John Champe Knightly News

Calendar reminders

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

Impact Aid Survey Forms

Because LCPS did not receive adequate responses from the electronic survey to families regarding Impact Aid last year, you will receive paper survey forms this year. Please be on the look out for these and return the completed Impact Aid Survey by January 24, 2024 to your school.

LCPS uses Impact Aid funds to support public education and reduce the amount of local monies needed to provide education for all Loudoun children. The Impact Aid Survey form identifies federally connected students and supports our request for Impact Aid resources.

If you have questions, please click here for Impact Aid Information.

Parent feedback needed!

We want to hear your views on technology and learning! Be a part of the conversation happening across the state! We are participating in the Virginia Speak Up Research Project for Digital Learning. The national Speak Up is the first survey designed to help families share their ideas directly with schools and national policymakers. Speak Up provides parents and guardians with a mechanism for expressing their views to the administrators at their child(ren)’s school and district about key issues impacting their child(ren)’s education.

Since 2003, Speak Up has collected and shared the views of more than 5.4 million students, teachers, and parents/guardians from across the country. By participating in the Virginia Speak Up, you are expressing your views to a wider audience of local, state, and national policy makers —and contributing to the national dialogue about how best to prepare students for the future. The online survey is open to students, educators, and parents/guardians; it’s quick and easy to get involved. All participation is 100% confidential. Surveys take about 20 minutes to complete. To preview any of the surveys (students, teachers, administrator) visit https://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/vaspeakup/

Please complete the parent/guardian survey by January 31 at THIS LINK. We appreciate you taking the time to share your views with us! We need your input!

Common Sense Media planner from our IFT

Being healthier in the new year also includes being healthier in our relationship with technology. The family tech planner (linked below as a .pdf; please ensure you've launched this newsletter in a browser) from Common Sense Media can help you have a conversation with your teen about changes that you would both like to make in the way you use technology. Remember that instead of setting big resolutions, experts recommend identifying small, specific changes that you are able to more easily sustain. For more information about online media and technology from a parent perspective, visit commonsensemedia.org.

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.

Join us at the LCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference January 27 at Riverside High School. There will be over 40 presenters, a resource fair, fundraising tables, and food trucks. The conference is free to attend but you need to register for the sessions. Please click the flyers below for more info.

Academies of Loudoun

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

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.

Ryan Bartel Foundation - upcoming sessions Jan. 17, 18, and throughout February. Click HERE for details.

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.

Click HERE for LCPS Parent Resource Service site.

Avalon Theatre

Our Excalibur Competition team attended the 2024 Virginia Thespians State Conference, and they did amazing! Check out some of our big winners below!

First, our students were selected to represent Youth Plays and performed on the Capital One Center Stage in front of 1500 people! Check out the video HERE.

Next, our students competed in individual events. They must score a superior to be able to advance to nationals. For the first time in Champe history, we had FIVE superiors. Check them out below.

Musical Theatre Solo: Jocelyn Long

Musical Theatre Solo: Dineen Merriweather

Musical Theatre Solo: Mady Taxis

Sound Design: Nox Toth

Musical Theatre Group: Dineen Merriweather, Jocelyn Long, Mady Taxis, Kiera Murray, Alexis McGuffin

Our one act also went to stage one last time and received the following awards:

--Superior State Rating

--Best Costumes

--Best Original Play

--Top Actor in Conference: Alexis McGuffin

--Top Actor in Conference: Kiera Murray

Staff MAGIC Makers

Our MAGIC Makers this year are student nominated staff members being recognized for the MAGIC they bring each day to JCHS. In December, the following staff members were recognized: Mr. Rice for his kindness and building relationships with his students; Mr. Garey for his positive influence and greatly appreciated work and lessons.

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!

Seniors, are you considering a gap year? Click HERE for info on the Gap Year Fair February 3.

Are you interested in a career in Computer Science? Click HERE for info on the Elevate Loudoun event on Jan. 22 (on the teacher workday).

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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.

Friday Knight Live

January 19th and 20th at 7pm

Tickets at Champehs.booktix.com

Basketball Spirit Themes

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

Tues, Jan 16 vs. Woodgrove: Camo Out

Thurs, Jan 18 vs. Broad Run: PJ Out

Tues, Jan 23 vs. Loudoun County: Gold Rush

Wed, Jan 24 vs. Dominion: Jersey Out

Fri, Jan 26 vs. Woodgrove: Navy Out

Mon, Jan 29 vs. Rockridge: Adam Sandler

LAST CALL FOR PTSA SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY - JANUARY 19

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 Friday, 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 virtually (meet.google.com/iuq-svxn-cvs) on January 18 to discuss activities planned for this year, opportunities for volunteering, and much more. We look forward to seeing you online!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER

We are thankful for our featured sponsor, Huntington Learning Center of South Riding. You may know them for hosting our SAT practice exams, but they have much more to offer the community. Call them at 1-800-CAN-LEARN to find out how they can help your student achieve results, no matter their grade level!

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. 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

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