The Mustang Messenger

• Para ver el boletín en español haga clic en el cuadrado negro ubicado en el lado derecho donde dice Traducir boletín.
• Cuando llegue aquí, haga clic en la flecha hacia abajo y elija el idioma Español.

Good afternoon, JLS Mustang Families!

Here is our second SPECIAL EDITION Mustang Messenger of the summer as the 2024-2025 School Season approaches this coming Thursday, August 22, commencing Year 49 at JL Simpson Middle School, Home of the Mustangs!

If you are following us on Instagram by accessing the handle @jlsimpsonms_official_, you have witnessed our posting some terrific mini-biographies on each of our new Mustang Professional Staff who are joining our team, celebrations for our the return of our illustrious instructional staff, reminders about our extraordinary Stampede Into The Community from this past Friday, a global honor received by just seventeen middle schools that JLS earned for 2024-2025, some brief hints at our gorgeous renovations that are approaching their terminus in just a few days, and much more!

So much excitement is in the air as we welcome back our Learning Assistants and additional support staff tomorrow morning to round out our full team of 150 Mustang Professionals for the new year! We also have fantastic events for you this week with our parent-focused Back to Simpson Night! tomorrow evening and our student and parent Load Your Locker and Classrooms / Meet Your Teachers! Open House on Tuesday, August 20.

READING THE MUSTANG MESSENGER: IMPORTANT TO DO EACH WEEK!

This newsletter will consistently be your home base to learn as much as possible about what is happening at JLS and what is coming up in the calendar for the entire 2024-2025 school year. The Mustang Messenger will be released regularly at 5:30 PM on Sundays, just prior to the Loudoun County HS newsletter release at 6:00 PM by Dr. Luttrell and team.

• WHAT IF I CANNOT LOCATE THE MUSTANG MESSENGER in MY E-MAIL?
• If you cannot locate our weekly Mustang Messenger, please reach out to Madeleine.Sullivan@lcps.org, our registrar, to ensure that we have your e-mail correct in our system. You may also need to check your SPAM/Junk Mail filter settings to verify that they are correct to receive e-mails from our Blackboard delivery system.
• Check out our school webpage that houses all of our Mustang Messenger editions if you miss an issue.
• HOW CAN I LOCATE INFO THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO READ IN THE MUSTANG MESSENGER? THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF HERE!
• While we know you are possibly reading newsletters from multiple schools, a lot happens at Simpson that we like to celebrate and promote for your knowledge to maintain the greatest quality of COMMUNICATION all year round! Therefore, rather than put information in multiple locations, we find it best to keep it right in one place for you! :)
• The best way to read The Mustang Messenger is always on a laptop or desktop computer in order to see the Table of Contents to the left of this welcome message to locate the essentials for you and your Mustang.
• If you are using a mobile device, be sure to scroll down and peruse the headlines to read up on all pertinent information to support you and your Mustang.
• Your Mustang receives The Mustang Messenger too via e-mail and also will have it posted in their Grade-Level Schoology accounts on a weekly basis. Encourage your Mustang to check their e-mail regularly as an essential skill to receive important information from their teachers, communicate with staff and peers responsibly and effectively...and to promote a life skill that will be viable for them in the global professional world!

JOIN OUR REMIND and INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS and OUR JLS PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION!

We highly recommend the following action steps from you if you have not already done so to access modes of continuous updates from JLS throughout the course of the school year:

JOIN THE JL SIMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Remind ACCOUNTS for YOUR MUSTANGS!

So many of our families told us of the benefit of having Remind to keep them up to date with special announcements or reminders as we are all very busy throughout the course of the week with family life...and sometimes with several children at multiple schools and events!

TO JOIN the Remind for Grade 6: Text @jls2031 to the number 81010.

TO JOIN the Remind for Grade 7: Text @jls2030 to the number 81010.

TO JOIN the Remind for Grade 8: Text @jls2029 to the number 81010

NOTE: If you were in Remind for your Mustang(s) last year, you do not need to rejoin this year unless you have a Rising 6th grader. You are already a part of the account(s) for your other Mustangs! :)

JOIN THE PTO!

We are very fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated Parent-Teacher Organization at JLS that constantly provides outstanding support to our students, staff, and families all year long. Scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter to see information on how you can join our PTO! It is completely worth it...and you're always welcome to come to any of our monthly meetings!

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR MUSTANG ALL YEAR ROUND!

We know that the opening of the school year can be an exciting time as well as a nervous time for many of our Mustangs...and for you as well! Please be confident that we are here to promote an extremely comfortable transition to the middle school experience for our Rising 6th graders and returning 7th and 8th graders as they learn their new A- and B-Day routines.

This means that we will be thoroughly supporting our Mustangs as they open their lockers for the first time and subsequently may forget the combination for a bit and need assistance, discover that they must to return to grab something from a locker for a class, need more time to find their path to a classroom, learn where different resources are in the building, or simply require some additional assistance from a staff member through a conversation or a pep talk to make the day easier. Our job as a Mustang Professional Staff is to team with you through powerfully POSITIVE COMMUNICATION + RELATIONSHIPS with TRUST to promote the greatest experience possible for each and every one of our students at Simpson. Our entire Mustang School Leadership Team, Unified Mental Health Team, and Instructional Staff have been working meticulously to cement all viable resources and structures in place to create the dynamic atmosphere that each of our Mustangs requires. With you by our side, we shall continue to be the great #mustangfamilyforever!

CANNOT. WAIT. TO. SEE. YOU. AND. OUR. MUSTANGS. THIS. WEEK. :) Sorry...we are just really excited! Have a great Sunday and week ahead...off for a run with Ollie!

Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) has recognized seventeen schools as AMLE Schools of Distinction for 2024, including JL Simpson Middle School in Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia.

AMLE’s Schools of Distinction program recognizes exemplary schools while supporting them through a process of strategic vision setting to help foster ongoing growth and success. The program’s evaluation criteria are anchored in AMLE’s landmark position paper on best practice in the middle grades, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, now in its fifth edition and 42nd year of publication.

JL Simpson Middle School completed a rigorous review process that measured implementation of middle grades best practice and continuous improvement plans. After advancing from the initial application, the school community participated in a series of stakeholder interviews that included a diverse array of staff, students, and families.

“It is a privilege to recognize JL Simpson Middle School as an AMLE School of Distinction. They are truly worthy of this prestigious honor, and I’m excited for AMLE to be able to share their story,” said Stephanie Simpson, CEO of AMLE. During the review process, Simpson's efforts to build positive communication and relationships, the visibility and presence of school staff, high expectations with heart, organization and structure with flexibility, open doors to opportunities for all students, individual and collective accountability, and the establishment of a welcoming, affirming, inclusive environment were highlighted as particular areas of strength.

The AMLE Schools of Distinction Committee noted specifically, "A strong sense of pride and belonging was evident in each group interviewed. There is a high level of respect between students and teachers, as well as teachers and the school administration. Students feel welcome, included, and supported. The school is a part of the larger community and understands the value of engaging with families. The staff believes in continually improving their practice to meet the needs of the individual learner. Feedback from students, teachers, and families is used often when making decisions, exemplifying a value for strong vision and leadership with a student-centered approach to learning."

“The AMLE Schools of Distinction Committee extends its heartfelt congratulations to JL Simpson Middle School! We eagerly anticipate celebrating their achievement at our annual conference in November and learning about their exemplary middle school practices,” said Katie Johnson, Chair of the AMLE Schools of Distinction Committee. “I deeply appreciate the support and collaboration of all school stakeholders, committee members, and AMLE staff in this year’s selection process.”

AMLE recognizes schools that meet the Schools of Distinction criteria on an annual basis. JL Simpson Middle School will be recognized and present on their exemplary practices live at AMLE24: The 51st Annual Conference for Middle Level Education this November in Nashville, TN.

Click here to read more specifically about this tremendous honor on our JL Simpson MS AMLE website.

In June 2024, more than forty students on our JLS Principal Student Advisory Committee worked diligently through a series of structured activities to devise our JLS Mission and Core Values/Commitments for 2024-2027, based on feedback from their peers and support from our Mustang Professionals. Above is our finalized version of this superb resource on which to fundamentalize all of our work together as a team of students, staff, and community/family members!

Congratulations to our talented student leaders in making this goal of devising our JLS Mission and Vision happen for our wonderful school!

We said farewell to a few of our marvelous Mustang Professionals this past June as they headed off to new opportunities both in their careers and in retirement! Click the image above to celebrate these wonderful MustangFamilyForever members with us!

Click the image above to peruse the Instagram posts of our new Mustang Professional Staff members!

Click the image above to access a Google version of our JLS Bell Schedule for 2024-2025, which also includes a tab at the bottom of the page that is linked to our A-B Day and Advisory/FLEX Schedule.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE BELL SCHEDULE THIS YEAR?

• Block 1/2 starts promptly at 8:30 AM. Advisory/FLEX time now occurs after the first instructional block of the day.
• We have five (5) minutes for transition between each class block this season.
• NOTE: In order to support students during the learning phase of reaching their classrooms in a timely, comfortable manner within the five-minute time frame, Tardies to Class will not be recorded for official documentation until Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
• Grade 6 lunch takes place during Block 3-4 with Grades 7 and 8 lunches taking place during Block 5-6, allowing for all students to have an earlier lunch time this year.
• All students assist their classmates and teachers at the end of the day with tidying up the classroom space, placing chairs on desks for custodial cleaning, and listening to any end of day announcements from our school leadership team.
• Students who are riding buses home remain in the last block of the day until their bus number is posted as arrived on our VIRTUAL BUS DISMISSAL BOARD, which is available to all JLS staff.

• Students who have after school activities are expected to report directly to their supervising staff member at the dismissal bell and remain with them until they are picked up by LCPS transportation, their parent/guardian, or walk home after their activity is completed.

WHAT IS ADVISORY/FLEX?

Advisory time will occur on Mondays after Block 1-2 with each Mustang's advisory teacher in their respective classrooms. Students participate actively with their classmates in team-building / collaborative exercises aligned to our HERD (HONORABLE/ENGAGED/RESPECTFUL/DETERMINED) initiative designed by our JLS Student Advisory Planning Team as well as our Mustang Professional Staff focused on promoting positive engagement and success at Simpson and beyond. We will be seeking feedback from our Mustangs and staff all year about various topics of importance to continously make this time about fostering POSITIVE COMMUNICATION and RELATIONSHIPS as its prime goal.

Students will participate in additional advisory content during Resource this year via Second Step and a special curriculum for each grade level this season designed by JLS and LCPS staff that focuses greatly on vital topics for middle schoolers, such as goal-setting, organization, engagement in school-based extracurricular activities, a growth mindset, and much more!

FLEX time will occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays after Block 1-2 based on the schedule that is posted in the above link and which will also appear on the main entrance doors, teacher agendas, TV screens in our hallways and house areas, as well as in the student agenda.

• FLEX is an opportunity for students to receive individual conferencing on their current performance from their teachers, complete make-up assignments, ask questions, plan and collaborate on projects, and learn about coming events/expectations, almost like a built-in resource block that occurs approximately once every two weeks on a rotating basis.
• Students who have all assignments complete and a grade of C or better in a class that they are attending for FLEX on a given day as well as the permission of their teacher may obtain a pass from another teacher in advance to go to that alternate class site for the completion of FLEX activities in that location.
• Think of FLEX as "bonus" time that your Mustangs will have with their teachers outside of resource every two weeks or so, just to be sure that all assignments are up to date as well as to prepare themselves for assignments/events to come!

WHEN DO DOORS OPEN FOR STUDENTS EACH MORNING?

Our main entrance and parent - student drop-off doors will open at 8:10 AM.

Each day students will report to welcoming areas supported by Simpson staff members and are required to remain in that location until release to advisory and the beginning of our school day.

WELCOMING AREAS by GRADE LEVEL:

8th Grade - Auditorium

7th Grade - Main Gym

6th Grade - Auxiliary Gym

AT WHAT TIME DO CLASSES BEGIN?

Students will be released from their welcoming areas by 8:23 AM to report to their Block 1-2 A or B day course as appropriate by the 8:30 AM tardy bell.

DOES MY MUSTANG HAVE ANY WARNING ABOUT THE TARDY BELLS TO CLASSES RINGING?

Yes, we ring a warning chime one minute prior to the tardy bell for every class block, including the half-block tardy bells.

We will have many staff members around to support our students in arriving at their locations each and every day, so please encourage your Simpson Mustangs to find any one of us to help whenever needed!

WHEN DOES THE FINAL BELL RING FOR THE DAY?

The last bell will ring at 3:18 PM to signify the end of our regular school day.

WILL THERE BE ACTIVITY BUSES THIS YEAR?

Yes, we will have activity buses available on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year to support after school clubs/activities/intramural sports. Our activity buses will not start right away at the beginning of the year, so stay tuned for when they will be available.

After school activities on Wednesdays and Thursdays will take place from 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM. More information regarding after school activities / intramural sports to come very soon!

IMPORTANT: Please note that the links to items that are provided in the supply lists are present only to conviently provide you a visual of samples and are not the required brands, colors, etc. that you must obtain for your Mustang.

LOCKERS in THE HOUSE AREA and HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION LOCKER ROOMS:

All JL Simpson MS students are expected to learn how to open and use their personal lockers for the duration of 2024-2025 to store their bookbags and items required for use at school.

• All lockers (house area and gym) are provided by the school as a convenience to the student, and they do not become the exclusive property of the student. They are provided for the express purpose of keeping clothing, books, lunches, and other materials through the school day.
• Students will have Health and PE gray t-shirts available for 2024-2025.
• Click here for more information regarding Health and Physical Education at JLS.
  
• No open containers of food or drink are permitted in the locker space.
• Lockers should be kept orderly. Defacing the locker (inside or outside) by writing, scratching, interfering with the lock mechanism, or pasting stickers/pictures is forbidden. Magnetic stickers and note clips/holders are permitted inside the locker. The use of portable locker shelves and dividers are also permitted.

Locker concerns should be reported to an administrator or PE teacher.

Locker combinations are not to be shared.

Lockers are not to be set to open without entering the combination.

BACKPACKS/BOOKBAGS:

• Book bags, backpacks, tote bags, oversized purses and other luggage-type items (anything that can be used to carry a book) may be used to transport materials to and from school but must remain in the assigned house area locker during school hours.
• Be sure to read the Grade-Level School Supply Lists above to note that students are expected to carry only their Chromebook (We will be providing soft laptop covers for every student) and a binder with certain components to each class. All other required materials can be kept in teacher classrooms for the year. :)

NOTE:

Students may carry a mini-crossbody bag for personal items no larger than 8 inches x 6 inches x 1 inch.

Back to Simpson Night! is intended for parents/guardians only whereas our Load Your Locker/Classroom Open House may be attended by our Mustangs and their families! :)

BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT! INFORMATION - Monday, August 19, 2024 - 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS PRIOR to BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT!

• 5:45 PM - 6:25 PM: Meet Your Case Manager! in the Library/Media Center
• 6:00 PM - 6:25 PM: PTO / ParentVue Support Team / Family and Community Engagement Office Membership In The Library/Media Center
• 6:00 PM - 6:25 PM: Meet Ms. Wilfong, Your Spectrum / Exploratory 7-8 Teacher in A6!

Back to Simpson Night! will be held from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM on Monday, August 19, 2024. Here are some more details for you as we prepare for this awesome event:

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT!?

• BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT! is a chance for PARENTS/GUARDIANS to learn about the Mustang Professionals who will be working with their children this year in their regstered courses...and to try out the daily routine for their Mustangs on their own! Mustangs themselves do not attend this event as they are encouraged to attend the Load Your Locker and Classrooms / Meet Your Teachers! Event scheduled for Tuesday, August 20 from 1 PM - 3:30 PM. See details below.
• SIX MINUTE CLASSES: Each class block at Back to Simpson Night! is only six minutes in length to allow us to move through eight blocks in one and a half hours. We have four minutes of transition time for parents to make it to the next class, so we ask that if you have any specific questions for staff members that you contact them via e-mail as we are sure they shall respond!
• WE WILL START PROMPTLY AT 6:30 PM IN ADVISORY!: We highly recommend your being at Simpson early, perhaps around 6:15 PM at the latest, to ensure you are ready to start by 6:30 PM and end by 8:00 PM!

WHERE DO WE PARK AND ENTER THE BUILDING? HOW DO WE KNOW WHERE TO GO?

• Please park in the lot to the left of our building when facing Simpson, as well as in the track / field area adjacent to our parking lot. Additional parking will be available across Evergreen Mill Road in the grassy areas and parking lot of Evergreen Mill ES. If parking across the street, please be sure to use the crosswalk at the stoplight near JLS.
• Please enter the main entrance of JL Simpson MS and take a copy of our Back to Simpson Night! Bell Schedule that will be accompanied by a copy of our building map on the reverse side to guide you to your classroom locations.
• We will have LCHS and JLS student leaders available throughout our hallways to support your movement to your classroom sites if you need assistance...and you can ask any staff along the way if you need help finding a location!
• Upon arrival and receiving the bell schedule/map, please report directly to your Mustang's Advisory Block as seen as the Block 9 - Grade 6/7/8 Homeroom assignment on your ParentVue / StudentVue accounts.
• If you need an extra copy of your Mustang's schedule, we will have them in hard copy format in the library/media center.

WHAT IS THE BELL SCHEDULE for BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT?

Here is the Back to Simpson Night Bell Schedule for your persual. Bells will sound for the start and end time to each block, as well as a one-minute warning chime that the next block is about to begin, just like we do for our Mustangs during the day! Dr. Di Nicola will also make announcements throughout the night to guide you to your next locations.

• • Advisory: 6:30 PM - 6:36 PM: Welcome from School Leadership / LCPS Staff! (Video)

  • 6:40 PM - 6:46 PM: Block 1-2 A

  • 6:50 PM - 6:56 PM: Block 3-4 A

  • 7:00 PM - 7:06 PM: Block 5-6 A

  • 7:10 PM - 7:16 PM: Block 7-8 A

  • 7:20 PM - 7:26 PM: Block 1-2 B

  • 7:30 PM - 7:36 PM: Block 3-4 B

  • 7:40 PM - 7:46 PM: Block 5-6 B

  • 7:50 PM - 7:56 PM: Block 7-8 B

  • 7:56 PM - 8:00 PM: Wrap-Up and Departure Time

  
  

WE ARE REPORTING to SEMESTER 1 TEACHERS ONLY AT BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT!

• If your Mustang has a different course for Semester 1 and 2 at a specific block, we are only reporting to Semester 1 classrooms this evening. Feel free to meet both Semester 1 and 2 teachers at our Load Your Locker and Classrooms/Meet Your Teachers! Open House event on Tuesday, August 20. :)
  

WHERE DO I GO IF I SEE RESOURCE ON MY MUSTANG'S SCHEDULE?

• We will not be reporting to resource classes at Back to Simpson Night!
• If your Mustang in Grades 6-7 has resource for half of a block, you will want to report to the FINE ARTS (Band, Chorus, Guitar, Strings, Music Lab, Art) course that is opposite that half-block at Back to Simpson Night!
• All Grade 8 Mustangs have resource for a full block. You are welcome to go to the library/media center at that time to join our PTO by meeting representatives from their team, learn about our Family and Community Engagement Office opportunities, or discuss questions with ParentVue/StudentVue representatives from our LCPS Department of Digital Innovation.

MY 6TH GRADER HAS ENGLISH ON A AND B DAYS. WHEN DO I REPORT TO THE ENGLISH 6 CLASS?

• Please report to your Mustang's English 6 teacher on the A-Day schedule.
• When the B-Day block comes around again for English 6, you are welcome to go to the library/media center at that time to join our PTO by meeting representatives from their team, learn about our Family and Community Engagement Office opportunities, or discuss questions with ParentVue/StudentVue representatives from our LCPS Department of Digital Innovation.

WHERE DO I GO IF I SEE SPECTRUM ON MY MUSTANG'S SCHEDULE?

• Ms. Amy Wilfong (Spectrum / Exploratory Teacher) will be in her B6 classroom starting at 6 PM if you would like to stop by to see her prior to the official start of Back to Simpson Night! See the image below this posting for more information on this opportunity!
• Students who have Ms. Wilfong for Exploratory 7 or 8 will see a Resource - 1st Half or Resource - 2nd Half on their schedules.
• If you do not get a chance to see Ms. Wilfong at this event, she will be in B6 throughout our Load Your Locker and Classrooms/Meet Your Teachers! Open House as well!

WHERE DO I GO IF I SEE READING STRATEGIES ON MY MUSTANG'S SCHEDULE?

If your Mustang has Reading Strategies scheduled alongside a Fine Arts (Band, Chorus, Strings, Music Lab, Art) or Communications Elective / Resource course, please report to the Fine Arts or Communications Elective teacher. You can always visit with your Mustang's reading strategies teacher at the Load Your Locker and Classrooms/Meet Your Teachers! event on August 20.

HOW CAN I MEET MY MUSTANG'S CASE MANAGER IF ASSIGNED ONE?

• Parents/families of students who are receiving services from our Learning Specialists can meet their case managers from 5:45 PM - 6:20 PM in the library/media center.
• If you do not have the opportunity to meet your Mustang's case manager at Back to Simpson Night!, there is always Load Your Locker and Classrooms Open House time to meet them as well since they will be in their normally scheduled classrooms. We will have a guide prepared for you to find their classrooms ready for you in each house office area.

WHAT IF I NEED HELP AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING BACK TO SIMPSON NIGHT?

• Any student guide or staff member can help you as we will be in the hallways to support you! Just ask any of us and we will make sure you know where to go!

LOAD YOUR LOCKER AND CLASSROOMS / MEET YOUR TEACHERS! OPEN HOUSE

Our Load Your Locker and Classrooms / Meet Your Teachers! Event will take place on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 1 PM - 3:30 PM per the info graphic above. While we have designated time for Grades 7-8 and Grade 6, if your schedule works better to attend at any point during that window of availability, please feel free to come with your Mustang to join us!

WHERE DO I GO UPON ARRIVAL FOR LOAD YOUR LOCKER and CLASSROOMS / MEET YOUR TEACHER OPEN HOUSE?

• Please park in the lot to the left of our building when facing Simpson, as well as in the track / field area adjacent to our parking lot.
• Please enter the MAIN GYMNASIUM ENTRACE (Door B13) at the back left side of our building to meet our staff who will be organized at tables to provide copies of student schedules should you need a hard copy version in lieu of using your ParentVue / StudentVue digital versions. We will have copies of building maps available to you so you can locate your Mustang's primary house area and classroom sites. See the graphic below this section for the specific location of Door B13.
• Please report to your student's assigned house area based on their grade level.
• PRACTICE OPENING LOCKERS WITH YOUR MUSTANGS!: Work with your Mustang to open their locker using the combination provided in StudentVue under Student Info / Student Locker. As all students are required to keep their personal devices and backpacks in their lockers should they choose to bring them to school throughout the entire school day, opening the locker is an essential task to learn. If your Mustang needs help opening a locker, please have them check in with any one of our staff who will be available to assist.
• ORGANIZE SUPPLIES IN LOCKERS!: Students are encouraged to bring all supplies and place them in their lockers and practice their combinations numerous times. Please refrain from posting stickers/pictures or writing in/on our lockers as this may damage their exterior/interior so that they may remain in quality condition for now and future years.
  
• NEED ANY SUPPORT WITH CLASS SUPPLIES/MATERIALS? Please e-mail our family liaison, Leslie.Chisholm@lcps.org, and she can assist with some support!
• WALK YOUR A and B DAY SCHEDULES AND DROP OFF CLASSROOM SUPPLIES!: Students are highly encouraged to walk their schedule to get an understanding of where classes are located, as well as meet their teachers in their classrooms. Students may drop off any of the extra supplies required by their teachers per the Grades 6-7-8 School Supply Lists available in PDF Format above.

WHAT IF I NEED HELP AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING LOAD YOUR LOCKER AND CLASSROOMS / MEET YOUR TEACHERS! TIME?

• Any student guide or staff member can help you as we will be in the hallways to support you! Just ask any of us and we will make sure you know where to go and receive the help you need!

I WOULD LIKE TO MEET MY MUSTANG'S DEAN!

Deans will be in their respective house areas during Back to Simpson Night! and Load Your Locker and Classrooms/Meet Your Teachers! Open House days.

Grade 6: Brandon.Filsinger@lcps.org

Grade 7: Katherine.Hailey@lcps.org

Grade 8: Brent.Washburn@lcps.org

Scheduling Updates from Our School Counseling Team

Student schedules are available to view in ParentVue/StudentVue. If you discover an error in your student's schedule, please contact your child's school counselor. Please note that we are not able to honor requests for specific teachers or make changes to elective classes.

Please also note that there could be shifts in a student schedule prior to the start of school based on our need to balance class sections and create opportunities for your Mustang to engage in specialized courses.

Tips for Reading Your Mustang's Class Schedule

Simpson students and their families can access their daily course schedules via StudentVue/ParentVue after acknowledging the Student Rights and Responsibilities for Families and Student Code of Conduct.

For information on how to access StudentVue/ParentVue, please click this link.

Here are some important tips for reading your class schedule:

• Each day has 8 periods, A1 - A8, and B1 - B8.
• Content classes (examples include English, Math, Science, History, ICA and Art) meet for two (2) periods: Ex: A1/2.
• 6th graders have English on A days and B days (but not necessarily the same block).

• Example: English may be block 3/4 on A days and 5/6 on B days

• Whichever block appears to be "missing" on your student's schedule is their English block. You may see English on A day block 3/4 but nothing for B day block 5/6. This will be their B day English class (same teacher and classroom as A day).

The following Classes only meet for a semester:

• 6th Grade ICA & Art

• 7th Grade FACS 7 & Tech Ed 7

• Look for 1st Semester to know which class you will have first

  
  

The following classes meet during one (1) period: Ex: A1, A3, B5, B8

• 6th Grade Music (Band, Strings, Chorus, Music Lab)

• 6th Grade Resource

• 6th Grade Spectrum

• 7th Grade Fine Arts (Band, Guitar, Strings, Chorus, Art)

• 7th Grade Resource

• 7th Grade Spectrum

• 8th Grade Reading

• 8th Grade Spectrum

Advisory Assignments

All students were assigned to a new Advisory class for the 2024-2025 school year. Students will attend Advisory on Mondays right after Block 1-2 is completed. You can locate your child's Advisory teacher by looking at the bottom of the student schedule and reviewing the Grade 6/7/8 Homeroom assignment at Block 9.

NEED TO TALK TO YOUR MUSTANG'S COUNSELOR?

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

Where can I find LCPS level information on general information and expectations for students and their families?

LCPS has updated this information for this year with the release of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for Families and Student Code of Conduct.

As Simpson will be aligning completely with this useful guide, please take time to review it with your Simpson Mustang prior to the start of the new school year and save it for future reference.

Click here to access the SY 2024-2025 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for Families and Student Code of Conduct.

Transportation Reminders/FAQ:

Please check out the useful document attached below this section for some Frequently Asked Questions and information about LCPS transportation.

Parent/Family Dropoff and Pickup:

All parents/families dropping off / picking up their Mustangs in the morning / after school must follow the car line queue by entering the main parking lot of Simpson that starts at the entrance left when facing our building. Parents/family are not permitted to perform drop off/pick up along Tolbert Road, the bus loop, or Evergreen Mill Road as significant safety hazards could result.

We will open up the kiss and ride loop adjacent to our parking lot by 8:20 AM each morning to permit families to enter and drop off their Mustangs accordingly.

A FRIENDLY REMINDER: School starts at 8:30 AM! Please plan student arrival if dropping off / walking accordingly!

Remember that students are always on time to school if they ride their assigned school bus, even if the bus is late. Please promote early arrival to Simpson to ensure your Mustang is ready to learn in class by 8:30 AM with a comfortable amount of time to access their lockers/resources before school starts daily.

Students Walking to School:

Simpson has several neighborhood areas in the walk zone. Students that live in these locations may walk or bike to school. Students must follow these rules when walking/biking to school:

• Students walking or biking to school must always consider using the safest route. Parents are asked to review the safest route and proper procedures for crossing a street.
• Students should use cross walks throughout the community where available.
• Students must stay on a sidewalk while walking to school and must use crosswalks to safely come to school, following all traffic signals.
• Students who live in the Simpson walk zone are permitted to ride their bike to school. Students should follow safety guidelines and must wear a helmet. All bikes are to be secured in the bike rack at the front entrance. Students may not ride hoverboards, skateboards, or any other mode of transportation aside from biking, walking, or riding the school bus in lieu of being dropped off by a parent/family member.
• Walkers must abide by all school rules while walking or biking to and from school. School rules apply until students safely enter their homes.

Our Mustang Professional Educators returned to Simpson on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 with a warm welcome by the LCHS Captains Drumline (Thank you for supporting this, Mr. and Mrs. Sutter), a red carpet walk, a scavenger hunt accompanied by engagement opportunities in games/challenges while seeing many of our renovations/changes at JLS, and many other fun activities to promote our focus on POSITIVE COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS.

Check out the great times that our staff had by clicking on the links below to see them in action!:

• JLS Opening of School Season Kickoff 2024-2025 - The Photo Booth

• JLS GAME ON! - Day 1 - Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - The Video

Our fantastic math educators have assembled some very helpful Delta Math summer assignments for our rising Foundations of Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra I students to complete prior to starting school on August 22. While these activities are optional, they are recommended to provide a successful preparatory transition to these courses in the fall.

ANY QUESTIONS?: Please e-mail Jean.Nibbelink@lcps.org or Jennifer.Seekford@lcps.org. :)

Please take some time to carefully read LCPS Policy 8650: Student Technology Acceptable/Responsible Use Policy and the new LCPS Policy 8655: Student Personal Device Use and address content directly with your Mustang as we will be doing the same among other school-wide expectations for 2024-2025.

Please note the following in terms of Student Personal Device Use:

Middle school students must keep their devices silent and not visible, stored in their locker during the school day. Personal devices may be used before or after the school day.

The above includes any and all devices, including cell phones, earbuds, iPads, etc. :)

NOTE: Students may have wired earbuds/headphones for classes in which their teachers permit them to use these devices. The devices may only be connected to the Chromebook.

We also request that all families refrain from texting or calling our Mustangs' personal devices during the school day to help support this new LCPS policy and our engagement of its content at JLS.

WHAT IF WE NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR MUSTANGS?

• Please contact us at 571-252-2840 if you need to speak to your Mustang. We can always find them for you!
• We will allow any of our Mustangs to call home to their families as needed using our school lines...never a problem!
• Teach your Mustangs to use their e-mail accounts regularly alongside our own school expectations for academic engagement and communication with their teachers. You are more than welcome to touch base with them in that manner!

• LCPS middle and high school students receive information about the dangers of opioids and other illicit drugs through health and physical education classes. Student Assistance Specialists who have mental health and substance abuse expertise provide these targeted presentations and partner with their respective schools to plan additional opportunities, including assemblies, student-led campaigns, and classroom lessons.

• More information can be found on this site - Student Assistance Services / Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness

Please check out this wonderful opportunity to connect families and educators on the important topic of promoting a healthy childhood with responsible use of smartphones, social media, and big tech as part of the LCHS Community Book Club focus on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LCHS COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB?: Please e-mail Heather.Rainey@lcps.org. :)

Is your Mustang looking for Loudoun County HS / Heritage HS National Honor Society or University Instructor tutoring before school, after school, or maybe even during resource block?

Click here and work with your Mustang to complete this Google Form to request a tutor and we will be in touch super soon!

Please read all instructions in the Google Form carefully to learn about the expectations for our tutoring support program...and reach out to JLS-Tutoring@lcps.org with any questions!

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:

1. We are seeking submissions for LCPS staff members at schools, central office and support locations who:

1. Have gone above and beyond in a situation

2. Have inspired others or have a heartwarming story

3. Are doing something unique or creative that is leading to results

4. In general, ANY great news!

2. Complete the submission form (It’s short and easy!)

3. The Employee Recognition office notifies the nominee as well as their supervisor of the submission

4. 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:

• English

• Spanish

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 nsutter@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!

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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLSimpsonMS2020/
X: @JLSMS_Official