Teacher Appreciation Week
As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our incredible PTA and the many generous community members who made this week so special for our staff. What an amazing community we have at Jackson!
We were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown throughout the week. Local business owners, including Silver Diner and Ted’s Bulletin, donated wonderful breakfasts and lunches for our staff. One of our amazing Jackson parents, owner of the KoolZone Food Truck, visited us twice this week and our PTA treated our staff to delicious smoothies, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, soft pretzels, and lunch from the truck. We are truly full of food and happiness!
Thank you to everyone who contributed, donated, organized, or simply took the time to make our teachers and staff feel appreciated. Your support means so much.
SOL Testing Reminder
This week, our 8th graders completed their Science SOL, and on Monday (5/11) both our 7th and 8th grade students will take their Math SOLs. Please help ensure students are rested, ready, and prepared for a strong start Monday morning.
Heritage Night – Friday, May 15
We are excited to celebrate Heritage Night next Friday, May 15, here at Jackson! We hope all of our families can join us for an evening of food, entertainment, and celebration as we honor the many diverse cultures and heritages that make Jackson such a special place.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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
 End of Year Wrap Up
As we begin wrapping up the school year, here are a few ways families can help students finish strong:
- Check grades regularly and encourage students to complete any missing assignments.
- Help students create a consistent study schedule for finals and SOL exams.
- Encourage students to ask teachers questions and attend extra help sessions when needed.
- Make sure students are getting enough sleep, eating well, and limiting distractions while studying.
- Celebrate effort, progress, and small successes to help students stay motivated and confident.
- Remind students that staying organized and preparing a little each day can reduce stress and improve performance.
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 and 12 or as early as 9 years old.
- Parents/guardians may decide that their 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/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and health care 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/guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available.
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
Please remind your student to charge their laptop the night before each testing day and then bring their laptop/charger to school on the test day.
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.
Save the date: Friday, May 15, 6-8:30 p.m.More details here
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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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.
 FCPS Caters to Food Allergies
May is Food Allergy Awareness Month. The FCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to safe and nutritious school meals. Since 1 in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy, FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school.
To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.
Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a safe menu for students.
Stay up to Date With the FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app, you can:
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Stay up to date: Get the latest news from FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the mobile app, including feedback from parents.
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.
Thank You Teachers and Staff!
The LJMS PTA enjoyed celebrating our amazing LJMS teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week this week! Thank you teachers and staff for all you do for our students and for the LJMS community!
Thank You to Local Food Businesses For Supporting Teacher Appreciation Week!
Thank you to Silver Diner in Merrifield for sponsoring breakfast for our teachers and staff on Monday and to Ted's Bulletin in Mosaic for sponsoring lunch for our teachers and staff on Tuesday! We were also excited to bring the KoolZone food truck to LJMS for lunch on Wednesday and smoothies on Friday!
Thanks to Holystick, LLC Wellness Clinic!
LJMS Teachers and staff were treated to 15-minute massages as part of Teacher Appreciation Week this year! We are grateful to this business for partnering with us to donate this amazing service to our teachers and staff! For more information on HolyStick Wellness, go to https://www.holystick.biz/book-online.
Students Showed Their Appreciation Too!
Thank you to the PTA and Student Services for coordinating the creation and distribution of notecards that included messages from LJMS students to our teachers and staff! Thank you also to the families who sent in thank you and appreciation notes with their students!
Now Hiring: Substitute Teachers & Instructional Assistants 2026–2027 School Year for Luther Jackson Middle School Apply Now
Luther Jackson Middle School is seeking individuals who can provide continuity of instructional teaching as a substitute teacher and instructional assistant. Able to inspire, enable and empower students to meet high academic standards. The position offers:
✔ Flexible schedule ✔ Make a difference in your local community ✔ Great for people with a passion for teaching/assisting students
Join our team and support student learning!
Apply today! For details, visit the FCPS Substitute Employment Website. When applying, search “Substitute” and select the Falls Church pyramid posting.
 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.
TSA Technosphere State Competition 2026 Results
Congratulations to our LJ Tigers Technology Student Association (TSA) team for an outstanding performance at the 2026 TSA Technosphere State Competition! Our students competed in 23 events, with several events including multiple LJ teams. We are proud to share that 17 events placed at the state level, and 7 events qualified for nationals, including two Drone teams and two Robotics teams.
LJ earned top honors across a wide range of events, including 1st place finishes in Biotechnology, Drone, and Robotics, along with multiple 2nd place, 3rd place, and Top Ten recognitions.
We are incredibly proud of our students’ creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and dedication. Congratulations to all of our TSA competitors and sponsors on this amazing achievement! 🐯
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
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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