The Mustang Messenger

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Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!

Fall has definitely arrived this weekend with a mix of sunny, rainy, and blustery weather...and it is fantastic to see the leaves slowly changing colors so artistically in response! We hope that you are enjoying your time with our Mustangs, your family, and friends during this beautiful season!

Thank you to all of our family members who stopped by JLS this past Thursday and Friday as part of our Monster Mash 5K in Health and PE classes. Our school leadership team and several of our educators ran the event with our Mustangs...and they definitely made it very tough for us to keep up with them! We appreciate our Health and PE professionals for making this event such a great way to promote fitness in a fun way!

We have an awesome spirit week highlighted below this introductory message to build momentum for our Friday, October 27 SCA Dance from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM at Simpson...and a wonderful PTO Event for our 6th Graders at Ida Lee from 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM the very next day on Saturday, October 28. We hope to see each and every Mustang participating throughout the week! You can also check out information on both of these cool events in the sections below.

As we finish out October, we are closing the door on the first quarter of SY 2023-2024...so we encourage you as our families to work with our Mustangs this week to ensure that their assignments are completed and that they connect with their teachers with any questions they might have about finishing the quarter as successfully as possible.

Our JLS Professional Educators have been sending out helpful messages via e-mail and Remind to students and families in addition to working with their students in their classes to be sure that quality supports are in place for each Mustang to do their best throughout the quarter.

We thank you for your partnership each and every day to promote the greatest holistic achievement for your children at Simpson...and remember that we are always open to feedback about how we can make the experience better for your Mustang. We are always a TEAM!

Have a wonderful Sunday evening...and stay warm!

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

Principal

JL Simpson Middle School

Monday - Neon Glow Day - Wear Your Best Bright Colors

It Happened on Saturday Author Discussion Participant Form Deadline

Tuesday - Twin Day - Dress Like Your Friend

PTO Meeting 6pm in the library

Spirit Day @ResQ BBQ 11am-9pm - Mention Simpson

Wednesday - Blast From the Past - Dress Like a Different Decade

Veterans Day Program Cover Design Contest Entries Due

Thursday - Class Color Day - 8th Grade - Blue, 7th Grade - Yellow, 6th Grade - White

Trunk or Treat @LCHS 5:30pm-7:30pm

Friday - Dress to Impress - Wear Your Best for the Dance

SCA School Dance in the cafeteria 3:30pm-5:30pm

End of First Grading Period

Saturday - 6th Grade Free Event @ Ida Lee Rec Center 8:30pm

*Reminder - Monday and Tuesday, October 30 and 31 are student holidays - No School

Tuesday, October 24

11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Head over to ResQ BBQ on October 24th from 11am-9pm for a yummy spirit night! Don't forget to mention Simpson PTO.

ResQ BBQ menu here

The 6th graders will get the run of the indoor facilities for two hours! They can use the basketball courts, racquet courts, and pool!

Fill out this permission form in advance, either online or grab a form from Mrs. Dewan, the 6th grade secretary.

We could also use a few more chaperones, cookies, and water. Sign up here!

The SCA Dance is this Friday, October 27 in the cafeteria - 3:30pm-5:30pm.

Activity buses will be provided.

Admission Ticket - $2, a signed permission slip, AND a canned food item

*See your house secretary for a permission slip or click here to print one at home.

Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria during all three lunch shifts on Monday, October 23, Tuesday, October 24, Wednesday, October 25, and Thursday, October 26 only (No tickets sold at the time of the dance.)

What does my 2$ cover?

Admission, a bottle of water, and a slice of pizza.

Can I buy food there?

Yes, additional snacks will be sold at the dance.

Will there be a DJ?

Yes! A former JLS student!

Click here for the flyer and permission form

Please help support our Student Council.

They are trying to get a gift card for our DJ. Donations can be made here.

They would also like a couple more snacks to sell. You can sign up here.

SCA Dance - Chaperones, Concession Donations, and DJ gift card donations needed

The Student Council Association is hosting their annual dance on Friday, October 27th and needs our help. Please sign up here if you are able to chaperone and/or donate supplies for their concession stand.

We are also collecting money to provide a gift card for the DJ. Please use this link to donate:

PTO 6th Grade Night Out event at Ida Lee Rec Center - Volunteers and donations needed!

If you are interested in donating cookies or water or volunteering your time at the 6th Grade event at Ida Lee on Saturday, October 28, please click here to sign up.

We have 6 kids that are looking to form an Odyssey of the Mind team. If you are interested in coaching, please reach out to Deval Khan: devalkhan83@gmail.com

We are excited to honor the military veterans from our Simpson community!

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.

We are also holding a design contest for students to create a patriotic cover for the program...see below!

What does Veterans Day mean to you? Show us! Design a program cover for our Veterans Day assembly on November 10th. The winning design will be chosen by the Veterans Day program committee.

All entries are due by October 25th. The winner will be announced on the 27th.

The program cover will be 8 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches in portrait format. All art must be your original work. No copyrighted images or characters. Work may be of any medium, including digital. All works must include the following:

J. L. Simpson

Veterans Day Tribute

2023

Students can enter their design using the form found here.

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.

For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: underclass@vosphoto.com

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!

In an effort to keep our student drop-off line moving and reducing the amount of cars on Evergreen Mill awaiting entrance into the drop-off zone, we ask that families who arrive prior to our 8:10 AM opening time release their students to walk to the main entrance to await building entry in the mezzanine area in lieu of parking by the drop-off entrance.

Thank you for your support in keeping the drop-off zone moving in an already reduced parking/queue area at our JLS campus! :)

Many of our students live in the walk zone and utilize the stoplight/crosswalk at Evergreen and Tolbert. Additionally, we have students who may walk to school from other neighborhoods and cross King Street at the end of Evergreen Mills Rd. Parents, please remind students to only cross at approved lights/crosswalks and only when they receive the flashing pedestrian signal.

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.

Our lost and found tables are already becoming quite crowded. We have accumulated quite a few unclaimed hoodies, water bottles, lunch boxes and other various items. Please ask your students to check the lost and found tables outside of each of the house offices. Items that go unclaimed will be donated later.

Did you know that you can order your yearbook now? Orders can be placed at yearbookordercenter.com

Be sure to use our school code 13625

All Simpson parents are encouraged to attend a free Suicide Prevention presentation which is part of LCPS’s Mental Health and Wellness parent series. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the LCPS Administration Building.

The Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition presents middle and high school students an opportunity to identify an issue in their communities and implement a solution as they contribute to the world around them.

In the past few years, we have seen projects delve deep based on things already being done in school as part of Project Based Learning and Personalized Learning methods. These provide the perfect place for students to make their project work public by explaining, displaying and presenting it to people beyond the classroom. As in the past, students will create a five (5)-minute team video due on February 21, 2024, and then the top 20 teams will present live to judges on March 11, 2024. The Finals and Awards Ceremony will be on March 21, 2024, where the top 10 teams will be invited to present for cash prizes.

Please refer to this slide presentation for complete information on how to participate, photos of past competitions, and more.

To hear from a previous competition winner, check out this short video clip. https://youtube.com/shorts/JIoZ2rysrK0?feature=share

Registration for the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is now open. You will find information about SULYC and the link for the application at: www.loudounyouth.org under Programs: Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition.

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!

Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.

October 23-27 - SCA Spirit Week - see above

October 24 - PTO Spirit Night @ ResQ BBQ - 11am-9:30pm / PTO Meeting 6pm

October 27 - End of First Grading Period / School Dance - 3:30pm-5:30pm - Cafeteria

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 16 - PEP Meeting - 5:30pm - 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

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