John Champe Knightly News

Did you know...

You can translate the newsletter into your preferred language by selecting "Translate" above the newsletter heading.

Did you also know...

You should click on the newsletter to launch it into an internet browser to full access all items. You will miss out on important information if you're viewing only the preview in your email.

Calendar reminders

Jan. 1: The perfect time for students to make a resolution for greater success in 2024!

Jan. 2: Return to school - A Day schedule

Jan. 12: Last day for late student work and credit recovery for quarter 2

*PLEASE check in with your student about credit recovery and ensure they are making progress towards this deadline!*

Jan. 15: School holiday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan. 17: WIDA Testing

Jan. 19: Last day of quarter two

Jan. 22: Student holiday; Teacher workday

Jan. 29-Feb. 2: Winter Spirit Week, part 2

Attendance

The Attendance Policy 8140 was approved on October 24, 2023.The new policy is posted on Boardocs. Policy 8140, Student Attendance Requirements and Procedures, outlines what types of absences are categorized as excused or unexcused absences. Some changes to this policy include:

• The principal or the principal’s designee is no longer required to make that determination.
• Absences due to family trips or vacations are considered unexcused absences unless they are due to family emergencies or observations of religious holidays Parents/guardians are advised to schedule such trips during school holidays.
• Excused absences due to personal illness have been expanded to include mental health issues or substance abuse-related illnesses. Principals may require medical documentation to support these absences.
• This policy also provides guidance on make-up work following an absence as well as specific actions school administrators should take if a student demonstrates a pattern of absenteeism.
• In order to be marked present and on time, students must be in their classroom by the time the 9:30 bell rings. We are required to note absences and tardies for each student each day.

The yearbook is available for purchase now! You can go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter our school code: 13848. Be sure to check out the options for purchasing senior ads as well. Senior ads are a great way to celebrate your child and give you and your family a printed memory that will last forever! To order your ad, go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter our school code: 13848; you'll then navigate to "Start Your Ad". Prices range from $60-500 depending on size of ad.

You can order your student's Letter Jacket even if they're not a senior yet! In fact, the earlier you order, the earlier the student can wear theirs. Click HERE for the link to the Jostens site to customize today!

Academies of Loudoun

Check out the flyer below from Mrs. King about the application process for the Academies.

Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition: Encourages middle and high school youth, across the county to identify an issue in their school, neighborhood, or community, create a plan to address that issue, and implement the plan. The goal is to encourage, support and reward the youth of Loudoun County for making positive changes in their own lives and the lives of others.

If interested, go to the Loudoun Youth website and click on Step Up competition info or click HERE for the flyer; registration closes Jan. 12

Family Liaison: Patricia (Minardi) Mars

Phone: 703-722-2680 ext 80285

Email: Patricia.Minardi@lcps.org

Mental Health and Wellness Conference at Riverside HS - Jan. 27. Click here for flyer and free registration.

LCPS Opioid Awareness Task Force

It has come to our attention that smoking the opioid Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) is becoming a trend among youth in our community, and we are aware this is impacting our schools. Percocet contains oxycodone (OxyContin or “oxy”) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) and when purchased illegally is also often mixed with fentanyl. The possibility of an overdose is higher when the drug is used this way because of how quickly it enters the bloodstream.

We encourage parents to have a conversation with their students about this and to review the drug and alcohol abuse prevention resources available on the LCPS website. Please also review the following information.

Upcoming Fentanyl prevention and information awareness sessions are planned for:

• Thursday, Jan. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Douglass High School (407 East Market Street, Leesburg)
• Saturday, Jan. 27, during the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair at Riverside High School

LCPS will be adding more monthly information sessions to the calendar and continuing to emphasize the dangers of fentanyl, opioids and other drugs with our students.

Opioids: What you Need to Know

Youth Fentanyl Prevention Resources

The Opioid Awareness Task Force is also distributing Fentanyl Awareness Information, which is being posted throughout LCPS secondary schools.

Family Resources
Please talk with your children, teens and young people about the dangers of Fentanyl. Please talk with them about the dangers of taking any substance not authorized by their own parent, guardian or doctor. A recent DEA public health alert notes that “laboratory testing indicates 7 out of every 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.” Learn more at https://www.dea.gov/onepill.

Fentanyl is often added to other drugs that look like legitimate prescription opioids (e.g., Xanax, Adderall, Percocet or oxycodone), or mixed into powders or nasal sprays. (US Drug Enforcement Administration)

Please visit the LCPS Drug Awareness webpage to find information and resources to help you understand more and speak with your student about the dangers associated with Fentanyl.

And, please call local law enforcement if you or your student have seen these pills. Speaking up may save someone’s life. You can also contact the Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services to get help for a friend or loved one struggling with substance abuse.

Click HERE for LCPS Parent Resource Service site.

JCHS Wrestling

The Wrestling Team is off to a great start this season. Cyrus Esdal, Samuel Shafik, Gabe Cullbreath, Nael Shakhsheer, Beshoy Tawadros, and Basada Wassef earned their first varsity wins at Sherando December 9; Isa Ghorbani earned his 50th career win. Congratulations to them and their coach Joel Elmquist.

JCHS Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Mrs. Lashundra Carter for being selected as Champe's nominee for the Washington Post's Teacher of the Year. We are so proud to put her forward for the next level and even more thankful for all she does at Champe.

SCA Showcase

Thank you to the SCA and the additional school groups (band, orchestra, dance, theatre, class councils, SASA, Mr. Fama, and volunteers) for an excellent and entertaining Winter Showcase on December 15. It was an enjoyable way to end the last full week of the 2023 school year.

Theatre

Congratulations and thank you to parent Niki Wolf who was named the Thespian Volunteer of the Year.

Did you know?

LCPS launched SHINE: Spotlight Heroes In Education as a way for staff and community members to recognize the tremendous work occurring around the county. Would you like to shout out an inspirational or above-and-beyond moment you've had because of a staff member at JCHS? If so, check out this link to submit a nomination!

College and Career Center News

For SENIORS and their parents -- If you are college bound or planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College or any trade school, you will be REQUIRED to complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA opens on December 31, 2023. Since the FAFSA is opening so late this year due to revisions, you should try to complete the form within the first two weeks of January (not required, but strongly encouraged). Your student will not receive a Financial Aid Package from whatever school they get admitted to until the FAFSA has been submitted.

JCH, in conjunction with Freedom and Lightridge, will be having a FAFSA workshop on February 15th (formerly Jan. 9). Mark your calendar! More details forthcoming.

BEFORE January 9th, you will want your FSA ID to be completed, and for you to make an attempt to complete as much as you can of the FAFSA. What you don't complete, or don't understand, that is what the workshop if for. See you there!

**************************************************

For ongoing CCC news, check out this newsletter. For great listings, links, and dates for available scholarships, click HERE. Looking for job or volunteer opportunities? Then please check HERE!

Service: Knights Give Back

Students can click HERE or the button below for codes to join their service course if they haven't yet. In the course, students can access this year's log as well as service opportunities that are shared with the school throughout the year.

Theatre:

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Audition Meeting

Jan. 11th 4:30pm

Friday Knight Live

January 19th and 20th at 7pm

Tickets at Champehs.booktix.com

Athletics

Congratulations to Ella Dawson, Bryce Rohr, Cole Smith, Abby Hardiman, and Greg Spiller who have committed to play their sport at the collegiate level next year.

Basketball Spirit Themes

Come out to the upcoming basketball games decked out in the relevant theme!

Jan. 5 vs. Heritage - Navy Out

Jan. 8 vs. Loudoun Valley - Webb Out

Jan. 10 vs Tuscarora - Ski Out

Jan. 12 vs Park View - Silver Out

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR HOLIDAY TREAT HELPERS!

One last item of business for 2023: thanking you for your 2023 Holiday Cookie and Hot Cocoa Buffet contributions. With your support - by baking, donating, or volunteering - we were able to shower our faculty and staff with appreciation before the winter break.

RESOLVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY JOINING THE PTSA

Our school is strong because our families are involved. We invite all students, parents, and staff members to start or renew your annual PTSA membership. It's as easy as visiting our membership portal, selecting your membership type, and completing the online form. Graduating students that join the PTSA by January 19, 2024 are eligible to apply for a PTSA scholarship.

STUDENT PTSA MEMBER PERK: SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY

PTSA is offering four $500 scholarships to graduating seniors planning to enter and attend a university, college, or technical school this fall. To qualify to apply, students must be a member of the JCHS PTSA by January 19, 2024. Should any student for fiscal reasons be unable to cover the $10 student membership fee, they should speak to their counselor immediately. Review the scholarship application for details.

PTSA GENERAL MEETING ON JANUARY 18

PTSA member meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 6pm. Join us on January 18, virtually (meet.google.com/iuq-svxn-cvs) or in person at the Champe Library, to discuss activities planned for this year, opportunities for volunteering, and much more. We look forward to seeing you there!

NEED TO GET IN TOUCH?

Reach us by email (johnchampeptsa@gmail.com), go to our website (http://jchampeptsa.org/), or check out our social accounts (Instagram, Facebook,and X/Twitter).

Environmental Excellence Award Nominations are now open; click HERE for info and to make a nomination

School business partnership awards nominations are now open; click HERE to submit your nomination

Take AP Exams - click HERE for info on how AP exams benefit your student

Adult education: English Learners Classes are available through LCPS. Click HERE for details to register. GED Math Workshop - click HERE. Enrichment classes offered; click HERE for options and registration. Upcoming sessions in October include Google and Computing and Business classes.

Drive for LCPS! Click HERE to learn more.

Student leadership conference opportunity - click HERE for details

Teens for Tomorrow sessions - click HERE for information

Coding for Youth classes - click HERE

New, Optional Service Provides Report of Student Website Access on LCPS Devices

ew this school year, LCPS is introducing an optional and free service for families called Lightspeed Parent Portal. Families who elect to use this service will receive weekly reports by email that list websites their student(s) are accessing when using their LCPS-issued Chromebook or laptop. For instructions, additional information and details on how to sign up, see the Lightspeed Parent Portal website.

Jan. 11: Theatre's audition meeting for Cinderella

Jan. 12: Last day for late student work for quarter 2

Jan. 17: WIDA Testing

Jan. 19: Last day of quarter two

Jan. 19 and 20: Avalon Theatre's "Friday Knight Live" at 7pm

Jan. 22: Student holiday; Teacher workday

Feb. 15: FAFSA workshop

April 13: Prom

June 18: Graduation at EagleBank Arena

2023 All Rights Reserved – Loudoun County Public Schools