Key MS - News You Choose - 12/09/24

Key Middle School Families


Important Dates:

  • December 20: Last Day of School Before Winter Break
  • December 23 - January 3: No School (Winter Break)
  • January 16: Curriculum Night and Electives Fair
  • December:
    • December 10 - Human Rights Day

    • Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Let's all be kind to one another.


Curriculum 2025

SCA Food Drive

Key MS Food Drive

December 9-12

Cans will be collected first thing each morning. A staff member will bring a cart around in the gym, library and at breakfast so kids don’t have to carry the cans with them throughout the day.

Students that donate will be eligible to win a prize.


Middle School Start Time Study

⏰ Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times

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.

Actualización de Cambios Potenciales a los Horarios de Comienzo de las Escuelas IntermediasEn la sesión de trabajo de la Junta Escolar del martes, personal de Prismatic Services, Inc. presentó opciones para ajustar las horas de comienzo en las escuelas intermedias de FCPS. Como recordatorio, Prismatic está encargado de desarrollar un plan de acción para ayudar a la Junta Escolar a alcanzar su meta de empezar las escuelas intermedias a las 8 a.m. o después.La presentación incluye cinco opciones para ajustar las horas de comienzo de las escuelas intermedias basado en el análisis del consultor de los foros de la comunidad, encuestas, y entrevistas con el personal, padres, asociaciones, y otros grupos. El Consejo Escolar proporcionará los próximos pasos al superintendente.Vea un video de la sesión de trabajo. Visite la página web sobre el Horario de Inicio de las Escuelas Intermedias para obtener más información sobre el proyecto.


Federal Impact Aid Survey

Federal Impact Aid Survey 

The Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available in electronic format via ParentVUE. All families should complete the survey whether you are military affiliated or not.

Please complete this survey online in ParentVUE. Click HERE to log into ParentVue to complete the survey or to create and set up a ParentVUE account. Please remember, only the enrolling parent may complete and submit the survey. Please complete the online survey by December 16, 2024.

If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page, and see a green check next to each of their names.


Order Your School Pictures

 

Order school pictures at shop.jostenspix.com. Be sure to include the Key MS event code FE172724.


Pix

Yearbook

Yearbook Purchase Info

FRIDAY

Cash or Check Dates for purchasing yearbooks: 

Bring $25 cash or a $25 check made out to Key Middle School to the cafeteria at your lunch time on these dates: 

November 22

December 13 / January 10 / February 7th

Purchases can be made online at any time.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1119370/Key-Middle-School/2024-Yearbook/20230812051508403140/CATALOG_SHOP/ 


Yearbook 24-25

TJHSST

TJ Information

The TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be hosting their 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025 and welcome 5th-8th grade students to participate. Admission to the science fair is completely free. 

Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. We help students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

Feel free to check out our website at tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or email us at tjhsstsciencefair@gmail.com

Sincerely,

TJ Investigative Science Outreach


Cell Phone Feedback Opportunity

Student Feedback Opportunity for FCPS Cell Phone Policy and SR&R

FCPS is working with K12 Insight to host a community forum for families, staff members, and students to provide feedback on the school division’s cell phone policies and practices, and the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document. FCPS is looking for more student participants (grades 3-12) to help ensure diverse perspectives from our community.

The community forum will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center. If your student is interested in providing feedback, please visit the Cell Phone Policy Forum registration page to learn more. Families must register their child by Monday, November 25.


Boundary

Boundary Review

📍 Boundary Review Community 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.

Thursday, December 12, 6:45-8:15 p.m., at Annandale High School Cafeteria.

Please visit FCPS’ website for more meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

📍 Reuniones Comunitarias sobre la Revisión de Límites Empiezan Este MesComo recordatorio, FCPS ha comenzado el proceso de revisar los límites escolares en toda la división. Este importante trabajo ayudará al distrito a apoyar mejor a nuestra creciente población estudiantil, las capacidades cambiantes de las escuelas, y la evolución de las necesidades de la comunidad. La opinión de la comunidad es vital para este proceso. Con eso en mente, FCPS, en asociación con la Consultoría Thru, será el anfitrión de una serie de reuniones de la comunidad en cada una de nuestras seis regiones. Animamos a los participantes a compartir sus pensamientos, hacer preguntas y aprender más sobre la revisión de límites.

Por favor visite el sitio web de FCPS para las fechas de las reuniones, lugares, y otra información. Suscríbase a nuestro boletín de noticias de la Revisión de Límites Escolares para actualizaciones.


Immunizations

Middle and High School Clinics

FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.

Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.


Title I Parent Advisory Committee

Patriot Community-

This is a friendly reminder that we need a Title I Parent Advisory Committee representative for your school ASAP. Please email Debbie Vel (dsvel@fcps.edu) if you are interested in supporting Key MS in this capacity.

The representative should be a parent who is able to attend each meeting and relay important information back to the school. This is also a great opportunity to advocate for any resources our school may need. Meetings will be held in a hybrid format, so our representative can attend either virtually or in person once a month.

You may also complete this google form if you would like to sign up.

Meeting dates are listed below, and they will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

 
 
  • February 11, 2025
  • March 18, 2025
  • April 22, 2025
  • May 20, 2025

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Debbie Vel at dsvel@fcps.edu.

Thank you, Key MS Admin Team


📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering 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, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors

 


SIS ParentVUE

Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE

Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.

Update Contact Information

Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from our school and FCPS by adding your cell phone number and email to SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon. 

Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to our front office

Complete Permission Forms

Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. You can easily opt your child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. You may also change how your student’s information is managed.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool

Submit Absences

Parents/caregivers can submit up to two full-day absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Absences longer than two days, partial day absences, and changes of transportation should still be reported to our front office. 

Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?Contact our front office for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage


Parent Digital Consent System

The Parent Digital Consent System (PDC) is live with major consent forms that families need to sign each year.

Families can log in to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC) using their ParentVUE credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child.

Forms available in the PDC starting in the 2024-2025 school year include:

  • School Counseling Opt-Out
  • Digital Resources Consent
  • SEL Screener Opt-Out
  • Consent for Release of Student Records in Support of Postsecondary Applications
  • Denial of Access to Military Recruiters 
  • Family Life Education Opt-Out
  • SOL Retest Permission
  • Hazel Health
  • BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Opt-Out
  • SOS Screener Opt-Out
  • Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
  • Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public

As FCPS updates the PDC, more district-wide forms will be added.


AFTD

Away for the Day Update

Students will be required to store all electronics in their locker during the school day from 7:30am - 2:15pm.

Students will not be allowed to have electronic devices with them during the school day. 

Devices will be confiscated and held for parent pick-up for students who do not comply with the Away for the Day procedure. Unclaimed devices will be returned to students on the last day of each week during dismissal at 2:15pm.  


Bus

Drivers Wanted

Fairfax County Public Schools Needs School Bus Drivers to Meet Our Growing Requirements.

School Bus Drivers earn $25.04/hour plus excellent benefits.

$2,000 signing bonus!

For more information call 571-423-3023


Key MS Administrative Team

Principal: Drew Campbell  |  amcampbell1@fcps.edu

Assistant Principal: Shawn D. Brown |  sdbrown@fcps.edu

Assistant Principal: Shari Peters |  sapeters@fcps.edu

Director of Student Services: Jane Flegal |  jcflegal@fcps.edu