|
Dear Luther Jackson Students and Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We are excited and ready to welcome our Tigers back on Monday. Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open House yesterday. Our halls were filled with the excitement and energy that only our students can bring. 🐯
This year, we will continue building our shared commitments around three important areas:
- Our Commitment to Student Learning
- Our Commitment to Collaboration
- Our Commitment to Community
These commitments reflect our belief that every student deserves meaningful learning experiences, strong relationships, high expectations, and the support needed to reach their fullest potential.
We are also excited to introduce ROAR, a new part of our Luther Jackson culture established by our PBIS team:
- Respect
- Ownership
- Aspirations
- Reflection
Students will see signage throughout the building outlining our shared behavior expectations. Throughout the year, we will recognize students through positive behavior referrals that celebrate students who demonstrate ROAR values and contribute positively to our community.
We also ask families to help us reinforce our “off and away for the day” cell phone policy. Under the FCPS Cell Phone Policy, cell phones, phone accessories, and smart devices must be turned off and personally stored for the entire school day. When possible, we encourage families to have students leave electronic devices at home.
New Bus Procedures
This year, FCPS is implementing a new bus identification system.
- Student IDs will be distributed through HPE classes during laptop distribution on September 1 and 2
- Students will need these IDs to get on their assigned bus everyday
- If your student needs to ride a different bus for a particular day, a parent or guardian must notify Lisa Mason and/or Marta Rivas in the main office by email at least one school day in advance.
- On the day of the bus change, the student must report to the Main Office in the morning to receive a paper pass to present to the bus driver.
- Students who enrolled after July 2, 2026, will have their pictures taken so bus IDs can be created.
Please save these important upcoming dates:
- August 24: First Day of School
- September 1–2: Laptop Distribution and Student ID Distribution through HPE
- September 2: Back to School Night, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- September 4 and 7: Student Holidays—Labor Day
- September 21: Student Holiday—Yom Kippur
Families can access the complete FCPS School Year Calendar for additional dates, holidays, observances, and school planning days.
Families are essential partners in this work. When students, families, and staff work together, we create the conditions for every Tiger to thrive. Thank you for your continued partnership, trust, and support.
We are looking forward to a year of growth, joy, achievement, and connection. Welcome back, Tigers—we are so glad you are here!
With appreciation, Megan Sherrill Principal, Luther Jackson Middle School
https://jacksonms.fcps.edu/academics/school-supply-list
It was nice meeting many of you during Tiger Time yesterday! You can still join the PTA on our Givebacks site. We need your support for programs such as teacher appreciation and the 8th grade celebration!
Our first restaurant night will be at Chipotle Merrifield on Wednesday, August 26 from 4-8 PM. Please mention Luther Jackson when ordering in store or use the code: RHQZXXJ for online pickup orders.
Our first PTA meeting will be at Back to School night on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Get Ready for After-School Activities at Luther Jackson!
Dear Luther Jackson Families,
Luther Jackson offers free after-school activities Monday through Friday throughout the school year! Students can participate in sports, homework help, STEM clubs, gaming, special events, and much more.
Important Information:
-
After-school activities begin: Monday, Sept. 14
-
Free programs: Monday–Thursday until 5 p.m.; Fridays until 3:30 p.m.
-
Late buses: Available Monday–Thursday
-
Registration: Complete the After-School Registration form as soon as possible so your student is eligible to participate at any time during the school year. If the form is not complete
Registration does not require attendance. It simply ensures your student is ready to join whenever they'd like.
More information about activity offerings will be shared as it becomes available but no later than Back-to-School Night on Sept. 2.
Thank you, and we look forward to an amazing year of after-school activities!
If you haven't already done so, please return your school Chromebook to Luther Jackson MS as soon as you can. We need to get these Chromebooks ready for students in the fall.
Digital Resource Consent Required
At Luther Jackson Middle School, our teachers use a variety of digital resources to support student learning, communication, and collaboration with students and families. Some of these digital resources require parent/guardian consent before students can access them.
Please complete the FCPS Digital Consent Form as soon as possible:
https://digitalconsent.fcps.edu/ispb/is01/r/pdcp/
For additional information and a list of the digital resources that require parent consent, visit:
https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent
Need technical assistance?
Contact the FCPS Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). Support is available Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
|
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th GradersSeveral immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades.
- 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, but can be given as early as 9 years old.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child 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.
Where to Receive Immunizations
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional 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.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster.
Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.
Virtual Mental Health Services Now Available to Middle School Students
Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students. These services became available to students enrolled in all FCPS middle schools on July 1.
Parents are encouraged to contact Hazel Health directly if they are seeking mental health support for their child, have noticed changes in their child’s mood or behavior, or are having difficulty connecting with a therapist in the community.
To make it easier for families to access services, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to streamline the referral process. Parents can visit the Hazel Health in FCPS website to enroll their child in services or visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
FCPS News
- In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation System
- Boundary Changes for Skyview and Western Pyramids
- Free Mental Health Support for Middle Schoolers
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
