you have any questions, please contact Erik Healey

Homework Help

Does your child need homework help or feedback on their writing? How about a practice quiz to get ready for a test? Tutor.com is open to FCPS students in all grades, on-demand, 24/7, at no cost to families. Learn more.

SEL Updates 

SEL Parent letters will be mailed via USPS around January 1st. The Parent Letter is available in full text and translated PDFs on this website. It provides families with a brief overview of what the screener is, how schools use the data, how to understand the scores (reported at the topic level), as well as tips for discussing the results with their child.

Diaper Distribution

Diaper distribution: Do you need diapers for your younger children? Head over to the Annandale United Methodist Mission Center at 7901 Heritage Drive, Annandale, Virginia, 22003 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Proof of address in the 22003 ZIP code is required.

Multicultural and Language Resources for Families

FCPS’ Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the many resources available to them:

• Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance. 
• Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean. 
• Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English. 
• A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean. 
• ESOL services are available in Fairfax County not only for students, but also for adults and families. Information on Spring classes will be posted in March 2023. 

 Visit the Family Engagement webpage for more resources.

Drug Additives to Be Aware of: Xylazine“Tranq”

In our continuing efforts to educate the community, we have been tracking a new trend in the region known as Xylazine or Tranq. Tranq, a non-opioid tranquilizer, is often mixed with other drugs giving the user a fentanyl-like high for an extended period of time. Considering the rise in opioid-related overdoses, it is important to know about various additives such as fentanyl and tranq that can be mixed in, unbeknownst to the user. Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer which is not approved by the FDA for human consumption; it affects the central nervous system by suppressing breathing and slowing down vital functions in the body. Tranq has recently been detected in several fatal overdoses related to cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in unsuspecting users. Narcan/Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, will not reverse the overdose in a person who has taken Tranq thus resulting in potential death. Continued use has  resulted in lesions, ulcers, and other health related issues resulting in loss of limbs from untreated abscesses.

While alarming, education is key to keep our communities safe. Here is some recent data showing the trend in our region. Xylazine was present in 19% of drug overdoses in Maryland in 2020 alone; with trends increasing in Pennsylvania by 26% and in Connecticut by 10%. In areas of higher populations Xylazine has been present in 1 of every 5 deaths that have been reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Xylazine was present in 64.3 % of deaths when it was detected. 38 states including the District of Columbia have seen a rise in “Tranq” in and around their communities. 

For more information please, contact myself or the Student Safety & Wellness Office at (571) 423-4270. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS. 

Sources & Resources:

NIH: Xylazine

DEA: Xylazine

CDC: Xylazine

Overdoses in Philadelphia

FCPS Webinar: Everything You Need To Know About Opioids

For further Information & support

Charlisa Becklund ,MSW

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

Be Wise, Immunize! Required Vaccines for 2022-23 School Year

Vaccinations are required for public school entry and help keep students protected from serious diseases. Many children missed their well check-ups and their recommended childhood vaccinations over recent years because of disruptions from COVID-19. It is critical to catch up now to keep children healthy and ready for school. Check with your students’ health care providers now to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines.

Appointments are required for most vaccination clinics. Don’t wait until the last minute when you might not be able to find an appointment. Visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a schedule of clinics or schedule with your family’s health care provider.

Remember to request documentation of your child’s immunizations to provide to their school. More information on immunization requirements and the necessary documentation is available online.

Digital Resources Approval for 2022-2023

By completing the digital form linked below, you provide permission for your child to use the FCPS-approved online tools listed below as part of an instructional program and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requirements. (FERPA)

Please complete this form to meet the consent for Digital Use requirement.  Additional information is available via the Poe website at poems.fcps.edu