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As we continue to prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and families during arrival and dismissal, I want to update you on ongoing efforts to enhance our procedures and share some important reminders. Currently, we are working with Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCVDOT), the FCPS Safety Office, and Supervisor Walter Alcorn to review and refine our arrival and dismissal practices to ensure a safe experience for everyone involved.
Crosswalk Staffing Updates
To make these transitions as safe and efficient as possible, please note a few key changes in our crosswalk staffing:
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Intersection of Westwood Drive and Pine Valley Drive: We will no longer have a staff member at this location as school staff are not legally permitted to control traffic off school property. Staff members and student safety patrols may be positioned at crosswalks on sidewalks in which their role will be to closely monitor and ensure student safety prior to crossing the street. However, I am actively advocating for a training school crossing guard that is managed by the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). For those who would like to support this school crossing guard effort, please visit FCPD School Crossing Guard website https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/CommonTopics/JoinOurTeam/SchoolCrossingGuard or consider sending your communication to Supervisor Walter Alcorn at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov or Major Joanna Culkin at McLCapt@fairfaxcounty.gov to emphasize our community’s need for this safety measure.
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Kiss & Ride Entrance (on WES Property): We will continue to have a staff member stationed at the crosswalk at the entrance of the Kiss & Ride area on Westbriar Elementary School property. This ensures that students and families are safely crossing where the most traffic is concentrated.
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Southern Pines Court Cul-de-Sac: We will no longer staff the cul-de-sac crosswalk but will have a staff member at the crosswalk at the entrance of the Bus Loop on WES property.
Arrival and Dismissal Safety Reminders
To further ensure a safe environment, please help us by observing the following guidelines:
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Bicyclists: All students biking to school must wear helmets for their safety. Additionally, all bikers should use the provided bike lanes, sidewalks if necessary, and crosswalk areas.
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Kiss & Ride Promptness: Please arrive by 9:18 AM for drop-off in the Kiss & Ride line. Our staff will head inside at 9:20 AM to start their day with students.
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No Drop-Offs Outside the Kiss & Ride Line: For your child’s safety, only use the designated Kiss & Ride line for drop-offs. Do not allow your child to exit the car until you have reached the drop-off area. Please do not park and have students walk from your vehicle or drop them off to run to the building; student safety is always our priority, and we would rather they arrive a few minutes late than be placed at risk.
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No U-Turns: Please refrain from making U-turns on any roadways around the school. Safety for all is essential, and unexpected turns increase the risk of accidents.
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Maintain Safe Speeds: Especially around the school zone, please slow down and remain cautious of other cars, pedestrians, and bikers.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support in making Westbriar a safe and welcoming place for our students. Your partnership is essential in helping us keep our school community safe during these busy times.
We’re thrilled to invite families to our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon! Join us for a special meal with your child(ren) and enjoy the spirit of the season together. To make this event a success, we’re also looking for volunteers to help with setup, ticket sales, and assistance in the lunchroom.
Dates:
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Wednesday, November 20 - Grades 4-6
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Thursday, November 21 - Grades K-3
Lunch Costs:
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Adults: $4.75 CASH ONLY
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Children: $3.25 (Students may use their school lunch accounts)
- Please bring exact change if possible. If you cannot, extra change can be donated to our PTA.
After lunch, visit our Book Fair in the library, where families can shop together!
Arrival: To ensure a smooth experience, arrive at least 10 minutes before your child’s scheduled lunch time if purchasing lunch at school. Refer to the Thanksgiving Lunch schedule for your child’s lunch time.
Volunteer Opportunities: We need helping hands to make this event possible! If you’re available, please consider signing up here: Thanksgiving Luncheon 2024 Volunteers
We look forward to celebrating this festive occasion with our Westbriar families! 🦃🍂
We’re excited to announce that Westbriar Elementary now has its own Facebook page! This page will be a great way for you to stay connected, get updates on school events, see highlights from our classrooms, and celebrate all the wonderful things happening in our school community.
Join us on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and announcements, share in the excitement of school activities, and engage with other Westbriar families. Don’t miss out—be sure to follow us and stay in the loop!
https://www.facebook.com/WestbriarElementary
Thank you for being a part of our community and for your continued support! 🦅📚
Do you still need to order pictures? Strawbridge’s NEW Code Lookup Tool is now available. Simply scan the QR code and follow the directions to access your child's picture ordering gallery. No need to contact Customer Service for an access code! *Student last name and Student ID number will be required for data security.*
Reach out to Strawbridge’s Customer Service Team via the Live Chat on through the website, www.strawbridge.net,
if you have questions about the Code Lookup or are having difficulty navigating the site.
As we approach the end of the first quarter, we encourage you to take some time to review your child's 1st-Quarter Progress Report. This valuable tool provides insights into your child's academic performance and growth during the first part of the school year.
The Progress Reports will be accessible through ParentVUE beginning Tuesday, November 12th. We highly recommend discussing the report with your child to celebrate their achievements and set goals for the upcoming quarter. Thank you for your continued support in your child's education!
Important Dates:
Thursday, October 31st: 1st Quarter Ends
Tuesday, November 12th: Progress Reports Available in ParentVUE
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child at the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Food and Nutrition Services is dedicated to supporting students' dietary needs while maintaining privacy and adhering to HIPAA guidelines. To assist families whose children have specific dietary requirements, the department has developed a set of forms for dietary accommodations.
These forms help ensure that cafeteria staff have the information necessary to provide safe meal options without sharing sensitive medical details. We encourage parents who need dietary modifications for their child to review these forms and submit the appropriate one if applicable:
- Medical Dietary Accommodation (MDA): For complex dietary needs that require a licensed healthcare provider's signature.
- Medical Discontinuation (MD): For ending a previously requested dietary accommodation, requiring only a parent/guardian signature.
- Milk Substitution (MS): For lactose-free or milk substitute requests, requiring only a parent/guardian signature.
All forms can be submitted by email to dietary.forms.fns@fcps.edu, and once processed, Registered Dietitians from FCPS will contact parents directly. These accommodations remain valid throughout your child’s time in FCPS, so only one submission is needed.
It’s important to note:
- FCPS does not serve pork in school meals.
- Vegetarian and vegan options are available daily without the need for form submission.
- For students with severe, life-threatening food allergies, we recommend working with the school’s 504 team for additional support.
Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and supportive dining environment for all students!
You are invited to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, November 20th, at 7:00 p.m. All program materials and media will be available for your review at this time.
Please use this link to join the session: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/95916451476.
Family Life Education (FLE) promotes parental involvement, fosters positive self-concepts, and provides coping mechanisms for dealing with peer pressure and the stresses related to the students' developmental stages and abilities. Students in grades K-6 participate in FLE. The early elementary program emphasizes the importance of families, distinction between good and bad touch, sources of help, and the importance of friendships. Human Growth and Development (HGD) is first introduced in grade four. Students learn about changes that occur during puberty and prenatal development. An understanding of sexually transmitted infections is introduced in grade 5. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions. Lessons, slide presentations, and media may be viewed in Parent View in Schoology. Instruction occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. Opt-out forms for students are available in the Parent Digital Consent (PDC). If you already completed an opt-out form at the beginning of the school year, you do not need to complete another one. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify the school in writing before instruction begins. An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices now and in the future.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Calendar Reminders
- Resources for Families
- Complete Impact Aid Survey
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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