Jaguar Journal

Hello JMS families!

Day 3 is winding down! It's been a great start to the school year. Thanks so much for your hard work making this a successful start to the year!

We had class meetings Thursday and Friday, reminding students of the expectations we live by: We ROAR (we are Respectful, Optimistic, Accountable, and Resilient) - and being these things covers anything our rules would state in our handbooks. We reminded students about the cell phone policy (see the section below), appropriate personal technology use (what is posted at home can bleed into school disruptions, keep yourself safe online, and don't do anything that is expressly illegal - like threats or inappropriate pictures), appropriate school technology use (our chromebooks are school property and only approved for school use - these should be charged each day coming to school and chargers should be brought just in case) and much more. Hopefully your child can give you the rundown of all that was said!

Keep reading below - as always, we start with our important dates, and details follow!

Thanks,

Daniel Boland

Principal

Jackson Middle School

jms.swcsd.us

Follow us on X: @JMS_Jaguars

Tue Aug 25 - Open House, 5pm - 7pm

Fri Sep 4 - School Picture Day

Mon Sep 7 - NO SCHOOL, Labor Day

Tue Sep 8 - Washington DC Trip Meeting, 6:30pm

Fri Sep 11 - District Safety Drill Day

Thu Oct 1 - Parent Teacher Conferences (sign up directions will be communicated in September)

See below for more information on these items

Families will have the opportunity to meet their child's teachers at Open House on Tuesday, August 25th, from 5:00 - 7:00pm. At this event, we start with a welcome from Mr. Boland in the gymnasium right at 5pm. Then we run a bell schedule, allowing you to follow your child's schedule from 5:20 until about 6:15. Teachers are then available from 6:15 - 7:00 to meet anyone that missed their period or couldn't meet due to having multiple kids' schedules to follow.

Arrival

Students may enter the building and go straight to the cafeteria beginning at 8:45am. Students should not arrive before 8:45, as staff is not available for supervision. When dropping students off, please ONLY drop off on the south side of the building. Our busses needing extra assistance drop off on the north side, and we cannot have extra traffic on this side. When dropping off on the south side (Mallow Lane side) please do not enter the bus lane closest to the building. Instead turn down the drop off lane, and pull as far forward as possible to drop off. The further you pull down, the more cars we can get in the lane to drop off at once, and the less waiting around you do as parents. Staff members will be in the drop-off lane encouraging you to pull forward, and to help monitor traffic flow and safety. Students should cross the bus lane ONLY at one of the two crosswalks.

Departure

We begin dismissal at 3:50 by dismissing car riders and walkers first. Again, please only use the south side of the building for picking up students - our busses need to not deal with extra traffic on the north side of the building. When picking students up, we form TWO lines in the drop-off lane, one on the left and one on the right. Please pull as far forward as possible to accommodate as many cars as possible. Once the drop-off lane is full, the rest of the cars are then directed to pull into the parking lot just south of the drop-off lane and park in a parking spot waiting for your child. Please be be patient getting out of the spot with the cars entering and exiting the lot. Students riding busses are then dismissed in the order their bus arrives.

Changes To Bus Passes for Daily Ridership

Beginning this school year, South Western City Schools is updating its student transportation procedures regarding bus passes and alternate drop-off locations to improve student safety and ensure accurate transportation for every child.

Students will continue to be assigned one morning pick-up location and one afternoon drop-off location within their school attendance boundaries. For families with established split-custody arrangements, Transportation can continue to accommodate consistent weekly schedules, such as specific weekdays, when they are communicated in advance.

However, students will no longer be permitted to ride home on a different bus with friends or relatives for social visits or other informal arrangements. Daily transportation changes create challenges for school offices and bus drivers, particularly substitute drivers, and increase the risk of students being transported to the wrong location. These updated procedures help ensure every student arrives safely at their authorized destination each day.

As we begin a new school year, it is important to know that every school day matters. At South-Western City Schools, our goal is simple: "Every student. HERE. Every day."

Student attendance is the constant to learning. Daily attendance is about more than simply being physically present—it ensures students are actively engaged, building skills, and accessing the instruction and support they need to succeed. Even missing part of a school day or arriving late can interrupt learning and have a lasting impact on academic growth. Establishing strong attendance habits right from the start helps students stay connected to school and prepares them for long-term success.

A Statewide Focus on Attendance:

Our district's goal aligns with a broader, statewide attendance emphasis led by Governor DeWine. As part of this renewed focus across Ohio, updated state attendance laws (House Bill 96) bring new requirements for how schools communicate with families.

To keep you better informed, parents and guardians can expect earlier and more frequent attendance notifications this school year:

• The 5% Notice: You will be notified when your student reaches 5% of missed instructional hours for any reason.

• The 10% Threshold: Under state law, students who miss 10% of the school year are now officially identified as chronically absent.

Our Commitment to You and Your Student:

While these state requirements have changed, our commitment to our families has not. Our focus remains on partnering with you, identifying barriers to attendance, and providing tiered supports to help every student attend regularly, stay engaged, and thrive.

Learn more about attendance expectations, recent legislative changes, frequently asked questions, and available supports at https://www.swcsd.us/Attendance.aspx.

Our 8th grade trip to Washington DC will take place on May 4 - 7, 2027. That week, eighth graders will either choose to go on the trip to Washington, or those choosing to stay in Grove City will have fun activities and trips planned closer to home.

Our parent meeting for the DC trip is Tuesday, September 8th at 6:30pm. At this meeting you will find out how to register for the trip, what the trip entails, and more. Mark your calendars!

Joining our PTSA is the easiest way to help support the students and staff at Jackson Middle School. Click the button below to join! They will have a table for people to join PTSA at Open House on 8/25. PTSA meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the library, with Tuesday September 15th being the first meeting. Stay tuned for more ways you can help our PTSA as the year progresses!

Please help your child's sport or music program by volunteering to work the concession stand for football games. Click the button below to sign up. The Arts and Athletics Boosters will share profits with the teams of each volunteer. Our students and guests love the ability to partake of the concession stand - so please help us continue to be able to offer this service!

Our Arts and Athletics Boosters are also a great way to get involved and help our musicians and athletes throughout the school year. They typically meet on the first Monday of the month at 6pm in the library. You can also show your support for this organization by becoming a member. Click the button below to be able to join the Boosters!

One more way you can help our Arts and Athletics Boosters is by signing up for Kroger Community Rewards! Click the button below for information on how to sign up, and our Arts and Athletics Boosters will receive donations with no work from you at all! Thank you for your help!

Just like last year, cell phones are prohibited from the time we enter the building at 8:45am until we start bus dismissal at 3:50pm. Phones must be off and out of sight during these times. At JMS, we warn our students in the first week at class meetings, and ANY violations from there forward start with After School Detentions. Repeat offenses can result in leaving the phone either at home or in the office for the entirety of the school day. We encourage families to help our students meet this expectation by reminding them of the rule and the consequences, and by not texting students during the day. If there is an emergent message that needs to get to your child, please call the main office a 614-801-3800.

Students are NOT able to bring in outside food/drink for lunch. This includes dropping off food from restaurants or having food delivered. The student handbook for all middle schools states this:

"We operate under a closed lunch policy. Students may not leave during the school day to get food. Students cannot order food for delivery from outside restaurants or businesses. Please do not bring restaurant food for your students during the day." (Page 15)

Thank you for your cooperation with this expectation!

Each year, it is vital for every family to log in to the Parent Portal and update and/or confirm the emergency contact information for their child. We need to ensure we have the most current information to reach parents. Click the button below to get to the Parent Portal. On the left side menu, press the "More" button, then look for Annual Information Update. Please complete this information as soon as possible.

Apply Today!

It is that time of year again to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application! For many families, they wonder if they qualify and for some that believe they do not qualify…sometimes they are surprised that they do end up qualifying and avoid unnecessary costs and meal debt in the process. As a rule of thumb, we suggest “it does not hurt to apply!” Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications need to be completed annually each school year.

Free and Reduced-Price Lunch eligibility is determined annually at the federal level using a sliding scale based upon a household’s combined income. Once a family qualifies, they receive either Free or Reduced-Price breakfast and lunch. Additionally, qualifying families are eligible for academic fee waivers for school supplies.

Beginning this school year, South Western City Schools students in grades 7-12 will begin using SchooLinks, a comprehensive college and career readiness platform designed to help every student answer one important question: What's my plan after graduation? Whether a student's future includes college, the military, a skilled trade, an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce, SchooLinks provides personalized tools to explore interests, discover career pathways, and build a meaningful post-graduation plan.

Save the Date! SWCS will be hosting a SchooLinks Guardian Training Webinar on Wednesday, September 2 from 6:30pm to 7:30 p.m. to introduce parents and guardians to the new platform so they can be involved in their child's career planning.

Throughout middle and high school, students will complete career interest assessments, create personalized academic and career plans, explore colleges, scholarships, internships, and workforce opportunities, and track progress toward Ohio's graduation requirements. By connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities, SchooLinks empowers students to make informed decisions and graduate with a clear plan and the confidence to take their next step. Families can learn more by visiting https://www.swcsd.us/SchoolLinks.aspx.

The regular season kicks off this week! Good luck to all our Jaguar cheerleaders, football players, cross country runners, and volleyball players! We're looking forward to seeing our athletes compete all season long! We have our upcoming games listed below.

Sports passes can be purchased, allowing adults a discounted entry for multiple events through the season. The pass works as a punch card, giving you a certain number of entries. Click the button below to be directed to the purchasing website. Passes will then be able to be picked up in our front office.

PLEASE LET US KNOW!!

ATTENDANCE HOTLINE 614-801-8884

SWCS is excited to continue using an innovative new tool for parents and guardians this school year in the form of a new Absence Request tool within the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (web or mobile application)! Parents and guardians can use this new Absence Request tool to submit a request that informs the office in advance when their student is not going to be in school. After the request is processed, an attendance record is created for the student. The tool helps parents log all types of absences at the ease of their fingertips, while also automating administrative tasks for school front offices in the process.

As a reminder, Ohio law requires written notification of all types of absences, including full-day absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals. Absence Requests can now be submitted through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Click the button below for instructions.

Reminder to all 7th Grade Parents: The Ohio Department of Health requires all 7th graders to have a Tdap and Meningococcal vaccination prior to the start of the school year. Please turn in updated vaccine records to our school nurse, Jessica Vehr, or you can email them to jessica.vehr@swcsd.us

There are two documents linked below with more information!

• Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
• Annual Emergency Information Update
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• JMS Daily Announcements

Jackson Middle School

Asst. Principal: Laurie Buchieri

Main Office: 614-801-3800

Attendance Line: 614-801-8884

Website: jms.swcsd.us
Location: 2271 Holton Road, Grove City, OH 43123
Twitter: @JMS_Jaguars

Previous Weekly Newsletters: https://jms.swcsd.us/newsletters