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in this issue:
August 24: First Day of School Year 2026-27
September 2 - Back to School Night - 6-8pm
September 4 & 7 - Labor Break - Schools and Central Offices Closed
September 8 - PTA In-Person - 7:00 PM - Library
September 9 - Parent Academy - 7:00 PM - Virtual
September 15 & 16: Picture Day - During PE Classes
Dear KJMS Families,
We are looking forward to welcoming 1,150 students to Katherine Johnson Middle School on Monday, August 24, for the first day of the 2026–2027 school year! We are excited to begin a new year together and help every student get "Ready to Launch!"
Here are a few key reminders to help us get off to a great start:
We will have plenty of staff members in the hallways throughout the day to welcome students, answer questions, and help everyone navigate the first days of school successfully.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our main office at 703-934-2400 or reach out to me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and we look forward to seeing our Eagles on Monday!
Let’s get Ready to Launch! Go Eagles!
Chris Smith Principal, Katherine Johnson Middle School
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
For the first week of school only, below is a class schedule table for School Year 26-27 displaying period assignments and times for Odd days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and Even days (Tuesday, Thursday).
Please use the driveway near the main entrance for all Kiss and Ride (K&R) drop-offs and pick-ups. Staff members will be on site to direct traffic and help students.
Note: Please do not use any parking lot or Bevan Dr. area. They are not monitored by KJMS staff and are used by buses.
Morning Drop-Off Highlights
- Pull all the way forward: drive down to the “stop here” sign before stopping.
- Stay in the car: students must wait inside the vehicle until doors open at 7:00 AM.
- Students should use the sidewalk to walk to Door 3 to enter the building.
- Drop Off by 7:25 AM: this ensures students reach class before the 7:30 AM tardy bell.
- Do Not Pass: Please wait patiently in line for the car in front of you to move.
Afternoon Pick-Up Highlights
- Pull all the way forward: continue pulling down as far as possible in line.
- Pick-Up Window: students are released at 2:15 PM; please plan to pick them up by 2:30 PM.
- Text Your Student: send a quick text after 2:15 to let them know your spot in the lineup.
- Passing allowed: once your child is safely inside, you may carefully and slowly pass stopped vehicles to exit.
Thank you for helping to keep our students safe and traffic moving smoothly!
If you have any questions, please ask a staff member during drop-off or pick-up.
Katherine Johnson MS is a City of Fairfax school. What does that mean for your student and your family? Explore the unique partnership between the City of Fairfax and FCPS and discover the programs, opportunities and investments that make our schools special. Click here to find out more.
 Graphic titled "Katherine Johnson MS is a City of Fairfax School." It shows the City of Fairfax Schools logo and line art of a school building and city skyline. Text asks what this means for families and offers a link to explore how the city and FCPS work together.
As we gear up for the first day of school, make sure you have the FCPS mobile app downloaded! It's the quickest way to check the school year calendar, view lunch and breakfast menus, find school contacts, and jump to ParentVUE or Schoology from your phone.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Check out some tips to help your child get through the lunch line quickly and have more time to eat:
- Teach your child their student ID number to receive meals at school.
- Sign up for and add money to MySchoolBucks to purchase meals at school.
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Apply for free and reduced-price meals. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should submit a new application as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
If your child has any food allergies, learn how to submit accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergens.
Access menus for breakfast, lunch, and other school meals, as well as allergen and nutrition information.
At KJMS we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.
In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.
With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.
These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.
A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
- Your child’s classes.
- Your child’s upcoming assignments.
- School, class, and group announcements.
To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Prior to the start of school on Monday, August 24, please submit your child’s immunization documentation. If your child has an appointment to receive their required immunizations after August 24, please submit an Immunization Action Plan to confirm the appointment.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form. Please visit the FCPS How to Submit Immunization Documentation webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to submit each of these items.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
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.
Additional immunization resources are also available.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Get Ready for Day One With the FCPS App!
- Learn About School Meals
- Managing Technology at Home
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Is WhatsApp one of the ways you stay connected with family, friends, and your community? Now you can use it to stay connected with FCPS, too.
Follow the new FCPS WhatsApp Channel for helpful information and reminders throughout the school year, including important announcements, upcoming dates, tips for families, and more.
You can contact our parent liaisons by phone or email: Ana Maxey (Mon.–Fri.) at 703-934-2454 or ajmaxey@fcps.edu, and Jennie Choi (Tues. & Wed.) at 703-934-2452 or jchoi4@fcps.edu.
To reach our social worker, Maria Marris, email msmarris@fcps.edu.
Please be sure to include your name, your student's name, and your contact phone number in your message.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center (PRC) offers free workshops (webinars), consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
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FCPS Cares
Do you want to celebrate a Katherine Johnson employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
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Stay in Touch with Us
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS.
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