Eagle Connection 1.8.8

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Week 8 in Pictures!

Morning Meeting!

Our 5th graders are building connections and a sense of community through their morning meetings! What a wonderful way to start the day feeling welcomed, valued, and ready to learn!

Squeaker

Look Who Came to Visit! 

Our friend Squeakers stopped by for a special visit! What a fun surprise that brought lots of smiles and excitement to our Braddock Eagles!

HH

Our Hispanic Heritage Celebration was a wonderful success! A HUGE shout-out to Dr. Marquez and our Family Liaison for spearheading this special event and bringing our school community together to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of our Hispanic community!

 

HH

Hispanic Heritage Celebration Parade! 

Get 2 green

Our Green Ambassador in action! 


Dear Braddock Families, 

What a wonderful start to our week! Our staff came together on School Planning Day for a day of learning, collaboration, and planning to strengthen instruction for our students.

We are also excited to officially launch Walk to Read! Our literacy team has worked hard to analyze student data and create targeted reading groups to meet the individual needs of our students. A big shout-out to our literacy team and teachers for their dedication, flexibility, and teamwork!

We can't wait to see the growth our students will make as we provide instruction tailored to their needs!

Our school-wide “Caught Being Kind” challenge is still going strong, and so many of our Eagles have already been caught showing kindness to others! Please continue to encourage our students to spread kindness through their words and actions. Remind them that every act of kindness, no matter how small, makes a difference

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I'm grateful to be part of this amazing Braddock community

Have a wonderful weekend!

Principals

Laena Lee, Christopher Kamar, Julie Kubiak, and Natasha Findley


Every School Day Counts! 

Being at school every day is so important for our students' learning, growth, and success! To encourage regular attendance, our Attendance Team is hosting a monthly attendance challenge, recognizing one homeroom from each grade level with the highest attendance for the month!

🎉 Congratulations to our winning homerooms the month of September! 

attendance

AAP Family Night Information

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our AAP Family Information Night! We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about the Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) and the identification process.

For those who were unable to attend, we are sharing some additional resources for your review. We hope these materials will help answer some of your questions and provide helpful information about AAP.

Videos are available on the FCPS AAP website under Program Overview → Presentations: Learn About Advanced Academic Programs and Services.

 

Direct Video Links:

 

If you have any additional questions about the AAP at Braddock, please reach out to AP Findley at Nafindley@fcps.edu


Parent-Teacher Conferences Are Underway! 

Parent-teacher conferences are currently taking place! Please be on the lookout for communication from your child(ren)'s teacher to schedule a conference if you haven't already done so.

The Fall conference window closes on November 3, so we encourage all families to connect with their child's teacher before then.

These conferences are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your child's progress, discuss areas for growth, and strengthen our home-school partnership.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child's success!


Afterschool

Afterschool Program Is Coming Soon! 

We are excited to announce that our Afterschool Program at Braddock Elementary will begin on Wednesday, October 28!

If your child is interested in participating, please be sure to sign up! The flyer will be sent home on Monday.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to continue learning, growing, and connecting with their peers beyond the school day. 

Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible to secure your spot! 

We look forward to a great start to our Afterschool Program

AP

Book Character Day!  (10/30)

Book Character Day

 

Book Character Day is coming up! We can’t wait to see our students dressed as their favorite book characters! As a reminder, please no masks, no face painting, weapons or weapon-like accessories, or costumes that are scary or violent in nature. Thank you for helping us keep this a fun and safe celebration for everyone!


Staff Highlight

RB

Meet Ms. Renee Brown, our wonderful Reading Resource Teacher, who has been a part of the Braddock family since 2008! As you can imagine, she has a passion fo9r reading and is dedicated to helping our Eagles develop strong literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading and learning!  We are so grateful for her dedication to our students and school community! 

AM

Meet Ms. Anita Martinez Fernandez!

Meet Ms. Anita Martinez Fernandez, our wonderful Bridge to Literacy teacher! She works closely with our Eagles in small groups, providing targeted literacy support their language skills and grow as confident learners.  Outside of the classroom, Ms. Martinez Fernandez loves dogs and knows a great deal about Northern Virginia! We are so fortunate to have her as part of our Braddock family


FCPS News

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. 


Immunization Events

Newsletters:

  • Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. 

Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are available. 


Virginia Quality Birth to Five Guidelines

FCPS Is Participating in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) 

Virginia Quality Birth to Five is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of the curriculum. Visit the Virginia Quality Birth to Five website for more information.

Spanish:

FCPS participa en Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5)

Virginia Quality Birth to 5 es el sistema de Virginia para medir y apoyar la calidad de los programas de educación para la primera infancia, con el objetivo de que los niños lleguen al kindergarten preparados para aprender. VQB5 se basa en los estándares de salud y seguridad y también mide la calidad de las interacciones entre maestros y estudiantes, así como el uso del currículo. Para obtener más información, consulte el folleto VQB5 para Familias en inglés o español.


Annual Special Education Family Conference: We Need You!

Register now to attend FCPS’ annual Special Education Family Conference, Connected Communities, Thriving Students, on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School. 

 

Educators, families, and community members are invited to this in-person event at no cost. Participants can connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Register to attend the conference. 

 

Volunteers Are Needed to Make This Event a Success! 

Find out how to volunteer:

 

  • Adult Volunteers: Sign up through Volunteer FCPS. 
  • Student Volunteers: Sign up through the Student Volunteer Interest Form. Students will receive service hours for their time. 
  • Student Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project. Service hours will be awarded to students serving in these roles.

 

Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu. 


Help Your Child Become a Stronger Reader: Upcoming Family Learning Opportunities

Want to better understand how your child learns to read and how you can support them at home? FCPS is offering several free virtual sessions to help families learn about reading instruction, literacy resources, and strategies to build strong reading skills. Explore the opportunities below and register for the sessions that interest you.Lexia Family Information Sessions

Want to learn more about Lexia® Core5 and Lexia® PowerUp? These virtual sessions share how FCPS is using both programs in classrooms across the division this school year to support students’ literacy growth and give families a chance to ask questions.

 

Every one-hour session covers the same content. Choose the option that works best for your family:

  • Wednesday, October 21, at 5 and 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, November 4, at 6:30 p.m.

 

Join a Lexia Family Information Night Session.Literacy Webinar SeriesJoin us for a series of family-friendly webinars designed to help you understand reading assessments, reading plans, and ways to support your child at home. Learn what assessment results mean, how reading plans guide instruction, and practical strategies to strengthen decoding, language, comprehension, and literacy skills, including support for multilingual learners.

  • October 20, 2026: Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
  • December 15, 2026: What Is a Reading Plan?
  • February 19, 2027: How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
  • May 14, 2027: Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer

Register for the Literacy Webinar Series.

Introduction to Dyslexia Webinar – What Is It and What Does It Mean for My Student?Participants will look at the definition of dyslexia and its impact on students including the different types of dyslexia and what support students with dyslexia require. Participants will also leave with activities and tips to support their students at home.Join us on Friday, October 23, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Register for the Introduction to Dyslexia webinar.


PTA Corner


Fall Is in the Air at Braddock Elementary!
The temperatures are getting cooler, the leaves are beginning to change, and there’s a crispness in the air. Fall has officially arrived! As we settle into this wonderful season, the Braddock PTA is excited to bring our school community together for some festive fall fun!
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Bingo

Get Ready for Bingoween! 🎃 

One of our favorite family events is just around the corner! Bingoween is always a hit with our Braddock families, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone again this year!

Students (and parents) are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up in their favorite costumes. Whether you’re spooky, silly, or somewhere in between, come ready for an evening of bingo, laughter, and community fun!

Bingo tickets will be available for purchase at the door. We hope you’ll join us for this fun-filled Braddock tradition!


Help Make Bingoween a Fun Night for Our Families!

Bingoween is coming up on Friday, October 23, and we'd love your help making it a fun evening for our Braddock community!

We're looking for volunteers to help with setup, bingo, raffles, concessions, and cleanup. Whether you can help for part of the evening or stay longer, your support makes a difference!

📅 Friday, October 23
📍 Braddock Elementary Cafeteria
🕠 Event begins at 5:30 PM

👉 Sign up to volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/Bingoween-Volunteers

Thank you for helping us create fun and memorable experiences for our students and families!


TT

Our Annual Turkey Trot Is Coming Up! 🦃🍂

We are excited for one of our favorite Braddock traditions—our annual Turkey Trot on Friday, 11/13! This special event brings our students, families, and staff together for a day of fun, fitness, and school spirit!

More details will be shared soon, but in the meantime, we encourage our families to support our amazing PTA in making this event a success! Your involvement and support help create memorable experiences for our students and strengthen our Braddock community. The link can be found HERE.

Thank you for your continued partnership! We can't wait to celebrate together


PTA Spirit Wear

Have you checked out our new Braddock spirit wear collection yet? It’s the perfect time to stock up on some Eagle pride as the cooler weather rolls in!
Don’t forget — the spirit wear ordering window closes on October 31st! Be sure to place your order before the deadline so you don’t miss out.
As always, thank you for supporting the Braddock PTA and helping us create a welcoming, connected, and vibrant school community. We look forward to seeing our Eagles and their families at Bingoween!
Happy Fall, Braddock Families!

 

⭐ First-Round Order Deadline: October 31 ⭐

We’re excited to bring even more school spirit to Braddock this year and can’t wait to see everyone sporting their new gear!Braddock 


Community Event!

George Mason Regional Library Celebration: October 17

George Mason Regional Library, located at 7001 Little River Turnpike, will host a “See You Later!” Celebration and Open House on Saturday, October 17, from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM before closing for a two-year renovation.

Families can enjoy story time, a puppet magic show, crafts, giveaways, and other activities. 

Learn more: George Mason Library Celebration & Open House


Important Dates to Remember

10/27 5th Grade Field trip- Ms. Rodriguez, Ms. Wilder-Bushey, Ms. Ramos' classes

10/28 4th Grade Field trip

10/28 5th Grade Field trip- Mr. Cook, Ms. Long, Ms. Holland-Senter and Ms. Mahmoud's classes

10/30 End of 1st Quarter- 2-Hour Early Release

10/30 Book Character Day!