Hurricane Happenings

• Monday, October 26-27: Hearing Screenings
• Tuesday, October 27: Parent Coffee 9:00am Library (see details below)
• Wednesday, October 28: End of Quarter 1
• Wednesday, October 28: Thomas Jefferson Application Deadline
• Thursday, October 29: All District Chorus Auditions
• Thursday, October 29-Friday, October 30: Student Holiday/Teacher Work Days (end of Q1)
• Sunday, November 1: PTA Spirit Day @ The Branch 3:00-7:00

• Monday, November 2-Tuesday, November 3: Student Holiday/Teacher Work Days

• Friday, November 6: Volleyball Intramural Registration Deadline (see details below)

• Monday, November 9: Holiday Diwali

• Tuesday, November 10-Wednesday November 11: Musical Auditions (see details below)

• Wednesay, November 11: Picture Retakes (see details below)

• Wednesday, November 11: Volleyball Intramurals Begin (see below activity bus routes)

• Thursday, November 12: LCPS Future Ready Lesson/Academies Assessment (alternate bell scehduel and details below)

• Monday, November 16: Musical Parent Meeting

• Monday, November 16: PTA Meeting Library 6:00

• Tuesday, November 17: American Education Showcase Night 6:00-7:30

• Friday, November 20: All A Honor Roll Assembly

• Monday, November 23: Spirit Day @ Pupatella Pizza

• Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Holiday

• Sunday, November 29: Reflections Art Contest Submission Due (see PTA section below)

Every other week, we will link the house and grade level specific information for classes and any activities happening. Please use the buttons below for the appropriate grade level.

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 11th

📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com

• If your student was absent on the original picture day or would like a new photo taken, they may do so on this date.
• If you previously purchased a photo package and would like a retake, please have your student return the original package on November 11th. You will be credited for a replacement package.

To ensure your student participates in retakes, please complete the sign-up form linked below. Students who are registered will receive a pass for their photo session on November 11th.

Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late!

Please visit: vosphoto.com/underclass

use your student ID when prompted for the online code.

During the month of November, we will be honoring those who have and are serving in the Armed Forces. For Veterans Day 2026, we will be creating visual displays throughout the school to recognize the family and friends of Harper Park that are Active Military and Veterans. We hope you will be able to share in this celebration by sharing a picture of your loved ones who are Veterans with us. To do so, please submit your jpeg/gif pictures and information on this 2026 Veterans Day Form before Monday, November 2. If you have questions, please contact jean.austin@lcps.org. Thank you in advance for your help.

Note: 7th and 8th grade parents, if you previously submitted pictures and form, we still have it so there is no need to resubmit.

Harper Park Middle School is offering the Middle School SOS Signs of Suicide Program this school year. The SOS Signs of Suicide® Suicide Prevention Program is the only universal school-based suicide prevention that has demonstrated a significant reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40-64%) (Aseltine et al., 2007 & Schilling et al., 2016).

Our program goals are straightforward:

• Decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing knowledge and adaptive attitudes about depression and mental health;
• Teach our students to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression, self-injurious behavior, and potential suicidality in themselves and others;
• Educate youth that suicide is not a normal response to problems but a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression or other mental illnesses; and
• Encourage help-seeking by teaching teens to respond to the signs of suicide as a mental health emergency and to take specific action steps to help prevent a tragedy.

We intend to implement this program in the eighth-grade RESOURCE CLASSES at Harper Park Middle School. The program will take place during the class period as an educational lesson including a video and will be conducted by school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors. At the conclusion of the presentation, students will be asked to complete a brief post-test knowledge survey and indicate whether they would recommend the presentation to a peer. The presenters will be available for follow-up with students who wish to speak with them. Please note, the Signs of Suicide presentations are not part of the School Counseling Program. As such, if you completed the School Counseling Program opt-out for your child, they will still receive this presentation provided by a school psychologist or social worker. If you do not wish for your student to participate in the Signs of Suicide program, you must complete this form before MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd opting your child out of the lesson. https://permission.click/fm81oe4noo95/int

Additionally, if you have any questions or wish to preview the educational materials prior to the classroom presentation, please contact us at 571-252-6500 or access the Screening for Mental Health SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program Parent portal.

You can find additional information on the topic of youth suicide on the LCPS webpage (Suicide Prevention).

Volleyball Intramurals are coming up. If you still need to register for this after school activity, please use the QR code for information. Deadline for registering is Friday, November 6th.

Mrs. Hand and Ms. Davis look forward to having Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club again this year. We will meet after school on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month 3:30-4:45. Our initial interest meeting is November 5th after school in A7. Please complete the after-school club link to provide permission to stay for the club.

Join Us for Our Next Parent/Guardian Coffee

On Tuesday, October 27 at 9am in the HPMS Library we will be having a tutorial on navigating Lightspeed which is a tool for parents/guardians to monitor their student's website usage. We will also have a tutorial on how to navigate Schoology, which is the main platform that teachers use to post assignments, classroom materials, and instructions. Schoology is a great way for parents/guardians to be in the loop and help their students be prepared.

If you would like to attend this session, please fill out this FORM

Thomas Jefferson for High School and Technology

October 28 at 4pm is the LAST day to begin an application

October 30th at 4pm is the LAST day to submit an application

If you would like more information please visit the TJHSST Admissions Website

Advisory for the Week

Monday-Make it Happen Monday

Tuesday-DEAR

Wednesday-No Place for Hate Pledge

Thursday/Friday-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

• MEMBERSHIP AND SPIRIT WEAR IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE! Check it out at: https://harperpark.memberhub.com/store.

  FOLLOW THE HARPER PARK PTA ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

  • Facebook: HPMS PTA - Harper Park Middle School
  • Twitter: @PtaHpms
  • Instagram: @hpms_pta
  • Website: https://sites.google.com/view/harper-park-middle-school-pta

  DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS AND WANT TO SPONSOR THE PTA?

  Check out our sponsorship plan: https://sites.google.com/view/harper-park-middle-school-pta/home/sponsor-harper-park-pta

  2026-27 PTA VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED! If you are interested in volunteering, please email harperparkpta99@gmail.com if interested!

  • SEAC Representative
  • LEAF Representative
  • Talent/Variety Show Coordinator

Changes to Reading and Mathematics SOL Pass/Proficient Cut Scores

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, the Virginia Board of Education is raising the Pass/Proficient cut scores for Reading and Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. The changes will be phased in over four years and apply only to Reading and Mathematics SOL assessments. Visit the LCPS Office of Assessment Services webpage to learn more about the changes, review frequently asked questions and access additional resources.

The LCPS Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Family Academy offers seven free online sessions during the 2026-2027 school year, providing families with practical information, resources and tools to support their children’s education.

This year’s Family Academy focuses on three key themes: Advocate, partnering for your child’s success; Empower, gaining tools to support student success; and Connect, navigating school and division communication.

2026-2027 Family Academy Schedule

• Nov. 3: Getting Involved with Your School and LCPS
• Dec. 8: Math and Writing Resources
• Feb. 2: Family Voice and Empowerment
• March 2: College, Career and Skilled Trades Opportunities
• April 6: Digital Citizenship
• May 11: Summer Opportunities

Sessions begin at noon and last approximately 30 minutes. Each session will also be available online afterward for on-demand viewing. Click here to register for the October 6th session

Learn more: lcps.org/familyacademy

If your child is participating in any after school activity and will need bus transportation home, please review this link for the correct bus number and stop location. For after school activities, your child will not ride their regular bus or be dropped off at their regular stop. There are only two buses that transport home. Please have your child write this information somewhere they can retrieve it for loading the correct bus.