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In this issue:
Good afternoon, KJMS Families,
We held a virtual ”Parent Academy” meeting for families a couple weeks ago on the topic of Schoology and SIS ParentVue. You can access the resources and the video of the session on ourParent Academy Webpage. Congratulations to our chorus students for an outstanding performance last week at the Fairfax Pyramid Chorus Concert. It was great to hear their talented voices and see some future Eagles! Sixteen of our Orchestra students have earned spots in the District XI Middle School Honors Orchestra, congratulations!
FCPS has created a literacy resource page for families, you can access the information Literacy Resource Webpage. This page has resources to help you encourage literacy at home. It also has info to help you partner with school staff in supporting your student's literacy progress in reading and writing.
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A reminder school is closed on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day. Thank you to all our staff, family members, and community members who have or are currently serving in the U.S. Military. |
Enjoy the weekend,
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
Veterans Day is a special day dedicated to acknowledging and expressing our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their sacrifices and dedication ensure our freedom and safety.
Veterans Day is observed on November 11th each year to honor and celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans. The origins of Veterans Day date back to the end of World War I. The fighting ceased when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. This day was originally known as Armistice Day.
In 1954, after both World War II and the Korean War, Congress, at the urging of the veterans’ service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." Thus, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
If you have served, or if anyone in your family has served in any of the Military Branches, we would like to celebrate you during the month of November. Please send us a picture, listing name, family relation (i.e., mother of…, father of …), and Branch of Service. We will display those pictures in our Purple Star designated area in the Eagles Landing location.
Please submit your pictures to Maria Marris @ msmarris@fcps.edu , Andrea Holmes @ aholmes@fcps.edu , or drop them off at the main office.
Thank you,
Purple Star Committee at KJMS
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Since we have had a few holidays at the start of November, we are going to extend the nominations to COB Wednesday, November 13th. Please consider nominating a staff member in the categories below.
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a KJMS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google form links below. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category).
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The Google form has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and eligibility requirements.
Outstanding Teacher
Outstanding New Teacher
Outstanding Professional Employee
Outstanding Operational Employee
Outstanding Leader
If you have any questions, please contact Friday Oeur via email at FLOeur@fcps.edu.
Thank you.
KJMS celebrating diversity through ESOL Potluck last night where students and families brought food from their countries to share and connect with other families from across the globe. This event brought families together and build connections outside of KJMS. It was also an opportunity for families to meet with their child’s teacher in an informal setting. For many families, this was the first opportunity to visit their child’s middle school. Thank you to all the families that attended the event with delicious food from their country.
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Our lost and found has grown since the start of the school year. Please remind your students to check the lost and found for their water bottles, clothing and lunch boxes. Any items NOT claimed by November 21 will be donated to a local charity. Any questions please contact the main office. Thank you.
Currently, KJMS has 112 students who are considered chronically absent. That is 9.6% of the population of the school. Students who have 18 missed days for the entire year are considered chronically absent and are more likely to show signs of learning loss and social hardships with their peer groups.
We understand that there are circumstances why your child might need to stay home. Please know that if a child has a fever, has vomited or has had diarrhea in the last 24 hours, or is showing signs of serious illness that needs to be seen by a medical professional, they need to stay home until they are symptom free for 24 hours. All other medical issues like a stomachache, headache, or seasonal allergies are not a reason to keep your child home. We have adults in the building that can assist your child with these issues and get them back to class for learning.
We want to emphasize the importance of regular school attendance for your child's academic success and future prospects. Chronic absenteeism, even for seemingly small reasons, can have a significant negative impact on a student's education.
Did you know:
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Missed days add up: Even a few days of missed school per month can lead to significant learning gaps.
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Habitual tardiness is harmful: Arriving late disrupts the learning environment and can make it difficult for students to stay focused.
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Absenteeism affects grades: Students who miss school frequently are more likely to have lower grades and struggle with coursework.
Let's work together to ensure your child is in class every day. Please help them develop a consistent routine that allows for plenty of time to rest, get ready, and arrive at school on time. Getting a decent night’s sleep, is critical for our students. You can help them by turning off electronics at least an hour before bedtime. If your child is facing challenges that are preventing them from attending school regularly, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor.
FCPS is asking all families to complete a Federal Impact Aid Survey as soon as possible. The form is available in ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Hear from FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. David Stewart about why this federal program is so important for our schools.
Please complete this form for each school-aged child in your household. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. The funds support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
KJMS Health Room is having a Clothes Drive
November 6 - December 6, 2024
What is needed the most are new and unopened packages of socks and undergarments.
For boys & girls ages 12-14 years old
***Donation Box will be outside of room 001A (HEALTH ROOM- NEAR MAIN OFFICE)
Thank you in advance for your time and donation.
Donations will go to families of KJMS😊
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Hunger is an unwelcome guest this holiday season.
For many families in our school community struggling financially, providing daily meals is difficult and a special holiday meal can become a source of worry and stress. Help a local family know the joy of gathering together for a holiday meal. We’re partnering with Food For Neighbors to provide $50 grocery store gift cards to our most vulnerable families. Visit the Food For Neighbors’ website to learn how you can help. Thank you for your generosity.
Learn more here: www.foodforneighbors.org/home/holiday-meals/
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The festival promises to be a memorable evening with activities that everyone can enjoy, including a bonfire, s’mores, club booths, and the much-anticipated high school regional football game.
Date: November 15th, 2024
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Location: Fairfax High School Field house at door 21
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This interactive orientation seminar provides information about FCPS, the links between family engagement and student achievement, school staff you should know, and programs and technology considerations for families. The orientation also includes a helpful discussion for families who are new to the United States.
Sessions in English will be held online on Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10, at 6 p.m.; and Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m. Register in advance.
Visit the Family Academy catalog page for dates this orientation will be offered in Korean and Spanish.
Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Applications must be started by 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 13, and submitted by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m.
Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence, reminds us of our commitment to supporting each and every student and helping them meet or exceed high academic standards.
Family and School Partnerships offers a course for Spanish-speaking immigrant families who are going through the reunification process. It is designed for parents/caregivers and children who have lived apart for at least one year and were recently reunited.
The six-hour Zoom course takes place over three consecutive weeks. Upcoming sessions include:
- Tuesdays, November 12, 19, and 26; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Mondays, December 2, 9, and 16; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
We encourage families to attend every session to fully benefit from the program. Register for Families Unite and learn more about FCPS’ Immigrant Family Reunification Program.
Students with sensory disabilities require specialized services and support to access instruction that is typically presented visually and auditorily (by means of hearing). FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Visit the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website for Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
- Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
Meetings Start This Month
As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Our Voices, Our Future: A Multilingual Learners Day of Service is available to FCPS high school students as an opportunity to explore multilingualism as a strength in developing leadership and advocacy skills. The event will be held Saturday, November 16, 9-11:30 a.m., at Edison High School. José Luis Zelaya, who spoke at last year's Multilingual Learners Summit, will be a special guest.
High school students are invited to network with their peers and staff, and learn how their interests and strengths can lead to future success. College and career readiness resources will be available. Students should register in advance and bring their FCPS laptops to the workshop.
Learn more about the event and watch videos from previous multilingual learner events.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Fall Testing Results
- Boundary Review Community Meetings
- Resources for Families
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
- National Family Engagement Month:
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November is National Family Engagement Month! This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Over 40 years of research have shown that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children's education. Family engagement is a shared responsibility between home, school, and the community. The importance of family engagement will be highlighted during November as we celebrate and strengthen family-school partnerships.
- Native American Heritage Month:
- Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
- National School Psychology Week - 11/11-11/15
Click to edit thIf 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
Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center (PRC) offers free workshops (webinars), consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage to view the descriptions of each webinar listed below.
In November, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:
Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair
This event is for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities who will need continued support after they leave FCPS. Families will learn about supported employment options, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential living options, travel training supports, advocacy, and funding.
The Moving on to Life in the Community resource fair will take place Wednesday, November 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Fairfax High School. Interpretation will be provided using Microsoft Translator on supported devices. Staff will be available to help participants as needed.
✨ Fostering trusting partnerships with families is included in Pillar B of the FCPS Strategic Plan: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships.
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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/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS.
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