![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/zzz-legacy-bluegrunge.0bb2bac8.jpg)
JML Principal Newsletter
Week of 2/5/24
Calendar
February is...
American Heart Healthy Month
Black History Month
Cancer Prevention Month
World Nutella Day (5th)
Lunar New Year & Korean New Year (10th)
National Make a Friend Day (11th)
International Day of Woman and Girls in Science (11th)
Random Act of Kindness Day (17th)
Pet Dental Care Month
At JML:
Wednesdays & Thursdays - Late Bus Days
February - CTE Month in the State of VA (Celebrating our Teachers!)
2/4 - Report Cards available in ParentVue and StudentVue and Progress Reports available for students with IEPs in Virginia IEP
2/5-2/9 - National School Counselor Week (Celebrating our Counselors!)
2/9 - Staff & Student Holiday
2/12 - 2/15 - Clothing Drive at JML (details below)
2/12 - 2/15 - SPIRIT Week at JML
2/13 - R7 and R8 Parent Night - Curriculum & Electives Fair
2/19 - Staff & Student Holiday
2/22 - JML Dines at Panera (4pm-8pm)
2/23-2/29 - JML's Book Fair
What HW/Assignments Should my Child be Working on?
The Student Virtual Organizer was developed to support our students with learning how to prioritize and organize their time. Assignments, announcements, and due dates are all included. Parents often ask, "how can I help my child at school?" This tool is now available to you to do just that! Go to our school website --> find this icon --> click on your child's grade level. This doesn't replace Schoology but is a helpful tool for parents as it is a "snapshot" of what students are currently doing/learning. Check it out!
Congratulations to our Spelling Bee Winners!
Do you know how many students at JML are competitive spellers?! We had two final rounds of our school-wide Spelling Bee and congratulate our first place winner, Oviya Amalraj! In second place, Mila Makarov, and in third place, Sanjay Senthilkumaran! We are proud of each of you! Oviya will move on to our Regional Round - good luck, Oviya! We are all behind you and support you!
State of VA Career & Technical Education Month
CTE Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the major accomplishments of Career and Technical Education programs across the state of Virginia and the remarkable outcomes they produce for the thousands of students who participate each year! Here is the Loudoun County Public Schools CTE Month Proclamation.
There are more than 130 career and technical education courses offered to students in grades 6-12 across 8 programs (examples include business and information technology, family and consumer sciences, health and medical sciences, technology and engineering education, etc.), 17 career clusters (human services, information technology, marketing, STEM, etc.) and 79 career pathways (general management, marketing communications, national security, etc.). LCPS CTE courses are offered at all middle schools, high schools, Academies of Loudoun, The North Star School and William O. Robey High School. There are more than 30,000 students in grades 6-12 enrolled in career and technical education courses.
To learn more about Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Loudoun County Public Schools, please visit www.lcps.org/cte!
Below are our amazing CTE Teachers and the courses we offer at JML!
It's National School Counselor Appreciation Week!
In 2019, LCPS School Counseling Services created a Star System for school counseling departments. Four possible stars exist - Blue (lowest), Red (low-mid), Silver (mid-high), and Gold (highest). The County has established criteria to evaluate each school counseling program. This model ensures comprehensive support programs for students, ensures all students have equitable access to programs, that work is results-oriented, and is multi-tiered. JML's Counseling Team was awarded the GOLD STAR last year and no doubt, they will be awarded the same at the end of this year.
February 5th -9th is National School Counseling Week, which celebrates all school counselors across the country. Their contributions are invaluable to a student's well-being, academic achievement, career development, and personal-social needs of all students. To read more about the American School Counselor Association, see ASCA Website.
Please consider emailing your child's school counselor with a special note today!
In the order pictured below:
Ellen Foley (ellen.foley@lcps.org), Students in the Spectrum and ESOL programs
Jennifer Nocito (jennifer.nocito@lcps.org), Students in 7th Grade
Holly Fuhrman (holly.fuhrman@lcps.org), Students in 8th Grade
Joy Jackson (joy.jackson@lcps.org), Students in 6th Grade
Last Call - Help Stock the Teacher Lounges
Students Supporting Students - Spectrum Project, Step Up Loudoun
Hi, our names are Preysha, Shakthi, and Sachi, and we are 8th graders here at JML. We are in Spectrum, and we are trying to help our community as a part of a project called Step Up Loudoun. We are hosting a clothing drive to donate to local elementary schools in our area.
What: CLOTHING DRIVE
Where: JML Kiss & Ride in the afternoon
When: February 12th to February 16th
What are we looking for? Any gently used clothes for elementary school students
· Coats, Shoes, Shirts, Shorts
· Sweatpants, Sweatshirts, Dresses, Skirts
· Pajamas
SPIRIT WEEK - February 12-16
Heart Grams for Sale from the SGA
All proceeds from the Heart Grams will go to the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation. This local charity fills in gaps other services are unable to fill and they provide support with the day to day needs for families going through the unimaginable with their child. The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation has provided iPads, wheelchairs, and other needs to help children and their families who are dealing with life-changing medical situations.
JML SGA is proud to support this incredible organization. Lunsford Lions share you care and put a smile on your friends faces, by purchasing Heart Grams this week!
Student Opportunity: Makerspace Competition in the Library
Our amazing Librarians, Ms. Holzberger, Ms. Paczek, and Ms. Morsy are hosting a Makerspace competition for students the week of February 26. Students will form teams and compete to create a container that will drop an egg from 8 feet without cracking it. Students should see Ms. Holzberger to sign up!
Business Partnership Opportunity!
JML is looking for business partners. If you know of a business who is looking to partner with a school, please contact me directly. This is a very exciting opportunity and there are benefits to the business as well as to our students! amanda.hudson@lcps.org
Here are some of the benefits of a school/business partnership:
- Students learn current and relevant skills
- Business could provide mentoring, presentations to students, coaching on job skills or interview skills as examples.
- Students are leaders and committed to their communities
- Business could sponsor essay or scholarship contests where students demonstrate their leadership within the community.
- Students learn interactive and technology skills
- Business could offer technology courses to students, could hear presentations with technology tools embedded from students, provide technology equipment to schools as examples.
- Businesses benefit from having a well-qualified workforce.
- Schools could provide highly qualified students for paid or unpaid job experiences so that training begins in youth and develops over time.
- Schools advertise the business partnership through all social media and publications.
- Schools reserve seats at concerts and events for business partners.
Got Gently Used Books? - Donate to our Library!
The Library is collecting gently used books for our annual Used Book Sale which will take place at Big Night Out. Please consider donating any books you have laying around collecting dust! Donations can be dropped off at the front office or brought to the Library by students.
JML's Book Fair is coming! Get Excited!
Our Spring Scholastic Book Fair coming up at the end of February! We would love to have parent volunteers to assist during the book fair. Sign up if you're interested! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4DA8AF2AA46-47499598-spring#/
Student Course Selections for School Year 2024-2025
It is now time to begin planning student schedules for the 2024-2025 school year (can you believe it?!). Over the next three months, students and staff will be working together to craft student course requests. Students should begin thinking about what courses they want to take next year, counselors will be working with them in groups and individually, and parents/guardians are encouraged to attend information nights to hear more about curriculum offered at both JML and Freedom HS. Here are some dates to be aware of:
**R = Rising (example: R7 means current 6th graders, or Rising 7th Graders)
1/23: R9 General Info/HS Presentation at Freedom HS for Families (7:00pm)
1/25: R9-R12 Curriculum Night & Electives Fair at Freedom HS (6:00pm)
1/31-2/1: R9 Course Selection Lessons with FHS Counselors (through Resource)
2/2: R9 Community Coffee: Q&A with FHS Administration (at JML)
2/13: R7-R8 Curriculum Night & Electives Fair
5:30-7:30- Elective Fair in Classrooms
6:00-6:45- R7 Course Selection Presentation (Auditorium)
7:00-7:45- R8 Course Selection Presentation (Auditorium)
2/14: R7 Course Selection Lessons w/ Ms. Jackson (through Resource)
2/15: R8 Course Selection Lessons w/ Ms. Nocito (through Resource)
2/19-3/22+: Counselors meet with students individually or in small groups for academic advising
4/12: R9 - Field Trip to FHS for the Freedom Expo (morning)
5/1-5/31: R9 - No Course Request Changes
6/14: R6-R8 - Last Day for Course Changes
From the PTA
COMMUNITY DINING NIGHTS
Take a break from making dinner and support JML at the same time! We have some great dining nights lined up, and are working to add a few more.
- February 22 - Panera Bread
- 4pm-8pm
- Be sure to use the code (FUND4U) at checkout or show the flyer.
- March 20 - Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- 7am-8pm
Do you own a restaurant/eatery or know someone who would like to host a community dining night? If so, let us know! Just reach out to Jenny Pittman, PTA President, at liljen53@gmail.com.
3v3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The annual 3v3 basketball tournament is scheduled for March 8, 2024! We are in the early stages of planning, so keep a look out for more information soon!
BIG NIGHT OUT
A date has not been set for this event yet, but we hope to have it in April. It is a super fun event for the whole community, but it takes a lot of planning and work to pull off. If you are interested in helping in any of the following areas, please contact Jenny Pittman, PTA President at liljen53@gmail.com:
- Overall planning and logistics
- Contacting businesses for silent auction donations
Stay tuned for details over the coming months!
Show us your SNOW DAY fun!
Our SNOW DAY video (https://youtu.be/7AphAP923Mo) will be even better with our students and staff a part of it! Consider uploading a snow day photo to this link and it will be added to the next snow day video. https://forms.gle/fvk9rd7zpUwZehFZA
JML Staff Members of the Month
Congratulations to the following staff members who have gone above and beyond to make JML the very special place that it is. They received a certificate and gift card from Ms. Salgado, Assistant Principal.
Jessica Anchante, English Teacher
Annie Cave, Special Education Teacher
Shane Lilly, 7th Grade Dean
Neil O'Brien, Safety & Security Officer
Dara Renaghan, Science Teacher
Helpful Links
Previous Editions of the Principal Newsletter: https://www.lcps.org/lunsford
LCPS Guide & Directory: www.lcps.org/Page/213987
LCPS School Calendar: https://www.lcps.org/Page/247996
Sign up for ParentVue: https://www.lcps.org/PVUE
Order a Yearbook CODE 13759: www.yearbookordercenter.com
Support the JML PTA, order JML Spirit Gear, Birthday Marquee orders: https://jmlpta1.memberhub.com/
JML Library Newsletter: https://bit.ly/48SsB1s