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Principal's Message |
Greetings Tiger Families!
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will continue to phase in a weapons detection system at all secondary schools this fall. The Open Gate system is similar to ones that have been used at sporting events and concerts that many of us have experienced for years.
Twain Middle School will begin a phased in approach to initiating the Open Gate System next week, to culminate in the system going live on October 24th. Our phased in approach will include continued communication with families, lessons with our students through learning seminar, and practice with the new arrival systems before they are turned on. Please note that the adoption of the Open Gate System does not change our cell phone storage pouch policy, which has been in place at Twain since last school year.
Please watch this video of the Superintendent’s conversation with middle school students about the weapons screening system. It contains not only details about the system, but the perspective of students on the benefit of this additional layer of security for our school.
As we prepare our students for the implementation of Open Gate, an important detail to ensure an efficient arrival process is for students to identify common items that set-off the detection system, remove them from their bag, and hand them to the designated staff member before proceeding through the system. If any of these items are not necessary for your student to have at school, we encourage them to be left at home.
These items to be removed include:
- Three-ring binders
- Laptops
- Collapsible umbrellas
- Metal lunch boxes
- Metal pencil cases
- Metal glass cases
Please note that these common items typically do not set off the system, and can remain in a student’s bags:
- Non-metal lunch boxes
- Books
- Planners
- Spiral notebooks and folders
- Cell phones
- Keys
- Non-metal pencil cases
Once the items are removed, students will walk through one of two lines and proceed between the towers to enter the lobby. If the light turns red, they will be directed to a secondary screening to determine what may have alerted the system. Students who enter school late and all non-staff visitors to our school will also enter through the Open Gate system upon arrival. Experience shows that the process becomes easier and more efficient every day. You can learn more about the system by watching this video and reading the Frequently Asked Questions on FCPS’ website. If you have additional questions, you can submit them online to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support in our shared commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment for us all.
Sincerely,
Matt
Twain’s Weekly Schedule
Monday, October 13: No School - Indigenous People’s Day / Teacher Workday
Tuesday, October 14: Odd Day Schedule
Wednesday, October 15: Even Day Schedule
Thursday, October 16: Odd Day Schedule
Friday, October 17: Even Day Schedule
After School Program
For the week of October 13 - 17
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1ST Block
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2nd Block
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Monday October 13th:
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NO AFTER SCHOOL
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PROGRAM
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Tuesday October 14th:
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2:30 – 3:35
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3:40 – 4:40
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Wednesday October 15th:
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2:30 – 3:35
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3:40 – 4:40
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Thursday October 16th:
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2:30 – 3:35
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3:40 – 4:40
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Friday October 17th:
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2:30 – 3:35
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3:40 – 4:40
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Calendar Reminders: Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Diwali
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 13, is a student holiday and staff development day for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. On the second Monday of October and the month of November, people all over the United States celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Native American Heritage Month. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions of Indigenous people (globally) year-round, and these celebrations are an opportunity to honor these important stories.
Diwali
Monday, October 20, is a school holiday for Diwali. All schools and offices are closed.
We wish a fun Diwali to all celebrating! Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
See the complete school year calendar and the employee calendar.
No Cost Meals Available for Students on October 13 at Select Schools
FCPS will be offering lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Monday, October 13, at participating schools. As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students on October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on October 13.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
- Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
- Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
- Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.
We are proud to support our students’ health and well-being, even on days when school is not in session. We hope that many of our families will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
After School & Evening Event Eligibility
The evening and after school events at Twain start to heat up as we get into October, and we are looking forward to a number of events over the next month. These include Broadway Desserts on October 17th, our SCA Movie Night on October 24th, our student vs staff flag football game on November 6th, and our PTA Fall Tiger Night on November 7th. Please note that student eligibility for after school events is based on a pattern of on-time attendance to class and positive decision making during the school day. Students who do not exhibit these behaviors are at risk of not being eligible for the privilege to attend these events. We will continue to reiterate that with students during the school day and encourage families to talk to their students about making sure they can take advantage of the social events that Twain has to offer by being a positive citizen throughout the school day each and every day!
Gun Safety and Safe Gun Storage
Providing students and staff with a safe educational environment remains our priority. Sadly, gun violence continues to impact schools and communities across our nation.
In FCPS, lessons on gun safety are built into our curriculum. It is critical that parents and guardians talk to their children about the importance of gun safety and safe gun storage in their homes, and in any home they may visit.
Our website has gun safety resources as well as detailed information about FCPS safety and security practices in our buildings. See Dr. Reid’s recent letter to the community for more resources.
Safely Store Firearms and Medications
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board has a limited supply of free locking medication boxes and trigger locks that fit a wide variety of firearms. Visit the Lock and Talk website to learn more.
FCPS Buildings Benefit All Community Members
In addition to our students and teachers, we estimate millions of visits by students and community members to Fairfax County schools through more than 500,000 events. Most of the public meeting and recreational facilities available in the county are FCPS facilities.
FCPS works with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and with the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that school facilities and athletic fields are available to the public after school hours.
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 4. Learn more about registering to vote and make a voting plan
October Community Boundary Review Meetings
FCPS’ October community boundary review meetings will begin on Monday, October 13. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our pyramid will be covered at the meeting on Friday, October 24, at Lewis High School, (Edison and Lewis Pyramids) in person or virtual. Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to our pyramid and the Lewis pyramid. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the full list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
Twain Theatre presents Everyone Gets Eaten by Sharks
Twain's Advanced Theatre Appreciation class will present the one act comedy Everyone Gets Eaten by Sharks by Marshall Pailet November 14 and 15 at 7:00 pm and November 15 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $5 for students, $8 for adults, and can be purchased at Twain's Theatre's eTix online ticket page.
The 8th grade Advanced Theatre students are working hard on this hilarious one act comedy! FACT: Most people, if not everyone, will eventually be eaten by sharks. But you can postpone the inevitable (and get a great deal on a timeshare!) by joining Adventure Dan on a tour through shark-infested scenarios to avoid, such as kayaking with meat paddles, night-swimming after prom, or genetically engineering sharks for science. Because three things in life are certain: taxes, death, and specifically death by shark. A delightfully madcap comedy you're sure to devour . . . unless it devours you first.
This play is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
TJ Information Session Presentation
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology admissions specialist Linda Sperling gave a presentation on October 8 about the freshman round admissions process. These slides cover everything you need to know to be prepared to apply starting October 20, 2025. Please also visit the TJ admissions website to find more information and how to contact the admissions office should you have any questions.
Lightspeed Student Online Activity Reports Are Coming to All Families
Lightspeed reports are a great way to monitor student web browsing and have conversations with your students. The Lightspeed Student Online Activity Reports are designed to enable families to have meaningful conversations with their students about responsible technology use and digital citizenship. You can explore when students are using the internet, what sites they are going to and can turn off the internet for the device when not at school.
Beginning October 12, 2025, all parents and caregivers with Records Access in SIS will automatically receive a weekly Lightspeed email report summarizing their student’s online activity. These reports will be sent to the parent/caregiver email addresses on file in SIS. No additional signup required by parent/guardians. Note: prior to this update only the enrolling parent could request access to these reports. Make sure to check that the emails are not going to your email providers SPAM folder. Families who prefer not to receive these weekly emails may easily opt-out by selecting the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the weekly email.
For more information and to help answer common questions, FCPS has added a new FAQ section to the Lightspeed Parent Report page on the FCPS website.
World Language Credit By Exam Registration Ends Soon
Can your student read, write, and speak in another language? If so, they can earn up to 3 high school world language credits through the WLCBE.
Students in grades 7-12 are offered the opportunity to take the World Languages Credit By Exam (WLCBE). The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages. This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in FCPS.
The exam will be offered on Friday, November 7 this year at Twain MS. A student may participate in the exam a total of a total of two times per language between grades 7 and 12. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, and either write/type or, for American Sign Language, sign/interpret. More information can be found on the FCPS WLCBE page including a list of testable languages.
If you would like your student to participate in the next available WLCBE, they should meet with their school counselor by October 17th. No late registrations will be accepted.
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