Week of November 11


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In This Issue


Thank You Veterans!

Veterans Day

Monday, November 11, is a holiday. Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service. Learn more about the history of Veterans Day at va.gov.


Last Week's News

Talent Show Auditions

Talent Show Flyer

Hello Hawks! It’s that time of year to show off your Talents! This year our Talent Show will be on Thursday, November 21th at 7:00PM. Talent show acts may be solo, duet, or small groups and can include: singing, dancing, monologues, scenes, playing an instrument, acrobatics/gymnastics, hula hooping, stand-up comedy, ventriloquists, magicians, martial arts, and more!  Any HMS student can sign up for an audition slot.

Complete the Google form below to sign up for a Talent Show audition slot after school on Wednesday, November 13. Read the form carefully for more detailed information. Audition forms are due by Monday, November 11 at 5PM

Click here to sign-up

Save the Dates:

  • Auditions: Wednesday, November 13 from 2:30-4:45PM in the Auditorium. Student must meet in Cafeteria first.
  • Dress Rehearsals: Wednesday, November 20 from 2:30-4:45PM. ALL ACTS MUST ATTEND!
  • Community Performance: Thursday, November 21 at 7:00PM. ALL ACTS MUST ATTEND!

Picture Day Retakes

Picture Retakes

Did your student miss picture day? No problem! Picture day retakes will be on Thursday, November 14th, during lunches. This is the last chance to get their photo taken for the yearbook, so make sure they’re ready to smile!

If your student already had their photo taken and you'd like to view or order prints, please visit https://shop.jostenspix.com/login.

Information:

  • Herndon Middle School
  • Event Code: FE215824
  • Parents will need their students ID number.

Questions? Please email Mrs. Cofie Arrington at jlcofiearrin@fcps.edu.


Applications Close November 15 for TJHSST

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 (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.


Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service

Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service will be offered for FCPS secondary students on Saturday, November 16th, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Edison High School. Dr. José Luis Zelaya, keynote speaker at the Multilingual Learners’ Summit this past summer, will be returning as the featured guest for this student workshop. Dr. Zelaya will engage and empower students with the strengths of multilingualism, as students explore leadership skills to plan for future success. Reflective service learning practices allow students to impact their communities through advocacy, engagement, and empowerment. All FCPS secondary students who attend will earn service learning credit for participating. Students planning to attend should register and bring their FCPS laptop to the event. Light refreshments and family resources will be available for parents/caregivers during the student workshop.


Herndon Turkey Trot 5K Race

Turkey Trot 5K Race

Herndon Parks & Recreation Department invites you to join their annual Turkey Trot 5K on Saturday, November 23th at 4:00PM! This exciting event is a fantastic way for families, friends, and teams to come together, get moving, and celebrate the holiday season with our community!

Special Team Promotion! For groups of 15 or more, Herndon Parks & Recreation is offering one free adult registration! This is a great opportunity for students and parents to participate as a team and enjoy some friendly competition or camaraderie.

Visit Turkey Trot 5K Race 2024 for more information!


This Week's News

Parent Townhall: Partnering for Student Success

Join us for an important townhall session for parents/caregivers of students needing academic support. Together, we’ll explore strategies to support student success and help them thrive academically.

When: November 14th (6 pm - 7 pm)

Where: Herndon Middle School Cafeteria (please enter through door 6)

Your participation and input is crucial for your student’s future. We look forward
to seeing you there! 


7th Grade Curriculum Night

Curriculum Night

Parents/Caregivers, we are excited to invite you to our 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, December 4th from 5:30-7:30PM, where we will share an overview of the learning opportunities your student will experience this year. This is a great chance to meet teachers, ask questions, and gain insight into our classroom activities and goals.

See you there!


Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.


Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month

Boundary

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.


IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair

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 from 9-12:30PM 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.


Resources

Tutoring Resources for Families

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.


Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students

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.


Herndon MS Parent Coffee Series

Herndon Middle School Parents/Guardians, we invite you to join us for our upcoming Student Services Parent Coffees for the 2024-2025 school year. These conversations will take place from 9:30 to 10:15AM in the cafeteria. We look forward to seeing you there!

  • Thursday, November 14th: Parent Vue & Student Support
  • Thursday, January 16th: Academic Advising & Advanced Academics
  • Thursday, February 13th: WIDA Overview
  • Thursday, March 13th: Student Support
  • Thursday, April 10th: SOL Overview
  • Thursday, May 15th: Advisory Council

If you have questions about an upcoming Parent Coffee topic, please contact your student's school counselor or Mrs. Simpkins Church, Director of Student Services, at sasimpkinsch@fcps.edu.


Need to Register for ParentVUE?

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).


Calendar

Calendar

November

11-15 | National School Psychology Week

13 | Talent Show Auditions

14 | Picture Retakes

14 | Parent Coffee 9:30-10:15AM

19 | Chorus Fall Concert 7:00PM

20 | Talent Show Rehearsal

21 | Talent Show

23 | Turkey Trot 5K

27-29 | Thanksgiving Break


NASAP Poster

National School Psychology Week

This week we celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive.

Here at Herndon Middle School we want to express out deep gratitude for all the support and care Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Lancaster provide to our students. Their dedication, patience, and expertise make such a positive difference in their lives and we appreciate them more than words can express. Thank you for everything you do for our students and families!

If you'd like to learn more, please visit the National Association of School Psychologists


Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Break

Schools and offices will be closed from November 27-29. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Classes will resume on Monday, December 2. Learn more about the first Thanksgiving.


Helpful Links


FCPS Cares

FCPS Cares

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.