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In This Issue
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September
Attendance Awareness Month
4-7 | Labor Day
10 | Back to School Night, 6:00 PM
11 | Patriot Day
11-13 | Rosh Hashanah
15-Oct. 15 | National Hispanic Heritage Month
20-21 | Yom Kippur
26-Oct. 4 | Blue Star Welcome Week
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Labor Day
Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
September 11
National Day of Service
With the upcoming 25th anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
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Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11. That day is an evening-only observance day. Important events will not be held after school.
Fall Picture Day is on the Way!
Fall picture day is right around the corner! Photos will be taken Wednesday, September 16th and Thursday, September 17th during your child’s PE class.
More information about how to order your child’s school photos will be coming soon. We can’t wait to capture those smiles!
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On Time, Ready to Learn!
At Herndon MS, we’re excited to continue supporting our students in making the most of every minute of their school day! Beginning next week, tardies will be actively tracked by class and will reset each quarter.
Arriving on time helps students settle in, feel prepared, and start each class with a positive mindset. We encourage families to talk with their students about the importance of planning ahead, transitioning promptly between classes, and arriving to class and lunch on time.
Tardies will be recorded in SIS as UNT (Unexcused Tardy), and our teachers will continue to communicate with families and support students in developing strong, responsible attendance habits. As needed, additional supports and interventions may be provided to help students get back on track.
Thank you for partnering with us - your encouragement at home makes a meaningful difference!
Attendance Awareness Month: Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit the FCPS Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Twice-Exceptional (2e) Programming
We’re excited to share information about Twice-Exceptional (2e) Programming available within our school system. Twice-exceptional students demonstrate advanced abilities while also experiencing learning, attention, or other challenges that may require additional support.
To learn more about 2e programming, available resources, and opportunities to support the unique strengths and needs of twice-exceptional learners, you can visit the FCPS 2e webpage. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Liz Glynn at eglynn@fcps.edu.
Student ID Cards for Herndon MS Bus Riders
We have begun distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.
ID cards should be worn or attached to your child’s backpack and brought to the bus each day. Please ask your child to put their student ID card away until the end of the day.
Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.
We ask for your patience! Bus drivers are checking in students and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.
Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.
Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your child’s bus.
If your child’s bus is delayed, you may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Please contact the Transportation Office at [phone number] with any additional questions. For concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact the FCPS Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.
Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
Are you working your way through back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
- Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in ParentVUE. To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
- Submit daylong absences by clicking “Report Absence.”
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Dress for Success: Dress Code Policy
As we begin the school year, we want to remind families and students of our expectations for appropriate school attire. Clothing should support a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment and align with the FCPS student dress code.
What to Wear
Tops: T-shirts, collared shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts
Bottoms: School approved jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, and dresses
Footwear: Closed-toe shoes, sneakers, boots, or secure sandals with back straps
What to Avoid
- Clothing and accessories should not include graphics or text depicting violence, profanity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gang affiliations, or discriminatory language
- Crop tops or clothing that exposes the midriff, low-cut or sheer tops, or backless clothing
- Hats, beanies, hoods, or bandanas worn indoors, except for verified religious or medical reasons
- Flip-flops, slides, bedroom slippers, or high heels
- Chains, spiked jewelry, sunglasses indoors, or other accessories that may create a safety concern
Our goal is to ensure all students are dressed in a way that promotes safety, comfort, respect, and readiness to learn. Students who do not meet these expectations may be subject to counseling, loss of privileges, removal from class or activities, or disciplinary action.
Thank you for partnering with us to help maintain a safe and positive learning environment for everyone at Herndon Middle School!
SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Herndon MS Theatre Presents: Elf Jr.!
Get ready for some holiday magic! Herndon Middle School Theatre is excited to announce auditions for Elf Jr.: The Musical, running from November 20 to 22. Students interested in participating should mark their calendars for these important dates:
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Audition Workshops: September 2 and 3 from 2:30 to 4:45 PM
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Theatre Family Information Night: Wednesday, September 2 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
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Auditions & Tech Applications: September 8 to 10 from 2:30 to 4:45 PM
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Rehearsals Begin: Monday, September 14 after school
Important: Students are expected to attend all dates listed above to remain eligible for casting. Parents/guardians are especially encouraged to attend Family Information Night, as attendance is required for casting consideration.
For questions, please contact Dr. G-H (Director) at ejgiannoneho@fcps.edu. Students can also follow @hms.hawk.theatre on Instagram.
We look forward to bringing a little holiday cheer and lots of theatre magic to the Herndon MS stage!
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Hawk Theatre: Student Assistance Opportunity
Is your student interested in working on HMS Hawk Theatre's first big show of the season? Onstage and behind the scenes jobs are available to any 7th or 8th grader (you do not need to be in a theatre class - no experience necessary!). Rehearsals and performances are after school and on weekends with most meetings during Night Hawk. Late busses begin Wednesday, September 2 and run Monday through Thursdays.
Workshops to help actors and stage crew prepare are coming up soon! Students can attend the Tech Application Workshop on Wednesday, September 2 or the Audition Workshop on Thursday, September 3 to learn more and prepare. Actor auditions will take place September 9 and 10, with callbacks on Friday, September 11. The stage crew and tech application is also due Friday, September 11.
Do you or your student have questions or want to know more? Follow us on Instagram @hms.hawk.theatre or contact Dr. G-H (Director) at ejgiannoneho@fcps.edu.
Calling All Future Hornets!
Families - your middle schooler will become a Herndon Hornet before you know it! Herndon Sports Boosters supports Herndon High School athletics by helping fund equipment, uniforms, facilities, athlete recognition, and more.
Get a head start by becoming a Future Hornet Member!
Membership includes:
- 4 Game Passes
- $25 in Booster Bucks for spirit wear
Click here: https://www.herndonsportsboosters.org/membership
For more information, visit the Future Hornet Information & FAQs.
Go Hornets!
Have Children in Multiple FCPS Schools?
The FCPS mobile app lets you follow updates from all your children's schools in one place! Simply open the app, tap the teal pull-down menu, then tap the gear icon and select every school you want to follow. See this video of how to follow your school.
Find out about more features of the app. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Follow FCPS on WhatsApp
Is WhatsApp one of the ways you stay connected with family, friends, and your community? Now you can use it to stay connected with FCPS, too.
Follow the new FCPS WhatsApp Channel for helpful information and reminders throughout the school year, including important announcements, upcoming dates, tips for families, and more.
Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology
Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.
A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
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