Family Newsletter March 22, 2024

🌷See You April 3rd!

Have an enjoyable Spring Break! We will be so excited to see you back at Cameron on Wednesday, April 3. 

Principals' Note Dear Cameron Families, We would like to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one of our Cameron families as we prepare for Spring Break. As we look ahead to the final stretch of the academic year, we are continually inspired by the resilience and dedication of our students, families, and staff. Your unwavering support and commitment to our school community are the foundation of our shared success, and for that, we are truly grateful. May this Spring Break be filled with moments of laughter, growth, and discovery for the family. Let us cherish the beauty of this season and all the blessings it brings. Your partnership is invaluable, and together, we will continue to nurture a thriving learning environment for our students. Warmest regards, Mr. Johnson & Ms. Snyder

📚Read Across America

Today was our last First 10 Friday of Read Across America Month. We've loved gathering together and reading for the first 10 minutes of the day. Don't forget, if you take a picture of yourself reading during break, send it to Ms. Migs jtmigliorini@fcps.edu for the Read Across America Picture Showcase! 

Also, maps for the Read Across America Challenge are due back at school on April 3! Go to https://bit.ly/RAAmap to access Cameron’s RAA Interactive Map with book suggestions and videos for each state.

✏️Dear Mrs. Gillies 

Remember the pizza party for Lexia achievers a few weeks ago? These 2nd graders sure do! These students wrote their persuasive writing pieces to Mrs. Gillies in an attempt to convince her to have another party for Lexia success! Do we think it worked? Stay tuned! 👀

Family Liaison Corner

by Susana Trupo

Dear families, 

Spring Break is next week. Here are some fun ideas that you can do with your children at home!

Family Engagement Survey Still Open!

Participate today! Your voice matters! 

Share your thoughts around important topics impacting your student’s success. By participating in the Family Engagement Survey, parents/caregivers are making their voices heard. Survey topics include:

• Welcoming environment
• Communication
• Student success
• Advocacy
• Family and school partnerships
• Community partnerships

Help us better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools. 

TAKE THE SURVEY!

Visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information.

🏐 New Athletic Opportunities for Students The FCPS advertised budget for next school year expands high school athletics with boys volleyball and girls wrestling, giving students more ways to nurture their passion and enhance their well-being. FCPS is now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. See the Budget Calendar for details. Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget.

New Regulation on Meditation and Silent 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 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 Ms. Trupo regarding accommodations. View Regulation 1502. Visit FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage for more information.

🤧 Updated COVID Recommendations

In accordance with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance, FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) have updated school COVID-19 recommendations.

The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer recommended. 

New respiratory virus guidance applies to respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Students who have symptoms of, test positive for, or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when the student is fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication; AND the student’s symptoms have improved or resolved. 

Students should follow additional precautions as outlined per the CDC upon resumption of normal activities. 

Should I Send My Child to School?

Please refer to the chart on this attendance webpage if your child is experiencing symptoms or illnesses, and you are unsure if they should go to school. 

Thank you for helping keep our students and staff healthy.

Safe, Supported, and Included — the FCPS Family Summit 2024

The FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families. 

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The conference is being planned by several FCPS offices in collaboration with the Fairfax Alliance of Black School Educators, Black Women’s Educational Alliance - DC Chapter, Hispanic Educators Association, and Asian Educators Association. 

This year’s theme is Safe, Supported, and Included, which aligns with Goal 2 of the FCPS Strategic Plan. More details will be available after spring break.

⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule: 

• Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School. 
• Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
• Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School. 

Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.

📖 Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9, to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth. Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade. 

⛱️ Summer Camp for Middle Schoolers 

All rising middle schoolers are invited to attend a summer of fun and leisure with VIP Camp. VIP Camp — which takes place Monday, July 1, to Thursday, August 1 — is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs. 

Registration is open. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend. Reach out to your school's after-school specialist for scholarship availability due to financial hardship. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. 

Spring Break🌷 March 25-29 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break! School will also be closed April 1 and 2 for students for School Planning/Teacher Work Days. The school office will reopen on these days. See the complete School Year Calendar.

March 29 Good Friday Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is a day of mourning. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith. Read more at Britannica.com.

March 31 Easter A joyful Easter to all in our community who celebrate! This year's Easter artwork was created by Falls Church High School student Dayanara M. The springtime celebration of Easter is the most important Christian holiday. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, who sacrificed so that Christians may have life with God after death. This artwork was designed as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students. Learn more about Easter in NatGeo Kids.

Important Dates March 22: End of Quarter 3 March 25-29: Spring Break March 29: Good Friday March 31: Easter April 1-2: No School, School Planning / Teacher Work Days April 5: Chuck E. Cheese Night April 10: No School, Eid al Fitr

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