The Mustang Messenger

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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_

X: @JLSMS_Official

Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!

Here we are at mid-March already...with beautifully blue sunny skies and 60-70°F weather heading our way! Only twelve weeks left before the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close...and we have many more grand experiences and events for our Mustangs to enjoy long before the Friday, June 13 finale!

A big congratulations to our CLBL Simpson Basketball Boys and Girls athletes as they played their hearts out all season long, culminating in semifinal games at the Varsity level that occurred yesterday afternoon and evening. Many Mustang Professional Staff members attended to witness our players tackle the challenges of facing other talented teams from various schools this year. We are collectively PROUD of your dedication and strong will to do your best! We will look forward to the 2025-2026 season and wish our departing 8th graders who now look forward to the high school experience the greatest!

Interims were released this past Wednesday, March 5 by our Mustang Professionals....so be sure to review your Mustang's current performance in ParentVue to see how they are faring in their classes. Better yet, ask your Mustang to show you their Schoology pages with activities/resources organized and posted by class period and their StudentVue grade books to verify that all assignments are completed to their fullest. Our teachers are certainly dedicating many hours to ensuring that students have before school, after school, in-class, and resource time assistance to engage in tasks that promote their learning...and it is ultimately our teamwork as Mustang Professionals with you as families to keep our students focused on their academic progress, building in the level of responsibility and personal motivation to excel. Together...we can do it!

Our forthcoming week sees the return of Monty's Café as sponsored by our illustrious Parent-Teacher Organization on Tuesday, March 11 from 8:00 AM - 8:25 AM! Each item for sale is $2.00 cash...and the more we are able to sell, the more funding comes back to JL Simpson MS to support academic and extracurricular opportunities for all of our Mustangs! Thank you to our PTO for always making this experience a monthly treasure to which we can look forward regularly! My guess is that lemonade will be on the menu for April and May with warmer weather on the horizon. 🌞

Be sure to check out all of the cool opportunities in this week's edition for your Mustangs to become involved at Simpson and beyond...and perhaps even earn prize funds along the way!:

• Stampede Into Simpson 2025-2026 T-Shirt Contest: A $100 prize, Monty Bucks, t-shirts for immediate families containing the design itself, social media postings, and a special end-of-year honor at our grade-level award ceremony all await the winner of this year's contest! See more info below!
• Multicultural Night is on Tuesday, March 18...and we would love to see even more Mustangs and their families sign up to participate!
• If I Were Mayor Essay Contest for 7th and 8th Graders - Deadline is Monday, March 17 - The Town of Leesburg invites local 7th and 8th grade students to enter the Virginia Municipal League’s (VML) “If I Were Mayor” essay contest. Students are asked to identify a problem within their community, gather feedback from community members, and offer a proposed solution, which must be presented in a typed essay between 300 and 500 words.
• Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program for 7th Graders - The Young Scholars Program application is open! We encourage any student in 7th grade to consider applying for this amazing opportunity. The Young Scholars Program is a selective, five-year pre-college scholarship program for high-achieving seventh graders who have financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities during high school.
• COPA T-Shirt Design Contest for Crossroads Music Festival - Submissions due by April 7, 2025 - The Town of Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art (COPA) is seeking t-shirt design submissions for this year’s Crossroads Music Festival, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, in downtown Leesburg.
• Expressions of Freedom Contest - VDOE has partnered with VA250 to engage students across the Commonwealth through the study of civics, history, and democracy to promote the principles of engaged and informed citizenship. Included in this effort is our Expressions of Freedom contest – an opportunity for students to share their ideas and perspectives through artwork, videos, audio recordings, or essays in response to the question: “What does Freedom mean to you?”
• Paint the Plow Art Project 2025: The Town of Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art (COPA) and the Friends of Leesburg Public Arts (FOLPA) invite local schools and organizations to be a part of this year’s “Paint the Plow” art project. This year’s theme is “Plow into Your Favorite Book”

This week we shall see a visit from Loudoun County HS Bands on Tuesday, March 11, our Rising 6th graders from Frederick Douglass Elementary School on Thursday, March 13, and our musicians perform in District Assessments for Choir and Band on Friday, March 14. This is, of course, in addition to all of the fabulous activities on display in classrooms throughout Simpson that we enjoy stopping by to see in action with regularity!

We hope you have a dynamite week ahead, Mustang Families, and remember to always look for the greatness in each other to keep our perspectives positive and driven in the right direction. Take care of yourselves and one another...and hope to see you soon at the school house!

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

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

Sunday, March 9 - Daylight Savings Time Begins!

Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead!

Monday, March 10 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: ADVISORY

• After School Activities

• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Rehearsals - Cafe - Mr. McGraw, Mr. Thompson

Tuesday, March 11 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: B5

• Monty's Cafe Returns! 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Outside of the Front Entrance
• LCHS Band Visit for All Band Students
• After School Activities
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. TECH Rehearsals - Cafe - Mr. McGraw, Mr. Thompson

Wednesday, March 12- A-Day - FLEX DAY: A5

• After School Activities
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Vocals Rehearsals - M6 - Ms. Hoey-Johnson
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Latino Student Association (LSA) - D7 - Ms. Lopez
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FSA) - Gym
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Weightlifting Club - Main Gym - Mr. Dunbar
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Level Up - B16 - Ms. Keefer
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Diamond Art Painting Club - D2 - Ms. Miller

Thursday, March 13 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: B7

• Rising 6 Grader Visit From Frederick Douglas ES
• Parents As Educational Partners (PEP) Meeting - 6:00 PM
• 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 Rehearsals - M4 - Ms. Hoey-Johnson
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - 8th Grade Band Reherasals - Auditorium - Mr. Pazanowski
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Level Up - B16 - Ms. Keefer
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Video Game Club - C10 - Mr. Peyton
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - History Society - B14 - Ms. Vlche
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Harry Potter Club - A9 - Ms. Wence
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Intramural Basketball - Gym - Mr. Carpenter

Friday, March 14 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A7

• District Band Assessment at IHS
• District Choir Assessment
• After School Activities

• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - 8th Grade Orchestra Rehersal - Auditorium - Ms. Kanakry

Click the above poster for more information on how to enter our contest!

NOTE: The form is accessible ONLY by JLS Mustangs / LCPS e-mail addresses!

SCHEDULING TIME for 2025-2026 CONTINUES! HAVE YOU LOOKED AT COURSE PLANNER WITH YOUR MUSTANG?!

Please be sure to refer to the e-mail Dr. Di Nicola 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

Congratulations to our students selected to represent JLS on the Simpson Middle School Baseball Team. We can't wait to see you on the field!

JLS is proud to share that we have received SHINE -Spotlighting Heroes in Education submission highlighting one of our very special 7th Grade History teachers, Christina White!

I want to take a moment to recognize an incredible teacher, teammate, and friend, Ms. White, who exemplifies collaboration, adaptability, and dedication. Since joining JL Simpson Middle School, she has become an invaluable member of our community. Ms. White is a true team player—always willing to plan, adjust, and support her colleagues and students. Her ability to pivot lessons on the fly and modify instruction to meet student needs is remarkable. What truly sets her apart is her creativity and willingness to embrace new ideas, making learning engaging and rigorous. She constantly seeks innovative ways to reach students, ensuring lessons are practical and inspiring.

Beyond the classroom, Ms. White builds meaningful relationships with students and staff, fostering a supportive and positive learning environment. She is a trusted colleague and has become a true friend. Her generosity, encouragement, and collaborative spirit have impacted me and so many others. Additionally, Ms. White has given me the privilege of co-presenting at a local conference, and we are awaiting approval to co-present at a national conference to spotlight and highlight the incredible work we have created together. Her willingness to share our ideas on a larger stage speaks to her dedication to education and continuous growth and innovation.

Though she was initially destaffed to us, we could not be more grateful to have her on our team. Finally, she has stepped up for the past two years as our SSGS SLT and is making a difference in a leadership role. Thank you, Ms. White, for your hard work, passion, and commitment to student success. You are truly appreciated!

CONGRATULATIONS, Ms. White! 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!).

Use the link below to view the Staff SHINE submissions!

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!

Click the image above to enjoy!

Click the above image to find out our breakfast and lunch menu items for this week and month!

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has received USDA approval for a special waiver during Ramadan 2025 SNS will provide this option to students observing Ramadan from February 28 to March 28, 2025, allowing them to take their meals “to-go” instead of eating at school. The 2025 non-congregate meal waiver allows SNS to offer the following meal service modifications:

How does the waiver work:

Students are allowed one breakfast and one lunch each day. If they choose to eat their meal on campus, they cannot take a meal home. This program ensures that all students have access to nutritious meals while respecting their religious fasting practices. It promotes inclusivity and supports the diverse cultural and religious needs of our school community.

• Only students in attendance on the day meals are distributed will be eligible to receive a non-congregate meal.
• Students observing Ramadan can go through the service line daily during their regular breakfast or lunch meal periods and request a "to-go" meal from the cashier to be picked up after school. Alternatively, they can order through the SNS website before 10 am each morning. Parents can also order on behalf of their student on the SNS website before 10 am each morning. Please note that students will be charged at the point of service for these meals: breakfast, lunch, or breakfast and lunch.
• The meal will be charged to student meal accounts according to their typical meal eligibility status. Therefore, if a student normally qualifies for free meals, the Student Fasting Meal will also be free. Additionally, if a student is in the paid category for breakfast and lunch, their account will be charged accordingly.
• Meals are charged to the student's account when an order is placed, there will be no refund if the student does not pick up the meal.
• At the end of the school day, SNS staff will distribute the requested meals in the cafeteria. This means students who have requested a meal will come to the cafeteria to pick up their meal.
• SNS will follow proper food handling and safety procedures, including providing reheating instructions if needed.
• Please note: Parents cannot pick up meals for students.

Kindly let us know how we can work together to ensure the success of this program.

Link to order meals:

https://forms.gle/YU7gBJibmFZ9fNZB7

Click here --> JLSMS Grade Level Academic Weekly Update - March 10, 2025 - March 15, 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.

JLS Families, join us on Tuesday, March 18 as we take a trip around the world to explore new cultures!

If you are interested in participating in Multicultural Night and showcasing your family culture, please complete the form at this link.

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is currently accepting nominations of educators, students, programs, parents and community members who demonstrate excellence in the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) special education community and have gone above and beyond what is expected to be meaningfully inclusive.

The Recognition for Excellence in Supporting Special Education Awards honors those who have gone above and beyond to foster meaningful inclusion that promotes adaptability, creativity, disability awareness, acceptance and peer-to-peer interactions for students with disabilities. To submit a nomination, fill out the 2025 Nomination Form.

Nominations must be completed in entirety and received by midnight on Friday, March 21, 2025 to be considered.

Winners will be notified by SEAC by the first week of May 2025. The SEAC Awards Ceremony will be on June 4 at Loudoun County High School.

Please contact the SEAC Chair with any questions.

We look forward to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional educators, students, programs, parents, and community members across LCPS!

The Town of Leesburg invites local 7th and 8th grade students to enter the Virginia Municipal League’s (VML) “If I Were Mayor” essay contest.

Students are asked to identify a problem within their community, gather feedback from community members, and offer a proposed solution, which must be presented in a typed essay between 300 and 500 words.

Students must live in the Town of Leesburg, which is considered a VML member locality. All entries must be received by Monday, March 17. Visit https://www.vml.org/Opportunities/Essay-Contest for full details.

Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque. The runner-up from the region that receives the statewide award will become that region’s winner.

In 2024, Simpson's own Leia Hatem won the contest for Region 6!

“This is a great opportunity for our local 7th and 8th grade students to imagine themselves as mayor, identify an issue, and problem solve for their community,” said Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk. “I can't wait to read the great ideas that will come from the essays. If there is a really good idea maybe we can work together.”

Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City.

The Young Scholars Program application is open! We encourage any student in 7th grade to consider applying for this amazing opportunity.

The Young Scholars Program is a selective, five-year pre-college scholarship program for high-achieving seventh graders who have financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities during high school.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Currently be in 7th grade and/or entering 8th grade in the fall of 2025.
• Earn grades of all, or mostly, As in core academic subjects since the beginning of 6th grade.

• Demonstrate unmet financial need. We will consider applicants with a family adjusted gross income up to $95,000 - particular consideration is given to candidates whose family annual gross income is below $65,000.

Click here to learn more about the program and access the application through the Cooke Foundation website. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2025. Email scholarships@jkcf.org if you have any questions!

The Town of Leesburg’s Commission on Public Art (COPA) is seeking t-shirt design submissions for this year’s Crossroads Music Festival, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, in downtown Leesburg.

The selected artwork will be printed on the official 2025 Crossroads Music Festival t-shirt. All proceeds will benefit the local charities that the music festival supports.

The theme for the artwork should be relevant to music, musicians, or BENEFIT’s general mission of, “uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for charities supporting children in Loudoun County”.

This call is open to all artists/artist teams in the Mid-Atlantic region. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply and there is no requirement for previous art experience. Designs should be submitted in high resolution and will need to be clear when printed on fabric.

Submissions are due no later than Monday, April 7 and will be reviewed by BENEFIT Live’s Board. A winner will be announced at the end of the month. The winner/winning team will receive two 2025 Crossroads Music Festival T-shirts, two VIP passes to the Saturday night headliner performance, and recognition on the Crossroads Music Festival website.

Submission guidelines and details are available at www.leesburgva.gov/publicartnews.

Help celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence by making history come alive, sparking a civics renaissance, and celebrating democracy! Through the work of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the Commonwealth is commemorating the anniversary with educational activities, community and statewide events to celebrate that “Virginia’s History is America’s Story.”

VDOE has partnered with VA250 to engage students across the Commonwealth through the study of civics, history, and democracy to promote the principles of engaged and informed citizenship.

Included in this effort is our Expressions of Freedom contest – an opportunity for students to share their ideas and perspectives through artwork, videos, audio recordings, or essays in response to the question: “What does Freedom mean to you?”

The contest is open to students in Grades 3-12. Winners will have the opportunity to have their work placed in a time capsule in the restored pedestal of the statue of George Washington located in historic Trafalgar Square, London, England.

Expressions of Freedom Contest Rules and Guidelines:

1. All entries must be submitted electronically using the Expressions of Freedom link by 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2025.
2. All entries must be original pieces of work – the use of Artificial Intelligence is prohibited – and adhere to the following:
3. Students may submit:
• An essay up to
• 250 words – Grades 3 – 5
• 500 words – Grades 6 – 8
• 1,000 words – Grades 9 - 12
• Video or Audio up to two minutes; or
• Physical artwork must be submitted digitally through high-resolution photo.
4. Selected participants may be asked to provide the physical submission for display and featured in a commemorative booklet during the July 4th celebration along with other VA250 commemorative events and celebrations.
5. Parental permission is required for all selected entries.
6. Additional information about the competition criteria can be found on the Expressions of Freedom webpage.

Summer in the Arts (SIA) is an arts enrichment program for Loudoun County students entering grades 6 - 10 in fall of 2025. The program offers a variety of classes, including theatre, instrumental, vocal music, visual arts, robotics, makerspace, cooking, baking and more.

Registration opens March 5, 2025 at 10 AM!

Additional information can be found at this link:

https://www.lcps.org/o/dtl/page/summer-in-the-arts

We are gearing up for our last visit of incoming Mustangs! Grade 5 students from Frederick Douglass ES will be visiting JL Simpson MS on Thursday, March 13 to engage with their future Mustang peers, professional staff, and even Monty the Mustang himself via a collection of fun activities to begin the onboarding process to the middle school experience!

We have thoroughly enjoyed our visits with our future Mustangs!

ANY QUESTIONS?: Please e-mail Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org, our rising 6th Grade Counselor for 2025-2026!

It's time to Stampede Into Simpson!

This event is for rising 6th Graders only! Join us for two days of fun at Simpson! Meet new friends and classmates, tour the school and the classrooms, meet some of your future teachers! We can't wait to see you!

Click the link to register your Rising 6th Grade Mustang for our JL Simpson Middle School Stampede Into Simpson event on Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Student Success Talks with Dr. Spence will begin in November and run through May. Each election district will host one event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on its scheduled day. Families and staff are encouraged to attend the Talk in their district.

Student Success Talks are family engagement meetings that are all about open communication, sharing useful tips, and giving families practical advice to help their kids succeed. Each session will cover important topics related to students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. The goal is to create a space where families, staff, and the Superintendent can share ideas and resources together.

The Student Success Talk will take place at JL Simpson Middle School on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

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.

NOTE: Any student participating in an after school club/organization activity must have their parents complete the PERMISSION CLICK document linked here. 😀

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.

Game play begins after school on Thursday, April 24.

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!

As mentioned in last week's Mustang Messenger, in order to improve student and staff safety, we are asking students who are morning car riders to no longer enter the building at the side door marked B2.

Students will continue to be dropped off at the B2 door, but will walk on the sidewalk toward the front of the school and enter through the main entrance as the only entryway into JLS for all visitors/guests and morning arrivals. This allows our safety and security team to ensure that all students, guests, and family members proceed to the correct locations of our building without worry of multiple entry points to our facility creating possible security concerns.

Here are some additional updates and reminders for you regarding our AM/PM carline:

• DROP MUSTANGS OFF ONLY AT THE B2 DOOR and CROSSWALK in the MORNING: All family members dropping off Mustangs in the car line are expected to proceed to the B2 Parent Drop Off location before opening their doors to drop off their Mustangs. Dropping students off in other areas of the car line reduces the efficiency and speed of the car line, potential safety hazards for students, and even causing a back-up to occur at times on Evergreen Mill Road.
• PLEASE STAY IN THE CAR LINE AFTER DROPPING OFF YOUR MUSTANG: Once you drop off your Mustang at the B2 Door, please continue stay in line and do not pass other cars on the left. This can be a tremendous safety issue if a student or staff member should happen to be in the crosswalk in front of the B2 door.
• USE THE SMALL LOOP WHEN DR. D OPENS IT UP!: Dr. Di Nicola will open the small car loop close to the front entrance of the building around 8:20-8:25 AM to allow our Mustangs to make it to their classes on time as the tardy bell rings at 8:30 AM.
• PICK UP YOUR MUSTANGS in the CAR LINE AFTER SCHOOL: Please proceed through the car line in a safe, linear manner, picking up your Mustang at the B2 door, the same location where drop-off occurs in the morning. All safety expectations listed above for morning arrival are still in place in the afternoon at pick-up time!
• PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS ON TOLBERT ROAD or EVERGREEN MILL ROAD: We have one car line for picking up our Mustangs after school...and these two locations are public roads where safety hazards can occur should our students be moving to these areas where many cars and buses are in motion.

Thank you for your partnership to ensure the safety of our students and our JLS community by proceeding through our CAR LINE in the AM and PM in an HONORABLE, ENGAGED, RESPECTFUL, and DETERMINED (HERD) manner! You're the best!

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.

NOTE: Any student participating in an after school club/organization activity must have their parents complete the PERMISSION CLICK document linked here. 😀

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

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.

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, wireless headphones, 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

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!

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.

The LCPS Annual Staff, Student and Family Survey is the most extensive and influential feedback survey conducted by Loudoun County Public Schools each year. Question topics address all areas of school climate, including academic support for students, family communication, and learning environment. You should have received an email from Dr. Aaron Spence with a dedicated link to take the survey. Please check your spam or junk mail and contact research@lcps.org if you have not received it by February 25.

Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard by March 21. School administrators depend on the results as they develop goals for their school improvement plan. The data is also used at the division-level to track overall trends and monitor outcomes prioritized in the One LCPS: 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence. Representation from all perspectives is crucial to inform the decisions being made across the school division.

Students in grades 3-5 and 9-12 will receive the survey in school, at a time selected by the school principal. Middle school students do not need to take the survey because they took the Virginia School Climate Survey earlier this year.

Contact research@lcps.org with questions about the survey.

Click the image above for helpful resources from the LCPS Division of Family and Community Engagement!

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 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!