The Mustang Messenger
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
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A Message from Dr. Di Nicola
Good evening, JLS Mustang Families!
The last full week of April was a fantastic one for us all at Simpson Middle School, full of wonderful opportunities to celebrate our Mustangs, both students and staff, at several exciting events!
Quarter 3 Honor Roll Assemblies - April 22, 23, and 26, 2024
We appreciate so many of our families attending our Quarter 3 Honor Roll Assemblies as it absolutely makes a difference for our Mustangs to see us all surround them in congratulations for a job well done! We will be honoring our Quarter 4 Honor Roll recipients in the fall of 2024, by the way, as our Mustangs will deserve such recognition for all quarters of our academic year!
Tuesday, April 23 School Board Meeting - Staff and Student Recognition by LCPS Human Resources and Talent Development - JL Simpson MS was a major highlight of the evening!
On Tuesday, April 23 at the LCPS School Board Meeting, we also had the great fortune to honor Ms. Beth Paquette for her forty years of service to Loudoun County Public Schools, all of which have been completed at JL Simpson Middle School as well as Loudoun County High School when she served as both the middle and high school band director! That same evening also served as the official LCPS division level announcement of Ms. Kimberly Poole as our LCPS Teacher of the Year. We had more than twenty Mustang Professional Staff members attend to celebrate Ms. Poole and Ms. Paquette in colorful JLS spirit wear, which definitely shows yet again how we see each individual accomplishment as a success for us all!
Administrative Professional Celebration Day - Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Ms. Stephanie Dewan, Ms. Laura Ridings, Ms. Monica Allman, Ms. Victoria Doyle, Ms. Madeleine Sullivan, and Ms. Jenny Aguilar were brilliantly honored by students and staff this past Wednesday, April 24 for their incredibly conscientious, dedicated, caring work all year long for our Mustang community. Our students created colorful banners for posting outside of our administrative professionals' office areas...and surprised them later in the day by delivering candy using robots constructed in Ms. Lloyd's Robotics classes as a special finale. We wish to thank all of our Mustang Professionals who answered phones in the house and main office areas so that our Administrative Professionals could enjoy a lunch in Leesburg together! I think we all realized very quickly how challenging their jobs are! Thank you for all you do every day, JLS Administrative Professionals!
District Jazz Assessment: Our Mustang Musicians Earn an Excellent Rating!
Congratulations to our JLS Jazz Band on earning an EXCELLENT rating at their District Jazz Assessment on Friday, April 26, 2024! Serene Schoch, Carlie Miranda, and Jackson Turner took home Outstanding Soloist awards as well...awesome work, Mustang Musician Superstars!
Loiselle-Fawcett National Junior Honor Society Membership Announced!
Our JLS Faculty Council announced our 7th Grade and 8th Grade National Junior Honor Society Membership on Thursday, April 25. Congratulations to all of our honorees...and remember that we will open the doors to eligible 7th and 8th Grade Mustangs applying for NJHS membership both in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 in the coming school season!
Important Action / Review Items For You This Week!: End of Year Field Trips, SOLs, and More!
Please be sure to scroll down and read each of the headlines below as we have some action items listed for many of our Mustang families, especially in terms of signing up for our end-of-year field trips and preparing our Mustangs for their Spring SOL assessments. We also have some very cool student-led events heading our way with Mary Poppins, Jr. this coming weekend and our Crosstown Volleyball Tournament vs. Smart's Mill MS on Tuesday, May 7 at Tuscarora High School!
May is upon us this coming week, the most important time of the year for us all as we work with our Mustangs to perform at their optimum level for Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments throughout the month. We also have interims for the 4th Quarter heading our way right alongside Staff Appreciation Week during May 6-10, 2024...so a lot of excitement in the air as the sun emerges in the skies to beautiful weather in our last month and a half of the 2023-2024 school year.
We wish you all a gorgeous week ahead together as Mustang families...and, as always, I'm heading out for the Sunday run! Take care of yourselves and one another...and see you very soon!
Dr. Frank G. "Tripp" Di Nicola, III
Principal
JL Simpson Middle School
This Week at JL Simpson Middle School
Mary Poppins Jr - This Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Purchase your tickets below!
Monday, April 29 - A Day - Passover
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- Jazz Band Rehearsal - Ms. Paquette - Band Room
- 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
Tuesday, April 30 - B Day - Passover
- 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
Wednesday, May 1 - A Day - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Begins
- National School Principals' Day
- Substitute Apprciation Day
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- Opportunity Time - M6
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes - AUX Gym - Ms. O'Hara
- Weight Lifting Club - Mr. Dunbar
- 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
- 7:00 PM: - Loudoun County High School Athletic Interest Meeting for rising 9th graders - LCHS Auditorium
Thursday, May 2- B Day
- After School Clubs/Events: 3:30 PM - 4:40 PM
- Opportunity Time - M6
- Select Choir Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey Johnson - M4
- 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
Friday, May 3 - A Day
- School Lunch Hero Day
- 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Mary Poppins, Jr. Rehearsal - Ms. Hoey-Johnson - M4
- 7:00 PM - Mary Poppins Jr. - Opening Night Performance - Tickets available below
Saturday, May 4
- 2:00 PM - Mary Poppins, Jr. Performance - (Click the poster below to purchase tickets)
- 7:00 PM - Mary Poppins, Jr. Performance - (Click the poster below to purchase tickets)
Sunday, May 5
- 2:00 PM - Mary Poppins, Jr. Performance - (Click the poster below to purchase tickets)
JLS Grade-Level Academic Weekly Update - April 29 - May 3, 2024
Click here --> JLSMS Grade Level Academic Weekly Update - April 29 - May 3, 2024
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE JLS GRADE-LEVEL ACADEMIC WEEKLY UPDATE NEWSLETTER in MULTIPLE LANGUAGES?
To Translate A Document to a Preferred Language Other Than English:
1. Click on the grade-level newsletter you wish to review.
2. In the top menu, click Tools and then Translate document.
3. Enter a name for the translated document and select a language.
4. Click Translate.
A translated copy of your document will open in a new window. You can also see this copy in your Google Drive.
Congratulations, March HERD Award Recipients!
We proudly congratulate all of our Mustangs who received a HERD Award for the month of March!
Students are chosen for the HERD awards by teacher nominations each month. Nominations are submitted for students who display the characteristics we look for in our Mustang HERD: Honorable, Engaged, Respectful and Determined.
Each of these students receives a gift card, a sign delivered to their yard, and their photo displayed at school on our hallway monitors.
Click here for a brief video announcement with all our March HERD recipients.
We are celebrating our amazing principal on Wednesday - National Principals' Day
Please encourage your students to offer the amazing Dr. DiNicola some words or notes of appreciation for all he does for Simpson Middle School!
Substitute Appreciation Day - Wednesday, May 1
We are so grateful for our daily, site-based, and long term substitutes. Thank you all for everything you do...We know that the dynamism of your role each day makes your work that much more important to us all! You're the best!
SCHOOL CAFETERIA PROFESSIONALS - We celebrate you on Friday, May 3!
We appreciate our wonderful cafeteria staff for all their hard work and dedication! We will be celebrating our awesome SCHOOL LUNCH HEROES on Friday, May 3 with several surprises...and please do encourage your Mustangs to say THANK YOU to these phenomenal Mustang Professionals!
Congratulations, Ms. Beth Paquette! 40 Years of Service to LCPS!
At the Tuesday, April 23 LCPS School Board meeting, LCPS officials recognized Mary "Beth" Paquette (second from the right), JL Simpson MS' very own band teacher, for 40 years of service. You are a superstar, Ms. Paquette, and always will be!
LCPS School Board Officially Announces Ms. Kimberly Poole as Teacher of the Year
From the School Board Newsletter:
AN INTERESTING FACT: Andrew Bango attended JL Simpson MS...and Ms. Kimberly Poole was his teacher as well! :) Pretty awesome, right?
Click here to see a short video created by LCPS featuring Simpson's Mrs. Poole.
Spring End of Course (EOC) Standards of Learning Assessment Calendar
End of Year Grade-Level Field Trip - Sign Up Deadline May 5!
May 5 is the deadline to sign up for the Simpson End of Year Grade-Level Trips!
Please click the appropriate link below to access the SPECIAL EDITION MUSTANG MESSENGER focused on our End of Year Grade-Level Field Trip for your Mustang!
Each special edition cotains all the trip information, the 2 step sign up process with a payment link and permission form link, as well as a chaperone interest form.
Crosstown Volleyball Vs. Smart's Mill MS - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Opening Night is Friday, May 3! Click the Poster Below to Get Your Tickets Now!
New Board Members Needed for PTO
The current PTO board is coming to the end of their long tenure and we are looking for new parents and teachers to step into vacant board positions.
We have one returning board member that is willing to spend next year passing along everything the board does. Without a minimum of a President, Secretary and Treasurer the PTO will have to dissolve.
There are many programs and ways that the PTO assists the school that will not continue without a board.
More information about the duties of each position can be found here.
Simpson PTO Executive Board Duties
Please email jlsimpsonPTO@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in serving.
Congratulations, Solo & Ensemble Assessment Students!
The following students participated in the VBODA District 16 Solo & Ensemble Assessment, at Mercer Middle School, on Saturday, April 13. Well done, Mustang Musicians! :)
JLS Jazz Band Earns EXCELLENT Rating at District Jazz Assessment!
Congratulations to our JLS Jazz Band on earning an EXCELLENT rating at their District Jazz Assessment on Friday, April 26, 2024! Serene Schoch, Carlie Miranda, and Jackson Turner took home Outstanding Soloist awards as well...awesome work, Mustang Musician Superstars!
Spring 2024 Loiselle-Fawcett National Junior Honor Society Membership Announced!
We are proud to announce our Mustangs who have been selected by the JLS Faculty Council for membership in our Loiselle-Fawcett Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM:
Both our new NJHS members and their families received e-mail notifications on Thursday, April 25 with a Google Form to complete by Monday, April 29 to officially accept membership and respond to a few important questions. Please note that our Mustangs themselves are expected to take action on these items as the Google Form is only accessible to them as the recipients of the membership honor. :) If your Mustang NJHS member has any questions, please ask them to contact Jean.Nibbelink@lcps.org or Lisa.Hamilton@lcps.org, our JLS NJHS Sponsors.
JL SIMPSON MS End of Year Grade-Level Awards Events - June 2024
Families of Mustangs who are nominated by JLS Staff to receive department awards will receive an invitation to attend our End of Year Grade-Level Awards Events this coming June.
All students at each grade level will attend their event to celebrate their peers and their own promotion to the next grade level with special announcements to recognize our Mustangs as a collectively successful team! #mustangfamilyforever!
Attention LCHS Rising 9th Graders Interested in Athletics
LCHS Athletic Interest Meeting for Rising 9th Graders - Wednesday
Loudoun County High School Rising 9th Grade Athletic Interest Meeting will be Wednesday. May 1st at 7pm in the LCHS Auditorium.
7th Grade English Enjoyed A Virtual Visit from Author, Marsha Skrypuch!
Simpson Library Featured in the LASL Voice
Be Kind To Your Mind @LCHS - May 5
How to Expunge a Grade for a High School Course
Middle school students who have taken a high school course while in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade may elect to have the course expunged (grade and credit omitted) from the student’s high school records. The high school credit courses available to middle school students include the following, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig, Robotics and World Languages.
If you wish to expunge the grade for a high school course taken in middle school, the expungement form must be completed through Permission Click. Expungement requests should be submitted to the school counseling department no later than the end of the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year.
Please click here for additional information and Permission Click link.
Updated Respiratory Illness Guide
In accordance with updated respiratory virus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LCPS has updated its guidance specifically relating to COVID-19 but also applying to the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Per this updated guidance, students or staff who have symptoms of, test positive for or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND their symptoms have improved or resolved. The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer required.
Please refer to the chart on this attendance webpage if your child is experiencing symptoms or illnesses and you are unsure if they should go to school.
Thank you for helping to keep our students and staff healthy.
____
Additional Resources:
Newsletter Graphic: Resp Virus Guidelines graphic.png
Flyer (for printing and posting): Resp Virus Guidelines 040424.pdf
JL Simpson MS Baseball and Softball League Game Dates!
Come out and cheer on our Mustang softball and baseball teams!
Our Simpson Mustangs Softball Schedule:
April 29 vs. Harmony Middle School
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 5:45 PM
May 3 vs. Willard Middle School
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 5:45 PM
May 6 vs. Riverbend/Seneca Ridge Middle Schools
at Claude Moore - 7:45 PM
May 10 vs. Blue Ridge Middle School
at Freedom Park - 6:30 PM
May 13 vs. Brambleton Middle School
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 7:30 PM
Our Simpson Mustangs Baseball Schedule:
April 29 @ Brambleton MS Bears
at Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park -- 6:30 PM
May 2 vs. Lunsford MS Lions
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 6:30 PM
May 6 @ Smarts Mill MS Mavericks
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 6:30 PM
May 9 @ Trailside MS Timberwolves
at Moorefield Station Community Park -- 6:30 PM
May 16 @ Harper Park MS Hurricanes
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 6:30 PM
May 20 vs. Farmwell Station MS Falcons
at Philip A. Bolen Memorial Regional Park -- 6:30 PM
May 23 @ Blue Ridge MS ULLL
at Franklin Park Field #4 -- 6:30 PM
May 30 vs. Willard MS Wildcats
at Edgar Tillett Memorial Park -- 6:30 PM
NEED A TUTOR? JLS Tutoring Program Support Services Request Form
Click here and work with your Mustang to complete this Google Form to request a tutor and we will be in touch super soon!
Please read all instructions in the Google Form carefully to learn about the expectations for our tutoring support program...and reach out to JLS-Tutoring@lcps.org with any questions!
Rising 6th Graders - Register Now to Attend Stampede Into Simpson!
Need Transportation to the Stampede?
Transportation is available to the Stampede. Buses will depart from and return to Catoctin Elementary and Frederick Douglass Elementary. Complete the transportation form if you would like for your student to ride the bus from one of these locations.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Student Volunteers Needed for Stampede - Open to all current Simpson students!
ATTENTION: Current Simpson Mustangs! - A LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR RESUME!
Are you interested in helping the rising 6th graders learn more about Simpson and feel more comfortable as they enter middle school?
Do you enjoy creating games and activities?
We would love for you to help us create content for Stampede 2024 and attend the Stampede as a mentor to our rising 6th graders.
You will need to be available to work on planning for the event after school on 4 Thursdays in April and May, and you will be required to attend the event on June 26-27.
Please fill out this form if you are interested in volunteering.
We hope to see you there, supporting our new Mustangs for 2024-2025!
SHINE! Spotlighting Heroes in Education Recognition Program
HRTD is excited to launch SHINE! Spotlighting Heroes in Education, a new recognition program that aims to tell the stories of the incredible work happening throughout the division. We encourage schools to promote SHINE both inside their buildings between peers as well as with their school communities through newsletters, websites and social media as all parents, students, staff and community members are welcome to submit a nomination. Each month, Loudoun Education Foundation will choose one submission to provide additional acknowledgement and a special gift.
How it works:
We are seeking submissions for LCPS staff members at schools, central office and support locations who:
Have gone above and beyond in a situation
Have inspired others or have a heartwarming story
Are doing something unique or creative that is leading to results
In general, ANY great news!
Complete the submission form (It’s short and easy!)
The Employee Recognition office notifies the nominee as well as their supervisor of the submission
The story may be placed on the Employee Recognition webpage.
Our goal is to place a spotlight on the hundreds of positive interactions taking place in LCPS each day...and especially at JLS! We look forward to seeing your celebrations of our JLS Mustang Professionals throughout 2023-2024!
Makeup and Retake Photos Now Available Online
Make Up/Retake School Pictures are now viewable online. 😀
Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc
Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
* LCPS Events and Announcements *
Summer Virtual Classes for Rising 8th and 9th Grade Students
Virtual Loudoun Online
Term 3 registration opens Monday, April 22 at 6am: https://www.lcps.org/domain/21526.
Term 3 is the summer term. P.E. classes fill up fast.
- Rising 8th and 9th grade students have the opportunity to participate in virtual learning as detailed on the VLO Middle School Information webpage.
Be ready, check out the information below before registering.
Video: “Online Learning: Is Virtual Loudoun for Me?”: Student Experience
VLO Terms: Program Calendar
FAQs, "How many virtual classes can I take?"**
Parent Coaching and Resources
Loudoun County Public Schools is offering new resources for all staff and parents/guardians to use to support students through www.parental guidance.org. You can learn more about this initiative by clicking here.
These resources include easily accessible video-based courses on difficult parenting topics, individualized parent coaching for any LCPS parent/guardian, on their schedule in their home, and weekly interactive webinars to let parents know the mental health needs of our students are a critical concern of Loudoun County Public Schools. Your unified mental health team members are ready to assist parents in accessing the support. You can watch this video about the services available.
Slide deck with additional information: Coaching CCHC LCPS 2024.pptx
* Community Events and Announcements *
Summer Leadership Retreat Oppurtunity for Rising 7th and 8th graders
2024 Summer Youth Leadership Retreat - Applications Open Until May 6
Discover your Leadership Potential!
Sessions: July 16th -18th in Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center Park in Sterling, VA and July 24th-26th at Morven Park.
Rising 7th and 8th graders are invited to apply for the 2024 Summer Youth Leadership Retreat using the form here.
For the short answer portion of the application, students should answer all questions to the best of their ability. Parents/Guardians, we ask that you allow your child to fill out this section independently. It is recommended that you write your answers in a separate word document, then paste them into the form to avoid losing any work on this page.
Application closes on May 6th, 2024.
Registration Open for Extreme Journey Summer Camp for 6th, 7th and 8th graders
SNAP Provides Eligible Families Access to Healthy Food
The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Service, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps develop partnerships to bridge the gap of food insecurity among school-aged children. The objectives of SNAP in Schools are to reduce food insecurity in school-aged children, to increase the number of students directly certified for free school meals through SNAP, and to increase the number of students eligible without application for the summer EBT program.
Please advise families who could benefit from this program to access the CommonHelp portal link to submit online SNAP applications.
Please also share the flyer below with your families:
* Simpson Middle School PTO *
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!
Be Sure to Join Remind to Receive More Important Updates
Dates to Remember
Be sure to check here often as we will continue to add dates and events as they become available.
May 2024: ALL MONTH: Ongoing celebrations at JLS this month!
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May 3 - Simpson Middle School Proudly Presents Mary Poppins Jr. 7:00 PM
May 3 - Lunch Heroes Day
May 4 - Simpson Middle School Proudly Presents Mary Poppins Jr. 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
May 5 - Simpson Middle School Proudly Presents Mary Poppins Jr. 2:00 PM
May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week 2024
May 6 - Interims
May 7 - Reading SOL / Crosstown Volleyball Game Simpson VS Smarts Mill
May 8 - School Nurse Appreciation Day / Reading SOL Make Up / NJHS Induction Ceremony 6:00 PM
May 10 - Hershey Park Music Department Field Trip
May 13 - Civics 8 SOL
May 14 - Civics 8 SOL Makeup / PTO Meeting
May 15 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8 AM at school main entrance
May 16 - Science SOL
May 17 - Science SOL Makeup
May 21 - JLS Choir Concert @LCHS
May 22 - Math SOL / 6th Grade Orchestra Concert / Simpson Spring Art Exhibit May 22 - June 6
May 23 - Math SOL Makeup
May 27 - No School - Holiday - Memorial Day
May 28 - Retake Reading SOL / 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Concert
May 29 - Science SOL Retake
May 30 - Civics 8 SOL Retake / PEP Meeting
May 31 - Math SOL Retake
June 3 - 7th & 8th Grades Jazz Band Concerts
June 5 - Monty's Cafe Open at 8 AM at school main entrance / Guitar Concert
June 6 - Grade 7 Class Trip to Hershey Park / 6th Grade Gold and Blue Band Concert
June 10 - STEAM Day
June 11 - Grade 8 Class Trip to Busch Gardens / Grade 6 Mustang Awards Ceremony
June 12 - Grade 8 Mustang Awards Ceremony
June 13 - Grade 6 Class Trip to Kings Dominion / Grade 7 Mustang Awards Ceremony
June 14 - Last Day of School/End of Fourth Grading Period
June 26 & 27 - Rising 6th Grade Stampede Into Simpson
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
Instagram: @jlsimpsonms_official_ jl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLSimpsonMS2020/
X: @JLSMS_Official