|
Parents and Caregivers,
We have an exciting coming up next week with college-themed spirit days and National Vaping Awareness Week! The PTA won a national grant to sponsor Vaping Awareness Week activities, and they have produced a vaping awareness webpage. Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 the whole community is invited to attend a College Fair put on by our own AVID students.
In our Connections classes the students will have the following activities:
Monday, March 27 College Panel Zoom
Tuesday, March 28- Substance Abuse Lesson
Wednesday, March 29- Substance Abuse Lesson
Thursday, March 30- Motivational Speaker Assembly sponsored by ESSER Wellness Funds- Donovan Tolbert is a former NCAA Division 1 student athlete who was ranked among the Top 1% in the nation. Many would refer to him as a champion, however, he was constantly overlooked and ignored during his early years of life. He will address our students about the importance of goal setting, positive decision making and healthy habits.
Friday, March 31- Hughes News and celebration of winning student Vaping Awareness posters and videos.
Whew! After that, we will definitely enjoy a Spring Break. Thank you to all of our sponsors for providing these opportunities.
Aimee Monticchio
Principal
At Home COVID Test Kits
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is switching the COVID-19 at home test kits; from BinaxNOW™ Ag Card Home Tests to Quidel™ QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 test kits. We are offering the BinaxNOW™ Ag Card Home Test kits that we have on hand on a "First Come, First Serve" basis; each family will receive two test kits and your student may pick them up from the main office on Friday, March 31, 2023. If you are interested, click on the link below. We have enough "Kits" on hand for the first "50" sign ups. Please remember that it is 2 test kits "Per Family" on a "First Come, First Serve" basis
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B4AACAC2AA7FE3-binaxnow1
Academic Advising and our 2023-2024 SY Hughes MS Registration Site!
For more information about course selection for the upcoming school year, you can access out 2023-2024 SY Hughes MS Registration Site from the menu on the Langston Hughes Middle School website or with this direct link: https://hughesms.fcps.edu/2023-2024-sy-hughes-ms-registration On the site, you will find course selection materials, presentation materials, information and videos about electives and other course offerings, and so much more. Please visit the site and email our Director of Student Services, Michele Beard, at mbeard@fcps.edu if you have any questions.
 Schools and school offices will be closed Monday, April 3, to Friday, April 7. Students will return to school on Monday, April 10, 2023.
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive.
Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
|
 Springfield and Sully District Town Hall
Please join Sully District Representative Stella Pekarsky, Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, and Student Representative to the School Board Michele Togbe for a town hall. All Springfield and Sully District families, staff, students, and community members are welcome! We hope to see you there!
When: Monday, April 10, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Where: Chantilly High School (Library), 4201 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA
Feel free to submit your questions or comments in advance.
*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Drug & Alcohol Facts
Quick Facts:
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 100,00 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, nicotine, and marijuana prevention strategies are also opioid 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. So, the time to act is now. Treat your medication as potential threats; lock them 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:
Monica Rogers, CSAC, QMHP- A/C
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
mrrogers@fcps.edu
Are You Interested in Tutoring?
FCPS is now actively recruiting qualified tutors to provide academic support in-person to small groups of students. These new FCPS tutors will be paid an hourly rate of $47.17. The position is flexible, and the number of hours worked and location will be based on the tutor’s availability and qualifications, as well as the needs presented throughout FCPS. Apply now! Contact tutor@fcps.edu for more information.
Note: Current FCPS staff can only apply to tutor outside of their contracted hours.
Tutor.com Is Still Available and Free for All FCPS Students
Online tutoring through Tutor.com is available to all FCPS students as a resource for support and enrichment. As of January 2023, approximately 8,000 students have participated in approximately 34,000 tutoring sessions. Tutor.com remains available to all FCPS students at no cost. Find out more about Tutor.com.
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
May 29 Holiday - Memorial Day - Schools and offices closed
June 16 Last Day of School - Early Release*
|
