|
Nov. 14 Retake Picture Day-Students & Staff
Nov. 20-22 Fall Play- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Nov. 26-28 Holiday (Thanksgiving) Building is closed
.
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.
On-Time Attendance
We are off to a great start to the school year. Now students are settled in their classes and know the routines. We stress to our teachers bell-to-bell instruction to maximize instructional time and learning. If you drop your student off at school, make sure that they do not have to rush and arrive late to school. Help our students develop the habit of being punctual. Also encourage your student to arrive at each class on time. Arriving late is a classroom interruption and distraction for the teacher and all students.
We will begin to reinforce our school’s tardy policy, which includes tardy sweeps, detention, and parent contact for repeated tardiness. We will also recognize punctuality with fun incentives for our students. Thank you for your support.
Updated Attendance Codes
Attendance Codes have been updated for the 2025-26 school year. These updates will allow schools to better identify the primary reasons for student absences, which will help school teams identify patterns of absenteeism, make informed decisions, and develop effective strategies to improve attendance. Please note which codes qualify as “Excused” and which are “Unexcused.”
Codes no longer used:
- EXC-Excused
- PRE-Prearranged Absence
- UNL-Unexcused Local
Updated Code:
- MED-Illness or Injury Related
Excused Codes:
- COL-College Visit
- FAM-Family Emergency
- FRL-Funeral
- LGL-Legal Obligations
- MAP-Medical Appointment (Prescheduled)
- MIL-Deployment Related
- OEX-Other-Excused
Unexcused Codes:
- NON-Non-School Activity
- OUN-Other- Not Excused
- VAO-Vacation, Outing, or Non-Emergency Family Travel / Visit
Counselor On Leave
As a reminder, Dr. Simmons, our counselor for students with last names Re–Z, is currently on leave. We hope for her return soon. In her absence, please reach out to any of the other counselors or Mr. Zubieta for support.
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Applications for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology: Close on Friday, November 14th
Eighth graders who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2030 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
The application will be available Monday, October 20, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, with a submission deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, November 14. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information, including a schedule of upcoming information sessions at middle schools.
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, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment. Community Resources for Families in Need Through partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources. Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need View the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
November Is National Family Engagement Month
Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that parents and caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers.
The FCPS Family Academy supports the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.
FCPS Family Café Series: Support Your Child’s Growth and Learning The FCPS Family Academy announces the launch of a monthly series called the FCPS Family Café. These fun and helpful sessions are designed to keep families informed and involved in their child’s education. At Family Café, parents are key partners in helping children succeed. Click on a topic below to register to attend.
Introduction to Career Pathways for Students Tuesday, November 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Key Middle School
There will be no after-school program on Friday, November 7.
All other activities will pause this week as sponsors and staff use the time for planning, preparation, and coordination for an even stronger second quarter.
 Life is full of stories — let’s tell ours! Arena Stage invites you to join Voices of Now, a free after-school program at Jackson where students work together to create a show sharing real life, real ideas, and real perspectives.
No experience needed — just come as you are.
You’ll make new friends, try new things, and surprise yourself.
Voices of Now is an autobiographical devised theatre program. Devised theater is when performers collaborate to make the script, choreography, and overall story for performance. Inspiration for a devised play can come from anywhere – in Voices of Now, the inspiration comes from the artists’ stories and lived experiences.
 Come out and support the cast & crew of our fall play, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Tickets are now available online on our LJMS Website and using the QR code located on the poster. Watch Alice as she meets fantastical creatures like the Caterpillar and crazy people like the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts as she travels through the colorful world of Wonderland. Show dates are Nov 20,21st & 22nd. Tickets also available during lunches the week before the show and at the door. See you there!
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.
Chromebook damage, procedures, and replacement costs
Students will receive a warning for the first instance of damage to a Chromebook as long as the case is on and the damage was not intentional. If the case is off or the damage was intentional, then they will be required to pay for the damage on the first offence. When this happens, Mr. Waldren will inform the student that they will be restricted to using a classroom loaner laptop in each class. He will also let the student know that he will email their administrator about the incident. The student's administrator will then meet with the student and contact their parents. If the student is required to pay for the damage, they will receive a replacement Chromebook after they pay for the damage. Pricing for damage and replacement Chromebook costs is listed below.
|
HP Chromebook Parts
|
Cost
|
|
Chromebook replacement
|
$481
|
|
Screen
|
$90
|
|
Charger
|
$30
|
|
Case
|
$34
|
|
Keyboard and palm rest
|
$37
|
|
System Board
|
$190
|
|
Touchpad
|
$22
|
|
Daughterboard
|
$17
|
|
Top Cover
|
$23
|
|
Bottom Cover
|
$17
|
|
Bezel
|
$18
|
|
Speaker
|
$46
|
|
Webcam
|
$25
|
|
WiFi Card
|
$19
|
Lightspeed Parent Portal parent controls
FCPS has enabled new parent controls within the Lightspeed Parent Portal to support families in managing screentime on FCPS devices. Parents can now manage their child's access to YouTube as well as pause web browsing on district-issued devices, during designated "After School Hours" while students are off the FCPS network.
These parental controls are only active Monday-Friday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 AM, and all day on weekends and student holidays when students are off the FCPS network. Parental controls do not interfere with district filtering policies during the instructional day. Parents can register for the Parent Portal using the link provided in their weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
For more information about the Parent Portal, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Join us for a LJMS PTA meeting next Thursday, 11/13 from 7:30 to 8:30 on Zoom! We'll recap the year so far and look ahead to upcoming events!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7883382407?pwd=cLRanGrEhoTrGUKfkrNzOmx3kmHcrP.1&omn=89963765109
Meeting ID: 788 338 2407 Passcode: 112025
Reflections!
Hope your student can join us for the final Reflections workshops of the year next Thursday, 11/13 after school. Check in at the PTA table in the cafeteria and use the time in the workshops to finalize your submission for the contest! Entries for the contest must be submitted online by 11/17!
Thankful for LJMS Families! Help Us Make a Difference!
Show your gratitude for the families of our Luther Jackson community. This month, one way the LJMS food pantry will express gratitude is the giving of a Thanksgiving meal to families that visit our pantry. You can help by sponsoring a meal for $40, using this link: https://app.givebacks.gives/ljmsfoodpantry/Campaign/Details.
 Make plans to have dinner at Guapo's in Merrifield on Tuesday, 11/18 between 5 and 10 PM. 20% of food sales from participating families will be donated to the PTA when you show the event flyer (will be sent to families next week). Thanks for your support!
2025-2026 Reflections Call For Entries
Reflections is a National PTA-sponsored program that encourages students to express themselves through the arts. Students can submit work in the following six categories: Dance Choreography, Music Composition, Literature, Film Production, Visual Arts and Photography. Student submissions are reviewed by independent third-party judges based on artistic skill as well as interpretation of the theme. The winner in each category moves on to the County level, then possibly to the State level and finally to the National competition. Entries can either be submitted digitally or in person in Ms Lundeen’s art room.
This year's theme is: "I Belong”
Deadline: Monday November 17, 2025.
View the Submission Form or visit the Reflections website at LJ PTA Reflections for the submission form and to see entry guidelines for each art category. If you have any questions, please contact the Reflections Chair Meredith Caldwell at reflections@jacksonmspta.org.
Fall 2025 screening is only available to students newly enrolled in FCPS after January 1, 2025, who were not screened in Spring 2025.
For information pertaining to the screening process, testing and identification timeline or identification and placement, please contact Laura Ballou at liballou@fcps.edu.
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.
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/is01/r/pdcp/
. 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.
|
|
