Week 8 | Oct 5- Oct 9, 2026- It's VJMS HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK!

Posted Date: 10/04/26 (04:00 PM)

THE WILDCAT FLIGHT PLAN

Your Family Guide to the Week Ahead

October 4, 2026

Week of Oct 5-9, 2026

A Full Week of Wildcat Pride! ❤️💙💛

We have a full and exciting week ahead at VJMS! It’s Homecoming Spirit Week, we’re getting closer to the end of the marking period, and we want every passenger focused, involved, and ready to finish strong.

🎉 HOMECOMING SPIRIT WEEK

We can’t wait to see our Wildcats show their school spirit all week long!

Monday, Oct 5 | Baggy Day

Wear your favorite oversized hoodie, relaxed-fit pants, or baggy jeans.

Tuesday, Oct 6 | Hat Day

Wear your favorite baseball cap, beanie, bucket hat, or fun headwear. (No face or ski masks)

Wednesday, Oct 7 | “Old People” Day

Time-travel to retirement! Dress like a senior citizen with cardigans, gray wigs, reading glasses, and more.

VJMS PTA Meeting at 6:00pm in VJMS Cafeteria

Thursday, Oct 8 | Ultimate Spirit Day ❤️💙💛

Show your VJMS pride! Wear your school colors or VJMS spirit wear as we get ready for our Pep Rally! Homecoming Game @ 6:00pm at PHS Football Field

Friday, Oct 9 | Blackout Day 🖤

Wear all black from head to toe to close out Spirit Week!

📚 2 WEEKS LEFT IN THE MARKING PERIOD!

We have just two weeks remaining before the marking period ends. This is an important time for students to stay focused and finish strong.

Please continue to encourage your passenger to:

Come to school every day and on time
Complete assignments and turn in missing work
Check grades and ask for help when needed
Stay focused and do their best work every day
Make choices that reflect our VJMS PAWS expectations

Every day matters, and there is still time to make progress! 💙

👩🏽‍🏫 PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES | OCTOBER 13

Families who would like to meet with a teacher should contact their child’s teacher directly through ParentSquare or email to schedule an appointment.

This is a great opportunity to check in about your child’s progress, ask questions, and work together as we prepare to close out the marking period.

Let’s have a great Week 8, Wildcats! DESTINATION SUCCESS. ✈️❤️💙💛

blue, red, white, yellow flyer for spirit week.

IMPORTANT CALENDAR CHANGE

Please note an important change to the 2026–2027 school calendar.

Students WILL report to school on October 8th & 9th.

The student holidays have been moved from Thursday, October 8, 2026 and Friday, October 9, 2026 to Monday, October 12, 2026 and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

All schools will reopen for students on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Please update your calendars accordingly!

✈️ INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW

🏀 Lady Wildcats Basketball

The Lady Wildcats are heading into the final stretch of their season come out and support them as they finish this season strong!!!

Thank you for your continued support and will see you in the den!!!!

roads, pathways, blue, orange and yellow.

🎓 Own Your Journey!

Come spend the evening learning about the different specialty programs Petersburg students are eligible for, including Appomattox Regional Governor's School, Maggie L Walker Governor's School, CodeRVA Regional High School, Richard Bland College and Brightpoint Community College.

October 12

6pm-8pm

Vernon Johns Middle School

Register Here!

🚌 HELP US KEEP TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION UP TO DATE!

Wildcat Families, we are asking ALL families to complete our Student Transportation Form to confirm your child’s preferred way of getting to and from school.

Whether your Wildcat is a bus rider, car rider, walker, or uses another form of transportation, please complete the form so we have the most current information for your family.

One form should be completed for each student.

Complete the VJMS Student Transportation Form

Thank you for helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and efficient for all Wildcats! ❤️💙

VJMS Student Transportion Form

Reminders

yellow, red, blue sign with paws at the bottom.

🎒 PASSENGER REMINDERS: READY FOR THE SCHOOL DAY

🎒 Clear Backpacks Only

Students must carry a clear backpack throughout the school day.

💧 Clear Water Bottles

Students may bring clear plastic/refillable water bottles to stay hydrated. Stanley cups, Simply Modern cups, and similar tumblers are not permitted. We absolutely want our students to stay hydrated—we just need everyone to follow our school expectations.

👕 Dress Code

VJMS follows the PCPS Student Dress Code. Please review the image below with your child for full details about what students may and may not wear to school.

🚌 AFTER-SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION: 6TH GRADE CAMPUS TO MAIN CAMPUS

Does your 6th grade student participate in a VJMS sport or after-school program and need transportation to Main Campus?

Please complete this digital form to grant permission for your 6th-grade student to travel from 6th Grade Campus (Blandford) to the Vernon Johns Main Campus for school activities, sports, and programs via district activity bus.

By filling out this form, you will provide emergency contact information, review student behavioral expectations during transit, and submit your electronic parent/guardian consent.

Parent/guardian permission is required before a student may ride the bus.

Campus to Campus Permission Form (Blandford)

NEED HELP? CONNECT WITH YOUR GRADE-LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR

Have a question or need specific support for your student? Your VJMS administrative team is here to help! For the quickest support, please contact the administrator assigned to your student’s grade level.

6th Grade | Ms. Bowles, Associate Principal

📧 dabowles@petersburg.k12.va.us

7th Grade | Mrs. Marsh, Assistant Principal

📧 lamarsh@petersburg.k12.va.us

8th Grade | Mr. Harris, Assistant Principal

📧 naharris@petersburg.k12.va.us

Principal Apprentice | Mrs. Pitt

📧 chpitt@petersburg.k12.va.us

Interim Principal | Mrs. Lowery

📧 jolowery@petersburg.k12.va.us

We want our families to feel supported, informed, and connected. Please don’t hesitate to reach out when you need us—we’re here to help! ❤️💙💛

📵 DEVICE CHECK: YONDR POUCHES

All student phones and electronic devices must be secured in the student’s assigned Yondr pouch during the school day.

Students should arrive at school prepared to follow the Yondr process each day. This helps us protect instructional time and keep students focused on learning.

Please review the process below with your student before the first day.

VJMS EXPECTATIONS: PAWS FOR SUCCESS

PAWS in blue, white and read with wildcat and airport images.

At VJMS, our Wildcats PAWS for Success!

P — Practices Safety

Make choices that keep yourself and others safe.

A — Accepts Responsibility

Take responsibility for your choices, actions, and learning.

W — Willing to Work Hard

Give your best effort, even when learning gets challenging.

S — Shows Support & Respect

Treat yourself, classmates, staff, and our school community with respect.

Families, please help us reinforce these expectations at home. Success happens when school and home work together!

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER!

Gold, Blue and Red image with clouds and airplanes.

✈️ WEEK 8: WILDCAT PRIDE IS TAKING FLIGHT! ✈️

We’re heading into Week 8, and we have a FUN and exciting week ahead at VJMS! ❤️💙💛 From Homecoming Spirit Week and our Pep Rally to all the opportunities for our Wildcats to show their school spirit, this is a week to get involved, have fun, and celebrate being a Wildcat!

While we enjoy the excitement, remember that we are also just two weeks away from the end of the first marking period. Families, please encourage your passenger to participate in the fun AND stay focused by attending school every day, checking grades, completing missing work, and asking for help when needed.

Let’s make Week 8 one to remember while continuing to work toward our destination! ❤️💙💛

Destination: SUCCESS! ✈️

One School. One Team. One Vision.