FCPS

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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

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Happy Thanksgiving from Bryant High School!

As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to you—our families—for your partnership and support. Your students bring energy, perseverance, and resilience to our school community, making Bryant a special place to learn and grow.

Though November was a shorter school month with its holidays, Bryant students stayed busy with their learning and enjoyed taking part in school-wide activities.

Students in English 9/10 wrote vignettes during first quarter. They wrote about a favorite place, activity, or food to practice using descriptive detail, elaborating on examples, and creating focus in their writing. They chose illustrations to support their text. Personal writing is an important way of developing fluency and confidence in English Language Arts, and our Bryant students have many stories to share!

Cosmetology students had an exciting field trip to CosmoProf, a wholesale distributor exclusively for licensed beauty professionals. As FCPS students enrolled in a Cosmetology course, they received a FREE one-year membership! After exploring the store, they enjoyed a special lunch together. A big thank you to our amazing Cosmetology teacher, Ms. Rogers, for providing such a fantastic opportunity for our students!

Students were encouraged to wear their Crocs! The day before Thanksgiving break, Bryant students and staff got into the holiday spirit by sporting their favorite Crocs and picking out new charms from a wide assortment of fun and colorful designs. The day was also filled with fun thanks to Activity Day and our famous Noodle Bar!

A major highlight of the month was celebrating our Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance recipients. These students show incredible dedication, showing up and working hard while many balance full-time jobs or parenting responsibilities. The event was made even more special by three of Bryant’s finest emcees, who did an outstanding job hosting this joyous occasion.

Just a friendly reminder: School will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29. We wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving with family and friends!

2709 Popkins Lane Alexandria, VA 22306  | Main Office: 703-660-2000
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Where did October go? School was in full swing with students deeply engaged in learning, attending field trips, participating in school-wide activities, and taking state wide tests—and finishing out the 1st quarter of school. Just outside Bryant, we've been treated to some of the most beautiful morning skies.

Bryant HS is a proud Purple Star School supporting our military families.  A big thanks to our extraordinary educator, Iris Stubblefield, for making this happen.

Speaking of Ms. Stubblefield, she was recognized by FCPS Cares as the Outstanding Employee of the Summer Season! Ms. Stubblefield always goes the extra mile for our students—whether she’s helping them prepare for an SOL, earn volunteer hours, or get ready for Industry Certifications. She’s truly a rockstar!

In addition, Bryant proudly recognized the exceptional leadership of our Principal, Karen Hertel, during National Principal’s Month. Ms. Hertel is a dedicated advocate for our students and consistently takes the time to listen to the concerns of students, parents, and staff alike. She is not only a true leader but also our loudest and most enthusiastic cheerleader, always championing the Bryant community.  Students and staff recognized with a banner filled with heartfelt gratitude and a big blanket.

Our students also attended the ALCANZA College Fair at George Mason University, an outstanding opportunity for them to explore post-secondary options. The event was well-attended, offering students valuable insights as they engaged with informational booths and connected with college representatives. It was an inspiring day of planning for their futures!

Bryant also celebrated Virginia College Application Week (VCAW)! Throughout the week, we organized activities to introduce students to college life and support our seniors with their applications. A representative from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) visited to speak about campus life and academics, while our counselors, Ms. Veenstra and Ms. Lemus-Ortiz, provided tstudents with valuable information on financial aid and the application process. Staff showed their college spirit by wearing college gear and sharing their own college experiences with students throughout the week.

Our fantastic Literacy Specialist, Ms. Dobson, organized a Literacy Tuesday activity featuring a lesson on post-secondary planning. She provided valuable resources to encourage conversations with students about their opportunities and plans after high school graduation.

A group of seniors visited the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) to gain hands-on experience in various trades and industries. Students proudly wore their "I Have a Plan" T-shirts, symbolizing that each of them will graduate from Bryant with a clear post-secondary plan and actionable steps in place. It was exciting to ask each student, "What's your actual plan?" and hear their individual goals!

At Bryant, we’re committed to closing opportunity gaps for our students, and we recognize that not having a driver’s license can be a significant barrier to employment, enlistment, and college. Our outstanding JVG Specialist, Ms. Davis Perrilliat, is addressing this need by offering driver’s education to a group of February and June graduates. Next semester, she’ll extend this incredible opportunity to our juniors, further empowering our students for success beyond high school.

 

Safe Space, a Young Women's Group, where our young students share their feelings and emotions in a safe space continues to be a source of support and encouragement.  This month, they enjoyed painting pumpkins and what they liked about the fall season. We are grateful for our caring teachers, Ms. Leonard and Ms. Lisenby, who lead this group with compassion and guidance.

AMAZING things are happening in our Career and Technical Education classes! Students are accomplishing incredible feats, from passing the OSHA exam and beginning their welding projects to building and painting their own benches. Our Cosmetology students even treated peers to professional hair designs on Activity Day. It’s truly inspiring to see them develop practical, hands-on skills that will open doors to livable-wage careers in the future. We couldn’t be prouder!

Bryant is incredibly fortunate to have outstanding partnerships with community organizations, but there are also individuals who make a remarkable difference on their own. One compassionate young student from Lake Braddock has been collecting toys for our parenting teens so they can give gifts to their children. Additionally, a neighboring couple recently rallied their community to "fill their driveway" with donations, providing our students with food bags packed to the brim. We are truly blessed by the kindness and generosity of others.

On the last day of the month—and the end of the quarter—we celebrated Character Day! Our wonderfully spirited principal dressed up as the Bryant Bear, handing out treats to the young children in our daycare center. It was a joyful moment, reminding us all of the importance of laughter!

We are always giving thanks and gratitude for our Bryant students and staff.  Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.  

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