Thoreau Matters
September 8, 2023
Dear Thoreau Families,
Thoreau has a program called PBIS which stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. This is a proactive behavioral approach that focuses on promoting good behavior by enhancing the educational experience for the entire school community - students, educators and parents. This research-based approach has been shown to increase positive student behavior and decrease negative behavior in classrooms and the school environment. The acronym RISE stands for respect, integrity, service and engagement. These are the traits we will be discussing all year and staff members can recognize students exhibiting these traits by giving them a RISE card. The cards are then placed in a box in student services and we will be drawing prize winners all year long. There is no limit to the number of cards a student can earn and it is so heartwarming to see students stopping by student services in between classes to drop off their cards. It has also provided me with the opportunity to reflect with students about why they earned the card and I encourage you to ask your child about this program as well.
Thanks to your support in spreading the word about the need for us to hire a coach, plans for cross country at Thoreau are underway and we have secured a coach! I announced to the students today that we will be holding an interest meeting on Wednesday, September 13 at 2:30 PM. Please see the details below regarding the required forms as students cannot begin practice without first submitting the two forms. Practices will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 PM. More information will be shared with registered students about the meets.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
Middle School Sports - Cross Country!
Is your student interested in participating in our cross country program?! If so, please complete these steps -
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Physical forms must be completed and returned to the main office ASAP. These are required in order for students to be eligible to begin practices.
- All interested families must complete this registration form ASAP. This is required to be eligible to begin practicing.
- This opportunity is open to all Thoreau students, regardless of skill level. There will not be any tryouts.
Family Life Education Parent Preview Session
There will be a Family Life Education (FLE) parent session on Thursday, September 21st, at 4:30pm in Gym 1.
Human Growth and Development (HGD) and Emotional and Social Health (ESH) lessons will be presented beginning in December through Health & Physical Education (HPE) classes. Parents may review the materials through our Schoology All Parents Course and detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online here. See below for reference on where to access the preview in Schoology:
 FCPS provides a comprehensive, sequential FLE program for students in grades K-12. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the FLE program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, please complete the opt-out form found here and return it to your child’s HPE teacher as soon as possible.
For Questions, Please Contact:
- Thoreau MS Health and Physical Education Teachers
7th Grade Wellness Screening
On Monday, October 2nd and Tuesday, October 3rd members of the Thoreau Middle School clinical team will be conducting a wellness screening for all 7th grade students through our Health & Physical Education classes. This screening is required by the FCPS School Board in grades 7, 9 and 11.
Our screening will begin with a lesson where we will introduce the concept of Acknowledge Care Tell (ACT) for all students as a strategy to handle concerns for themselves or a friend struggling with thoughts related to depression and in some cases suicide. After the lesson students will complete a brief and confidential questionnaire allowing our team to follow-up individually with any students in need of additional adult support.
A letter describing the screening process has been sent home to all 7th grade families. This letter also includes the process for opting a student out of this screening, which every parents/guardian has the right to do.
We will be offering an opportunity for parents to preview the lesson before our Back to School Night on Thursday, September 21st. This will take place at 4:00 PM in the Thoreau Cafeteria.
Finally, there is a Parent Portal available through Mindwise Innovations with information about the screening as well as valuable resources related to mental health.
State Testing Information
We have been sharing some of the beginning of year assessments occurring in classrooms. Please note that middle school students participate in required state testing throughout the year. State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:
- Fall and winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) standardized tests in reading and mathematics. More information is available on the VGA webpage;
- Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage;
- Ongoing local alternative assessments (LAAs) including performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction in science, writing, and social studies; More information is available on the LAA and PBA webpage.
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Grade
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VGA Content Areas Tested (Fall & Winter)
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SOL Content Areas Tested (Spring)
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LAA Contest Areas Tested (Ongoing)
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7
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Reading, Mathematics*
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Reading, Mathematics
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Social Studies
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8
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Reading, Mathematics*
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Science, Reading, Mathematics
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Social Studies, Writing
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* VGA tests are not available for students enrolled in a high school credit-bearing math course, such as Algebra 1.
Students at TMS will be taking the fall VGA tests on the following dates:
Students do not need to prepare for these tests as they are used to determine current understanding of content. However, we do ask that you remind your students of the test dates and be sure they come to school with a fully charged laptop.
If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact Thoreau’s school test coordinator, Erin Lynch (703.846.8058 or emlynch@fcps.edu).
Thoreau After-School Program
After-School is an amazing opportunity for our staff & students to connect! Students & staff are coming up with some really creative clubs to kick off this exciting school year. After-School clubs & late buses will begin on Monday September 11th and then will occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between the hours of 2:25pm - 4:45pm for the remainder of the school year!
NO After-School Activities or Late Bus Transportation on the dates below: NA
NEW CLUB ALERT! Check out all of the after-school clubs being offered this year on the After-School page on Schoology. New clubs are being added each week as they are created!
How can students participate in After-School Activities?
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Registration: All students wanting to participate in any after-school program, must complete the After-School Registration Form to participate in any activity, club, or stay for academic help with a teacher during After-School hours. This is a general acknowledgement and parent permission form - it is not a club or specific activity registration.
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After-School Schoology Folder: Students should check this folder weekly as this is where the weekly After-School clubs schedule will be posted as well as important announcements:
Schoology > Courses > All School Courses > After-School Program Folder
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Clubs & Activities Sign-In: Most activities are drop in (no-commitment) and your child’s participation may vary, depending upon activity capacities and sponsorship (teachers willing to supervise a club). Students should plan ahead each day there is After-School and check the weekly club schedule on Schoology to coordinate what clubs they plan on attending. If a club is highlighted in green and has as strike through it, that means that the club will not be meeting on that day. Once students are in the room where the club is taking place during the After-School hours, they must sign-in for attendance purposes using the After-School Club Sign-In form mentioned above. This is not optional and helps us respond to parent inquiries and locate students quickly and accurately. The sign-in form is only accessible when already logged into a student FCPS Google account.
THOREAU WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS SCHEDULE:
Week of September 11th - September 15th
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 How can students get home from After-School?
Late Bus Transportation is provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays following After-School dismissal at 4:30pm. Students can find out what late bus they ride by going to the Late Bus Routes document within the After-School folder on Schoology or asking the front office. Students may be picked up by caregivers/designees any time before 4:30pm and will be picked-up at the Kiss N Ride area by door 12. All students are expected to be picked-up on time (no later than 5pm) or access transportation provided. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds and return for or during After-School hours. Students are allowed to use their cellphones during After-School. Staff will continue to monitor appropriate usage of cellphones and if students do not comply, they will be asked to put their phone away. If students do not have a cellphone and need to communicate to a parent/guardian, there are phones in the Main Office students may use.
How can students start a new club if there is not one currently being offered that they wish to join?
Thoreau’s After-School Program is student-centered & student club creativity is encouraged! We need your voice and participation! We are open to club suggestions and feedback. If a student wishes to create a club and it is permissible, there is multiple student interest (minimum of 10 students interested) and there is a sponsor is available, students should fill out the After-School New Club Proposal Form. Ms. Myers will check the submissions weekly and coordinate with the student on approving the new club.
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?
Email Ms. Colleen Myers at cmmyers@fcps.edu or call 703.846.8089.
Required Forms
Please visit our Welcome Back Website, which includes the link to the FCPS required forms for back to school!
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission.
Join the Thoreau PTA
As you prepare for the new school year, please consider joining the Thoreau PTA. Memberships are $15 for one adult and $25 for a family membership for two adults. More info can be found here. We would also very much appreciate a one-time donation of $50 per family as part of our No-Fuss Fundraiser. Your membership and donation are both tax-deductible, and they help the PTA support the teachers, staff, and students in our Thoreau community. Please see the PTA website: http://thoreaupta.org/ which includes the link to the PTA Facebook page.
Order Thoreau Spirit Wear
Show your school spirit by ordering
Thoreau Eagles shirts, sweats, and hoodies!
All orders for the fall must be placed at our online store between September 5th and September 13th.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery after the store has closed. Items will be available for pickup
at the school store during school store hours.
Thoreau PTA will receive 10% of all sales.
https://thoreau.memberhub.com/store
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2023 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In late June, the School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R. Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Friday, September 29.
World Language Credit Exam
The World Language Credit Exam assesses reading and writing language proficiency in languages other than English. Students who take the exam may earn up to three World Languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam. The credits may fulfill the World Languages requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma. The FCPS World Languages Credit Exam is also an approved assessment for awarding the Virginia Department of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy.
The exam is offered one time per school year. Additional information about the exam is located here. Students should see their Thoreau MS counselor to register for this opportunity.
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