JML Principal Newsletter
Week of 2/12/24
Calendar
February is...
American Heart Healthy Month
Black History Month
Cancer Prevention Month
World Nutella Day (5th)
Lunar New Year & Korean New Year (10th)
National Make a Friend Day (11th)
International Day of Woman and Girls in Science (11th)
Random Act of Kindness Day (17th)
Pet Dental Care Month
At JML:
Wednesdays & Thursdays - Late Bus Days
2/12 - 2/15 - Clothing Drive at JML (details below)
2/12 - 2/15 - SPIRIT Week at JML
2/13 - R7 and R8 Parent Night - Curriculum & Electives Fair
2/19 - Staff & Student Holiday
2/22 - JML Dines at Panera (4pm-8pm)
2/23-2/29 - JML's Book Fair
What HW/Assignments Should my Child be Working on?
The Student Virtual Organizer was developed to support our students with learning how to prioritize and organize their time. Assignments, announcements, and due dates are all included. Parents often ask, "how can I help my child at school?" This tool is now available to you to do just that! Go to our school website --> find this icon --> click on your child's grade level. This doesn't replace Schoology but is a helpful tool for parents as it is a "snapshot" of what students are currently doing/learning. Check it out!
TUESDAY, 2/13-Curriculum Night & Electives Fair for R7 and R8 Families
Plan for the Evening:
5:30PM-7:30PM - Electives Fair. Parents can get information about the different elective options students can take in 7th and 8th grade including World Languages, Technology Education, Family and Consumer Science, Exploratory Dramatics, Computer Sciences, Chorus, Guitar, Robotics and Art. Parents will walk around, talk with teachers of these subjects in their classrooms/designated spaces.
6:00PM (Auditorium) - Rising 7th Grade Parent Information presentation. This parent presentation will cover the course selection process for our Rising 7th graders including the overall scheduling timeline, middle school course progressions, teacher recommendations, and elective opportunities.
6:00 PM (Cafeteria) - High School Specialty Programs and Opportunities presentation with information about the Academies of Loudoun including the Academy of Engineering & Technology, the Academy of Science, and the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy, as well as the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and additional LCPS High School programs for which 8th graders can apply in the 24-25 school year.
7:00PM (Auditorium) - Rising 8th Grade Parent Information presentation. This parent presentation will cover the course selection process for our Rising 8th graders including the overall scheduling timeline, middle school course progressions, teacher recommendations, elective opportunities, and summer options.
We will be posting all of the parent presentations with accompanying links on our JML website in the School Counseling section. We also plan to record these presentations and will post those videos as well.
School Counselors will also present the Student Course Selection Presentation to Rising 7th and 8th graders during Resource classes next Wednesday February 14th and Thursday, February 15th.
Students Supporting Students - Spectrum Project, Step Up Loudoun
Hi, our names are Preysha, Shakthi, and Sachi, and we are 8th graders here at JML. We are in Spectrum, and we are trying to help our community as a part of a project called Step Up Loudoun. We are hosting a clothing drive to donate to local elementary schools in our area.
What: CLOTHING DRIVE
Where: JML Kiss & Ride in the MORNING
When: February 12th to February 16th
What are we looking for? Any gently used clothes for elementary school students
· Coats, Shoes, Shirts, Shorts
· Sweatpants, Sweatshirts, Dresses, Skirts
· Pajamas
SPIRIT WEEK - February 12-16
Celebrating Black History Month
Our Equity Team has led the charge to celebrate Black History Month at JML! Advisory classes will be celebrating Black History Month through various activities, with each grade level learning about historically Black neighborhoods in Loudoun County. 6th and 7th grade will focus on the area known as Conklin, which is close to us in South Riding. 8th graders will focus on six other historically Black neighborhoods located throughout Loudoun County. Ask your student(s) what they have learned from Advisory this month.
There are great websites to go to to read about the many outstanding contributions of African Americans. Here is one from National Geographic Kids: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/topic/african-american-heroes
Celebrating Lunar New Year
Our Library hosted a Maker Space activity this week where students made Lanterns to celebrate Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year, often referred to as Chinese New Year, is celebrated in China, the Koreas, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Phillippines. Dances, fireworks, and parties are common traditions during this 15 day period, and the holiday often ends with a Lantern Festival. To read more about the Lantern Festival, or the Lunar New Year, see: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lantern-Festival Happy New Year to all of our community members who celebrate!
Student Opportunity: Makerspace Competition in the Library
Our amazing Librarians, Ms. Holzberger, Ms. Paczek, and Ms. Morsy are hosting a Makerspace competition for students the week of February 26. Students will form teams and compete to create a container that will drop an egg from 8 feet without cracking it. Students should see Ms. Holzberger to sign up!
JML's Book Fair is coming! Get Excited!
Our Spring Scholastic Book Fair coming up at the end of February! We would love to have parent volunteers to assist during the book fair. Sign up if you're interested! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4DA8AF2AA46-47499598-spring#/
Have you missed a Parent Meeting?
We have had several parent meetings recently - Rising 5th Grade Parent Night, Rising 9th Grade Parent Night and Orientation at Freedom HS, Community Coffees... Our presentation slide decks, and often recordings of meetings, are available on our School Website --> School Counseling. School Counseling / Rising 9th Grade (lcps.org)
Winter VGA Score Reports - Available in ParentVUE
The Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) are required by the Virginia General Assembly for students in grades 3-8 in the State of Virginia. These assessments measure student progress growth in Reading and Math. To read more about the VGA, including what concepts are on each assessment, see: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/student-assessment/virginia-sol-assessment-program/growth-assessments
A message from LCPS Assessment Services:
The Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Office of Student Assessment, has created new Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) Reports to increase ease of understanding the assessment information for parents/guardians.
The new Parent Report will be located in the Documents tab in ParentVUE by 2-13-24
Students’ vertical scaled scores on VGAs for SY 22-23 and 23-24 will be viewable in the Test History tab in ParentVUE soon.
You will notice the new report includes fall and winter 2023 vertical scaled scores, as well as VDOE’s parent and caregiver resources. This report, combined with teacher input, classroom work, report cards, and the VGA Student Detail by Question Reports (SDBQ), which are already uploaded into the Documents Tab of ParentVUE, are intended to give families an expanded picture of student progress. At this time, vertical scaled scores on these reports are not necessarily indicative of where your student will score on the spring SOL assessments.
We need Photos of your Kids!
Our Yearbook Staff is working hard to deliver an amazing yearbook to us in May! They are currently looking for winter photos of your children. Please send a picture or two of your kids to rebecca.campo@lcps.org and courtney.weaver@lcps.org. Include your child's name, grade level, suggested caption. This photo could be selected to add to the Yearbook!
From the PTA
COMMUNITY DINING NIGHTS
Take a break from making dinner and support JML at the same time! We have some great dining nights lined up, and are working to add a few more.
- February 22 - Panera Bread
- 4pm-8pm
- Be sure to use the code (FUND4U) at checkout or show the flyer.
- March 20 - Tropical Smoothie Cafe
- 7am-8pm
Do you own a restaurant/eatery or know someone who would like to host a community dining night? If so, let us know! Just reach out to Jenny Pittman, PTA President, at liljen53@gmail.com.
3v3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The annual 3v3 basketball tournament is scheduled for March 8, 2024! We are in the early stages of planning, so keep a look out for more information soon!
BIG NIGHT OUT
Big Night Out will be held on Thursday, May 23rd. It is a super fun event for the whole community, but it takes a lot of planning and work to pull off. If you are interested in helping in any of the following areas, please contact Jenny Pittman, PTA President at liljen53@gmail.com:
- Overall planning and logistics
- Contacting businesses for silent auction donations
Stay tuned for details over the coming months!
JML Staff Members of the Month
Congratulations to the following staff members who have gone above and beyond to make JML the very special place that it is. They received a certificate and gift card from Ms. Salgado, Assistant Principal.
Jessica Anchante, English Teacher
Annie Cave, Special Education Teacher
Shane Lilly, 7th Grade Dean
Neil O'Brien, Safety & Security Officer
Dara Renaghan, Science Teacher
Helpful Links
Previous Editions of the Principal Newsletter: https://www.lcps.org/lunsford
LCPS Guide & Directory: www.lcps.org/Page/213987
LCPS School Calendar: https://www.lcps.org/Page/247996
Sign up for ParentVue: https://www.lcps.org/PVUE
Order a Yearbook CODE 13759: www.yearbookordercenter.com
Support the JML PTA, order JML Spirit Gear, Birthday Marquee orders: https://jmlpta1.memberhub.com/
JML Library Newsletter: https://bit.ly/48SsB1s
South Riding Magazine-February Edition: https://online.fliphtml5.com/gxrlq/dzpq/#p=1