 |
|
To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
|
Message from Ms. Kearns
Hello Bruin Families,
Last Friday, we hosted the LBSS Pyramid Art Show and it was wonderful! Students from all ages and schools displayed their art, everything from photographs to paintings to jewelry. Thank you to our Visual Art Department for their hard work planning this event. I look forward to seeing it next year.
With the end of the school year fast approaching, I have included some schedule changes below. Please note the 2nd/8th period flip on May 29.
Lindsey Kearns
This year’s annual Pyramid Art Show was a huge success! Lake Braddock hosted the event in our main gym, that showcased all levels of middle and HS art students as well as art from our elementary feeder schools. Both our art students and Teachers planned for months for this amazing display! Happy 50th year of celebrating art at Lake Braddock! Bravo!
Passover and Half-O Days
Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Passover, a recognition of the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Many Jewish families in the United States eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves telling the story of the exodus from Egypt as well as eating various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs, recalling the harsh life of slavery. Learn more about Passover in NatGeo Kids.
Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, are designated half-O days in recognition of the first two days of Passover. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.
Theravada New Year (O Day)
In countries where Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion, New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon in April. Theravada means “the teachings of the elders.” Celebrations begin with people attending the local temple in the morning for chanting and meditation. In the afternoon they have a water festival in which they meet the Buddha image and pay respect to the elderly by watering their hands together. Building sandcastles is also one of the most popular activities during this day of celebration.
In this Issue
New Information and Important Reminders
End-of-Year Schedule Changes
Morning Attendance Notifications During Testing
Romeo and Juliet
MS Yearbooks
Volunteer Proctors for AP Exams
Spring Testing
Class of 2024 News
ASL Interpretation for Graduation
How to Get
Important Dates
BSS AI Series for Caregivers
Episode 2: Navigating the Filtered World
Family Liaison News
Athletics and Activities News
Medical Professionals Needed
Sports Physical Night
LBSS PTSA
Adult Volunteers needed for All Night Grad Party
FCPS News
Quick Links
New Information and Important Reminders
End-of-Year Schedule Changes
May 23 -- Final Exams begin for Seniors
May 29 -- 2nd and 8th periods flipped due to Senior Class Final Exams
June 4 -- Graduation Day (10:30 am release)
June 6 -- Final Exams begin for 7th-11th grade -- half-days begin
June 12 -- Last day of School (10:00 am release)
Morning Attendance Notifications Delayed During Spring Assessments
Morning attendance calls, texts, and e-mail notifications will not be suspended this spring during the AP, IB, and SOL testing windows for middle and high schools.
The purpose of this change is to ensure student safety and timely notification of families regarding student absences. Schools need to follow standard attendance procedures and record student attendance throughout the testing windows. Morning attendance notifications will be delayed by one hour during the AP, IB, and SOL testing windows for middle and high schools to allow additional time to take attendance. Evening attendance notification will continue as normally scheduled.
Morning notifications will be delayed by one hour from April 22 through May 24, 2024.
HS Theatre Production
The award winning Lake Braddock Theatre’s final mainstage production of the year opens two weeks from today!
William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, has enthralled audiences for generations and is still current, gripping, passionate, and heartbreaking today. Thrilling sword fights, the power of true love, feuding families, devastating loss, beautiful poetic language- and above all a searing story with urgent messages imploring its audience to listen to and fully see young people, to resist violence and snap decisions made in fear or anger, reject hatred, and to earnestly believe in and stand up for love and goodness.
Join us May 2, 3, and 4 in the Little Theatre. "For never was a story of more woe, than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
Content warning: this production may be inappropriate for younger audiences due to violence, blood effects, mature themes, and suicide.
|
MS Yearbook
Middle School Parents! You only have 9 more days to order The Ursa Middle School Yearbook at the low price of $37. Capture all of fun of your student’s 2023-2024 school year! It also includes special pictures to commemorate Lake Braddock’s 50th Anniversary. Take advantage of this offer now.
|
LB Parents - It is that time again. We NEED you to help proctor AP Exams in May. We will have teachers assigned, but if YOU take a slot, we can release them, and they get their planning period back. These exams are during Staff Appreciation Week and THIS is what teachers want. You can sign up for as many slots as you want, including back-to-back slots. All you will do is help hand out/collect exams and walk around as students take the exams. That is it! Your student does not need to be enrolled in AP Exams to help. We welcome MS parents. You may NOT proctor a particular exam if you have a child taking that exam. Please consider helping out in this very meaningful way. Sign up at the link below. If you have questions, just let us know. THANK YOU! #BruinsHelpBruins #Onceabruinalwaysabruin
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0944A8AD2CA1FB6-lake6#/
|
Spring Testing
As the Spring SOL testing window quickly approaches, we want to remind families that schools do NOT have extra chargers and students are responsible for coming to school with fully charged Chromebooks as well as their chargers. State standardized testing cannot take place on personal devices therefore students MUST bring their school issued Chromebook and charger on testing days to be properly prepared. It is imperative that all students arrive to school and their testing/holding locations on time.
https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/about/sol-schedule
Class of 2024 News
ASL Interpretation at Graduation
If you or any guests will need ASL interpretation at our graduation, please email Julie Moore. Thank you.
How to Get Help Filling Out the FAFSA
According to recent news reports, as many as 30% fewer graduating seniors have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many schools rely upon this form to grant students financial aid award letters.
Families who have questions or persistent issues filling out the FAFSA might consider scheduling a free appointment with our partners at College Access Fairfax. Email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org. All FAFSA help provided by our school or College Access Fairfax is free.
Important Dates
May 17, 2024 - Prom - Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
June 4, 2024 - Graduation - Eagle Bank Arena @ 2:00 pm
June 5, 2024 - All Night Grad Party @ Saint James 11:00 pm
LBSS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Series for Caregivers
In our ever-evolving world, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role. To equip you and your student(s) for the future, we're excited to announce the launch of the Lake Braddock AI Series for Caregivers. Over the next few weeks, the New You Choose will provide you with accessible information about AI, its applications, and its potential activities. We hope through theses snippets you will gain some knowledge to navigate this exciting new frontier alongside your child.
|
LB AI Caregivers Series: Episode 2
Navigating the Filtered World
Social media platforms utilize AI to create personalized algorithms.
Some benefits of AI in social media::
- Personalization - showing users content that they like
- Content moderation - removing harmful content like hate speech or graphic violence
- Accessibility - Features like image recognition and text-to-speech translation aid users with disabilities
Some risks of AI in social media:
- Filter bubbles - AI powered image and video filters can distort body image and create unrealistic beauty standards
- Targeted advertising - Ads are given based on personal data, raising privacy concerns and potentially manipulating choices
- Echo chambers - Algorithmic personalization an create insular “bubbles” where users only see content confirming their existing beliefs
Support your student in navigating social media by having conversations about algorithms, personalization, and curated content. It is important for all of us to assess information critically and fact-check information encountered online.
Try this: Which face is real?
Answer: The woman on the left is real.
Interactive Activity:
Conversation starters for your family:
- Do you think it’s important to be aware of how AI might be influencing your online experience? Why or why not?
- Have you encountered any misinformation or fake news online? How can you tell if something is true?
Family Liaison News
Please stay up-to-date with our Family Liaisons on our web site:
https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/student-services/information-our-family-liaisons
There you will find our weekly newsletters full of important information for our families.
Additional Resources
Family and School Partnerships
Family Resource Center
Parenting Education Programs through Fairfax County
English Empowerment Center: USA Learns
English Empowerment Center: Free Conversation Class and Continued Learning Between Semesters
Athletics and Activities News
Learn more about our Student Activities Program!
lakebraddockbruins.com
LBSS News You Choose (Sign up and select Athletics & Activities)
LBSS PTSA
For up-to-date information, please visit lbssptsa.org.
We are in search of adult volunteers to make our 2024 All Night Grad Party a success! Please consider volunteering, especially if you have a senior but we are also in need of underclassmen volunteers as well. Feel free to recruit friends and neighbors too! The success of this event relies on our volunteer parents. We have two shifts available as well as non-overnight tasks. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAB28AB9-47998145-allnight#/
FCPS News
Summer Arts Camp
Don’t miss out on this summer’s most exciting arts enrichment program! The Institute for the Arts camp is for students currently in grade 6-11. Students design their own schedules and select from art, music, theater, and dance classes. Learn more on the IFTA webpage. Email IFTA@fcps.edu with any questions.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon
FCPS students in grades 3-12 took the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener during March, providing updated information on skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported.
In late April, individual student SEL Screener results will be available for families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
Get more information about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For support in understanding your individual student’s results or ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for All High School Students
Is your high schooler experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships? If so, parents/caregivers can refer their children for weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health. Visit the Teletherapy webpage for information on how to opt your child into this service.
Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
- Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
- Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
- Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
- Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
- Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
District News/In Case You Missed It
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Spring Assessments
- Family Conference
- Community Forum on Middle School Start Times
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Quick Links
|
