Luther Jackson February 14, 2025

Feb

Our Table of Contents:


Upcoming Events :

February 17, 2025- Student/Staff Holiday  (President's Day and Washington's Birthday)

March 28, 2025- End of Third Quarter

March 31, 2025- Student & Teacher Holiday (Eid al Fitr)

April 1, 2025- Student Holiday

April 14-18, 2025 Holidays (Spring Break)


Admin Team Information:

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Checking Students Out From School:

Families, remember that when coming to the school to pick up your student, an official photo ID must be presented to the Main Office staff. Please understand that this is for security purposes. Driver’s licenses, passports, and military IDs are appropriate examples of official IDs.


Attendance Matters:

Regular school attendance is crucial for student success, and we are committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to learn and thrive. Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance.  When students reach six (6) or more days absent from school they will be invited to attend our Attendance Recovery Program.  These are after-school sessions to make up for missed instructional time. This will help them stay on track with their coursework and avoid falling behind.  Student may also choose for other After-School Academic offerings, such as staying with a teacher, to make up for missed instructional time. 

Benefits of Attending After-School Sessions:

  • Catch up on missed classwork and assignments
  • Receive personalized assistance from teachers
  • Improve academic performance and understanding

From Student Services:

Do you have a rising 7th grader? We’re excited to welcome your child to Luther Jackson Middle School! As we prepare for this transition, course selection presentations will be available on our website, providing an overview of middle school courses and electives.

Students will complete a Google Form to select their courses, which can be done at home before LJMS counselor visits. This form can only be accessed using an FCPS email, so please complete it with your student. Elementary schools will communicate any deadlines prior to LJMS counselors meeting with students.

Visit our website for resources and updates, and feel free to reach out with any questions—we’re here to support a smooth transition!

Student Experience Survey at LJMS

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 6-12, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

If you would like to opt your student out of this survey, please email Ms. English at SREnglish@fcps.edu by 2 PM on Friday, February 21.

Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. 

Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28 Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day. Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student. To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.


From the County:

Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!

Ombuds staff engage with FCPS employees, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.  

Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements between parents/caregivers and schools. They do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.

Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question.


After-School on Fridays?

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Magnus Chess Academy

February 21 -May 16 (10 weeks, skipping March 28, April 11&18 for Spring Break)

Magnus Chess Academy has been teaching chess in Fairfax County since 2008. Over that time period we've taught more than 30,000 students in after school clubs, before school clubs, and camps. They include kids who've won seventeen state championships and four national championships, but most of our students are beginners looking to learn a fun new game. That's how all the champions start out too!

Future-Preneurs: A Young Entrepreneurs Workshop

February 21 -May 16 (10 weeks, skipping March 28, April 11&18 for Spring Break)

Step into the shoes of a business owner and experience the excitement of running your own company!  From brainstorming product ideas to crafting marketing strategies, you'll learn what it takes to turn your vision into a thriving business.  

Each activity has room for a max of 20 students, so sign up today!

FRIDAY ACTIVITY REGISTRATION


Summer Programs for LJMS Students

See below for information about two different summer program opportunities available for rising 7th and 8th graders here at Luther Jackson:

HTSMS flyerVIP Camp Poe save the date

Registration opens March 11!


District Choir Event:

This past weekend, our talented choir students participated in the District Choir event, and we couldn’t be more proud of them! Their hard work, dedication, and passion for music were on full display as they delivered outstanding performances and represented Luther Jackson with excellence.

A huge thank you to our school community for supporting our students in the arts—your encouragement helps make these opportunities possible.

Congratulations to all who participated!

Choir

Good things to know:

When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school.  This can be done by calling the attendance phone line at 703-204-8282. 

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when to keep your child at home.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that support can be provided if needed. Also, keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.

Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow! 

📋 Permission Forms

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. They can also change how student information is managed. Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. See how to use the tool


How to Report Incidents of Discrimination & Harassment:

The "Discrimination and Harassment: Let's Talk" platform is an essential tool that allows anyone within our school community to report incidents of discrimination, harassment, or other concerning behaviors confidentially. More information about the platform, including how to access and use it, can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/submit-discrimination-and-harassment-report.


Counselors:

Counselors are assigned by alphabet and your first point of contact for any question or concerns you might have.

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PTA Corner:

Nomination Committee and Audit Committee: We are actively seeking volunteers for the nomination and audit committees. As a nomination committee member, you help find and nominate PTA officers for the next school year. You can also nominate yourself for any of the open positions. We are also seeking volunteers to conduct an internal audit of PTA financial accounts. If interested, please email president@jacksonmspta.org.

PTA website: Visit our website to become a PTA member, donate online, or to buy spirit wear at https://jacksonmspta.org/


From our Clinic:

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From Tech Support:

Parents can complete the Lightspeed Parent Report Request. This request provides parents with Weekly Parent Reports delivered by Lightspeed directly to an authorized parent email over the weekend. These reports summarize the websites visited by the student while using an FCPS device.

At the bottom of the weekly report, parents can register for the Parent Relay Portal, which provides detailed browsing information. The sign-up is embedded within the Lightspeed report and does not require any further submission to IT or IT intervention. The extended access also gives parents the ability to pause internet access on their child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime. However, parents cannot pause the internet during the school day.


Digital Resource Consent Needed

digital citizen

Families,

We Need Your Consent for Select Digital Resources

At Jackson Middle School, our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. Please find the link to the digital form, where you can give your consent, here: https://digitalconsent.fcps.edu/ispb/r/is01/pdcp/login?session=17253181329964.  You can find further direction here:  a list of the resources that require parental consent here: https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent.  

Need technical support?    Call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). This will be answered by staff members from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.


ChromeBook Update:

If a student returns a Chromebook damaged, they will receive a warning, and if there is a second instance of the same damage, they will have to pay for the repair cost.  If a student returns a Chromebook damaged and the case is removed, they will have to pay for the repair cost in the first instance.  Repair costs are listed below.

HP Fortis Parts

Cost

Chromebook replacement

$444

Charger

$10

System Board

$315

Screen

$90

Keyboard and palm rest

$48

Touchpad

$21

Heatsink

$30

Daughterboard

$22

Base enclosure

$20

Bezel

$18

Speaker

$16