Bobcat Bulletin
April 6, 2020
We Miss You!
BCES Staff misses your children and it's important to us that they know we are always thinking of them and sharing our light! The video linked below is our reminder to them!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7b9inCeI6QThank you all for working WITH us during our first week of Distant Learning. We know there have been some technology frustrations, but we ask that you stick with digital learning and do not give up and go to paper right away! This journey is new to everyone and Schoology is working hard to better prepare to service all users. Digital learning is a safer and more cnnected option, so thank you for being flexible and understanding and all of the kinks are ironed out. A HUGE thank you to staff and families for being full of #starpower last week!
Calendar Reminders
Monday, April 6 from 10AM - 2PM
Wednesday April 8 from 10 AM-2PM
Wednesday April 15 from 10AM-2PM
Friday April 17 from 10 AM-2PM
Packets can be picked up in the front of the building where a staff member will greet you and give you your packet while you remain in the car.
FCPS Resources for Families
The links below contain information that you may find useful as you look for additional resources for Distance Learning.
FCPS Supplemental Resources for Families: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/fcpslearning/home
Thank you for your patience as the Schoology platform works to increase productivity due to excessive traffic. There is flexibility with due dates as we navigate this first week, so please do not worry about any negative impact on your child's grade. We are all learning together and will continue to be flexible and fluid! You may find the links below helpful if your child is using schoology.
Logging into Schoology at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dcY0XbH5dQ
Trouble Shooting for Parents: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OJWzxwXeSumMlev5Ac8_-B0aaKhW5_ofMvuRO3a1pws/edit?ts=5e84afd5
Resource for Children
Talking With Your Children About COVID-19 from Ms. O'Neill,School Support
As public conversations around COVID-19 are everywhere, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate and minimizes anxiety and fear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created general principles to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease. Below are the guidelines:
* Remain calm and reassuring. Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.
* Make yourself available to listen and to talk. Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.
* Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma. Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.
* Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio or online. Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.
* Provide information that is honest and accurate. Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental lives of the child. Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.
* Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs. Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick. Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.
* Discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and staff. Such as, further cancellation of school, events or activities that pertain to them.
* Get children into a handwashing habit. Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after coughing, sneezing, before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren’t available, they can use alcohol-based sanitizers.
* Overall, reassure your children not to panic and practice good hygiene
Family Check-in Week 3
The survey can be accessed using the following link:
Free Meal Service
BCES is a free meal site for FCPS. Please take advantage of this service for your family if it would be helpful. Anyone 18 years of age or younger can get breakfast, lunch and dinner daily at no cost. All meal service is "grab and go" at the following hours:
Breakfast: 8:30-9:30
Lunch 11:30-12:30
Dinner- Dinner is distributed at lunch time as a take home meal.