 Dear Luther Jackson Middle School Community,
I hope you are all doing well as we approach the final week of the third quarter. Please note the following important dates: March 27 – End of Q3 (2-hour early release); March 30 – April 3 – Spring Break 🌸🪻; and April 6 – Teacher Workday.
As we close out the quarter, I want to take a moment to share something important. Recently, we have been hearing an increase in inappropriate and discriminatory language within our building, and this is not reflective of the caring, inclusive community we strive to be at Luther Jackson MS. We know our students are capable of kindness, empathy, and respect, and it is important that we work together to reinforce these values. I ask for your partnership in talking with your children about the impact of words and how harmful language can affect others. Our shared goal is to ensure every student feels safe, valued, and respected, and to continue building a school community where all students and families feel a true sense of belonging. Supporting student safety and well-being, while helping every child learn and reach their fullest potential, requires a strong partnership between school and home. Thank you for your continued support and for being an important part of the Luther Jackson MS community.
As I shared in my community message yesterday, here are two resources that may help guide your family discussions:
Sincerely,
Megan Sherrill
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.
Jackson Middle School students will participate in state assessments, known as Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, this spring. The subjects tested include Mathematics, Reading (with an Integrated Reading and Writing component for Grade 8), and Science (for Grade 8).
Jackson Middle School Testing Schedule (7th & 8th Grade)
Please mark your calendars for the following testing dates:
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Grade 8 Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW): Monday, March 23rd
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Grade 8 Science: Monday, May 4th
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Grade 7 & 8 Mathematics: Monday, May 11th
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Grade 7 & 8 Reading: Monday, May 18th
Retest Information and Required Parent Consent
The state allows students in elementary and middle school who do not pass a spring SOL test to have one retest opportunity before the end of the school year. The only exception is the Grade 8 Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) component.
Parent/guardian permission is mandatory for any student in grades 3-8 to be retested.
Please submit your decision regarding retesting consent through one of the following methods:
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Parent Digital Consent Application: Log in using your SIS ParentVUE account.
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Online Form (if you do not have a SIS ParentVUE Account): Complete the form here: online form.
Please note that a decision to not allow retesting will not negatively affect your student's course grade or academic record.
Luther Jackson is on social media! Check out our Facebook and Instagram @lutherjacksonms for all things LJ.
On-Time Attendance
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
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.
Director of Student Services, Nick Zubieta onzubieta@fcps.edu
NEW: Parent Acknowledgment - Course Requests for Next School Year
As the Academic Advising and Course Selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. To facilitate this, we would like to highlight a new feature in SIS ParentVUE that allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. We understand that this process can sometimes bring questions, and we encourage you to contact your school directly for support or assistance
Instructions:
- Log into your ParentVUE account.
- Navigate to the Course Request module.
- Review your student’s course request list for next school year.
To complete the acknowledgment:
4. Navigate to the Student Info module.
5. Click Edit Information.
6. Locate the Course Request Acknowledgment field.
7. Update the acknowledgment field to Yes to confirm review.
8. Click Save Changes.
Acknowledgment Window:
March 16, 2026 – March 27, 2026
Families have until March 27, 2026 to review and acknowledge course requests via this new feature.
 For the first time ever, we are answering the call to sell our show shirts to all of you! These Wizard of Oz shirts are going to be amazing and for only $20 you can help support our after-school drama department and promote the show! Image of shirt front & back in Google Form. Please use link below to order your shirts. You all to use MySchoolBucks to pay for shirts online. Be sure to check out as “Guest”. Cash & Check also accepted. Deadline is March 17th so get your order in now.
Wizard of Oz T- Shirts
Save the date: Friday, May 15, 6-8:30 p.m.More details here
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
2026 Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
2026 Awards Recognizing Special Education Supporters
Nominations are open for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Awards, which recognize educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support students receiving special education services. The annual program celebrates individuals across Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, support, and student success.
Honorees may include teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers, and other community members who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families. Nominations are open through Friday, March 27, and can be submitted online.
Award recipients will be recognized at the SEPTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, where families, educators, and community members will gather to celebrate those helping build more inclusive and supportive school communities. Registration details for the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Phones Off, Learning On
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students focus, learn, and engage. When students put their phones away, they have more face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers and more opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Please remind your child that:
- Cell phones and personal devices (earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
- Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our front office at (703) 204-8100. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Dear Rising Freshmen & Families,
My name is Said Aziz, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Head Football Coach at Oakton High School!
We are looking for the next group of dedicated, hardworking student-athletes to join the Oakton Football program. Each year, our incoming freshmen form the foundation of our team’s future success. The commitment, energy, and competitiveness you bring will help us continue building a strong and proud tradition.
Beginning in April, we will start our off-season strength and conditioning program as we prepare for the 2026 season. This program is designed to help you develop strength, speed, fundamentals, and confidence as you transition into high school football. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to become part of a team culture built on accountability and pride.
If you are interested in being part of the Oakton Football family and receiving updates about our freshman off-season program, please complete the form linked below.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at oaktoncougarftbl@gmail.com.
Interest Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgxoXydJs-O61izArrMWDbxP6H8oYCeMRqRoxJOEwqRY3jLw/viewform?usp=publish-editor
Go Cougars!
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.
VIP Summer Camp – Rising 7th & 8th Graders
VIP (Value in Prevention) Summer Camp is open to rising 7th and 8th grade students and offers five weeks of fun, active summer programming. Students will participate in sports, games, art, STEM activities, and team-building experiences while building friendships and leadership skills in a positive environment.
Please see this link for more information and details about our camp at Glasgow this summer.
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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
Five Guys Restaurant Night TONIGHT
Join us at Five Guys tonight (Thursday. 3/19) from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM for a restaurant fundraiser night! No need to mention Luther Jackson, just show up and order dinner. Enjoy! Thanks so much for your support!
Support SOL Snacks Campaign!
The LJMS PTA is partnering with the school to collect donations of snacks (granola bars) and mints that will be provided to students during SOLs this year! We need up to 2,750 snacks to cover all students. Please help us support this initiative by purchasing snacks off of this Amazon Wish List by Friday, April 17. All snacks and mints ordered off of the list will be sent directly to the school. Thank you so much for your support! Please email pta@jacksonmspta.org with any questions.
Support and Help With LJMS Heritage Celebration Night!
Volunteers are needed to help with LJMS' Heritage Celebration Night on Friday, May 15! If you are able to help with food/hospitality and/or logistics and set-up, please contact Philip Kim at pkim@fcps.edu! Thank you for your support of this community event!
Join the PTA Board and Committees for the 2026-2027 School Year
If you're interested in serving on the LJMS PTA Board or a LJMS PTA committee for the 2026-2027 school year, please email pta@jacksonmspta.org as soon as possible!
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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$601
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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.
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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