Eagle Eye JMS Parent Newsletter #30

As we approach our two-week calendar break, we will be busy with testing in the building this short four-day week. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade benchmark testing is happening each day. Remember, these tests are formative so that we can best carry on with instruction based on the data. We appreciate your help in ensuring that students are well- prepared, present, and on time each day.

We recognize that your role in supporting your child’s education is invaluable. As administrators, we strive to create pathways for your participation, ensuring that we listen and gain better insights into your concerns and needs. Here are some key points we’d like to share:

1. Collaboration Matters: True parent engagement is a collaborative experience. We want to discuss issues and brainstorm solutions together. Your voice is essential, and we value the perspectives that come from different members of our educational village.

2. Flexible Communication: We understand that family time commitments have evolved. Many of you have busy schedules, and we respect that. To keep you informed, we regularly communicate using various tools such as emails, phone calls, smartphones, and social media.

3. Authentic Experiences: When families do have opportunities to engage, we make that time count. Authentic experiences with meaningful opportunities for dialogue and relationship building are crucial. Whether it’s attending school events, participating in student programs, or contributing to our community, your involvement matters.

4. Listening First: We promise to listen. Your concerns, hopes, and expectations are essential to us. Our teachers invest time in communicating with you about your child’s successes, challenges, and accomplishments. We’re here to respond thoughtfully and address any questions you may have.

Remember, the village—comprising educators, parents, and caregivers—is responsible for nurturing our children’s growth. Let’s continue working together to ensure student success and create lasting memories for our families.

Sources:

1. Administrators share advice for engaging families1
2. Guidance for School Administrators to Communicate with Students2
3. Family engagement and student success: What the research says3

BENCHMARKS:

6th, 7th, 8th

Language Arts and Science: Monday, March 4 and Wednesday March 6

Math and Social Studies: Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March

Finally, we want to personally invite you to our STEAM night this Thursday, March 7, at 5:30pm. We have a dazzling array of community members and staff who want to show what the Oak Ridge Community does and where the education your student is getting can lead them. We would love to see you there.

Thank you so much for all you do to support your children, our JMS Eagles!

Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu

Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu

Jacob Quilliams, Dean of Students jrquilliams@ortn.edu

Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu

Monday March 4 A Day

• Book Fair
• Environmental Club Mtg Rm 310 2:45
• Chess Club 3:00-4:00
• Secret Innovation Practice Rm 219 2:45-4:15
• Master Builders Practice Rm 102 2:45-4:30
• Track & Field Meet @ Lenoir City 4:30
  

Tuesday March 5

NO SCHOOL!

PTO Meeting on Zoom

Wednesday March 6 B Day

• Lego League to Civic Coliseum
• Book Fair
• Track & Field Practice 1:00-2:30
  

Thursday March 7 A Day

• Book Fair
• STEM Night 5:30-7:00
• Track & Field Practice 3:00-4:30
  

Friday March 8 B Day

• Ms. Kala’s class to Willow Ridge Garden Ctr.
• Track & Field Practice 3:00-4:30
  

MARCH 11-14: Intersession!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74276304243?pwd=k1DTamZZGc1R9egff0WLkEaNNaS5z3.1

Meeting ID: 742 7630 4243

Passcode: 1r7Jf3

JMS Book Fair Information Page

JMS Book Fair Website

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/jeffersonmiddleschool1

eWallet Information

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/videos/intro-to-ewallet-fair-files.html

We Need Volunteers

JMS: JMS BOOK FAIR (signupgenius.com)

In an effort to ease the transition, all 8th graders have been added to the “Class of 2028” Canvas page. This is where you will be able to access videos, documents and other information related to high school registration and course selection. There are several upcoming events we wanted to make you aware of regarding high school registration and course selection.

The 2024-2025 ORHS Academic Planning Guide can be found here:

www.ortn.edu/ORHS/APG_2024-2025.pdf

Exploring Pathways 2024-2025

www.ortn.edu/ORHS/Exploring_Pathways_2024-2025.pdf

Parents, this is a friendly reminder that students CANNOT bring medications to school. Parents must bring the medication to the clinic. This policy is both for student safety and making sure the documentation is complete. Parents, please bring any medication for your students to the clinic to Nurse Callison.

The Jefferson Track & Field Team will travel to Lenoir City on Monday afternoon for their first meet of the season. The meet will begin at 4:30pm. Go Eagles!

GO EAGLES!

Coach Bolling

Dear JMS Parents,

We open every sporting event at JMS with the same comments about Good Sportsmanship. We believe that student athletes develop life-long personal and interpersonal skill sets by participation in and support of our extracurricular events. We rarely have any issues on this front. For example, the City Basketball Championship this past weekend between RMS and JMS was a rousing demonstration of GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP --fantastic fans, dedicated players, and supportive family and friends. Though we compete and play hard, we (the parents, the staff, the supporters) engaged in the good sportsmanship we want to see in our students. We thank you for that! Even though the Eagles did not come out victorious and the day itself was rainy and chilly, it was a great experience for kids and the many parents and staff members it takes to run this event. The comradery at these events builds into our great ORHS fan base.

However, due to changes in TSSAA rules, JMS Admin wanted to remind all spectators of the policies regarding expectations of spectators at any school athletic event. Whether here at Jefferson or away at another school, we hold our students and our supporters to the same high standards. Some of these policies are state level requirements. Due to recent events at other sporting venues in Tennessee, TSSAA updated their bylaws in July 2023. Article II section 9 of the TSSAA bylaws now states that:

For fans ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct during a contests, the school will be fined a minimum of $250.00. In addition, other non-monetary disciplinary action may occur, including but not limited to probation and/or restricted probation for the entire athletic program.

As such, any JMS parent or supporter that is ejected from a game will be required to pay whatever fine is assessed before they can attend future extracurricular events.

Game officials (referees, school administrators, athletic directors, and SROs) have the power to remove a supporter from a venue for unsportsmanlike conduct. Per the TSSAA website, "The most common unsportsmanlike scenarios involve coaches and fans displaying disrespectful behavior towards officials, players, and other coaches. This includes yelling and arguing with officials, making inappropriate comments, refusing to leave the court or gymnasium when asked, and even physically confronting or threatening officials." Ultimately, the definition of unsportsmanlike conduct will be at the general discretion of the game officials, and game officials control access to the playing field.

In the event of an emergency, the JMS administration will work with you to ensure that you have access to your student. Your student safety is paramount to us. It may take us a moment, but we will work with you.

The goal of JMS administration is to uphold the high standards which make JMS a school of excellence. To achieve this goal we ask that all or our fans adhere to the JMS code of conduct and follow the guidelines below:

• Good sportsmanship should always be emphasized by student athletes and spectators.

• Booing has no place at school-sponsored activities.

• Students and parents in attendance at athletic events should remain seated in the stands during the contest and stay off the basketball court, football field, track, and other playing areas.

• JMS campus is smoke free. This includes e-cigarettes, and other types of devices, including all VAPING.

Again, we rarely have these issues, but with changing state policies, we like to keep our parents informed. Thank you so much for being such great supporters of Jefferson sports and other extra curricular activities. If you have any questions, please let us know.

- Mr. Cox, Mr. Fowler, and Dr. Quilliams.

We will publish our Students of the week after our calendar break!

The links below contain resources for setting up and accessing Skyward and Canvas, an updated calendar, along with a welcome message from our ITC coach and a link to district and school websites.

• Elizabeth Leavitt, ITC: Welcome Message

• School Calendar

• ORS District Website

• Jefferson Middle School Website

• Canvas Parent Account Setup.docx
  
• Skyward Family Access Account SETUP .docx
  

Please reach out to Elizabeth Leavitt at ealeavit@ortn.edu

When accessing Clever from the home network, it should initially pop up with this image:

Click on “Log in with Active Directory.” The next page should look like this:

This is where the student should log in using the format shown in the text boxes of this image, where “xxxxxxx” is the students username that they use to log into their laptop. Once the login has been completed, Clever should load into the page the student normally sees when their laptop is connected to our school network

Don’t forget to order your copy of the yearbook! We have sold half of what is available and they are first come first serve, so don’t wait! Go to jostensyearbooks.com and search for Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, TN. Cost is $20 per yearbook.

You have received many communications this summer from the district about registering for the Bus through Skyward. If you have, but are not sure what bus your student is riding, here is how you check it.

FIRST! Log into Tyler's Versatrans E-Link https://transportation.ortn.edu/elinkrp/Login.aspx

Username: (use student’s name) firstname.lastname This is case sensitive–example: john.smith
Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

Click on Students, then View My Students. If you see a bus route there, you should be good. If you DO NOT see a bus route, you will need to update bus service! You will not have bus service on the first day of school.

To get bus service, log into Skyward and click on Forms. There is a bus request form. Transportation is working to move quickly to add new students to the bus, but it will take a few days before your student can be added to bus service.

First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.

MyStop - Parent/Student Login (You may click on the MyStop Picture to the left!)

• Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
• Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store

Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.

Can’t Access the MyStop App?

If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:

1. Please confirm the following:
2. You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
3. You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
4. You have selected all lower case letters.First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

   
   

The local news has reported a small rise in COVID cases over the last couple of weeks. Below is a screenshot of the Isolation Guidance from the TN Department of Health (last updated 11 October 2022). The full document is linked below: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf