A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!
There certainly was a lot of joy throughout the past week at JL Simpson Middle School...and it was a beautiful way to finish off our first quarter in an immensely positive way!
We had a fabulous SCA Spirit Week with so many of our students, staff, and even family members wearing neon, twinning with others, representing decades of the past and present, sporting school colors, and dressing to impress as we built excitement to culminate in our SCA Dance this past Friday! A huge thank you to Ms. Herrin and Ms. Suttie for organizing our SCA Spirit Week and dance with our student leaders at the helm of the work. We also greatly appreciate each and every family member that volunteered at our dance event alongside our staff to make it the great experience that so many of our students expressed upon leaving on Friday evening. Another big thank you to our PTO and the volunteers who attended our Grade 6 Event at Ida Lee on Saturday, October 28. Our sixth graders had a blast together...and we cannot wait to plan similar events for our Grades 7 and 8 students later in the year!
The second quarter starts on Wednesday, November 1 this week with a B Day as we have staff planning/records/conference days on Monday and Tuesday. Students will be finalizing their selections for Clubs During The Day this coming week...and the Principal Mustang Student Advisory Team will be commencing its sessions in the opening weeks of the new quarter as well! It has been awesome seeing so many of our students take on more and more leadership roles at Simpson through clubs/organizations, our yearbook team, SCA, Sources of Strength, and our Good morning, Mustangs! news show. We are hoping to increase leadership opportunities as the year endures so that each and every Mustang has that opportunity to see the value in participating in activities that they enjoy and that connect them with authenticity in learning beyond the classroom.
We hope you have a fantastic, safe, and enjoyable long weekend with your Mustangs. It is a true pleasure to see and work with them every day at Simpson!
Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III
Principal
JL Simpson Middle School
This Week at JL Simpson Middle School
Student Holidays - No School
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 (B Day)
First Day of Quarter 2
Thursday, November 2, 2023 (A Day)
Clubs During the Day Selections during Advisory
Friday, November 3, 2023 (B Day):
- Clubs During the Day Selections during Advisory
- High School Special Programs Assembly for 8th Grade
Odyssey of the Mind Team Coach Needed
The Simpson Veterans Day Tribute
We will hold our annual Simpson Veterans Day Tribute on Friday, November 10.
We would love to welcome any of our students' military veteran family members. There will be a ceremony, complete with music provided by our band and chorus, as well as a reception afterwards.
We are asking any veterans who would like to attend to please complete this RSVP form.
School Pictures Now Available Online
School pictures are now available online!
Families should have received an e-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam folder if you cannot find this e-mail.
If your student missed picture day, there will be a picture make up day on Friday, November 17.
For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: underclass@vosphoto.com
Let's See Your Halloween Pet Pictures
HALLOWEEN PET PICTURES!!
THE NEWS CREW IS DOING A SEGMENT ON HALLOWEEN PET PICTURES. PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO UPLOAD A PICTURE OF YOUR PET DRESSED UP FOR HALLOWEEN!
Thomas Jefferson Application Process Now Open for Current 8th Graders
The application process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology is now open. Current 8th grade students who meet the eligibility criteria below are invited to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. Please feel free to share this information with your eligible students. To apply, students must be:
- in 8th grade
- interested in STEM
- enrolled in Algebra 1 or higher
- enrolled in science honors and one other honors course (English or Social Studies)
- Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (7th grade & first quarter of 8th grade)
Click here for the TJ Application Details.
Application portal: https://jasonline.fcps.edu/jase-web/jase
Last day to open an application is November 15 at 4PM
Application deadline is November 17th at 4:00PM.
If you have questions, please contact our 8th grade counselor, sabrina.jeane@lcps.org
High School Program Assembly - 8th Grade
All 8th Grade students will attend The High School Special Programs Assembly. The presentation will be on November 3 during B1/2 and B3/4. Our guests will be presenting some of the high school programs to which 8th grade students can apply. This will include Pre-IB, JROTC, CAMPUS, Thomas Jefferson, and the new Health Medical Science Academy.
Morning Student Drop-Off
Thank you for your support in keeping the drop-off zone moving in an already reduced parking/queue area at our JLS campus! :)
Crosswalk Safety
We also now have law enforcement support and a crossing guard at the intersection of Evergreen Mill and Tolbert on duty both in the AM and PM to support students safely crossing the street...and we appreciate your own communication with your Mustangs about consistently being careful about walking to school and back home.
Lost and Found
Have You Ordered Your Yearbook Yet?
Be sure to use our school code 13625
How do I join the Simpson Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)?
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 or Sara Conner sbc070178@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!
Dates to Remember
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
October 30-31 - No School - Student Holidays
October 31 - All District Chorus Auditions
November 7 - No School - Election Day
November 10 - JLSMS Veteran's Day Tribute
November 13 - No School - Holiday - Diwali
November 14 - Special Education Parent Coffee
November 15 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance / Special Education Parent Coffee
November 15 - Grade 8 Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly - 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Auditorium/Cafeteria
November 16 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - Cafeteria
November 16 - Grade 7 Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly - 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Auditorium/Cafeteria
November 17 - Grade 6 Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly - 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Audiitorium/Cafeteria
November 17 - Epilepsy Awareness - Wear purple! / School Portrait Make-Up Day
November 22-24 - No School - Holiday - Thanksgiving Break
December 11-15 - Book Fair in the Library/Media Center
December 13 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
December 14 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - Cafeteria
December 21-January 1 - No School - Winter Break
January 15 - No School - Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 17 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
January 19 - End of Second Grading Period
January 22 - No School - Student Holiday
February 9 - No School - Holiday - Lunar New Year
February 15 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - Cafeteria
February 19 - No School - Holiday - Presidents' Day
February 21 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
March 5 - No School - Student Holiday
March 14 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - Cafeteria
March 20 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
March 25 - 29 - No School - Spring Break
April 4 - End of Third Grading Period
April 5 - No School - Student Holiday
April 10 - No School - Holiday - Eid al Fitr
April 17 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
April 18 - PEP Meeting
May 15 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
May 27 - No School - Holiday - Memorial Day
June 5 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8am at school main entrance
June 14 - Last Day of School/End of Fourth Grading Period
Follow Us On Social Media!
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLSimpsonMS2020/
Twitter: @JLSMS_Official
