The Mustang Messenger
2024-2025 Season
A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!
Another week, another wonderful set of opportunities to see so many of our Mustangs enjoying their learning experiences with our brilliant professional team!
Walking the hallways the last five days of school allowed me to hear some sweet music emanating from our band, chorus, guitar, and orchestra classrooms as our student musicians prepare their first pieces of the fall season. Visual arts classrooms are brimming with original projects that are soon to make their way to our hallways and showcases for displaying. Social sciences classes are diving into projects focused on their opening units of study with their teachers guiding them along the way. Number sense exercises are always fun ways to marinate the mind in preparation for learning new mathematical concepts, and they are certainly happening at all grade levels! Science classes are introducing new hands-on lab experiences this year that even allow for staff guest appearances from our Amazon ThinkBIG Space as we saw at the eighth grade level with our Mustangs learning about how to use data effectively with their experiments. Health and PE classes were enjoying the weather this past week as they were seen playing soccer in our back field area, soaking up the sun outdoors and having good times along the way promoting a positive team approach with one another.
One of the most awesome new traditions we have adopted at Simpson since my arrival has been inviting many of our family and community members to join our English 7 classes for Project 9/11 interviews as our Mustangs are reading the book Ground Zero as an anchor text for their opening quarter of 2024-2025. It was enthralling to hear our Mustangs ask their own profound questions to our guests about what life was like during the time of the 9/11 tragedies and what can learn from the experience about kindness, unity, and care for one another. We wish to thank all of the fantastic volunteers who engaged our Mustangs in this opportunity, many of whom are parents reading this newsletter right now!
A big thank you to our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) for premiering our Monty's Café for September, once more an absolute hit with our Mustangs and our professional staff as lemonade, hot chocolate, and donuts made our Tuesday, September 10 morning that much more special for us all. Our next Monty's Café will be on October 8. Remember that the $1.00 lemonade and $2.00 hot chocolate contributes funding back to Simpson for our Mustangs in support of their positive learning environment via projects proposed by staff to our PTO and the grade-level celebrations that the PTO team themselves kindly arrange for our Mustangs annually. Our first PTO meeting is actually coming up this Tuesday, September 17! See the details below in addition to another fundraising opportunity in the form of a spirit night for us at Buffalo Wild Wings set for the same evening from 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM!
This coming week rings in the arrival of our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, sponsored entirely by our student leaders in the Latin Student Association, a new organization at JLS facilitated by the great Sra. Diana Lopez! We have trivia contests, a spirit week, beautiful samples of art, special advisory/FLEX activities, and so much more awaiting our Mustangs as part of this terrific occasion! Scroll down to see more information about our plans to see all of the details in full color!
It is hard to believe...but we are only one week away from the interims of the first quarter of 2024-2025, so be sure to use the Grade-Level Weekly Academic Updates to learn about what is happening in our classes across all grades and to take some time with your Mustang to review their Schoology pages and StudentVue to ensure that they have all of their assignments up to date. As always, if you or your Mustangs have any questions, simply reach right out to our professional staff and we will be here to support you!
Our goal is to ensure that each of our Mustangs have a wealth of opportunities academically and extracurricularly to make their exeprience at Simpson the absolute best it can be! So many enticing avenues of greatness this week as we welcome LCPS Special Programs Visits for our 8th Graders, fully engage our National Junior Honor Society / LCHS National Honor Society peer tutoring support programs, open the doors to nominations for our Student Equity Ambassadors and Sources of Strength teams, flesh out resource time to incorporate our LCPS Second Step initiative and goal-setting for all academic courses and extracurricular components, and finally see our Intramural Sports program launch on Thursday, September 19 as flag football commences!
We wish all of you a spectacular evening on this beautiful Sunday night...and let's remember to always be kind to one another as it is an easy road for us to follow to support a positive quality of life in all we do.
Take care of yourselves...time for my Sunday run with Ollie! Hope to see you all in the car line or visiting us for an event very soon!
Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III
Principal
JL Simpson Middle School
Sunday, September 15
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
Monday, September 16 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: ADVISORY
- Advisory: 10:00 AM - 10:25 AM: Intramural Flag Football Team Creation Meeting during Advisory in the gym - Registered students only - Our Mustang Professional Team has a list of attendees ready!
Tuesday, September 17 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A2
- PTO Spirit Night @ Buffalo Wing Factory - 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- PTO Meeting - 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - JLS Library/Media Center
Wednesday, September 18 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: B2
- 8th Grade Special Programs Visit to JLS - 8:45 AM in the Auditorium
After School Activities
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) - Aux. Gym - Ms. O'Hara
Thursday, September 19 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A4
- Library Card Sign-Up Presentation
- LCHS 70th Anniversary Homecoming Parade - 6:30 PM - Safeway to LCHS Bus Loop
- After School Activities
- 3:30 PM-4:30 PM - Intramural Flag Football - Mr. Carpenter
- 3:30 PM-4:30 PM - Select Choir Rehersals - M4 - Ms. Hoey-Johnson
Friday, September 20 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: B4
Saturday, September 21
- Junior Regional Orchestra Auditions @ Battlefield High School
Click here --> JLSMS Grade Level Academic Weekly Update - September 16-20, 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.
Monty Bucks Had a HUGE Opening Week at JLS!
Opening week for our Monty Bucks program was a HUGE success! Staff awarded close to 5,000 Monty Bucks this week! We could not be more proud of our Mustangs who were working hard and exhibiting our core behaviours: Honorable, Engaged, Respectful, and Determined (HERD). Students will be notified when it's time to go shopping in the Tack Shop and spend their well-deserved Monty Bucks!
Here is the breakdown of Monty Bucks awarded this week:
Honorable - 630 Monty Bucks Awarded!
Engaged - 3,300 Monty Bucks Awarded!
Respectful - 465 Monty Bucks Awarded!
Determined - 475 Monty Bucks Awarded!
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is a systems-oriented approach for establishing a safe and supportive learning environment to promote social, behavioral, and academic success for all students. All LCPS schools implement PBIS as a prevention and intervention framework.
As part of JL Simpson's PBIS initiatives, we established a Monty Bucks Program where students can earn Monty's Bucks by exhibiting any of the four core behaviors at JLS: Honorable, Engaged, Respectful, and Determined (HERD). Students can use their Monty Bucks to go shopping and 'purchase' items from Monty's "Tack Shop."
NOTE: Our Monty Bucks program has been recognized nationally by AMLE (American Middle Level Education) as a notable PBIS initiative! We have been invited to present on this outstanding initiative at the AMLE Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in early November alongside our School of Distinction honor. Very cool, right?!
The 7th Grade English Team would like to thank ALL of the community members that gave their time and shared their stories with us as part of our Project 9/11 Interview experience. "We are stronger together!" and "Love Conquers Hate!" were two of the main messages of the stories shared. May we see always see our nation as it was on 9/12/01, more united than divided!
Thank you to our Project 9/11 Interviewees:
Jim Brown
Josh Carter
Rachel and Chris Domencic
Katie Hailey
Dana Hunter
Marilyn Juban
Kathleen Kunitz
Brittany Luce
Tina Mahon
Matthew Mottet
Rick Pearsall
Enoch Polk
Melissa Ramsey
Ann Rice
Laura Ridings
Sarah Quadros
Kate Parkin
Robert and Ashlynn Sawyer
We have been busy planning some amazing after school opportunities for our Mustangs! 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.
We Are Excited! Intramural Flag Football Begins This Week!
There will be an Intramural Flag Football team creation meeting for all students who have registered to play intramural flag football at JL Simpson. The meeting will take place on Monday, September 16th during Advisory. Students who are registered for flag football will meet in the gym during advisory.
Our intramural flag football league is ready to play! Registered students will meet after school on Thursday, September 19 for the first day of pool play.
The upcoming dates for Intramural Flag Football are as follows:
Pool Play - September 19th
Pool Play - September 26th
Pool Play - October 10th
Pool Play - October 17th
JLSMS Tournament - October 24th
LCPS Tournament – November 2nd
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.
LCPS Librarian Lindsey Crouch will visit JLS on Thursday, September 19, and speak to our students about library cards, Rust Library and their Teen Center, and the fun activities happening in libraries locally and across the county.
Students will receive information about registering for a library card that will require a parent or guardian to complete the registration online or at a Loudoun County library location.
If you have any questions, please contact our librarian Devon.Yorkshire@lcps.org
Hearing and Vision screenings for our 7th grade students will take place during their PE blocks on Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24. Students who wear glasses need to bring them to school on the day of their screening (their PE day). They will be screened wearing their glasses. Nurse Pettit will be reaching out via the PTA for parent volunteers to assist with supervision during the screenings.
Loudoun County High School is thrilled to announce that in partnership with the Town of Leesburg, they will be celebrating their 70th anniversary with a homecoming parade on Thursday, September 19.
The parade will kick off at 6:30 PM from the Safeway parking lot, marching on Catoctin Circle past Catoctin Elementary School, and concluding at the LCHS bus loop.
Let’s help to make this a memorable event with a fantastic turnout for LCHS, as they honor their school's outstanding 70 years of service! You are sure to see some current and former Mustangs marching along the parade route!
The Academies of Loudoun 2024 Fall Admission Cycle opened on Monday, August 19, 2024, and will remain open until Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The fall admissions cycle is for any eighth-grade student enrolled in Algebra I or higher who is interested in applying to the Academies of Loudoun for ninth-grade entry into the Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET) program and/or the Academy of Science (AOS) program for the 2025-2026 school year.
The admissions office will conduct four (4) fall admissions information sessions for Loudoun County students in eighth grade and their parents or guardians. These sessions will provide details about the Academies.
2024 Fall Admissions Information Session Schedule
- Wednesday, August 28, at Tuscarora High School, 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, September 14, at Independence High School, 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, September 18, at Harmony Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 1, at River Bend Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the Academies of Loudoun Admissions website, email AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or call 571-252-1992.
Students should see Ms.Thomasson, 8th Grade Counselor, with any questions.
Bus passes (for transportation on a bus other than the student assigned bus) will not be permitted for the first several weeks of school as our students and bus drivers adjust to their new routine. Be sure to watch out for bus pass start date and procedures in an upcoming newsletter.
Whenever students are changing their normal 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
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: Last Name A-Q: Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org
8th Grade: Last Name R-Z: Juan.Barrios@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
7th Grade: Katherine.Hailey@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!
The LCPS PROPEL and Level Up Program is designed to address equity through enrichment for high-achieving students underrepresented in STEM.
The program goals are:
- Developing high-level reasoning skills in students.
- Providing students with opportunities to enhance behaviors associated with high achievement and demonstration of the 5C’s
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Contribution
- Creation
- Critical Thinking
- Assisting students with planning and preparing for academically rigorous coursework in middle and high school and for entry into competitive academic programs.
- Providing opportunities for parents to share as educational partners.
Click here to see the PROPEL and Level Up newsletter in English
Click here to see the PROPEL and Level Up newsletter in Spanish
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!
Quarter 1 - Thursday, August 22 - Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Dates to Remember + More!
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
September 15-19: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Begins
September 16: Registered Students Flag Football Team Creation Meeting - 10:00 AM - Gym
September 17: PTO Spirit Night at Buffalo Wing Factory - 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
September 17: First PTO Meeting of the School Year - 5:00 PM - Library/Media Center
September 18: 8th Grade Special Programs Meeting - 8:45 AM - Auditorium
September 18: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30 - Aux. Gym
September 19: Intramural Sports Flag Football - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
September 19: Library Card Sign-Up with Rust Library
September 19: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
September 19: LCPS Special Programs Secondary Fair- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Park View HS
September 19: LCHS 70th Anniversary Homecoming Parade - 6:30 PM - Safeway to LCHS
September 21: Junior Regional Orchestra Auditions - Battlefield High School
September 23 & 24: 7th Grade Vision and Hearing Screenings during PE Block - Art 1
September 24-25: Quarter 1 Interims
September 24: SY 2023-2024 Quarter 4 Honor Roll Assembly - Grade 8 - 9 AM - 10 AM - Auditorium
September 25: Meet Me at the Pole - 8:O0 AM - Outside at the JLS Flagpole
September 25: SY 2023-2024 Quarter 4 Honor Roll Assembly - Grade 7 - 9 AM - 10 AM - Auditorium
September 25: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30 - Aux. Gym
September 26: Fall Intramural Flag Football - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
September 26: JLS Student Advisory Planning Team Meeting - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - AWS ThinkBIG Space
September 26: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
September 27: Project Lit Book Club discussion during lunches - Library
September 29: September 2024 HERD Awards - Announcements in Cafeteria at Lunch
September 30 & October 1: School Picture Days
October 1: Bullying Prevention Month Begins
October 1 & 2: 6th Grade Science Field Trip to Udvar Hazy - Students attend on Science Day
October 2: School Custodian Appreciation Day
October 2: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30 -4:30 PM - Aux. Gym
October 3 & 4: No School (Rosh Hashanah)
October 7-11: Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week
October 7: Spirit Day - Soccer Jersey Day
October 8: Spirit Day - Dress like a Hispanic Historical Figure
October 8: Monty's Cafe - 8:10 AM - 8:25 AM - Main Entrance
October 9: Spirit Day - Dress like a TV character
October 9: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30 -4:30 PM - Aux. Gym
October 10: Spirit Day - Bring your Flag and wear it on your shirt, wear the colors of your flag
October 10: Fall Intramural Flag Football - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
October 10: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
October 11: Spirit Day - Bring your Flag and wear it on your shirt, wear the colors of your flag
October 11: Yom Kippur
October 10: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
October 14: No School (Indigenous Peoples Day)
October 15: JLS Parents as Educational Partnerships (PEP)
October 15-18: Bullying Prevention Awareness Spirit Week
October 16: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 PM- Aux. Gym
October 17: Fall Intramural Flag Football - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
October 17: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
October 18: Transportation Staff Appreciation Day
October 18: Reading Department Field Trip - 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
October 20-26: Red Ribbon Week
October 21-25: National School Bus Safety Week
October 23: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 PM
October 24: Fall Intramural Flag Football - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
October 24 & 25: Monster Mash 5K during PE Classes
October 24: Project Lit during lunches - Library
October 24: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
October 24: Spooktacular Strings Concert at LCHS - 7 PM - Auditorium
October 28: Occupational Therapists Day
October 29: End of First Grading Period
October 29: October 2024 HERD Awards - Announcements in Cafeteria at Lunch
October 30 - November 5: No School
November 6: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
November 8: 6th Grade All County Choir @ Stone Bridge High School
November 8: Junior Regional Orchestra Event - Massaponax High School
November 12: Monty's Cafe - 8:10 AM - 8:25 AM - Main Entrance
November 13: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
November 15: School Picture Make-Up Day
November 16: All County Orchestra Auditions - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M1
November 20: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
November 20: Q1 Honor Roll Ceremony (Grade 8) - 9:00 AM - Auditorium
November 21: Q1 Honor Roll Ceremony (Grade 7) - 9:00 AM - Auditorium
November 22: Q1 Honor Roll Ceremony (Grade 6) - 9:00 AM - Auditorium
November 22: Project Lit during lunches - Library
November 27 - 29: No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
December 4: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
December 10: Monty's Cafe - 8:10 AM - 8:25 AM - Main Entrance
December 10: JLS Winter Choir Concert @ LCHS - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - LCHS Auditorium
December 10: JLS Parents as Educational Partners (PEP)
December 11: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
December 11: 7th/8th Grade Band & Jazz Band Concert - 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - JLS Auditorium
December 18: Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) After-School Club - 3:30-4:30 - Aux. Gym
December 18: Project Lit during lunches - Library
December 23 - January 3: No School (Winter Break)
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
