Mark Your Calendar
Feb 1-10: Book Fair in Library
Feb 17: Parent Coffee 9:30-10:30am
Feb 6-10: National School Counseling Week
Feb 20: No School
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National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week 2023 (Feb. 6-10), sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the essential contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Take a moment to thank Mrs. Sack, Mrs. Mourning, and Ms. Carrie for all that they do each and every day for our students, families, and teachers!
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2023-2024 Course Selections
Beginning early February and throughout the month of May, Poe school counselors will review course selection Google forms, gather teacher feedback, meet with students for academic advising sessions, and enter selections into SIS. Students are encouraged to select courses based on teacher recommendations, progress in current courses, academic strengths, and personal interests. The 2023-2024 Course Descriptions and Guide are now available on the Poe Middle School website here.
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Poe will be hosting our annual book fair from February 1–10, 2023. Students will be able to buy books before school, during their lunch breaks and during language arts classes. Parents and students can also buy books online. Our online book fair will last from January 23, 2023 – April 15, 2023. We have this extended window in an effort to promote summer reading and to minimize reading loss over the warmer months. Please encourage reading at home. Reading is our window to the world. If you should have any questions, feel free to email me at edakingbola@fcps.edu. Thanks for your support and Happy Reading!
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Parent Coffee
Do you want to learn more about the services offered by our local health department, and how they can serve your community?
Join us for a Parent Coffee on Friday, February 17th at 9:30 AM to learn more! For questions, please contact Bella Nathanson at bmnathanson@fcps.edu.
Students attending schools in Fairfax County may be eligible to receive a bus pass for access to the Cue and Connector buses throughout Fairfax County! Parental permission is required. For more information, please speak to Bella Nathanson at bmnathanson@fcps.edu
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YEARBOOK
The website to order yearbooks is now live!!
The price is only $26
If you would like to order a yearbook online, here’s the link:
YBPay.com
The school code is:14427323
If you want to pay in person, students can bring cash or checks to Mr. Weinshenker in room 114. Make checks out to “Poe Middle School”
Last year, yearbooks sold out and pre-ordering is your student’s only guarantee to get one.
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.
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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.
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George Mason Early Identification Program (EIP)
Have a student in 7th grade? Are they interested in attending college and will they be the first in your family to attend college in the U.S.? Consider learning more about George Mason Early Identification Program (EIP). EIP is a 5 year college preparatory program that begins in 8th grade through 12th grade for students interested in going to college after high school. Some services they provide include afterschool tutoring , Saturday programs for remediation and enrichment in science and math , as well as family workshops and more. To learn more please see please see the attached flier. If you are interested in nominating your child please complete this google form ( https://forms.gle/Gsi7uBfL7q31V2kZ6) and/or reach out to the Poe EIP Sponsor Mrs. Mourning via email at ndmourning@fcps.edu by February 10th .
Please note that students must not only be nominated, but also must be eligible AND attend an information meeting before they can apply. More information will be communicated after nominations from teachers, staff and families are received.
Climate Survey Information Letter
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades 6,7, and 8, classroom instructors and staff, beginning in winter 2023.
The purpose of this survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.
I am writing to provide you with information on the student survey. The survey will be completed online February 13. The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers or administrators, will know how your child answered the survey.
You will not have access to your child’s survey answers even as their parent or guardian. You may review the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey.
The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Students will also be asked what kinds of bullying they may have observed during school and whether they have been bullied themselves.
All students in your child’s grade level are eligible to participate in the survey. Students participating in remote instruction and in-person instruction are both eligible to participate. The survey is voluntary, and your child can decide not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate.
Your child will not receive any immediate benefit from participating in the survey, but the survey will help us to maintain a safe, inviting, and supportive learning environment for your child.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of Virginia’s schools.
The Raven's Nest
The Raven’s Nest is a FREE thrift store for Poe students and families. It is stocked with clothes, jackets, school supplies, books, and an abundance of other personal and household items. The Raven’s Nest is open to parents on Mondays and Thursdays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. For more information you may call and leave a message at 703-813-3933 or email paramirez@yahoo.com.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Become a member of the Poe PTSA!
The mission of the Poe PTSA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. We hold sessions with parent and teachers, and sponsor events throughout the year that support our amazing teachers and students, and raise funds for school activities such as the field day, teacher-student development grants, 8th grade dance, and much more!
Please become a member today and also consider volunteering to help at events during the year. We cannot do it without you!! You can visit the Poe PTSA website -- https://poeptsa.ptboard.com/home -- where you will find the membership form and easy online payment (under Forms & Payments), or simply use the QR code below. Paper forms are also available with the Poe Community Liaison.
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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
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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.
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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
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Wellness Resources
Emotional Wellness Resource
Healthy Minds Podcast: Purposeful Conversations
Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
Crisis Text: text NEEDHELP to 85511
Crisislink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE
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