Key MS - News You Choose - 02/21/25
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Key Middle School FamiliesImportant Dates:
- February 19: Key MS Spelling Bee
- February 20: Key MS STEM Event
- February 21: Honor Roll Assemblies
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February:
- Black History Month
- February 20 - World Day of Social Justice
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February 28 - National Science Day
Let's all be kind to one another.
Campbell's CornerGreetings Key Families,
We braved the cold at Key MS, and even though there was no snow this week, there was an absolute flurry of positive goings on around our campus! We saw many of our students participate in the Spelling Bee for a chance to compete at the district level, and yesterday, we hosted our 3rd annual STEM Event, in which students work collaboratively with Key MS staff and local engineers to participate in a hands-on bridge building STEM competition. Finally, this morning, we celebrated the outstanding academic achievement of students who earned all As or all As and Bs for the second quarter in our honor roll ceremony. We are very proud of all of our students for their involvement in these exciting opportunities and more!
Sincerely,
Drew Campbell
Principal | Key Middle School
703-313-3900
Key MS Spelling Bee 2025Thank you to our students, staff, and families who participated in this year's Spelling Bee. It was a wonderful and competitive event. We look forward to our winner representing Key MS in the district wide Spelling Bee.
3rd Annual Key MS STEM Event 2025Key MS students were working together with engineers to design and build a bridge using popsicle sticks and hot glue.
Students had to map out a plan for building their bridge and work together as a team.
This hands on activity kept students engaged and focused on the task at hand.
The engineers helped to guide the process, while letting the students do the "heavy lifting" of designing and building the bridge.
Congrats to our team with the winning bridge!
Thank you so much to our 25 volunteer engineers from The American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington (ACECMW) for working with our Key MS students and staff.
RamadanFriday, February 28 marks the beginning of Ramadan, a month that is observed by a large number of students, families, and staff in the Key community.
In alignment with FCPS regulations and expectations, Key MS ensures that students and staff of all religious backgrounds have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school building. Students whose religious beliefs require them to pray at a specific time that coincides with instructional time can be accommodated with written parental permission. Additionally, we provide an alternate location during all lunches for students who are fasting and don’t want to be in the cafeteria during that time.
To provide permission for your child, please complete this form. If you cannot access the form, please provide written permission to the main office.
Talking to Teens About Fentanyl and Tough TopicsBecome Unskippable: Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens About Fentanyl
- Video reel
- 🗣️ Teens skip things that don't interest them, especially talks with their parents. But Fairfax County loses teens to fentanyl overdose every year – so it's important to have short, impactful talks with them about the risks. Learn how to “become unskippable” at fcps.edu/BecomeUnskippable.
- #FCPS #BecomeUnskippable #FentanylAwareness
As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to become “unskippable” and talk with your teen in a way they will listen.
See our tips for talking with your teen about fentanyl and other difficult subjects. Watch this video to learn more about becoming unskippable.
Student Fasting Meal KitsStudent Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener NotificationThe Spring Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students on March 19, 2025. 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. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
Dual Immersion Lottery🗺️ Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
Countywide lottery registration for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program for first graders in the 2025-26 school year is open through Thursday, February 13, at 4 p.m. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program through Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Interested parents/caregivers may attend an informational meeting at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.
Get more details on the DLI Program webpage.
Safe and Welcoming Environment for AllFCPS Trust Policy
On April 28, 2022, the School Board voted to adopt the Trust Policy which affirmed our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students and their families. This policy aligns FCPS policy with Fairfax County Government’s Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. This policy ensures that students and families can access the division’s benefits and services without fear of information being disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.
At the following link, you will find a copy of the Trust Policy’s One Pager highlights of the responsibilities for the Trust Policy . Information regarding this policy can be found here: www.fcps.edu/trustpolicy.
Family Engagement Policy and CompactFor the News You Choose, we have to share our Family Engagement Compact and provide parents with an opportunity for feedback. Here is the preamble to the document that you can adapt for the blurb:
Key Middle School is a Title I school within Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) and utilizes the Title I grant to improve student achievement and help all students meet the objectives of the FCPS Program of Studies and the Virginia Standards of Learning. A partnership with families is essential to meeting this goal.
Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, schools that receive Title I funds are expected to collaborate with families to develop and maintain a parent and family engagement policy that describes the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning and includes a compact expressing the partnerships among staff, caregivers, and students to reach high academic goals for every student.
Key Middle School jointly developed this policy and compact with members of the school community and adopted it for the 2024-2025 school year. Several of the provisions specifically address state or federal expectations for the policy and compact.
This policy and compact is distributed to all caregivers in a language that families can understand. Caregivers have opportunities to provide comments and feedback on the policy and compact through regular communication with the school and participation in family events. Comments are submitted with the school’s policy and compact to FCPS central offices and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). This policy and compact are made available to the broader school community through the school website.
Here is the link to the Family Engagement Compact on our website.
Here are the links to the surveys:
Title I Parent Advisory CommitteePatriot Community-
This is a friendly reminder that we need a Title I Parent Advisory Committee representative for your school ASAP. Please email Debbie Vel ([email protected]) if you are interested in supporting Key MS in this capacity.
The representative should be a parent who is able to attend each meeting and relay important information back to the school. This is also a great opportunity to advocate for any resources our school may need. Meetings will be held in a hybrid format, so our representative can attend either virtually or in person once a month.
You may also complete this google form if you would like to sign up.
Meeting dates are listed below, and they will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
- March 18, 2025
- April 22, 2025
- May 20, 2025
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Debbie Vel at [email protected].
Thank you, Key MS Admin Team
Federal Impact Aid Survey Federal Impact Aid SurveyThe Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available in electronic format via ParentVUE. All families should complete the survey whether you are military affiliated or not.
Please complete this survey online in ParentVUE. Click HERE to log into ParentVue to complete the survey or to create and set up a ParentVUE account. Please remember, only the enrolling parent may complete and submit the survey.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page, and see a green check next to each of their names.
Order Your School PicturesOrder school pictures at shop.jostenspix.com. Be sure to include the Key MS event code FE172724.
SIS ParentVUEEverything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from our school and FCPS by adding your cell phone number and email to SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to our front office
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give permission 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. You can easily opt your child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. You may also change how your student’s information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences
Parents/caregivers can submit up to two full-day absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Absences longer than two days, partial day absences, and changes of transportation should still be reported to our front office.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?Contact our front office for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Drivers WantedFairfax County Public Schools Needs School Bus Drivers to Meet Our Growing Requirements.
School Bus Drivers earn $25.04/hour plus excellent benefits.
$2,000 signing bonus!
For more information call 571-423-3023
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Middle School Start Times
- New Lunch Items
- Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Key MS Administrative TeamPrincipal: Drew Campbell | [email protected]
Assistant Principal: Shawn D. Brown | [email protected]
Assistant Principal: Shari Peters | [email protected]
Director of Student Services: Jane Flegal | [email protected]
6402 Franconia Road, Springfield, VA 22150 | Main Phone: 703.313.3900
Attendance: 703.313.3939 | Website | Twitter | Instagram