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In This Issue
A Message from Principal Williams
Welcome Back, Hawks - It’s Game Time!
What an incredible start to the 2026–2027 school year! Our halls are once again filled with the energy of our 7th and 8th grade Hawks, reconnecting with friends, building relationships with teachers, and stepping into classrooms ready and eager to learn. There is something special about the start of a new year, and after seeing our students on day one, I am even more excited about what we can accomplish together.
We are beginning this year with momentum. Herndon Middle School’s state performance rating is 83.3, an increase of 3 points from last year! That progress is worth celebrating, but we know our students are capable of even more. This year, we are aiming for a 90. It is an ambitious goal, but it is absolutely possible. With strong instruction, consistent attendance, high expectations, and a collective belief in our students, we are ready to reach HIGHER HEIGHTS!
Our work this year will center on three priorities: strengthening Tier 1 instruction, increasing student achievement- particularly for student groups where we must accelerate growth- and strengthening family and community engagement while improving student attendance. These priorities all connect to one goal: ensuring every Hawk receives the support, challenge, and opportunities necessary to reach their full potential.
Every Minute Matters: Being present is important, but being on time and ready to learn matters just as much. Instruction begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. each day. Students may grab breakfast upon arrival through 7:25 a.m. We encourage families to build routines that allow students enough time to arrive, eat breakfast if needed, transition to class, and be seated and prepared when instruction begins. Our teachers are ready at 7:30, and we need our students ready too! Ready for School. Ready to Learn.
We also ask for your partnership in reinforcing expectations that help us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment.
Dress for the learning environment: Students should arrive each day dressed appropriately for a school setting and in accordance with our student dress expectations. Clothing should support a safe, respectful, and distraction-free environment where the focus remains on learning.
Cell phones powered off and away: In alignment with Virginia requirements and our school expectations, cell phones must be powered OFF and stored inside students’ backpacks throughout the school day. Phones should not be kept in pockets or carried on students during the instructional day. We appreciate families reinforcing this expectation before students arrive at school.
We have an incredible group of young people at Herndon Middle School. Our students are talented, resilient, creative, and capable of achieving at the highest levels. Our responsibility as adults is to create the conditions that allow them to demonstrate just how much they can accomplish.
Day one was only the beginning. We have a goal of 90, a team committed to getting there, and students with the ability to make it happen.
It’s Game Time, Hawks! One Team. One Goal. HIGHER HEIGHTS!
- Principal Williams
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Welcome to Herndon!
Families, please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest members of our administrative team - our new Assistant Principals and Director of Student Services! We’re excited to have them join our school community and look forward to all they’ll bring to our students and families!
Welcome Assistant Principal, Mrs. Justina Copeland
Justina Copeland is an accomplished educational leader with a wealth of experience across school-site administration and district-level instructional services. We are thrilled to welcome her to our administrative team and know her deep expertise in curriculum design, academic equity, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) will be incredible assets to our Herndon community.
A message from Mrs. Copeland:
“Hello! I’m so excited to continue my leadership journey as an Assistant Principal here at HMS! I have 20+ years of education experience, 15 of which have been with Fairfax County Public Schools. I began my career as a 5th grade elementary teacher and quickly transitioned to a high school English teacher (in both traditional and nontraditional school programs), and finally to my last position as a middle school ELA teacher. I have built a career defined by my beliefs in academic equity, optimizing instructional delivery, and leading students to success.
I am eager to continue the work that has been started here at HMS that promotes instructional excellence and academic success for students. Over the years, I have learned that when we work as one team, our efforts and our student experiences and success soar beyond our expectations.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading for pleasure, and eating out with my husband. I look forward to this journey and am excited about the possibilities and experiences we will enjoy together.”
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Welcome Assistant Principal, Mr. Dustin Lee
Dustin Lee brings a fantastic range of experience—from elementary and special education classrooms to schoolwide technology and testing leadership—and a strong commitment to making sure every member of our community feels valued and supported. We are thrilled to welcome his energy, collaborative spirit, and dedication to our Herndon family.
A message from Mr. Lee:
"Hi, Everyone! I am honored to join the Herndon Hawk community! It is such a privilege to become part of such a caring and dedicated community. I am eager to see the amazing things HMS is doing and look forward to seeing how I can support you. One of my core tenets as an educator is that every school community member deserves to feel valued, supported, and challenged.
Most recently, I served at Burke School as the School-Based Technology Specialist, School Testing Coordinator, and an instructional leader. Burke School serves students in grades K-8, which gave me the opportunity to work with students and teachers across both the elementary and middle school levels. Before that, I served as an elementary and special education teacher for students in grades K, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Outside of school, I love spending time with my wife and two children. I enjoy playing games with friends, going on the occasional hike, shopping at Costco, and cheering on the Washington Capitals, Commanders, and Nationals. I am excited to become part of the Herndon community and look forward to getting to know our students, staff, and families. Go Hawks!"
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Welcome Director of Student Services, Mr. Mario Charlot
Mario Charlot brings a rich background in both Student Services and school leadership, along with a deep passion for supporting students, staff, and families. We are thrilled to welcome him to our Herndon community and look forward to the incredible leadership and vision he will bring to this role.
A message from Mr. Charlot:
"I’m excited to join the Herndon Middle School community and begin my journey as a Hawk! I bring experience in both Student Services and school administration, and I’m passionate about supporting students, staff, and families.
Outside of school, I love to travel, explore new places, and continually learn new things. I’m looking forward to building relationships, embracing new opportunities, and making a positive impact at HMS. Most of all, I’m excited for a year filled with growth, learning, and new possibilities!
One Team. One Goal. Higher Heights."
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Returning Administrators
Assistant Principal of Targeted Support, Mrs. Shirnesha Simpkins Church
Please join us congratulating a beloved leader in our community on an exciting new transition! Shirnesha Simpkins Church, who has faithfully served as our Director of Student Services for the last six years, is stepping into a new leadership role as our Assistant Principal.
We are incredibly fortunate to keep Shirnesha’ s deep commitment to student success, rich experience, and passion for our school community right here at Herndon as she transitions into this new role.
A message from Mrs. Shirnesha Simpkins Church:
"I am thrilled to begin a new chapter in my leadership journey as Assistant Principal at Herndon Middle School. After six years as the Herndon Middle School Director of Student Services, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our students, families, and school community in this new role.
With 19 years in education, including 15 years with Fairfax County Public Schools, I have served as an English teacher, School Counselor, and Director of Student Services. Throughout my career, I have been committed to ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.
I look forward to partnering with our families to support the whole child, strengthen student learning, and foster a welcoming community where every student can thrive.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and writing. I am excited for the year ahead and grateful to continue serving the Herndon Middle School community!"
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Special Education Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kim Shott
We are excited to have Kim returning for her fourth year as Assistant Principal and her 23rd year serving the students and families of FCPS.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Kim’s expertise and deep commitment to students and families as she continues to strengthen our school community.
A message from Mrs. Kim Shott:
"Welcome back to another wonderful school year at Herndon Middle School! I am thrilled to be returning for my fourth year as an Assistant Principal at Herndon, marking my 23rd year serving the students and families of Fairfax County Public Schools—all within Region 1.
Over the course of my career in FCPS, I have served as a special education teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels, as well as a special education department chair. My educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Virginia Tech, a Master’s in Special Education from George Mason University, and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. With extensive experience in Literacy, Special Education, and Twice-Exceptional (2E) instruction, I am deeply committed to helping our school thrive. This year, I am especially eager to continue supporting Herndon Middle School as we grow our inclusive practices and strengthen literacy opportunities for every single student.
Outside of school, I love spending quality time with my husband, our two teenage sons, and our two yellow labs. We enjoy spending time outdoors and tackling home improvement projects together. This year will also be extra special as we spend time traveling to Pennsylvania to cheer on our son as he wrestles in college!
I look forward to another incredible year of partnering with our staff, students, and community."
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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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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!
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.
You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home
At Herndon Middle School, we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.
In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.
With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.
These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
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:
- Your child’s classes.
- Your child’s upcoming assignments.
- School, class, and group announcements.
To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.
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.
New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
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@fc |
