 Congratulations to Lucinda Ross, Mia Smith, Israa Hafid, Solange Calustro, Alice Quinlan, and Camila Varsalona who represented Bush Hill at the Greater Springfield Area Band Concert on, Tuesday, March 14th! The students went to afterschool rehearsals for over ten weeks at Key Middle School, which lead to their performance at Lewis High School on Tuesday, March 14th. The students had the chance to learn advance music, make new friends, and learn from a variety of music teachers around the Edison and Lewis Pyramids on the way to their performance.”
PARENT VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR ENRICHMENT
In order to run our enrichment program successfully, we're looking for at least one parent volunteer who can help with logistics on Tuesdays. Logistics include making sure students get snacks, get to their correct program, and are dismissed. The Tuesday PTA Onsite Coordinator would not need to start until Tuesday, April 11. All the Tuesday classes are beginning after Spring Break. They are Lego League and Little Doctor School.
If you're able to help on Tuesdays, please contact Jen Olin, PTA Enrichment Coordinator, at jenniferbynes@gmail.com
And a special thank you to those of you who have already volunteered to support with enrichment. We are grateful for your time!
HANGRY BURGER RESTAURANT NIGHT
Round 2 restaurant night with Hangry Burger. In fact they requested that we return! Mark your calendars for March 30, 4-8 p.m. The terms are slightly different this time, no online or phone in orders, but you can order at the restaurant for dine-in or carry out. Remember don’t get hungry, get Hangry!
National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week is March 20-26, 2023
Opioids are the number one cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County. Young adults aged 25-34 are the most common demographic seen in the emergency room for fatal opioid overdoses.
Nationwide there were over 100,000 overdose deaths from April 2020- April 2021.
Using opioids after a period of abstinence, mixing drugs, IV use, and serious medical problems all contribute to an increased risk of opioid overdose.
90% of substance users began using prior to 21-years-old.
Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are usually the most common substances used by adolescents.
Fairfax County police stations, pharmacies, and medical facilities provide permanent drug disposal drop boxes for residents to safely dispose of their unused/expired medication. DO NOT flush your medications.
Reframing Our Thinking:
Changing our state of consciousness is part of the human experience (kids spinning in circles to induce dizziness, meditation, runner’s high, and more) but using substances has more negative than positive side effects. Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine use prevention strategies are also opioid overdose prevention strategies since opioid users likely used one of these three substances first. Every opioid overdose does not lead to death, but it increases the chances of an eventual overdose fatality. Although most opioid users began with alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine, these three drugs are not “gateway drugs”. The term “gateway drug” implies all alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine users will eventually use other drugs, but that is not the case for most, so the time to act is now. Treat your medication as a loaded gun; lock it up and properly dispose of any medications you are no longer using.
Sources & Resources:
Fairfax CSB Opioid Info
REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses
Medication Disposal
Teen Substance Use
FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Everything You Need to Know About Opioids
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further Information & support:
Shawn Elliott, BS, QMHP-C
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
sbelliott@fcps.edu
Difficult Conversations About Drugs and Suicide Prevention
FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. The PRC will present the following webinars:
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Preparing Families for Difficult Conversations About Alcohol and Drugs: Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a.m. This webinar will give parents tools to engage in meaningful conversations with their children about alcohol and drugs. Parents will learn basic information about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids; what can be done as a caregiver; and how to identify and connect with community resources.
Click on the titles above to register.
Proposed Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Department of Special Services will be hosting two virtual meetings for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Regulation. Please join one of the meetings below via Zoom (click the date to register):
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well.
Beginning Monday, March 20, families and staff will also be able to provide feedback on proposed updates to the SR&R via a short survey. Please stay tuned for details. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.
A child's early years are essential in developing a foundation for school success. FCPS works hard to provide programs and services that prepare young children and parents who need extra guidance and support to be ready to start kindergarten feeling confident and ready to learn. Some of the early childhood programs that FCPS offers include:
| April 3-7 |
Holiday - Spring Break |
| April 13 |
End of Third Quarter - 2-hour Early Release |
| April 14 |
Student Holiday - Orthodox Good Friday (Professional Workday) |
| April 21 |
Holiday - Eid al Fitr |
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