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Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight 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. View the list of phone numbers.
in this issue:
Important Dates
Visit the KJMS Facebook and Instagram to see more pictures and videos.
KJMS Event Calendar
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April 10: Eid al Fitr (begins sundown 4/9) - No School
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April 17: Purple Up! Day, Wear Purple
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April 25 - IRW SOL (Grade 8 only)
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April 25 - Battle of the Books - 6:30PM-8:00PM - Lake Braddock SS
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April 29 - Grade 8 FT to Fairfax High School
Principal's Message
Good evening, Eagle Community,
We had a wonderful surprise to end our week. Nicole Matthews, our Family and Consumer Science Teacher, has been recognized as the FCPS Region 5 Outstanding New Secondary Teacher of the Year. She will now have her packet sent forth as one of the six candidates that are being evaluated for the overall FCPS Outstanding New Secondary Teacher. We wish her luck with the final round!
This week, students on the Captains and Spartans teams participated in a Stock Market Simulation. Students were paired and given $140 to begin. One partner was the banker, and the was the stock trader. Students invested in stocks that existed at the time. As the rounds continued, the stock prices would change, eventually leading to the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The teachers used this activity to connect to the causes of the Great Depression. See the pictures of students having fun! In one student’s words: “This game helped me understand the Stock Market Crash of October 29, 1929 by putting me in the shoes of a civilian who lost $133 in the stock market game. The stock market is very stressful and deceiving. It helped me dissolve any preemptory ideas saying, ‘I would never be that stupid’ because I was.” The lesson helped him see the value of analyzing issues and doing your research!
As the week ends, I get the honor of being the first overnight chaperone to take our library’s Bearded Dragon, Lady Bart, home for the weekend! My husband is very excited and has great plans to show her off to the neighborhood. I hope you all get out and enjoy this spring weather. It looks to be a beautiful weekend!
Your Proud Principal,
Tammy Silipigni
Staff Appreciation Week Coming Soon
Our Staff Appreciation Week is May 6- May 10, and we are looking for your help! Our staff has worked really hard this year and we want them to feel appreciated. We are asking for donations of gift cards. While we typically see denominations of $15-$25, we appreciate anything we get. We need to collect a total of 160 gift cards, to cover our entire staff. We plan to raffle off any items that we acquire. Donations can be dropped off in the main office with Kara Payne.
You can also contribute by making a purchase off of our Amazon Wishlist. These goodies will be put out for our staff on SOLs days, to give them an extra boost. Thank you in advance for your donations and generosity and thank you for helping make our Staff Appreciation Week a memorable one.
Test Retake Information
he Virginia Board of Education allows elementary and middle school students who fail their spring Standards of Learning (SOL) tests by a narrow margin to retake the test before the end of the school year.
Retesting is available when a student fails their first SOL attempt with a score of 375-399. (A score of 400 is considered passing for SOL tests.) Note that retests are not offered for fall or winter Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) tests or for the integrated reading/writing (IRW) component of the grade 5 and grade 8 SOL reading tests.
Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-8. If you believe that your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test, please complete the linked google form here. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s course grade or academic record. A form must be filled out for each student in grades 7-8 for a retest to be allowed prior to April 25, 2024.
KJMS student Niharika Deshmane received the first place award for the Virginia PTA Art Reflection Contest. If you recall, she is the same student who has been chosen for yearbook cover! This is a very proud placement for a KJMS to win at the state level. The title of the art work is “Opening the Door to the Cleaner Earth.” The artist’s statement is in the attached photo, along with a photo of the artwork and Niharika with her medal.
Month of the Military Child - Requesting Pictures
April is Month of the Military Child. If you are currently serving in any of the branches of our military or have served in the past, we would like you to submit a picture of you and your family for our Purple Star wall. You may send a hard copy with your student to drop off at the main office, or, for your convenience, submit the picture electronically to either [email protected] or [email protected].
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April 17 (Wednesday) - Purple Up! Day, Wear Purple to show your support for military-connected youth! Purple represents military youth because purple combines all the colors of the military branches!
Order Your KJMS Yearbook
Order your KJMS Yearbook today!
Hardcover Yearbook $25
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com
Yearbook ID Code: 15114024
Last day to order online will be April 29, 2024.
If you miss the online deadline, there will be a limited quantity available to be purchased with cash. It will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Huge Thanks for the Stuffed Animal Drive!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible school community for your generous support of our recent stuffed animal drive! Thanks to your donations, we collected close to 300 cuddly companions. These furry friends will provide much-needed comfort to children experiencing trauma through our partnership with our local high school and the fantastic organization, SAFE (Stuffed Animals For Emergencies). SAFE distributes stuffed animals to first responders, hospitals, and other organizations that work with children in difficult situations.
Special congratulations to the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students who spearheaded this initiative! Their dedication and hard work were instrumental in collecting such a heartwarming amount of comfort.
By giving the gift of a cuddly friend, you've helped bring a sense of security and comfort to a child who needs it most. We are so proud of our school community for showing such generosity and compassion!
School Library Month & National Library Week
Mark your calendars! National Library Week is upon us, occurring April 7-13, 2024, and we have the perfect excuse to celebrate our incredible librarians, Ms. Carmichael and Ms. Betten!
- Take a moment to write a thank you note expressing gratitude for the their help and support. Perhaps, mention a specific book recommendation, activity, or memory from the library.
- Get creative! Draw a picture or write a poem expressing your gratitude.
- Spread the word! Encourage your classmates, friends, and family to join in and show their appreciation for our school librarians.
Let us shower our counselors with the appreciation they deserve!
Our librarians are the heart and soul of our school library, creating a welcoming space for learning and exploration. Let's show them our appreciation during National Library Week!
Explore all that school library programs have to offer for student learning, and the important roles that school librarians play in the school community.
Athletic Physicals for MS Sports
Athletic physicals are required for middle and high school student-athletes. Beginning May 1, 2024, FCPS high schools will offer athletic pre-participation physical exams for students interested in middle school sports during the 2024-25 school year. These events serve as the primary fundraiser for our high school athletic training programs and each exam costs $50. Rising middle school students are eligible to receive a physical at no cost although donations to the HS athletic training program are welcomed.
Pre-registration is highly encouraged; walk-in appointments may not be available. You can register here: Student registration. Once your registration is received, the school’s athletic trainer will contact you to confirm your appointment time. Athletic physical exams must be completed on this form: FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE).
If you are a medical professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, ATC, PT, EMT, etc.) interested in volunteering your time in support of these events, please register to help out: Volunteer registration.
John Reynolds MS, LAT, ATC
Athletic Training Program Administrator
[email protected]
Fairfax City - Teen Adventure Camp
This is a 4-week Teen Adventure Camp for rising 8th - 10th Grade.
Teen Adventure Camp includes age-appropriate field trips five days a week. This camp offers a wide variety of activities for teens in a safe, friendly and supervised environment. Teens will participate in activities such as teambuilding, games, and much more. Each day, they will travel on a new adventure to develop and refine skills in areas such as leadership, teamwork and socialization.
More about the Fairfax City camps at: fairfaxva.gov/summercamp
Teen Adventure Camp Calendar: https://www.fairfaxva.gov/home/showdocument?id=22741&t=638473222299667698
William & Mary Center for Gifted Education Pre-Collegiate Programs
William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education is excited to share its Summer/Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) with your family. SEP is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning. The program is not meant to replace the regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing able children to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. There are in-person and virtual courses available in the areas of engineering, music, STEM, coding, writing, social science, and many more.
We are now registering for:
Saturday
April 27th Classes
May 4th Classes
Summer
June 24th-28th
July 8th-12th
August 12th-16th
For more information, and to see what classes are available please visit our website!
TECHSTRAVAGANZA 2024
TJ TWIST Presents
TECHSTRAVAGANZA 2024
Annual STEM Activity fair for students of ALL AGES
When: Saturday, May 18, 2024
10 AM - 4 PM
Event website: tjtechstrav.org
Free entry
FCPS News
FCPS News: Read FCPS This Week to learn more about a variety of topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A solar eclipse is happening on April 8, 2024. It's a rare and exciting astronomical phenomenon and one that requires important safety reminders. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes.
Here's what you need to know:
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Don't look at the sun without approved eyewear. This applies to students and staff, and we encourage you to reinforce this at home.
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Regular sunglasses are not good enough. The NASA website has more information about eye safety.
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Eclipse timing: The eclipse starts around 2:04 p.m., peaks at 3:20 p.m. (which coincides with dismissal for some students), and ends around 4:32 p.m. Please remind your child to be especially vigilant about eye safety during dismissal. If you have concerns about your child walking or riding the bus home, please arrange for alternative transportation.
For more details, visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse webpage.
Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
FCPS is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule:
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Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
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Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
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Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
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Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click a date above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
- Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
- Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
- Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
- Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
- Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Advertised Budget Focuses on Schools and Instruction
Investing in excellence means putting our dollars where it matters most — schools and instruction. Nearly 93% of FCPS full-time staff work directly in our schools. And nearly 86% of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Advertised Budget is dedicated to instructional programs across all grade levels, including special education.
Only 5% of the advertised budget is for general support and central administration. Central office administrators represent only 0.8% of total full-time positions.
For more details on FCPS’ advertised budget, view budget documents, including the FY 2025 Budget Book.
Check out the Budget Calendar for important dates in the budget process as well as opportunities for the community to provide feedback.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey.
This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1. The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.
Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
FCPS Family Summit 2024
Safe, Supported, and Included
The FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families.
Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The conference is being planned by several FCPS offices in collaboration with the Fairfax Alliance of Black School Educators, Black Women’s Educational Alliance - DC Chapter, Hispanic Educators Association, and Asian Educators Association.
This year’s theme is Safe, Supported, and Included, which aligns with Goal 2 of the FCPS Strategic Plan. More details will be available after spring break.
Substitute Teaching Opportunities
Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Fairfax County Public Schools is looking for enthusiastic, engaged, and dedicated substitute teachers.
Substitutes help our students thrive when their teacher must be out of the classroom and are essential members of every school’s team. More information about the application process and requirements is available online.
Visit the Recruitment Events calendar for a list of all FCPS job fairs.
KJMS Family Liaisons
If you need to contact one of our parent liaisons, Ana Maxey (Mon.,Thur., Fri.) or Jennie Choi (Tues. & Wed.), please call 703-934-2454 and leave a message with your name, your student's name and phone number. You may also contact them via email: Ana Maxey at [email protected] or Jennie Choi at [email protected]
Free Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Did you know that caregivers can access to these free webinars to?
Families can find printable resource guides and details about the center’s free lending library on FRC’s homepage. They may also sign up to receive the FRC newsletter for updates on webinars, resources, and other information. If you have questions, please contact the FRC via email at [email protected] or call 703-204-3941.
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).
Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.
April's free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Upcoming events include:
Click the linked titles above to register. Learn more about FRC webinars and events.
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.
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. View the list of phone numbers.
3801 Jermantown Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Main Office: 703-934-2400
Attendance: 703-934-2424 | Web | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
