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School has been in session for over a month now, and our students are fully engaged in learning, participating in school-wide, community building activities, and preparing for upcoming tests. It's been a busy and productive start to the year, with everyone working hard to achieve their goals!
Attending school daily is essential for engagement and achievement, and we are proud to share that 39 of our students have maintained perfect attendance so far this school year. These students haven’t missed a single day, and we will be celebrating their dedication and responsibility this week.
Our Noodle Bar is back in action this school year, and our students loved snacking on delicious noodles! Each month, Bryant will be hosting the noodle bar to foster a sense of community and bring some fun to the school day. We are grateful to New Hope Church for generously supplying the noodles for our events.
In addition to our Noodle Bar, we kicked off Friday Activity Day, offering activities like dancing, gardening, basketball, pampering with manicures and pedicures, and art—just to name a few. For the afternoon, our students (and adults!) got to relax and just be kids. Building relationships, feeling valued, and finding a sense of belonging are so important for our youth today. At Bryant, we work hard, but we also know how to have fun!
Bryant has launched a PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) program under the leadership of our outstanding Assistant Principal, Mr. Lee. He and his team are actively rewarding positive behavior across the school. A student must be in good academic standing, and have good attendance to be eligible. This month, during our "Bring Your Own Beats" Challenge, one student won a pair of wireless headphones. This is thanks to one of our incredible partnerships with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, who generously donated these items.
Did you know that Bryant has a food, hygiene, and clothing pantry for our families? We partner with Food for Neighbors, an incredible organization that helps stock our pantry with monthly food donations. Recently, several students participated in a food drive at Walt Whitman, while others helped stock our shelves. It's wonderful to receive support and equally rewarding to give back to our community.
At Bryant, we're serious about helping our students cross the finish line and earn their high school diplomas. But we’re also focused on the equally important question: "What are you doing after high school, and what steps are you taking to get there?" In September, our amazing school counselors dedicated time to Naviance lessons, helping students identify their interests and strengths to prepare for their future paths.
Following this, students took a field trip to WISH, a unique workforce development program on Richmond Highway, where they explored various post-high school pathways—college, military, training, and entrepreneurship. We're committed to ensuring that all of our graduates have a solid plan before leaving Bryant. "Life Ready, Life Better" is our guiding mantra.
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and supporting students' well-being is an ongoing effort!
We've attached our #CallTextLive information sheet, packed with tips, resources, and ideas that can be used anytime to talk about and promote mental wellness
Also available are printable copies of our 988 wallet cards as a tangible way to support students and provide a ready resource.
988 cards provide crucial crisis support information for students, their families, and staff.
In addition, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to help eliminate barriers to quality mental health care services for all high school students, at no cost to families. Therapy sessions with Hazel Health are a safe space and are private and confidential. For more information, please contact your school counselor and visit this website. https://www.fcps.edu/teletherapy
Bryant held its first Parent Café of the school year, and we plan to host more throughout the year. Hearing the voices of our students and families is critically important, so we can better understand and address their needs. While the first session was held in the morning, we plan to offer future sessions in the evening to accommodate more families. Please reach out to our Fantastic Family Liaison, Zeury Santana Carrasco at [email protected] for additional ways to connect and partner with you.
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Ms. Stubblefield' students created artistic self-portraits that reflected their own cultural backgrounds. Inside their images, they included key information about their heritage, highlighting the richness and diversity of their cultural roots. This project allowed students to express pride in their identities while fostering a deeper connection to their heritage and the broader Hispanic community.
Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
Bryant is proud to have four outstanding students participating in FCPS's Student Advisory Council. These dedicated students collaborate with peers from across FCPS schools to discuss important topics that impact our student body. Their commitment, hard work, and strong character truly represent Bryant, and we couldn't be more proud of them.
Please plan to attend the Post-Secondary Planning Night hosted by FCPS Regions 3 and 6 at the Hybla Valley Community Center on Thursday, October 17th. This event will be conducted in Spanish and is an essential opportunity for families to explore critical post-secondary options. Topics will include 2- and 4-year college pathways, financial aid resources, employment opportunities, and military enlistment. Understanding these options is key to making informed decisions about the future, and this event provides invaluable information tailored to the needs of our community. We strongly encourage all families to attend and take advantage of this important resource.
We hope to see you there!
We hope everyone enjoys the beauty of fall and look forward to sharing all the exciting things happening at Bryant High School. We’ll leave you with this final picture that perfectly captures the joy of our community!
2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306 | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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