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Upcoming Events :
May 23- Last day of regular after school activities
May 27- Holiday-Memorial Day
May 28-30 - Academic support and specific club celebrations only
May 30- Last day of late buses
June 3rd- 7th grade awards ceremony 6:30pm
June 4th-8th grade awards ceremony 6:30 pm
June 7th- 8th grade formal dance 6:30-8:30
Admin Team:
When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school. This can be done by calling the attendance phone line at 703-204-8282 or by using the online reporting form which can be accessed by CLICKING HERE or on our Luther Jackson Middle School website. Please DO NOT report absences through the Talking Points app.
Admin Team Information
Counselors:
Counselors are assigned by alphabet and your first point of contact for any question or concerns you might have.
From Our Chief of Schools,
Dr. Geovanny Ponce:
Dear Luther Jackson Families,
Dr. Michelle Reid has been hosting Community Conversations and Employee Conversations throughout the division since the fall of this school year. She is committed to getting to know our school communities.
The dates for the final two Community Conversations are below. These events provide a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to connect with Dr. Reid, share concerns and ideas. She is there to listen and answer your questions. Your voice is important.
We invite you to register for one of the last two community conversations of the school year. Please register for a time and place that is convenient for you. Pre-registration is not required, but does help us plan.
Upcoming Community Conversations:
May 16, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
at Poe Middle School, 7000
Cindy Ln, Annandale, VA 22003 -
REGISTER HERE
May 28, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
at Katherine Johnson Middle School,
3801 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 -
REGISTER HERE
Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
For more information please visit our website.
We look forward to seeing you at one of the last two Superintendent Community Conversations of the year.
Kiss & Ride Dropoff /Pickup Reminders:
Parents and guardians, we have a new security fence by the Golds Gym parking lot and we need to make sure student morning drop off and afternoon pick up stays a safe procedure.
- Please DO NOT drop your child off or pick them up on Gallows Rd in front of the school. This is very dangerous and could cause a car accident and injury.
- Please make RIGHT TURNS only out of the parking lot and no left turns to help with traffic flow.
- More parents are letting their children off while in the drop off line and students walking through the parking lot to avoid being tardy to class. Students should always use sidewalks and crosswalks when walking to school and in our parking lot.
- If dropping your child off in the Golds Gym parking lot, students should walk the Gallows Rd. sidewalk to school, and use sidewalks and crosswalks. Students should not crawl under the fence or climb over the fence to go between the LJMS parking lot and the Golds Gym parking lot.
Thank you for making these adjustments as we work to keep LJMS students safe!
Testing:
Greetings LJMS students and families!
Our final testing season will be upon us shortly. If you have not completed the SOL Retake Permission form, please click on this link and submit the form. We want to give every student the opportunity to retake if they are eligible.
In order to help our students succeed, please encourage them to be well rested and attentive in these upcoming weeks and on our test days. Please try to avoid scheduling any vacations, appointments, etc during testing days.
From Student Services:
Our End of Year awards ceremonies will be by grade this year. Parents will be notified in advance if their student is receiving an award at the awards ceremony.
June 3 at 6:30 7th grade awards ceremony
June 4 at 6:30 8th grade awards ceremony
Our 8TH grade formal is June 7 and LJMS Student Services will be accepting donations through May 24th.
SPRING CLEAN AND DROP OFF YOUR GENTLY USED FORMAL OR DRESSY- DRESSES, PANTS, SHOES (MALE AND FEMALE), BELTS, BUTTON UP SHIRTS, & JEWLERY
WE ARE ASKING FOR ALL DONATED ITEMS TO BE CLEAN, STAIN FREE, AND ODOR FREE. Thank you!
Luther Jackson Middle School Drama Presents:
Thursday, May 16th 7:00 pm
Friday, May 17th 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 18th 7:00 pm & 2:30 pm matinee
Matinee features special photo opportunity with cast onstage for our elementary school audiences!
Tickets on sale now for only $6 pre-sale ($7 at the door)
Or go to LJMS Website to purchase: https://jacksonms.fcps.edu/
Come & see Matilda and her friends become revolt against the evil Trunchbull with teamwork & magic!
Code: Empower, a coding workshop for girls
Code: Empower is a four session workshop designed for girls who have an interest in computer science or coding. It’s led by two Oakton HS students and will meet here at Jackson on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the last two weeks of after school. (May 21, 23, 28, 30) during B session. Students of any experience level are welcome to participate, and it’s totally free! Students can sign up on the after school signup form!
Advanced Academics:
Luther Jackson Middle School and Poe Middle School are offering a summer institute for Advanced Academic Students and Young Scholars. The Summer Challenge Institute will provide a variety of sessions focusing on academic and enrichment activities. The activities are designed to be both challenging and fun.
The dates for the Summer Challenge Institute are June 24 - 28, 2004. The institute is being held at Luther Jackson Middle School. Monday - Thursday sessions will be at Jackson and Friday we will be going to the Smithsonian National Zoo. The program is free and limited transportation will be provided from local elementary schools.
Click on this link to register your student - The Summer Challenge Institute Registration. Registration closes Friday, May 24, 2024. We are only accepting 100 students to participate.
If you have any questions, please email Shawn English at [email protected] or call at 703-813-3944
Parktakes Summer Classes:
Choose from a variety of options and formats:
- Outdoor and indoor fitness classes
- Learn to swim group lessons and private lessons.
- Children’s and adult classes
- Summer Camps
- Nature & history programs
- Sports
- Scouting
- Golf lessons
- Gardening
- Virtual classes and camps – Fitness, nature, music, drama, coding
TJ Prep Camp
Sign up for TJ Prep Camp
This summer Jackson Middle School will be hosting a TJ Prep Camp to rising 8th grade students who are interested in taking the TJ admissions exam in the fall.
Please see flyer image above with more details.
Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Oakton Pyramid for Staff & Parents:
HIPS:
We have a HIPS presentation for the Oakton Pyramid. The presentation will be at OHS in the Lecture Hall. It will be on 05/30/24 from 630PM – 830PM. Please pass the link below onto parents / staff to attend, no students.
https://bit.ly/hipsohs05302024
PTA Corner:
New PTA Officers elected for 2024-25: Congratulations to all the PTA officers elected during the May PTA meeting for the next school year! President (Rajiv Sharma), Secretary (Amy Chai),
Treasurer (Robyn Berkenbilt), Membership (Wendy Bang),
Spirit wear (Ally Paddock),
Technology (Jay Berkenbilt), Food team (Megan Dho).
A big thanks to the outgoing officers for your exceptional support to the PTA! Lili Cui (Treasurer), Lynn Ploch-Craner (Spirit wear), Huaizhang Deng (Technology), Jenna von Elling (Food team), and Meredith Caldwell (Reflections)
The following positions are still vacant: Vice President, Reflections chair, Hospitality chair, Fundraising/Restaurant night chair, and Spanish liaison/Diversity chair. You are encouraged to apply for these open positions by sending a note to [email protected]
8th Grade Dance Friday, June 7th from 6:30-8:30 pm: It's almost the end of the school year, which means it's time to celebrate! We are looking for parent volunteers to help create lasting memories for our 8th graders. Use this link to sign up for specific roles at the dance.
You may donate gently used, clean clothing such as formal dresses (male and female), heels, shoes, jewelry, and men’s shirts by sending them to the school office of ‘Student Services / Tanya Shuford.’
You can also donate via Zelle to [email protected]. Any amount is appreciated and welcome!
Kings Dominion Day (Sunday, May 19th, 2024): All LJMS PTA members are invited to PTA Day at Kings Dominion, Richmond, on May 19th. Discounted tickets are available at
https://cf-kd.store.cffunkd.com/embed/store.php?merchant_id=10000205&emerchant_id=400
Access PTA Pricing with Username & Password: KDVAPTA
To check other benefits for PTA members, visit https://vapta.org/member-benefits/
Food Pantry: The Luther Jackson Middle School Food Pantry needs your help! We need parent volunteers to assist with food pick-up, bag packing, and food distribution. Interested in helping, but your schedule doesn't allow you to volunteer? Please consider donating food, personal hygiene items, household cleaning products, or reusable grocery bags to help our families utilize the food pantry. Follow the Sign-Up Genius link below if you are interested in volunteering:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/904084DA8AC2EAA8-ljms2
PTA Fundraising through glass recycling: Glass Goat was launched by LJ alumni to help with glass no longer being accepted by Fairfax County in recyclables. They offer a curbside glass pickup service that makes it easy and simple to recycle your glass responsibly without hassle. They are owned and operated entirely by hard-working teens, give a free custom bin, and send timely text reminders the day before pickup!
LJMS PTA gets $20 for each sign-up, use code Tigers20. https://glassgoatrecycling.com/
PTA website: Please check out the PTA website, where you can find the links to buy Spirit Wear, join the PTA, or donate: https://jacksonmspta.org/
School Laptops:
This is a reminder that a student’s FCPSOn device must be used responsibly at school and home, in accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities. According to School Board Regulation 5720 and the SR&R when a student borrows FCPS property, the student assumes full responsibility (including financial) for the property. If damage or a loss occurs, the student has a financial obligation to FCPS for the replacement parts or laptop replacement cost of $481. Laptop chargers can be purchased on MySchoolBucks, by check, or exactly $23 at school.
The student device and charger are for the assigned student’s use only.
Friends, other students, siblings, cousins, or other people should not use it. If a student decides to lend their laptop or charger to a fellow student, it is their responsibility if it is damaged or goes missing. More info can be found at Student Device Guidelines
If it is found that a laptop was damaged on purpose or because a student was being careless, there will be a charge to fix the device. Please remind students about the importance of being responsible with these devices.
School staff should be informed of a lost/stolen device immediately. The sooner it is reported, the more likely it can be found. Students and parents can submit support tickets at this site:
https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/student/
Summer Camps:
The Department of Neighborhood and community Services offers a variety of youth and teen summer camps at public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. All programs offer reduced fees for eligible families. please see the Flyer for more info:
College Partnership Program (CPP)
Madison HS Students Host Summer Debate Camp
Madison Debate Camp will take place on Monday, July 29th through Friday, August 2nd @JMHS from 12PM to 4PM on each of those days. The price of the camp is $50 and includes lunch every day, instruction from national level debaters (who will also just be back from Nationals), and a tournament (with awards). The rest of the proceeds go to the JMHS debate team to cover team costs during the season.
Every day will have new, fun lessons that will teach you the skills of a high school debater, giving you a foundational understanding of the basics of argumentation, public speaking, and debate as a whole. At the end of the camp, participants will also have an opportunity to participate in a high-school style tournament on the week’s chosen debate topic!
Sign-Up Link: https://forms.gle/qv7Kim31PtRu5SMk6
Join the Oakton Band!:
COURSE NUMBER
ENSEMBLE
DESCRIPTION
923415
923315
Advanced Band Level 1/Band Level 1
“Concert Band 2”
Rising 9th graders and new students to band register here. Exact band placements will be made after auditions are complete. Marching Band is optional
923416
923316
Advanced Band Level 2/
Band Level 2
“Concert Band 1”
Students who have been in band. Present members instructed to sign up for this class again and will be auditioned for upper level classes in May/June. Marching Band is optional
923417
Advanced Band Level 3
“Symphonic Band”
Auditions in May/June.
Marching Band required (with some limited exceptions)
924016
Jazz Ensemble
Must be enrolled in a band class (exceptions for keyboard, guitar, and bass guitar). Meets after school for credit. Begins mid-fall after the conclusion of the marching season.
922604
AP Music Theory
Open to grades 10-12.
**ALL BANDS ARE OPEN TO 9th GRADERS**
Marching Band ◊ Concert Band ◊ Color Guard ◊ Jazz Band ◊ Drumline ◊ Indoor Winter Guard
Band “Mythbusters”
- It is possible to do athletics and band.
- You can do clubs and honor societies and band.
- You can do band all four years and still get the most advanced diploma.
- You can still get into a great college without taking every AP class.
Important Date:
- Marching Band camp: July 29-August 9, 2024
Questions?
Ask Dr. VanValkenburg ([email protected])
LJMS Red/White Calendar
Back to School Immunization Clinics:
3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, Virginia, 22042 | Main Office: 703-204-8100
Attendance: 703.204.8282 | Web | Twitter | Instagram
