Eye of the Tiger Family Message- August 14, 2023

Dear Barrett Families:

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We hope you have all enjoyed a restful and relaxing summer.

We are so excited to launch our school’s theme and focus for the year: Reimagine Learning through Connection and Relationships. This year, we will be expanding on the strong sense of community we have at Barrett by building our “Barrett identity” together. We are also continuing to refine how we communicate and partner with you to ensure you have the information you need in one place. We created a Barrett Family Calendar with important family events occurring throughout the year to make it easy for you to plan ahead. This will be shared with you at Open House!  In addition to streamlining the messages you receive from Barrett and APS. We will continue sharing our Principal’s weekly message, titled the Eye of the Tiger, through our website at www.barrett.apsva.us. Additionally, the messages will be shared through Parent Squared, APS’ new parent-teacher communication portal, so you can access the messages from APS in multiple ways.  We will be adjusting how we use opportunities we have together such as Back to School Night and Open House to share tools, and strategies that you can apply at home with your child.

Please see the information below to help you get ready for the upcoming school year!

• APS is now using the ParentSquare platform for School Talk messages to unify division, school and one-to-one parent-teacher communication. We will continue to use School talk until the rollover has completed. With ParentSquare, families will be able to:
  • Receive messages from school via email, text or mobile app.
  • Choose to receive information as it comes (Instant) or all at once at around 6:00 pm (daily digest).
  • Communicate in your preferred language.
  • Two-way texting with automated translation between staff and families.
  • Receive attendance notifications with the option to send in a digital note to excuse your student’s absence.
  • Sign up for parent-teacher conferences.
  • Sign permission slips and more all from your computer or mobile device.
  • This replaces School Messenger and Talking Points as the primary communication method. It does NOT replace ParentVUE. ParentVUE remains the APS platform for updating student and family information, accessing transportation information and receiving student academic progress reports.
  • Learn more at www.apsva.us/parentsquare
• Important Dates:
  • Your child’s class and teacher assignment information will be shared via ParentVue on August 21, 2023.
  • If you are eligible for bus transportation, you will receive information in ParentVue regarding route assignment and schedules.
  • Open House is on Thursday, August 24, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher, drop off school supplies, and see your child’s classroom. Don’t forget to complete the dismissal plan form with information on how your child will dismiss at the end of the day. We invite you to drop off any and all school supplies during Open House to ensure that your child’s transition to school on their first day is smooth! 
    • School supply lists are on the Barrett website linked here. Please stop by the office if you’d prefer a paper copy.
  • All Kindergarten through fifth grade students will begin school on Monday, August 28, 2023. Specific first day back schedule will be shared next week!
  • All students in Pre-K programs will be phased in on August 29th or 30th  – please see specific instructions from your teacher.
• General School Information:
  • School hours are from 9:00 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Our school doors will open at 8:40 a.m for students eating breakfast. Breakfast will be in the cafeteria from 8:40-9:00 am. Only students eating breakfast or in the Extended Day Program will be admitted prior to 8:40 am. All students will be able to enter beginning at 8:50am. Please ensure that your child is arriving to school by 8:55 am, at the latest, to allow for enough time to be ready to learn by 9:00 AM. 
  • There is no general supervision for students prior to 8:40 a.m.  Playing on school property, including the playground and blacktop is prohibited prior to school as our Extended Day program may be utilizing the space.  Families should not drop students off prior to 8:40 a.m., as there is no general supervision for students.
  • The Extended Day Program will continue to offer before and after school childcare to our families. Please call the Extended Day Program office at (703) 228-6069 for further information concerning registration. You can also find information on their website: https://www.apsva.us/extended-day/registration/

The Barrett staff is looking forward to learning and growing with you this school year.   If you need additional information or if we can answer any questions, please call us at 703-228-6288 or e-mail me at catherine.han@apsva.us. See you soon!

Sincerely,

Catherine Han, Principal