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March 20 - Holiday (Nowruz)
March 27- End of Q3-2 hr. early release
March 30- April 3-Spring Break
April 6- Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
April 10- Student Holiday (School Planning Day)
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
📢 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
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February 23rd: Writing Domain
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February 24th – March 6th: Speaking Domain
Thank you for your continued partnership and support in ensuring our students succeed!
Director of Student Services, Nick Zubieta onzubieta@fcps.edu
 Quarter 3 Reminders
As we enter the third quarter, we have officially reached the midpoint of the school year, a perfect time for students to reflect, reset, and set new academic goals. Middle school is a time of growth, and there is still plenty of opportunity for students to strengthen their grades and finish the year strong.
Families should begin thinking about a few important areas:
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Standards of Learning (SOL) Courses: Performance in SOL courses can impact future course placement and academic pathways. Now is the time to check progress, seek extra help if needed, and stay focused.
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High School Credit Courses: Classes such as Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Spanish 1, and French 1 earn high school credit. These grades remain on your student’s high school transcript and contribute to their overall high school GPA. Taking advantage of third quarter to improve performance can have a lasting impact.
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Course Selections for Next Year: The habits and effort students demonstrate now help prepare them for next year’s academic choices and opportunities.
We encourage families to talk with their student about goals for the remainder of the year. Small adjustments in organization, study habits, and help-seeking can make a significant difference. If you have questions or would like support, please reach out, we are here to help every student succeed.
Register Today with Volunteer FCPS Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at Luther Jackson Middle School.
All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
At the Volunteer FCPS site, you can complete a volunteer orientation. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
New Visitor Management System We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.
For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check in at the front office.
But now there is also an app, which can make check-ins even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check in at school.
Hello!
On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, nine of our choir students participated in the District X District Choir. Hosted at West Potomac HS, our students worked along side other middle schoolers under the direction of Erik Jacobs to create some truly beautiful music. Our students were professional and represented us incredibly well as they navigated rehearsing 5-7 hours a day, performing for high schoolers, and working with new people. As the professional recordings come out, I will be sure to send them out. In the meantime, here are some photos and videos I took over the weekend: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15Ge3S2lQ8DGS-i1_7A4Zwxb806lY3y2I?usp=sharing
Thank you for your continued support of our music program at LJMS.
Hello! (ALL!)
You are invited to casually peruse the exhibit (see gallery hours below) and attend the
ARTiFAX Awards Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, February 25th. In January, I submitted twelve student artworks from Jackson students. Four of these were selected for this Inaugural exhibit.
Link to FCPS news about ARTiFAX:
https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-launches-artifax-honoring-teen-artists-299-awards
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.
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
Luther Jackson is on social media! Check out our Facebook and Instagram @lutherjacksonms for all things LJ.
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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$494
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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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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.
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.
PLEASE JOIN THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE!
The PTA is seeking volunteers to nominate next year's LJMS PTA Executive Board. Committee members are welcome to nominate themselves for an office. If interested, please email pta@jacksonmspta.org by Friday, February 20th. Thank you!
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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