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Tuesday, April 21 – Election Day (School Closed due to polling locations) Statewide Election
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Friday, May 15- Heritage Night -6 to 8:30pm
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Monday, May 25- Memorial Day (Holiday)
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Tuesday, May 26- Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
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Wednesday, May 27- Holiday (Eid Al- Adha)
The entire 2025–2026 FCPS Calendar can be found here.
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.
Director of Student Services, Nick Zubieta-onzubieta@fcps.edu
 End of Quarter 3!
Congratulations! You’ve made it through Quarter 3! Only one more quarter to go before your student transitions to the next grade level. This is a great time to build momentum, stay focused, and finish the year strong.
Here are a few ways you can support your student at home:
- Check grades regularly and talk with your student about progress and goals
- Create a consistent homework routine with a quiet, distraction-free space
- Encourage organization (planner use, keeping track of assignments and deadlines)
- Stay connected with teachers and counselors if questions or concerns arise
- Celebrate effort and growth, not just final grades
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success!
Celebrating Month of the Military Child
Luther Jackson Middle School is proud to celebrate the Month of the Military Child! We are honored to recognize the strength, resilience, and adaptability of our military-connected students, who bring unique experiences and perspectives to our school community. We are grateful to welcome and support these incredible students and their families, and we celebrate the important role they play in making our community stronger each day. We love our Tigers!
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Halfway Through Journeys and Themes in Language Arts
We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts! Across grade levels, students have explored stories involving quests, challenges, and problem-solving.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Which character has been your favorite from this unit and why?
- Activity: With your child, brainstorm a brand-new invention to solve a problem, like shoelaces that tie themselves or a clothes dryer that folds clothes. Ask your child to tell or write a story about someone using the invention.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website
Jackson Middle School students will participate in state assessments, known as Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, this spring. The subjects tested include Mathematics, Reading (with an Integrated Reading and Writing component for Grade 8), and Science (for Grade 8).
Jackson Middle School Testing Schedule (7th & 8th Grade)
Please mark your calendars for the following testing dates:
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Grade 8 Science: Monday, May 4th
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Grade 7 & 8 Mathematics: Monday, May 11th
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Grade 7 & 8 Reading: Monday, May 18th
Retest Information and Required Parent Consent
The state allows students in elementary and middle school who do not pass a spring SOL test to have one retest opportunity before the end of the school year. The only exception is the Grade 8 Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) component.
Parent/guardian permission is mandatory for any student in grades 3-8 to be retested.
Please submit your decision regarding retesting consent through one of the following methods:
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Parent Digital Consent Application: Log in using your SIS ParentVUE account.
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Online Form (if you do not have a SIS ParentVUE Account): Complete the form here: online form.
Please note that a decision to not allow retesting will not negatively affect your student's course grade or academic record.
Luther Jackson is on social media! Check out our Facebook and Instagram @lutherjacksonms for all things LJ.
On-Time Attendance
If you drop your student off at school, make sure that they do not have to rush and arrive late to school. Help our students develop the habit of being punctual. Also encourage your student to arrive at each class on time. Arriving late is a classroom interruption and distraction for the teacher and all students.
We will begin to reinforce our school’s tardy policy, which includes tardy sweeps, detention, and parent contact for repeated tardiness. We will also recognize punctuality with fun incentives for our students. Thank you for your support.
Updated Attendance Codes
Attendance Codes have been updated for the 2025-26 school year. These updates will allow schools to better identify the primary reasons for student absences, which will help school teams identify patterns of absenteeism, make informed decisions, and develop effective strategies to improve attendance. Please note which codes qualify as “Excused” and which are “Unexcused.”
Codes no longer used:
- EXC-Excused
- PRE-Prearranged Absence
- UNL-Unexcused Local
Updated Code:
- MED-Illness or Injury Related
Excused Codes:
- COL-College Visit
- FAM-Family Emergency
- FRL-Funeral
- LGL-Legal Obligations
- MAP-Medical Appointment (Prescheduled)
- MIL-Deployment Related
- OEX-Other-Excused
Unexcused Codes:
- NON-Non-School Activity
- OUN-Other- Not Excused
- VAO-Vacation, Outing, or Non-Emergency Family Travel / Visit
When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school. This can be done by calling the attendance phone line at 703-204-8282.
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when to keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that support can be provided if needed. Also, keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.
Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
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