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Friday, January 30 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
Monday, February 16 - Presidents' Day - School Closed
Tuesday, February 17 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
Wednesday, February 18 - First Full Day of Ramadan (begins at sundown)
The entire 2025-2026 FCPS Calendar can be found here.
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
Director of Student Services, Nick Zubieta onzubieta@fcps.edu
 Rising 8th Grade Course Selection Happening!
This week, students will be completing their course selections with their school counselors during their Health and PE 7 classes. During these meetings, students will choose their classes for next year, including both core courses and elective options. Students should come prepared to discuss not only their preferred choices, but also backup electives in case a first-choice class is unavailable.
If you would like to preview the available course options, please visit our Course Selection website: https://jacksonms.fcps.edu/student-services/course-selection
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s counselor.
National School Counselor Appreciation Week Feb. 2 - Feb. 6
Next week, we celebrate Counselor Appreciation Week, February 2nd–6th! We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible school counselors for their dedication, compassion, and unwavering support of our students and school community.
Our counselors do amazing work every day, and we are so grateful for their hard work and commitment. Join us in cheering them on and showing appreciation for all they do!
 College Partnership Program Applications now open!
Testing
📢 Important Update: Upcoming WIDA Testing at LJMS
We want to keep our families informed about the upcoming WIDA testing schedule at Luther Jackson Middle School.
For students participating in the WIDA assessments, please ensure they arrive at school promptly at 7:30 AM on each of the testing dates listed below. Being on time helps ensure a smooth start for everyone!
What about students not testing? Students who are not participating in the WIDA exam will engage in other meaningful academic activities during the testing block.
Class Schedule Note: The testing block concludes at 10:00 AM. At that time, all students will move to their regular Even Day classes for the remainder of the school day.
🗓️ WIDA Testing Schedule
- February 2nd: Reading Domain
- February 9th: Listening Domain
- February 23rd: Writing Domain
- February 24th – March 6th: Speaking Domain
Thank you for your continued partnership and support in ensuring our students succeed!
Meal Kits Available for Students
In an effort to support students who may be experiencing food insecurity while our schools are closed during planned student holidays, Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is providing meal kits at specific schools for students. Meal kits will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, January 30.
Children do not need to be present to pick up the kits, which will contain a meal and a healthy snack. No proof of eligibility or identification is required. View pickup locations for meal kits.
FCPS Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff 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 answer questions, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, text 571-496-8284, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit the ombuds webpage, where you may submit a question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
More News and Updates on-the-Go With the FCPS App Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here’s how it makes life easier:
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Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events.
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No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly. There’s no password to remember, and no login is required.
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Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates including weather announcements. Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.
To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app or download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Prepare for Winter Weather
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.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
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.
Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter weather. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
The EIP is a multiyear (five year) college preparatory program for students who will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college in the United States. EIP is a collaborative effort between Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and George Mason University (GMU). EIP provides services that include:
- An after-school tutoring or Academic Mentoring Program (AMP).
- Saturday programs for remediation and enrichment in science and mathematics.
- College information sessions for juniors and seniors that include guidance on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), writing their college essays, and filling out college applications.
- A mandatory Strengthening the Family workshop for the parents and/or guardians of EIP students.
- A mandatory, three-week Summer Academy during July on the Fairfax campus of GMU for rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.
- A cohort of fellow-EIP students and family members who encourage and support one another.
- Transportation is provided for students for many of the EIP events.
Only 7th grade students are eligible to apply for EIP. If accepted, they will start the program in 8th grade and participate until high school graduation. EIP students maintaining a 3.2 GPA are guaranteed admission to GMU. Those who maintain a 3.5 GPA are invited to apply for a GMU scholarship.
If you would like your student to apply to EIP, please complete this google form. Once completed, your student will be on the list that is shared with George Mason University and the FCPS EIP office. Next steps will be provided after submission of the google form.
CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas, and encourages skill development and career exploration.
Students choose 4 classes each week they participate and learn new content, discover interests, and build their skills.
New to 2026! We’re offering after care!
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Location - Robinson SS
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Transportation from select FCPS schools is provided!
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Cost - $300 per week
Back for 2026 programs, we will be offering tuition assistance. More information on our webpages.
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Dates -
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Week 1: July 6 - 10
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Week 2: July 13 - 17
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Week 3: July 20 - 24
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Week 4: July 27 - 31
New to 2026! We’re offering a 4th week of our programs!
Students will choose four (4) classes each week to build their own specialized summer learning program. Courses are available in all CTE program areas: Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical, Marketing, Technology and Engineering, and Trade and Industrial.
Classes offered through CTE Summer Academy are introductory and do not require previous knowledge of the content.
For the list and schedule of classes being offered, please visit our webpage!
Registration is open from February 2 to June 5, 2026.
Students can register online by visiting the CTE Summer Academy webpage and clicking on the register button.
Visit the CTE Summer Academy webpage: bit.ly/FCPS_CSA for more information! Capture this year’s memories with our school yearbook, featuring highlights from events, clubs, sports, and everyday moments. Don’t miss out on this keepsake your student will treasure! Go to this link to purchase your yearbook today.
The 8th annual STEM Essay Contest sponsored by the McLean Area Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) is now open. The contest challenges 7th and 8th girls and boys to discover and publicize women including women of color (non-white) who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today.
Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. The branch will award five prizes: 1st Place ($100) and four Honorable Mention prizes (each $25).
Two versions of the application form (a fillable PDF and a Word document), which include essay guidelines and instructions for submission, are available on the branch website at https://mclean-va.aauw.net/stem-essay-contest-2026/ The deadline is February 8, 2026, at 11:00 pm ET, and the winners will be recognized at the Branch dinner on March 24, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.
There will be NO after school on the following dates in February:
Tuesday Feb 3- Faculty Meeting
Tuesday- Feb 10- School Board Hearing
Monday Feb 16- Teacher Workday
Tuesday- Feb 17- Teacher Workday
New offerings for the 3rd quarter are posted on our LJ Website
February 20: The Social Lives of Twice exceptional (2e) Students: Friendship, Belonging, and Identity
Families will understand how some 2e students navigate peer relationships and how to support them establishing authentic connections.
May 15: Beyond High School: Preparing Twice exceptional Students for College, Career, and Adult Life Through Executive Functioning and Essential Life Skills.
Families will learn strategies to support 2e students in developing executive functioning skills and essential life skills while empowering them to navigate college career, and independent adult life successfully.
Register here for the webinar series
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.
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HP Chromebook Parts
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Cost
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Chromebook replacement
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$481
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Screen
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$90
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Charger
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$30
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Case
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$34
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Keyboard and palm rest
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$37
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System Board
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$190
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Touchpad
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$22
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Daughterboard
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$17
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Top Cover
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$23
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Bottom Cover
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$17
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Bezel
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$18
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Speaker
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$46
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Webcam
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$25
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WiFi Card
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$19
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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.
Five Guys Thank You
Thank you to everyone who stopped by Five Guys in Merrifield last night to support the LJMS PTA's restaurant night! We truly appreciate your support!
Nando's in February
Be sure to mark your calendars for the LJMS PTA's next restaurant night on Thursday, February 12 at Nando's in Mosaic, 4 pm to 9 pm (use code NANDOS2025 when ordering in store or online)!
LJMS Curriculum Night
It was great to see so many new faces at Curriculum Night on Wednesday! Please encourage your friends and neighbors who have rising 7th graders coming to LJ next year to join our PTA!
LJMS PTA on Facebook
Please be sure to join our 'Luther Jackson Middle School PTA' Facebook group! It's a great place to learn about upcoming programs and ask questions!
Faculty Fairies
Join one of the most beloved groups at LJMS–the Faculty Fairies! Bring joy to the teachers and staff of LJ by bringing in treats and drinks to the teacher’s lounge! Check out the Faculty Fairies Sign Up Genius at: https://tinyurl.com/3jz6ypfc and let’s fill all of the slots for the rest of the school year!
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.
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