Hello, Scottie families!
Regular attendance can help students be successful at school, graduate on time, and achieve their life goals. While students should stay home if they are sick, let's work together to ensure all of our Scotties are in school and learning every day! Visit the FCPS attendance website for attendance resources.
Our Bonnie Brae PTO Boosterthon Fun Run program has begun! Thank you so much to our families who have registered, and for supporting our school! We can't wait for the Bonnie Brae Fun Run, which will take place during school hours on March 18. See the PTO section below for more details on the Fun Run and how to register!
Have a wonderful weekend, Scotties!
Morgan Birge, Principal
Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal
Melissa Johnson, Assistant Principal
Family. Relationships. Success.
Next Week's Events
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March 10 - Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
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March 12 - PTO Spring After School Programs Registration Opens
Positivity Project
Upcoming Weekly Focus: Identifying and appreciating the good in others
Character Strengths: It is important to deliberately work to identify and appreciate other's character strengths.
Quote of the Week: “When you choose to see the good in others, you end
up finding the good in yourself.”
-JOHN SPENCE
Positivity Project for Families
Families can find resources to help continue the discussion of character strengths at home by visiting the Positivity Project for Families webpage.
A few amazing highlights that happened this week...
Students in Ms. Diehl's class learned about the parts of the ocean floor.
While creating in Scratch, fifth grade students practice using their revising and refining skills.
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
This year, spring break is March 25-29. We will be eager to welcome your children back to school on Wednesday, April 3, after two teacher work days. Student attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.
Ramadan
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact our family liaison, Santanish Chang at schang@fcps.edu regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection space and times, and instruction.
Bonnie Brae Office Closed During Spring Break
The Bonnie Brae office will be closed during spring break, March 25-March 29.
Kindergarten Orientation and Registration
Save the date! Have a rising kindergarten student? Kindergarten Orientation takes place at Bonnie Brae on Tuesday, April 2, from 2-3 PM! Kindergarten Orientation is for parents and kindergarten students. Visit our Kindergarten Orientation page on our BBES website to learn more about this exciting event and to register for our Kindergarten Orientation.
View our Kindergarten Orientation flyer for more details.
Sign up for our Bonnie Brae Kindergarten Orientation!
Prepare for kindergarten registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage. Online registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens on Tuesday, April 2nd.
Purple Up! on April 17 to Support Military Families
Join our community and turn FCPS purple on Purple Up! Day, Wednesday, April 17. Wear purple in recognition of FCPS’ 14,000 enrolled military-connected students.
Purple Up! T-shirts are available for purchase through Friday, March 8.
Reading Together, A Webinar for Families
The Virginia Department of Education is excited to celebrate Family Reading Month in March. Join the Virginia Department of Education & Virginia PTA for a Reading Together. A webinar designed for families to learn about best practices in reading instruction, the event also covers how families can support their students through all stages of learning to read and improving reading comprehension. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 13th from 7-8pm.Registration is required to participate and is open to the public. The Virginia PTA has generously provided Family Reading Night Activities to use during this month of celebration:
You are invited to join us for our, "This Is Us! - A Celebration of Our Community of Families" at Bonnie Brae on Thursday, April 11th, 5:30 pm-7 pm. We will learn about the cultures and traditions that make up our Bonnie Brae community as we experience performances, demonstrations, food, and a share fair.
We are looking for families to share about their culture and traditions with our Bonnie Brae community. View our This Is Us! webpage and view our This Is Us! flyer to learn more about this event and to register to share about your family's culture, heritage, and traditions.
Order Your 2023-2024 Bonnie Brae Yearbook!
Bonnie Brae yearbooks sales are on sale! Yearbooks ordered by April 15, 2024 are $23. Families can order a yearbook via our Yearbook page on our Bonnie Brae website (credit card only). If families wish to purchase a yearbook via check (made at to Bonnie Brae Elementary) or money order, please see our Barksdale Yearbook flyer. Yearbook Order flyers will be sent home in Tuesday Folders on February 6th. All yearbook orders are due by April 15, 2024.
***We will have a limited number of yearbooks for sale on-site in June at a cost of $25 per yearbook. ***
Yearbooks are expected to arrive late-May/early June.
Elementary Institute for the Arts
Students in all FCPS schools can enroll in the Elementary Institute for the Arts (IFTA). IFTA is a weekly Arts enrichment program for students in rising 3rd through 6th grades during the month of July. Students take classes in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance every day. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Elementary Institute for the Arts website for more information or email eifta@fcps.edu.
Take the Family Engagement Survey!
FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open. Survey partner K12 Insight emailed a link to families on March 3 and again on March 6. Please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS practices to best support our students.
The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by the front office to fill out a paper survey or complete the survey online. Please check your email for the survey invitation or use this survey link. Get more information on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
Summer Camps and Learning Programs
Have you made summer plans for your child yet? Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs?
The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military.
Join a Community Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs
A community conversation addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools will be held Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Please enter through Door #14.
All attendees will receive a free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.
This discussion will provide families, staff, and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. The material discussed is suitable for students in grades 6-12. Together as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and too-often fatal substances.
Language interpretation services are available as well as American Sign Language accommodation. Childcare and transportation will also be provided, as needed. Learn more about the event and register online.
Bipartisan Study Finds Virginia Public School Divisions Receive Less Funding per Student Than Other States
The School Board recently adopted FCPS’ FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Meeting budget needs becomes more of a challenge with underfunding by the state, using staffing formulas that continue to result in school districts not receiving the actual support needed for excellent public education. A staffing formula is the method for calculating the number of positions that need to be assigned to meet program needs.
Did You Know?
In July 2023, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study of Virginia’s K-12 funding formulas. The report found that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and many of Virginia’s neighboring states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Learn more about the JLARC study. View FCPS’ budget development timeline.
Contact your state officials to provide feedback on funding for K-12 education.
New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces
FCPS has developed Regulation 1502 to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. The regulation provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time, and for students to leave school for religious activities.
These spaces are designated areas within a school or on school premises for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students requesting to miss instructional time on a regular basis. Families are encouraged to contact our family liaison, Santanish Chang at schang@fcps.edu, regarding accommodations. View Regulation 1502. Visit FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage for more information.
Fun Run Fundraiser - REGISTER TODAY!
Our Bonnie Brae Fun Run has begun, and we’re on our way to reaching our goal of $20,000. Thank you so much to our families who have registered and shared their donation pages to get us to this point!
As we head into the weekend, we have a BONUS PRIZE OPPORTUNITY for all students. It’s for this weekend only, so time is limited to earn this extra reward.
Click here to log into MYBOOSTER.COM to learn more about this prize and to share your donation page!
Thank you for supporting our school! We can’t wait for the Bonnie Brae Fun Run happening on 03/18/2024!
BBES Staff Basketball Game
Get ready for an action packed night, where our very own BBES staff go head to head on the basketball court! Join us for a fun night with performances by our very own Bonnie Brae Cheer Team, Chorus, and Pep Band! View our BBES Staff Basketball Game flyer for more details.
When: Thursday, March 21st - Doors open at 5:30pm and Game starts at 6:15pm
Where: Robinson SS Gym
All attendees will need a ticket for entry, so save time at the door and get your tickets online! $5 for a single ticket and $20 for a family ticket (for 4 or more). Click here to get yours today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/14785ea9-f620-4c87-bf39-4dcfa8f18dc3
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to make this a successful event! PLEASE sign up today so we have full coverage! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DACA72BA7F85-47090807-bonnie
After School Clubs Spring Session - COMING SOON!
After School Clubs Spring session registration will open on Tuesday, March 12! Please visit the PTO website at www.bonniebraepto.org for more information. We have a NEW registration process using Zeffy, so you will pay when you sign up - spots will sell out, so make sure to register ASAP!
Needs-based scholarships are available on a limited basis. You must reach out to April Bowman at adbowman@fcps.edu before registration opens on March 12 for a code to register. We will not be able to accommodate any scholarship requests after registration opens.
Questions? Please reach out to us at afterschool@bonniebraepto.org!
Stay up to date on all things BBES! Subscribe to our School Calendar.
View the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar
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March 18 - Boosterthon Fun Run
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March 21 - Bonnie Brae Basketball Game (Robinson Gym), 6-8 pm
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March 22 - BBES Spirit Day-Jersey Day!
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March 22 - Parent Coffee (BBES Cafeteria), 8:40-9:15 am
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March 22 - End of Third Quarter
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March 25-March 29 - Spring Break (school and office closed)
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April 1 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
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April 2 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2-3 pm (doors open at 1:45 pm)
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April 2 - Staff Development Day (no school for students)
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April 3 - Fourth Quarter Begins
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April 3 - Spring After-School Programs Begin
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April 10 - Eid al Fitr (no school for students or staff)
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April 11 - This Is Us!-A Celebration of Our Community of Families, 5:30-7 pm (BBES Cafeteria and Gym)
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April 16 - Spring Picture Day (individual and class)
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April 17 - Purple Up! Day
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April 17 - PTO Meeting (In-Person), 6-7 pm
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