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 THE DESCENDANTS MAY 4TH 7:00 PM, 5TH 7:00 PM , & 6TH 1:30 & 7:00 PM
Tickets for our spring musical, Disney’s Descendants, go on sale starting April 1st. Go to our LJMS Website or click on this link to purchase:
Descendants Tickets
Tickets are only $6 pre-sale & $7 at the door. Tickets will also be available at the door while they last. Lunch ticket sales start at the end of April.
Come out and see Mal and the other Evils struggle between their parent’s wicked ways and a chance to be good in Auradon! Will Good be the New Bad?
 Luther Jackson staff presented every student in grades PreK-6 at Camelot ES with a brand new book and a personalized bookmark to take home. Dewberry provided the funds for this project so we could purchase about 650 books and two of their representatives were at Camelot to help pass out the books. Jenny Betten, Luther Jackson’s Librarian, worked closely with the Christine Vickers (Librarian) and Andrea Rubin (Reading Specialist) at Camelot to select titles that were of interest to the students and at appropriate reading levels. The Art teacher from Jackson, Janet Lundeen, had art students decorate shopping bags for each of Camelot’s classes which were used to deliver the books to classrooms.
1. Teachers and Staff Appreciation Week: Join us in celebrating the amazing teachers and staff at LJMS, who make our school a fantastic place to learn and grow! We've planned a fun-filled week -- May 1 thru May 5 -- and we'd love for you to be a part of it. Check out our SignUp Genius link to discover how you can contribute. Let's come together and show our heartfelt appreciation to the extraordinary LJMS team!
2. Volunteers Needed: The PTA is grateful for the volunteers who have filled most of the vacancies. We still have four more positions that need to be filled in order to keep our PTA thriving and successful. We invite you to join our team of dedicated volunteers and make a positive impact on our school community. Our team is actively seeking volunteers for the following positions:
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Vice-President – Support the President and outreach efforts.
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Hospitality Chair – Lead the planning of appreciation events in December and May.
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Membership Chair – Lead the membership drive at the beginning of the school year.
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Spiritwear Chair – Mange current spirit wear merchandise and plan for next year’s offerings.
If interested email us at president@jacksonmspta.org .
3. April PTA Meeting Recording: This week's PTA meeting was packed with important information, including the announcement that we will be partnering with LJMS to offer Thomas Jefferson HS preparation classes this summer! We will share more details about the classes in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned. If you missed the meeting, don't worry - you can access the recording here.
4. Healthy Minds Sessions Recording: Good news for parents who missed out on our recent sessions! The recordings of all three workshops are now available for you to access until the end of the school year. These sessions provide valuable information on tools to help our students cope with stress and other challenges. Don't miss out on the chance to learn and support your child's social and emotional well-being. Access Session 1, Session 2, and Session 3
5. Spirit Wear: We have sweatshirts ($35) and magnets ($5) for all current LJMS students, incoming LJMS students, LJMS-loving family members, LJMS-supporting neighbors, and more. To purchase online with a credit card, go to https://ljmspta.memberhub.com/store. If you’d rather pay by cash/check or have any questions, email Lynn Collins at spiritwear@jacksonmspta.org. Go Tigers!
In gratitude,
LJMS PTA
 Seeking new players & peer buddies for TOPSoccer!
WHAT: A youth soccer program serving members of our community with disabilities and access needs. TOPSoccer emphasizes skill development and meaningful participation in a non-competitive environment. Players are paired with trained peer buddies and guided, at their own pace, through fun activities in a safe, inclusive atmosphere. All ages and ability levels are welcome!
WHO: Players & peer buddies (buddies aged 12-18)
WHERE: Grist Mill Park in Alexandria (4710 Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway)
WHEN: April-June, Sundays 5:00-6:15pm
HOW to register: https://forms.gle/AZhadnwCvUNScEdV6
FREE to all players!
Procedure for purchasing new student laptop chargers
Replacement laptop chargers can be purchased for $23 and there are two options to purchase them. First, have your child either bring in a check for $23 made out to Luther Jackson Middle School or bring exactly $23 in cash. If they bring in cash, we cannot make change so please have them bring in the exact amount. Then they can request an e-hallpass from any class at the beginning of the period and to go to Mr. Waldren's office, room 502 to pick up the charger.
Your second option is to purchase a charger from MySchoolBucks for $23, the link is also at the top of the FCPS and LJMS website. If you do not have an account you can create one. Please purchase the charger under your child's name and Mr. Waldren, Technology Specialist, will be notified of the purchase. After you login to their account, click on School Store at the top, under categories choose [GROUP] Lost or Damaged Technology, click on FCPSON Laptop Replacement Power Cord, and add it to the basket for purchase. If you are in need of a more detailed guide, please use the following, How to Pay for Tech in MySchoolBucks. Then request the tech pass from any class at the beginning of the period and to go to Mr. Waldren's office, room 502 to pick up the charger.
 We are always working to keep your student’s safe while at school, and this often starts for your child knowing how to be safe with their phones.
When it comes to phone safety, it is wise to consider a layer of parental oversight. This may involve being aware of your child’s passcode for their phone, occasionally checking their phone, being aware of their social media applications and the usernames they use on each application and having honest conversations about wise use of the applications and some of the risks involved when they are not used in a safe way. You will decide what is right for your family.
Today, I want to highlight one simple conversation you could have with your child about Apple Airdrop. Apple Airdrop is an iPhone feature that allows files to be sent and received between phones that are close together (like in a cafeteria or a classroom). There are many good reasons why students may share a file (like a photo or a video), but there are also bad reasons. Setting Apple Airdrop to receive files from anyone can create unwanted risks. For example, if your child’s iPhone has Apple Airdrop set to receive a file from anyone, and another students sends an inappropriate or illegal picture to their phone, now your child’s phone may be part of a school or even a police investigation and may need to be seized as evidence. Whether or not your student intended to download the specific file shared, accepting an Apple Airdrop file can create unwanted problems.
Having a conversation about how and when to safely use Apple Airdrop may help prevent a future problem from even happening and will help ensure that your child is more safe and secure while at Luther Jackson Middle School.
As always, if you have any questions or another topic you would like me to discuss, please let me know. I’m here to be your School Resource Officer.
Officer Green (342395) egreen@fcps.edu
Drug Additives to Be Aware of: Xylazine“Tranq”
In our continuing efforts to educate the community, we have been tracking a new trend in the region known as Xylazine or Tranq. Tranq, a non-opioid tranquilizer, is often mixed with other drugs giving the user a fentanyl-like high for an extended period of time. Considering the rise in opioid-related overdoses, it is important to know about various additives such as fentanyl and tranq that can be mixed in, unbeknownst to the user. Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer which is not approved by the FDA for human consumption; it affects the central nervous system by suppressing breathing and slowing down vital functions in the body. Tranq has recently been detected in several fatal overdoses related to cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in unsuspecting users. Narcan/Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, will not reverse the overdose in a person who has taken Tranq thus resulting in potential death. Continued use has resulted in lesions, ulcers, and other health related issues resulting in loss of limbs from untreated abscesses.
While alarming, education is key to keep our communities safe. Here is some recent data showing the trend in our region. Xylazine was present in 19% of drug overdoses in Maryland in 2020 alone; with trends increasing in Pennsylvania by 26% and in Connecticut by 10%. In areas of higher populations Xylazine has been present in 1 of every 5 deaths that have been reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Xylazine was present in 64.3 % of deaths when it was detected. 38 states including the District of Columbia have seen a rise in “Tranq” in and around their communities.
For more information please, contact myself or the Student Safety & Wellness Office at (571) 423-4270. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.
Sources & Resources:
NIH: Xylazine
DEA: Xylazine
DEA: Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine
CDC: Xylazine
Overdoses in Philadelphia
FCPS Webinar: Everything You Need To Know About Opioids
Oakton HS Dance Team Spring Prep Clinic
If you are interested in trying out for the Oakton High School Dance team for the 2023-24 school year or the year after or just love to dance, the Dance Team is holding a Tryouts Prep Clinic May 8, 10, 15, and 17 at Oakton HS from 3:30-6pm. It is open to students in grades 7-11 from any school! The clinic will teach a variety of skills and choreography that will be helpful for preparing for tryouts and help you learn what dance team does. If you are planning to try out for the 2023-24 team this year, attendance at this clinic is required. To participate in the Dance Team Prep Clinic, complete the Spring Prep Clinic Interest Form to receive the registration form and information. If you have questions, please reach out to Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu.
OHS Dance Team 2023-24 Tryouts
If you love to dance and want to be involved in your school, come try out for the Oakton High School Dance Team! Tryouts will be held May 22-24 for current 9th-11th graders and June 16th for current 8th graders for the 2023-24 team selection. Attending the Tryouts Prep Clinic May 8, 10, 15, and 17 will be required for participation in the final audition dates. Contact Coach Rowley directly with any questions related to tryouts or the Prep Clinic.
Not sure if you have all of the skills for dance team?? Come to the Prep Clinic and tryouts anyway! You will have the opportunity to learn skills there, and dancers are often selected based on potential ability to pick up the needed skills! Complete this Tryout Interest Form to receive information about registering for tryouts and access to the tryout materials. Check out the Dance Team website for more information about the team and what to prepare for tryouts. Contact Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu with questions.
If you need me to make any changes, I am happy to.
Thank you, Karen Rowley
Oakton High School
Dance Team
Inspirigil is a nonprofit educational group run by students at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHSST) that provides free computer science classes, workshops, and events for students with a focus on encouraging girls to participate in computer science. Inspirigirl will be holding free Spring 2023 virtual computer science classes this year between April and May. Learn more here.
Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings (formally Stallion Summer Strings) is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 10th-21st from 8:30am-12:30pm, weekdays only.
Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.
You can find more information and registration for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Early registration is from March 1st-June 9th so sign up soon!
Counselors are assigned by teams and are your first point of contact for any question or concerns you might have.
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