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Principal’s Message |
Greetings Tiger Families!
This coming Monday, January 20th, is a student and staff holiday to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolent, yet persistent, activism against racial discrimination during the Civil Rights Movement sets an inspirational example for all of us about how to overcome adversity, establish and stay firm in our beliefs, and to make our voice heard in a way that does not promote violence and serves the needs of others.
FCPS is collaborating with Volunteer Fairfax for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Students and families can volunteer on Saturday, January 25, at Give Together at the James Lee Community Center. Projects will include food packing, creating care packages, environmental stewardship, and support for animal welfare. This event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Of course, students and families can also elect to find their own way to give to others and honor the legacy of Dr. King.
“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King, Jr., 1965
Certainly, these words are a model of what we expect of and teach our young Tigers every day.
Thank you for your partnership and please have a peaceful extended weekend.
Sincerely,
Matt
Twain’s Weekly Schedule
Monday, January 20: School Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr Day / Inauguration Day
Tuesday, January 21: Odd Day Schedule
Wednesday, January 22: Even Day Schedule
Thursday, January 23: Odd Day Schedule
Friday, January 24: Even Day Schedule
Calendar Reminders
Martin Luther King Jr. Day/Inauguration (Holiday)
Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and the Presidential Inauguration.
Quarter End/Lunar New Year/Teacher Work Day
Tuesday, January 28, is the last day of the second quarter. It is a full school day.
Wednesday, January 29, is Lunar New Year and a teacher workday. There will be no school for students.
See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar.
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the quarter from Tuesday, January 28, 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 a.m.
Learn how to activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports and other helpful information about your child.
Help Restock Food Pantries
 Stuff the Bus is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits. Now in its 14th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families and households. Stuff the Bus has collected more than 220 tons of food to feed people experiencing food insecurity in Fairfax County.
You can help stuff the bus at select locations beginning Saturday, January 18. Visit the Stuff the Bus webpage for locations and a full list of requested items.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
Winter weather is here! As a reminder, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy time outdoors. Schools monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside for activities like recess or physical education.
View Fairfax County’s Winter Weather/Extreme Cold safety tips.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please contact your school’s family liaison. You may also contact Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Comprehensive Boundary Review Update
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its second meeting on December 16 at Gatehouse Administration Center. View key takeaways from that meeting and access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received. If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in one of the following virtual meetings:
- Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m.
- Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.
Language interpretation will be available.
All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared. Please stay tuned for details on how to register. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn more. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
Student Rights and Responsibilities and Cell Phone Policy Survey Coming Soon
On Tuesday, January 21, all FCPS parents/caregivers and middle and high school students, and FCPS staff will be emailed invitations to participate in a survey that seeks to understand community support for proposed options relating to FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), cell phone policy, and cell phone storage options.
The survey will be available until Monday, February 3. It will also be open to FCPS staff. Please take a few moments to share your feedback and help us make informed, inclusive decisions for all our schools.
Order Your Yearbook
Buy your Twain MS Yearbook now! Use our code 8606,
Go to yearbookordercenter.com
Transition Corner
Rising 8th Grade:
Counselors will be visiting History 7 classes on Monday, February 3, to present 8th grade course options to students. Students will be given a paper course selection planning sheet to help them map out their course preferences prior to making final selections on the Google form they will receive in their school Gmail accounts that afternoon (email will come from Mr. Fitzgerald). Course selections must be submitted by Friday, February 14. Mock schedules with student course preferences will be mailed home the week of March 3 with instruction on how to make changes/corrections. Change/correction requests are due by Friday, March 14.
Rising 9th Grade:
***Please subscribe to your child’s base high school News You Choose messages for the most up-to-date information about 9th grade transition. You can enroll here. Unsure what school your child will attend in 9th grade? Click here to access the FCPS boundary locator.***
Lewis High School
Lewis High School counselors will visit Twain on Friday, January 24, 2025, to present 9th grade course options to current Lewis-bound 8th grade students. During this presentation, students will learn about required courses and elective options, as well as other information about freshman year at Lewis. More information about Lewis Course Selection and 9th grade transition can be found at their Academic Advising site: https://lewishs.fcps.edu/student-services/academic-advising-0.
Edison High School
Edison High School Director of Student Services, Deborah Guillen, will visit Twain on Monday, February 3, 2025, to present course selection information to all 8th grade students through their Health & PE class period. During the presentation, students will learn about core and elective course offerings for 9th graders, as well as receive a hard copy course selection book to take home. Edison counselors will return the following Tuesday and Wednesday, February 4 and 5, to meet with students individually to make course selections, again through their Health & PE class period. Information about Edison transition and course selection can be found on their Academic Advising/Course Selection site: https://edisonhs.fcps.edu/student-services/academic-advising.
Hayfield Secondary School
Hayfield Secondary School counselor Eric Williams will visit Twain on Friday, January 31, 2025, to present 9th grade course options to Hayfield-bound 8th grade students. During this presentation, students will learn about required courses and elective options, as well as other information about freshman year at Hayfield. More information about Hayfield Course Selection and 9th grade transition can be found at their Academic Advising site: https://hayfieldss.fcps.edu/student-services/hs-academic-advising-and-course-selection.
Please continue to check back for more transition updates this winter.
PTA Updates
NEW NIGHT: Spirit Night at Rose Hill McDonald’s
On Thursday, Jan 23rd, 5-8 pm close out inauguration week and let McDonald’s take care of cooking dinner with our first fundraiser of the year. As we like to say, eat good food and support the Mark Twain MS PTA. It’s a win-win! See you there!
PTA General Membership Meeting
Please join us on Tuesday, February 11th at 7:30pm for our next general membership meeting. This will be a virtual meeting format. Stay tuned for the Zoom link!
Nominate a Staff Member of the Month
Nominate a teacher or staff member for the PTA Staff Member of the Month Award here: Staff Member of the Month Form. Nominations are due before January 31st.
Join the PTA
Did you know? PTA Membership is valid for one year. If you joined the PTA for the 2023-2024 school year, please renew your membership for the 2024-2025 school year. PTA dues provide for many of the events and programs, including teacher mini-grants, Tiger Nigh and staff appreciation events.
Visit the Mark Twain PTA site
Twain PTA on Social Media
Follow us on Facebook at Mark Twain MS PTA and Instagram at twainmspta to stay in touch with what’s happening at Twain PTA.
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