Canaan Middle School Update

Principal's Corner

Dear Canaan Middle School Families,

As we reach the conclusion of the school year, this is our final newsletter before summer break. We want to take a moment to reflect on an incredible year and express how incredibly proud we are of the growth our students have displayed both academically and socially. They have worked hard, met new challenges, and grown into wonderful young individuals.

To our 6th graders, we want to wish you the absolute best of luck as you move on to the junior high next year. You have been fantastic leaders at CMS, and we know you will continue to do great things in your next chapter. To our 5th graders, thank you for a wonderful year. It has been a joy having you in the building, and we are already looking forward to another great year together when you return as our 6th graders in the fall.

Looking ahead to our final week of school, please remember that we are not in session on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. We also have our CMS Field Day scheduled for Thursday. Based on the weather forecast, we will keep a close eye on the conditions and make a timely determination if we need to switch to our designated rain date, which is Wednesday, May 27th. We will communicate any updates regarding the schedule as we get closer to the event.

The official last day of school is Friday, May 29th. Final report cards will go home with students on that last day, so please be sure to check your child's bag for their academic wrap-up. On behalf of the entire staff at Canaan Middle School, we want to wish all of our families a safe, healthy, and relaxing summer break. Thank you for your continued support and partnership throughout this remarkable school year.

Mr. Walter, Principal

Canaan Middle School

5th Grade Update

Our 5th graders recently completed their Food Truck End-of-Year Projects! This culminating activity brought together many of the math skills students learned throughout the year in one final, real-world project. Students applied their knowledge of volume, area, perimeter, conversions, and multiplying whole numbers, decimals, and fractions as they designed and planned their own food trucks. We are so proud of their hard work, creativity, and problem-solving skills!

6th Grade Update

6th grade families,

Ohio law requires all 7th graders to be vaccinated with the Meningitis (ACWY) and Tdap vaccines. Please make arrangements to turn documentation into the JAJH office prior to the start of the 26/27 school year. All vaccination information is available under the Health Services tab on the JALSD website. Please direct any questions to our district nurse Tia Rutherford. rutherti@japioneers.org

What is new in Specials

Extension in the library has been doing research on coral reefs so we're ending the year with an oil clean up lab.

On Day 1, 5/6th students have to find the best materials to get oil out of water and will construct a hand-held tool to remove the oil on Day 2.

District Update

Welcome to the JA Pioneers Class of 2039!

Jonathan Alder LSD is excited to welcome the Pioneers Class of 2039 in the fall of 2026! Children who will be 5 years of age on or before August 20, 2026, are eligible for kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year.
Jonathan Alder Schools is pleased to offer an all day, everyday kindergarten program for the families of Jonathan Alder. Families interested in enrolling their child or children in kindergarten may do so through an online registration form that is available on our website. We strongly encourage families to complete the registration process between February 24 and March 27, 2026, for staffing and planning purposes.
Once you have completed the online registration form, our registration coordinator, Ashley Rodgers, will reach out to you to set up a verification appointment. After we have your child fully registered and verified, we will ask you to set up a screening appointment that will take place at your child’s school.
Dates for our Screening Appointments:

Monroe Elementary - August 6th and 7th
Plain City Elementary - August 3rd-5th

To view a map of the elementary attendance areas, please visit the link here. You can learn more about the kindergarten registration process, including all of the required forms, on our website.

CCWMR Update

We need YOUR expertise! Planning ahead for the 2026-27 school year, we hope to offer even more authentic and hands-on experiences for our students that help them build future ready skills and explore what their futures might look like! Please fill out this survey with your information to help us build a foundation of local business partnerships.

News from the Treasurer's Office

Hello Families. Just a quick friendly reminder that we can no longer accept checks unless they are made out to: JONATHAN ALDER LOCAL SCHOOLS

Additional Student and Parent Resources

Teaching and Learning Website
We are excited to introduce our new teaching and learning website, thoughtfully designed to provide families with the latest information and a rich array of resources to support student success and engagement. This website serves as a one-stop hub for everything you need to stay informed and involved in your child's educational journey.

TalkingPoints Communication
We are excited to share that our staff members will continue to use a safe and easy to use two way communication tool called TalkingPoints to communicate with families. Families have three easy ways to use TalkingPoints to communicate with your children’s teachers for free! You can use text message, download the app or use it on the web at https://talkingpts.org/families/.

Stay Safe. Speak Up.
Jonathan Alder Local School District is fully committed to the safety and well-being of our students and school community. That’s why we’ve taken an important step to enhance personal safety and provide a positive learning environment for all students. Jonathan Alder Local School District is now using the Stay Safe. Speak Up! Student Safety Reporting System (powered by PublicSchoolWORKS). Stay Safe. Speak Up! is a comprehensive reporting tool that allows students, parents, and staff to submit safety concerns to school officials. You will find a reporting button at the top of our website homepage. Please also see this letter to learn more about reporting safety concerns quickly and easily to district and building administrators.

Teaching and Learning Department Literacy Selection Information
Please take time to read this document about the importance of literature selection and our partnership with students and families in this process.

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is an online tool that can help parents and students make informed decisions regarding media use. This tool can be used for many types of media, including books, movies, video games, and apps.

Canvas

Canvas is a Learning Management System that is used in grades 5-12 at Jonathan Alder. You and your student will find a lot of information about the school and your student's classroom through this platform. It is VERY important to stay connected and log on to Canvas. This link should help you log on and explain Canvas.