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February 2025 Newsletter

We hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. Here at Bryant, we are more than ready to say goodbye to the cold and welcome warmer temperatures and the arrival of spring! Despite the chilly weather, our Bryant students continue to work hard and have already reached the halfway point of the school year.

On Friday, February 14th, 15 Bryant students graduated at our winter graduation. Our student speaker, Nida Eman, shared her inspiring story of perseverance and overcoming life’s challenges, emphasizing the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams and goals.

We are grateful to all the School Board and Leadership Team members who attended this joyous occasion. Students expressed their appreciation for their families and teachers who supported them throughout this journey.

 

During February, we also celebrated School Counseling Week and gave thanks for Ameen Jackson, Stephanie Lemus-Ortiz, and Margaret Veenstra for their unwavering support and dedication to our students—not only academically but also in their social-emotional well-being. Our school counselors play a vital role in guiding and empowering students, helping them navigate challenges and achieve their goals.

During second quarter, Bryant students in English 9 and 10 completed research on a topic of personal interest. These topics included historical monuments, career interests, favorite celebrities, and travel destinations, among others. Students defined research questions, evaluated online sources, took notes, and wrote expository essays with an MLA Works Cited list. In the course of this project, students not only learned more about their topics but also gained skills for navigating online sources of information and using them responsibly.

February is also Black History Month. It is a time to honor the rich heritage, achievements, and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. In high schools, celebrating Black History Month is essential in fostering awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the impact of Black leaders, activists, artists, and innovators. It provides an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful discussions about history, equity, and social justice while recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the Black community. By incorporating diverse perspectives into education, schools create inclusive environments where all students feel seen, valued, and empowered. Celebrating Black History Month not only honors the past but also inspires future generations to continue advocating for equality and positive change.

 

We are incredibly proud of Mohammad Al-Towaiti for being inducted into membership for demonstration of excellence in Career and Technical Education at Edison Academy.  Next stop for Mohammad is the SkillsUSA Virginia State Leadership Conference and Skills Competition in April.  We wish Mohammad the very best and take great pride in his hard work and accomplishments.

Bryant has five amazing students that serve on Fairfax County Public Schools Student Advisory Council (SAC). SAC serves as a platform for student representatives from different high schools to provide input on school policies, programs, and initiatives. The SAC meets regularly with FCPS leadership, including the Superintendent, to discuss student concerns, propose solutions, and contribute to decision-making processes that affect the student body.  

The Puller Institute is an annual program established by Senator Scott Surovell to honor his predecessor, State Senator Elizabeth "Toddy" Puller, who served in the Virginia General Assembly for 24 years. This program offers high school students from Northern Virginia a unique opportunity to engage directly with the state government in Richmond. Bryant student, Kelvin Ntim, was selected to participate in this outstanding opportunity and spent several days at the Virginia State Capitol, where he observed legislative sessions, met with policymakers, and discussed issues pertinent to his community. 

 

 

 

Bryant has an outstanding partnership with Jobs for Virginia Graduates (JVG).  JVG is a statewide program dedicated to helping students, particularly those facing barriers to employment, successfully transition from high school to the workforce, postsecondary education, or military service. Darrion Turner was invited to a state level JVG competitive event and created and presented a business plan. Darrion placed 4th in the competition, and Bryant is incredibly proud of him and all that he has accomplished.

This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of Friday, February 28, and ends on the evening of Sunday, March 30, depending on the sighting of the moon. It is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide through fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayer, reflection, and charity. The month concludes with Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marking the end of fasting.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has issued a new, first-time waiver allowing students fasting during the school day from February 28 to March 28, 2025, to request take-home breakfast and lunch meal kits. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will provide meal kits reflecting the school menu. Meals will be kept cold and must be heated at home. Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day. If a student purchases breakfast or lunch at school, they cannot pick up a kit that day. Meal kits must be picked up by students at the end of the school day—adults cannot collect them. Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

• February 24, 2025, for February 28 and the week of March 3, 2025
• March 3, 2025, for the week of March 10, 2025
• March 10, 2025, for the week of March 17, 2025
• March 17, 2025, for the week of March 24, 2025

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023), Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at Eating Disorders. 

We wrapped up the month with our WIDAPalooza event, which was a great success! We had a fantastic turnout for our students taking the WIDA test, who were treated to a delicious breakfast of pancakes and hamburgers for lunch. Throughout the event, students enjoyed various activities, and at the end of each day, exciting raffle prizes were given out.

As we begin this new month, we encourage you to stay connected with us and reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Bryant is dedicated to supporting and guiding your students as they work toward achieving their goals.

Wishing you a wonderful spring season!

2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306  | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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December 2024

Happy almost New Year to all our Bryant students and families! We hope everyone is having a peaceful holiday and enjoying the long break. Just a reminder, school resumes on Monday, January 6th, 2025. We look forward to seeing all our Bryant Bears back in the building that day!

Bryant has a thriving College Partnership Program (CPP) that helps high school students prepare for college. Students attend monthly meetings and information sessions. During December, students attended three weekly CPP meetings where they explored the idea that there is a college, training school, trade, or vocation for everyone.

The important topic of financial literacy was also discussed, including ways to pay for different types of classes and the importance of having a trade or career for achieving livable wages and a stable lifestyle. 

During the month of December, Bryant was awarded a $2,000 grant for "Care Packages for Our Military" on behalf of Educate Fairfax. One of our outstanding teachers, Iris Stubblefield, submitted an excellent proposal to Educate Fairfax, which received over 200 applications and awarded 106 grants to 100 schools.

This grant recognized Bryant's innovative approach to education and our commitment to providing students with equitable access to meaningful learning opportunities. The project aligned perfectly with Educate Fairfax's mission and the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Strategic Plan. 

Not only are our students hard workers, but they also know how to have fun! The week before winter break, Bryant kicked off Spirit Week. On Monday, we celebrated Pajama Day, and thanks to the generosity of our West Potomac and South County community, Bryant received over 200 donations of pajama bottoms and blankets for our students. It was a wonderful way to balance the hard work of the semester with some cozy fun. We are truly grateful for the generosity and kindness of others.

We ended the week with all our students receiving Bryant swag in the form of a sweatshirt, and it was wonderful to see them proudly showing off their Bryant pride. The Bear is the official mascot of Bryant, and many of our students have learned the art of branding. It’s truly cool to see them creating their own Bryant sweatshirts!

Boy Scout Troop 688 recently had a young man complete his Eagle Scout project by building three beautiful picnic tables for our Bryant students and staff to enjoy during warm days. The troop not only delivered the tables to Bryant but also took the time to install them on our campus. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication, which will provide a wonderful outdoor space for our school community to gather and enjoy meals together.

Did you know that Bryant offers an incredible Construction Technologies class, where students build items to sell to staff in order to fund the purchase of more materials? Just take a look at the beautiful items below, all crafted by our very own students. They are learning valuable skills and taking great pride in their craftsmanship. We are incredibly grateful to our amazing teacher, Dr. Waddell, who is not only teaching them how to build but also how to become entrepreneurs.

 

We look forward to welcoming all our students back to Bryant on Monday, January 6th! January is shaping up to be a very busy month, as we approach the end of the second quarter, marking the halfway point of the school year. In addition, we'll be preparing for the upcoming Standards of Learning (SOL) testing.

It's a time of focus and hard work, and we cannot stress enough the importance of our students attending school regularly. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school counselor. We look forward to strengthening our partnership between home and school to support our students' success.

2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306  | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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Dear Bryant Families,

As we approach winter break, I am writing to inform you of an updated cell phone policy at Bryant High School that will take effect when students return to school in January.  

Policy Details

• Students may use their cell phones before and after school, during passing times, and at lunch. Cell phone use is prohibited during instructional time, including restroom breaks.  
• Upon entering each classroom, students will be required to silence their cell phones and store them out of sight, remove their earbuds, and silence their smartwatches.  
• If a student needs to make an urgent phone call, they will need a pass from their teacher to go to the main office.  
• Students who refuse to comply with the policy will face consequences, including warnings, lunch detention, and parent-teacher conferences.

We understand that cell phones are an important part of our daily lives, but they can also be a major distraction in the classroom. This policy aims to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn in a focused environment. We ask for your support in ensuring that your child adheres to the new policy.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Bryant High School Administrative Team

Dear Families,

As we approach winter break, I am writing to inform you of an updated cell phone policy at Bryant High School that will take effect when students return to school in January.  

Policy Details

• Students may use their cell phones before and after school, during passing times, and at lunch. Cell phone use is prohibited during instructional time, including restroom breaks.  
• Upon entering each classroom, students will be required to silence their cell phones and store them out of sight, remove their earbuds, and silence their smartwatches.  
• If a student needs to make an urgent phone call, they will need a pass from their teacher to go to the main office.  
• Students who refuse to comply with the policy will face consequences, including warnings, lunch detention, and parent-teacher conferences.

We understand that cell phones are an important part of our daily lives, but they can also be a major distraction in the classroom. This policy aims to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn in a focused environment. We ask for your support in ensuring that your child adheres to the new policy.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Bryant High School Administrative Team