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Principal's Message |
Greetings Tiger Families!
Thank you to all of our families who attended our annual Back to School Night on Thursday evening. We hope you found it a valuable opportunity to connect with your student’s teachers, familiarize yourself with their daily schedule, and to interact with Twain staff. If you were unable to attend our event, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to your student’s teachers, counselor, and administrator to make sure we are able to effectively partner this school year. You can view the brief welcome video that was shown Thursday evening on our website here.
This week we initiated our cell phone storage pouch policy and procedures. As is the case with any change, it has been an opportunity for us to all learn and grow as a school community. Below are a few some key points to reiterate with your students about their technology routines:
- Bring home their school issued Chromebook and Yondr Pouch each day, and back to school the next day
- Charge their Chromebook nightly. With these new and more efficient devices, we are finding that if they are charged nightly, students often don’t need to utilize their charger during the school day.
- Make sure their Yondr pouch is closed and locked once their phone is removed at the end of the day. Doing this ensures they don’t accidentally put their phone in their pouch while at home and also decreases the chance for accidental damage.
Go Tigers!
Matt
Twain’s Weekly Schedule
Monday, September 9: Anchor Day Schedule – School Picture Day today!
Tuesday, September 10: Odd Day Schedule
Wednesday, September 11: Even Day Schedule
Thursday, September 12: Odd Day Schedule
Friday, September 13: Even Day Schedule
World Language Credit By Exam
In response to the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of our community, students in grades 7-12 are offered the opportunity to take the World Languages Credit By Exam (WLCBE) each fall. The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages. This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in FCPS, and fulfill the world languages requirements for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/graduation-requirement-resources/graduation-diploma-seals/seal-of-biliteracy
The exam is offered in the fall each school year. A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.
For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit our website: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages. Please have your student meet with their school counselor to complete the registration process. The registration window runs from September 4 to October 4 and the Testing Window runs between November 6-22.
No late registrations will be accepted.
Understanding the 2024-25 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. 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 30.
Each year, FCPS reviews and updates the SR&R to ensure it reflects our commitment to equity and the goals outlined in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Your voice is essential to delivering an SR&R that supports a caring and inclusive climate and culture in every school community. If you have questions, you can submit them on our website or contact Kathleen Walts, executive director of Equity and Student Relations.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is our priority. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools must also notify parents and caregivers at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools do not have to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
By law, the first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students do not participate in the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with them about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your student before and after school lockdown drills.
Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First
If you or your child have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, parents/caregivers, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
If you have concerns about programs, regulations, policies or other topics that do not impact the safety of our schools, please contact the FCPS ombuds online, at 571-423-4014 or ombuds@fcps.edu.
Free Webinars for Families
Parents and caregivers can access 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. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).
In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on:
- Supporting siblings of children with disabilities.
- Helping students organize their school work.
- The new Virginia Alternate Assessment Program Participation Decision-Making Tool.
- Setting limits for children who like to push boundaries.
- Teen development and well-being.
Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar webpage.
Immunization Requirements
Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may be delivered to your school’s front office as well.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded to ParentVUE:
- A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
- A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.
Find more information on immunizations.
Make School Attendance a Priority
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan time away during breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read on grade level at the end of third grade.
Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.
TJHSST Admissions Information Session-September 11
We are excited to welcome Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology admissions specialist Linda Sperling to Twain for an information session all about the application process! This session will be held next Wednesday, September 11, 2024 from 9:00-10:00am in our cafeteria. Ms. Sperling will guide students and families step-by-step through the entire application process, concluding with a question-and-answer portion at the end. This event is open to all eligible 8th grade students and parents/guardians. Prior to coming, please familiarize yourself with the TJ admissions website where you will find applicant eligibility requirements, the 2024-25 freshman round calendar, and steps to complete the application when it becomes available on October 21. If you cannot attend, there are additional dates on the TJ admissions website for presentations at other schools around the county. In addition, there is a pre-recorded presentation on the homepage which covers the same information. If you have any questions, please contact Twain’s TJ liaison counselor, Leslie Pilotti, at 703-313-3740 or lmpilotti@fcps.edu.
PTA Updates
Join the PTA
Join the PTA & Renew your Annual Membership at Mark Twain MS PTA Store. Your membership goes to support the programs and events sponsored by the PTA.
PTA General Membership Meeting
Join us for the next PTA meeting on Tuesday, September 10th at 7:30 pm via WebEx. All are welcome to attend! We have several items of PTA Business to conduct, and we need your vote! The meeting link will be sent to Twain families via eNotify.
Fall Tiger Night
Save the Date for Fall Tiger Night on Friday, September 27th!
On Friday, September 27th from 6pm – 8pm the PTA will hold a very popular event, the Tiger Night Student Social. This is a Twain Student Only Event. There will be…
- A Glow Dance (wear something white)
- Concessions for Sale
- Basketball Tournament
- Minute-To-Win-It Games
- Improv
- Karaoke
- Board Games
- Video Games
There is something for everyone! Advance tickets will be on sale during student lunches September 24th – 27th for $3. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5.
Click to Volunteer for Fall Tiger Night This event cannot happen without lots of help. We are looking for volunteers to sell tickets, donate items, sell concessions, chaperone, supervise games, set-up and clean-up. Want to be in “the room where it happens”? Volunteer!
Nominate a Staff Member
Know a great staff member at Twain? We need your nominations. Each month the PTA awards one of our hard-working staff members the honor of being the Staff Member of the Month! In addition to a gift card to a local restaurant, the Staff Member receives a prime parking spot and a cool trophy! Please tell us about a Staff Member at Twain that you feel deserves this award and why by completing this Staff Member of the Month Form by September 30th.
Twain PTA on Social Media
Follow us on Facebook at Mark Twain MS PTA and Instagram at twainmspta to stay in touch with what’s happening at Twain PTA.
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