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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:
Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!
As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
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KJMS Event Calendar
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March 11 - District Orchestra Assessment at KJMS (Saturday)
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March 12 - Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
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March 13 - FCPS Community Meeting on Opioid Awareness-Fairfax HS
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March 14 - Pi Day
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March 14 - KJMS Choral Pre-Assessment at KJMS
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March 15 - Theater Field Trip
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March 16 - Integrated Reading and Writing Field Test (8th graders only)
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March 18 - District Band Assessment at
- Lake Braddock Secondary School (Saturday)
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March 24 - District Choral Assessment at KJMS (Saturday)
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April 3-April 7- Spring Break
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April 13 - End of 3rd Quarter-2 Hour Early Release (12:15 PM)
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April 14 - Teacher Workday/Student Holiday/Orthodox Good Friday
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April 21 - Eid al Fitr/Student/Teacher Holiday-Schools closed
Good evening, KJMS Families,
Happy Friday! We hope you found some time to get out and enjoy this early spring in Fairfax as the flowers and blooms are popping up all over town! With that, allergy season is in full swing. We appreciate that you are helping to monitor sneezes and sniffles at home as we are seeing more of that here at KJMS. Together, we are welcoming spring.
On this Monday the 13th, we hope to see many of you at Fairfax High School at 6:30 PM to see the presentation on the opioid epidemic presented by our FCPS Superintendent, Dr. Reid. Middle and high schools across the country have noticed a huge increase in students vaping at school. This is a very dangerous scenario because students are obtaining these vaping devices illegally. Some of these devices can be laced with dangerous opiods and marijuana. Together, we must approach how to address these situations as a community to ensure the safety of our students.
This morning, students were reminded that our Student Rights and Responsibilities prohibits the selling and or buying of items between students. This pertains to selling sodas, Gatorades, candy, or any items to other students. Please remind your student that this is never a safe or allowable activity at school. If you ever become aware of things that are happening at KJMS that are not safe, please email or call us so that we can address things quickly. Together, we can keep our students safe.
Privileged to partner with you,
Tammy Silipigni
Our Staff Appreciation Week is rapidly approaching, May 8- May 12, and we are looking for your help! We are asking for donations of gift cards and/or gift baskets. We need to collect a total of 150 gift cards, to cover our entire staff. We plan to raffle off any gift baskets and other items, we acquire. Thank you in advance for your donations and generosity and thank you for helping make our Staff Appreciation Week a memorable one. Donations can be dropped off in the main office.
Another way to express your "thank you" for a staff member is by using the FCPS Cares Program. This program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
Substance abuse and related behavioral health problems can have a major impact on students, families, and communities. These impacts have become even more serious because of the increasing prevalence of fentanyl in drugs and other substances. Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful and dangerous opioid. Small amounts of fentanyl can easily lead to life-threatening overdoses. In 2021, fentanyl was identified in 77.14% of U.S. adolescent overdose deaths. There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, and communities. Fairfax Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to join her for a community meeting on opioid awareness, Monday, March 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School.
Dr. Reid will be joined by Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department, in welcoming the community to engage in this important conversation. Major Thea Pirnat of the Fairfax County Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau will share information about drug trends in Fairfax County.
The Overdose Prevention Initiative: Outreach on Invisible Dangers, led by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will present testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives.
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about how Fairfax County agencies are working together to address these opioid issues in our community. Watch the video and learn more on our website. Register for the March 13 event.
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Two of our eagles competed in MATHCOUNTS State Round in the past Saturday. We are so proud of them and can't wait to see what great things they will accomplish in the future! If your student would like to join the KJMS Math Team next year, please reach out to Ms.Hyun at kwhyun@fcps.edu.
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Spotlight on Trauma & Coping
There is an intersection between trauma, coping, and substance misuse. Studies show
that about 61% of adults have had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) according to the CDC. Read more.
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Natural High
Natural High is “a drug prevention nonprofit that inspires and empowers
youth to find their natural high and develop the skills and courage to live life well.” Read more.
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This year, the first day of Ramadan is Wednesday, March 22. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
Ramadan begins with a half “O Day” on March 22, followed by an O Day on March 23. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
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Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is offering camps during spring break (April 3-7) and FCPS teacher workdays (April 14 and April 21)! FCPA camps are held in recreation centers, parks, schools, and virtually. Categories include: Sports, performing arts, STEM, music, and others. Kids can explore a special interest or learn something new while making new friends. Register today.
Check out the Camps website for a complete list of options or browse the FCPA Spring and Summer Camp 2023 Guide (PDF).
Does your student like inventing and/or robotics? If so, the Thinkabit Summer Camp is the place to be!
- This FREE camp will run from June 20-23, 2023 – 9AM-1PM at Katherine Johnson Middle School
- Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are invited to apply
- All supplies are provided, they just need to bring a lunch
- Students must have their own transportation to and from camp
Click here to apply to the Thinkabit Summer Camp
April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. To show our support, we are inviting all Fairfax County students, families, school employees, and community members to “Purple Up!” on April 19 for military children. Why purple? Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and Space Force blue. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military
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 The FCPS Purple Up! t-shirt is available for order now through March 16 here! Purple Up! FCPS!
Visit the New KJMS PTA Spirit wear online web store. webpage.
Lunchtime Parent Volunteers
Lunchtime is the busiest time of day in our library. We are seeking parent volunteers to help supervise students having fun in the library between 10:45-12:45. Interested?
Volunteer Sign-Up Genius
On Display
There’s still time to check out our Black History Month display to learn more about important events in Black History, as well as important people, past and present. Next up in March is Women’s History Month. We celebrate our namesake, Katherine Johnson, in both months.
Currently Popular
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus is our current most popular title. Right behind is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.
#TeamLibrary has an Amazon Wish List!
A change in federal Medicaid policy could impact the health care coverage of millions of students. In order to avoid gaps in coverage, families need to know:
- Families, especially those who have moved residences during the pandemic, should contact their state Medicaid offices to ensure their contact information is up to date.
- Families should watch their mail for letters about Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, status.
- Recipients must submit any renewal forms they receive to maintain coverage, which states could mail at any point between March 2023 and February 2024.
- Families who no longer qualify for Medicaid after the review may qualify for coverage through their state’s health insurance exchange.
Learn more in this EducationWeek article.
The Fairfax High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) is looking for parents to serve on the Board during the 2023 - 2024 school year. Our goal is to have the Board reflect our school community and classrooms.
Involvement is a big part of your students success and what better way than to be at the center! You will be surrounded by community members who are engaged in all aspects of Fairfax High School.
Positions available include: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Hospitality and Web Master.
Meetings are currently on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (virtually until we resume in person meetings).
Everyone welcome, no previous experience necessary.
Please contact: Susan@skares.com if you are interested or want to find out more information.
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
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- The Dangers of Fentanyl
- Kindergarten Registration Time
- Science Fair Judges Needed
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
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
Upcoming Webinars for Parents
FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. Upcoming PRC webinars include:
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Unlocking the Mysteries of Sleep and the Developing Brain: Tuesday, March 14, and Tuesday, March 28, at 10 a.m.
Presented by experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, this two-part webinar will provide an overview of the sleep and wake cycle, illustrate the consequences of insufficient sleep, and other information.
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Manejando el estrés serie de 3 partes: Friday, March 17, at 10 a.m.
Este seminario web les ofrecerá a los padres consejos sobre cómo reparar la relación con su hijo, apoyarle en momentos de estrés y fomentar la resiliencia.
Click on the titles above to register.
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The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Katherine Johnson MS. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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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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