The Mustang Messenger

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Good afternoon, JLS Mustang Families!

We welcome you to enjoy our first SPECIAL EDITION Mustang Messenger of the summer as we look forward to the brilliant 2024-2025 school season that premieres on Thursday, August 22, 2024 for our 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Mustang superstars!

WHAT IS THE MUSTANG MESSENGER?

The Mustang Messenger serves as your one-stop shop for anything and everything that is happening at JLS all year long, including event dates, club/organization meetings, important announcements, student, staff, and community celebrations, and so much more! While the Messenger is delivered to those of you who opt into text messaging from us in addition to an e-mailed version, we highly encourage you to use a laptop/desktop device to view the newsletter in the most accessible format possible via your e-mail accounts. We also recommend that you read through the Messenger each week as so many answers to questions you might have will be right here.

Please use the TABLE of CONTENTS to the left of this opening message from me each week to peruse headlines that catch your attention. The Mustang Messenger will be delivered to your inboxes weekly at 5:30 PM on Sunday evenings during the 2024-2025 school year unless we have special editions that may be provided from time to time to support the greatest quality of POSITIVE COMMUNICATION possible at JLS.

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

Speaking of quality communication, we highly recommend the following action steps from you to access modes of continuous updates from JLS throughout the course of the school year:

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOLLOW JLS on INSTAGRAM!

We often post student, staff, and community celebrations in photography/video format in addition to important announcements on our Instagram, which you can follow @jlsimpsonms_official_!

JOIN THE PTO!

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

WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER AT JLS?

While our Mustangs are currently on their well-deserved summer recess, many of our professional staff and school leadership team members are working creatively, compassionately, and collaboratively over the summer to prepare for what promises to be Simpson's best school year yet!

We are also in the midst of major renovation this summer under the support of LCPS Facilities as we are excited to announce an incredible new cafeteria site, CTE classroom updates, beautiful hallway art, and HVAC refreshment, just to name a few updates. As many of you know, our goal at Simpson is to focus on continous improvement on a daily basis...so we cannot wait for everyone to see the gorgeous changes that are coming to fruition in the coming weeks!

STAMPEDE INTO SIMPSON for OUR RISING 6th GRADERS: A GRAND SUCCESS!

We held our fantastic Stampede Into Simpson on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27, 2024, which engaged more than two hundred of our Rising 6th Graders in fun connective orientation activities under the support of student leaders and Mustang Professional Staff members!

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Misty Miller, who served once more as the coordinator for this year's Stampede, alongside the leadership of Mustang Pro members Michael O'Connell, Beth Winsor, Alesha Whitmore, Derrick Jackson, Beth Suttie, Heidi Terrett, Sam Carpenter, Justin Grantham, Wendy Simpson, Kelly Green, Mikala Hawkins-Marshall, and Michele Song. We are also very grateful to Nick Grzeda, LCPS Supervisor of Computer Science, who provided us with a modified version of the amazing resources available in the LCPS ThinkBIG Space in a separate classroom due to the reconstruction processes taking place at JLS. We must admit that the level of HONORABLE ENGAGEMENT and RESPECTFUL DETERMINATION (HERD) that we saw shining within our Rising 6th graders at Stampede was quite inspiring...and we cannot wait to work with all of you alongside our fabulous returning 7th and 8th Grade Mustangs!

WHAT IS IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION of THE MUSTANG MESSENGER?

This special edition of the Mustang Messenger features the following resources for you as our Mustang families as we gear up for the new school season ahead, many of which were reviewed for feedback by our JLS Instructional Council and our JLS Principal Student Advisory Committee this spring!:

• Welcome to the Mustang HERD!: An Introduction to Our JLS School Leadership Team, Unified Mental Health Team, and Many Other Mustang Pros!
• Stampede Into Simpson - Short Video Celebration
• Bell Schedule SY 2024-2025
• Grades 6, 7, and 8 School Supplies List - Please note that the links to items that are provided in the supply lists are present only to conviently provide you a visual of samples and are not the required brands, colors, etc. that you must obtain for your Mustang.
• Simpson Strong: Back to Simpson Night and Load Your Locker/Classrooms Open House Information
• Optional Delta Math Summer Assignments
• LCPS Policy 8650: Student Technology Acceptable/Responsible Use Policy and LCPS Policy 8655: Student Personal Device Use
  
• LCHS Community Book Club Opportunity: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Please stay tuned for much more information to come in early August 2024 to support our Mustang community with the best possible transition into the 2024-2025 season at our outstanding educational community center that is and always will be the one and only JL Simpson Middle School!

Wishing you the most wonderful summer possible with your family and friends...and we shall see you in a little over a month!

#mustangfamilyforever

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

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

Click the image above to check out a short video of the great times had at our 2024-2025 Stampede Into Simpson Event from June 26-27, 2024!

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.
• Grade 6 lunch takes place during Block 3-4 with Grades 7 and 8 lunches taking place during Block 5-6, allowing for all students to have an earlier lunch time this year.
• All students assist their classmates and teachers at the end of the day with tidying up the classroom space, placing chairs on desks for custodial cleaning, and listening to any end of day announcements from our school leadership team.
• Students who are riding buses home remain in the last block of the day until their bus number is posted as arrived on our VIRTUAL BUS DISMISSAL BOARD, which is available to all JLS staff.

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

WHAT IS ADVISORY/FLEX?

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

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

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

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

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

LOCKERS:

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 uniforms available for 2024-2025. We will be publishing a link on July 17 on School Cash Online/Payment Portal on our school website for the purchase/rental of Health and PE T-Shirts, which are required for all students to wear. Students who already have a LCPS Health and PE t-shirt from previous years or from another sibling who attends/attended LCPS may use that t-shirt. Stay tuned for more info from our HPE staff!
• No open containers of food or drink are permitted in the locker.
• 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HRTD is excited to launch SHINE! Spotlighting Heroes in Education, a new recognition program that aims to tell the stories of the incredible work happening throughout the division. We encourage schools to promote SHINE both inside their buildings between peers as well as with their school communities through newsletters, websites and social media as all parents, students, staff and community members are welcome to submit a nomination. Each month, Loudoun Education Foundation will choose one submission to provide additional acknowledgement and a special gift.

How it works:

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

1. Have gone above and beyond in a situation

2. Have inspired others or have a heartwarming story

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

4. In general, ANY great news!

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

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

4. The story may be placed on the Employee Recognition webpage.

Our goal is to place a spotlight on the hundreds of positive interactions taking place in LCPS each day...and especially at JLS! We look forward to seeing your celebrations of our JLS Mustang Professionals throughout 2023-2024!

The LCPS PROPEL and Level Up Program is designed to address equity through enrichment for high-achieving students underrepresented in STEM.

The program goals are:

• Developing high-level reasoning skills in students.
• Providing students with opportunities to enhance behaviors associated with high achievement and demonstration of the 5C’s
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Contribution
  • Creation
  • Critical Thinking
• Assisting students with planning and preparing for academically rigorous coursework in middle and high school and for entry into competitive academic programs.
• Providing opportunities for parents to share as educational partners.

Click here to see the PROPEL and Level Up newsletter in English

Click here to see the PROPEL and Level Up newsletter in Spanish

Loudoun County Public Schools is offering new resources for all staff and parents/guardians to use to support students through www.parental guidance.org. You can learn more about this initiative by clicking here.

These resources include easily accessible video-based courses on difficult parenting topics, individualized parent coaching for any LCPS parent/guardian, on their schedule in their home, and weekly interactive webinars to let parents know the mental health needs of our students are a critical concern of Loudoun County Public Schools. Your unified mental health team members are ready to assist parents in accessing the support. You can watch this video about the services available.

Slide deck with additional information: Coaching CCHC LCPS 2024.pptx

The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Service, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps develop partnerships to bridge the gap of food insecurity among school-aged children. The objectives of SNAP in Schools are to reduce food insecurity in school-aged children, to increase the number of students directly certified for free school meals through SNAP, and to increase the number of students eligible without application for the summer EBT program.

Please advise families who could benefit from this program to access the CommonHelp portal link to submit online SNAP applications.

Please also share the flyer below with your families:

• English

• Spanish

Are you trying to figure out how to stay involved during those middle school years?

There are small and big ways that really make an impact on our AMAZING school! Please reach out to Natalie Sutter nsutter@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with our PTO activities in any way. You can also sign up to help by clicking here!

The PTO has many things planned for our staff and students! Check out our Volunteer Signup! A board member will reach out with more details!

• FREE Grade Level Events for each grade
• Monty's Cafe (Coming back for a 3rd year)
• Family Bingo Night w/ Silent Auction and Concessions
• Enhance our social media platforms
• Lots of Appreciation Days / Weeks for Staff
• Joint 5K with other middle schools

Click here for the Official J.L. Simpson MS PTO Webpage.

We look forward to engaging all of our Mustang families in PTO in service and support of all of our children!

Email: Tripp.DiNicola@lcps.org

Website: https://www.lcps.org/jlsms
Location: J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, Evergreen Mills Rd, Leesburg, VA, USA
Phone: 5712522840

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