A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
I hope you are enjoying a restful weekend and finding the pockets of sun that seem to appear sporadically among the raindrops these past two days!
Tomorrow marks the beginning of our first five-day week this year after several modified versions that helped us acclimate our students and staff to the new school season alongside the Labor Day holiday weekend. Our students have been doing an outstanding job overall making their way to their lockers and classes, well before the bell rings to signify the start of the block. We are incredibly proud of our Mustangs and how very helpful they have been to one another to make the opening of our school year such a great success!
Please take note that we have a special bell schedule tomorrow to start the week due to our Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) testing in mathematics. Students are also taking the MAP Growth Assessment in mathematics during the time frame of Monday, September 11 - Tuesday, September 19 in their math classes. These fall diagnostic assessments inform our educators about how we can better design personalized instruction to help our Mustangs progress to the best individual achievement possible on engaging classroom activities that promote the Profile of an LCPS Graduate 5 Cs (Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Contribution) as well as on their spring SOL End of Course assessments. Your support in clarifying the purpose of these assessments with our Mustangs only assists our teachers in doing their greatest quality planning for instruction on a daily basis...so thank you in advance for your teamwork!
Check out the section below for more information on VGA in addition to the bell schedule that we will be following on both Monday, September 11 (Mathematics) and Wednesday, September 20 (Reading). I will send the bell schedule for tomorrow out in a Remind for you as well so that you can download and save it to your phones if you would like to share it with our Mustangs.
Just for your awareness, we have a special LCPS staff event for our Amazon ThinkBig Space Dedication on Tuesday, September 12 that may bring additional traffic in the morning for those of you who drive your Mustangs to school. As always, we appreciate your patience and support each day both before and after school to maintain safety precautions for our Mustangs as they make their way home by foot, bike, on our buses, or via transportation with you as our families.
As mentioned last week, we at JL Simpson MS are committed to opening opportunities for our students to participate in extracurricular activities, many in the form of student interest clubs/organizations and leadership groups. We have been informed that our activity buses are slated to begin during the last week of this month, so we are hoping to begin spreading the word about the availability of clubs/organizations to our students on the day(s) that we have activity buses after school to maximize the participation of our Mustangs in these opportunities. Stay tuned for more on clubs/organizations very soon! :)
Finally, just to keep you ahead of schedule, please mark your calendars now for Monday, October 2 and Tuesday, October 3 as our school picture days out of Health and Physical Education classes. More information will appear in our Mustang Messenger on this item in the coming weeks, of course.
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead...and please remember to reach out to any one of our staff members if you or your Mustangs need any assistance! We shall always be here for you!
Dr. Di Nicola
New LCPS Digital Service, LightSpeed Family Portal
LCPS is offering a new, optional and free digital service for families called Lightspeed Parent Portal. This service allows parents/guardians to view a list of websites their student(s) are accessing when using their LCPS-issued Chromebook or laptop. Families who elect to use this service will receive weekly reports by email.
In addition, families can elect to temporarily suspend Internet access for their student(s) devices when they are not connected to the LCPS network (home, bus, etc.). Please note: Internet access cannot be suspended when a student is at school.
To sign up for Lightspeed Parent Portal, go to ParentVUE. From there:
Click on: “Student Information.”
From “Student Information,” opt in for Lightspeed Parent Portal under “Student Notifications and Permissions.” (Be sure to click the “Edit” button at the top of the screen.)
Choose “YES” from the drop-down menu “I am opting into receiving weekly emails regarding my student’s internet usage.”
For additional information and questions about Lightspeed, go to the Lightspeed Parent Portal website.
Important Information from LCPS and Our School Board Representative
PTO Simpson Spirit Wear Sale
Virginia Growth Assessment
Students in grades 6-8 will take the Virginia Department of Education’s Growth Assessments in reading and math this fall and again during the winter. Test windows for fall will be Math on September 11 and Reading on September 20. The online growth assessments are adaptive assessments that aid teachers with identifying learning strands that require additional instruction. Students will take these tests in addition to the spring Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.
Encourage your students to get a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast prior to testing and to arrive at school with their Chromebooks fully charged the day of testing.
Questions can be directed to our 6th Grade Dean, Ms. Hailey. katherine.hailey@lcps.org
Student Council Representative Elections
If your student would like an application for student council, please have them see their History or Civics teacher. Applications are due by 9/15. Elections will be held by 9/22. The first Student Council meeting will take place on 9/28.
Click here for more information on SCA responsibilities, the election process and how to apply.
Freedom Park Event - September 11 - Expect Police Presence
Freedom Park, located next to Simpson, will be holding their annual September 11 commemoration. Please expect to see police presence and some additional traffic prior to and during the event scheduled for 8:30am.
In commemoration of the tragic events and the lives lost throughout the United States on September 11, 2001, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a remembrance ceremony at the Town’s Freedom Memorial, located at Freedom Park (off Tolbert Lane at Evergreen Mill Road) at 8:30 in the morning on Monday, September 11, 2023.
Writing Prompts for 8th Graders Interested in Academies of Loudoun
The Admissions & Outreach Office at the Academies of Loudoun will be releasing the writing prompts again this year for 8th graders. The released prompts will be shared with all 8th grade students through their science classes. A guided lesson has been constructed for 8th grade science teachers to introduce the nature of a STEM related critical thinking writing task.
8th grade science teachers will introduce the guided lesson anytime between now and October 18, 2023. This date coincides with the application due date. This timeframe will allow Academies of Loudoun applicants an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the admissions writing assessment before their scheduled test sessions on October 28, November 4, and November 11, 2023.
Need Chromebook Assistance? DES Can Help!
All students should bring their Chromebook (fully charged) and charger to school each day.
The office is located down the main hallway (SIMPSON STREET) just past Room M3 on the right. If Mustangs need any help locating the site, any staff member can assist.
What is a Family Liaison?
A Family Liaison is a LCPS staff member (not a volunteer) who works to bridge the gap between home and school by helping parents get the information and support they need to ensure their child’s academic and social success. As a parent, you have a private link, connection, and bridge to your child’s school. We are fortunate to have an outstanding Family Liaison at Simpson Middle School, Ms. Leslie Chisholm. She can be reached at leslie.chisholm@lcps.org.
Your Family Liaison can connect you to important information
· Contacting Teachers and Counselors
· School Expectations
· Directing families to the appropriate staff member when questions arise
Your Family Liaison can connect you to available resources/help
Financial assistance for school fees (based on need)
· School Supplies or fees
· Medical Assistance/Glasses
· After School Programs
. Resources in the community
Your Family Liaison can help you make a comfortable connection with the school
· Get Help from Interpreters
· Volunteering
Your Family Liaison works with our Simpson MS United Mental Health Team to connect you with support in crisis situations (emotional, physical, and academic)
· Housing
· Accidents
· Illness
· Bullying
· Substance and Physical Abuse
· Food stability
If you would like assistance from Ms. Chisholm at any time, feel free to connect via e-mail or see your counselor/dean and we can support your meeting with her.
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!
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
September 11 & 19 - Math VGA Testing
September 11-19 - Math MAP Testing
September 18 & 19 - All County Chorus Auditions
September 19 - PTO Meeting - 6 PM - Library/Media Center
September 19 - Special Education Parent Coffee - 9 AM - Library/Media Center
September 20 - Special Education Parent Coffee - 7 PM - Library/Media Center
September 20 - Reading VGA Testing
September 23 - JR Regional Orchestra Auditions
September 25 - No School - Holiday - Yom Kippur
October 2 & 3 - School Picture Days (taken during Health and PE classes)
October 6 - Simpson Pink Out along with LCHS
October 9 - No School - Holiday - Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 18 - Unity Day
October 31 - All District Chorus Auditions
November 6 - No School - Election Day
November 13 - No School - Holiday - Diwali
November 22-24 - No School - Holiday - Thanksgiving Break
December 21-January 1 - No School - Winter Break
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
