The Liberty Ledger: March 19, 2025

Liberty Middle School. Together We Roar

The Liberty Ledger

Providing students and parents with the important updates and report of events happening at LMS.


Important Dates:

  • Monday, March 17-21- Wellness Week
  • Wednesday, March 19 - IRW Testing (8th-Grade)
  • Monday, March 31- School Closed (Holiday)
  • Tuesday, April 1- School Closed (Teacher Work Day)

logo

Liberty Middle School PTA

 

Events Coming Up:

Liberty vs Rachel Carson Basketball Game: April 25th @ Liberty Middle School

We need you to make this event a success! Please consider volunteering at one of our stand (ticket booth, concessions, etc. ) or making a snack donation! Sign up below:

bball

 

Teacher Appreciation Week- Donation Request Due May 2, 2025.

Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a memorable celebration for our wonderful teachers! We kindly ask for your donation of any gift card such as Door Dash, Panera Bread, Taco Bamba, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Costco, Visa, etc.

Please drop of your gift card at the front office, attention PTA and label it: PTA Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you for your generosity!

pta

 

Eighth Grade Celebration- June 10th

We'll soon be reaching out for donations and volunteers to help make this event a success!

 

The PTA Board is Recruiting for 2025-2026

The LMS PTA is looking to fill a couple of positions for the next school year:

  • VP of Ways and Means (Coordinates all fundraising events, etc.)
  • Treasurer (Manages the financial activities for the PTA, etc.)

If you would like to learn more about those positions, please contact the PTA president at: president@libertymspta.org.

boatd

 

The PTA is Raising Funds to Help Clear Student Debt

If you would like to contribute toward helping clear up some of our students debt accounts (lunch, instrument rentals, field trips, etc.) please do so by donating here: https://libertylions.givebacks.com/store/items/1042098

pt

 

Not a PTA Member Yet?

Click to join the PTA today

 

Stay Connected and Follow us on Social Media:

instfb

 

PTA Sponsors:

dsh

After-School Program

asp

Protect After-School Programs:

 Dear Parents,

We are writing to you today with serious concerns about a proposed budget reduction for FY2026 that could eliminate funding for the Middle School After-School (MSAS) program in all 27 Fairfax County middle schools, as well as all middle school Value In Prevention (VIP) summer camp programs. These vital programs provide a safe, supervised learning environment for our children after the school day ends as well as for five weeks every summer. Their elimination would have a significant negative impact on our community.

The MSAS program, funded by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and administered by FCPS, offers invaluable support to students. Running five days a week, with late bus transportation provided four days a week, MSAS provides a structured and enriching alternative to unsupervised time. Studies consistently demonstrate that students who participate in after-school programs like the MSAS experience numerous benefits, including:

  • Improved Academic Performance: After-school programs include academic support and enrichment opportunities, leading to better grades and test scores.
  • Increased School Attendance: Students involved in after-school activities are more likely to attend school regularly.
  • Improved Behavior: Structured after-school programs contribute to improved behavior and fewer disciplinary issues.

For many families, MSAS is a crucial resource that allows parents to work knowing their children are in a safe and productive environment. Eliminating MSAS would leave a significant gap in care and supervision and opportunities for many middle school students. All activities that happen after the school day dismissal bell are encompassed in the current after school program. Intramural Sports, Performing Arts rehearsals, after school tutoring and homework help, teacher office hours, and many enrichment activities like College Career & Exploration, Science Olympiad, TSA, Mathcounts, NJHS, and Model UN would all go away.

We understand the need for budget considerations, but cutting such beneficial programs would have far-reaching consequences for our children and our community. We urge you to take action to protect these vital resources immediately. 

Please contact your Fairfax County Supervisor and School Board members immediately to express your support for the MSAS program. Let them know how important this program is to your family and the positive impact it has on your child's academic, social, and emotional well-being.

You can find contact information for your representatives on the Fairfax County website: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/myneighborhood/

Time is of the essence. Decisions about the FY2026 budget are being made NOW. Your voice matters. Please act today to ensure that our middle school students continue to have access to the valuable support and opportunities provided by the MSAS program.

Public participation is encouraged by the Board of Supervisors, and residents are invited to provide input through public hearings and community discussions before the final budget adoption in May.  Each Magisterial District has scheduled public hearings and County-wide after-school Budget public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday, April 22-24, with final budget adoption scheduled for May 13.

BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS

INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICTS IN YOUR LETTER

Providence Budget Town Halls

March 10, 7 p.m. - Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Facebook Live Stream

March 24, 6 p.m. - Spanish Budget Roundtable (Channel 16)

Sully Budget Town Hall

March 10, 7 p.m. - Rocky Run Lecture Hall

Braddock Budget Town Hall

March 11, 7 p.m. - Channel 16 

Hunter Mill Budget Town Halls

March 12, 7 p.m. - North County Government Center, Community Room, Facebook Live Stream

March 19, 7 p.m. - Teams meeting, recording available on YouTube

Springfield Budget Town Hall

March 25, 7 p.m. - Channel 16

Mason District Budget Town Hall

March 26, 6 p.m. - Channel 16

Dranesville District Budget Meetings

March 28, 6 p.m. - McLean Community Center

April 2, 7 p.m. - Herndon High School

Franconia District Budget Town Hall

April 1, 7 p.m. - Channel 16

asp 2

MS Sports-Track and Field

Wednesday, February 26th – Track and Field Interest Meeting

A Block (2:25 - 3:30PM), Cafeteria 

Middle School Track and Field will start Wednesday, April 2nd!  Click on The Family-Student Registration Flow Chart link to learn the next steps to participate.

For more information about Middle School Sports and its requirements, access the FCPS Link listed here: Middle School Athletics

Required for all students is the After-School Registration Form.   Please complete this if you haven’t already. This includes student participating in Middle School Sports

For more information about Cross Country contact:


Integrated Reading & Writing Test (IRW)

Integrated Reading & Writing Test (IRW): All 8th grade students will be taking the IRW on Wednesday, March 19th. Liberty will be operating on an adjusted bell schedule to accommodate testing. Seventh graders will have an extended 1st period. 


ram

Ramadan Cafe 

As we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances throughout the year, we are pleased to provide accommodations, including spaces for lunch, prayer/meditation, and silent reflection during Ramadan .

We have reserved a supervised calming space at Liberty during all lunches for students who are in observance of Ramadam. If your student would like to use this space, please have them complete the linked Google Form. This form will also be available on your students Schoology account beginning February 27th or through their Unity Time teacher.

Please note that students must complete the Google Form to access this space.

Thank you for your continued support.


VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders 

As required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations: 

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
  • Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
  • A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 
  • After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.

Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements. 


CVHS Wildcat Track and Field

Centreville Wildcat Track and Field team is having an Invitational on Saturday, April 5th, 2025. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4BAFAF2AA4F94-55545388-wildcat#/

CV

Liberty Library Amazon Wishlist:

Please consider helping the Liberty Library by purchasing off our Amazon wish list. Students love to use these items in the library makerspace and during lunches. Additionally, if you have MagnaTiles or PicassoTiles that your family is no longer using, I would love them for the library!

Click here for Amazon Wishlist!


Materials Review Committee

We are seeking parent volunteers to serve on our Materials Review Committee. Committee members will read or watch the texts that teachers submit for approval to ensure that it is age appropriate for students. We will also meet monthly to discuss the texts prior to completing the required forms.

 

Please reach out to Maggie Wickham at mpwickham@fcps.edu if interested in serving on the committee this year.


Student Services Team:

c

(From left to right: Shirley Alvarez-Leon, Liberty Counselor, Rachel Lee, Liberty Counselor, Valerie Peters, Director of Student Services, Raychal Hart, Lead Liberty Counselor, Scott Steele, Liberty Counselor.)


Free and Reduced-Price Meals: 

Learn more about the criteria and process to apply for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch.

If you have children eligible for the federal Free and Reduced-Price Meals program, they may also be eligible to participate in other Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) fee-based programs without paying a fee or by paying a reduced fee (e.g fees associated with elective classes).

To learn more and apply online click here : https://www.fcps.edu/frm

The free and reduced-price meals application also includes a section where you provide consent to share information allowing FCPS staff (School Principal, school counselors and other FCPS program staff) to share information about your children's meal eligibility status.

Information received by FCPS staff will only be used for the purposes described in the application.


Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions regarding resources like food and family assistance, please contact Sarah Hughes, School Social Worker at shughes@fcps.edu or visit our Social Worker Page


Helpful Resources


admin2

LMS Administrative Team

Principal: Adam Erbrecht  |  AWErbrecht@fcps.edu

Assistant Principal: Gregory Hall |  GHall3@fcps.edu 

Assistant Principal: Jennifer Filsinger | JLFilsinger@fcps.edu

Assistant Principal: Sarah Letina |  SCLetina@fcps.edu

Director of Student Services: Valerie Peters |  VCPeters@fcps.edu