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Make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram to see pictures and videos from our events!
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in this issue:
November 24-25 - Digital Detox Days
November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break - FCPS Schools and Offices Closed
December 22-Janaury 2 - Winter Break
KJMS Families,
Thank you for your support and partnership during our smooth transition to the Opengate weapons detection system this week. Our students and staff have done an excellent job adjusting to the new procedures, and we truly appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are proud to share that the Food for Neighbors Fairfax Team collected 105 Red Bags, totaling 1,520 pounds of food and toiletries at their most recent event in October at KJMS. All donations have already been delivered to schools and will be distributed to students in need. This incredible effort would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers and the generosity of our community—thank you. The next event will be held on Saturday, January 27th, 2026 at KJMS.
We wish all KJMS families a safe, restful, and Happy Thanksgiving holiday!
If you have any questions or concerns you can contact our main office at 703-934-2400 or contact me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu.
Enjoy your weekend!
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
Katherine Johnson Middle School is asking all families to complete the annual FCPS Federal Impact Aid Survey as soon as possible. This survey is crucial for our school to receive essential federal funding that directly supports your child’s education.
The process for submitting the survey is simple and can be completed online through SIS ParentVUE:
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Log In to SIS ParentVUE: Access your account. If you have not yet activated your account, you can learn how to do so here: Activate Your SIS ParentVUE Account.
- You must be the enrolling parent to complete this online form.
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Locate the Form: Once logged in, look for the Online Packets link, which is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
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Complete the Survey: Click on the Online Packets link to find and complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey.
Please complete the survey as soon as you are able. On Monday, November 17, we will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE. If you have completed the
For more information, please visit the official Federal Impact Aid Survey page or watch this short video about why Impact Aid matters.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter!
Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener last month, providing information on skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results will be available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE the week of November 17. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be shared by our school.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to school staff.
November 24th and 25th
To promote healthy technology habits and encourage meaningful learning experiences, we will be holding two "Digital Detox Days" on November 24th and 25th. On these days, all classroom activities will be conducted without the use of student laptops. Students may still bring their laptops to school if they need to use it for after-school activities, but they will remain in their backpacks during the school day.
We recognize that our students spend a significant amount of time interacting with technology. These Digital Detox Days aim to:
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Inspire good Digital Citizenship: By stepping away from screens, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the balance between technology and offline activities.
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Reinforce offline learning: These days will remind us that technology is a tool, and meaningful learning can still be achieved through traditional methods like discussions, hands-on activities, and creative projects.
We believe these days will be a valuable opportunity for both students and teachers to explore alternative learning approaches and foster a deeper connection with their studies!
Questions – email Kelsea Owens (kfowens@fcps.edu)
If your child is in 7th grade and you would like to refer them for Full Time Advanced Academic Services, the deadline is December 15th. Completed forms should be turned into your child’s school. Please note, there are no exceptions to the deadline date. AAP Service Referral Forms can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs#understanding-the-aap-screening-process. Decisions for spring screener will be sent in April.
With the holidays approaching, many families look for ways to show appreciation to their students’ teachers and school staff. One meaningful option is to contribute a gift card or small gift. Popular gift card choices include Amazon, Target, Walmart, and VISA/Mastercard. Gift card amounts may vary based on what families are able to give—any contribution is sincerely appreciated.
Donations may be sent to Kara Payne in the main office. If it is more convenient, you may purchase items directly from Amazon and have them shipped to the school. For added convenience, these items are also included on our Amazon Wishlist. Our goal is to send every staff member into winter break with a gift card, which means we hope to collect a total of 160 gift cards. If you have any questions, please contact Kara at kipayne@fcps.edu. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to the families who have contributed to the KJMS Amazon Wishlist. Your donations of snacks and treats have helped keep our staff energized during meetings and trainings. If you would like to contribute, please visit the KJMS Amazon Wishlist. We are grateful for your continued partnership.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
- FCPS has enabled new parent controls within the Lightspeed Parent Portal to support families in managing screentime on FCPS devices at home. Parents can now manage their child's access to YouTube and 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 on Parent Portal, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
There’s a story behind the success of every FCPS student — a story about what’s possible with the appropriate funding for world-class teachers, rigorous academics, and future-ready learning experiences. At FCPS, student success starts with a strong budget!
FCPS is currently developing the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, which is for the 2026-27 school year. In January, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will present a proposed budget to the School Board.
During this process, we’ll be sharing FCPS’ budget story with you. The different chapters will explain the impact of chronic underfunding, why strong funding benefits all of Fairfax County, what’s at stake when KJMS and other FCPS schools don’t get the support we need, and more.
We invite you to follow along and learn how you can help write our next chapter!
Presented by: Dr. Geoffrey Harrison PhD, Mason's Center for Community Mental Health (CCMH)
Offered by: GMU CCMH and the ConnerStrong Foundation (FREE, in-person workshop)
Workshop Focus:
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Understand grief triggers, specifically around the holidays.
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Learn how to manage stress and process grief in a healthy way.
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Find support in a safe space from others who have experienced the same.
NOTE: This workshop is educational and does not constitute medical advice.
Event Details:
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Date: December 18th, 2025
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Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
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Cost: No Cost - FREE to attend
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Location (In Person):
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Registration: Register Here
Contact Information:
Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS)
Sign up today!
KJMS PTA Webpage
Sign up here to join the PTA: Givebacks
Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS) PTA has just launched a Regal Fundraising Campaign where 25% of your purchase goes directly to our cause! This ticket bundle (of 2 tickets) is perfect for movie enthusiasts who don't want to miss out on the latest hits or catch their favorite films before they leave the big screen. Use our unique fundraiser page to join in and enjoy the magic of movies at Regal:
PTA Group Regal Fundraiser Event
The money we raise supports activities like staff appreciation.
In Spanish:
🎬 ¡Luces, cámara, acción! 🎬 La Asociación de Padres y Maestros de la Escuela Secundaria Katherine Johnson acaba de lanzar una campaña de recaudación de fondos en Regal. ¡donde el 25% de lo que compres va directamente a nuestra causa! Este paquete (de 2 boletos) es perfecto para los que aman ir al cine y no quieren perderse las películas más nuevas, o para ver sus películas favoritas antes de que salgan de la pantalla grande.
Usa nuestra página única de la recaudación de fondos para unirte y disfrutar de la magia del cine en Regal:
Evento de Recaudación de Fondos del Grupo PTA Regal
El dinero que recaudemos apoya actividades como el agradecimiento a nuestro personal (los maestros y otros trabajadores de la escuela).
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.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
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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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