Lake Braddock Secondary School
Middle School Student Services
December 16, 2016
Volume 2, Issue 3
LBSS Middle School
Student Services
Winter Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is hard to believe that we are already starting to plan for the 20172018 school year! In the upcoming weeks student’s will be selecting
courses and meet individually with their counselors to review their selections. Please be sure to read through this newsletter as it contains a
wealth of information regarding the academic advising process, counselor lessons, core connections, and the Student Learning Plan.
RISING 9TH GRADE
CURRICULUM
NIGHTS
Lake Braddock
January 11
West Springfield January 24
Robinson
January 12
Hayfield
January 10
Annandale
January 12
MS Student Services Team
South County
January 18
COUNSELOR LESSONS: WINTER 2016
Lee
January 11
Falls Church
January 18
In December, counselors presented all middle school students with an academic and career planning lesson. The lessons use the Family Connection tool
accessible through student Blackboard 24/7 sites. Students have access to
Family Connection throughout their time at Lake Braddock and will continue
to use it during future career lessons in high school. The purpose of these lessons are to help students think about their future career plans and how academic planning now can impact choices and decisions made later. Students
are also encouraged to open their minds to possible future plans that they
may not have considered before, but that would be appropriate for them
based on assessments completed.
In these lessons, both 7th and 8th grade students wrote a SMART goal pertaining to academic progress achieved by the end of the second quarter. The components of a SMART goal were reviewed and students inputted their goals
into their Family Connection account.
Seventh grade students completed an assessment called the “Strengths Explorer.” This assessment asks various questions that determine students’ personality types. Students are then given 3 themes central to their personal
strengths. Themes such as “competing,” “relating,” and “presence” are among
possible outcomes. Students are then shown career pathways that maximize
these strengths. Eighth grade students completed an assessment called the
“Cluster Finder.” In this assessment, students answer questions about their
interests. Their interests are then matched up with career clusters and students explore various career possibilities. The Family Connection account is
available through all student Blackboard 24/7 accounts. Parents can ask their
child to share it with them and explore careers on their own anytime they like.
SECOND QUARTER
GRADING CALENDAR
Email Detailed Progress
Report……………………….12/9
Second Quarter Ends…...2/3
Email Detailed Progress
Report………………………...2/3
Report Cards Mailed
Home…………….…...………2/9
LBSS RISING 8TH GRADE
TRANSITION INFORMATION
Below you will find the timeline that includes a series of transition events for
our rising 8th grade students. These events are designed to assist students
and parents in selecting courses for the 2017-2018 school year.
Date
Event
Time
January 10th
Elective Fair
Bruin Block
Rising 8th grade students will have an opportunity to choose three courses they would like to
hear more about and attend a 20 minute session where there can hear directly from the teacher. This will include sessions on the difference between honors and general education courses,
world language options, and elective courses. Please review the Elective Fair Planning Sheet
that will be going home with students on Monday, January 9th. Make sure to follow up with
your student to see what they learned about the courses!
January 30th - 31st
Course Selection
Science Classes
Counselors will be visiting 7th grade science classes to review the course offerings for the 20172018 school year. Teacher recommendations for core classes will be printed on the back of your
students course selection sheet to help guide you in making decisions about course placement. Although we have an open enrollment policy, these recommendations should be considered as you make decisions about courses for the 2017-2018 school year.
February 7th
Course Selection Sheets
Due
Science Classes
All course selection sheets should be reviewed and signed by parents and students. Course selection sheets should be returned to your student’s science teacher no later than Tuesday, February 7th.
February 8th—17th
Academic Advising
Science Classes
Counselors will meet individually with students to review courses they have selected for the 2017
-2018 school year. This meeting will take place during the students' science classes. Parents will
be notified for any changes made to student course requests.
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LBSS RISING 9TH GRADE TRANSITION INFORMATION
Below you will find the timeline that includes a series of transition events for our
rising 9th grade students. These events are designed to assist students and parents in selecting courses for the 2017-2018 school year.
Date
Event
Time
January 5th - 6th
Course Selection
Science Classes
Lake Braddock High School Counselors will be visiting 8th grade science classes to review the course
offerings for the 2017-2018 school year. Teacher recommendations for core classes will be printed on
the back of your students course selection sheet to help guide you in making decisions about course
placement. Although we have an open enrollment policy, these recommendations should be considered as you make decisions about courses for the 2017-2018 school year.
PLEASE NOTE: Students who will be attending Robinson, Lee, or Hayfield High Schools will be meeting with a counselor to complete
their course selection during the Elective Fair. Students scheduled to attend West Springfield will attend a presentation on January 30th
during Bruin Block.
January 10th
Elective Fair
Bruin Block
Rising 9th grade students will have an opportunity to choose three courses they would like to hear
more about and attend a 20 minute session where there can hear directly from the elective teachers. Please review the Elective Fair Planning Sheet that will be going home with students on Monday,
January 9th. Make sure to follow up with your student to see what they learned about the courses!
January 11th
Rising 9th Grade Parent/
Student Program
6:00 - 6:45 PM
Rising 9th grade students and parents are invited to hear from the Lake Braddock High School Student Services Department prior to Curriculum Night. This program will take place in the Little Theater and will focus on answering some of the most frequently asked questions.
(Snow Date: January 12th)
January 11th
Curriculum Night
7:00 - 8:00 PM
This is an opportunity for parents and students to speak directly with teachers about courses. It is a
great chance to ask any questions you may have and take a closer look at the electives offered.
(Snow Date: January 12th)
January 13th
Course Selection Sheets Due
Science Classes
All course selection sheets should be reviewed and signed by parents and students. Course selection
sheets should be returned to your student's science teacher no later than Friday, January 13th.
January 17th - 27th
Academic Advising
Science Classes
Counselors will meet individually with students to review the courses they have selected for the 20172018 school year. This meeting will take place during the students’ science classes.
Parents will be notified of any changes made to student course requests.
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STUDENT LEARNING PLAN: DEVELOPING A PORTAIT OF A
GRADUATE
What is the Student Learning Plan?
The Student Learning Plan (SLP) is a process for
students to plan for the future by exploring college
and career options. Students will work with their
teachers and school counselor to discover their
personal strengths and interests, create goals to
help them achieve success, plan for courses that
meet high school graduation requirements and
prepare for life after high school. The development of the SLP starts in middle school and updated regularly as each student’s academic, personal, and career goals change. The SLP is required for all middle school students and students
who are in the ninth grade for the first time in
2014-15 and beyond.
What can your child do in Family Connection?
The SLP is created and stored electronically in
Family Connection. Your child will go through
Blackboard to access Family Connection, and parents go through their Blackboard Parent View to
access information about your middle or high
school student’s postsecondary plans, interests,
and opportunities. Your child can write goals and
action plans, research careers, add accomplishments and activities into a resume builder, search
colleges, develop plans of study for high school,
and plan for their future by using this tool.
Success is a Group Effort
Family Connection allows your child to use planning tools that connect goals with their future
plans. This tool lets your child personalize their
action plans. As a parent or guardian, how can
you support your child? You can encourage your
child to set goals and support them in their action
plans to reach those goals. You can talk to your
child about their strengths, interests, and results
on their career surveys. You can discuss your
child’s progress on the Student Learning Plan.
You can coach your child to assist them in making
decisions about college and careers that match
their personal strengths, interests, and goals, recognizing there are multiple pathways to success.
Core Connections Tutoring Program Continues Second Semester
Does your child need additional academic support in a core subject? Would he/she enjoy
working one-on-one with a high school tutor during the school day? The Core Connections tutoring program can help your child increase academic understanding, skills and
self-confidence. Under the supervision of a middle school counselor, tutors work collaboratively with their student’s subject teacher. Orientation and tutoring sessions take place
during Bruin Block in the Lecture Hall. Student applications for second semester include
a teacher observations form and will be available the week of January 16th. Contact your
child’s counselor for more information.
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WE BELIEVE...
A successful education will lead
students to be positive influences
in the community and to attain
fulfilling careers.
Students thrive when their individuality is recognized and encouraged in the school setting.
Students learn about their personal value and potential to
contribute to society through
various programs and opportunities at school.
Students of various abilities and
strengths can mutually benefit in
a diverse classroom environment.
Learning is relevant to students
when they apply their experiences in school to a variety of other
settings.
Educators have a crucial role and
provide a foundation for the
adult outcomes of our students.
The achievement gap is an academic disparity between groups
of students that can be completely eliminated.
All students shall have access to a
school counselor who advocates for
their academic, career, and personal/social needs.
MS STUDENT SERVICES VISION AND MISSION
Vision Statement
All students at Lake Braddock Middle School are empowered to use their
unique personalities, abilities, and values to achieve their fullest academic potential as they navigate toward a fulfilling and productive future. Students are
supported by a comprehensive school counseling program that inspires and
encourages continued growth and progress in each child, regardless of his or
her background. School counselors help students access learning by identifying
and removing barriers to their success, which promotes a school environment
that is nurturing, safe, and equitable for all. A collaborative partnership between families, the school, and the community fosters a high quality education
that offers students a broad range of opportunities and is free of achievement
gaps. As a result, students leave Lake Braddock as self-sufficient, goal-oriented
individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on society.
Mission Statement
The mission of Lake Braddock Middle School Counseling is to empower students to achieve high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and to be responsible and innovative members of a diverse global society. As part of a comprehensive school counseling program, counselors analyze data and work collaboratively with the school community to meet the unique academic, career, and
personal-social needs of all students. Achievement gaps are identified and reduced so every student has access to and experiences success in high quality
instructional programs. Lake Braddock’s diverse student body is presented with
a variety of counseling methods that help them discover talents, increase competence, develop imagination, and expand their academic and personal horizons.
Middle School Student Services Contact Information
Lake Braddock Secondary School
9200 Burke Lake Road
Burke, VA 22015
Phone: 703-426-1030
Fax: 703-426-1193
Anne C. Polino
Director of Student Services
Angela Santizo
Student Services Assistant
Patricia Fausser
Registrar
Tracey Butler-Johnson
Golden Knights, 7th
Purple Pride, 8th
Sylvia Coleman
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 7th
Green Dragons, 8th
Ian Brodie
Purple Piranhas, 7th
Gold Magic, 8th
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
703-426-1030
Room N-128
703-426-1030
Room N-134
703-426-1030
Room N-136
703-426-1037
Room N-140
[email protected]
703-426-1049
Room N-133
[email protected]
703-426-1035
Room N-130
Kristin Girardin
Blue Dolphins, 7th
Blue Sharks, 8th
[email protected]
703-426-1036
Room N-135
Joshua Miles
Neon Roadrunners, 7th
Red Eagles, 8th
[email protected]
703-426-1034
Room N-131
Megan Adair Casteel
Social Worker
Andy Durocher
Psychologist
[email protected]
703-426-1039
Room N-148
703-426-6428
Room N-150
[email protected]