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In this Issue
PTSA President Letter
Interim Principal Letter
Student Services Update
PTSA
Upcoming Parent Program
Academic Boosters
FCPS Excellence Awards
Staff Appreciation
Food Pantry & Outreach
Parent Information Relating to Special Education for November
Yearbooks
Mad Drama
Orchestra News
Mad Choir
Band News
Athletic Boosters
All Night Grad & Senior Signs
FCPS Calendar for 2022-23
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Upcoming Events
November
5 Mock ACT
8 Election Day, Holiday
9 All Night Grad Monthly Meeting, 6:30pm
9 PTSA Monthly Meeting, 7pm
11 Veterans Day, Student Holiday
11 Staff Appreciation Event: Fall Treats!
23-25 Thanksgiving, Holiday
December
7 PTSA Parent Coffee, 7pm
13 All Night Grad Monthly Meeting, 6:30pm
13 PTSA Monthly Meeting, 7pm
19 - (January) 2 Winter Break
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Letter from PTSA President - Beth Eachus
Dear Madison community-
Happy November!
Our next PTSA meeting will held in the library (3rd floor) on Wednesday, November 9th at 7pm. We will be hearing from Interim Principal Steve Plunkett and Director of Student Services Tim Buckley. Prior to our meeting, All Night Grad will be meeting at 6:30pm (also in the Library) if you are interested in joining their discussion!
Madison Outreach: A vital PTSA and community initiative is our Madison Food Pantry and Outreach efforts. We have been very successful in supporting our students and their families in need but we could not have done it without your generous donations. We are proud to work with Madison High School to help our students and families but it is an ongoing endeavor to keep our pantry fully stocked. We welcome your donations and, for ease, we have created an Amazon wish list of much needed items which ship directly to the school.
I want to thank Mrs. Gottschalk's advisory class and the Cheer and Dance teams for hosting food and hygiene drives for our Madison Pantry! Your support is so appreciated!
 
And, on November 9th, we are kicking off our annual Winter Clothing Drive! Please consider signing up for one of the clothing donations to support Madison students in need of winter clothing. And huge thanks to Madison teacher Ms Slingerland for again organizing this effort!
Staff Appreciation Events: We have amazing staff at Madison and the PTSA hosts teacher and staff appreciation events throughout the year. We will be hosting a Fall Treats! event in November and need both donations and volunteers on Friday, November 11th. (It is a student holiday but a teacher workday!) Thank you to all those that have volunteered for or donated to our staff appreciation events this year. Thank you also to our wonderful chairs Angie Gutenson and Dara Dirth. If you would like to learn more and get involved with this committee, please send a message to Angie and Dara at hospitality@jmhsptsa.org.
FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards: Is a teacher or staff member at Madison going above and beyond to make this year a great one? Students, parents, community members, and staff are encouraged to nominate an OUTSTANDING MADISON HS EMPLOYEE for recognition in the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards program! Nominate using this Google form link. Nominations must be received by Monday, November 14th.
Finally, volunteers are a critical part of the PTSA! Many of you may have seen a past article in the Wall Street Journal which reported that involved parents lead to better grades and more resilient and happy students. Our busy schedules make it difficult but we have volunteer opportunities for everyone who wants to get involved regardless of time constraints. Again, we very much need your support!
I do also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported our PTSA efforts and special thanks to our many chairs and huge thanks to this year’s PTSA officers, Treasurer Janine Bruhn, Vice President Gayle Schlueter, Vice President Abby Shannon and Secretary Liza Morss.
Thank you to Elizabeth Terry-Humen for creating our monthly Mad Memos and please check out our PTSA website (thanks to Jennifer O'Beirne) for how to join the PTSA. If you have any questions or ideas, you are always welcome to contact me directly.
Beth Eachus
Madison PTSA President
president@jmhsptsa.org
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Letter from Interim Principal - Mr. Plunkett
Dear Madison Community,
I know the really big news everyone wants to know is; when are they announcing our new principal and who is it going to be? I truly don’t have any new information to share but I am hopeful that there will be news before Thanksgiving break. With optimism in my heart, I do hope this will be my last Principal’s message.
Best,
Steve Plunkett
Interim Principal
James Madison High School
703-319-2312
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Student Services Update
ParentVue and StudentVue
They will both be viewable again on Wednesday November 9 th at 6:00am. First quarter grades will be visible at that time but please remember that with the rolling gradebook that Madison utilizes quarter grades are only a snapshot in time of a student’s progress in a class. Any questions regarding a student’s grades should be directed towards to the classroom teacher as they have the best understanding of that grade. Please refer to Grading and Reporting for understanding of Madison’s grading policies.
Wellness Screenings
This week the school counselors will begin conducting our annual Depression Awareness Lessons for all 11 th graders through the 4 th period Advisory starting on November 2 nd and ending on November 9 th. The lesson will also include a Signs of Suicide Screener which will help counselors determine if a student is struggling with signs of depression and/or suicidal thoughts and feelings. This lesson and screener could be upsetting to students that have or are currently known to be struggling with depression. If your student has struggled or is currently being treated for depression (or other mental health concerns), please feel free to opt your student out by emailing your child’s school counselor.
For more information regarding this program: https://sossignsofsuicide.org/parent.
Governor’s School
2023 VA Summer Residential Governor's School interest meeting on Tuesday November 1st at 3:00 in Warhawk Hall
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for 10th and 11th grade students to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in Academics and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in VA for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. Visit our website for an overview of the application process.
Volunteers Needed
On November 3 rd our Public Health Nurse, Hope Luang, and our School Health Aide, Sarah Lieu, will be conducting our annual hearing and vision screening assessments for this school year. They are in need of a few more volunteers on that day. Please contact Hope Luang at hluong1@fcps.edu if you are available to help.
ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), Register by November 18
The ASVAB will be given on December 9 at Oakton High School. The ASVAB is required for military enlistment, but is also a career exploration program that includes an aptitude test and interest assessment to help guide students with careers and jobs that might be of interest. Students should sign into their @ fcpsschoosl.net account and complete this Google Form (by November 18) to register for the test. Students should arrive to Oakton HS by 8:10am and check in at the Main Office. The test is open to 11th and 12th graders. There is no fee and transportation will not be provided. The test will take approximately 3 hours. Juniors and seniors should check their school email account for the 10/25 ASVAB email with additional information. A copy of that email is available for parents/guardians here in Schoology.
Longwood University and University of Mary Washington On-Site Admissions Program @JMHS in November
For seniors planning to apply to Longwood University and/or University of Mary Washington (or for seniors who have already applied) who would like to get an admission decision in November. Seniors should check their school email account for the 10/20 email with additional information, including the fee waiver code to use. A copy of that email is available for parents/guardians here in Schoology. The on-site admission program is an opportunity for seniors to get an admission decision in mid-November.
College Access Fairfax (CAF) Events
CAF will be offering FAFSA/VASA completion workshops for seniors and their parents/guardians as well as Scholarship 101 presentations in November. Dates, locations and details available here on the CAF website. CAF has a variety of resources and information on their website, be sure to check it out!
Mental Health Resources and 24/7 Emergency Numbers
If you or someone you care about is in crisis or in case of a life threatening emergency, please call 911.
Additional Emergency Mental Health resources below:
· Crisis Regional Hotline - 703-527-4077
· Crisis Text - Text NEEDHELP to 85511
· Chat online with a specialist at ImAlive.org
· Call an emergency mental health center at 703-573-5679 (Merrifield Center), 703-536-2000 (Dominion Hospital), 703-289-7560 (Inova Emergency Services) or 1-844-627-4747 (Mobile Crisis Unit)
· Call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE
FCPS Mental Health Emergency Resources - https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/school-psychology-services/mental-health-resources-and
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PTSA meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month (with some exceptions).
The third meeting of the school year will be held on
Wednesday, November 9 at 7:00 PM in the school library.
Please click HERE to review the draft October 11 meeting minutes in advance so they can be voted on at the start of the meeting.
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Please JOIN the James Madison PTSA! It's NOT too late!
Membership in the James Madison Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) is an invaluable way to contribute to your child’s education and stay connected with them during high school. Specific programs include:
- Providing Faculty and Staff Enrichment and Appreciation
- Assistance to Student Activities and Events
- Sponsorship of Student Events and Parent Education Programs
- Support Academic Boosters and Provide Mock Testing Opportunities
- Hosting the Baccalaureate Ceremony
- Fund Making Difference Scholarships and the Triple I Awards
- Hosting Senior Celebrations and the All Night Grad celebration
- Supporting our Madison Students and Families in need
In addition to your PTSA membership, we suggest a donation of $50 per family. Your one-time, tax-deductible donation allows the PTSA to promote the academic excellence and well-being of our students. Donations are tax deductible. (Please check to see if your employer has a donation matching program).
And it is so easy to pay online! Just go to www.jmhsptsa.org/join-the-pta/. Alternatively, membership forms can also be downloaded and mailed with check to: JMHS PTSA Membership, 2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna, VA 22181.
Questions? Contact Beth Eachus, President at president@jmhsptsa.org or Robyn Nguyen, PTSA Membership Chair at membership@jmhsptsa.org.
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UPCOMING PARENT PROGRAM
Introducing Parent Coffees! In December, we will kick off informal Parent Coffee's on the first Wednesday evening of every month. We will meet at a local Vienna establishment where you can grab a coffee, tea, or any beverage of your choice! The topics are up to you! This is a chance for you to get some insider info from your fellow Madison parents. Our first Parent Coffee will be Wednesday, December 7th at 7pm. More details to come! If you have any topic ideas, please e-mail Gayle Schlueter @ gschlueter5@gmail.com.
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Join the Academic Boosters!
The Academic Boosters is a PTSA initiative dedicated to enriching the educational experience of all Madison students. Click here to join.
Academic Boosters has proudly sponsored the following programs and initiatives:
- Funding of materials, tools, and technology to enhance classroom instruction across all subject areas
- Annual Academic Awards Ceremony recognizing students with academic letters and pins for notable achievements
- Funding of teacher conferences, faculty training, and other staff development activities
- Hosting of SAT and ACT mock tests in the fall and spring
- Triple “I” Teacher Awards Program recognizing outstanding teachers at Madison
- Funding “Making a Difference” scholarships for graduating seniors
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Please click this link for information and registration for the Nov. 5th mock ACT test. Each test will be $20 and registration will close on the Thursday before the test. Tests will be emailed to students on Friday. Refunds will not be issued for anyone who cancels.
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FCPS Excellence Awards
Is a teacher or staff member at Madison going above and beyond to make this year a great one? Students, parents, community members, and staff are encouraged to nominate an OUTSTANDING MADISON HS EMPLOYEE for recognition in the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards program! Nominate using this Google form link.
Nominations must be received by Monday, November 14 th
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Staff Appreciation Committee
Our next event is "Fall Treats!" on Friday, November 11th (a teacher workday). If you'd like to donate or volunteer, you can sign up here!
Please contact our staff appreciation chairs Angie Gutenson and Dara Dirth at hospitality@jmhsptsa.org to learn more about our monthly events and get involved.
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JMHS Food Pantry and Outreach
Madison Outreach: A vital PTSA and community initiative is our Madison Food Pantry and Outreach efforts. We have been very successful in supporting our students and their families in need by distributing food weekly to students and their families but we could not have done it without your generous donations.
The Madison PTSA is proud to partner with Madison High School and local non profits to help our students and families but it is an ongoing endeavor to keep our pantry fully stocked. We welcome your donations and, for ease, we have created an Amazon wish list of much needed items (also listed below) which ship directly to the school.
- Cereal
- Rice
- Pasta
- Canned vegetables
- Granola Bars
- Tomato sauce (please no glass)
- Juice
- Beans (dry or canned)
- Fruit (canned or in plastic)
- Milk (shelf stable)
Donations can be dropped off at Madison at Door 1 during school hours. You may also make a cash donation towards this effort at the following link: https://jmhsptsa.org/product/food-bank-donation-any-amount/
On November 9th, we are kicking off our ANNUAL Winter Clothing Drive! Please consider signing up for one of the clothing donations to support Madison students in need of winter clothing. And huge thanks to Madison teacher Ms Slingerland for again organizing this effort!
And Saturday, November 18 is our Fall Giving Day. All Madison families are invited to stop by the school cafeteria between 10am-12pm to pick up free food, school supplies, and other household products they may need for the upcoming holidays. All items are courtesy of the Madison Food Pantry and the community.
Thank you for your incredible support and generosity!
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Special Education Parent Newsletter for November
The Department of Special Services (DSS) publishes a regular electronic newsletter for parents of special education students to provide updated DSS information, and tips and ideas to support you and your family.
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Yearbooks
Buy your 22-23 Yearbook NOW! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter the code 5307. The cost is $65 and $70 with a nameplate.
Senior Baby Ads
If you would like to purchase a Senior Baby ad for the 2023 Yearbook please go to www.yearbookordercenter.com, enter 5307 and then select “Start Your Ad.” You may choose a half, quarter, eighth, or sixteenth page ad. The deadline is Friday, November 11, 2002.
Senior Portraits
The third and final session date is scheduled for November 1 and 2. These dates will open for reservations in early October. You will be notified by the school when they are open for appointments. If you have any questions regarding senior portraits, please email seniors@vosphoto.com. |
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MAD DRAMA
After the 21/22 season of 6 National Capital Area CAPPIES Nominations and 2 wins: Jonah Uffelman for Comic Actor Male Role Musical and Mary Ulses for Best Feature Actor in a Female Role, MAD Drama is preparing to compete again. Saturday night 11/12, the Much Ado About Nothing Performance will be evaluated by 50 Cappies Critics from schools around the National Capital Area. In May 2023, Cappies nominations will be announced for 22/23 season. Break Legs MAD Drama!
MAD Drama Presents:
Thursday November 10 at 7:30pm
Friday November 11 at 7:30pm
Saturday November 12 at 2:30pm & 7:30pm
In this story of crossed wires, Shakespeare gives us his sharply tuned humor through masked identities and hidden feelings, mostly misplaced honor, and good old-fashioned deceit. However, we are also rewarded with timeless themes of love, of friendship and of marriage. Don’t miss this immortal classic of the stage.
Tickets $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show.
James Madison High School Tickets (etix.com)
Stay Connected with MAD Drama:
Website: www.madisondrama.com
Email: jmhsdrama2@gmail.com
Facebook Groups:
® MAD Drama Parents' Association (closed group – for parents)
® MAD Drama (public page – student driven)
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ORCHESTRA NEWS
Madison Orchestra and Chorus held its annual MAD Music Day in October. It was an amazing experience for the pyramid of Madison students, culminating with its first concert of the year. What a fun way to start the fall!
Madison Orchestra is pleased to announce the following students who were selected for the Senior Regional Orchestra:
- Alette McNeill
- Andrew Teale
- Genevieve Kopp
- Davin Meggers
- Joshua Thrush
- Nina Howell
Congratulations to all these amazing musicians and to all who auditioned!
The concert will be held at West Potomac High School on November 12th at 2:30pm. Please come out to support Madison (and Virginia) Music.
Pies, Cookies, Nuts, and more! - The orders are in and are being distributed by the end of October.
Upcoming events
- December 5, 2022 7:00pm: Pyramid Snow Show - Madison Chamber Orchestra performs its Snow Show for its pyramid schools·
- December 7, 2022 7:00pm: Madison Orchestra Winter Concert
- December 10, 2022: Madison High School presents “The Snowman” in concert - Winter Wonderland including crafts and Santa pictures at Madison HS
- May 23, 2023 7:00pm: Madison Orchestra spring concert
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MAD CHOIR
Greetings from the Madison Choral Department!
We have quite a few events coming up in the next few months:
- Congratulations to Corey Furukawa, Paul MacDonald, Luke Mudrick, and Sydney Topoleski who were selected for the Virginia Senior Honors Choir that will take place November 17-19 in Richmond, Virginia.
- District Chorus auditions will be on November 5th at McLean High School. The District Chorus event will take place February 9-11 at Herndon High School. We are excited to have a great number of singers trying out for this elite choir.
- Our Pie/Dessert fundraiser was a great success! Many thanks to all who supported our program…we are excited to know “Choir Pies” will be back on Vienna holiday tables this year.
We are excited to be putting on our annual December Snowman Show this year. This concert is an event open to the public on Saturday, December 10th to enjoy live music performed by our orchestra and choir while watching Raymond Briggs, The Snowman. Guests then move through a winter wonderland in our school hallways to join for crafts and a chance to meet Santa and The Snowman. Please contact Mrs. Rowan ( ccrowan@fcps.edu) if you are interested in volunteering for this event. Tickets will go on sale in Mid-November.
All our concert dates are listed on our website ( www.madchoir.org). We are so excited to get on stage and share live music with our community!
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BAND NEWS
Congratulations to the JMHS Marching Ensemble! At the Bands of America (BOA) Mid-Atlantic Regional at the University of Delaware on October 8th, Madison placed 2nd in Class 3A and received the caption award for best music after the preliminary performance! Madison was one of 12 marching ensembles that advanced to the finals and placed 3rd overall! The marching ensemble placed 1st overall and 1st in Group 5 at the Freedom Showcase competition on October 22nd at Freedom High School! At the Showcase, the ensemble also received caption awards in their group for best music, visual, and general effect. At the BOA New Jersey Regionals at Rutgers University on October 29th, Madison placed 1st in the preliminary performance for Class 3A and received caption awards for outstanding music, visual, and general effect! They advanced to the finals and received 4th overall.
The VMBC State Championship at Liberty University is on November 5th.
The 2022 Vienna Turkey Trot 5k/10k/fun run is on Sunday, November 20th! Please register through http://viennaturkeytrot.org/ for this fun and festive Vienna holiday tradition!
White House Ornaments! Complete with delicate white icing and candy details, this year’s ornament represents the White House tradition of displaying a gingerbread house in the State Dining Room. The ornament has a special scratch and sniff feature that smells just like fresh gingerbread! They are $24 each and make wonderful holiday gifts for family and friends. We will be selling the ornaments on Election Day, November 8th, at Flint Hill and Cunningham Park Elementary Schools, the Vienna Community Center, and James Madison High School.
You can also email ornaments@jmhsband.org to make a purchase for porch pickup. Cash or Checks to: JMHS Band Boosters.
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ATHLETIC BOOSTER NEWS
Welcome to Warhawk Nation and the 22/23 School Year!
Get your family booster pass HERE!
Student pass HERE
November
11/15–Winter Meet the Coaches night 6:30pm
11/21–Booster Meeting
December
12/12–Booster Meeting
Be sure to follow the Warhawk Boosters on Facebook for all the latest news:
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All Night Grad & Senior Lawn Signs
All Night Grad is making plans for the class of 2023! Get a ticket for your senior here! Prices will increase later in the year, so purchase today! Come join the fun in planning this epic night. The ANG committee welcomes all who want to have fun and make this a great night for our seniors. We especially love having undergrad parents on this committee who can continue to make this event better each year! Our next (30 minute) meeting is on Wednesday, November 9, at 6:30pm in the Madison library. Email co-chairs at allnightgrad@jmhsptsa.org to join the planning crew, or have questions about the event.
Lawn Signs celebrating the class of 2023 are on sale!! The senior class will be designing their own sign and will be distributed in early spring. Buy yours today and check it off your list! Orders must be placed by March 15 to guarantee availability. |
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Fairfax County Public Schools Standard Calendar 2022-23
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