LAES Weekly Wave: April 5

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Principal's Message

Hello Lake Anne Families, 

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Spring Break! Our dolphins have been excited to come back and share all of their adventures. We are starting off 4th quarter with a bang as our dolphins got to experience a one-of-a-kind assembly courtesy of mobile ed. All of our dolphins had the opportunity to visit the Sky Dome Planetarium and take a fun and exciting journey through space. A huge THANK YOU to the PTA for coordinating this memorable experience for our learners.  

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs. Jill Stewart, Principal

Dr. Brittany Rogers, Assistant Principal


Solar Eclipse Information

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04PM and end around 4:32PM, with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20PM.

While witnessing such a celestial event can be awe-inspiring and educational, it is crucial that we prioritize the safety and well-being of our students above all else. Lake Anne will not be sending students outside to view the eclipse. Instead of viewing the eclipse outside, students and staff will be provided with the NASA livestream link as an option to safely observe the eclipse.

There will be some overlap of the expected window and Lake Anne dismissal. Students will be reminded to not stare at the sun, and we ask that parents remind their children that it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. 

FCPS has a page that shares information about Solar Eclipses at https://www.fcps.edu/solar-eclipse


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Celebrate Earth Week! April 22-26

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Monday, April 22 - Wear Green

Tuesday, April 23 - Wear Blue

Wednesday, April 24 - Wear White

Thursday, April 25 - Wear Red

Friday, April 26 - Wear Animal Print


Lake Anne SOL Schedule

Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing is right around the corner. SOLs are an opportunity for students to show everything they've learned this school year. Please see our schedule below:

✏️Grade 5 Integrated Reading and Writing: April 16, 2024

New this year: Students taking the grade 5 or grade 8 SOL Reading test will complete an integrated reading and writing (IRW) component. The IRW component has one non-fiction reading passage followed by 4-6 multiple-choice/technology-enhanced items and an “invitation to write” based on the passage

📒Grades 3-6 Reading: May 7, 2024

💡Grade 5 Science: May 14, 2024

➕Grades 3-6 Math: May 21, 2024

 


Apply for FCPS PreK and Early Head Start

FCPS PreK and Early Head Start programs provide a quality preschool experience with comprehensive services at no cost to qualifying families who reside in Fairfax County. Your family may qualify for PreK or Early Head Start if you:

  • have a child who will be age 3 or 4 by September 30,
  • receive free or reduced-price school meals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Income, and/or homeless per definition of the McKinney Vento Act, or
  • receive resources such as from a shelter and/or the FCPS homeless liaison office.

Though families may qualify, spaces are limited and selection is based on need, not “first come, first serve”, with PreK priority given to 4 year olds. The application process begins January 1st for the upcoming school year. However it is important for all families to apply as soon as possible.

Early Head Start is for children 0-2 years of age and pregnant women who live in the Reston, Herndon and Springfield areas.

Visit this website for more information and application links!


Purple Up! Day - April 17, 2024

As April unfolds, the spotlight shines brightly on our military-connected youth as Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and communities come together to celebrate the Month of the Military Child (MOMC).  

Amidst the challenges and sacrifices inherent with the military lifestyle, children of service members show their unwavering support for their parents and guardians as they stand as pillars of resilience, adapting to change, and embracing diversity. Their commitment to supporting their service member(s) deserves not just recognition, but celebration.  

Throughout April, FCPS schools will celebrate MOMC through various special events and activities to recognize military-connected youth. One of the most visible displays of support for military-connected youth occurs on Purple Up! Day, a day dedicated to showing appreciation by wearing purple – to represent the combined colors of branches of the military.  Please join FCPS for Purple Up! Day on April 17, 2024, as we proudly wear purple as a sign of our appreciation.  

To learn more about MOMC and Purple up! Day activities, please contact your school.  

To connect with FCPS resources, please visit Family and School Partnerships.  


🗳️ Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.

Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.


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

Attend a virtual information night to learn about Lexia on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will discover how FCPS is integrating this program into the classroom to support student literacy growth. Tips for supporting students at home will also be shared. 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.


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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.


🤧 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.


Techstravaganza 2024

Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, we've hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Our exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and our own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, we will be holding the 20th annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST.

Admission is free, food will be for sale, and we hope that you can spread the word in your school. Here is the registration link: https://tinyurl.com/techstrav24. More information about the event can be found on our website at tjtechstrav.org.

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LightSpeed Classroom Management

As part of our commitment to creating a safe and focused learning environment for our students, our school is using a classroom management tool that will help teachers better connect with student devices during classes. We are continuing to expand our use over the coming weeks. This tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:

  • Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
  • Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
  • Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.

We believe this classroom management tool will allow us to maximize class time to support your student’s learning while at school. Please note that student devices will not be monitored outside of school hours. The regular filters remain in place on school devices, but once they are home, teachers cannot monitor students. As parents, we would like to encourage you to sign up for your own Lightspeed reports, which will allow you to see how your child is spending time on the computer during and after school hours.


Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Community Conversations with the superintendent for families and community members are planned for the spring. Help your school promote the opportunities in your area and encourage families to attend to make their voices heard. Interpretation for most languages can be arranged.

 


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🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

  1. Determine eligibility. 
  2. Identify your local school. 
  3. Gather documents. 
  4. Fill out forms. 
  5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process.

💻 Try Online Registration

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process

When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in. 


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Calendar Reminders

Teacher Workday, Student Holiday

Monday, April 1

Staff Development Day, Student Holiday

Tuesday, April 2

Eid, Student and Staff Holiday

Wednesday, April 10

Click here for the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar