Blue Ridge MS
April 16, 2021
Collaboration on Display with Ms. O'Neill's 3D Art Students
Hi Bulldog Families! We are off to a wonderful start in quarter four and remain so proud of the amazing teaching and learning happening at Blue Ridge. Remember, quarter three student report cards will be viewable in PVUE on Monday, April 19 by 4 PM.
April 20- We are excited for the return of hybrid students to 4 days a week of in-person learning starting Tuesday, April 20.
Cafeteria seating plan- Students seated in the cafeteria will be less than 6 feet apart, but at least 3 feet apart. At these distances, due to contact tracing, students will have assigned seating in all classrooms and in the cafeteria. These distances are within School Board parameters and due to Blue Ridge's high rate of hybrid return. Our cafeteria seating plan starting 4/20 is to allow student-selected seating for all grades with a minimum of three feet of physical distancing. Once students have selected a seat, we’ll record each student’s location for contact tracing, if that is needed. Students will maintain that selected seat for the duration of quarter four.
Contact Tracing- Integrating both halves of our students into 4-day a week school is very exciting and we are thrilled to get started. One difference, due to our school being 50% full, is students in some classes could be considered “close contacts”. The CDC definition for a “ close contact”, which is used by Loudoun County Public Schools, is defined: Close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more within 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of whether the contact was wearing a mask (source: CDC.gov website). Each class has different return rates, for example, one of your child’s classes may have 20 returning students but the next only 11 returning students. The 20 student class would create a situation with “close contacts”; however, the 11 would not. We will maintain the maximum distance possible between students for the classroom/lunch/Pe space they occupy based on the enrollment. The minimum distance of separation is 3 feet (*different in PE and Music) allowed by the School Board. If your child is a close contact, you will be notified by a BRM official regarding the LCPS policy for quarantining.
Kiss-N-go drop off reminder- When dropping off students in the morning, please use the kiss-N-go entrance and pull around behind the school. Continue to follow the kiss-N-go lane along the building to drop off your student on the sidewalk near the loading dock or main entrance.
What's Happening in April?
April 19- MAP Math Test at 9:00 AM (details below)
April 19- Report Cards posted in PVUE by 4:00 PM
April 20- 4 days a week of in-person learning begins for Hybrid students
April 26- No office hours, BR teachers in professional development
April 29- Spirit Night at Papa Johns (details below)
PTO Updates
Secretary's Day is April 21st! Please send cards in to show them your love.
To honor the staff at Blue Ridge Middle School, we will be recognizing our faculty this week, May 3rd – May 6th, for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Please consider helping us give our teachers a special week. Check out the Sign up Genius
Every year, the PTO awards a $1000 scholarship to a graduating Valley student who attended BRMS. Applicants write an essay with the prompt, “How has your education at Blue Ridge Middle School prepared and motivated you to pursue post high school education?”
The PTO is committed to awarding this essay this year! If you have or know a HS senior, please have them contact Mrs. Krone (linda.krone@lcps.org) for information about how to submit their application to us for consideration. The deadline for us to receive applications is May 1st.
The PTO is looking for SEAC representative - are you able to help?
The SEAC representative has a very important role in working with the School Board, administrators, parents and teachers who are responsible for students receiving special education services to study and help identify unmet needs in LCPS special education and make recommendations to address those needs. SEAC focuses on the needs of the entire special education community and therefore seeks to identify themes and trends, rather than focus on individual issues.
The SEAC PTO Representative is expected to attend monthly SEAC business meetings and distribute important information to SPED families and staff at BRMS.
For more information about the SEAC and/or the PTO Representative role please visit the SEAC website at: lcps.org/seac
MSAAC representative needed! The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) is dedicated to work in partnership with LCPS, parents and community to further the academic, social and cultural development of every student and to ensure that the needs of all minority students are met.
The PTO is in search of a liaison between BRMS and the MSAAC program. The liaison would attend the monthly MSAAC meetings and submit or present a brief summary at monthly BRMS PTO Board meetings.
If you are interested or have questions, please contact our President, Danielle Kabban, at president@brmspto.org. The MSAAC website has more information, if needed.
Order Your Yearbook!
Don’t forget to ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK online! You will want to make sure that you order this valuable keepsake that represents your student’s school year. Remember that the yearbook is the only thing left of your child’s “normal” school year and you don’t want them to miss out. (Look for ordering information on the BRMS website.)
Spring MAP Testing - Monday, April 19
Blue Ridge will be administering the Math MAP growth assessment to students through semester 1 Advisory class on Monday, April 19 - 9:00 AM.
Prior to testing, students will complete several important pre-test steps so they are ready to test on MAP day. Linked here is a helpful document called A Parent's Guide to Remote MAP Test Support.
While we will do everything we can to ensure a smooth test administration, there will likely be one or more interruptions during testing. The MAP test requires a large amount of bandwidth and is susceptible to freezing or shutting down. If your student experiences multiple interruptions/technical issues during testing and is unable to meaningfully continue with the test, please use the Google Meet chat to communicate immediately with their Teacher/Proctor.
Spring SOL Testing Information
Blue Ridge will administer the Spring SOL tests May 3-June 7. All grade 6 & 7 students will take the Reading and Math SOL and all grade 8 students will take the Reading, Math, and Science SOLs, as well as a local performance assessment in Civics.
Distance Learning students will test in school on Mondays while Hybrid students will test on regular school days. Here is the Spring SOL schedule:
Distance Learning Students
May 3 DL Reading 8, DL Reading 7 (A-I)
May 10 DL Reading 6, DL Reading 7 (J-Z)
May 17 DL Science 8
May 24 DL Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry
June 7 DL Math 6, Foundations of Algebra
Distance Learning Students should arrive at Blue Ridge on there scheduled testing days between 8:30 – 8:50 AM, testing will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.
Hybrid Students (testing will begin at 9 AM each day)
May 4 Reading 6
May 5 Reading 8
May 6 Reading 7
May 12 Science 8
May 18 Geometry
May 19 Algebra I
May 20 Pre Algebra
May 25 Foundations of Algebra (6th graders)
May 26 Foundations of Algebra (7th graders)
May 27 Math 6
If you do NOT want your student to participate in one or more Spring SOL tests, please complete the following form: Parent Refusal Form for Spring SOLs. The form allows you to select which SOL(s) you do not want your child to take. All non-responders will be scheduled for SOL testing in May.
**Grade 8 parents who previously refused their student’s participation on the Writing SOL should complete this form again indicating you do not want your student to participate in one or more Spring SOLs.
Spring SOL Expedited Retakes
The Virginia Department of Education provides an opportunity for students in grades 3-8, who are enrolled in a grade level course, to retake one or more Standards of Learning (SOL) tests after earning a failing SOL test score between 375-399. This opportunity is referred to as an expedited retake, given the quick retest following the initial failing score.
Expedited retakes are optional and require parent permission, which is the intent of this form. Given the challenges associated with in-person test administration this year, we encourage you to weigh whether an expedited retake is in your student’s best interest before deciding whether to give consent.
You may choose to give consent for all, some, or none of the SOL tests your student may be eligible to retake by indicating your choice in the form below. If you choose to provide consent, please note:
- All SOL retake opportunities are optional and will not impact your student’s course grade, promotion, diploma, admission into any specialized schools/programs/courses or their academic record.
- Parents/Guardians may revoke permission for an expedited retake at any time.
Academies of Loudoun Application Information
Attention Rising 8th Grade Students!
The application process for the Academy of Science and the Academy of Engineering & Technology begins during the fall of 8th grade. A video presentation has been put together by the ACL Admissions office that Mrs. Racino will present to all 7th grade students during resource and spectrum Thursday, April 22nd.
On Monday, April 26th at 9am the Academies will host a Q & A virtual session. A link will be sent to all 7th grade students and families through a separate email.
Spirit Night at Papa Johns - April 29
Upcoming Student Health and Wellness Events with LCPS
Community Meal Distribution - Updates
Return to Hybrid Instruction - Videos
Informational and return to school orientation videos and documents:
Watch! Hybrid return to school informational video
Watch! Helpful information for returning hybrid students
Watch! PE instructional plan for hybrid return
Read! LCPS Mitigation Plans
What Items Should Hybrid Students Bring to School?
Return to School Information from the Nurse
As Hybrid students return to school there is a need to update medical information, immunizations ( T dap for 7th graders), care plans and medications needed for school. Care plans and medication forms require annual renewal.
Medications
Prescription and Over-The-Counter Medication must be brought to school BY AN ADULT in its original container and cannot be expired. When requested, most pharmacies will provide an extra bottle with the proper amount of medication needed while the student is at school. The health office cannot accept more than a 2 month school day supply of medicine.
In order for medication(s) to be administered at school, a MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION FORM must be completed. A parent/guardian may fill out the form if it is an over-the-counter medication; however, prescription medication MUST have the form filled out and signed by a physician or healthcare provider. Acetaminophen is no longer stocked in the school health office. If you would like to keep over-the-counter medication for pain in the school (Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc), the parent must bring the medication to school and fill out a medication authorization form.
Students may carry emergency medical supplies (i.e. epi-pen, diabetic supplies, inhaler) with physician's written permission and as indicated in the student’s care plan on file in the clinic. Please use an Asthma Action Plan or Allergy Action Plan for physician's medication orders.
If you have a care plan or medication that is needed at school. Please contact me to schedule an appointment to review documentation and drop off medications. I can be reached by email at Maryann.stetter@lcps.org or call 540-751-2520. I am available most weekdays days between the hours of 8:30AM and 3:30PM.
Sign Up for Remind
Technical Support for Students
If a Chromebook fails in some way, which impedes access, please use another device to access Google and/or try one of the following troubleshooting tips: 1) In Settings, click on About Chrome and check for updates, 2) Clear Cache from All Time, 3) Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
Students may receive technical support through one of the following methods:
Call the Technology Support Center at (571) 252-2112
The Technology Support Center will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., M-F (excluding holidays).
BRMS PTO
Officers
President: Danielle Kabban: president@brmspto.org
First VP: Christine Bartlett: firstvp@brmspto.org
Second VP: Kelly Schober: secondvp@brmspto.org
Secretary: Kathi Reich: secretary@brmspto.org
Treasurer: Nicole Halsey: treasurer@brmspto.org
Coordinators
Theater: Jennifer Zisk and Kelly Schober: drama@brmspto.org
Volunteer & Events: Amelia Hertzberg: volunteer@brmspto.org
Hospitality: Megan Nugent: hospitality@brmspto.org
MSAAC Volunteer: Susan Swayzem: saac@brmspto.org
Bulldogs Give Back Coordinator: Erin Schroeder: givesback@brmspto.org
Unified Mental Health Team Updates
BRMS Statement on Equity
The Unified Mental Health Team at Blue Ridge wants to acknowledge the many incidents involving race and social injustices that have occurred nationally over the past several weeks.
These incidents are not only unjust but they can have a traumatic impact on students and staff during these challenging times.
Blue Ridge Middle School rejects racism and all forms of hateful behavior and language in our school community. We pledge to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all our students and families. This will continue to be important work as we move into next school year, and we are committed to continuing this conversation with staff, students and families.
We are pleased to announce our Blue Ridge Equity Team Co-leads: 8th grade counselor Ms. Savastano and Civics teacher - Mrs. Benalayat.
We hope that the below resources will be helpful in talking with your children and families about these issues.