Katherine Johnson MS Weekly News - January 10, 2025
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in this issue:- KJMS Upcoming Events
- Principal's Message
- Save the Date: Community Connection Night
- FCPS Trust Policy
- Gradebook Available Until End-of-Quarter
- National Mentoring Month
- School Delays/Closings
- Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
- Community Boundary Review Meetings
- FCPS News
- KJMS Family Liaisons
- Join the KJMS PTA
Make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram to see pictures and videos from our events!
KJMS Upcoming Events- January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr's Day/Inauguration Day - No School
- January 28 - End of Q2 - Full School Day
- January 29 - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
Good afternoon, KJMS Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful extended winter break and thank you for your patience this week with the school closings. A big thank you to our outstanding custodial staff who did an excellent job getting our school grounds ready for the safe return of staff and students.
Have a great weekend,
Chris Smith
Principal - Katherine Johnson MS
Use FCPS Cares to recognize any of our staff members
Choosing Course for Next School Year 2025-26Course selection season is underway!
7th and 8th graders will participate in lessons and events throughout January to help them choose their classes for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Monday (1/13): Fairfax High School (FHS) representatives will conduct course selection lessons to 8th graders.
- Wednesday (1/15): Electives Fair for 8th graders.
- Thursday (1/16) at 6:00 PM: Rising 9th Grade Information Night at FHS.
For more information and important deadlines, please visit the KJMS - Course Selection for SY 2025-2026 and/or FHS Academic Advising/Course Selection websites.
Save the Date: Community Connection NightCommunity Connection Night Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Katherine Johnson Middle School
Order Your 2024-2025 KJMS Yearbook Now!Although the deadline is next year in April, why not order it now? One less thing to worry about, and you'll be guaranteed a copy. Plus, only a few extras will be ordered, so the earlier you order, the better your chances of getting one.
Hardcover yearbook cost $25
Deadline: April 19, 2025
FCPS Trust Policy
The Fairfax County School Board has a Trust Policy that solidifies our commitment to foster a caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families.
This policy aligns with Fairfax County’s Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy to ensure that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.
The school division is already performing much of the work referenced in the Trust Policy. The policy, along with the upcoming regulation, will serve to solidify our efforts, so all FCPS staff, students, and families have a common understanding of the policy.
Every FCPS employee plays an important role in carrying out the Trust Policy and will demonstrate cultural responsiveness in supporting families, students, and other staff by protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information (PII) of students and families. Employees will follow a clear, standardized process for requesting, accessing, or disclosing prohibited personal information as outlined in FCPS Regulations 2202 and 4220.
Additional information is available in multiple languages on FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage. Please email FCPS’ Office of Professional Learning and Equity, [email protected], with questions about the policy.
FCPS Cell Phone PolicyPhones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy.
Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at (703) 934-2400.
Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No CostFCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
Gradebook Available Until End-of-QuarterBased on community feedback from the first quarter closure, FCPS revisited the scheduled dates for closing the Gradebook and Report Card modules in the SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps.
Moving forward, the app will close in alignment with the actual quarter-end dates. This change will allow students and families to view their assignments and grades until the last day of the quarter. Gradebook will be closed for the second quarter from Tuesday, January 28, 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 a.m.
Access Your Child’s Grades Through SIS ParentVueLearn how your ParentVUE account allows you to easily access grade reports and other helpful information about your child.
National Mentoring MonthImagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.
Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.
The FCPS MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at [email protected].
School Delays/ClosingsBe Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings.
Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform.
Dual Language Immersion Lottery RegistrationRegistration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program will open on Monday, January 13, 2025. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion program for the 2024-25 school year.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program Registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.
Get more information on the DLI Program webpage and DLI Program Registration webpage.
Community Boundary Review MeetingsThe Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its second meeting on December 16 at Gatehouse Administration Center. View key takeaways from that meeting and access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received. If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in a virtual meeting:
- Friday, January 10, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m.
- Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m.
- Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
. Language interpretation will be available.
All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared. Please stay tuned for details on how to register. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn more. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- National Merit Commended Scholars
- Celebrating the Best of 2024 in FCPS
- Cell Phones Off, Learning On
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
KJMS Family LiaisonsIf you need to contact one of our parent liaisons, Ana Maxey (Mon.- 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]
Family Resource CenterThe 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.
Join the KJMS PTAHelp us keep the KJMS PTA active. Become a member today and vote for the new PTA Board by clicking on the link below:
FCPS CaresDo 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- Katherine Johnson Middle School website
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- FCPS Cares: Share and submit your story about a Katherine Johnson staff member who has gone above and beyond for your child this year.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS.
3801 Jermantown Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Main Office: 703-934-2400
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