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Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid Visits Herndon
A heartfelt thank you to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for generously dedicating a portion of her busy morning to engage with our Hawk students and staff!
In This Issue
A Message from Principal Vereb
Hello Herndon Middle School Families,
Welcome back to another exciting week at Herndon Middle School! I hope everyone enjoyed hearing about your Hawk’s first week in 7th or 8th grade!
As we dive back into the rhythm of the school year, I'm thrilled to share some of the highlights from the past week and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Last week, we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Reid, whose visit inspired our students and staff. Her enthusiasm and engagement were palpable as she witnessed our students' creativity, innovation, and athleticism. Her visit reminded us of the incredible learning experiences we provide and the talented individuals who make up our Herndon Middle School team.
We also welcomed Ms. Lemmon, Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement, whose commitment to providing individualized support to our teachers is invaluable. Together, we engaged in learning walks, visiting and engaging with students in their classrooms and lunch spaces.
This week, we're launching our second period, which is the intervention and enrichment period. This dedicated time allows teachers to provide targeted support and enrichment opportunities based on individual student needs.
Looking toward this four-day week, I encourage all families to attend our Cross-Country Information Night on Tuesday from 6:00-7:00 PM in the auditorium. It's a great opportunity to learn more about the athletic program and ask any questions. We encourage our Hawks to get involved in extracurricular activities like cross country. Participating in sports and clubs helps students develop essential skills like teamwork, dedication, and perseverance, and it also fosters a strong sense of belonging to our school community. By joining cross country, your Hawk will have the opportunity to make new friends, build lasting memories, and thrive in the vibrant and engaging environment that Herndon Middle School offers. Ms. Liana Shivers, our After-School Specialist, will support the coaches, particularly our head coach, Mrs. Caitlin Ferrence, who teaches math at Herndon Middle and coached last year in our division’s inaugural season.
As we prepare for our upcoming executive functioning and organization lesson, it's essential that students have all the necessary supplies. Please make sure to review the supply list and acquire the items promptly. This will ensure that your Hawk is well-equipped to organize their binders and notebooks for our red and black days courses. Your involvement in this process is crucial as it will help your Hawk develop strong organizational skills, which will benefit them throughout their academic journey.
We invite all parents to join our virtual PTA Meeting on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 PM. Your participation is crucial in creating a strong and supportive school community. By joining the PTA, you can actively contribute to the school's success, advocate for your child's needs, and connect with other parents. Your involvement is essential as we work together with the school principal and leadership team to create the best possible learning environment for our students, teachers, and parents.
Link to the Google Meet
As we continue to build upon our successes, this year will be filled with growth, achievement, and lasting memories.
Thank you, Herndon Middle School Families, for your continued support. Your involvement and encouragement play a significant role in our students' success and the vibrancy of our school community. We are truly grateful for your partnership.
In Your Service,
Principal Monika Vereb
Principal Vereb Video Message
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Back to School Night
Back to School Night with take place on Thursday, September 5 from 5-7PM. BTSN provides an opportunity for parents and guardians to meet with teachers and learn important detailed information about academic outcomes for each subject, curriculum changes, expectations for the school year, student support, communication methods for parents, and more! We look forward to hosting our Hawk students and families!
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the main office at 703-904-4800.
What Is a School Board?
The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for running the public schools in Fairfax County. Twelve school board members are elected by county voters every four years.
A student representative serves on the board as a non-voting member. They are chosen by their peers each year.
The School Board makes general rules and sets guidelines to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools runs properly. They follow the laws of Virginia and the rules set by the Virginia Board of Education.
Learning about your local school board is important. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. There are many ways to get involved.
A Back to School Message from our School Board Representative, Robyn Lady.
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
Become an AVID Tutor
Are you looking for a flexible and part-time position? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2024-2025 school year. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $20.13 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to AVID@fcps.edu.
Here are some ways schools can recruit tutors:
- Post in parent newsletter, on school website, etc.
- Pass out flier at any parent/family nights, potlucks, breakfasts, etc.
- Reach out to alumni—especially AVID students and strong math students.
- Get the flier to teachers of 12th grade math classes and have them reach out to any students still in the area for college (GMU, NVCC, Marymount). Send it to the math chair at your feeder High School and ask that they distribute it to their department.
- Look internally. There might be someone who already works part-time at the school and is looking for extra hours (after-school marching band assistant? School counseling intern? chess teacher? –these are current AVID tutors who do other jobs at their schools!)
Cross Country Information Night
HMS is excited to have Cross Country this fall for students. Participating in middle school sports is a great opportunity for students to feel a part of something bigger. Teammates become fast friends and an encouraging community of support for one another. Join us on Tuesday, August 27th at 6:00pm in the HMS auditorium to learn more about the program.
New Chromebooks for Students
Your student has a brand-new Chromebook checked out to them. Students have been asked to take care of the laptop, because each child and family is responsible for their assigned Chromebook and charger. A replacement Chromebook is $444 and a replacement Charger is $23.
The Chromebooks have all-day battery life. We ask that parents/guardians remind their students to charge their Chromebook each night before bed.
We also ask for parents/guardians to remind their students to bring their Chromebooks with them to school each day.
Our Commitment to Excellence, Equity, and Opportunity for Each and Every Student
As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which guides us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students. Watch Dr. Reid’s message.
Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?
Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7100 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
Needs Assessment Survey
Student Services would like to know if your student/family has any needs (eg. internet, food, clothing, medical) that we can help support. Please take a moment to fill out this Needs Assessment to let us know how we can help.
English Survey
Spanish Survey
Apply for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals
The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Overdose Awareness and Understanding the Dangers of Opioids
In Northern Virginia, consistent with national and state trends, the opioid epidemic continues to impact communities, including young adults and school-age children. Opioids are a class of drugs used to treat pain and can include prescription medication and illegal drugs.
Tragically, their misuse can lead to devastating outcomes. Fentanyl is an extremely fatal and especially powerful opioid, even in small doses. Most fatal overdoses in Fairfax County in recent years have involved fentanyl.
August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day. There are three things you can do now to support student wellness and increase understanding of the dangers of opioids and fentanyl:
- Talk with children and loved ones in your life about the dangers of drug use, especially opioids. For more information about substance use among youth, tips on how to recognize and prevent substance abuse, and available support services, please watch this webinar.
- Safely store and dispose of medications, including prescription pain medications, to prevent drug misuse.
- Sign up for a Virtual REVIVE! training class to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and administer naloxone nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose.
Learn more about the dangers of opioids and available resources on our website. Visit the Student Safety and Wellness webpage for more information on topics related to student well-being.
No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students
- Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as:
- Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss
- Anxiety, worry, fears
- Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships
- Academic stress
You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting your students counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services.
Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
August
27 | Cross Country Information Night
30 & Sept 2 | Labor Day Holiday
31 | International Overdose Awareness Day
September
Attendance Awareness Month
5 | Back to School Night at 5-7PM
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FCPS Cares
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
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