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!

It appears that SPRING is on the way with these sunny skies and warmer temperatures on the horizon...and we have been experiencing some beautiful times together at JLS this past week!

GRADE 7 SCIENCE GOES TO the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute!

Every 7th grader that returned from their fantastic trip to the National Zoo expressed joy in engaging in hands-on experiences connected to learning more about the various animals living on site, especially the surprise in seeing orangutans seemlessly walk across wires above their heads throughout the day. Baby pandas were on display...and many of our Mustangs relished in being so proximate to wildlife in an encouraging, meaningful way to witness much of their learning come to life before them. Thank you to Ms. Pruden, Ms. Masiya, Ms. Keefer, Ms. Byard, Ms. Costic, Ms. Miller, Mr. Fox, Ms. McIntosh, Ms. Hyman, Ms. Castro, Ms. Calderon, Ms. Pettit, and Ms. Dewan for all of your greatness in supporting this dynamite event for our Mustangs...and to many of our Mustang families for joining us as chaperones too!

QUARTER 2 HONOR ROLL EVENTS - A BLAST CELEBRATING OUR MUSTANGS and OUR STAFF!

We had a GREAT time celebrating our Quarter 2 Grade 6-7-8 Honor Roll students this past week or so...and seeing so many of our families join us! Our honorees did a terrific job of paying their tributes forward by recognizing so many of our Mustang Professional Staff with bracelets that read I made an impact... as part of our Quarter 2 Honor Roll celebrations. They also received special pins as keepsakes alongside their certificates and cafeteria treats to remember the occasion.

BRIDGES with HARMONY MIDDLE SCHOOL

We also had the pleasure of inviting Harmony Middle School Hornets to JLS for a special event with many of our Mustangs in the Amazon ThinkBIG Space, organized and led by our very own assistant principal, Sarah McIntosh, and Harmony assistant principal, Kristen Hepner. Participants collaborated in opportunities to use virtual reality tools, build objects with Legos, take on Minecraft Education, and witness our 3-D printers in action! It was a rewarding experience for all of us...and we hope to keep this fantastic connection with Harmony MS alive and well in the future!

5th GRADE EVERGREEN MILL PYTHONS VISIT JLS!

Our Evergreen Mill 5th Grade Pythons and next year's JL Simpson MS 6th Grade Mustangs met many members of our Mustang Professional Staff and participated in student-led special building tours, learned how to open their lockers, conversed with Mustang staff and students about course, opportunities and life at JLS, and enjoyed a lunch time experience with our Sources of Strength and other student leaders from all grade levels! We have one more exciting visit pending from Frederick Douglass ES 5th Grade Stars on Thursday, March 13...we look forward to it very much!

STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY for our DIVISION of EQUITY, INCLUSION, and ACCESSIBILITY VISIT!

Angela Quiroa Aviles, Edicson Virgil, and Jaxon Roberts facilitated a building tour of JLS all on their own during a visit from eight members of the Division of Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility on Tuesday! Here are some compliments from their visit:

We had a wonderful time visiting Simpson today! Thank you for being so open with your school and about the wonderful things that are happening there. We appreciated that you shared your priority that each and every student feel a sense of belonging. We could see that intention throughout the school. Please extend our thanks and let the student tour guides know how impressive they were. Their leadership, knowledge, school pride and hospitality shone through!

JL SIMPSON MS RECOGNIZED for CREATING A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING!

Thank you to all of our Mustangs and professional staff members who contributed video segments to be a part of a special production for our February 2025 LCPS All County Principals Meeting in honor of JLS being selected as a school that creates an Outstanding Sense of Belonging for Students, Staff, and Families. More than an hour of footage was collected…which had to be reduced to five minutes. 😀 A longer version will be put into production to celebrate our school in the near future, featuring many more of our student and staff contributions...and we hope to get some support from families too!

Click here to view our Belonging at JLS video that was presented at the Friday, February 28 All County Principals meeting.

This first week of March brings us SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK as we aim to UNITE to IGNITE and CELEBRATE OUR IMPACT! Our great School Social Worker, Jessica McCarthy, will also be honored as part of this week's celebrations and activities!

This is also WORLD LANGUAGES and CULTURES WEEK, so be sure to listen up for our Mustangs' voices in different languages in our Mustang Moments announcements and in all sorts of ways to celebrate the diversity and beauty of the languages and cultures that permeate our very being at JLS!

We will be highlighting WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, NATIONAL READING MONTH, and MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH as celebrations in March 2025 too! In other words, we have MANY reasons to celebrate as spring comes to fruition this month and more!

We wish to congratulate our students, staff, and families for generating a positive, welcoming, encouraging environment every day at JLS...and for always putting hearts before anything else when working with each other.

We wish everyone a stellar week ahead...as you know, it's time for me to go for my run with Ollie! He's getting faster these days, so it's tough for me to keep up!

Take care of yourselves and one another...and see you all soon!

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

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

Women's History Month

Music In Our Schools Month

U.S. School Social Work Week

World Languages and Cultures Week

Monday, March 3 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: ADVISORY

• After School Activities

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

Tuesday, March 4 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A1

• Pre-Assessment Music Concert - All Music - 7:00 PM
• After School Activities
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. TECH Rehearsals - Cafe - Mr. McGraw, Mr. Thompson

Wednesday, March 5- B-Day - FLEX DAY: B1

• After School Activities
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Beetlejuice Jr. Vocals Rehearsals - M6 - Ms. Hoey-Johnson
• 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - 8th Grade Band Rehearsals - Auditorium
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Latino Student Association (LSA) - D7 - Ms. Lopez
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Student Council Association (SCA) - Cafe - Ms. Suttie
• 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 - Mad Scientist Club - C4 - Ms. Song

Thursday, March 6 - A-Day - FLEX DAY: A3

• 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 Orchestra Reherasals - Auditorium - Ms. Kanakry
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Level Up - B16 - Ms. Keefer
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Running Cub - C10 - Mr. Peyton
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - History Society - B14 - Ms. Vlchek
• 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM - Intramural Basketball - Gym - Mr. Carpenter

Friday, March 7 - B-Day - FLEX DAY: B3

Sunday, March 9 - Daylight Savings Time Begins! Remember to set your clocks one hour ahead!

Quarter 3 Interim Grades will be posted by Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in all classes at JLS!

It's a great time to sit with your Mustang and have them review through their current performance and for them to connect with teachers should they have any questions about how to best support their progress.

We shall always be here to help...each and every one of us Mustang Professionals!

Mark Your Calendar!

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 AM local time in the U.S.

Remember to adjust your clocks and "spring forward" by one hour.

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

We had the pleasure of inviting Harmony Middle School Hornets to JLS for a special event with many of our Mustangs in the Amazon ThinkBIG Space, organized and led by our very own assistant principal, Sarah McIntosh, and Harmony assistant principal, Kristen Hepner.

Participants collaborated in opportunities to use virtual reality tools, build objects with Legos, take on Minecraft Education, and witness our 3-D printers in action! It was a rewarding experience for all of us...and we hope to keep this fantastic connection with Harmony MS alive and well in the future!

Check out some images from our event below!

We said farewell this past Friday, February 28 to the amazing Krystina Nappi as she is leaving JL Simpson MS after seventeen years of service, not to mention her own mother's many years of dedication at JLS...and even attending Simpson as a student herself! We wish Ms. Nappi and her family the greatest of luck as she moves forward with a dream opportunity of opening her own bakery in Charles Town, WV. We will miss your bright smile and effervescently positive nature, marvelous Ms. Nappi!

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

Thank you to all of our Mustangs and professional staff members who contributed video segments to be a part of a special production for our February 2025 LCPS All County Principals Meeting in honor of JLS being selected as a school that creates an Outstanding Sense of Belonging for Students, Staff, and Families.

More than an hour of footage was collected…which had to be reduced to five minutes. A longer version will be put into production to celebrate our school in the near future, featuring many more of your contributions...and hopefully participation from families too!

Congratulations on being the FINEST school in LCPS…and for putting hearts before anything else when working with our Mustangs and each other!

Click the image below to watch our BELONGING AT JLS video!

The LCPS Annual Awards are collectively a new staff recognition program that permits us as a school to recognize Mustang Professionals at the division level.

We will be submitting new nominations each year for these awards...and you can only imagine how very, very, very...challenging it is to narrow down our selections to only one Mustang Pro for each of the categories. Each one is very special in our eyes and hearts!

We will be reaching out to staff, students, families, and community members to support us in putting some authentic, meaningful words together to successfully illuminate each of our nominees this week so that we can compile all thoughts together for a final submission of packets on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Please join us in congratulating this year's JL Simpson Middle School LCPS Annual Awards nominees!

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 3, 2025 - March 7, 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.

Interested students should complete the interest form found in the grade level Schoology page...or by simply CLICKING THE FLYER BELOW!

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 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 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!

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

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Grade 5 students from Catoctin ES, Sycolin Creek ES, Evergreen Mill ES, and Frederick Douglass ES will be visiting JL Simpson MS 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 in February and early March 2025!

All elementary school principals + teams have been notified as well...so you will likely see this information in their newsletters too!

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.

At the Tuesday, February 25, 2025 meeting, the Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) adopted a school calendar for the 2026/2027 school year. Calendar Option 1, which was the most favored by the community overall, passed following a thorough calendar development process that included extensive community and staff feedback.

The first day of school in the fall of 2026 for students will be Monday, August 17 and the last day of school for students will fall on Friday, June 11, 2027.

We wanted to provide this information to you as soon as possible for your family planning needs.

Mustangs interested in joining the Diamond Art Painting Club should complete the link in their grade-level Schoology page!

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.

Rising freshman headed to LCHS interested in learning more about the LCHS Varsity Field Hockey program, this is for you!

• Complete the Interest form using the QR code below!
• Mark Your Calendars - Pre-season and tryout dates announced!
• A completed VHSL Sports Physical is required to participate in pre-season!

The Loudoun County High School Tri-M club is hosting a Parents Night Out on Friday, March 7. This will be a fun night out for your kids as they hang out with LCHS students and play board games, take part in an instrument petting zoo, watch movies, and more! Parent chaperones will be on site to oversee the event.

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!

JLS is proud to share that we have received SHINE -Spotlighting Heroes in Education submissions highlighting many of our very special teachers!

Use the link below to view the Staff SHINE submissions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10CLr09q_G6sO-9pyjKJBGr_Hw0LGTYfo72ZUzl_EgN4/edit?usp=sharing

CONGRATULATIONS, 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!).

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