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Happy October, Tiger Community!
The quarter ends later this month (Oct. 30). Please talk with students about their grades and classes and encourage them to reach out to their teachers if they need help.
We’re also continuing to celebrate students who show our ROAR expectations. Staff can recognize students with Tiger Tokens and positive referrals for being respectful, responsible, helpful, and positive members of our school community.
Let’s keep learning, growing, and showing our ROARsome Tiger spirit! 🐯
Principal Megan Sherrill
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We are excited to introduce the first-ever LJMS Turkey Bowl! On Monday, November 23 during Advisory, eligible students will have the opportunity to participate in a fun 5v5 soccer tournament with their peers.
The Turkey Bowl is designed to celebrate students who are demonstrating success both in and out of the classroom. To participate, students must have no D’s or F’s through November, no more than 4 tardies during November, and no suspensions.
Students will have the opportunity to form their own teams, and additional information about sign-ups, eligibility, and team selection will be shared as we get closer to the event.
We’re excited to start this new LJMS tradition and celebrate our Tigers! 🐯
Support the PTA by joining or making a donation through our website. Our next Restaurant Night will be at Five Guys on October 22nd.
Last month, PTA supplied some sports equipment for kids to use at recess, but they need more! If you'd like to contribute, you can send items to the school through this Amazon wishlist or make a donation to our sports equipment fund.
Help wanted! We need a parent volunteer to lead our Reflections program this month. Please contact Leah at president@jacksonmspta.org if you can help. We can't offer the program without a parent volunteer.
Our next PTA meeting will be on October 20th via Zoom.
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🐯 LJ After Hours Is Off to an Amazing Start!
With 43 different activities offered this year, LJ After Hours continues to provide incredible opportunities for our students to learn, connect, and have fun!
In its first month- 498 unique students have participated in LJ After Hours, representing nearly 48% of our entire student population!
Even more exciting, our weekly participation continues to grow! We started with 291 student participations during our first week, followed by 536, then 733, and now 780 this week! That's a 165% increase in weekly participation since our first week!
Here's how we're comparing to last year:
Weekly Participation: 771 this week compared to 543 during the same week last year — a 42% increase!
Thank you for making LJ After Hours a great success during its first month!
📢 Stay Connected! The BEST place for students and families to stay up to date is our LJ After Hours/Activities Schoology page, located under Courses. This is our one-stop shop for daily activity offerings, important announcements, schedule changes, and cancellations.
LJ After Hours Schoology Page
📁 Check Materials for activity information, schedules, and important resources.
📢 Check Updates for announcements, changes, cancellations, and other time-sensitive information.
🔔 Don’t forget to enable Schoology notifications! This will help ensure you receive real-time updates whenever important information about after-school activities is posted.
💡✨ LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL! ✨💡
Join us for a celebration of safe spaces, bright futures, and all the amazing things happening after school!
📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Glasgow Middle School
Come reconnect with friends, celebrate our after-school community, and enjoy a night filled with fun! 🎉
🎮 Gaming Tournament
🤖 STE(A)M & Robotics Showcase
🎨 Arts & Life Skills
💡 Light Bulb Wall
🎟️ Raffles & Bring-a-Friend Challenge
🤝 VIP Camp & Teens in Action Reunions
Bring a friend and come celebrate with us! We can’t wait to see you there! 💡🐯
📍 4101 Fairfax Pkwy, Lincolnia, VA 22312
Attention parents/guardians and students,
Current 8th grade students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2031 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) beginning on Monday, October 5th at 4:00pm (Freshman Round Calendar) through Wednesday, October 28th at 4:00pm. The application portal, course prerequisites, GPA requirements, and deadlines can be found here: TJHSST Application Information. Some important points about the application process are included below, but it is essential that you review the TJHSST Freshman Application Process if you wish to apply.
If you have any questions about the TJHSST admissions process, make sure you review the TJ Admissions website thoroughly and review the presentation slide deck and Admissions Assessment Information that were shared during the admissions information session that was held at Luther Jackson Middle School on September 23. If you were unable to attend the admissions information session held at Luther Jackson MS, please refer to the TJ Admissions website for the complete list of dates and locations for TJ Admissions Fall Presentation Sessions which are open to the public and being held throughout the county.
TJHSST Eligibility Requirements:
- Students must be enrolled in the following courses in grade 8:
- Algebra 1 Honors or higher-level math
- Honors Science
- One additional honors course in Social Studies or English, or student is identified as a Young Scholar
- Minimum GPA is 3.5. This GPA is for final unweighted marks in 7th grade for math, science, English, social studies, and World Language (if for high school credit) as well as 1st quarter 8th grade for the same subjects. At the completion of 7th grade, should have an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible to apply. It is highly unlikely that 1st quarter 8th grade marks will elevate a GPA lower than 3.5 at the end of 7th grade to a qualifying GPA. Click here to learn about GPA calculation.
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are both gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook. New information — including printable flyers — has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.
For more information, please contact laballou@fcps.edu
Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2026-2027 school year. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $21.77 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to AVID@fcps.edu.
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Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):
- Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
- Monday, September 28, at Riverside Elementary School
- Monday, October 19, at Spring Hill Elementary School
- Monday, October 26, at Beech Tree Elementary School
- Thursday, October 29, at North Springfield Elementary School
- Friday, November 13, at Colin Powell Elementary School
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Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers
Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.
How to Get Involved
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
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Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at HomeSocial-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Join a workshop for parents and caregivers to:
- Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
- Use the results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
- Support your child’s social and emotional development.
- Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together.
Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, at Skyview High School and Wednesday, October 21, at Kingstowne Regional Library. View additional dates on the FCPS Family Academy webpage.
Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu.
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Celebrating the Power of School Lunches
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This National School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing delicious, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? View the Nutrition Services menus.
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Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join a session. Upcoming topics include:
- Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: A Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
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 available.
Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15
The Advanced Academic Program (AAP) fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3 to 8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time AAP services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to [AART Name], Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at [AART email] by Thursday, October 15. Late referrals will not be accepted.
For students who are not new to FCPS, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2 to 7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by Tuesday, December 15.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services.
Other Advanced Academic Services
At the elementary level, all students are screened each spring for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services. Families may also refer their student for consideration for Subject-Specific or Part-Time AAP at any time during the school year. Eligibility decisions are made at the school level, and families are notified of the decision within 30 school days of the referral. The Full-Time AAP referral deadlines do not apply.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please contact Laura Ballou, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at liballou@fcps.edu or visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers
FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.
Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.
Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Is Here
The new ParentVUE mobile app is available in the Apple and Google App stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their ParentVUE account. The previous app will be deactivated at the end of 2026.
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.
We all Belong
Each one of us is unique. And every student matters and belongs in school. If a student is having a difficult time attending class, please tell a trusted adult at school. There are solutions.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-week-september-2-2026, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid
- Weather Safety
- Attendance Resources for Families
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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