ABOUT US
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
August 26, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
This is a reminder that tomorrow is the Bruin Blast. We invite you to attend our annual celebration on Wednesday, August 27th from 4:00 - 8:00 pm. Please join us as we open our doors to you and kick-off the new school year.
By attending the Bruin Blast, you will be able to:
. Tour all parts of the building
. Receive lockers
. Purchase gym uniforms
. Meet faculty and visit classrooms
. Set up cafeteria accounts
. Bring medication to the clinic
. Sign up for parent organizations
. Enjoy an evening of food, fun and friends
We hope to see you tomorrow evening as we start another exciting year.
Sincerely,
Dave Thomas
June 13, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
As we wrap up another school year, I want to take a minute and wish you a happy and safe summer. I also want to thank you for your generous support. We are committed to working with you to better the opportunities for you kids. Finally, I would like to offer a preview of some exciting news for the 2008-2009 school year.
But first, I would like to say thanks. We have had quite a successful year due to the exceptional effort and determination of our entire student body, the commitment and dedication of our teachers and staff, and the tireless work of our parents and community.
The accomplishments are too numerous to list individually but know that academically and otherwise, your students continue to inspire us here at Lake Braddock.
We have made a decision affecting the 2008-2009 school year that we would like to introduce at this time. Next fall, we have plans to adjust our bell schedule so that we can implement two important components into our instructional program. These components are research-based and have been successfully applied in other schools in Fairfax County already. In short, by modifying our schedule, we are building in time for extra help and enrichment for students during the school day. We will call it "The Bruin Block" and it will be utilized on Monday in the high school and Wednesday and Thursday in the middle school. "The Bruin Block" will provide students an opportunity to receive extra help from their teachers, work with classmates on projects, read quietly or simply study.
The other innovation we are incorporating into the school day is collaboration time for our teachers. Every Tuesday, we will dismiss school at 1:45 rather than 2:10 to give our teachers an hour of planning and collaboration time. This will ultimately benefit students with better instruction and assessment tools. For students having to stay after school, we will offer a variety of activities including a high school study hall, a study hall for student- athletes, an expanded Middle School After School Program, and access to our library.
I am very excited about both of these opportunities as they will enhance the successful instructional programs we already have in place and provide more individual attention for our students that they so richly deserve.
In the next week, we will post the adjustments to our schedule on our web site. We will include a brief description of "The Bruin Block" and collaboration time, thus providing you with more detailed information. Please visit www.fcps.edu/LakeBraddockSS this summer at your convenience to learn more.
On behalf of the administration, teachers and staff at Lake Braddock......Happy Summer!
Sincerely,
Dave Thomas
June 5, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
Due to the severe weather yesterday, a number of events were postponed. I wanted to give you an update as to when these events will take place.
The Middle School Band Concert scheduled for last night will be performed tonight (Thursday) at 5:00 pm. This will be followed by the High School Band Concert already scheduled for this evening.
The State Tournament Baseball Game versus Indian River will resume today at 1:00 pm at Waters Field in Vienna. If you plan to attend the game, we ask that you do not park in the parking lot of Vienna Elementary School.
A decision regarding the Varsity Sports Banquet for spring sports has not been made. This information will come through individual teams.
Thank you,
Dave Thomas
June 4, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
A letter was sent home today with your children further communicating details about our revised end-of-year schedule. It was distributed through 3rd period classes and contains information about exam schedules and dismissal times. We hope that you will find this information useful as you plan for the end of the school year.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's sub school or our school website at www.fcps.edu/LakeBraddockSS .
Sincerely,
David F. Thomas
Principal
May 23, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
We have an important announcement regarding the end of the school year. Last night, the Fairfax County School Board voted to reduce the 2007-2008 school year calendar by two days.
Our last day of school will be Friday, June 13, 2008.
As a result of this change, we have made adjustments to the senior class, underclass, and middle school exam schedules.
Senior Exam Schedule
June 6 Periods 4 and 6 Exams
June 9 Periods 5 and 7 Exams
June 10 Periods 2 and 3 Exams
June 11 Period 1 Exam
High School Underclass and Middle School Exam Schedule
June 10 Periods 2 and 3 Exams (Full day)
June 11 Periods 1 and 5 Exams (Half day)
June 12 Periods 4 and 6 Exams (Half day)
June 13 Period 7 and Grade Conference Period (Half day)
On June 13, students will complete their 7th period final exam during the first testing block, and use the second block to meet with teachers and receive their final grades.
Students will be dismissed at 11:55, and buses will depart at 12:05.
The schedule for FRIDAY, JUNE 13 is listed below:
7th Period Exam 7:30 - 9:30
1st 9:40 - 9:55
2nd 10:00 - 10:15
3rd 10:20 - 10:35
4th 10:40 - 10:55
5th 11:00 - 11:15
6th 11:20 - 11:35
7th 11:40 - 11:55
For additional information regarding these changes, please see our school web site.
Sincerely,
David Thomas
Principal
May 13, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
We have an important announcement regarding the end of the school year. I sent a letter home with interim reports, but wanted to make sure you were aware of the change. Because of our graduation and need to complete final grades, the cluster has granted us permission to end school on Monday, June 16, 2008. We will be closed for students on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Here is the letter that was sent home with interims.
May 13, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Parents,
The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and I would like to notify you about an important change in our school calendar. Due to our high school graduation schedule and the need for teachers to meet county guidelines for the submission of final grades, we will NOT hold school on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. In previous years, this last day has not been heavily attended and simply served as a day for students to receive final grades.
I am delighted to inform you that our last day of school for students will be on Monday, June 16, 2008. On this day, students will complete their 7th period final exam during the first testing block, and use the second block to meet with teachers and receive their final grades. Students will be dismissed at 11:55, and buses will depart at 12:05. The schedule for Monday, June 16, is listed below:
7th Period Exam 7:30 - 9:30
1st 9:40 - 9:55
2nd 10:00 - 10:15
3rd 10:20 - 10:35
4th 10:40 - 10:55
5th 11:00 - 11:15
6th 11:20 - 11:35
7th 11:40 - 11:55
And finally, as we enter into our end-of-the-year testing season, I ask for your participation in making sure all of our students are coming to school well rested, well fed and ready to take their SOL and AP exams. Please encourage them to arrive at their classes on time as our teachers are working hard to ensure your children receive the materials and instruction needed for success. Together, let's give our students all that we can to help them succeed during this critical time. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
David F. Thomas
Principal
April 16, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
Great things continue to happen here at Lake Braddock and I wanted to take a minute to let you know.
This weekend is the annual musical. This year's production is Disney's High School Musical. The show opens on Thursday night, April 17th and will run through Sunday, April 20th. Here are the individual show times:
Thursday, April 17th 7:30
Friday, April 18th 7:30
Saturday, April 19th 12:00, 4:00
Sunday, April 20th 2:00
Our Student Government Association (SGA) is pleased to announce some exciting events planned for the spring time. Next week, we are hosting a nationally known hypnotist. Tom Deluca, Four-Time National Campus Entertainer of the Year, will bring his show to Lake Braddock Secondary on Tuesday, April 22nd. The show will be in the Little Theater and start at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids under 10. Friday, April 25th, the SGA is hosting a spring jamboree, with a tailgate party and a DJ from 5-8 pm on the blacktop. There will be fun and food available from Red Hot and Blue and Baja Fresh, and a full night of sports action from our baseball, and soccer games. Come out and have a bite to eat and catch one of our fantastic sports teams. Following the games, there will be a dance in the gym.
The kids on the middle school MATHCOUNTS team completed the MATHCOUNTS Club program this year and received Gold level status. In the Ultimate Math Challenge, twelve of our students scored an 80% or better. To date, Lake Braddock was the only school in Fairfax County to reach this prestigious level. Congratulations middle school MATHCOUNTS Club and Mrs. Hart.
On March 30, a number of our high school students participated in the Regional Science Fair held at Robinson Secondary School. I want to congratulate James Carter and Janet Josten.
They were Grand Prize Winners with their project, Seeing the Light: Combating Scintillation (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering). We also had a number of other winners this year.
First Place:
Krizia Udquim
Kedar Mulpuri
Second Place: Elizabeth Denny
Erin Crow
Cindy Choi
Areen Hosein
Third Place:
Jane Hur
Christopher Tragakis
Hannah Arbach
Thomas Mackow
Alexandra Lee
Honorable Mention: Vasiliki Dimopoulos
Teaghan Grayson
Daniel Sands
Shani Levit
The Choral Department competed in Festival Disney over the April 4th weekend receiving the highest ratings for each of their performing groups. Congratulations Mrs. Cartwright and all of our performers.
The National Junior Honor Society held its spring induction ceremony on April 3rd. Over 200 seventh and eighth graders were selected for their accomplishments in the classroom, their dedication to the community, and commitment to character education. Congratulations new National Junior Honor Society members.
We had an excellent response to our free SAT prep course that we offered for Lake Braddock students this year. Both the April and May sessions were filled to capacity and a waiting list was established due to the high demand. The course is taught by two of our own teachers and all students participating in the course receive a free SAT Prep book published by the Princeton Review.
And finally, on April 9, 155 students in Jane Gordon's 8th grade Bruin Magic Team celebrated their successful "Take Action to Change Our World" projects, in a special evening presentation in the Lecture Hall. The students shared their six-month long research-based service learning projects with family, friends, faculty, School Board members, and Cluster Six staff. The students' projects included exhibits, documentaries, and websites and covered numerous topics, including gun control, childhood obesity, teen smoking, poverty, racism, stem cell research, pollution, and global warming. In addition, the students raised over $700 in the "Pennies for Peace" program, which is used to help build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan as a way to promote hope and peace in this part of the world.
Come join us this spring and enjoy some of the talents of our students.
Sincerely,
Dave Thomas
March 26, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
We have been experiencing an increase in the number of students who are late to class. This has a definite impact on instructional time. Consider what happens each time a student arrives late: The teacher stops instruction; student attention is diverted from the lesson; and time is wasted with refocusing the group.
As a school, we are going to work hard to change the behavior of the chronically tardy student. We will do this by instituting a series of "tardy sweeps." The first tardy sweep will be Friday, March 28th at 7:30 am. Please remind your students. Subsequent tardy
sweeps will not be announced to students. If your student is late to class during a tardy sweep, he/she will receive an after school detention. This will not impact the majority of our student body.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind you about the kiss-and-ride drop off area - the bear at the front of the school. If you are dropping your students off at school, please use this designated area. The far left lane should be used to access the curb area in front of the bear.
Thank you,
Dave Thomas
March 13, 2008
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
Before we head off for a well deserved spring break, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the outstanding accomplishments of our students and faculty.
Lake Braddock has been selected to receive the 2007-2008 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. We have been recognized as the top school in Virginia for our commitment to students and leadership in Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance.
Congratulations to our magnificent faculty, our AP coordinator Maria Daski, and all of our students who have taken the challenge of an AP course.
We recently completed a very successful winter sports season with championships in a number of sports.
. Gymnastics - District Champion
. Girls Swim and Dive - District Champion
. Wrestling - District Runner-up
. Boys Indoor Track - District and Regional Champions
. Girls Indoor Track - District and Regional Champions
. Boys Basketball - Final Four in the Region
The Washington Post recognized three of our athletes with All-Met honors.
. George Billy - Wrestling
. Molly Emery - Swim and Dive
. Ashley Danner - Swim and Dive, Girls Swimmer of the Year
The Lake Braddock Chess Team hosted the state chess championship this past weekend. Lake Braddock took second place, edged out for the championship by Thomas Jefferson.
Congratulations to Jim Novak and our chess team.
Our award winning music department is in the midst of their festival season. As a comparison, their festivals are similar to a championship contest or an SOL exam. I am proud to report that our middle school bands, high school bands, and middle and high school orchestras have earned top honors in each of their respective festivals. Congratulations to all of our musicians and their directors.
When we arrive back from a restful spring break, Lake Braddock will be hosting a delegation of school administrators from China. The group of nine principals, assistant principals, and directors will meet with a group of our own administrators and teachers to discuss a variety of education topics. We will also be giving the delegation a tour of our newly renovated facility.
Have a great spring break,
Dave Thomas
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
The second semester is under way and that signals the start of the registration process for next year. The first step in this very important process is to inform you of the variety of courses available for your child/children to take and give you the opportunity to discuss expectations and requirements with individual departments and teachers. We also want to answer questions you might have about scheduling over the course of your child's secondary experience.
We have a number of curriculum nights taking place in February. I strongly encourage you to attend one of these information sessions. It is a great opportunity for you to talk with teachers, counselors, and administrators directly about the variety of classes offered in both the middle and high schools. See the schedule below for specific dates and times.
Monday, February 4th -AP Information Night-6:00
High School Curriculum Night-7:00
Monday, February 11th-Rising 8th Grade Curriculum Night-7:00
Monday, February 25th-Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night-7:00
These types of events are critical in my mind to building a strong line of communication with you that ultimately assists us in providing the best opportunities for your child/children. I look forward to seeing you at curriculum night.
Sincerely,
David F. Thomas
Principal
December 21, 2007
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
December has been a great month for Lake Braddock. We've had amazing musical performances, outstanding sports contests and have been recognized for our students' academic achievement in the Washington Post's annual Challenge Index. Each year, the index measures a public school's effort to challenge its students. Of 186 schools from the DC Metro area, Lake Braddock is ranked 14th and of the twenty-four Fairfax County Public Schools listed, Lake Braddock is ranked 3rd.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/challengeindex/local/2007/rank/
My thanks goes out to each of you and our teachers. As parents, you play a significant role in making all of these achievements possible. Building a partnership with the families in our community translates into greater success for our students. This is a priority.
As we enter this gift giving season, we would like to remind everyone that Fairfax County Public Schools does not assume any responsibility for the personal property of students and does not purchase insurance for their property. Students and parents are urged to carefully consider the type and value of property that students bring to school. Items of significant monetary or sentimental value, such as cell phones, I-Pods, MP3 Players, Game Boy type gaming devices, as well as certain types of apparel and jewelry, are strongly discouraged.
During the winter break, I hope that each of you has the opportunity to enjoy time with your family. Our offices will be open on December 26th, 27th, and 28th.
Happy Holidays,
Dave Thomas
November 26, 2007
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself as your new principal. I am a long-time Bruin having graduated from Lake Braddock . I returned to teach in both the middle school and high school before moving into school administration. Dedication and commitment are traits that I bring to this job. It is very important to me that every student be provided the highest quality education and all teachers be provided the support they need to perform their job at the highest level.
One of my immediate goals is to recognize the positive things that happen at Lake Braddock . This begins with highlighting the good work our students and teachers do each and every day. Recognizing character education and student achievement are priorities for me.
As a classroom teacher, I learned the value of parent involvement in the education process. Student success greatly improves with support from home. It is important for us to forge a partnership with you to maximize each student's potential and improve student achievement. From the classroom, to the ball fields, to the stage, there are unique and diverse opportunities for every student at Lake Braddock to excel.
Simply put, Lake Braddock is a great place to be and I am extremely excited about the bright future ahead of us.
Sincerely,
David F. Thomas
November 13, 2007
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
We would like to welcome Vick Lutz to the Lake Braddock Community as our acting principal.
Mr. Lutz will join the Lake Braddock team on Wednesday, November 14th and serve until a new principal is named. Mr. Lutz has worked with the students and staff of Lake Braddock in the past and we are looking forward to his return.
Recently, much attention has been given in the media to the community acquired MRSA infection. Tomorrow, during third period, teachers will distribute a letter for each student to bring home which discusses Fairfax County Public Schools proactive practices. If your child is not in school tomorrow, extra copies of this letter will be available in each sub school.
During this year, each school which is served by the School Resource Officers from the West Springfield District Station will host a morning roll call. By doing this, all of the officers are given an opportunity to visit and tour the schools. This Friday, November 16th, Lake Braddock will be hosting the SRO's; therefore, there will be several police cars parked at the school in the morning.
Sincerely,
Dave Thomas
Associate Principal
November
2, 2007
Dear Bruins,
Today marks the end of the first quarter grading period. Countywide, Monday, November 5, and Tuesday, November 6, are student holidays. Grade reports will be mailed to families on November 12.
Congratulations to our varsity fall team sports which have advanced to regional tournaments!
- Cross Country
- Football
- Volleyball
- Cheerleading
You can learn more about these teams' contests by visiting http://www.lakebraddocksports.org/ .
Please note that, next week, late buses will only run on Wednesday, November 7, and Friday, November 8. There will be no late bus runs on Thursday, November 8.
October 15, 2007
Dear Lake Braddock Families,
On Thursday, October 11, 2007, it was my great honor to be appointed as the new Assistant Superintendent for Cluster VII schools. As I begin this new phase of my professional career in Fairfax County Public Schools, I must announce to you that I will end my tenure as principal of Lake Braddock Secondary School on November 9, 2007.
Having now completed ten wonderful years as a Bruin, I have a full understanding of the richness of the Lake Braddock community-a community that has demonstrated in countless ways the type of support that has led to unparalleled greatness in a wide array of accomplishments. Academics, athletics, the arts-every phase of student life has found its way into the record books, leading generations of students to continue to represent Bruin Pride throughout the land.
The Lake Braddock faculty has inspired us all to continue in our search for new heights, and I include myself among those who have been inspired by the wisdom, grace and talent that has become a legacy and gift to the young people who have walked the halls of our school. I consider myself truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with this exemplary staff on a daily basis. Their dedication is unmatched.
I am deeply indebted to you, the parents and families of our students who have, year in and year out, brought out the best in our young people, encouraging and supporting them as they form and develop their own vision of greatness in this world.
As I move forward in my work with the schools of Cluster VII, you will go with me, having provided me with evidence of what strong commitment to excellence in education means to a community and the students that we send forth into the world. This commitment is a gift that I shall cherish forever, and I trust that it will continue for many more decades as Lake Braddock Secondary School .
Sincerely,
Linda L. Burke
Principal
September 18, 2007
Dear Bruins,
When our final membership report was submitted last week, the middle school was just a few students below the projected enrollment total and the high school was seventy students above the projection.As a result, we have been given additional staffing to meet the needs of our students. Therefore, in the next few days, we will be adding two periods to the middle school master schedule and seventeen periods to the high school master schedule.
When these classes are added, several students' schedules will be changed. We know that it can be difficult for students to adjust to these changes at this point in the year; however, when enrollment fluctuates to this degree, we must make these adjustments in order to best meet the needs of our students. The counseling staff will be working diligently to make schedule changes prior to our Back-to-School Nights.
This week is a special time for Lake Braddock as we celebrate the completion of our renovation project with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this afternoon. Then, on Thursday, we will kick-off our Safe Teen Driving Program. We are pleased that several prominent members of the community, school system, as well as the media, will be able to attend these events.
Please plan to attend our Back-to-School Nights next week.
- High School: Monday, September 24, 2007 at 7pm
- Middle School: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 7pm
Sincerely,
Linda Burke
September 7, 2007
Dear Bruins,
This week, as I visited classrooms, it warmed my heart to see teachers setting high expectations while gently nurturing and caring for each student. I know that this combination is what will motivate our students to strive for the highest. We will top off this week with our first home football game when we take-on the Woodson Cavaliers tonight at 7:30 pm. I hope to see you there!
Please mark your calendars:
- Pictures for 7th - 11th graders will be taken on Tuesday, September 11th, and
Wednesday, September 12th. Students in 7th - 10th grade will be taken for pictures during their PE class and 11th grade students will be taken during their English class.
- Tuesday, September 11th, marks the start of our middle school magazine drive. This is a great way to order your favorite periodicals!
Please check our activity calendars to find out about additional athletic contests and events.
http://www.lakebraddocksports.org/
http://www.lbband.org/index.htm
http://members.cox.net/lakebraddockchorus/
http://www.lakebraddockorchestra.com/
Sincerely,
Linda Burke
August 31, 2007
Dear Bruins,
We have had a wonderful week preparing for our students' return on Tuesday. At the Bruin Blast on Wednesday night, it was wonderful to see so many of our families, community and faculty members fill the hallways. I would like to thank all of you who were able to join us for this special night. What a fantastic way to Blast into the new year!
And, many of you joined us last night as we kicked-off the 2007 football season with a game against Robinson. We really appreciate that Dr. Richard Moniuszko, Deputy Division Superintendent, was able to come join us and support the teams.
As you prepare for Tuesday, please remember that traffic within our parking lots is often congested during the first weeks of schools. If you will be driving your son/ daughter to school, please be sure to use one of the three designated Kiss and Rides. You can find these locations by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/LakeBraddockSS/about_us/about_kiss_ride.htm
.Also, I would like to encourage you to join the Lake Braddock PTSA. This is a wonderful group of parents, teachers and students who work collaboratively to serve our school. You can find a membership form at http://www.lbssptsa.org/join.html .
I hope your family enjoys a great holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Linda Burke
June 25, 2007
Dear Bruins,
Although the school year ended for students last Monday, we worked hard through the week to process final grades. Today, final report cards will be mailed home to each family.
With the completion of this final task of the 2006-2007 school year, I would like to thank you all for a wonderful year. We have celebrated many outstanding accomplishments this year and we should all be very proud to call ourselves Bruins!
We would also like to extend a special thank you to Trenda Jacocks who has served Lake Braddock as the PTSA president for the past three years. She has done a wonderful job of leading this remarkable group of parents, teachers, and students over these years. Thank you Trenda!
In August, we will be sending out our new Lake Braddock brochure, Bruins: Beyond the Best, to each family. I hope that you take a few minutes to read about what makes Lake Braddock such a special place for our students. We will also be sending important back-to-school information in this mailing.
Our offices will remain open during the summer as we prepare for the 2007-2008 school year. Please call or stop by if you have any questions.
We will resume our regular Keep In Touch messages in August. Until then, I hope that you have a safe and restful summer.
Sincerely,
Linda Burke
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