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The Mustang Messenger
Sunday, February 11, 2024
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Sunday, February 18, 2024
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A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!
We hope that you are enjoying this long Presidents Day weekend with your family and friends! My own parents, both former educators themselves, have come up for a visit. I think they secretly wanted to see my puppy Ollie (a mini bernedoodle) more as he is growing rather quickly. 🙂
As we approach our Honor Roll assemblies for Quarter 2 this week, it is hard to believe that Quarter 3 Interims are approaching this coming Friday, February 26 - Monday, February 29, 2024! Therefore, it is a great time for our Mustangs to check Schoology / StudentVue to ensure that they are up to date on all assignments / assessments. Please have them reach out to their teachers with any questions or to schedule resource support as always...we are here to assist!
Peer Tutoring Program Expansion / Varsity Tutors...for our Mustangs!
As we are now fully engaged in the second semester of SY 2023-2024 and looking to the end of SY 2023-2024 fast approaching, we are proud to announce that in addition to the interventions / academic supports that your students receive from our awesome staff both during class and resource time that we are expanding our peer tutoring programs available via assistance from Loudoun County HS National Honor Society and Educators Rising programs. If you read below, you will notice that Varsity Tutors are now available free of charge via support from LCPS as well. More information about other ways to receive individualized / group tutoring both in a peer-oriented format and from JLS staff / University Instructors is coming super soon as well. Stay tuned!
New Dates for Snow Day Events!
Our PTO Meeting for February is slated for this Tuesday, February 21, 2024 at 6 PM due to the inclement weather closure we experienced last week. Our Club/Organization Photos that we also planned for the snow day are in the midst of being rescheduled with our vendor....so please keep your eyes peeled for that update soon!
Monty's Cafe and Clubs During The Day Return!
Speaking of our incredible PTO, Monty's Cafe returns this coming Wednesday, February 21 from 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM! Mustang students and staff can purchase yummy hot chocolate for $2.00 and enjoy it in the cafeteria before heading to their respective house areas. Clubs During The Day return the same Wednesday as our focus on positive COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS both academically and in areas of extracurricular student interest endures!
Krispy Kreme Fundraiser For JLS Beautification Continues!
Our Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Fundraiser also continues through February 29...and we are making definite progress towards our goal! We provided each of our Mustangs at all grade levels a small handout to take home for you to have easy access via a Q/R code if you would like to order some delicious doughnuts in support of our endeavor to refresh hallway art, create our new gymnasium Murals, install a digital sign in front of our school, and build school supply resources for our Mustangs in 2024-2025. If you would like to simply make a donation to our effort in lieu of our doughnut sale, feel free to do so at this link! We appreciate the constant support our families and community members offer to make Simpson continually the best!
So many fun events are heading our way in the coming weeks, including Black History Month Spirit Week, Multicultural Night, and our 7th Grade PTO Event at Ida Lee...and you can find information on all of these festivities below. Be sure to use the headlines at the left of this message or simply scroll down to see wonderful opportunities for your Mustang and your families weekly!
We hope you enjoy this particularly mostly sunny week that lies ahead for us all as it seems spring is arriving quickly! Take care of yourselves and one another and see you soon!
Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III
Principal
JL Simpson Middle School
JLS Grade-Level Academic Weekly Update - February 20-23, 2024
Click here --> JLSMS Grade Level Academic Weekly Update - February 20-23, 2024
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE JLS GRADE-LEVEL ACADEMIC WEEKLY UPDATE NEWSLETTER in MULTIPLE LANGUAGES?
To Translate A Document to a Preferred Language Other Than English:
1. Click on the grade-level newsletter you wish to review.
2. In the top menu, click Tools and then Translate document.
3. Enter a name for the translated document and select a language.
4. Click Translate.
A translated copy of your document will open in a new window. You can also see this copy in your Google Drive.
Tutoring and Enrichment Opportunities Available for All LCPS Students
Looking for tutoring and enrichment opportunities for your students?
All Mustangs now have access to Varsity Tutors, a free resource to support student academic growth. Parents can contact Varsity Tutors directly to learn more about all the services available.
For more information see the LCPS website.
Please note: Staff is not responsible for connecting, scheduling or monitoring students whose families seek out the services provided. Varsity Tutors' operations are separate from LCPS.
This Week at JL Simpson Middle School
February 20-23 - Happening All Week:
- WIDA ACCESS Testing Continues
Monday, February 19 - No School - Presidents Day
Tuesday, February 20 - B Day
- PTO Spirit Night - ALL DAY @Wendy's - Mention Simpson MS
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Rising 6th Grade Mouthpiece/Rythm Assessment
Wednesday, February 21 - A Day
- 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Monty's Cafe Open
- 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM: 8th Grade Second Quarter Honor Roll Celebration
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- Opportunity Time - M6
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Ms. O’Hara - Auxiliary Gym
- Weightlifting Club - Mr. Dunbar - Weight Room
- Empowered Girls - Ms. Herrin/Ms. Ashley - A17
- Orchestra Rehearsal - Ms. Paquette - Auditorium
- Jazz Band Rehearsal - Ms. Paquette - BAND Room
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
Thursday, February 22 - B Day
- 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM: 7th Grade Second Quarter Honor Roll Celebration
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- Opportunity Time - M6
- Select Choir Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - Choir Room
- Running Club - Mr. Peyton - Main Office Vestibule
- Select Choir Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey Johnson - M4
- Student Council Association - Ms. Herrin/Ms. Suttie B12
Friday, February 23 - A Day
- 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM: 6th Grade Second Quarter Honor Roll Celebration
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - Auditorium
Congratulations to our Mustangs selected for All State Choir!
Out of 1100 student auditions, 6 of our students were selected for state choir with 2 alternates!
Congratulations, Honor Roll Students!
Congratulations to all the Mustangs who achieved Honor Roll for the second quarter of the 2023-2024 school year!
Please find the complete lists below. Be sure to scroll all the way through as each list begins with All A Honor Roll followed by A/B Honor Roll.
If your Mustang achieved honor roll this quarter, you will receive an invitation to our Honor Roll Celebration to be held on the following days:
February 21 for 8th grade - 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM
February 22 for 7th grade - 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM
February 23 for 6th grade - 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM
Black History Month Spirit Week...February 23 - February 29!
Save the Date - J L Simpson Multicultural Night - March 19
If you are interested in participating in the J L Simpson Multicultural Night on March 19, please complete this form. We are looking for volunteers to help with set up, clean up, presenting artifacts, performing cultural dances, and sharing foods from around the world.
Loiselle-Fawcett Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society
The Loiselle-Fawcett Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at J.L. Simpson Middle School is excited to invite academically eligible (3.5 or higher GPA) 7th and 8th grade students to submit a candidate information packet.
If your student is eligible for candidacy they will receive an email with the candidate packet before the end of February 2024. (NOTE: This is a change to last week's Mustang Messenger as we work with our school division to appropriately calculate the cumulative GPA at the middle school level.)
National Junior Honor Society members shall exemplify and maintain the five pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Membership in NJHS does not guarantee membership in NHS during their high school years. All candidate packets will have to be submitted to the committee by a forthcoming due date to be announced within the e-mail for candidates for consideration.
PTO Spirit Night @ Wendy's - This Tuesday!
Mark your calendar for our next Spirit Night at Wendy's on Tuesday February 20th all day until 11:30pm!
Don't forget to mention Simpson PTO so we get 20% of proceeds! :)
Our Yearbook Staff Is Looking For Fun Photos of Our Mustangs Outside of School!
Our Simpson Yearbook staff is seeking photos of Mustangs outside of the school house!
Please consider sharing your photos of anything that your Mustangs do in relation to volunteering, sports, clubs, pets, favorite Leesburg activities, attending LCHS games, or neighborhood / family events.
Go to HJeshare.com and use code 13625 to submit your pictures!
Thank you for your support!
Virginia Speak Up Family Survey
Be a part of the conversation happening across the state!
Starting on January 15, we will be participating in the Virginia Speak Up Research Project for Digital Learning.
The national Speak Up is the first survey designed to help families share their ideas directly with schools and national policymakers. Speak Up provides parents and guardians with a mechanism for expressing their views to the administrators at their child(ren)’s school and district about key issues impacting their child(ren)’s education.
Since 2003, Speak Up has collected and shared the views of more than 5.4 million students, teachers, and parents/guardians from across the country. By participating in the Virginia Speak Up, you are expressing your views to a wider audience of local, state, and national policy makers —and contributing to the national dialogue about how best to prepare students for the future. The online survey is open to students, educators, and parents/guardians; it’s quick and easy to get involved. All participation is 100% confidential. Surveys take about 20 minutes to complete. To take the survey, visit this link.
To preview any of the surveys (students, teachers, administrator) visit https://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/vaspeakup/
We appreciate you taking the time to share your views with us! We need your input!
7th Grade - Save the Date - March 9 - Free Event @Ida Lee Rec Center
Resource Opportunity for 8th Graders
SHINE! Spotlighting Heroes in Education Recognition Program
HRTD is excited to launch SHINE! Spotlighting Heroes in Education, a new recognition program that aims to tell the stories of the incredible work happening throughout the division. We encourage schools to promote SHINE both inside their buildings between peers as well as with their school communities through newsletters, websites and social media as all parents, students, staff and community members are welcome to submit a nomination. Each month, Loudoun Education Foundation will choose one submission to provide additional acknowledgement and a special gift.
How it works:
We are seeking submissions for LCPS staff members at schools, central office and support locations who:
Have gone above and beyond in a situation
Have inspired others or have a heartwarming story
Are doing something unique or creative that is leading to results
In general, ANY great news!
Complete the submission form (It’s short and easy!)
The Employee Recognition office notifies the nominee as well as their supervisor of the submission
The story may be placed on the Employee Recognition webpage.
We are honored to announce that Ms. Victoria Curtis-Meyding, Mr. Derrick Jackson, and Ms. Alesha Whitmore have already been recognized by families in our community! You can find their stories on the SHINE webpage under Inspirational Stories.
Our goal is to place a spotlight on the hundreds of positive interactions taking place in LCPS each day...and especially at JLS! We look forward to seeing your celebrations of our JLS Mustang Professionals throughout 2023-2024!
Makeup and Retake Photos Now Available Online
Make Up/Retake School Pictures are now viewable online. 😀
Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc
Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
Club Day Bell Schedule: Next Club Date: Wed. February 21
Don't Forget to Order Your Yearbook!
Orders can be placed at yearbookordercenter.com
Be sure to use our school code 13625
* LCPS Events and Announcements *
Parent Coaching and Resources
Loudoun County Public Schools is offering new resources for all staff and parents/guardians to use to support students through www.parental guidance.org. You can learn more about this initiative by clicking here.
These resources include easily accessible video-based courses on difficult parenting topics, individualized parent coaching for any LCPS parent/guardian, on their schedule in their home, and weekly interactive webinars to let parents know the mental health needs of our students are a critical concern of Loudoun County Public Schools. Your unified mental health team members are ready to assist parents in accessing the support. You can watch this video about the services available.
Slide deck with additional information: Coaching CCHC LCPS 2024.pptx
World Language Opportunities for Students
The Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement (DEL FACE) Office is pleased to invite families to our next The Family Room Session:
World Language Opportunities For Your Student
Tuesday, February 27th, 2024
6 pm English & Spanish
7pm English & Arabic
Join us virtually to learn about exciting and rigorous World Language opportunities available to LCPS students.
The focus of this session will be on:
- The Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program for Kindergarten to 1st Grade students
- Credit through Testing (CTT)
- The Seal of Biliteracy
Click on the flyer below to learn more!
New Parent Report for VGA Assessments
VDOE has created a new Parent Report for the Virginia Growth Assessments that were administered in reading and math to students in grades 3-8 in December. This report includes comparison data from fall to winter and resources to help parents support their student’s learning.
A sample report is included below. A spring Parent Report is also expected and will contain the student’s scores from the fall and winter Growth Assessments, along with the Spring SOL scores.
Content offices have been informed of this new report and are available to assist. It is anticipated that the Parent Reports will be posted to ParentVUE / TeacherVUE during the week of January 23-26, 2024. This report will be available to parents in addition to the ‘standard’ SDBQ reports, which have already been uploaded. Please reach out to the Office of Assessment with questions.
Reference: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VADOE/bulletins/3831ebb#performance
DEL, FACE, Welcome to LCPS Family Workshop (Virtual)
The Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement (DEL FACE) Office invites new international families to our virtual Welcome to LCPS Family Workshop.
This virtual informative session will include information about LCPS and the U.S School system. A toolkit to support student's transition to LCPS will be shared.
- Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
- Thursday, March 7th 2024 - 6:30pm-7:30pm
Sessions will be available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi/Dari:
Welcome to LCPS Flyer - English
Welcome to LCPS Flyer - Spanish
Welcome to LCPS Flyer - Arabic
Welcome to LCPS Flyer- Dari/Farsi
Families can register by completing this Google Form.
Contact Sarah.Ocampo@lcps.org, DEL FACE Coordinator, with any questions.
Campus Application Window - Jan 8 - March 1
Youth After School - Loudoun County PRCS
LCPS Mental Health and Wellness Parent Series
* Community Events / Announcements *
Central Loudoun Basketball League Events and Opportunities
Check out the Playoff Schedules / Brackets for our JLS Boys and Girls as they are approaching this coming weekend! Come support our Mustang basketball stars!
Young Screenwriters Conference - March 2 - Recommended for Grade 8 and Up
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy - Young Birding Program
Parent Workshop with College Funding Coach @Harper Park Middle School
"If I Were Mayor" - Essay Contest for 7th and 8th Graders
The Town of Leesburg invites local 7th and 8th grade students to enter the Virginia Municipal League’s (VML) “If I Were Mayor” essay contest.
Students are asked to identify a problem within their community, gather feedback from community members, and offer a proposed solution, which must be presented in a typed essay between 300 and 500 words.
Students must live in the Town of Leesburg, which is considered a VML member locality. All entries must be received by end of day on Monday, March 18. Visit https://www.vml.org/Opportunities/Essay-Contest for full details.
Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque. The runner-up from the region that receives the statewide award will become that region’s winner.
“This is a great opportunity for our local 7th and 8th grade students to imagine themselves as mayor, identify an issue, and problem solve for their community,” said Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk. “I can't wait to read the great ideas that will come from the essays. If there is a really good idea maybe we can work together.”
Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City.
* Simpson Middle School PTO *
How do I join the Simpson Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)?
Are you trying to figure out how to stay involved during those middle school years?
There are small and big ways that really make an impact on our AMAZING school! Please reach out to Natalie Sutter nsutter@gmail.com or Sara Conner sbc070178@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with our PTO activities in any way. You can also sign up to help by clicking here!
The PTO has many things planned for our staff and students! Check out our Volunteer Signup! A board member will reach out with more details!
- FREE Grade Level Events for each grade
- Monty's Cafe (Coming back for a 3rd year)
- Family Bingo Night w/ Silent Auction and Concessions
- Enhance our social media platforms
- Lots of Appreciation Days / Weeks for Staff
- Joint 5K with other middle schools
Click here for the Official J.L. Simpson MS PTO Webpage.
We look forward to engaging all of our Mustang families in PTO in service and support of all of our children!
Be Sure to Join Remind to Receive More Important Updates
Dates to Remember
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
February 19 - No School - Holiday - Presidents' Day
February 20 - PTO Spirit Night @Wendy's ALL DAY
February 21 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance / 8th Grade Honor Roll Celebration 8:30 AM
February 22 - 7th Grade Honor Roll Celebration - 8:30 AM
February 23 - 6th Grade Honor Roll Celebration - 8:30 AM
March 5 - No School - Student Holiday
March 9 - PTO free event for 7th grade @Ida Lee - 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM
March 14 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - Cafeteria
March 20 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
March 25 - 29 - No School - Spring Break
April 4 - End of Third Grading Period
April 5 - No School - Student Holiday
April 10 - No School - Holiday - Eid al Fitr
April 17 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
April 18 - PEP Meeting
May 15 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
May 27 - No School - Holiday - Memorial Day
June 5 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
June 14 - Last Day of School/End of Fourth Grading Period
Follow Us On Social Media!
Email: Tripp.DiNicola@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/jlsms
Location: J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, Evergreen Mills Rd, Leesburg, VA, USA
Phone: 5712522840
Instagram: @jlsimpsonms_official_ jl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLSimpsonMS2020/
X: @JLSMS_Official