The Mustang Messenger
2024-2025 Season
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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_
A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!
Even with our three-hour early dismissal on Tuesday and our Wednesday snow day, our Mustangs shined as leaders in the classroom, at their activities and clubs, and especially with our rising 6th graders as we welcomed Class of 2032 members from Catoctin ES, Sycolin Creek ES, Kenneth Culbert ES, and Discovery ES to JLS on Friday, February 14 for a special interactive visit!
RISING 6th GRADE MUSTANGS from the CLASS of 2032 - ROUND #1 - Friday, February 14, 2025
Our JLS Sources of Strength student leadership team worked with our illustrious Unified Mental Health Team of Mica Thomasson, Ana Castro, Alison Hyman, Sabrina Jeane, Jessica McCarthy, Sandy Salguero, Kim Hager, and Leslie Chisholm to bring quality experiences in learning all about being a Mustang at JL Simpson Middle School as we approach our 50th Anniversary Season in 2025-2026!
Our future Mustangs walked down a red carpet into our foyer where they were greeted with lively music and a gauntlet of our student leaders and staff clapping them into the auditorium for their first session! They were able to meet our school leadership team, our Unified Mental Health Team, and learn all about our HONORABLE-ENGAGED-RESPECTFUL-DETERMINED initiative that surrounds our efforts at JLS in each and every task we undertake. They also heard from our super talented 8th Grade Orchestra and 8th Grade Band under the leadership of Ms. Kanakry and Mr. Pazanowski respectively before they joined their student tour guides for a journey around our school to discover the various sites and resources, as well as to meet many of the Mustang Professional Staff that are eagerly awaiting their arrival in the fall! They learned how to open their lockers before heading to lunch with our Sources of Strength team, engaging in some fun discussions just to get to know one another and more about the opportunities at Simpson that are right around the corner for them all. After lunch, our future Mustangs headed to the auditorium to witness a great performance by our 8th Grade Chorus under the leadership of Holly-Hoey Johnson, heard more about our Stampede Into Simpson Rising 6th Grade Orientation experience set for Tuesday, June 17 - Wednesday, June 18, and a Q&A panel discussion with current Mustangs at JLS. 5th Grade teachers and other professional staff members from Catoctin ES and Sycolin Creek ES were even able to collaborate in discussions with our current 6th grade teachers and other staff from JLS to discuss an effective transition academically and otherwise to Simpson in the fall of 2025.
I was SO IMPRESSED by our future Mustangs' positive energy, attentiveness, support of each other, and incredibly inquisitive nature that already shine a light on just how terrific they will be upon arrival in the fall. Our Grade 6 Dean, Mr. Washburn, Grade 6 Counselor, Ms. Thomasson, and I plan to go visit all of our elementary school 5th graders at their school sites soon, perhaps popping by their lunches just to get to know them a bit more from time to time! It was a FABULOUS experience for all of us...and we cannot wait to greet 5th graders from Evergreen Mill ES on Friday, February 28 and Frederick Douglass ES on Thursday, March 13 for their rising 6th grade visits in the coming weeks!
SCHEDULING TIME for 2025-2026 CONTINUES! HAVE YOU LOOKED AT COURSE PLANNER WITH YOUR MUSTANG?!
Please be sure to refer to the e-mail I sent on Friday, January 31 with details surrounding our new Course Planner system that supports our Mustangs in course selections both for next season and well into the future. Our counselors have been meeting laboriously alongside their colleagues from Loudoun County HS with our Mustangs to introduce them to Course Planner and will now create individual sessions with each and every student to ensure that their course selections are in place for 2025-2026. Please remember that no Rising 6th-7th-8th course selections can be altered after Monday, April 21, 2025! Take time to focus on course scheduling now...and reach out to your Mustang's counselor should you have any questions at all:
Grade 6: Sabrina.Jeane@lcps.org
Grade 7: Alison.Hyman@lcps.org
Grade 8: Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org
Grades 6-7-8: Ana.L.Castro@lcps.org
Our Rising 6th Grade Curricular and Extracurricular Fair Night takes place on the NEW DATE, Wednesday, February 19! If by chance we have snow yet again, we will try for Wednesday, February 26 as a backup date. 😄
Doors for the Rising 6th Grade Curricular and Extracurricular Fair will open at 5:45 PM for all attendees to report initially to the cafeteria space for a smorgasbord of helpful information, including but not limited to our Parent-Teacher Organization, ParentVue/StudentVue, Youth After School Programs, Intramural Sports, Clubs/Organizations at JLS, World Languages and Cultures options, and Family and Community Engagement. This event is intended for parents/guardians only!
ANNUAL BOOK FAIR 2025! - ENDS on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
Our 2024-2025 Book Fair commences on the night of our Rising 6th Grade Curricular and Extracurricular Fair and runs through February 20. If we have inclement weather, we will be extending the time that our fair remains open. Purchasing books and other accessories from our book fair is a great way to not only bring greater, expanded levels of interest in literacy to your Mustang...it is also a fundraiser of sorts since a percentage of the profits that we gain from our fair come right back to JLS! English classes will sign up for times to come and visit the fair throughout our week-long event. Students can also come by during Resource, Lunch, and after school. Families are welcome to sign in the front office to check out our book fair in person! Glance over the flyer and the presentation pasted below this welcome message for more details.
We also wish to thank our PTO again for hosting Monty's Café on Tuesday, February 11 as our Mustangs arrived at school. That hot chocolate and those sweet treats always are a yummy way to welcome everyone in a warm way considering the brisk weather that is still winterizing the area for the time being. We also held our Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) Meeting on Thursday, February 13 with our Empowered Girls cooking a delicious dinner for our guests as they learned about family and community engagement resources available to them for the best possible connections at JLS!
Our Intramural Basketball team formation took place on Monday, February 10 and led to our first practices on Thursday under the guidance of the terrific Sam Carpenter as our Intramural Sports coordinator at Simpson. Soccer sign-ups are available now as the spring is quickly approaching...so be sure to check out the link below to help your Mustang sign up to join us if interested!
In addition to a plethora of club meetings and cool classroom activities, the week ahead boasts a PTO Meeting on Tuesday, February 18 at 5:00 PM in our library/media center, our Quarter 2 Grade 6 Honor Roll Assembly on Thursday, February 20, and a fantastic author visit by the terrific Sydney Dunlap on Friday, February 21 for our current 6th graders.
Stay dry on this especially damp weekend...hoping to find an opening in time to go for my Sunday run...but at least we know that the spring weather is coming our way in just a little over a month!
See you all at Simpson soon and have a terrific week ahead!
HOW DO I FIND OUT IF THERE ARE SCHEDULE CHANGES at JLS?
The best way to find out is to follow us on Instagram or to join our Remind accounts that align to your Mustang's graduation year as seen at the bottom of this newsletter. Keep in mind as well that this newsletter will also be updated throughout the week should you use the linked version that is texted to you every Sunday upon delivery at 5:30 PM. The e-mail version, unfortunately, does not update in a live format like the texted link does, despite my best efforts. :)
Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III
Principal
JL Simpson Middle School
Library Book Fair through Thursday, February 20
Monday, February 17 - No School - Holiday (Presidents Day)
Tuesday, February 18 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A2
- PTO Meeting - 5:00 PM in the Library
- After School Activities
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Vocal Rehearsals - M4 - Ms. Hoey
Wednesday, February 19- B-Day - FLEX DAY: B2
- Rising 6th Grade Curricular and Extracurricular Fair for Parents - 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM
- After School Activities
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Vocal Rehearsals - M4 - Ms. Hoey
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Latin Student Association (LSA) - D7 - Ms. Lopez
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Student Council Association (SCA) - Cafe - Ms. Suttie
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Weightlifting Club - Main Gym - Mr. Dunbar
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Mad Scientist Club - C4 - Ms. Song
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Level Up - B16 - Ms. Keefer
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - History Club - B14 - Ms. Vlchek
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - JLS Principal Student Advisory Committee - Art 1
Thursday, February 20 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: ADVISORY (Adjusted Bell Schedule)
- 6th Grade Quarter 2 Honor Roll Celebration
- After School Activities
- 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Rehearsals - Cafe - Mr. McGraw, Mr. Thompson
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Select Choir Rehearsal - M4 - Ms. Hoey-Johnson
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Level Up - B16 - Ms. Keefer
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Running Club - C10 - Mr. Peyton
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - History Club - B14 - Ms. Vlchek
- 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Intramural Basketball - Gym - Mr. Carpenter
Friday, February 21 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: ADVISORY (Adjusted Bell Schedule)
- 6th Grade Author Visit - 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
A big thank you to Erin Heironimus and her team of Mustang parents for making Monty’s Café a hit each month!
Check out our MUSTANG MOMENTS, a weekly news magazine created by students on our GOOD MORNING, MUSTANGS! news team under the guidance of Ms. Jennifer Burns, Instructional Facilitator, Technology and Mr. Aaron Thompson, Grade 6 English Teacher and School Musical Co-Director!
Each week we shall feature a showcase of the happenings from the previous week so that you can capture all of the glory of the excellence that occurs daily at JLS!
This week's episode features our Friday, February 14th Rising 6th Grade Visit from Catoctin ES, Sycolin Creek ES, and a few future Mustangs from Discovery ES and Kenneth Culbert ES!
Click the image above to enjoy!
Click here --> JLSMS Grade Level Academic Weekly Update - February 17, 2025 - February 21, 2025.
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.
LCPS shared a variety of optional K-12 learning resources and activities for students and families to access during school closures. Based on family, staff and community feedback, LCPS understands the importance of snow days as a time for rest and fun for both students and teachers. At the same time, we know the disruption school closures can cause to the learning process. By providing these optional learning resources, we are trying to balance these two important priorities. Please be sure to check out the learning resources and activities.
Tryouts will be held on February 17 at the Revolution Softball Indoor Facility. Participants must be registered in order to tryout.
Leesburg Girls Softball League (LGSL) sponsors the only Middle School Girls Softball program in Loudoun County.
The middle school softball program provides girls at participating middle schools the opportunity to represent their school, enhance school spirit, develop camaraderie, encourage teamwork, and to further develop their softball skills while developing relationships with the girls they will play with in high school. The program will also provide an opportunity to encourage participation from the high school programs as the middle school players practice and play together before they try out for their respective high school teams.
Click here for additional information about the Middle School Softball Program.
Please check this section often as we continue to add new activities!
We have been busy planning some amazing after school opportunities for our Mustangs!
Here are our current JLS Clubs/Organizations set for after school on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays.
Please remember that after school activity participation requires permission from parents/guardians!
Please use the link below to complete the PERMISSION CLICK document.
Activity buses are available every Wednesday and Thursday for students needing transportation home from an after school activity. You can view the activity bus route stops using this link.
After school activities run generally from 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM with our LCPS Transportation team citing that our two activity buses will arrive by 5:00 - 5:05 PM.
We acknowledge that on a few occasions recently that our activity buses have arrived later than the above time frame. Please know that JLS School Leadership is working closely with members of LCPS Transportation to improve activity bus arrival time to support our students themselves arriving home in a timely fashion.
Parents/families who are waiting to pick up their Mustangs from after-school activities are encouraged to park in our large staff/guest parking lot adjacent to our school in lieu of lining up in a car line format.
We also are working very closely with LCPS Transportation to improve the arrival of a few of our AM buses to Simpson so that our students are comfortably in their classrooms by the 8:30 AM tardy bell.
If you have any questions/concerns with your Mustang's LCPS transportation to JLS, please feel free to contact the LCPS Transportation team by using the LET'S TALK! option seen at the right of the page at this website. (See image below...)
We will be implementing the LCPS-sponsored Second Step® Middle School program during our resource blocks this season.
From the LCPS Department of Student Services:
We want your child to be successful in school, and that means supporting and encouraging their
whole development. While excelling in academic classes is important, students also need skills for
learning challenges, making good decisions, handling strong emotions, and getting along with others.
Second Step® Middle School is a research-based social-emotional learning
program designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management,
impulse control, problem solving, and empathy. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to
help students both in and out of school. These include:
Mindsets and Goals: Students learn how to develop a growth mindset and apply research-
based goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.
Developing a Positive Sense of Self: Students learn to identify their guiding principles,
work toward becoming the person they want to be, and learn strategies for building
confidence.
Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn how to recognize strong emotions
and unhelpful thoughts, and apply strategies to manage their emotions and reduce stress.
Managing Relationships and Social Conflict: Students learn strategies for developing
and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective-taking, and dealing with conflict.
If you have any questions about Second Step® Middle School, please don’t hesitate to contact
Sarah.McIntosh@lcps.org or Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org for more information. Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community!
JLS is proud to share that we have received SHINE -Spotlighting Heroes in Education submissions highlighting many of our very special teachers!
Use the link below to view the Staff SHINE submissions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10CLr09q_G6sO-9pyjKJBGr_Hw0LGTYfo72ZUzl_EgN4/edit?usp=sharing
CONGRATULATIONS, Thank you for SHINING for our Mustangs! Simpson is lucky to have you!
If you have a staff member you would like to nominate for SHINE, please complete the submission form (It’s short and easy!).
All bus pass requests should be addressed to your grade level secretary. You can request a bus pass for your student via email, a written note with parent/guardian signature, or a phone call to your grade level secretary. Requests should be received no later than NOON on the day the pass is needed.
Whenever students have a change in dismissal transportation (ie. bus rider to walker or bus rider to car rider), please be sure to notify your house secretary the morning of the change via email or a written note.
6th Grade Administrative Professional - Molly.Steinbach@lcps.org
7th Grade Administrative Professional - Stephanie.DeWan@lcps.org
8th Grade Administrative Professional - Laura.Ridings@lcps.org
Our activity buses are rolling! Students who participate in after-school activities have the option to ride an activity bus home. Use this link below to view the route sheets for the activity buses, including the bus stop locations and approximate drop-off times.
Students are expected to use their time effectively during our five-minute class change to ensure they are in class before the bell. School administration will implement student behavior administrative and accountability measures to address excessive tardies to class.
1st and 2nd Tardies to Any Class: Teacher and Student Conversation + General E-mail to Families Through ParentVue Communications
3rd Tardy to Any Class: Teacher and Student Conversation / Reflection Opportunity to Focus on Improving Timeliness to Class + Phone Call to Parent/Guardian
4th+ Tardy to Any Class: Teacher Referral to Dean + Phone Call Home to Parent/Guardian with Student Behavior and Accountability Measures Continuum:
- Lunch / After School Detention w/Teacher / Dean
- Loss of School Privileges (i.e. Recess, Intramural Sports, Clubs/Activities, etc.)
- Friday School
- Conferencing With LCPS Attendance Officer + Family + Student Support Advisor + School Leadership / Unified Mental Health Team
Please talk with your Mustang about the importance of arriving to class on time to BE PRESENT and POWERFUL in their learning!
Remember that we are here to support all of our Mustangs if they need help to strategize ways to arrive to class in a timely manner so that they can maximize their performance in each and every one of their classes! THANK YOU for your wonderful support!
Please contact your student's grade-level counselor if you have scheduling questions.
School Counseling Team Contact Information
6th Grade: Sabrina.Jeane@lcps.org
7th Grade: Alison.Hyman@lcps.org
8th Grade: Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org
Grades 6-7-8 Combo: Ana.L.Castro@lcps.org
Please contact your student's grade-level dean if you have questions or concerns.
School Dean's Contact Information
6th Grade: Brandon.Filsinger@lcps.org
6th Grade (Interim Dean): Samuel.Carpenter@lcps.org
7th Grade: Jeremy.Fox@lcps.org
8th Grade: Brent.Washburn@lcps.org
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.
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!
This message does not reflect any update on the Academies of Loudoun (ACL) application status for those who applied for the 2025-2026 school year.
Families of all 8th-grade through 11th-grade students are receiving this note regarding a change to next year’s morning transportation schedule for ACL. This message does not reflect any update on the application status for those who applied for the 2025-2026 school year.
In order to ensure shorter commute times and better service, buses serving ACL in the mornings will change to a hub-stop model for the 2025-2026 school year. ACL morning bus (hub) stops will be located at the elementary school where students are zoned. Parents will be responsible for transporting their ACL students from their homes to their designated hub stop.
There will be no change to the afternoon bus service, which will continue to return students to their home high school where they will utilize their regular transportation to get home. This continues the practice of ensuring students can participate in activities at their home high school.
The hub-stop model is currently successfully used for other special programs (IB, HAMSci, ROTC, TJHS). LCPS has moved to a hub-stop model in order to reduce the commute time for students and provide more reliable service for special programs across the county where transportation is offered.
What will families need to do if their student attends ACL in the fall of 2025?
- Starting in July of 2025, log into ParentVue and opt-in for ACL transportation. Complete this action by mid-July to ensure your child has bus transportation in place for the first day of school.
- LCPS staff will assign hub stops and then share transportation information 10 business days prior to the first day of school.
- Morning hub stops are based on your child's Elementary Attendance Zone.
- Students/families will be responsible for getting to their designated Hub Stop no less than five (5) minutes before their bus stop time.
- Buses will transport students to ACL.
- At the end of each school day, students will be transported from ACL back to their home high school, where they will utilize their regular transportation to get home. This continues the practice of ensuring students can participate in activities at their home high school.
- For the end of the school day, pick up from Hub Stops will not be necessary.
Have questions about this new morning hub-stop bus model? Visit our Hub Stop Frequently Asked Questions or contact Transportation via Let’s Talk.
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
The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Service, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps develop partnerships to bridge the gap of food insecurity among school-aged children. The objectives of SNAP in Schools are to reduce food insecurity in school-aged children, to increase the number of students directly certified for free school meals through SNAP, and to increase the number of students eligible without application for the summer EBT program.
Please advise families who could benefit from this program to access the CommonHelp portal link to submit online SNAP applications.
Please also share the flyer below with your families:
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 at JLSimpsonPTO@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!
If you own a small business and would like to support the PTO this year, please email JLsimpsonPTO@gmail.com for our detailed tiered sponsorship letter!
Quarter 3 - Thursday, January 30, 2025 - Thursday, April 3 2025
Dates to Remember + More!
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
February 13 - February 20: Library Book Fair During the Day
February 17: No School - Holiday (Presidents' Day)
February 18: PTO Meeting - 5:00 PM
February 20: Quarter 2 Grade 6 Honor Roll Celebration - 8:30 AM
February 21: Grade 6 Author Visit
February 24: Quarter 2 Grade 8 Honor Roll Celebration - 8:30 AM
February 25 - Quarter 2 Grade 7 Honor Roll Celebration - 8:30 AM
February 26 & 27: 7th Grade Science Field Trip to the National Zoo
March 18: Multicultural Night - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
March 21: SCA Spring Fling Dance
March 31: No School - Holiday (Eid al Fitr)
April 3: End of Quarter 3 Grading Period
April 4: Student Holiday (Teacher Work Day)
April 7: Student Holiday (Teacher Work Day)
April 14 - April 18: Spring Break Week
April 23: MAP Testing for Reading (Grades 6 & 7), IRL SOL Testing (Grade 8)
April 30: MAP Testing for Math
May 26: Holiday (Memorial Day)
June 13: Last Day of School and End of Quarter 4 Grading Period
