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in this issue:
 September 21-29, 2024
Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools (Military Family Resources) is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
Important Upcoming Events
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September 15 - October 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
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September 21 - Saturday - Cross Country Meet
- at Robinson HS - 10:30am-12:30pm
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September 26 - Basketball KJMS vs RR at KJMS 6-8pm
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September 27 - Principal's Coffee - 9:00 AM - 10 AM - KJMS Library
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September 28 - Saturday Cross Country Meet
- at Herndon HS 10:30am-12:30pm
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October 3 - Rosh Hashanah Holiday - School is Closed
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October 4 - Teacher Workday - No School for Students
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October 25 - Fall Pictures Retakes/Make Ups - All Day
Dear KJMS Families,
We will be hosting a “Principal’s Coffee” for families Friday, September 27th at 9:00 a.m. in our library. This will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about KJMS.
We continue to see an increase in students using derogatory language towards other students. Although their intent is often not malicious the students lack an understanding of the harm they may create. Students who use this language meet with an administrator and participate in a lesson to learn about the potential harm caused by use of language. We ask families to continue to engage in conversations with their child about appropriate language at school.
There was a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony this past week honoring NASA’s Hidden Figures . The awards recognized the women who contributed to the space race, including the NASA mathematicians who helped land the first astronauts on the Moon under the agency’s Apollo Program. Our schools’ namesake, Katherine Johnson, was one of the women honored. Read the full story here.
Enjoy the weekend,
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
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Here are some photos from our recent Spanish parent coffee held earlier this week! We had a great time chatting and learning together. |
Each one of us is unique, and every student matters. If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please speak with a trusted adult at school.
Watch this video to see how everyone belongs at school. Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
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The co-authors will be here on Thursday, April 10th during 3rd period to chat with students about their new historical fiction book, The Bletchley Riddle. Students and staff can pre-order a hardcover copy of the book which will be autographed by the authors. The cost is $22 and payment can be made via MySchoolBucks or a check made payable to FCPS. Please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM to pre-order a book.
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 Students at KJMS are also learning about the Hispanic Heritage Month through Teacher Advisory lessons and morning announcement. A great way to learn from and embrace our diversity.
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact Carrie Brown, our school psychologist, our school counselor team, or Maria Marris, our school social worker, to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
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. Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
KJMS has received 70% of these forms from our families. We are almost to 100%. We can do it!!
If you would rather complete this in paper form, please have your student stop by the main office or 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.
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
Students and families joined us on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, for a presentation by the TJHSST Admissions Specialist. Eligible 8th grade students with a strong aptitude and interest in STEM should consider applying to Thomas Jefferson High School. Please see the eligibility requirements below.
- Residency in a participating school division
- Honors Algebra 1 or higher in 8th grade
- Along with Honors Science and One additional Honors course
- 3.5 GPA in core classes (unweighted grades)
Applications will 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.
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.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
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Monday, September 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Newington Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
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Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
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Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
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Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.
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.
Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Goverment's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Accessing Intervention Plans
- Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
- Update Immunizations Today!
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
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Blue Star Welcome Week
- Rosh Hashanah
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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