Sangster News From The Nest 9-5-24

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/05/2024 06:30 PM EDT

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Upcoming Events

September 16 - 3 Hour Early Release

September 17 - Back to School (K-3)

September 25 - Back to School (4-6)

Immunizations!

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 Sangster's front office or emailed directly to Jackie Fant - JFant@fcps.edu

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to the front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:

A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.

SIS ParentVUE

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 needed for updates and submit it to their child’s school.

Submit Absences

Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in to the platform and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to your school’s front office along with your student's teacher.

2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities

FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.

Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.

You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.

Opt-Outs

Step 1

Go to the Parent Digital Consent System.
Select your language and log in with the same username and password you use for SIS ParentVUE

Step 2

A six digit code will be sent to the SIS ParentVUE account email. Please wait a few minutes for the email to arrive. You can also send a new code to the email listed on the page. If you refresh the page it will also trigger a new code. If you get a new code, the old code will be invalid.

Once you receive the code, enter the code and hit the Confirm button.

Step 3

Once you are logged in, you will see an overview of your child's consent forms. To review or update a form, simply click on it.

Gray: Form is awaiting your review.
Green: You've approved everything on this form.
Yellow: This form contains multiple items with mixed responses.
Red: You've declined all items on this form.

SEL SCREENER NOTIFICATION

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Sangster students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in the Fall and Spring. The SEL screener will be administered October 9 – October 31 (fall window) and March 10 – March 28 (spring window). The screener will be administered online by the classroom teacher.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information about the SEL Screener, including information on opting out (via form or the Parent Digital Consent System), please view the letter that went home in your child’s Thursday folder today. If you give your permission, no further action is necessary. You can also learn more on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

FCPS Cell Phone Policy

📵 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 our 703-644-8200.

Grades K-6

Phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day. Cell phones may be used on campus before and after school only.
Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency.
With the approval of the principal or their designee, teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool; however, one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs.

Back To School!

Tuesday, September 17th

Back to School Night for K – 3.

6:00pm–6:45pm

7:00pm– 7:45pm

Thursday, September 25th

Back to School Night for 4 – 6.

6:00pm–6:45pm

7:00pm– 7:45pm

Information will be the same at both session. You will only need to attend one. If you have students in multiple grades the sessions allow you to get to all your students classrooms.

Subscribe to Calendars

Sangster Calendar

FCPS School Calendar

Subscribe to Sangster and FCPS' calendars to keep up to date with all events and holidays. You can subscribe and have everything right on your phone or computer calendar, synced and ready to keep you on time and aware.

Safety Drills

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year.

Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school.

Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.

⚠️ Know Our Security Terms

FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.

Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.

If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

It's Tomorrow!

Lake Braddock Secondary School invites the community to begin celebrating the start of the school year. Friday, September 6^th , 5:30-7:30 pm – right before Friday football at the school.

Enjoy free admission to the carnival with inflatables, runway games, food trucks, snacks, face painting. There will be fun for the whole family! Cash sales, please.

Friendly Reminders!

🛑 No U-Turns!

U-Turns on Reservation Dr. are both illegal and very, very dangerous. We continue to get reports of cars making these illegal U-Turns. The safety of our school community is compromised every time someone does this. Please take the time to use Kiss-n-Ride and/or find another route to get back up to the Parkway. Thank you!

📋 Check-Ins

Please remember, if your child arrives after 9:10AM, you must escort them into the main office and sign them in.

Students are not admitted into the building until 8:45AM, for breakfast or 8:55AM to go to class. Unless, you have something prearranged with a teacher, your child attends SACC or a before-school club, please do not drop your student off at school any earlier, there will be no adult supervision available.

Please remember to email or call the attendance line with any messages regarding your student's attendance. Absences and late arrivals should be reported to avoid getting a robo-call from FCPS. If you email the teacher to let them know about your student's attendance, please copy SangsterElem.Attendance@fcps.edu to ensure your message reaches our attendance staff. You can also call, 703-644-8282 to report any attendance messages.

👕Personal Items

Please remember to label clothing items, lunchboxes, water bottles, and whatever else you think your child may leave behind somewhere. If there's a name in it or on it, Sangster Staff will do their best to get it back to the owner. If not, it will go into the Lost and Found pile. Lost and Found will be placed outside the school for a week or so frequently for families to look for lost items. All items left at the end of the week will be donated. Please make sure to check the Lost and Found frequently, especially as the seasons change. Thanks for your help in making sure all items return back home to where they belong!

FCPS

The application for Free and Reduced Price Meals is available online and can be accessed in several languages. Families must apply each year for this benefit to continue!

FCPS Family Academy -. The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by Fairfax County Public Schools to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. The Family Academy also includes information about resources available to help you ensure your student has what they need to succeed. It’s a one-stop-shop if you have questions about FCPS and how to support your student.

Pre-K Literacy Programs

Family Resource Center - The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The center was formerly named the Parent Resource Center

Family Resource Center

Brochure
September Webinars now registering - FREE

7 Simple Strategies for Sibling Support September 6, 2024, 10-11:30 a.m.
Back-to-School Toolkit: Proven Systems for Solving Disorganization, Procrastination, and Missed Deadlines with Ann Dolin
The New Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Participation Decision-Making Tool: Information for Families of Students With Disabilities
Setting Limits and Dealing With Dramatic Resistance
Nurturing Adolescent Growth: A Comprehensive 4-Part Series on Teen Development and Well-Being

9/27/24 - Part 1: Understanding Adolescent Development: The Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Changes in Teens

Health Department

Community Sports ad Park Authority Programs

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

All parents of school-aged children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services in Virginia are requested to complete the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)annual Parent Involvement Survey.

This survey will remain open through December 13, 2024. Please complete one survey for each of your children who received special education services during the 2023-2024 school year.

Military Families

Facebook groups for local military families

GAMS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/greateralexandriamilitaryspouses/

PCS to DC - https://www.facebook.com/groups/PCSMilitaryMovetoVirginia

Fairfax County Spouses - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2053938148258566/

School Liaison Office – Fort Belvoir

EFMP Military One Source

EFMP – Fort Belvoir

MWR – Fort Belvoir

FCPS Military Families

FCPS Parent Resource Military Family Webinars

School Transitions for Military Families: Outgoing and Incoming Students (6/2022)

Using tools from her book, “Seasons of My Military Student,” Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman will offer relevant tips and strategies for managing new challenges.

Schools and Military-Connected Students: Supportive Programs and Practices (2/2022)