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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
Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
in this issue:
Visit the KJMS Facebook and Instagram to see more pictures and videos.
KJMS Event Calendar
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December 6-11 - PTA Candy Cane Gram (during each lunch)
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December 11-15- Winter Break Spirit Week (see Spirit Week flier)
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December 8-15 - Family Life Education (FLE)
- To opt out of all or partial lessons, please click here.
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December 14 - Virtual PTA Meeting (Zoom Link)
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December 15 - Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes
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December 18, 2023 - January 1, 2024 - Winter Break - Office Closed
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January 2, 2024 - School Resumes - It will be an ODD (Blue) Day
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January 4 - Reading Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA)
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January 5 - Math Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA)
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January12 - Make-up Reading VGA
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January 17 - Make-up Math VGA
As the school days in 2023 come to a close, the excitement is increasing at KJMS. Thank you for your outstanding employee nominations over the past weeks. At Tuesday’s faculty meeting, our winners were announced. We hope you enjoy the picture we were able to capture. Their families were invited to surprise them with flowers when we made the announcements. Please join me in congratulating:
Outstanding Operational Employee:
Emily Gardiner, Principal’s Assistant and Office Manager
Outstanding Professional Employee: Friday Oeur, Counselor
Outstanding New Teacher:
Nicole Matthews, Family & Consumer Science Teacher
Outstanding Teacher: Cheryl Coyne, Civics Teacher
L to R: Friday Oeur, Cheryl Coyne, Emily Gardiner, Nicole Matthews
This week, I was able to get in and observe a fabulous 8th grade health lesson on stress. The teacher asked the students about their stressors and how they handle them. Part of the activity was to take students outside to complete a life-sized maze of obstacles while blindfolded. They had a partner yelling directions. However, with everyone trying to help everyone else, it became quite confusing. See the picture collage below to see how things went! The teacher was able to talk about how this was a controlled stress environment, but in life, we cannot always control our stressors. Then, they shared ideas for controlling and dealing with stress (stress slide show). As the holiday season approaches, this can bring stress into your home. Thank you to the 8th grade Health & PE Department. They have shared some tips for helping you to discuss stress coping skills with your Eagles.
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In closing, thank you for your continued support of KJMS and our programs and efforts. Attached, you will see some of Lord Bart’s (our library bearded dragon) latest pictures. Many of you have sent in items from his wishlist. |
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Lord Bartholomew
Additionally, here are pictures from the last staff meeting with snacks that were sent in off of our wishlist. Thanks for making KJMS so amazing for students and staff!
One more week until winter break,
Tammy Silipigni,
Principal
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Military-Connected? Want to support FCPS military families? Apply to join the Military-Connected Youth Process Action Team by completing the application by December 15, 2023. Contact militaryfamilies@fcps.edu with questions.
SIS, ParentVUE, and StudentVUE will be unavailable from Friday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. thru Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 6:00 a.m.
In addition, the DIT generated weekly Grade Book progress reports will not be emailed to parents/guardians during the winter break. We will resume emailing them on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Katherine Johnson Families, we appreciate all the donations thus far! Due to the holiday season and meetings, our stock is running low, please consider stocking snacks and drinks for our amazing staff. One way to contribute is by using our KJMS Amazon Wishlist. Our Amazon Wishlist is quick, easy, and set-up for the items to be delivered directly to the school.
As a reminder, you are always welcome to bring other items (prepackaged snacks, waters, etc.) to the Main Office as donations. We thank you in advance for your generosity and partnership.
If you have any questions please reach out to Kara Payne at 703-934-2401.
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Mrs. Condley and Mrs. Kennedy would like to congratulate our Artists of the Quarter! These students were creative and hardworking all quarter long!
Art Foundations: Hana Fryer and Katie Bubb
Computers in Art: Jeongwon Lim
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For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
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Fairfax Little League is pleased to offer underserved boys and
girls in our community the opportunity to play baseball for free.
Eligible children, ages 4 to 16 who live within League boundaries,
are identified through a partnership with Fairfax County public and
private school social workers and family liaison officers. Read more.
In The Library....
Thank You
to everyone who helped make our Book Fair a resounding success! We exceeded our goal by 30% and acquired several new titles for the library.
If you missed it, you can still shop for books until Sunday using the link below. The KJMS Library will earn 25% of all online sales, which will mean even more books for our students.
Online: shop until Sunday, December 10
Lord Bartholomew Needs a New House!
Our newest Library staff member, Director of Student Engagement Lord Bartholomew, is outgrowing his current enclosure. When we first got him, he weighed a mere 26 grams and was 19 centimeters long; in just 2 months, he’s grown to 85 grams and 31 centimeters! Please consider donating to our Donors Choose project to buy him one!
Battle of the Books
Our next Battle meeting is Wednesday, December 13th. After break, we will meet on Wednesday, January 10th. We will form teams in January, so these meetings will be the last chance for new members to join!
We often notice more empty seats in our classrooms as winter break approaches. This year, let's work together to nurture a rock-solid attendance habit. Every hour of every school day is a unique opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow.
A big thank you to:
- 🌟 Students who show up every day and the parents/caregivers supporting them.
- 👩🏫 Teachers who create a welcoming environment for learning.
- 👨💼 Administrators providing a safe and engaging place to grow.
- 👏 Bus drivers, support staff, and volunteers lending a helping hand to all our learners.
If you or your child need support, please reach out to our school social worker or family liaison. If your child is not feeling well, please refer to the When Should I Keep My Child Home? webpage for guidance.
There will be no school from Monday, December 18, to Monday, January 1, 2024, for winter break. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 2.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.
In September, FCPS awarded a contract to Prismatic Services, Inc., to develop a plan for potentially changing middle school start times. The plan will explore starting the middle school day no earlier than 8 a.m., without changing high school start times or impacting FCPS’ budget.
Prismatic will present their findings to the School Board in January. The board will decide in the spring whether or not to proceed with changing middle school start times. Read about the middle school start times project.
The KJMS PTA is excited to host our first Candy Cane Gram next week and we need your help to make it successful! Every little bit helps so please consider volunteering even if it's just an hour of your time.
Candy Cane Gram Volunteer sign-up
Thank you!
KJMS PTA
Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Fairfax County Public Schools is looking for enthusiastic, engaged, and dedicated substitute teachers.
Substitutes help our students thrive when their teacher must be out of the classroom and are essential members of every school’s team. More information about the application process and requirements is available online.
Visit the Recruitment Events calendar for a list of all FCPS job fairs.
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
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- How FCPS Announces Weather Closings
- Keeping Your Child Warm
- Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
Families can find printable resource guides and details about the center’s free lending library on FRC’s homepage. They may also sign up to receive the FRC newsletter for updates on webinars, resources, and other information. If you have questions, please contact the FRC via email at frc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-3941.
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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/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
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