Dolphin Update

For Translation...

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*Nhấp vào "dịch Newsletter " và chọn ngôn ngữ của sự lựa chọn để dịch thư "VIETNAMESE"*

*انقر فوق "ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية" وحدد اللغة التي تختارها لترجمة الرسالة. "ARABIC"*

We had such a great start to the school year! The campus was filled with smiles and reconnection as our students returned. We warmly welcomed new friends to Jones and began building strong classroom communities together.

Starting the very first day of school our teachers designed spaces, lessons and activities to grow our students with both rigor and joy. Morning meetings, special read alouds, Leader in Me lessons, and collaborative learning opportunities have helped set a positive tone for the year. The energy on campus is contagious and it is clear that we are building something special together.

As we look ahead we are excited about all this year will bring... academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for your continued support at home, it truly makes a difference!

We are excited to introduce the newest members of our Jones team! They have already begun building strong connections with students, colleagues and families. They bring incredible expertise, heart and energy to our school. We are so grateful to have them join our Dolphin community!

Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental and behavioral health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, engagement in learning, and students’ sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but also encompasses wellness promotion; social, emotional, and behavioral health; and the ability to cope with life’s challenges.

At Jones Elementary, we are committed to supporting the social-emotional well-being of our students. Our school counselor and mental health professionals provide short-term, solution-focused support within the school setting to help students build skills, navigate challenges, and succeed in the classroom.

We also recognize that some students may benefit from more intensive, long-term counseling. These services are best provided by community-based mental health providers, who can offer consistent, ongoing support beyond the scope of what can be provided at school. If you feel your child may need more comprehensive services, we are happy to help connect you with community resources and referrals.

Our goal is to ensure that every child receives the right support, in the right setting, for their individual needs. Here are some of the resources we have available at Jones...

Jones School Counselor - Nikki Vu

• SDUSD’s Counseling and Guidance Program supports teaching and learning by assuring that all students achieve academic success and develop life skills through the acquisition of academic, career, and personal/social competencies. This year we have utilized additional site funding to increase our counseling allocation, so we have Mrs. Vu here five days a week. She provides proactive social emotional learning in classrooms, intervention services for students experiencing academic and personal/social barriers to learning, supports student attendance, behavior, and the beginning building blocks to graduation and career.

MFLC Military Counselor - Elizabeth Stark

• The Military and Family Life Counseling Program supports service members, their families and survivors with non-medical counseling including: low self-esteem, behavioral challenges and changes at home. Mrs. Stark understands the issues military children face and can be especially helpful during challenging periods, including deployments and PCS moves.

Mental Health Therapies Partnership with DayBreak

• San Diego Unified has entered into contracts with local agencies to address the immediate mental health needs of students. For those students needing more intensive services than what a school counselor can offer, through a referral process, DayBreak clinicians provide on campus individual and group therapy to students.

We have a dedicated counseling webpage with even more resources for your family. Check out the link below (you can always find the link on our school webpage). Our staff have a student referral form that they can utilize if they believe a student would benefit from counseling services and the Jones Counseling Webpage also has a Counseling Referral form for parents and guardians to submit.

August

22 - PTA's Back To School Skate Night - 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm - @SKATEWORLD

28 - Back-To-School Night - 5:00 - 6:30 pm

29 - Picture Day

September

1 - No School - Labor Day

5 - Cup o Collaboration: Join the PTA for school updates and an association meeting

7:45 am - 8:15 am - Auditorium

5 - PTA Family Bike Rodeo Event - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Blacktop

15-17 - PTA Dine Out: Islands Restaurant - Mission Valley

26 - Spotlight Leadership Assembly Habit #1 (All families are welcome, specific invitations will be sent home with those students who are being recognized.)

October

3 - Family Workshop: Social Emotional Learning - 7:45 am - 8:30 am

10 - Extra Minimum Day (TK-5th) - 11:40/11:50 Dismissal

10 - Intervention Conferences - Afternoon

13 - No School: Non-Instructional Day

16 - California Shake-Out

20-24 - Health & Wellness Week

24 - PTA's Fall Festival

The Jones PTA plays a crucial role in fostering strong family engagement at Jones Elementary. By organizing activities that bring families, students, and staff together, the PTA helps grow a stronger sense of belonging within our school community. These events not only strengthen relationships but also empower families to be active participants in their children's education, enhancing student success and building a supportive, collaborative school environment. Thank you for the leadership of our PTA Executive Board members, the volunteers that plan and execute PTA events, and all of you who participate! Check out what our PTA is up to...

Did you know that just 15 minutes of reading each day can make a world of difference in your child’s learning journey? Whether you’re reading to your child, reading together, or listening to them read aloud, it all counts and it all matters!

Reading at home builds more than just literacy skills. It strengthens vocabulary, improves comprehension, and develops a lifelong love of learning. In fact, children who are read to daily are exposed to 1.4 million more words by the time they start school than children who are not. That kind of language exposure lays a strong foundation for both academic success and confident communication.

Here are a few ways to make reading a special part of your routine:

• Choose a cozy time and space to read together

• Let your child pick the book (even if it’s the same one again!)

• Ask questions about the story to boost comprehension

• Model a love for reading by enjoying your own book nearby

The best part, your family has access to an endless amount of books through the Public Library. Looking for something new to read? Check out the links below for inspiration...

Here is a link to the San Diego Unified Food Services Website where you can find allergy and nutritional information on foods served at schools. Foods not found on our regular school site menu will be listed individually under the "Alternate Menu Items" section.

If you ever have general questions about the food services at school sites you can reach out to foodandnutritionservices@sandi.net. To connect directly with the Jones Cafe Manager you can email Elena Nieto at enieto@sandi.net.

Click on the clink below to find the most current breakfast and lunch menus...

As we begin the new school year, we want to share an important update that supports our shared goal of helping every student thrive: San Diego Unified is implementing a Phone-Free School Day policy across all schools and all grades.

This policy is designed to minimize distractions, improve focus in the classroom, and support the mental wellness of our students. By keeping phones off and away during the school day, we are creating a learning environment where students can be fully present, build stronger connections with peers and educators, and stay focused on their academic success.

Check out the link to the policy below. We know that this takes partnership and we ask for your support in reinforcing these expectations with your child. Use the articles below to help you talk to them about the importance of staying engaged in class and remind them that they can always reach you through the front office in case of emergency.

The Jones Family Handbook is an important resource designed to help families stay informed, connected and engaged throughout the school year. Inside, you will find key information about school policies, daily schedules, arrival and dismissal procedures, attendance expectations, communication tools and ways to get involved in our learning community.

Reading through the handbook ensures that everyone, students, families and staff, shares the same understanding of how we work together to support student success. It also answers many of the common questions that come up during the school year, helping us all create a smooth and consistent experience for our students.

While the digital version is linked here in the newsletter, a hard copy will be sent home with each student within the first two weeks of school for easy reference. We encourage you to keep it handy and refer back to it whenever needed.

Thank you for taking the time to read through the Family Handbook and for partnering with us to make this an incredible year for our students!

Our mission is to ensure ALL students meet or exceed grade level expectations through rigorous, high-quality, standards based instruction in a safe, nurturing, collaborative learning environment where all students are preparing to be global citizens, college and career ready.

Check out our school website for PeachJar Flyers, Counseling Resources, Family Handbook, Staff Contact Lists, After School Programs, Enrollment Information and so much more!

Email: contact@sandi.net
Website: https://jones.sandiegounified.org/
Location: 2751 Greyling Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (619) 605-8800
Facebook: facebook.com/JonesElementary
Instagram: @jonesdolphins

Our Parent Teacher Association works with Jones Elementary to provide programs and support to benefit the students, their families, teachers, school administration and the community. Run entirely by volunteers, the PTA raises money to support enrichment programs, program instructors, educational assemblies and field trips, family events, and special classroom supplies.

As always, we need your membership, support and ability to volunteer. You can become a member using Totem, a respected membership management service. Please contact us with other thoughts on how we are doing, and your ideas on how you can become involved. We look forward to hearing from you.

Email: jonesdolphinspta@gmail.com
Website: https://jpjonespta.org/
Location: 2751 Greyling Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: (619)605-8800