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JML Principal Newsletter
Week of 4/8/24
Calendar
April is...
National Siblings Day (10th)
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (11th)
Tax Day (15th)
Husband Appreciation Day (20th)
Passover Begins (22nd)
Take Your Daughter to Work Day
Stress Awareness Month
Assistant Principal and Dean Appreciation
Librarian Appreciation
Administrative Assistant Appreciation
Autism Acceptance Month
Month of the Military Child (Wear Purple on April 17th)
At JML:
Wednesdays & Thursdays - Late Bus Days
4/10 - Holiday (Eid)
4/12 - 3v3 Basketball Tournament
4/15 - Reports Cards posted in ParentVue at 4pm
4/16 - PTA Meeting in the Library (7pm)
4/16 - JML Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A (5:00-8:00pm)
4/17 - PurpleUP Day - all students and staff wear purple
4/20 - LAST DAY to ORDER A YEARBOOK!
4/20 - Guitar State Assessment
4/20 - South Riding's Community Clean Up Day
4/22 - 4/30 - Passover Holy Week
4/25-5/4 - JML's Production of the Wizard of Oz
4/26 - Jazz Band State Assessment
SOLAR ECLIPSE on Monday, April 8th
LCPS has provided all students and staff glasses so we can safely experience the eclipse during last block on Monday, as well as during our dismissal time. The eclipse will begin at 2:04pm and will last until about 4:32pm. Max coverage for our area will be at 3:20pm (max coverage for our area is 89.3%), which is when our bell rings to dismiss students to Kiss & Ride and school buses.
As a result of the timing, no student will miss out on seeing the max coverage. Teachers are not required to take students outside but many are very excited to do so! ALL students will watch a very brief safety video on Monday so they understand the importance of not looking directly at the sun, and how to experience this eclipse safely, either during or after school. The safety video can be found here in case you want to review it with family, other children, or friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS45tOchYx4
The following resources were provided to our teachers this past week in preparation for Monday:
- Solar Eclipse 101 (video, 5 minutes)
- Why you shouldn't look at the Sun (video, 4.5 minutes) (This one is a little higher level than the 1st one and even gives some history.)
- NASA eclipse explorer map
- LCPS resources
Crossing my fingers for no rain, clear skies (and maybe warmth, but I can't get too picky!) for Monday!
Congrats to the Students of the Month in 6th Grade!
Celebrating Our Staff
As we kick off April, this is the month dedicated to the appreciation of the following school staff: assistant principals, deans, librarians, all paraprofessionals, and administrative assistants. Please take a moment to send our staff in those positions who have impacted your child(ren) an email or send in a thank you card to our main office, and we will get it to them. I am so proud of our staff, the way each works with our children, how professional and dedicated to their jobs and our school community they are. JML is lucky to have each one on our staff.
3v3 Basketball Tournament
On Friday, April 12, families are invited to watch the 3v3 basketball tournament at JML. All students, except students who are playing, should be picked up/ride home on the bus at dismissal. If you would like to return for this event, it will begin around 4:40. See you then.
**There is still time to register to play in the tournament! The deadline is Sunday, 4/7. For info on how to register, see last week's Principal Newsletter, housed on the homepage of our website. **
From our PTA
Have you attended a PTA meeting this year? If not, please join us April 16th at 7:00pm in the Library! ALL parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend, listen, and share their voice and talents! **Stop by Chick-Fil-A just prior, mention JML, and grab dinner on your way! Part of the proceeds will go back to the school.
From our PTA
JML PTA board nominations are open for the 2024-2025 school year! Joining the PTA board is a great way to get involved and help provide a positive school experience for the students and staff. All positions are open, including:
- President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- VP Communication
- VP Fundraising
- VP Events
- VP Volunteers
For information about each position, please click Givebacks (memberhub.com). Nominations will be open until April 21, 2024, and elections will take place at the last PTA meeting on May 21, 2024. If you have any questions or would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please contact Jenny Pittman at liljen53@gmail.com.
Passover (April 22-April 30)
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts. Jews observe the weeklong festival with a number of important rituals, including a traditional Passover meal known as a seder, the removal of leavened products from their home, the substitution of matzo for bread and the retelling of the exodus tale.
To read more about this very important time for Jewish people, see: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/passover
For all in our community who celebrate Passover, all my wishes for a wonderful week for you and your families.
See you at our production of the Wizard of Oz!
Congratulations to JML's Oviya Amalraj, Regional Spelling Bee Winner!
For the second year in a row, our 7th grade student, Oviya, has won the LCPS Regional Spelling Bee! Nationals, here she comes! Nationals will be held at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor from May 26-May 30. We are so proud of you, Oviya!
April is Autism Awareness Month
From our School Counselors
Here are some recent presentation about student courses and opportunities:
- Rising 7th Grade Course Selection Process (Current 6th graders): https://www.wevideo.com/view/3352885485
- Rising 8th Grade Course Selection Process (Current 7th graders): https://www.wevideo.com/view/3352782645
- High School Specialty Programs: https://www.wevideo.com/view/3352763364
Celebrating our Military Students
April marks the national recognition by the Department of Defense as the Month of the Military Child. JML has military-connected students in all three grade levels with parents/guardians currently serving active duty in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Space Force. This annual recognition gives JML the opportunity to recognize the unique sacrifices of our military-connected students and their families, and to inform our school community about the same. All students will view two presentations in Advisory with details about the Month of the Military Child and the annual “Purple Up” day to celebrate our military-connected students in school. JML will broadcast interviews with students and staff who have military connections, hold a Spirit Week to celebrate, have a bulletin board with recognitions, and provide a donut breakfast for our military-connected students.
STEAM Day - Parent Volunteers Needed
JML is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting STEAM Day for our 6th Grade students on June 7th and are in need of volunteers from our community to lead and interactive presentation that introduces students to various STEAM Fields. As of today, we only have two confirmed volunteers, and we need more to make this a success (we had 30 last year). If you are interested, please click on the link in the flyer below for information about the event and how to sign up or email Drew.Sansonetti@lcps.org!
Sources of Strength
LCPS promotes the Sources of Strength (SOS) program in all middle and high schools in our district. The SOS program is preventative in nature and promotes Hope, Health, and Strength. More information about SOS can be found here. JML has SOS Peer Leaders in all three grade levels. These are students who expressed interest in the program, submitted an application last fall, and attended the SOS Peer Leader training.
SOS Peer Leaders focus on the different sources on the strength wheel as part of the program, and each month during this school year they have focused on a different strength. During the month of March, our JML Sources of Strength Peer Leaders promoted the strength of “Mentors” by recognizing some valued adult staff mentors here at school. Peer Leaders recognized Mentors with a bulletin board, interviews on the morning announcements Lions on the Street segment, and Mentor Certificates distributed to staff members.
Heads Up: Current 6th Grade Families (Required Vaccination)
While the start of the 2024/25 school year is still several months away, it is important that you begin to schedule vaccinations for your student now. All 7th-grade students are required to have the following vaccinations and to show proof of vaccination to the student’s school:
Required Vaccinations for ALL 7th-grade Students:
● One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) given at age 7 or older.
● One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY, Menactra, or Menveo) given at age 10 or older.
Encouraged Vaccination
● Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
The first day of school for the 2024/25 school year is August 22, 2024. Students without the appropriate documentation will not be able to start school on the first day of school. Don’t wait until August! Vaccinate your student early and provide your student’s school with the appropriate proof of vaccination anytime prior to the first day.
For any questions, contact our school Nurses: Cari.Zuckerman@lcps.org or Stephanie.Dix@lcps.org For more information, see the attachment from LCPS.
Step Up Loudoun Projects - JML students recognized
Belen R’s project, “Illuminated,” focuses on eating disorders. She researched the topic and completed interviews. She painted inspiring words in one of our student restrooms and plans to add help line phone numbers in the stalls so students may reach out for help. Belen’s project ranked in the top 20 for middle and high schools (of 226) and she advanced to the top 10 for Step-Up Loudoun.
Jiya’s project, “InstaOrgan,” has been one in the making for more than two years. She created a website for those in need of organ donations to get the help they need. She has also focused on spreading the message of giving the gift of life to newly licensed drivers so they know it is an option. She made it into the top 20 as well, and then then top 10.
Both of these students earned prize money as well. Congratulations!
JML Sax Quartet...aren't these students impressive?!
Big Night Out - May 23 (6:00pm-8:00pm)
Big Night Out will be on May 23rd this year and we hope to see all of our current students and families, as well as our rising 6th grade students and families there! Our PTA will be raffling off baskets and each grade level team organizes the baskets. Please be on the look out from your child's teachers requests to bring items in to fill the baskets. This is a fundraiser for our PTA. Our departments will also plan different activities and showcase different talents for our community. Everyone is encouraged to bring cash - $1s or $5s are best so you can purchase food and other items. For those who have not attended before, it is a community open house-style event and time to have fun as a family. More to come on Big Night Out...
It's Baaaaack...the Battle of Braddock!!
Does your child want to play in the Battle of Braddock? If so, the sign up and information is here: Battle of Braddock Info - Google Slides
Save the Date: South Riding's Diversity Festival
The South Riding Celebration of Diversity Festival will be held on the Towne Green on April 27th from 12:00pm - 6:00pm. This is a family friendly event and a time to celebrate the different cultures, backgrounds, foods, traditions that our beautiful community has. It will be a day of crafts, music, and multi-cultural celebrations! Become a vendor or volunteer as well! For more information: https://www.southriding.net/sr-events/mosaic/
Save the Date: Celebrate South Riding
Volunteer Opportunities in South Riding
In addition to April 20th being our community-wide clean up day, here are some additional volunteer opportunities you may be interested in. For the clean up day, simply put on a pair of gloves, get some trash bags, and clean up your street/any area in South Riding. You may see my family out as well!
Spring Testing Schedule
April 15-16: MAP (Math)
April 17-18: MAP (Reading)
May 1-2: SOL Integrated Reading & Writing (8th Gr)
May 9: SOL Reading
May 16: SOL Civics (8th Gr)
May 21: SOL Math
May 23: SOL Science (8th Gr)
JML Staff Members of the Month
Congratulations to the following staff who have gone above and beyond to make JML the best middle school in Loudoun County!
-
Alana Amani, Spectrum Program
Katie Balanc, Special Education Teacher
Yeny Canas, Custodian
Darren Capell, Spanish Teacher
Megan Klug, English 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
South Riding Magazine-April Edition: https://online.fliphtml5.com/gxrlq/sjsy/#p=1