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“Tolerance implies a respect for another person, not because he is wrong or even because he is right, but because he is human.” ~ John Cogley
Dear Justice Families,
Happy President’s Day Weekend! I hope you are enjoying the long weekend with family and friends.
Last Tuesday, our teachers participated in professional development to expand their classroom best practices. Staff shared successful instructional strategies that are making a difference at Justice.
This week we kick off the Justice Art Show in the Little Theater. Parents can sign in at the main office and view the art in the Little Theater between 8:30am and 2:30 pm on 2/19 and 2/20.
We continue to stress the importance of coming to school everyday. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Did you know?
- Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
- Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
- Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
- Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
- Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.
What can you do?
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
We appreciate your support. If you need anything or have any questions, please feel free to contact your student's administrator or counselor.
Each year in FCPS students receive an SR&R refresher. This refresher is shorter than the session students received at the beginning of the year and will be conducted via a PowerPoint presentation in classes on February 19th during Return 3. Students will be asked to complete a short quiz at the end of the SR&R session.
 Teachers and staff shared strategies they are using for quality Tier 1 instruction and targeted Tier 2 intervention, including engaging tech tools for blended learning and scaffolds to ensure mastery of essential standards accessible to ALL!
 Our wonderful Justice Staff was treated to a Valentine breakfast by the Social Committee. Thank you for all you do!
Congratulations to Benji Loeffler, Sam Loeffler and Alberto Mendez. They made All-District Honors Jazz Band. The event was held January 23rd-25th at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes Upper School.
Also, Congratulations to the following band members. They made District Honor Band and performed on January 30-February 1st at Hayfield Secondary School.
Kaila Bertha Nicole Panelo
Bruce Chambi-Rocha Eaden Seleba
AJ Farkas Julia Short
Annik Fus Jimmy Sidney
Mattie Lambert Miguel Siles
Benji Loeffler Levi St. Lawrence
Sam Loeffler Lincoln Trissell
Kevin Ma Max Van Zandt
Alberto Mendez Francis (Nico) Panelo
Kyle Wilson Tim Wilson
Congratulations to these students who were selected for the for the All-VA Chorus:
- Sophie Briscombe - Alto 2 in the SSAA choir
- Darien Roby - Bass 1 in the SATB choir
Also, the following singers were selected as alternates:
- Maggie Rutherford - Alto 1, 2nd alternate
- Will Mayer - Bass 2, 1st alternate
- Liam Bates - Bass 2, 2nd alternate
More than 110 students auditioned from District Ten, with 24 advancing to All-VA. So very proud of these young artists.
International Night is Thursday, March 26th from 5:30-8 pm. Free international dinner with food prepared by our diverse community in the cafeteria. Dinner will be followed by a fashion show and cultural performances in the auditorium. Please join us with your families. Encourage your students to go. Participate in the fashion show (students and teachers.) Finally, bring a dish to share!
(Everyone) Commit to donate food here: https://forms.gle/bft7csbV5QWt5nRR7
(Students and teachers only) Enter in the fashion show here: https://forms.gle/rGZNjzBfL1gVTKfR7
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Purchase your 2019-2020 Yearbook Today for $70 while supplies last!
Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com, school code #4118
Or send cash/check to Ms. Pierce in room D50”
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Save the date for the spring Wolfpack Theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream coming March 19-21. The cast and crew are working toward a fantastic show! Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 for general admission.
The Justice High School Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships for Justice High School graduates pursuing post-secondary education. Students are invited to an information session on February 27 during Return Period in the Career Center J207H where they will find out how to apply, as well as what documents needed and what scholarships available. https://www.jhsscholars.org/
Planning for the Class of 2020 Graduation is well underway! As a reminder, graduation will be held on Monday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena. During the graduation ceremony, there is one student speech. Seniors who are interested in applying to give the student speech must complete the Graduation Student Speaker Application by March 6 (students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net account to access the form).
The registration deadline for the April 4 ACT is February 28. For test dates, registration and score reporting, students should visit: SAT – www.collegeboard.org or ACT – www.actstudent.org. Both the College Board (SAT, PSAT, AP) and ACT have established policies and deadlines for students with a professionally diagnosed and documented disability who apply for reasonable accommodations. For more information, please contact Beth Marino, the Justice HS Special Education Resource Teacher at eemarino@fcps.edu.
The teen years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions—difficult for teens, their parents, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal turmoil; however, symptoms of depression can be serious and are known risk factors for suicide. To proactively address this issue, Justice HS School is offering a wellness screening for 9th grade students in March as part of the Signs of Suicide® (SOS) Prevention Program. Parents of students in the class of 2023 will be receiving more information through the mail. For more information, please contact Chrissy Spaulding, Director of Student Services, at caspaulding@fcps.edu.
7th semester/mid year grade reports are in the process of being sent for seniors who have already applied to colleges. No additional paperwork from students or colleges is needed to process these reports. Seniors may come across documents titled “Mid Year Report” or something similar. School counselors do not need this form and the mid year grade reports will be processed without this form. Reports will be submitted no later than Tuesday, February 18. Typically in early February, seniors will begin hearing from colleges that mid year information is needed. It can take the colleges a while to go through their mail, process it, and mark as received in their system. The FCPS Office of School Counseling Services communicates FCPS timelines to all Virginia public and private two-and-four year colleges. We thank you for your patience as the colleges process this important information.
On Saturday, February 22, 2020, Career and Transition Services (CTS), the FCPS Parent Resource Center, and several Fairfax County adult service providers will host “Super Transition Saturday” from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School. This is a free event for parents/guardians and educators of students of all ages with IEPs. Breakout sessions will cover postsecondary education support, the importance of student self-determination beginning in the elementary years, employment support programs, future planning considerations, such as funding needed for services, and CTS support services that are available to students as they progress through the secondary years toward graduation and beyond. A highlight of the day is a parent/guardian and student panel representing a range of challenges and successes. Members of the panel will convey personal experiences and answer parent/guardian and student questions from their perspectives of having been through the transition process. The snow date is March 14, 2020
NACAC is hosting a college fair in our area that is free and open to the public: Friday, April 3, 2020, 9:30am - 12:30pm, Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex. To register, visit: gotomyncf.com
The CPP application is now available for students (students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net account to access the form). APPLY NOW! The primary goal of CPP is to increase the number of students, particularly first-generation and minority students, who enroll and succeed in college. Services provided by the College Partnership Program include: college visits, assistance with completing college and scholarship applications, monthly meetings, parent education sessions, SAT preparation classes, and a summer overnight experience on a college campus. Any student may apply. A typical CPP student represents a traditionally underrepresented population in higher education (first generation, African-American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Hispanic,English learners, students with disabilities, or economically disadvantaged), demonstrates the ability to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in core classes (weighted), is willing to pursue advanced coursework, and demonstrates leadership in school or community activities. Contact your child’s school counselor for more information. Applications are due March 18, 2020.
Presented by the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools. Robinson Secondary School, Fairfax, VA, Saturday March 28, 2020, 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm. 150+ colleges and universities from the US, Canada and beyond will be in attendance. Special topic sessions run throughout the day: Financial Aid, The Scholarship Search Process, Applying to Schools Outside of the US, Getting the Most for Your IB Credits, and Regional Community College Opportunities. The fair is open to the public. Visit www.ibmidatlantic.org/Fair.html for more information.
Parents of high school seniors—did you know that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open and most colleges require that the FAFSA be completed by March 1 to receive the maximum financial aid possible starting in fall of 2020? Some schools have even earlier priority deadlines, so check the individual college’s financial aid office website for deadlines. Parents and students should start by creating a FSA ID and then begin the FAFSA. Additional links can be found on the FCPS FAFSA website.
Need help completing and submitting the FAFSA? There are several FAFSA workshops remaining this school year:
- February 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School.
- April 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School.
- April 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School.
Register to attend the FAFSA workshops at the College Access Fairfax website. Families can contact their high school's career center specialist or school counselor if they need additional help.
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school juniors. Justice HS has the opportunity to send 3 boys and 4 girls to these summer programs which will be held on June 21-27, 2020 at Radford University for Boys State and Longwood University for Girls State. Activities at the Boys/Girls State include a number of political activities such as running for office, electing officials, drafting and debating bills. There are also creative and fun activities such as band, choir and athletic competition. Interested students must be currently in 11th grade and expected to graduate from high school next year. They must also have strong leadership and public speaking skills and an interest in government and politics. Selection is highly-competitive. Students may contact their school counselor to apply or receive more information.
The Parent Resource YouTube channel has new workshops being added every month. Workshops from the FCPS Parent Resource Center in Dunn Loring:.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents, February 18, 2020, 10 AM - Noon
- Parenting Your Teen While Keeping Your Sanity, February 21, 2020, 10 am - Noon
- Career and Transition Services Super Transition Saturday, February 22, 2020, 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School
- Adversity and Trauma in Childhood: Building Resilient Communities, February 28, 2020, 10 a.m.-noon
- Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School, Friday, March 6, 2020, 10 a.m.-noon
- Drugs, Alcohol, and Vaping, What Every Parent Needs to Know, Friday, March 20, 2020, 10 a.m.-noon.
- Launching Your Adolescent into Adulthood, Friday, March 27, 2020, 10 a.m.-noon
- Fitness Activities: A Parent’s Guide to Getting your Child Moving, Friday, March 31, 2020, 10 a.m.-noon.
February 17 - Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day - School Holiday
February 19-21 - Justice Art Show - Little Theater - Parents can sign in at the office and view the art in the Little Theater between 8:30am and 2:30 pm on 2/19 and 2/20
February 25 - Pre-Assessment Band Concert @ 7:00 PM
February 25-27 - Pyramid Art Show - Little Theater
February 26 - Pre-Assessment Band Concert-2 @ 7:00 PM
February 27 - Pyramid Art Show Reception @ 6:00 - 8:00 PM
March 19-21 - Wolfpack Theatre Production Midsummer Night's Dream
March 23-27 - IB Art Show
March 27 - IB Art Show Reception 6:30 -8:30pm.
June 8th @ 2pm Eagle Bank Arena - Graduation
To view all of the Justice calendars (activities, schedules, etc.), please click here.
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