Weekly Update

Welcome back!

I am thrilled to get my 3rd year at Jeff West Middle School started! If you are new to Jeff West or new to the Middle School let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Brenna Dooley, this is my 3rd year as the Jeff West Middle School principal but my 17th year in education. Prior to coming to Jeff West I spent 4 years as an Elementary principal in Western KS and 10 years teaching various grades in Topeka Public Schools. I have two children at the middle school with me, Lennox is a 7th grader and Landry is a 6th grader. My husband Dallas is a proud Jeff West alum and works as a Nurse Practitioner in Holton.

I am so excited to be back at school with all the students and staff, I am thrilled to have your child in our school and I am so happy to have us all work together as a team to help all students be successful!

Please help me welcome the following new middle school staff members:

Emma Dowd- 7th Grade Language Arts

Alex Thornburgh- 7th Grade Social Studies/Weights

Brooklyn Petrie- 5th-8th Grade Art

Wendy Branson- 7th/8th Grade Resource Room Teacher (not new to the district but new to teaching)

Mistie Jones- Keystone Para

Jamie Demplewolf- Keystone Social Worker

Welcome back, Tigers! While the Summer is always a great time to relax and recharge, I'm always eager to get the school year started! I miss the kids and the activities that fill the halls of JWMS. If we haven't met, my name is Maret Schrader and this is my sixth year as the JWMS School Counselor! My husband is also in education as an assistant principal at Highland Park High School in Topeka. We have two girls: Charlotte (11) and Cora (4). We also added a teenager to our family this school year as we host a foreign exchange student from Germany!

What does a School Counselor do? Good question! In a nutshell, my job is to support your student, their teachers, and YOU! I have attached a quick infographic to highlight some of my responsibilities.

The beginning of the school year is such an exciting (and busy, maybe stressful) time. Student schedules are viewable in Skyward, but students should be aware that, as in years past, their schedule is not FINAL until our Back to School Nights. There are so many factors that go into creating schedules and sometimes students have to be moved around to accommodate those changes.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Back to School Nights! As always, if there is ANYTHING I can do to help support you or your student, please don't hesitate to reach out. :)

Go Tigers!

Jefferson West School District will provide Dental Screenings to all students enrolled, unless their parent/guardian has notified the school, to opt their child(ren) out of the dental screening. Please send a signed note or email to Nurse Abby, abby.martin@usd340.org by September 14th, if you want your student opted out of the dental screening.

Practice starts Monday August 14

Volleyball will be 3:30 - 6:00 pm at the Middle School

Cross Country will be 3:30-5:00 pm meet at the High School

The annual Tiger 5k is THIS Saturday August 12th- it's not too late to register!

Football will be 3:30-6:00 pm at the Football Field.

Reminder we MUST have your physical on file at the school before your child can practice. IF you have not dropped it off it must be brought in by 2pm on Monday the 14th or handed directly to the coach at the start of practice in order for your child to be able to practice.

Fees need to be paid too, fees are $45 per sport.

We are waiting on a link for cross country spirit wear but will update when we get it.

We want all students to be safe when exiting vehicles and buses and walking to the building. Please follow the following procedures when dropping your child off at school and picking them up.

In the morning drop off starts at 7:30am please drop off at the cross walk on the south side of the school, go through the south parking lot (gravel lot) to get to the cross walk.

NO Vehicles can be in the Bus Loading Zone.

In the afternoon please pick up in the south parking lot (gravel lot) and exit out the same driveway you came in. The unloading lane is for the shuttle bus. Do not park in this lane or block it, our shuttle bus is waiting to load up the football players to get them to the field for practice.

Do not parking in the main parking lot for picking up your child.

Please have a conversation with your child about crossing the street.

• look both ways
• give the driver a wave to make sure they see you
• use the crosswalk to cross
• do not cut between cars
  

Cost for Breakfast is $2.10- we start serving breakfast at 7:30 am

Lunch cost is $3.25- Salads and Ala carte will be offered after Labor Day

Important Dates to Remember-

Monday August 14-

7th and 8th Grade Back to School from 9am-6pm (this is a come and go event, get your locker and schedule)

6th Grade Orientation at the Middle School at 6:30pm (Please plan to have one parent or guardian attend with your student)

Board of Education Meeting 6:30pm

Tuesday August 15-

5th Grade Orientation at the Middle School 5:00pm (Please plan to have one parent or guardian attend with your student)

Back to School Bash at Tiger Stadium 5:30-8:00pm

Wednesday August 16-

First Day of School