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May 1, 7 & 13th- SOL Testing
May 23, 2025 Heritage Night- 6 pm- 8pm
May 26, 2025 Holiday (Memorial Day)
June 11, 2025 Last of School (Early Release)
Employee Conversations
Interpreter services will be provided for all events.
Feel free to submit questions anytime on the Superintendent’s webpage or by emailing Superintendent@fcps.edu.
Counselors are assigned by alphabet and your first point of contact for any question or concerns you might have.
Families, remember that when coming to the school to pick up your student, an official photo ID must be presented to the Main Office staff. Please understand that this is for security purposes. Driver’s licenses, passports, and military IDs are appropriate examples of official IDs.
Regular school attendance is crucial for student success, and we are committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to learn and thrive. Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. When students reach six (6) or more days absent from school they will be invited to attend our Attendance Recovery Program. These are after-school sessions to make up for missed instructional time. This will help them stay on track with their coursework and avoid falling behind. Student may also choose for other After-School Academic offerings, such as staying with a teacher, to make up for missed instructional time.
Benefits of Attending After-School Sessions:
- Catch up on missed classwork and assignments
- Receive personalized assistance from teachers
- Improve academic performance and understanding
 Dear LJ Parents and Guardians, Limiting hallway wandering during school hours is a simple step that makes a big difference in keeping our middle school safe. When students make it to class on time and stay in classrooms or supervised areas, it’s easier for staff to know who’s where—reducing the chance of unnoticed incidents like bullying, accidents, or strangers slipping in. By encouraging kids to move purposefully between classes, we create a safer, more secure environment where everyone’s accounted for.
For my position as a School Resource Officer, this isn't about the rules—it’s about safety. Fewer students roaming means fewer opportunities for trouble, from minor scuffles to bigger safety risks. We’ve seen that schools with clear hallway expectations report fewer incidents and have faster resolutions to any problems that occur. Partnering with us to reinforce this habit at home—like reminding your student to head straight to class—helps keep our school a safe, focused place for everyone.
Take care,
SRO E.J. Green (342395)
Fairfax County Police Department
SOL Testing Begins Next Thursday, May 1
As we prepare for SOL testing, please take note of the following important reminders:
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Retake Permission Form: If you have not yet given the school permission for your student to retake SOL tests (if eligible), please take a moment to complete the Parent Retakes Permission for SOL Retakes Form here.
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Chromebook Requirements: On testing days, students must bring their fully charged FCPS-issued Chromebook to school.
Chargers: Students also need to bring their school-issued charger. If your student no longer has their charger, a replacement can be purchased for $25.00. Payment can be made through MySchoolBucks, or students may bring cash or check to Room 502.
Upcoming SOL Test Dates:
- Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Reading SOL
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – Science SOL
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Math SOL
SOL Testing
We are now in SOL testing season, and we want to take a moment to recognize the hard work and determination our students are showing each day. These state assessments are challenging and can be both mentally and physically exhausting. Please be mindful that your child may be experiencing added stress or fatigue during this time.
Your support and encouragement mean the world—celebrate their effort, remind them to rest, and help them stay confident. If your student scores between 375 and 400, they will have an opportunity to retest and show even more of what they’ve learned.
We are proud of our students and excited to see their success throughout this testing season. Thank you for being a partner in their journey!
Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports to include medication assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and more. Contact CSB Entry and Referral by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!
In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Join the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School! During this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
Learn about summer programs for children and resources from community and business partners. Enjoy face painting, touring a fire truck, student performances, and other fun activities. For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Additional immunizations are required for students entering 7th grade:
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and health care providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. Additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and the Fairfax County Health Department.
LJMS Drama proudly presents our spring musical, Mean Girls, Jr. Come out and support our amazing cast & crew who have been working since January on the show. Tickets are $6 pre-sale and $8 at the door. Buy them on our LJMS Website or by using the QR code on the poster! Thursday May 1st 7:00 pm, Friday May 2nd 7:00 pm & Saturday May 3rd 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm.
 James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s TONY award winning musical follows everyone's favorite storybook characters as they travel “into the woods” to achieve their goals and break the Witch’s curse.
Performances begin on Thursday, May 1st and run for 2 weekends with a family friendly matinee on Saturday, May 10th of only Act 1.
Oakton won the BVD Best Musical Award last year for their musical PIPPIN, sending Best Actress Meera Ayyar (who plays the Witch) on to perform at last years Jimmy Awards. With a Cast, Orchestra and Crew of over 125 of Oakton’s top talent, you won’t want to miss this show.
Tickets are available here
More cast information here
Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9: Teachers Light the Way to Brighter Futures. Join us in celebrating the remarkable staff and teachers at LJMS. Sign up at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844A8AB22A6FFC34-56459153-2025#/
You can also donate via Zelle to treasurer@jacksonmspta.org or via our PTA online store
https://ljmspta.givebacks.com/store/items/1186549
Any amount is appreciated and welcome!
Heritage Night Friday, May 23, 2025, 6 pm to 8 pm: Join us for an evening of food, fun, and culture from around the world as we foster cultural understanding and spotlight the rich diversity at Luther Jackson and our surrounding community.
Want to contribute? Here’s how you can help:
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Share a taste of your culture - Show off your cooking skills by bringing a favorite dish representing your home country to share with our LJMS families. Please make enough for 25-35 people, and be sure to include the name of your dish and ingredients when bringing your delicious contribution to Heritage Night! Contact: Ann Aderton (asaderton@fcps.edu)
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Share your talent - Got a traditional song, dance, or performance you’d like to share? Sign up for our talent showcase! Contact: Stacey Jones (smjones@fcps.edu)
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Represent your culture’s traditional fashions/style - Do you own traditional costumes or cultural apparel? Be part of our “Parade of Nations” fashion show and strut your style on stage. Open to all LJMS students and their family members. Contact: Stacey Jones (smjones@fcps.edu)
PTA Meeting Friday, May 23, 2025, 5 pm to 6 pm: In-person in the Multi-purpose Room. Join us for the last PTA meeting of this school year, as we elect officers for the next school year. If you want to add something to the meeting agenda, please send a note to president@jacksonmspta.org.
PTA Board for 2025-26 school year: Thank you to the Nominating Committee members, Olga, Molly, and Ricardo, for nominating the following LJMS PTA officers for the 2025-26 school year:
- President: Karen Lee
- Vice President: Olga Rozell
- Treasurer: Alison Paddock
- Secretary: Molly Huh
The above officers will be voted on at our May 2025 PTA meeting.
Food Pantry Distribution Coordinator: We need a volunteer to help with the food
pantry distributions every other Wednesday from 4-5:30 pm next school year. Students
prepare the food bags, so the coordinator just needs to arrive early to ensure the bags
are set out and assist students in distributing the food to families when they arrive.
Ability to speak Spanish is a plus, but not required. If you are interested in helping,
contact Megan Dho at megandho@gmail.com.
Grocery Bag Donation Drive for Food Pantry: The food pantry has run out of the
brown paper grocery bags we use to deliver food to families. If you have any spare
bags, please bring them into the office. We need at least 160 bags to get us through
the rest of the year.
Proposed cuts to After-school programs: A proposed budget reduction for FY2026 could eliminate funding for the Middle School After-School (MSAS) program in all 27 Fairfax County middle schools, including LJMS.
Intramural Sports, Performing Arts rehearsals, after-school tutoring and homework help, teacher office hours, and many enrichment activities like College Career & Exploration, Science Olympiad, TSA, Math Counts, NJHS, and Model UN could all go away.
Please contact your Fairfax County Supervisors immediately to express your support for the Middle School After-School Program. You can find contact information for your representatives on the Fairfax County website: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/myneighborhood/
School boundary review: One of our PTA members serves on the Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee. If you want to connect with them to share any inputs or concerns, please send a note to FallsChurchBRACRep1@gmail.com
PTA website: Visit our website to become a PTA member, donate online, or buy spirit wear at https://jacksonmspta.org/
Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 7-18, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (weekdays only). Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.
You can find more information and register for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Register early to save money and reserve your student’s spot!
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