Dear LJ Families,
We are excited to share that we kicked off our “Pawsitively ROARsome” Positive Behavior Referral initiative this week! This initiative is designed to recognize and celebrate students who demonstrate kindness, responsibility, and positivity throughout our school community.
 A big thank you to our PTA for their generous donations of fantastic prizes that are helping make this program extra special. Students who receive a positive referral from any staff member are awarded a mini certificate along with a treat coupon. These coupons can be redeemed for a treat during lunch every other Friday.
Our next treat day will be May 8, so we encourage you to talk with your student about continuing to show positivity and kindness toward others in our school community.
We are also excited for our first Track & Field meet of the season this Saturday, April 25, at Mount Vernon High School beginning at 8:00 AM. Come out and cheer on our Tigers!🐯🏃🏽➡️
Looking ahead, we have several exciting events coming up:
- Opening Night of The Wizard of Oz: Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 PM
- Additional shows: Friday, May 1 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, May 2 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM It’s going to be an amazing production—you won’t want to miss it!
Heritage Night is also coming up on May 15. Please consider getting involved or donating by reaching out to Phil Kim at pkim@fcps.edu.
Thank you for your continued support in making our school community such a positive and vibrant place for all students!!
Sincerely,
Megan Sherrill
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Thursday, April 30- Wizard of Oz -opening night- 7pm
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Friday, May 1- Wizard of Oz- 7pm
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Saturday, May 2- Wizard of Oz- 2pm & 7pm
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Friday, May 15- Heritage Night -6 to 8:30pm
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Monday, May 25- Memorial Day (Holiday)
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Tuesday, May 26- Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
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Wednesday, May 27- Holiday (Eid Al- Adha)
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.
Director of Student Services, Nick Zubieta-onzubieta@fcps.edu
Expunging a High School Credit
Students who take a high school credit-bearing course in middle school can request that the grade be omitted from the student's high school transcript and the student not earn high school credit for the course. High school courses offered at the middle school level include World Languages, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Academic Language, Beginning ELD, Developing ELD. If your middle school student earned a grade in a high school level course that they would not like to be counted toward their overall high school GPA, the attached form must be completed and returned to your student’s counselor. Students have up until the first 9 weeks of the upcoming school year to return the completed form. Please note that students would need to retake the expunged course if they would like to earn credit for it.
Important Information: Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing and Retakes
Jackson Middle School students will participate in state assessments, known as Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, this spring. The subjects tested include Mathematics, Reading, 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 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
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.
Congratulations to our Battle of the Books team under the guidance of captain Alice Lee, who last night finished 4th in a field of 16 top contenders from across the county, besting fierce rivals from Carson, Kilmer, Longfellow, Liberty, and Robinson, among many others. Our literary Tigers represented us well in a closely fought contest, showing off deep preparation, team thinking, and joyful, competitive energy.
Help us plan for the biggest cultural celebration of the year. We are looking for students and families to:
- 🎤 Perform in our Talent Show
- Do you have a traditional dance, musical performance, or special cultural routine to share? We want to see it! Sign up for our live talent showcase.QUESTIONS? Please contact Mr. Stacey Jones (smjones3@fcps.edu)
- 👗 Walk the runway in our Cultural Fashion Show
- We are looking for students AND staff to join our Heritage Night Fashion Show. Your outfit may be traditional or modern; we only ask that you dress to impress! You don't need to be a professional model to join in; Heritage Night is all about pride, community and having a great time. QUESTIONS? Please contact Mr. Leo McLellan (lmclellan1@fcps.edu)
- 🍲 Donate a traditional dish to share
- Calling all home chefs! Prepare a favorite cultural dish to share with our LJMS families. We kindly ask that you make enough for about 25-35 tasting portions and provide a label with the dish's name and ingredients. QUESTIONS? Please contact Mr. Philip Kim (pkim@fcps.edu).
Spots are filling up, so don’t delay! Use the forms on our all-school Schoology page, or use the links below to sign up. We’ll see you there!
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 Save the date: Friday, May 15, 6-8:30 p.m.More details here
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.
Tickets on sale now for our spring musical, The Wizard of Oz. Come out and see this timeless classic and support the cast & crew of over 90 students as they bring the fantastical world of Oz to life! The show is Thursday, April 30th 7:00 pm, Friday, May 1st 7:00 pm and Saturday, May 2nd 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Tickets available online $6 and at the door for $8. There will also be tickets sold during all lunches the week before the show.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th Graders The following immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grade each school year.
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage. FCPS Family Cafe: Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
Join Family and School Partnerships to explore career pathways, academies, and the wide range of courses and certifications available in FCPS.
This virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will highlight the various career and technical education courses available to middle and high school students in FCPS. Currently, there are more than 160 Career and Technical Education (CTE) course options available to students. Many CTE programs include industry credentials, work-based learning, and career and technical student organizations, allowing students to develop the skills needed to be successful in future education, training, and careers.
Register in advance for Career Pathways to receive the Zoom link. Email FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu for more information or call 703-204-4300.
Our Office of the Ombuds Is at Your Service!
Ombuds staff engage with FCPS staff, families, and students 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 get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Ombuds staff do not make or change decisions, policies, or regulations. They do not take sides, and they do not provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may submit a question.
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.
Free Sports Physicals for Middle School Students!
Planning on running cross country or track & field next year? Now is the perfect time to get your required sports physical for FREE!
Avoid the last-minute rush and make sure you’re ready to go on day one. Take advantage of this opportunity to get cleared early so you can hit the ground running next season!
 Oakton HS Dance Team 2026-27 Tryouts
If you love to dance and want to be involved in your school, come try out for the Oakton High School Dance Team! Tryouts will be held June 15, 16, and 17 for the 2026-27 team selection. Not sure if you have all of the skills for dance team?? At tryouts you will have the opportunity to learn skills there, and dancers are often selected based on potential ability to pick up the needed skills! Fill out the Tryout Interest Form to get more information about the team and tryouts! Filling out this link will also get you information about various Dance Team events occurring in the Spring to prepare for tryouts. Contact Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu with questions.
Check out the attached flyer with QR codes and links to our various dance opportunities related to tryouts and preparing for tryouts this spring!
Oakton HS Dance Team Interest Meeting
If you are interested in trying out for the Oakton High School Dance Team for the 2026-27 season, there will be informational meetings Thursday, March 23 at 3:30pm in the Oakton High School library OR 7:00pm virtual meeting. Please sign up here if you plan to attend one of the meetings). Coach Rowley will share information about what a year on dance team is like, as well as share tryout information and talk about the tryout process.
Oakton HS Dance Team Spring Prep Clinics
If you love to dance and are interested in trying out for the Oakton High School Dance team for the 2026-27 school year or the year after, the Dance Team is holding a Tryouts Prep Clinic May 11, 14, 18, and 19 from 3:30-5:30pm at Oakton HS. The clinic is open to students in grades 7-11! The clinics will teach a variety of skills and choreography that will be helpful in preparing for tryouts for next year or the year after. Students may attend the full four days or specific days that they are able to. If you are interested in participating in the Tryouts Prep Clinic, get more information and register using the Tryouts Prep Clinic link. If you have questions, please reach out to Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu.
Oakton HS Dance Team Junior Summer Dance Camp
All rising 1st-8th graders who love to dance are invited to attend camp this summer on Monday-Wednesday, June 29-July 1 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at Oakton High School. Participants will learn choreography and technique with OHS Dance Team dancers and coaches. The campers will have the opportunity to perform a routine at the end of the week. Each day there will be a craft, snack time, and team building activities. For more information and to register go to bit.ly/ohsjuniordancecamp2026.
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.
NO After School May 5- Faculty Meeting
The last day of all regular after school activities is May 22nd
Track and Field athletes- May 28th
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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Registration is open for Oakton Dance Team's Junior Dance Camp!
The Oakton High School Dance Team’s annual Junior Dance Camp will be held June 29 - July 1 (Mon-Wed) from 8:30-12:30 at O akton High School. Camp is open to rising 1st-8th graders from any school. Participants will learn choreography and technique with Dance Team members and will have the opportunity to perform at the end of camp on July 1st! Campers will also do a craft and team-building activities each day. Register by June 18th to get a camp t-shirt included with your registration. Questions? Contact: kmrowley@fcps.edu For more information and to register: bit.ly/ohsjuniordancecamp2026.
Oakton High School Dance Team hosts Junior Dance Camp!
Who: Rising 1st-8th graders When: Mon -Wed June 29 - July 1, 8:30am-12:30 pm Where: Oakton High School What: dance, perform, craft, and have fun! Questions: kmrowley@fcps.edu
Registration: bit.ly/ohsjuniordancecamp2026
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
April 29 Restaurant Night at Silver Diner!
The Silver Diner in Merrifield will be hosting the LJMS PTA's next restaurant night this coming Wednesday, April 29 from 5 PM to 8 PM! Silver Diner will donate 20% of sales when you dine in or order to-go at SilverDiner.com. For To Go orders, use code Tiger0429 during checkout or call 703-204-0812.
Fill the Rest of our Faculty Fairies Slots For the Year!
Many thanks to our Faculty Fairies that have provided treats this year—we’ve never seen teachers so happy to start their week!. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844A8AB22A6FFC34-57969538-faculty#/
SOL Snacks Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who donated the SOL Snacks Campaign and helped us clear the list! We really appreciate your support!
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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