River Bend Middle
January 15, 2021
- Monday, January 18 = No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Tuesday, January 19 = No School (Teacher Workday)
- Wednesday, January 20 = No School (Inauguration Day)
MAP Assessment
We are approaching the winter administration of the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The MAP test is designed to measure students’ readiness for learning specific skills and academic growth over time. River Bend Middle School will be administering NWEA’s MAP Reading and Growth assessments to students on the following schedule:
Math Test - Monday, January 25th, from 9:30am - 12:00pm
Reading Test - Monday, February 1st, from 9:30am - 12:00pm
Please note that teachers will NOT be holding office hours on these dates. Rather, all students will report to their 1st block class, virtually, to receive instructions for taking the MAP test.
Each student’s math and English teacher will be sending an email in the coming weeks with specific information for test administration, log-in information, and contact information for technical assistance. More information about MAP can be found on the LCPS MAP website. After the testing window closes, results will be uploaded onto ParentVUE.
For any questions, please contact your child’s English or Math teacher or the school’s testing coordinator Juliet Kenny (juliet.kenny@lcps.org).
WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Test
Beginning on February 8th, all English Learner (EL) students will be taking the federally-mandated WIDA ACCESS for ELLs test. This test will be administered in-person at River Bend. All health and safety measures will be followed. Transportation/busses will be available for students as necessary. EL teachers will be reaching out to families and students with more details over the next week. For an introduction video, click here (Spanish here).
Please also note: No English Learner Monitor Status Students, Students in Adult Education, or Returning Graduates are required to participate in the Spring 2021 WIDA ACCESS Testing for English Learners.
If you have questions, please reach out to the School Testing Coordinator, Juliet Kenny (juliet.kenny@lcps.org) and/or the EL Department Chair, Elsa Duenas (elsa.duenas@lcps.org).
Life at "The Bend"
Misc. School Updates
- Regardless if we are in a 100% distance learning or hybrid model, we will use a different bell schedule beginning January 21st (the first day of the 2nd semester). The start (8:30 a.m.) and end (3:18 p.m.) of our instructional school day will not change. However, the blocks and lunch shifts will change to accommodate distance and hybrid instruction. Please see the new bell schedule below.
- Are you interested in working at River Bend Middle School next school year? If so, please contact David.Shaffer@lcps.org.
- Congratulations to our students who participated in the American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC)! A few highlights include: Madhav Krishnaswamy (1st place RBMS & Honor Roll of Distinction - top 1% nationally), Ryan Chung (2nd place RBMS & Honor Roll Certificate - top 5% nationally), Razvan Nicolae (3rd place RBMS), & Avishi Anurag (4th place RBMS & Certificate of Distinction - 6th graders who scored over 15)!
Upcoming Events
- Monday, January 18 = No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Tuesday, January 19 = No School (Teacher Workday)
- Wednesday, January 20 = No School (Inauguration Day)
- Wednesday, January 20 = MSAAC Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, January 21 = 1st Day of the 2nd Semester
- Monday, January 25-Friday, January 29 = Picture Make-Ups
- Monday, January 25 = MAP Assessment (Math) at 9:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, January 26 = Quarter 2 Report Cards in StudentVUE & ParentVUE
- Tuesday, January 26 = PTA Spirit Night at Urbano Modern Italian at 4:00-8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, January 28 = MANDT Overview for Parents: Session 1 at 6:30 p.m. (LINK to Register)
- Saturday. January 30 = LCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference at 8:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m. LINK
- Monday, February 1 = MAP Assessment (Reading) at 9:30 a.m.
- Monday, February 1-Friday, February 5 = Quarter 2 Honor Roll Award Pick-Up from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Monday, February 1-Sunday, February 28 = Black History Month
- Monday, February 1 = Rising 6th Grade Orientation Video Released
- Wednesday, February 3 = Music Q & A for Rising 6th Graders at 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 4 = Music Q & A for Rising 6th Graders at 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 4= MANDT Overview for Parents: Session 2 at 6:30 p.m. (LINK to Register)
- Monday, February 8-Friday, February 12 = National School Counseling Week
- Monday, February 8-Monday, February 22 = ACCESS for ELLs (WIDA) Testing
- Wednesday, February 10 = Principal Q & A for Rising 6th Graders at 6:00 p.m. via Google Meet
- Wednesday, February 10 = PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Monday, February 15 = No School (President's Day)
An Update from LCPS
The Loudoun County School Board and Loudoun County Public Schools administration continues to monitor and evaluate conditions in the community that impact school operations.
At this time, all students continue to receive instruction in the 100% Distance Learning model. The CDC-recommended Core Indicators that LCPS uses to determine whether hybrid in-person learning should occur remain above the levels that would allow in-person instruction to take place. No date has been identified for when in-person instruction can resume; a date will be announced once community conditions improve.
The previously announced return to hybrid in-person instruction for middle and high school students on January 21 has been postponed indefinitely, and no date has been established when staff members must return to their classrooms. All students will continue to receive instruction remotely until community conditions improve, and LCPS will communicate the decision to return to in-person learning directly to parents through a message like this one when that determination is made.
At Tuesday’s School Board meeting, the School Board adopted a new, third metric to use in evaluating future decisions about in-person learning, and slightly modified its guidance for when LCPS can return to hybrid in-person learning. More details follow. Neither of those changes impact the current status of in-person learning for those students who have selected that mode.
New, Third Metric
The School Board adopted the staff-recommended addition of a third metric for use in evaluating conditions in schools when considering whether hybrid in-person learning can occur for those students whose families have selected it. The metric, described in the Risk Matrix for In-Person Learning, considers information related to the transmission of the COVID virus in schools, staff and student absenteeism, LCPS performance on implementation health-mitigation measures and consultation with the Loudoun County Health Department. The metric will be considered in addition to the CDC-recommended core indicators currently considered: Loudoun County case incidence rate and the Loudoun County percent positivity rate, as reported by the Virginia Department of Health.
Guidance Regarding Return to Hybrid In-Person Instruction
The School Board affirmed its guidance for returning to in-person hybrid instruction, with a modification. The guidance now reads, “LCPS will resume hybrid in-person learning for all students whose families selected it and will expand the implementation of the hybrid model as planned if either the CDC core indicator relating to the Loudoun County case incident rate or the Loudoun County percent positivity rate falls below the highest risk level for five consecutive days, additionally, the LCSB adopts the Risk Matrix for In-Person Learning and the Transmission in Schools decision-making model.” In the modified adoption, the timeframe for “below the highest risk level” was changed from “five consecutive workdays” to “five consecutive days.” This action is largely in-line with the current return to in-person instruction metric.
LCPS remains committed to providing hybrid in-person instruction for those students who have selected it, when it is safe to do so. As long as both CDC-recommended Core Indicators that LCPS uses to evaluate conditions remain in the “highest risk” category, we will continue to provide instruction in the 100% distance learning mode. We understand that this situation creates challenges for many students and families, and we continue to work to provide every support available to those who need it. We thank you for your continued flexibility and support of those around you.
Contact Information: Online Verification Window Re-opened Until January 20th
In August 2020, LCPS implemented a new Online Verification Process for updating and maintaining accurate student information in Phoenix. The process uses ParentVUE, the online tool that LCPS families use regularly to track their students’ latest grades, attendance and report card information.
Some families were not able to complete the Online Verification Process this fall, so a second opportunity will be offered to those families through January 20th. Please note that families who already completed the Online Verification Process in the fall will not be prompted to complete the process again.
Resources:
Semester 2 Bell Schedule (Starts on January 21, 2021)
Mathematics in LCPS
Students currently enrolled in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade will receive a middle school math course teacher recommendation for the 2021-22 school year. The 2021-22 Middle School Math Course Selection Process Document contains detailed information about this process. Additionally, this Information Video for Parents, explains the process and addresses many frequently asked questions. If you have further questions about the process, please reach out to your student’s teacher and/or school counselor.
Frequently Used Links and Resources
- LCPS COVID-19 Symptom Checker Questionnaire LINK
- LCPS Return to School Planning LINK
- Purchase a 2021-2022 School Yearbook LINK
- Raven Relief Fund LINK (supporting students and families in our community)
- PTA Membership LINK
- River Bend Library LINK
- Semester 2 Bell Schedule LINK
- A/B Day Calendar LINK
- River Bend Ravens Spirit Wear Online Store LINK