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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
in this issue:
- Friday, December 2 - National Special Education Day
- Saturday, December 3 - KJMS students will NOT be participating at the FX City Festival of Lights & Carol as previously published.
- Inclusive Schools Week - December 5-9 (Spirit Week)
- Thursday, December 8 - PTA Meeting
- Friday, December 9 - Drama Field Trip to Synetic Theater’s
- Monday, December 19 through Monday, January 2nd - Winter Break
2023
- Classes Resume on January 3 (EVEN Day)
Dear KJMS Families,
It is December! We would like to thank our wonderful PTA for the burritos they provided our staff on Monday to welcome them back from Thanksgiving Break.
We invite you to drop off a dessert (homemade specialties or store bought) of your choosing that we can send home with staff to give them the gift of time! They will get to enjoy a sweet treat with their family and friends. Donation items can be sent to the main office.
Some parents have asked how they can support our community during this busy holiday season. There are two practical ways we can offer. First, we provide holiday assistance to Katherine Johnson families this time of year. If you are in a position to donate a gift card of $10-$20 from a local store like Wal-Mart, Target, or a grocery store close to the school, we will make sure it finds its way to a family in need. Please send donations to the main office, attention Maria Marris, KJMS social worker.
Back in October, we announced our winners at the school level. Now it is time to gather feedback from our community to complete the packet to the pyramid level. If you would like to provide feedback for one or all winners, please take 2-3 minutes to complete google forms (links) provided below.
Please provide your feedback by December 16.
Outstanding Teacher – Anna Sengstack
Outstanding Professional Employee – Kelsea Owens (SBTS)
Please provide your feedback by January 31.
Outstanding New Teacher – Andy Phung
Outstanding Leader - John McCaughan (Assistant Principal)
Outstanding Operational Employee - Griselda (Gigi) Mendoza (Instruction Assistant)
If you have any questions, please contact our Award Liaison, Emily Gardiner at eegardiner@fcps.edu
Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm,
Tammy Silipigni
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on Dec. 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students! Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
With holidays approaching, we know you may want to thank your student's teachers. What better way to do it than gifting them one of their favorite gift cards or any you would like to purchase for them. Here is the link to see the list of favorite gift cards for each of our staff members. To find a staff member, press CTRL + F (Find) and type staff member's name and it will go directly to the staff member's name. Please send your donations to Kara Payne in the main office. If you have any questions, please contact her at kipayne@fcps.edu. Thank you in advance for your donations and generosity.
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Thursday, December 8, 2022 - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Drive-by the community center and let us put a smile to your face with a mug of hot chocolate and information on upcoming regional programs. Click here to read more...
Credit card orders through Barksdale website only
No Service Fees:
To pay by credit card, visit www.barksdalephoto.com go to
“What are you looking for?”, click “Order Your Yearbook” and enter
0037625YB as the Access Code.
FHS Pyramid Families - Come support the Fairfax HS Lions as they take on Madison HS in the state semi-finals this Saturday at 3:00 at Fairfax High School! Tickets are $10 for students and adults and can be purchased in advance by going to the FHS athletic website www.FairfaxHighSports.org. Go Lions!
Calling all attentive and compassionate parents! Do you want to be a parent who confidently handles mental health issues for your child? Do you want to be a resource parent for friends of your child, and someone who people go to for support when they are in trouble?
If so, please join the Student Services Department for a one day free training called “Youth Mental Health First Aid” on December 9th from 8-3:30. Following the training, parents will be officially “certified” in YMHFA, and equipped to be community resources and responders for mental health issues: a serious community concern among our young people at this time. Who doesn’t want to be THAT parent – who is compassionate and responsive and knows what to do to support not only their own child, but the friends of their kids? Please email amcurl@fcps.edu for more information and register, or use the QR code in the flyer to complete the google form.
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Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children. This year, the Inclusive Schools Week’s theme is “Unity Within Our Community.”
Alcohol & The Holidays
The holidays usually involve family time, games, movies, food, and possibly drinks. The holidays may involve less family members this year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean less alcohol for some. Alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic and when ABC stores were deemed essential it didn’t help lower those rates (ABC News, September 29, 2020). Many people are still trying to figure out how to navigate our “new normal” since a global pandemic wasn’t on our to-do list in 2020, but we encourage you to consider a few things during these trying times. Click here to continue reading...
The FLL team, with two of the students are from Katherine Johnson Middle School, Srikar Rangi and Siddharth Shanmugam, received an invitation for the VA-DC FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship to be held at James Madison University on December 11, 2022.
The Kraglers team received the following awards at the Regional Qualifying tournament held at Osbourn Park High School, Manassas on November 20, 2022.
- First Place in Robot Design
- First Place in Robot Performance with a top score in the tournament.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay)
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
Your school’s principal will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please contact your child's counselor or our social worker, Maria Marris at msmarris@fcps.edu.
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If you need to contact one of our parent liaisons, Ana Maxey (Mon.,Thur., Fri.) or Jennie Choi (Tues. & Wed.), please call 703-934-2454 and leave a message with your name, your student's name and phone number. You may also contact them via email: Ana Maxey at ajmaxey@fcps.edu or Jennie Choi at jchoi4@fcps.edu
Yesterday, we hosted a Hispanic Parent Coffee event to inform our Hispanic families of all the resources we offer here at KJMS as well as in FCPS. We are very thankful for all who attended.
Ayer, organizamos un Café para Padres Hispanos con el fin de informar a nuestras familias hispanas sobre todos los recursos que ofrecemos aquí en KJMS y en FCPS. Estamos muy agradecidos por todos los que asistieron.
Family liaisons work in the schools and community to help families get the information and assistance they need to support their children and to ensure their academic success. The family liaisons represent a variety of cultures, languages, and races. Family liaisons will welcome and orient families who are new to the school and community and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can also help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
Los enlaces familiares trabajan en las escuelas y la comunidad para ayudar a las familias a obtener la información y la asistencia que necesitan para apoyar a sus hijos y garantizar su éxito académico. Los enlaces familiares representan una variedad de culturas, idiomas y razas. Los enlaces familiares dan la bienvenida y orientan a las familias que son nuevas en la escuela y la comunidad y las ayudan a comprender la cultura, las políticas, los procedimientos y las prácticas de la escuela. También pueden ayudar a conectar a las familias con los recursos de la comunidad. Los enlaces familiares también pueden ayudar a una familia en la transición a una nueva escuela y alentar las asociaciones entre la familia y la escuela para ayudar a garantizar el éxito y el desarrollo saludable de su estudiante.
Who is your school counselor for SY 22-23?
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Preparing for Winter Weather
- Keeping Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
- Proposed Process for Special Education Enhancement Plan
- Provide Feedback on Secondary World Languages Basal Resources
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Parent Resource Center
The Parent Resource Center (PRC) offers free workshops (webinars), consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
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FCPS Cares
Do you want to celebrate a Katherine Johnson employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
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Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
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