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Espanol
Dear Jackson Families,
As we reach the end of another wonderful school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of our school community. It has been a year filled with growth, learning, and countless memorable moments, and I am immensely proud of the resilience and dedication our students, staff, and families have shown.
To our students, I wish you all a safe and fun-filled summer! Take this time to relax, explore, and spend time with your families and friends. You've worked hard this year, and we are very proud of you!
A special goodbye for now to our 8th grade students. Congratulations on completing this important chapter of your educational journey. As you move on to high school, remember the lessons learned and the friendships made here at Jackson Middle School. You have all the tools you need to succeed, and I am confident you will achieve great things in high school! We will miss you dearly, but we are excited to see the incredible paths you will forge.
We look forward to welcoming our rising 7th graders to Jackson Middle School in August. A new adventure awaits you, filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and fun. Our staff is already preparing to ensure you have a fantastic first year in middle school, and we can’t wait to get to know you!
Thank you, everyone, for your continuous support and collaboration throughout the year. Together, we make Jackson Middle School a wonderful place to learn and grow. Have a fantastic summer, and we look forward to seeing you in August!
Sincerely,
R. Jones
June 17- Holiday (Eid-al-Adha) Schools Closed
***Starting June 18th- Summer Hours will begin:***
Monday-Friday 9am to 1pm
June 19- Holiday (Juneteenth) Schools Closed
When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school. This can be done by calling the attendance phone line at 703-204-8282 or by using the online reporting form which can be accessed by CLICKING HERE or on our Luther Jackson Middle School website. Please DO NOT report absences through the Talking Points app.
Counselors are assigned by alphabet and your first point of contact for any question or concerns you might have.
Report cards will be mailed home the week of June 24.
Our food pantry is empty and we have a distribution June 11th. We also want to keep the pantry going over the summer. Kids and families do better when they are not worried about if they are going to eat.
We really need your help!! You can donate food in person, via Amazon, or with a cash donation. Please ask your friends and family too. Feel free to forward this email! You may bring food to room 613 or (if you have a car load!) schedule a time to drop it off at the food pantry before/after school.
We need the following items most:
Food
Pasta
Pasta sauce/tomato sauce
Canned vegetables
Cereal
Pancake mix/syrup
Oil
Maseca (a kind of corn flour)
Instant coffee/tea
Canned fruit/fruit cups
Ramen
Shelf stable milk
Household Goods
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Laundry detergent
Dish Soap
If you have students who you think need food at home, contact Amanda Isaac, our social worker. She will contact the family for you and determine eligibility.
If you are interested in getting involved with the food pantry next year, come and talk to me! It’s fun and easy and you will make a huge difference to 80 families!!
Students Attending Summer Programs
If your child is attending a summer program, they can keep the laptop and MiFi during the summer program. Please return them to the school when the summer program ends.
 Sign up for TJ Prep Camp
This summer Jackson Middle School will be hosting a TJ Prep Camp to rising 8th grade students who are interested in taking the TJ admissions exam in the fall.
Please see flyer image above with more details.
Reach out to dsryan@fcps.edu with any questions.
Choose from a variety of options and formats:
- Outdoor and indoor fitness classes
- Learn to swim group lessons and private lessons.
- Children’s and adult classes
- Summer Camps
- Nature & history programs
- Sports
- Scouting
- Golf lessons
- Gardening
- Virtual classes and camps – Fitness, nature, music, drama, coding
New PTA Officers elected for 2024-25: Congratulations to all the PTA officers elected during the May PTA meeting for the next school year! President (Rajiv Sharma), Secretary (Amy Chai),
Treasurer (Robyn Berkenbilt), Membership (Wendy Bang),
Spirit wear (Ally Paddock),
Technology (Jay Berkenbilt), Food team (Megan Dho).
A big thanks to the outgoing officers for your exceptional support to the PTA! Lili Cui (Treasurer), Lynn Ploch-Craner (Spirit wear), Huaizhang Deng (Technology), Jenna von Elling (Food team), and Meredith Caldwell (Reflections)
The following positions are still vacant: Vice President, Reflections chair, Hospitality chair, Fundraising/Restaurant night chair, and Spanish liaison/Diversity chair. You are encouraged to apply for these open positions by sending a note to president@jacksonmspta.org
To check other benefits for PTA members, visit https://vapta.org/member-benefits/
Food Pantry: The Luther Jackson Middle School Food Pantry needs your help! We need parent volunteers to assist with food pick-up, bag packing, and food distribution. Interested in helping, but your schedule doesn't allow you to volunteer? Please consider donating food, personal hygiene items, household cleaning products, or reusable grocery bags to help our families utilize the food pantry. Follow the Sign-Up Genius link below if you are interested in volunteering:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/904084DA8AC2EAA8-ljms2
PTA Fundraising through glass recycling: Glass Goat was launched by LJ alumni to help with glass no longer being accepted by Fairfax County in recyclables. They offer a curbside glass pickup service that makes it easy and simple to recycle your glass responsibly without hassle. They are owned and operated entirely by hard-working teens, give a free custom bin, and send timely text reminders the day before pickup!
LJMS PTA gets $20 for each sign-up, use code Tigers20. https://glassgoatrecycling.com/
PTA website: Please check out the PTA website, where you can find the links to buy Spirit Wear, join the PTA, or donate: https://jacksonmspta.org/
The Department of Neighborhood and community Services offers a variety of youth and teen summer camps at public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. All programs offer reduced fees for eligible families. please see the Flyer for more info:
Madison Debate Camp will take place on Monday, July 29th through Friday, August 2nd @JMHS from 12PM to 4PM on each of those days. The price of the camp is $50 and includes lunch every day, instruction from national level debaters (who will also just be back from Nationals), and a tournament (with awards). The rest of the proceeds go to the JMHS debate team to cover team costs during the season.
Every day will have new, fun lessons that will teach you the skills of a high school debater, giving you a foundational understanding of the basics of argumentation, public speaking, and debate as a whole. At the end of the camp, participants will also have an opportunity to participate in a high-school style tournament on the week’s chosen debate topic!
Sign-Up Link: https://forms.gle/qv7Kim31PtRu5SMk6
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COURSE NUMBER
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ENSEMBLE
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DESCRIPTION
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923415
923315
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Advanced Band Level 1/Band Level 1
“Concert Band 2”
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Rising 9th graders and new students to band register here. Exact band placements will be made after auditions are complete. Marching Band is optional
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923416
923316
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Advanced Band Level 2/
Band Level 2
“Concert Band 1”
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Students who have been in band. Present members instructed to sign up for this class again and will be auditioned for upper level classes in May/June. Marching Band is optional
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923417
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Advanced Band Level 3
“Symphonic Band”
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Auditions in May/June.
Marching Band required (with some limited exceptions)
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924016
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Jazz Ensemble
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Must be enrolled in a band class (exceptions for keyboard, guitar, and bass guitar). Meets after school for credit. Begins mid-fall after the conclusion of the marching season.
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922604
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AP Music Theory
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Open to grades 10-12.
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**ALL BANDS ARE OPEN TO 9th GRADERS**
Marching Band ◊ Concert Band ◊ Color Guard ◊ Jazz Band ◊ Drumline ◊ Indoor Winter Guard
Band “Mythbusters”
- It is possible to do athletics and band.
- You can do clubs and honor societies and band.
- You can do band all four years and still get the most advanced diploma.
- You can still get into a great college without taking every AP class.
Important Date:
- Marching Band camp: July 29-August 9, 2024
Questions?
Ask Dr. VanValkenburg (director@oaktonbands.org)
        
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