Eagle Express - Feb 24, 2025
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Welcome to Our Braddock ES Family, #OneFamily
Greetings, Braddock Families & Community!
Hope this communication finds you and your family well. The purpose of this communication is to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend our LOVE Breakfast on Thursday, February 20, 2025. We were delighted to see approximately 100 families join us! Your presence and participation made the vent a wonderful success. We truly appreciate your support.
ANNOUNCEMENT: It’s LICE Season!
Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know
Head lice are a common part of childhood, and we want to provide you with helpful information for prevention and treatment.
Preventing Head Lice
- Teach children not to share hats, combs, brushes, scarves, or hair accessories.
- Regularly check your child's hair, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, for lice or nits (eggs). A fine-toothed comb is recommended.
- Keep long hair tied back in ponytails or braids.
What to Do If Your Child Has Lice
- Remain calm; lice are treatable.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist for appropriate treatment and follow their instructions carefully.
- Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove lice and nits after treatment.
- Wash recently worn clothing, bedding, and hats in hot water and dry them on high heat.
- Notify the school nurse to help prevent further spread.
If you have questions, please contact us at 703-914-7300.
Sincerely With Warmest Regards,
Keesha Jackson-Muir, Principal
Highlights from the Week
We're thrilled to announce that Alex Winiewicz has been named the Region 6 November 2024 FCPS CARES Recipient of the Month! Congratulations to Alex from the Employee Recognition team for this well-deserved honor.
Important Dates Date Upcoming Events
2/26
Literacy: VLA Family Reading Plan Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Literacy: VLA Family Reading Plan Meeting
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Family Program: Weekly Family Engagement & Information Meetings
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
3/5
Family Event: How to navigate the school website and other online resources
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, Cafeteria
Family Program: Weekly Family Engagement & Information Meetings
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
3/6
Art and Music Night
3/12
Family Program: Weekly Family Engagement & Information Meetings
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
3/13
Third Grade Field Trip
3/14
Third Grade Field Trip
Pre-SchooMeeting: On Safety
9:00 AM-10:30 AM, Library
3/18
Kindergarten Orientation
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
3/19
Family Event: Education & Awareness - Getting Ready for SOL Testing
9:30 AM -10:30 AM, Cafeteria
Family Program: Weekly Family Engagement & Information Meetings
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
FCPS 3-Hour Early Release Days for Braddock *Dismissal at 12:40 PM
March 10th
April 21st
May 12th
Date Upcoming Testing Schedule11
WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (K-5)
Black History MonthBlack History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.
📚 Support Your Child’s Literacy Journey! 📚
We invite you to attend our Literacy: VLA Family Reading Plan Meeting to learn strategies for fostering a love of reading at home and supporting your child’s literacy development. Choose the time that works best for you!
📅 Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
📍 Location: Cafeteria
Morning Session: 🕘 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Evening Session: 🌙 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Let’s work together to build strong readers! We look forward to seeing you there.
Ramadan
Ramadan begins at sundown on Friday, February 28. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school. Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact Ms. Jackson-Muir regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
Middle School Transition Fair: Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education
It’s never too early or too late to start preparing for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult. Ensuring postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future. You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, as well as learn about short and long-term postsecondary supports, employment and postsecondary education considerations, Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post school success. For more information and registration, please see the flyer.
📅 Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Luther Jackson Middle School
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-5 during the week of March 10-19th. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link. If you have any questions, please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Andrea Bradshaw, at [email protected] or (703) 914-7353.
Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Braddock Elementary School
Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
📐 Breaking Down the BudgetSupporting Academic Growth and Algebra by Eighth Grade
The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan. Since the 2023-24 school year, FCPS has seen a 9.5% increase in eighth graders taking Algebra I or more advanced math and a 6.8% increase in fifth graders in advanced math.
Studies show that students who complete algebra in middle school have more opportunities to take advanced math and science courses in high school. This can open up new academic paths for students! Watch a video that shows why eighth grade algebra matters. Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget.
VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
FCPS Trust Policy
FCPS is committed to providing all students and families with a Safe, Welcoming, and Inclusive space. It is important to know that schools will not collect or maintain any information on the citizenship or immigration status of students or their families. For more information, contact us at 703-914-7300 OR scan the QR code below.
Step-By-Step Family Preparedness Plan
Every family should have a Family Preparedness Plan in case of an emergency. It is critical for immigrant families to think ahead and set more concrete plans for immigration emergencies that can arise. For example, this Resource Toolkit goes into detail about different childcare options available in case of an absent parent, where to find trusted immigration services in your community, and how to prepare to assert your constitutional rights in the presence of an immigration officer.
Follow Us on Social Media
Stay connected with Braddock Elementary School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Braddock.
Concerns or questions from parents
Your concerns are important to us. Contact your child's teacher first, most questions or concerns can be addressed with a quick phone call or email. If that doesn't work, the next step would be to contact the Assistant Principal who supports your child's grade level:
🦅Christopher Kamar - [email protected] or call 703-914-7388
- 4th - 5th
🦅Christie Goodman - [email protected] or call 703 914 7323
- 2nd - 3rd
🦅Maureen Lopez - [email protected] or 703-914-7304
- Pk - K -1st
Follow us on social media for more updates:
- BES Website: https://braddockes.fcps.edu
- Sign up for News You Choose Newsletters here: Click Here
- Facebook: Braddock ES
Students Invited to Share Their Voices at the 2025 Family Summit
7825 Heritage Drive, Annandale, VA 22003 | Main Phone: 703.914.7300
Attendance: 703.914.7333 | Web | Calendar | Facebook | Twitter