|
Key MS Parent News You Choose - Monday, February 5- Monday, February 16, 2018
3rd Quarter is here! Second Semester too! Time certainly flies when you’re having fun! Students in semester elective courses started with their new schedules this week. They may also have changes in their HPE (health and physical education class) which is scheduled as a semester long class that students take all year. Please talk to your child about his/her new schedule, ways to get to classes on time, and how to manage homework/binder organization with these changes. We’ve had a great time visiting with our elementary schools these past few weeks to meet our Rising 7th graders! This week starts our work with our Rising 8th graders and helping them learn about their course selections for next year!
Spelling Bee Success!!! We had an exciting school Spelling Bee on January 23rd! Congrats to all who participated at the classroom and school levels! Check out my twitter for photos from our evening event!! Congrats to 7th grader D. Adkins who won! He will represent Key Middle School at the Fairfax County Spelling Bee.
FCPS CARES- Congrats to Mr. Perez!! He has been recognized as an employee who shows that FCPS Cares. Way to go, Mr. Perez! Feel free to offer any of your KUDOS about our employees if you know of others who deserve such celebrations! https://www.fcps.edu/careers/employee-recognition-programs/fcps-cares-program
IBMYP and PBIS Traits of the month: February will focus on the IB Learner Profile trait of BALANCED: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives-intellectual, physical, and emotional-to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live. Share how you try to stay balanced in your own life with your student.
February is Black History Month. Please visit the SCA Google Classroom to learn about Influential African Americans. Also in February, the SCA is making cupcakes for our local police and firemen. Please sign up on our google classroom to join us to decorate cupcakes after school on February 12. Spots are limited, so sign up soon.
Coding Club: Does your child play video games? Does he/she use apps on their smart phone or tablet? If you said yes, The Key MS Coding Club is a 10-week program that provides an opportunity for your student to get hands on experience learning software development and problem solving. Students will also have the great opportunity to develop their own app! This awesome program is provided through a partnership with Capital One Bank. The program will begin on February 28th and end on May 9th with a celebration event and app challenge on May 17th held at the Capital One headquarters. All classes will be held after school on Wednesdays at Key MS. It is MANDATORY that your student makes a commitment to attend all 10 sessions. If you are interested in signing your student up for this program, please have them see Ms. Spencer our After School Specialist. kfspencer@fcps.edu
Know a Rising 7th grader? Here is some information for them to view on our webpage:
https://keyms.fcps.edu/Rising7th
February 8th! Rising 8th Grade Parents (Current 7th Grade Parents): Counselors will meet with all 7th graders through their math class on February 5th. They will receive the Course Guide and sample course selection sheet at that time. On Thursday, February 8th at 6:30pm Key will have its Rising 8th Grade and TJ Information Night. An admissions counselor from Thomas Jefferson HS will speak about TJ and the admissions process and then the counselors will do a presentation about the registration process and courses that are offered to our 8th graders. Hope to see you there!
Feb 5-9!!!! National School Counseling Week: National School Counseling Week 2018, "School Counselors: Helping Students Reach for the Stars," will be celebrated from February 5-9, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor and offer them your appreciation next week!
FEB 8-10!!! SCHOOL PLAY!!! The WIZARD OF OZ!!! Mark Your Calendars: Come Follow the Yellow Brick Road! The Key MS musical, the Wizard of Oz, will be performed Feb. 8 - @ 2:30 pm; Feb. 9 - @ 7:00 pm; Feb. 10- @ 7:00 pm. Come bring the whole family!
February 15 at 9:30 a.m: Parent Coffee on Teen Health: Jumpstart Your Teen’s Day for Success! Every Minute Counts! Join us for a fun and informative discussion led by Gail Zukosky, Public Health Nurse, and Joanna Rydalch, School Social Worker. Do you know how many hours your teen needs to sleep? Do you know how the bright screen on your teen’s phone is impacting their sleep? How many hours on average does your teen spend on their phone? How do you set limits on screen time? How much time do you spend on your own phone? How can parents model limits on screen time, good sleep, eating healthy? The Parent Coffee will be held on Thursday, 2/15 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 119. In case of school closure or 2 hour delay, the Parent Coffee will be postponed until 2/22 at 9:30 a.m. in the school library. Any questions, please contact Liz Rivera, Parent Liaison, at 703-313-3913.
Key MS Feb 22: Family Cooking Class: All are welcome! Please join us at our 3rd family cooking class on Thursday February 22nd from 6:00pm-7:30pm. This is a time for you and your children to come together for a fun family activity! This class is instructed by a certified chef. Slots fill up fast so please RSVP. You can RSVP by sending me a direct email at kspencer@fcps.edu or phone call to 703-313-3961. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 14th. Check out my tweets to see photos from our last class!!!
Save the Date! Key Middle School Cultural Heritage Night - March 22, 2018 from 5:30 – 7:30 The purpose of Key Middle School’s Cultural Heritage Night is to bring students, families, staff and the Springfield community together to celebrate the many cultures, traditions, and family heritages represented at Key MS. This event encourages students to develop as leaders and global citizens through participation, presentations, and organization of the event.
FROM THE KEY MS PTA:
Next PTA meeting on February 13, 2018 @ 7pm in the Library. Need Key MS spirit wear? We’ll be at the school play February 8-10! Show your Patriot Spirit!
FROM FCPS:
FEB 6!!! 2018 FCPS GAP YEAR FAIR:FCPS’ School Counseling Services and Dynamy are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at George C. Marshall High School from 6:00-8:30 p.m. This event is for high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. The evening will begin with a presentation in the auditorium from 6:00-6:45 p.m., by Holly Bull, President, Center for Interim Programs. Immediately following, the program fair will be in the cafeteria from 6:45-8:30 p.m., with representatives from over 40 programs offering gap year opportunities. Students and their parents are encouraged to meet the representatives and learn about the variety of experiences available. Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event. For more information, visit: USA Gap Year Fairs
FEB 10!!! Career and Transition Services Event for Parents and Educators: On Saturday, February 10, 2018, Career and Transition Services along with several Fairfax County adult service providers and the FCPS Parent Resource Center, will host “Super Transition Saturday” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lanier Middle School. This is a free event for parents and educators of students with IEPs of all ages, elementary through high school. Breakout sessions will cover postsecondary support services, student self-determination as an evidence based predictor of postschool success, and in-school career and transition support services that are available to FCPS students as they progress through the secondary years toward graduation and beyond. A highlight of the day is a parent and student panel representing a range of challenges and successes. Members of the panel will convey personal experiences and answer parent and student questions from their perspectives of having been through the transition process. Childcare is provided for ages 3 and up and requires advance registration. You can register at: Super Transition Saturday. The snow date will be February 24, 2018.
March 10!!! STEMtastics 2018: To the Parents of FCPS Middle School Students: We extend a special invitation to middle school girls (boys are also welcome) to participate in STEMtastics 2018 to be held on Saturday, March 10 (8:00 AM - 12:15 PM) at NOVA - Annandale Campus. This event is presented by the American Association of University Women (Fairfax City, McLean Area, Springfield-Annandale, and Vienna Area Branches) in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools and NOVA Systemic. The following flyer provides additional information. Online registration is open as of February 1 at mclean-va.aauw.net/stemtastics until March 4 (or earlier if capacity is reached). We suggest you register early for the best selection of workshops, as choices are “first come, first served.” If you have questions, please look at our Frequently Asked Questions page at mclean-va.aauw.net/stemtastics/faq/. All participants who have registered and paid will receive a final confirmation email approximately 4 days before the event. Any questions can be sent to mclean-va@aauw.net.
Looking for an incredible summer arts opportunity for your child? FCPS holds an Institute for the Arts at Lake Braddock HS for a reasonable price. Please see the attached flyer for details and the website for course descriptions. Ms. Matula would be happy to answer any questions about the program by contacting her at cmatula@fcps.edu.
New Student Welcome Page: New to FCPS? Do you know someone who is new? Check out the link below for more details and resources available:https://www.fcps.edu/node/34104
Community News:
FEB 7th!!! Fairfax County Association for the Gifted Panel Discussion: TJ Experiences
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)FCAG proudly presents a moderated panel discussion where you can ask YOUR questions related to all aspects of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, one of the most prestigious high schools in the country. The panel consists of students with diverse backgrounds and interests, and from all grades at TJHSST.This program is offered in parallel with the AMC 10A. FCAG offers the AMC 10A to qualified students across Fairfax County. Those students have received invitations, based on a sufficiently high AMC 8 score, whether their schools offer the AMC 10, and provided all qualifying students are contacted from each school. Questions may be directed to Jeff Steele at jbsteele5@verizon.net. Panelists: Current TJHSST Students; Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Place: Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium. [3020 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042]
Attention Rising 9th Graders: Rising 9th graders can now take the Online Campus Health & PE (HPE9) class at IFTA as one of their 4 daily classes. Cost is included in IFTA's tuition. (It's an amazing deal!) For more information visit www.fcps.edu and search IFTA.
Parents Important Information regarding Tide Pod Challenge: Parents this might have already been seen on TV but please look at this link as a new trend in teens:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/as-tide-pod-challenge-videos-go-viral-experts-warn-of-risks/
Come see my daily experience as principal! Follow me on Twitter! @KeyMS and @KeyActingP
Calendar Items (check out our Google calendar for more information!)
Feb. 5- Rising 8th Grade Course Info through Math 7
Feb. 6 - No Tardy Party ( During Advisory)
Feb. 7 - Lee HS AVID Interviews of Rising 9th Graders at Key
Feb. 8 - Rising 8th Grade Parent Info Night & TJ Parent Info Night
Feb. 8 - Key Middle School Drama Production: Wizard of Oz @ 2:30 pm
Feb. 9 - Key Middle School Drama Production: Wizard of Oz @ 7:00 pm
Feb. 10- Key Middle School Drama Production - Wizard of Oz @ 7:00 pm
Feb. 12- WIDA: Listening Test AM ( Even block 2nd EXTENDED)
Feb. 13- WIDA: Reading Test AM (Odd block 1st EXTENDED)
Feb. 13- PTA Meeting 7 PM
Feb. 14- WIDA: Writing Test AM (Even block (3rd EXTENDED, 2, 4, 6)
Feb. 15- WIDA: Make-up Testing (Odd block 1st EXTENDED)
Feb. 16- WIDA: Speaking Test ALL day (Even block with extended 3rd period: 9:03-10:31)
Feb. 19- Presidents’ Day - No School
Feb 22- Parent Coffee- 9:00 am (Key MS Library)
Feb. 23- 2nd Quarter Honor Roll
March 1- Band Pre-Assessment
March 2- Most Improved Ceremony
March 6-Writing SOL Multiple Choice AM and PM sessions: 8th Graders
March 7 & 8-Writing SOL Prompt: 8th Graders
March 22- Key MS Cultural Heritage Night
Sincerely,
Aimee J. Holleb
Acting Principal
Key MS
@KeyActingP Follow me on twitter to see what’s happening each day at Key MS!
We hope this News You Choose was helpful! Please feel free to spread the word to the community to sign up! https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/vaedufcps/subscriber/new
|
