From Your Family Liaison: Kathryn Dunbar
 |
|
As I have previously mentioned, Haycock students support the Share of McLean Food Bank. This year's Fairfax County "Stuff the Bus" campaign, which is a one-day food drive, will have a site near us in direct support of Share of McLean. Please consider fighting hunger in our neighborhoods by donating non-perishables or gift cards at:
Stuff the Bus at McLean Giant
1454 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean, VA 22101
Saturday, March 14, 10 - 3pm
More information, including other "Stuff the Bus" locations, may be found HERE.
|
The Safe Community Community Coalition presents:
"Grief & Growth: Tools for Navigating Loss with Mental Health Experts"
This FREE monthly parent discussion group will be facilitated by licensed mental health professionals. The March session will explore the multifaceted nature of grief. The discussion will offer a supportive and insightful space for individuals grappling with all types of loss and grief. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the grief process, learn to identify common emotional and physical responses to loss, explore ways to honor loved ones, foster self-care, and build resilience.
Who: Led by Dr. Melissa Sporn and Sarah Tyler, LCSW
Where: McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
When: Thu, Mar 12, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
THIS IS A FREE EVENT. PLEASE RSVP HERE.
Recently, a Haycock 3rd grader relayed to me that they had been to see our school nurse because of a headache. (Students LOVE to get ice packs from the nurse). The nurse realized this particular student had been in frequently with headaches, so she gave the student a vision test which they failed. Turns out, the student needed glasses.
Data suggests that approximately 20%- 25% of children in the US require vision correction by the time they reach elementary school (age 5 -12 years). Uncorrected sight at this age is a major, yet highly treatable, public health concern that directly affects academic performance. Up to 80% of a child's learning relies on visual processing; thus, uncorrected blur severely hinders reading fluency, comprehension, and attention in the classroom.
If your student repeatedly complains of headaches while reading, or difficulty seeing the whiteboard or distant objects, please mention this to your physician so they can be vision tested.
For more information, visit HERE.
Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians
The Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in March:
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
- Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
- Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Family Orientation (for military families)
- Mind in the Making: Making Connection and Critical Thinking
There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including reducing parent stress and anxiety, parenting neurodivergent kids, why smart kids struggle, and a countdown to kindergarten.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.
 |
|
IS YOUR STUDENT BEGGING FOR A PHONE?
If you have not been yet bombarded with requests from your student for a cell phone, you will be and will want to have done some research to figure out what's best for your family.
Some of Haycock's older students viewed the Feb 25 edition of CNN10, a 10-minute digital news show designed for students and educators in grades 6-12. This particular edition covered "How does social media affect our brains?" and led to a lively discussion amongst the students about cell phone usage for children.
Of interest to caregivers, Dr. Sanjay Gupta provided an update on the landmark social media trial currently ongoing in California, and broke down how the science behind social media impacts our every day lives.
To watch the short informative news piece yourself, visit: CNN10 for 2/25/26
|
 |
|
I am YOUR Family Liaison! Please reach out to me if I may be of any assistance to your family at: kdunbar@fcps.edu |
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
|
