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May 2024 Newsletter

Here at Bryant, we anticipated May to be a quieter month, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. SOL Testing took center stage, and our students did great. We're immensely proud of their hard work and dedication in preparing for these state tests. As we near the finish line, with the school year ending on Wednesday, June 12th, we're thrilled to see our students ready to finish strong.

 

Let's be honest—we just couldn't do it without our EXTRAORDINARY TEACHERS! They make it happen, and we give thanks for their encouragement, support, and dedication to our students. We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with all sorts of goodies. A school favorite is smoothies from Tropical Smoothies. We want to express our gratitude for the tireless work of our educators.  Bryant teachers are the BEST!

Though the weather didn't cooperate, Wellness Day was still a huge success. Kids and staff had a great time. We petted alpacas, did yoga, wrote in our journals, made bracelets, built with clay, applied henna, sang loudly at karaoke, practiced self-care, and played soccer and basketball. It was such a good day to just move, be present, and engage in our school community.

Special Agent Matthew Fowler from the FBI came and spoke to our students about the dangers of online surfing, sextortion, and how to stay safe online. He emphasized how students can prevent these dangers from happening. We know that teens today spend a lot of time on their phones and on social media, and we want to make sure we address these risks.  We plan to repeat this presentation in the fall as the students had excellent questions for our guests.  

Bryant students recently had the opportunity to attend a trade show in Maryland, where they engaged in some exciting hands-on work. If you haven't heard, Construction Technologies 1 and Welding 1 are coming to Bryant next school year, and we are excited for our students to enroll in these programs. Fairfax County offers some of the best academy programs, leading to high-paying, reliable careers and futures.

May is also a special month as we celebrate our young mothers who participate in Project Opportunity. Ms. Veenstra, Ms. Leonard, and Ms. Gray ensured our parenting students felt the love with a painting canvas party, special luncheon, and gift bags. Our teen parents balance the responsibilities of parenthood and school, and they are simply amazing. Bryant is incredibly proud of these students and their commitment to their education and their children.

Our outstanding US VA Government teacher, Ms. McCreery, has done it again with a real hands-on learning experience for our students. They walked through the naturalization process from beginning to end, gaining a deep understanding of what it entails. We learn so much from actually doing, and we are thankful for Ms. McCreery's gift for making school both fun and educational.  

Our June graduates visited Northern Virginia Community College, where Ms. Veenstra organized a fun and educational scavenger hunt. This activity helped students locate various buildings and departments at the Annandale campus, allowing them to become more comfortable with the school and understand the additional resources available there. Exposing students to post-high school opportunities is crucial in their decision-making process. Having choices is important!

As the school year draws to a close, we are excited to announce that we are planning a Resource and Job Fair on August 12th for students and families. We will provide backpacks, school supplies, and all the essential information to start the school year (including bus and class schedules). Additionally, local organizations and agencies that support our families will be present. More information will follow, but please save the date for August 12th for our schoolwide Resource and Job Fair, designed to help our families navigate the many resources available in Fairfax County.

Important dates to remember:

• June 3rd is our Senior Award Assembly at 9:00 am.  Families are invited.
• June 5th is our Spring Graduation at 4:00 pm at Bryant High School.  School dismisses at 10:30 am that day.
• June 6th, 7th, 10th, and 11th are underclass exams.  School dismisses at 11:30 a.m. 
• June 12th is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL and dismissal is at 10:00 am.  

Wishing everyone a very healthy, safe and relaxing summer.  Bryant looks forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday, August 19th, 2024.  

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

As we approach the end of the school year, we want to inform you about important schedule changes for the coming weeks. Due to graduation ceremonies, underclass student exams, and the last day of school, there will be several days with early release for our students.

Please take note of the following early release schedule:

 

1. Graduation Day:

- Date: Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

- Release Time: 10:30 a.m.

- Details: To accommodate our graduation ceremony, all students will be released early. We encourage families of graduating seniors to join us in celebrating their achievements.

 

2. Underclass Student Exams:

- Dates:  Thursday, June 6th- Tuesday, June 11th, 2024

- Release Time: 11:30 a.m.

- Details:  During exam week, students will be released early. Specific exam schedules will be provided to the students by their teachers.

 

3. Last Day of School:

- Date: Wednesday, June 12th, 2024

- Release Time:10:00 am

-Details: On the final day of the school year, students will be released early. 

 

4. Bus, Transportation and Lunch:

- Buses will run according to the early release schedule on these days.

- Lunch will be available for students before early release on all these days, except the last day of school, June 12th.

 

2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306  | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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Link to Bryant HS Graduation Livestreaming🎓 Celebrate Bryant High School's Class of 2024! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that Bryant High School's Graduation Ceremony will be held on June 5, 2024, at 4 PM in the Bryant High School Auditorium. This milestone event celebrates the hard work and achievements of our amazing seniors.

Join us live on YouTube and share the link with family and friends so everyone can be part of this special day. Please click the link below to join in the festivities!

Let's make this a memorable celebration for the Class of 2024!

 

Congratulations, graduates!

 

Click this link to view the live stream.

2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306  | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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March & April 2024 Newsletter

Happy Spring! We hope this combined March and April newsletter finds you well and enjoying the beauty of the spring season. It's hard to believe that May is upon us and the school year will wrap up on June 12th. While we're busy preparing students for the Standards of Learning, we're excited to highlight some special events that have taken place at Bryant over the past two months. 

Women's History Month, celebrated every March, is a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. Women's History Month celebrates the resilience, strength, and accomplishments of women from all walks of life. During this month, we also took the opportunity to acknowledge the hardworking educators in our building, who serve as role models and mentors, inspiring future generations of women to go after their dreams and make a difference in the world.

The Birds of Prey (owls and hawks) came visiting to Bryant and always provide such delight.  These birds are from Secret Garden Birds and Bees which is an organization working with wildlife rehabilitators that share the love of nature and wildlife with the community.  The Forest Service paid for the cost of the birds to come to Ms. LaPorta's Science Classes.  Our students love it when the owls and hawks come to visit.. 

New Hope Church generously provided Spring Baskets to the children of our parenting students, demonstrating their ongoing support and care for our young parents. Additionally, they contributed to our Ramen Noodles Bar just before spring break, improving our school community even more.    

In Ms. Leonard's Life Planning class, students learned how to hand sew a running stitch, backstitch, sew on a button, and make a pillow. Students were proud of their pillows and enjoyed showing them off.  

Ms. Bowser, Ms. McCreery, and Mr. Virts took a group of students to the Capitol Building on Tuesday, March 19th. Students visited this grand, beautiful building and saw lots of statues remembering important people and events from American history. This field trip gave them a firsthand experience of how the government works and taught them about our nation's past and what people need to do as citizens.

Our outstanding Government teacher, Ms. McCreery, organized a simulation voting booth. Students participated by casting their votes, experiencing firsthand the democratic process in action. The teacher led students through the voting process using simulation booths, discussing both political parties. Students learned about voting in a pretend election. They learned about different party ideas and why it's important to vote with knowledge.

University of Maryland's Department of Entomology, in partnership with USDA Forestry Service, brought the BUGS to Bryant. Our students showed no fear as they held them, allowed them to creep up on their arms, and were in awe of them.  It was truly a very cool experience and our Ms. LaPorta has some awesome connections that make science come alive!

On Friday, April 12th, students in English 12 and Journalism classes enjoyed a visit to Planet Word, a new and exciting interactive museum in Washington, D.C. that celebrates words and language. Students watched books come to life in “The Library” gallery. They told jokes, practiced giving famous speeches, and learned about the origins of words and sayings. They even created their own advertisements.  After visiting Planet Word, students and chaperones enjoyed their lunch outside in Franklin Park. It was a breezy but beautiful day for a field trip!

Mr. Cruz, our Social Studies teacher, attended the 2024 Family Summit.  This Saturday event was focused on enhancing the safety, support, and inclusion of our school community. Some of the topics covered include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl.  Mr. Cruz is sporting our Bryant logo, the Bear!

Bryant High School hosted a Career Fair on April 17th.  Antonio Rice, President of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, delivered an inspiring keynote address, sharing his journey of perseverance, determination, and resilience. Students had the chance to interact with representatives from 25 businesses and organizations spanning various sectors such as IT, healthcare, government (including FCPS and Fairfax County Government), trades, training programs, sales and services, and the military.

Throughout the fair, students actively explored potential career paths, engaged in networking opportunities with professionals, and gathered valuable information about educational and employment prospects. Employers were impressed by the mature, respectful, and engaging behavior shown by Bryant students.

In preparation for the event, school counselors, the Career Development Coordinator, and JVG Specialist conducted workshops covering topics such as dressing for success, mock interview skills, and the importance of effective engagement and connection.  Our goal for next year is to broaden the reach of the Career Fair to include not only our students but also their families who may be seeking meaningful employment opportunities.

In April, we also took the time to recognize the hard work, dedication, and kindness of our Assistant Principals, Librarian, and Administrative Assistants. Bryant simply couldn't function without these exceptional individuals, and we're profoundly grateful for all they do.

 

In April, we also held the 3rd Quarter Awards Assembly. In addition to recognizing Academic Achievement, the Equity Team introduced additional recognitions to celebrate various characteristics and attributes within our student population. It was wonderful to celebrate the diverse qualities of our Bryant students like leadership, kindness, GRIT, and creativity.  

Our JVG Specialist hosted a luncheon during which a NICU Nurse shared insights about her career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the journey she undertook to reach this profession.  Several of our students are taking Medical Assistant 1 and 2 at West Potomac Academy and are interested in pursuing this helping career.  

Students from College Partnership, Safe Space & Project Opportunity visited Virginia State University (VSU) the last Friday of April.  Bryant students were able to explore VSU and take part in a campus tour of one of Virginia's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).  

The field trip to Virginia State University provided students with valuable experiences, inspiring them to pursue higher education and explore various academic and career pathways.  Thanks Ms. Leonard, Ms. Lisenby and Ms. Veenstra for taking our students to VSU.  

May is shaping up to be very busy with our Standards of Learning Testing. Please emphasize to your students the importance of attending school every day. With less than six weeks remaining, we want to see our students finish the school year strong. Please reach out to your school counselor about summer school options at Bryant. The alpacas come visiting us in May for Wellness Day and we celebrate our AMAZING teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week! 

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