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in this issue:
Make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram to see pictures and videos from our events!
Countdown to Winter Break Spirit Month
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December 12 - Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 PM - KJMS
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December 23 - January 1, 2025 - Winter Break (No School)
2025
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January 6 - School Resumes - It will be an ODD Day (Blue)
Good afternoon, KJMS Families,
We had many reasons to celebrate at KJMS during this first week of December:
- Congratulations to the 686 students who earned All A’s or A/B’s in the first quarter and received an Honor Roll certificate!
- Congratulations to the 78 students who were honored at our Student of the Quarter ceremony on Wednesday!
- Excellent job by our band and orchestra students who had concerts this past week. Mr. Burts and Mrs. Sengstack have done an excellent job preparing students and the students worked hard in class and at home to sound awesome!
- Congratulations to Ms. Payne, Mr. Barnes, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Perrin for earning our Outstanding Employee Awards (see next section below). They will move on to the Fairfax pyramid level, best of luck!
- We hosted our rising 7th grade students from our feeder elementary schools. It is always great to see their excitement as they begin the transition process to middle school. Thank you to Mrs. Teague and our school counselors for a well organized event.
Have a great weekend,
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
On Tuesday, we announced the following individuals as winners, representing KJMS for the Fairfax County Public Schools Outstanding Employees this year.
KJMS Outstanding Teacher: Erin Perrin
KJMS Outstanding Operational Employee: Kara Payne
KJMS Outstanding Leader : Michele Johnson
KJMS Outstanding New Teacher: Yujin Kim
KJMS Outstanding Professional Employee: Curtiss Barnes
Left to Right: Erin Perrin, Kara Payne, Michele Johnson, Yujin Kim, Curtiss Barnes.
![pic](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/VAEDUFCPS/2024/12/10653222/5876639/yearbook-order-form-2024_crop.png) |
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Although the deadline is next year in April, why not order it now? One less thing to worry about, and you'll be guaranteed a copy. Plus, only a few extras will be ordered, so the earlier you order, the better your chances of getting one.
Hardcover yearbook cost $25
Deadline: April 19, 2025
Yearbook Order Form
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Parents and teachers interested in referring students for the spring level IV screening must submit a level IV referral form to the school’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) by December 15, 2024. Spring 2025 screening is only available to seventh grade students.
For more information pertaining to the Spring 2025 screening process, testing and identification timeline or identification and placement, please contact Jessica Galuten at jpgaluten@fcps.edu
- Winter Break (Student Holiday)
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As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.
Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
- Christmas
- A very Merry Christmas to those in our community who celebrate! Christmas is an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the person who stands at the heart of the Christian tradition. It is celebrated in many unique ways across the U.S. and the world, most commonly by the joyous giving of gifts. Learn more about Christmas.
- Chanukah (falls during winter break)
- Chanukah, an 8-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for 8 days. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Wednesday, December 25.
See the complete school year calendar.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Learn how to help these families and the many resources available to support those who need food assistance on Fairfax County’s website or view the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
📚 Bundle Up With Books Over Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered.
Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
⛄ Get Outdoors for Winter Fun!
The Fairfax County Park Authority has rounded up its seasonal fun into a handy list of events happening across the county.
Learn more about the Winter Wonderland and the Holiday Train at Burke Lake Park, Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, and many more fun events.
At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.
Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
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- In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Family Academy Orientation
- Literacy Resources
- Winter Programs and Activities
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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
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.
Help us keep the KJMS PTA active. Become a member today and vote for the new PTA Board by clicking on the link below:
Join the KJMS PTA Today
![FCPS Cares](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/VAEDUFCPS/2016/05/861488/fcpscares175w_original.jpg) |
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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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