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in this issue:
Important Upcoming Events
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September 15 - October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
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September 15 - Fairfax Corner - 2024 AJ 5K Run/Walk
- Fun Run at 8AM
- 5K Run at 8:30 AM
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September 18 - Parent Coffee - 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Library
- All are welcome. The presentation will be mainly in Spanish. Questions asked in English will be answered.
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September 25 - Blue Star Welcome Coffee - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Library
KJMS Families,
It was great to see so many families at our Back to School Night this past Tuesday. We held a number of events (Return to School Q & A sessions, ice cream socials, Eagelfest, and Back to School Night) to welcome families and build our school community. We hope you have been able to connect with teachers and other members of our staff. I will send information next week about monthly family coffees we will host so we can continue to build relationships with our families.
I look forward to attending the Fairfax High School homecoming parade and football game this evening. A reminder of expectations regarding middle schoolers attendance at Fairfax High School sporting events. Middle school students must be accompanied to any sporting event by a supervising, paying adult. . We are all part of the larger Lion community, and FHS welcomes middle school attendees at games, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Please help us maintain order and provide a supportive environment for all fans by following this expectation.
Have a great weekend,
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed. Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
If you would rather complete this in paper form, please have your student stop by the technology (tech.) office to pick one up. Once completed, please drop it off in the main office or the tech. office. Thank you.
The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Friday, September 30.
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 also be delivered to your school’s front office.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in 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.
Hello Military Affiliated Families. If you currently serve, have served, are in the Reserves, or are in the National Guard, please let us know. You can update your SIS profile via ParentVUE / OL Verification Update or email aholmes@fcps.edu. We look forward to sending you a personal invitation to participate in our next Military Affiliated Coffee on September 25, from 9 to 10 am. More details to come.
Fueling Student Success: New Food Options Cooked up at FCPS
Students will have more than a dozen new options for lunch and breakfast in school cafeterias starting this week. New menu items were either favorites at last year’s food show — including Korean BBQ wings, sweet Thai chili wings, chicken tikka masala, and barbacoa street tacos — or were tested with student focus groups and tastings.
View school menus to see all the new options and when they will become available.
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
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 directions and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to speak and write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.
For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit the World Language Credit By Exam website.
Please complete and submit the form to your student’s counselor by the fall registration deadline. You may also email your student’s counselor directly to register, and let them know which language your student will take the test in.
Registration opened on Wednesday, September 4, at 8 a.m., and closes on Friday, October 4, at 4 p.m.
NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available online.
Testing will take place at KJMS either on Thursday, November 14th or Friday, November 15th. More information on the exact date of the exam and exam procedures will be provided at a later date.
In celebration of 2024 Arbor Day on October 26th, 2024, Fairfax City Environmental Sustainability Committee is planning a poetry contest. The focus of the poetry contest is "Protect the Environment Around You". Focus of poetry can be about nature, the importance of trees, climate change, human impact on nature, global warming, decline in various species, or anything else related to environmental awareness and stewardship.
This poetry contest is open to all students of Daniel's Run ES, Providence ES, Johnson MS, and Fairfax HS.
One poetry winner from each city school will receive the award of $50. The winner will also be invited to read their poetry at the Fairfax City Arbor Day Celebration on October 26th, 2024, at Van Dyck Park. (Details will be shared later)
Link to Google form for submissions: Submission Google Form
Poetry Due Date: October 7th, 2024
Eligible 8th grade students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to join us on September 17, 2024, at 9:50am in the KJMS auditorium for a presentation by the TJHSST admissions staff. Families are also welcome and should enter the building through door 11 if they chose to attend.
For information on your 8th grade student’s eligibility status, please visit the TJHSST admissions website at www.fcps.edu/tjadmissions. On this website, you are encouraged to watch the 30-minute video with detailed information.
For eligible 8th grade students that are interested in applying for admission, applications become available on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 4:00pm. Last day to begin an application is Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 4:00pm.
There is also detailed information to read on the TJ Freshman admissions page, including the eligibility requirements to apply to TJ, here: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-admissions/tjhsst-freshman
If you have any questions, please contact Tyisha Williamson at tswilliamson@fcps.edu or Jessica Galuten at jpgaluten@fcps.edu.
 What is SibTeen?
SibTeen is a community-building group for Middle School siblings of children with disabilities. We have fun activities, both recreational and art-based, as well as discussion activities. It’s a unique opportunity for students to share about their lives and support each other while normalizing their life experiences. SibTeen is a place where participants will feel validated and understood and can build upon their community of support. And…. there will be food!
Please click on the flyers below for more information regarding this program.
Sib Teen Flyer
SY24-25 Sibshop Flyer
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit our website for information on when to keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.
Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
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Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
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Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
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Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
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Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
The Office of Food and Nutrition Services' updates to lunch menus align with FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal #2 - Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. The new menu options reflect the many voices and cultures represented around every FCPS lunch table!
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
As part of the second goal, we want each and every student to feel like they belong and have the support they need to thrive. See how Goal 2 is being put into practice.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Caregiver Checklist
- New Food Options at FCPS
- Early Release Mondays at Elementary Schools
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
- Attendance Awareness Month
- Constitution Day
- Voter Registration Day
- Blue Star Welcome Week
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Family Resource Center
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.
If you need to contact one of our parent liaisons, Ana Maxey (Mon.- 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
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.
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FCPS Cares
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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Stay in Touch with Us
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
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