Principal Updates
Dear Trailside Families,
Dear Parents and Guardians,
On Tuesday, it will be the 30th day of school for the 2021-22 school year. When planning for the reopening of school, we anticipated that many students would need a longer transition period back into school structures, routines, and expectations. In many discussions with teachers, team leaders, counselors, and administration; we are finding some trends that we need your support and assistance with. We are finding that many students are forgetting about "hands to self". The typical horseplaying is more "hands on" than what is school appropriate. While we are redirecting and counseling with students, the health and safety factors of close contact is very concerning. We are asking parents to please have a conversation with your children about keeping hands to self and when possible, to social distance.
This week, we will begin after school clinics for reteaching of student expectations, routines, and norms. For students who are consistently struggling with following and practicing safe school behaviors, we will invite them to remain after school with a dean for re-teaching and re-learning school behaviors. Deans will always make a phone call home prior to scheduling a clinic with a student.
At Trailside, we also have personal devices (phones, airpods, etc.) off and away in the locker. The ability to engage in learning is much easier without the distractions of personal devices. We also find that with devices off and away in the locker, the interruption of learning with social media, texting, and taking photos; ensures the privacy of each and every student and school staff member. Please support us with reminding your student to keep their phone off and away in their locker all day. If you child needs to reach you, they are able to use the house phones or main office phones. We appreciate your support.
As a part of our ongoing equity work across LCPS and at Trailside Middle School, we will be selecting students to represent our school to serve in the role of Student Equity Ambassadors. This opportunity for students stems from an action step included in the LCPS Action Plan to Combat Systemic Racism, which can be found on the LCPS webpage at https://www.lcps.org/EquityOverview. The goal is to provide a forum to amplify the voices of those students who have experienced or witnessed racism, injustice, marginalization, or discrimination.
Each middle and high school in LCPS will select up to three Student Equity Ambassadors to meet regularly with the Office of Equity and other LCPS leaders during the Share, Speak-up, Speak-out meetings. These sessions will occur six times during the school year. This opportunity is open to all students who, amongst other attributes, have a passion for justice, are willing to engage in conversations, will listen to learn, and will represent the voice of their peers.
Application is now open for students interested in serving as Student Equity Ambassadors for Trailside. Interested students may apply by completing and submitting this form by Monday, October 11. Selected students will be notified by Monday, October 18. Please be advised that the Equity Team, together with the principal and Equity Lead, will make the final decision regarding student participation.
Ensuring that our school is a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming environment for each student is important. Providing this opportunity for students to meet in a space where their voices are heard is one way of supporting this effort. We are looking forward to selecting our Student Equity Ambassadors and their future participation in the Share, Speak-up, Speak-out meetings.
Thank you for your continued support of our commitment to provide a safe and caring learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Beichler
School Contact Information
“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Email: bridget.beichler@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/Trailside
Location: 20325 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn, VA, USA
Phone: 571 252 2280
Twitter: @TrailsideMiddleSchool
