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JML Principal Newsletter
Week of 11/19/23
Calendar
November is...
Native American Heritage Month
Veterans/Military Family Month
Hunger/Homeless Awareness Month
World Kindness Day (Nov 12)
Diabetes Awareness Month
Pancreatic & Lung Cancer Awareness Month
International Stress Awareness Week (1st)
At JML:
Wednesdays & Thursdays - Late Bus Days
11/20 - 8th Grade Class Panoramic Photo (9:00am)
11/22-11/24 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
12/6 - Chorus 6 Concert (7pm)
12/8 - JML Dance - "The Blizzard Blowout" (ticket required)
12/12 - Strings 6 Concert (6pm)
12/13 - Band 7 Concert (7pm)
12/14 - JML Dines at Foster's Grill
12/18 - Chorus 7/8 Concert (7pm)
12/21-12/29 - Winter Break (No School)
1/15 - Holiday
1/19 - End of 2nd Quarter
1/22 - Student Holiday/Staff Planning Day
1/23 - AMC 8 Math Competition (registration info below)
JML Winter Dance - Buy your Tickets Today!
This dance is a fundraiser for our Student Government Association. The ticket cost includes the DJ fees, photo booths, decorations, pizza, snacks, drinks. Any proceeds will go back to JML students and staff through various activities that SGA will plan for the remainder of the year. I am confident this dance will be a fun one for All!
What to chaperone? Here is the sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4DA8AF2AA46-46212797-blizzard
AMC 8 Math Competition
January 23rd, 2024 - AMC 8 Math Competition
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. Students apply classroom skills to unique problem-solving challenges in a low-stress and friendly environment.
The material covered on the AMC 8 includes topics from a typical middle school mathematics curriculum. Possible topics include but are not limited to: counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry including the Pythagorean Theorem, spatial visualization, everyday applications, and reading and interpreting graphs and tables. In addition, some of the later questions may involve linear or quadratic functions and equations, coordinate geometry, and other topics traditionally covered in a beginning algebra course.
To register, please complete this Google Form. You will also need to pay a $5 fee and register directly on the AMC website. Links to pay and register are included in our Google Form. For questions about registration or if you cannot pay the fee, contact Emma.Weber@lcps.org
Link to Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7gH7Q3Z_Xe8lWSeWmjvccnGONLXAE3HvrT1Ko_nW211k94g/viewform?usp=sf_link
From our PTA
Thank you to everyone who ordered (or tried to order) Badd Pizza on our Spirit Night. The staff underestimated our love for Badd Pizza and had to close early. The owner expresses his apologies and wants to work with us again in the future. Please stay tuned.
Who likes Burgers?? Mark your calendars for our next Spirit Night...Dec 14th at Fosters Grill! You can order all day and a portion of sales will go back to us.
JML's first Guitar Concert
Under the direction of Mr. Eastridge, our Guitar students held their first concert last week. Playing 8 or so songs, they impressed with different genres, included composers who were LCPS teachers, and showcased soloists on the guitar and piano. It was a beautiful concert and lots of families were in attendance. Kudos to you and our students, Mr. Eastridge, and good luck at the VMEA Conference in Richmond, VA where your students have been asked to play as well!
JML's Veteran's Day Celebration 2023
Dean Sansonetti and Ms. Hitchcock did it again! They organized and pulled off an amazing Veteran's Day event on Friday last week. Our 30 guests arrived, had a bite to eat, mingled with each other, and then headed to classes to talk with our students about their experiences as a Veteran/Active Duty military member. Our students asked a lot of great questions and were attentive listeners. The final activity was for our guests to judge the homeroom poster contest. Each homeroom created a posted about Veteran's Day, they were posted in our main hallway, and our Veterans reviewed and selected their favorites. If you haven't already, please ask your student what they learned from our guests on Friday.
THANK YOU to our Veteran's and Active Duty military for serving our country so we have what we do today. And for those who attended our event, thank you for giving your time to our students and staff for this very important real-world learning activity.
Special Programs for Students in High School
This month, our 8th grade class heard a presentation that covered the specialty programs they can apply to that LCPS offers. These programs are competitive and are housed in schools other than Freedom HS. This means, if students apply to the Medical Sciences, IB Program, NJROTC, Academies of Loudoun, or Thomas Jefferson HS for Science & Technology, and are accepted, they would attend a different high school. I was especially interested in the Medical Sciences program but all of them had their unique strengths. I encourage families of 6th and 7th graders to begin exploring these offerings now so you are well prepared to apply during the student's 8th grade year. https://www.lcps.org/Page/243490
Attendance Expectations
Attending school daily is an expectation and is Virginia Law. If your child needs to miss school at JML, our Attendance Procedures are here: https://www.lcps.org/Page/226232
I realize that we are in the winter months and some families are considering taking extended family trips. Please know that all absences due to vacations or trips are unexcused absences per LCPS guidelines. Whenever possible, I recommend students miss no more than 3-4 consecutive school days now that they are in secondary school. Missing more school than 3-4 days at a time creates stress for the student and for our teachers as assignments and assessments pile up, and the student can easily fall behind in their academics. I encourage all families to plan trips around the LCPS calendar whenever possible so students are in school, learning and achieving. There is a link to this calendar at the end of this newsletter.
Attendance Strategies for Parents of Middle School Students:
- Talk to your child about the importance of being in classes each day.
- Help your teen maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and nonemergency medical appointments during the day.
- Find out if your child feels engaged by their classes and feels safe at school.
- Monitor your teen's academic progress and seek help from our teachers when necessary.
- Stay on top of your child's social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school.
- Encourage your child to join meaningful after school activities.
- Notice and support your child if they are showing signs of anxiety regarding coming to school. Call the school counselor if you see a pattern or have ongoing concerns.
Staffing Needs at JML
We are still searching for a school counselor, site-based substitute (1 full-time position) and one Special Education Math teacher. If you know of anyone, please send them our way.
Did you miss our Parent Meeting on Teen Vaping & Trends?
Slide deck is here: JML Community Presentation Nov 2023
JML Staff Members of the Month
Congratulations to the following staff members for being November's Staff Members of the Month! They have gone above and beyond working with our students and colleagues to make JML a special place. Each will receive a certificate and a gift card.
Jacob Brown
Susan Grimes
Stacie Holzberger
Jessica Newbery
and Tina Paczek
South Riding Community Happenings
Have you seen the November issue of the South Riding Magazine? If not, the digital magazine is below. Some highlights include:
- Jingle Dash Registration
- Selfies with Santa Sign ups
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors Volunteer Opportunity
- Possible Dulles Area Elementary School Boundary Changes
- Diwali - the 5 Days
- Local Clubs and Groups you may want to join
Helpful Links
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
JML Library Newsletter: JML Library November Newsletter
JML UMHT Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/k1yht
Support the JML PTA, order JML Spirit Gear, Birthday Marquee orders: https://jmlpta1.memberhub.com/