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In This Issue:
Charge Daily: Please ensure your child brings their fully charged laptop/Chromebook to school every day. Keep chargers at home to charge devices overnight.
Limited Loaners: Our spare device supply is very limited, so bringing a ready-to-use device is essential.
Replacement Chargers: Available for $29 via MySchoolBucks or cash sent to the Main Office.
Thank you for helping keep our students prepared and ready to learn!
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October 12 - Indigenous Peoples' Day/School Planning Day - No School for Students.
October 12-16 - National School Lunch Week
October 13 - PTA Meeting (Virtual) - 7:00 PM
October 15 - Multilingual Family Potluck - 6:00 PM - Cafeteria
October 16 - SEL Screener
October 19-23 - National School Bus Safety Week
October 20, 22, 23 & 26 - MWEE Field Trip (Different 7th Grade Teams Each Day)
October 22 & 23 - Picture Day Make-ups (during PE classes)
October 23 - PTA Fall Dance - 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Volunteers Needed)
October 23 & 26 - Digital Detox Days
October 30 - End of 1st Quarter - Early Release - 12:15 PM
Dear KJMS Families,
I’m excited to share that KJMS has been recognized as Distinguished under Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). This rating, based on data from last school year, shows that our school is exceeding expectations set by the state for student performance.
The state system provides information about our school’s performance on academic and readiness measures. The framework places emphasis on standardized test results, alongside student growth, graduation, and readiness measures that vary by school level.
KJMS has an overall framework score of 90.5, which falls into the Distinguished state performance category.
Our students are much more than the results of standardized tests and point systems. Every day in our classrooms, our amazing educators are leading moments of joy in learning. This recognition reflects the strength of our entire school community. Our strong performance stands out and is something to celebrate.
We will continue building on this success. Our team is committed to keeping high expectations for learning, supporting each student’s unique strengths, and creating a school environment where every child feels welcomed, challenged, and cared for. We are also grateful for the support we receive from families. Your involvement makes a difference, and it plays an important role in helping our students succeed.
Last week, we celebrated our custodians and thanked them for the care they bring to KJMS each day. We also recognized Purple Star Week and honored the military-connected students and families in our KJMS community. Thank you for helping make KJMS a welcoming place for everyone!
Thanks to all the parents and caregivers who were able to join our Parent/Caregiver Academy last night. You can view the slide deck and recording from last night's presentation (October 8) on our Parent Academy page: Supporting Your Student's Learning at Home (Schoology and SIS) - Slide Deck | Recording
If you have any questions or concerns you can contact our main office at 703-934-2400 or contact me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu.
Enjoy your weekend!
KJMS Ready to Launch!
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
We are excited to announce that this year’s Career Day will take place on November 11th from 8:15 AM to 10:40 AM, and we are looking for enthusiastic presenters to share their careers with our students!
If you are interested in participating as a presenter, please complete the registration form using the link below. The deadline to register is Oct 23.
KJMS Career Day Presenter Registration
SCHEDULE FOR CAREER DAY
8:15 - 8:45: Check in
9:05 - 9:30: Session One
9:35-10:00: Session Two
10:05 - 10:30: Session Three
10:30 - 10:40: Wrap Up in Library
FORMAT
Present three sessions
for 25 minutes in a classroom
AUDIENCE
Middle schoolers ages
11-14 years old. Most sessions will
have approximately 25 students
WHAT TO PRESENT
You could cover what you do,
what a typical day is like, your
skills, your education/training,
and, most importantly, how your
career relates to what we learn
in middle school.
HELP DURING SESSION
A staff member will be in the
room with you to assist with
setting up technology and
managing students
Please reach out to School Counselor Curtiss Barnes at crbarnes@fcps.edu if you have questions.
Your experiences and insights can have a lasting impact on our students as they explore various career paths. Thank you for your support in making this event a success. We look forward to showcasing the amazing careers within our KJMS community!
This Thanksgiving many families in our school’s community face financial challenges, and providing a special holiday meal can be out of reach for them. That’s why we’re partnering with Food For Neighbors to provide grocery gift cards to families who need them most.
A gift of just $50 gives a family the freedom to choose the ingredients for the holiday meal most meaningful to them, filled with fresh foods and cherished family recipes.
We invite you to join us in supporting this important cause. Together, we can help students and their families experience not just nourishment, but the comfort of holiday traditions.
Thank you for helping us make room for joy, not hunger, this Thanksgiving. Give today on the Food For Neighbors website: www.FoodForNeighbors.org.
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
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.
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.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide 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 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.
Annual Special Education Family Conference
Theme: Connected Communities, Thriving Students
Event Details:
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Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
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Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
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Location: Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315
Featuring:
Action Links:
Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are both
gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities. Read more...
The 72nd annual Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held at Robinson Secondary School from March 12 to 14, 2027. The fair is open to the public on Sunday, March 14, from 1 to 3 p.m., during the fair’s open house. Come and see the project displays and congratulate our student participants on the inspired work they are doing!
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Safe Routes to School Survey
- Immunization Events
- Celebrating Our Principals
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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.
Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
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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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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