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Principal's Message

We had a success start to our testing season with two SOL exams down and one more to go. Our testing team has been working hard to keep things running smoothly and we're grateful for them!

Today was Cafeteria Super Hero Day and we enjoyed celebrating our Food and Nutrition Staff. They work so very hard to provide breakfast and lunch to over 4000 students every single day.

Tonight through Sunday are the final days to see the HS Theatre Production of The Trojan Women. I was lucky enough to see it last night and it is a phenomenal show. I hope you can come.

Next week is Staff Appreciation Week and, while we have a number of things planned here at the school, one way we know our staff feels appreciated is to hear from you and the students. A brief email or note goes a long way, so thank you if you are able to take a moment to share.

Lindsey Kearns

In this Issue

What's Happening at Bruin Nation
Upcoming Events
SOL and AP Testing Schedule

New Information and Important Reminders
Spring Testing
Attendance Matters
AP Exams
Yearbook Information
SGA News
LB Theatre
Parent Tech Talk

Bruin All Stars

Class of 2025 News
Prom Tickets
Class of 2025 ANGP Tickets

Family Liaison News
Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council

What's Happening at Bruin Nation

Upcoming Events
May 5-9 - Staff Appreciation Week
May 7 - National School Nurse Day
May 26 - Memorial Day Holiday (school closed)

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month

SOL and AP Testing Schedule

New Information and Important Reminders

Spring Testing

Spring Testing has begun! All-important testing information and the testing calendar can be found on the Lake Braddock Testing Website. Please note important dates your student may be testing and make every attempt to avoid testing interruptions during the testing blocks.  Please note…being ON TIME is extremely important. Please plan accordingly for testing days, to include make ups and retakes. If students miss their SOL or qualify for a retake, emails will be sent from testing.

High School students do not take every SOL. Emails have been sent to students and parents providing non-testing students with their study hall location on May 5. Please be on the lookout for those emails.

If you have specific questions about testing, please reach out to your student’s counselor or subject specific teacher.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!

In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources. 

AP Exams

Please find IMPORTANT information your student will need to know regarding AP Exam Administration this May on the LB AP Exam page:  https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/advanced-placement

Please contact the AP Testing Team below with questions and/or concerns. 

Lynn Carrera:  LNCarrera@fcps.edu
Deb Brown:  DSBrown1@fcps.edu
Gary Ranallo:  GWRanallo@fcps.edu
Maggie Spingler: MMSpingler@fcps.edu

The 2025 Middle School Yearbook goes ABOVE & BEYOND! The Ursa, Lake Braddock’s middle school yearbook is now at the printers! Here’s your last opportunity to buy one before they sell out. They are now available ONLY on Myschoolbucks.com for $40, and will be distributed in the final weeks of school. If you have questions, please send an email to the yearbook adviser, Kelli Gary at kmgary@fcps.edu.

HS Yearbooks HS Yearbooks are now available on My School Bucks for $75. They can still be purchased on the www.yearbookordercenter.com site as well for $75. Questions? Please contact the HS Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Poquis at tbpoquis@fcps.edu.

SGA FunRun
LB SGA and Morgan’s Message is hosting a Fun Run on Saturday May 3 at 9:00 am on the blacktop! No sign up is necessary! Bring your family, friends, and anyone in the community! The fun run is to support those struggling with mental health, come show your love and support while having fun! We will be selling t-shirts that are first come first serve to raise money for more events hosted by the SGA Mental Health Campaign.

MS Theatre Join us on our journey in The Little Prince May 29-June 1! This show is held in our smaller performance space, the Recital Hall (P141) and we often sell out this space so get your tickets early. Tickets available at  https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15616/ or LBTheatre.com  This beautiful family-friendly show is a must-see! May 29 - 7:00pm May 30 - 7:00pm May 31 - 2:00pm May 31 - 7:00pm June 1 - 2:00pm

The Lake Braddock Theatre invites you to attend our final production of our 2024-2025 Season at the Lake Braddock Theatre – Euripides’ The Trojan Women, in a powerful new adaptation by Jessie Holder. Tickets can be found at: https://www.lbtheatre.com/box-office

Parent Tech Talk Talking to Teens About Sexting: An Open and Honest Conversation Sexting, the sending or receiving of sexually suggestive photos or videos, can be a sensitive topic for both parents and teens. While many teens may explore their sexuality in this way, it's important to understand the potential risks and have open conversations about healthy relationships and online safety. Breaking the Ice: Starting the Conversation Create a Safe Space: Approach the topic with curiosity and understanding. Let your teen know that you're open to discussing this without judgment. Ask Open-Ended Questions: "Have you ever received a sexually suggestive photo from someone?" "Has anyone ever pressured you to send one?" Listen More Than You Talk: Pay attention to your teen's responses and allow them to share their thoughts and feelings freely. Focus on Healthy Relationships Define Respect: Explain that healthy relationships are built on trust, respect, and consent. Emphasize Consent: "It's never okay to pressure someone into sending a nude photo." "You have the right to say 'no' without feeling guilty or ashamed." Discuss the Long-Term Consequences: "Once a photo is sent, it's out of your control. It can be easily shared and may have unintended consequences." "Think about how you would feel if someone shared a nude photo of you without your permission." The Dangers of Forwarding Respecting Privacy: Explain that forwarding sexually suggestive photos without the consent of the person in the image is a serious violation of trust and can have devastating emotional consequences. The Power of Empathy: Encourage your teen to consider how they would feel if their own private photos were shared without their consent. Remember: Open communication is key. **Focus on building trust and creating a safe space for your teen to come to you with any concerns. **Stay informed about online safety resources and be aware of the evolving digital landscape.

Bruin All Stars

LBSS MS Odyssey of the Mind team took first place at the state competition and is headed to the World Finals Tournament at Michigan State University next month!  This is the team's fourth trip to the World Finals in a row, competing against the top teams from around the globe. Congratulations to the Odyssey of the Mind team.

Class of 2025 News

Important Information

Senior Fees
$70 due no later than May 30, 2025. Please see email dated January 8 for payment options.

Bridging Bruins
March 3- Application Begins
March 21- Application Ends
April 11- Notification of Acceptance
April 30- Final Approval
May 14- May 29- Internship
May 29- Presentation

PROM-Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park
May 9

Senior Breakfast
May 30

Graduation
June 4

All Night Grad Party- St James
June 4 at 11pm

Prom Bruin community, the Class of 2025 is excited to host and invite all Bruin Class of 2025 members to “A Night Under the Northern Lights."  Tickets can be purchased using the ETix link below until May 2 and at school on Monday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 2. The prom will feature music and décor from A2Z Music Factory, and a delicious variety of appetizers and drinks for attendees.

LBSS Class of '25 ANGP Tickets

June 4 at the St. James Springfield 11 PM - 5 AM

https://lbssptsa.regfox.com/-lake-braddock-class-of-2025-angp

Class of 2025, you are invited to come together, have fun and celebrate your accomplishments at this years All Night Grad Party!  The All Night Grad Party is organized by the LBSS PTSA in partnership with the ANGP Committee, chaperoned by parents and members of the community, and staffed by the St James. Activities include a casino night, fun inflatables, and raffles with sought after prizes.  In addition, we use the amazing facilities at The St. James which include the field house, volleyball, pickleball and basketball courts, Super Awesome and Amazing, and an Olympic sized swimming pool and the arcade! We will have caricature artists and tons of photo ops!  There will also be plenty of food and drinks all night long! The evening is an alcohol-free and drug-free event that takes place in a safe and supervised environment. 

Family Liaison News

Please stay up-to-date with our Family Liaisons on our web site. There you will find our weekly newsletters.

https://lakebraddockss.fcps.edu/student-services/information-our-family-liaisons

Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council

We invite you to attend the Military-Connected Family Advisory Council meeting hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Dr. Reid.  This is an opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and strengthen our support for the military-connected students and families in the community. 

Meeting Details: 

Date:  Monday, May 12, 2025

Time: 7 - 8 p.m.

Location:  Gatehouse Café, Gatehouse Administrative Center (8115 Gatehouse Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042-1203). 

Please park in the garage and enter the building using the elevators.

To help us plan effectively, please take a moment to complete this brief Google form.

Please contact Katie Server, Family Partnerships Specialist, Military-Connected Youth & Families, at kaserver@fcps.edu with any questions.

FCPS News

The Family Resource Center will be hosting a virtual session presented by the Office of Intervention and Prevention Services, titled "Summertime and an Idle Mind: Keeping Children Drug-Free While Home This Summer," on May 16th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders

Additional immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades. 

• All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 
• To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
• To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
• As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
• All students entering 12th grade are to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
• To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older. 

Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. Additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and the Fairfax County Health Department. 

Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services

Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health