The Mustang Messenger

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Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!

Our first nearly full official week of school was quite fantastic as our Mustang Professionals engaged our students in learning the essentials of counting rhythms in band class, collaborating on solving mathematical equations at our white boards, reading and reacting to excerpts of literature and articles, and tackling MAP Growth Assessments in Reading and Mathematics to develop supports and enrichment activities for the entire school year...just to name a few of the great activities on display!

Speaking of MAP Growth Assessments in Reading and Mathematics, both you as families and our students should have access to those scores in StudentVue and ParentVue as early as today! We appreciate your outstanding support in helping our students realize the importance of our MAP assessments in targeting the important skills and standards in all subject areas as English/Reading and Mathematics certainly seep into all other curricular areas in which your Mustangs engage on a daily basis. We will participate in the Winter and Spring MAP Growth Assessments as we continue to measure the proficiency of our students in reading and mathematics to support their continuous improvement in learning throughout their time at JLS and beyond!

Our Activity Buses will officially start on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12 in support of any of our Mustangs who require transportation home from after school clubs, office hours with their teachers, activities with staff, and soon our Intramural Sports program that launches one week later. More information to come on the expansion of our after school clubs/organizations very soon...and please do read below about how you can involve your Mustang in Intramural Sports by registering for the program today!

It's hard to believe...but School Picture Days are coming soon, namely on Monday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 1! Students will have their photos taken during their Health and Physical Education Classes in the auxiliary gym...and we are hoping for 100% participation so that each of our Mustangs appears in the 2024-2025 school yearbook edition, which you can purchase at a reduced rate as advertised in this and last week's edition of the Mustang Messenger.

As always, please take some time to scroll down through the Mustang Messenger to find out all of the important info regarding current and future events, expectations, and opportunities at Simpson to bring your Mustang to the forefront of their education with joyful, interesting, and engaging efforts to make their experiences the optimum quality possible. Remember that we are always here for you and welcome your engagement at Simpson throughout the course of the year as we are indeed a community passionate about making a difference for our Mustangs in all they do!

#mustangfamilyforever

Keep enjoying your weekend, be kind to one another, and take care of yourselves...and we shall see all of you soon!

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

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

FLEX time will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday after Block 1-2 this week, just as it shall nearly every week in the future. Advisory will occur regularly at the same time frame on Mondays.

During Advisory time, 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.

Click here for access to the FLEX Schedule for SY 2024-2025.

We will be posting the class to which students will be reporting for FLEX on our TV monitors as well as signifying it regularly at the start of the day with Dr. Di Nicola's AM announcements. Our forthcoming Good morning, Mustangs! news program will also feature the FLEX block for the day.

Here is some information about FLEX time at JLS:

• 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. No FLEX-ing shall occur during our first rotation through the FLEX schedule, from September 3 - September 27, 2024.
• 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!

Our Mustangs have had a great six days getting to know our school, following the new bell schedule, and locating their classrooms!

As mentioned in previous communication, we will begin tracking tardies to class on Tuesday, September 3rd. Tardies disrupt the classroom, distract other students, and can impede learning for your Mustang and others.

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!

Fall MAP Growth Assessment scores in Reading and Mathematics will be available at the end of this week in ParentVUE/StudentVUE. Student's scores are located under the Student Test History.

WHAT IF MY MUSTANG DID NOT COMPLETE THE READING AND/OR MATHEMATICS MAP GROWTH ASSESSMENT?

Your Mustang's English/Reading and/or Mathematics teacher will provide class or resource time for completion of the Fall MAP Growth Assessment.

JL Simpson MS School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Monday, September 30th & Tuesday, October 1st, 2024

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001141085#login

📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com

The 7th Grade English team is planning to honor the anniversary of September 11th by reading nonfiction and historical fiction texts in class.

Teachers are looking for parents and families in the community who have a unique story or experience to share about the events of 9/11/01 (middle school age appropriate, of course).

Seventh grade students will have the opportunity to interview an adult, record the responses, and produce a written product as a reflection on their learning and experience.

The interviews will take place during the school day at JL Simpson on September 11 & September 12.

If you would like to participate and be interviewed by a seventh grade student, please email Ms. Maulfair at Jennifer.Maulfair@lcps.org

On Wednesday, September 18, representatives from the following LCPS programs will be meeting with our 8th grade students during the school day to discuss the special programs available through LCPS. Please visit the links below for additional program information.

Students should see Ms.Thomasson, 8th Grade Counselor, with any questions.

Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org

• Academies of Loudoun

• Health and Medical Sciences Academy (HAMSci)

• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)

• Thomas Jefferson High School

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) invites you to its annual Special Programs Secondary Fair. This year, the event will be held at two convenient locations:

Thursday, September 12

Heritage High School in Leesburg

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 19

Park View High School in Sterling

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This event offers current middle school students and their families an opportunity to meet and network with coordinators from LCPS’s high school special programs. Attendees will have the chance to explore a variety of programs available to students in grades 9-12 and gather essential information about the enrollment processes.

Programs featured include:

• Academies of Loudoun
• Health and Medical Sciences Academy (HAMSci)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC)
• Thomas Jefferson High School
• 
  

The event will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. with a student panel in the auditorium, followed by breakout sessions that will provide further insight into each program.

LCPS encourages all families to attend this event to help plan their student’s future.

For more information, visit the LCPS Special Programs webpage.

The Academies of Loudoun 2024 Fall Admission Cycle opened on Monday, August 19, 2024, and will remain open until Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The fall admissions cycle is for any eighth-grade student enrolled in Algebra I or higher who is interested in applying to the Academies of Loudoun for ninth-grade entry into the Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET) program and/or the Academy of Science (AOS) program for the 2025-2026 school year.

The admissions office will conduct four (4) fall admissions information sessions for Loudoun County students in eighth grade and their parents or guardians. These sessions will provide details about the Academies.

2024 Fall Admissions Information Session Schedule

• Wednesday, August 28, at Tuscarora High School, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 14, at Independence High School, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, September 18, at Harmony Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 1, at River Bend Middle School, 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Academies of Loudoun Admissions website, email AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or call 571-252-1992.

Students should see Ms.Thomasson, 8th Grade Counselor, with any questions.

Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org

Please join us to meet our Learning Specialist teams, learn more about student IEPs (Individualized Education Plans), and have an open door to ask questions about how we at Simpson can make your child's experience the best it can be!

Tuesday, September 17: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - JL Simpson - Library/Media Center

Tuesday, September 17: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Douglass Community Center - 407 E Market St, Leesburg (Child care will be available for the evening session)

Please follow the link below to complete the form if you plan to attend:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJAcqSyLLPHhISDC_rFzbtr1jly1MH8FxXA-z9v83ZLG3nXQ/viewform

Loudoun County High School is thrilled to announce that in partnership with the Town of Leesburg, they will be celebrating their 70th anniversary with a homecoming parade on Thursday, September 19.

The parade will kick off at 6:30 PM from the Safeway parking lot, marching on Catoctin Circle past Catoctin Elementary School, and concluding at the LCHS bus loop.

Let’s help to make this a memorable event with a fantastic turnout for LCHS, as they honor their school's outstanding 70 years of service! You are sure to see some current and former Mustangs marching along the parade route!

• Health and PE shirts in the form of a gray school-issued t-shirt or a gray one that your Mustang prefers from home are expected for all students this year.
• Students began wearing their PE T-shirts this past week. At this time, every student is expected to dress for PE in their PE T-shirt.
• Students are to write their last name on the top back of the t-shirt, preferably in black permanent marker. Click here for more about our Health and Physical Education expectations and support from our staff at JLS.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THE LCPS GRAY T-SHIRT?

You can purchase the HPE LCPS gray t-shirt for your student at the Payment Portal linked below.

Once you have completed your purchase, please send a copy of the receipt you receive electronically in your e-mail to school with your student to show their PE teacher. We will distribute their purchased t-shirts starting Monday, August 26th during their Health and PE block.

You can purchase the LCPS Health and PE T-Shirt using the link below:

Payment Portal

Looking forward to a great year with your awesome Mustang!

Maggie Darby, Health and PE Department Chair/SALT

Sam Carpenter

Anthony Dunbar

Justin Grantham

Angela Rogers

Jeremy Tipton

JLS Health and Physical Education Staff

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) middle school intramural sports program has expanded to all eighteen (18) middle schools for the 2024-25 school year!

This program is an extension of the school day and is designed to reinforce leadership qualities, teamwork, respect, integrity and a sense of accomplishment through fun competitions. The middle school intramural sports program is open to all middle school students of all skill levels - no prior sports experience is required.

Sports Breakdown: We are offering a variety of sports, including flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Teams can be co-ed or single-gender, depending on the preferences of the participants.

The timeline and details for each sport are as follows:

• First Quarter (Season One): 7-on-7 Flag Football - September 18 - October 24
• Second Quarter (Season Two): 6-on-6 Volleyball - November 13 - January 16
• Third Quarter (Season Three): 3-on-3 Basketball - February 12 - March 20
• Fourth Quarter (Season Four): 7-on-7 Soccer - April 23 - May 29

When Do We Play at Simpson?

All activities will take place at JL Simpson Middle School, after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm - 4:45pm.

Activity buses are available and depart Simpson at 4:45pm.

Parent pick-up is 4:45pm.

Registration and Program Information:

Students must be registered to participate in intramural activities. Registration will take place online with no paper registrations available.

• The registration site can be translated into many languages with the click of a button.
• Students can select to participate in any or all activities.
• Students must be enrolled at the middle school participating in the intramural sports program.
• Each student must be at school and in good standing academically and with our LCPS/JLS Code of Conduct to participate on the day of each tournament.

Use the link below for registration and additional program information:

Follow this link for Registration and Program Information: Intramural Sports Website

Follow this link for Frequently Asked Questions: https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/lcps-intramural-playbook-2024/home/faqs

Spend the evening with the LCHS Varsity Field Hockey Team and coaches learning about field hockey, running drills and practicing skills!

LCHS is hosting a community book club for students, parents, and teachers to discuss The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 3rd at 5:00 p.m. in the LCHS library and will last about an hour. LCHS volunteers will be onsite to provide free childcare so that parents can attend.

Here is what participants should have completed for the meeting:

• Required Reading: Introduction, Chapter 1, & Chapter 5

• Recommended Reading: Chapters 6-7

• Optional Reading: Chapter 8

The topic of the first meeting's discussion is "technology." Discussion questions were sourced from this website, but a more specific list will be shared at the meeting.

We invite you to participate by completing this form. Be sure to indicate whether or not you will require childcare so we are prepared to fill that need.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LCHS COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB? Contact:

Heather Rainey, LCSW | Student Assistance Specialist

Heather.Rainey@lcps.org.

If your student(s) need an early dismissal, please remember that you must come to the main entrance to show your photo ID to sign your student(s) out. For your convenience, we recommend that you avoid early dismissals during lunch times and close to regular dismissal time. Our parking lot tends to become quite congested starting around 2:45pm. Lunch time is quite busy with students moving throughout the building, cafeteria, or our outdoor space. It may take longer for your student to be dismissed during these extra busy times.

Bus passes (for transportation on a bus other than the student assigned bus) will not be permitted for the first several weeks of school as our students and bus drivers adjust to their new routine. Be sure to watch out for bus pass start date and procedures in an upcoming newsletter.

Whenever students are changing their normal dismissal transportation (ie. bus rider to walker or bus rider to car rider), please be sure to notify your house secretary the morning of the change via email or a written note.

6th Grade Administrative Professional - Molly.Steinbach@lcps.org

7th Grade Administrative Professional - Stephanie.DeWan@lcps.org

8th Grade Administrative Professional - Laura.Ridings@lcps.org

• Students are permitted to have food / drink in classrooms under teacher discretion and with full awareness and compliance with wellness and allergy-aware expectations by LCPS.
• Students who require food/snacks during the school day for medical purposes are expected to contact our school nurse (Rene.Pettit@lcps.org) with this information to support our Mustangs with these needs.
• Students are permitted to have beverages in hallways / classrooms only in sealable, closed-top containers. This includes any items purchased outside of JLS at local businesses, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, etc.
• Students are not permitted to eat in hallways, out of their lockers, or any other location at JLS aside from designated locations for food consumption.
• Parents/families may deliver breakfast / lunch items for their own children and sit them on the bookshelf provided in the main office after notifying our welcoming staff in that location.
• Students are only permitted to retrieve these items when they are headed directly to the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch at their scheduled time. They are therefore not permitted to take them to classrooms, lockers, other locations of the building without school leadership permission.
• Families are reminded to notify their Mustangs of any food deliveries via e-mail as student personal devices are not accessible during the school day.
• Students are not permitted to order food on their own for delivery to JLS.
• Staff who are holding special events for our Mustangs will ensure that we are in compliance with all LCPS expectations to provide options for those who have dietary restrictions as well as to promote allergy aware experiences where all students are welcomed, safe, and included in our activities.

While our Mustang Professional Staff will ensure a high quality of support for our entire school community when it comes to school nutrition and wellness, it is important that our Mustangs are self-aware of specific dietary restrictions and to align with appropriate practices to be preventive, as well as to ask staff questions whenever they might have concerns or needs that we can address for them.

Click the image above to see this week's breakfast and lunch menus!

Click here to access the LCPS School Nutrition website to obtain information about current programs, wellness, and food recovery initiatives.

Click the attachment below for the most updated version of the Loudoun County Public Schools Procedural Handbook for Supporting Students with Allergies.

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.

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!

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.

Please contact your student's grade-level counselor if you have scheduling questions.

School Counseling Team Contact Information

6th Grade: Sabrina.Jeane@lcps.org

7th Grade: Alison.Hyman@lcps.org

8th Grade: Last Name A-Q: Mica.Thomasson@lcps.org

8th Grade: Last Name R-Z: Juan.Barrios@lcps.org

Please contact your student's grade-level dean if you have questions or concerns.

School Dean's Contact Information

6th Grade: Brandon.Filsinger@lcps.org

7th Grade: Katie.Hailey@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.

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.

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!

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!

Quarter 1 - Thursday, August 22 - Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Dates to Remember + More!

Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.

• September 2: No School (Labor Day)

• September 9: Physical Therapists Day
  

• September 9 & 10: Students Rights & Responsibilities Review

• September 11-12: Select Choir Auditions - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4
  

• September 11-12: 9.11 Interviews for 7th Grade Project - Library/Media Center

• September 12: LCPS Special Programs Secondary Fair - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Heritage HS

• September 15-19: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Begins - Spirit Week

• September 17: Learning Specialist Coffee Talks - 9 AM - Library/Media Center @ JL Simpson

• September 17: Learning Specialist Coffee Talks - 7:00 PM - Douglass Community Center

• September 17: First PTO Meeting of the School Year - 5:00 PM - Library/Media Center

• September 18: 8th Grade Special Programs Meeting - 8:45 AM - Auditorium
  

• September 18 -19: Intramural Sports Begin After School! - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM

• September 19: Library Card Sign-Up with Rust Library

• September 19: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4

• September 19: LCPS Special Programs Secondary Fair- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Park View HS

• September 19: LCHS 70th Anniversary Homecoming Parade - 6:30 PM - Safeway to LCHS

• September 21: Junior Regional Orchestra Auditions - Battlefield High School

• September 23 & 24: 7th Grade Vision and Hearing Screenings - Art 1

• September 24-25: Quarter 1 Interims

• September 24: SY 2023-2024 Quarter 4 Honor Roll Assembly - Grade 8 - 9 AM - 10 AM - Auditorium

• September 25: SY 2023-2024 Quarter 4 Honor Roll Assembly - Grade 7 - 9 AM - 10 AM - Auditorium
  

• September 25-26: Fall Intramural Sports - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM

• September 26: JLS Student Advisory Planning Team Meeting - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - AWS ThinkBIG Space

• September 26: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4

• September 29: September 2024 HERD Awards - Announcements in Cafeteria at Lunch

• September 30 & October 1: School Picture Days

• October 1: Bullying Prevention Month Begins

• October 2: School Custodian Appreciation Day
  

• October 2: Fall Intramural Sports - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM

• October 3 & 4: No School (Rosh Hashanah)

• October 9-10: Fall Intramural Sports - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
  

• October 11: Yom Kippur

• October 10: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4

• October 14: No School (Indigenous Peoples Day)

• October 15: JLS Parents as Educational Partnerships (PEP)

• October 15-18: Bullying Prevention Awareness Spirit Week

• October 16-17: Fall Intramural Sports - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
  

• October 17: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4

• October 18: Transportation Staff Appreciation Day

• October 18: Reading Department Field Trip - 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

• October 20-26: Red Ribbon Week

• October 21-25: National School Bus Safety Week

• October 23-24: Fall Intramural Sports - 3:40 PM - 4:45 PM
  

• October 24 & 25: Monster Mash 5K during PE Classes

• October 24: Select Choir Rehearsals - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M4

• October 24: Spooktacular Strings Concert at LCHS - 7 PM - Auditorium

• October 28: Occupational Therapists Day

• October 29: End of First Grading Period

• October 29: October 2024 HERD Awards - Announcements in Cafeteria at Lunch

• October 30 - November 5: No School

• November 8: 6th Grade All County Choir @ Stone Bridge High School

• November 8: Junior Regional Orchestra Event - Massaponax High School

• November 15: School Picture Make-Up Day

• November 16: All County Orchestra Auditions - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - M1

• November 27 - 29: No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)

• December 10: JLS Parents as Educational Partners (PEP)

• December 23 - January 3: No School (Winter Break)

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