JCMS Family News

ISS is designed to give students an opportunity to correct their behavior while remaining connected to instruction. However, we have seen a pattern of repeated ISS assignments for some students without meaningful improvement in behavior.

Therefore, effective November 1, students will be limited to three ISS assignments per school year. Any subsequent disciplinary incidents that would warrant ISS will result in Out-of-School Suspension (OSS). We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing school expectations, promoting accountability, and helping students make positive choices.

Our home football games are at Northside High School’s stadium. Please park in the marked game parking areas (the front lot off Commons Drive or the west lot near the stadium) and follow the walkway to the field. Bus parking behind the school is off limits. See you in the stands!

Keeping your contact information up to date helps ensure that your child's school can reach you when it matters most. Especially in an emergency, having current phone numbers and email addresses on file is essential so that you can receive important information and updates without delay.

If your phone number, email address or other contact information has changed, please contact your child's school to make sure your records are updated.

Know someone who isn't receiving OCS email updates or phone calls? Please encourage them to contact their child's school, as well. A quick check of their contact information can help make sure they don't miss important news and information throughout the school year.

Calling all Knights! Are you ready to explore new cultures, traditions, and experiences? The Spanish Cultural & Global Club is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about Hispanic culture through interactive activities, cultural celebrations, and more!

Club Cost: Just $15 for the entire school year or $3 per session.

Families are encouraged to review the club schedule and register their students today!

Click Here to Register!

We are excited to announce that our district is adopting the Raptor Safe mobile app as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining visitor management in our schools. This app builds on our existing visitor procedures, offering a more convenient and secure check-in process for everyone.

What is the Raptor Safe App?

The Raptor Safe app offers a convenient and secure way for visitors to manage and verify their identity before arriving at a school. With the Raptor Passport feature, visitors can pre-verify their identity, allowing for a seamless sign-in process when they arrive on campus.

How Does It Work?

When visiting a school, visitors can use their secure QR code generated by the app to expedite the check-in process. QR codes automatically regenerate every 5 minutes to ensure security and prevent misuse.

Getting Started

The Raptor Safe app is available to all visitors across the district. To download the app, please visit https://raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/.

Scheduling a parent conference is one of the best ways to open a clear line of communication with your child's teachers. You don't need to wait for a problem. A conference early in the year lets you share what you know about your child, hear how they're doing in class, and agree on the best way to stay in touch. When families and teachers work as a team, students feel supported from both sides and are more likely to stay motivated and on track. Come with questions, leave with a plan, and keep the conversation going throughout the year. Your partnership makes a big difference!

Want to schedule a conference? Contact your child's teacher directly or call the JCMS front office.

Students who are serving an out-of-school suspension may not attend or participate in any school activities during their suspension. This includes athletic games and practices, club meetings, dances, performances, and other after-school or evening events, whether held at JCMS or another location. Students on suspension should not be on any school campus until their suspension is complete. Once a student returns from suspension, they may rejoin activities as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.

We appreciate your support in helping your child understand that participating in school events is a privilege tied to positive behavior.

For the full policy, go to page 28 in the Parent & Student Handbook https://tinyurl.com/JCM2627

All students will be given handbooks on the first day of school. Please take a little time to review the book with your child. Here are a few focus areas:

• Bullying/Harassment: page 16
• Athletics: page 13
• Cell Phones: page 18
• Clubs & Student Groups: page 19
• Deliveries: page 22
• Dress Code: page 22
• Fighting/Videotaping a Fight: page 24
• ISS (In School Suspension): page 25
• Report Card & Interim Report Dates: page 29
• Tardy Policy: page 30
• Tobacco Policy (includes vapes): page 31

Full Handbook via this link https://tinyurl.com/JCM2627

Personalized and secure information about your child’s bus trip to and from school can be found in the Edulog Parent Portal Mobile App. Once you install the app and register an account, a student can be added. Then, when you login, the app will allow you to receive information and alerts about bus routes and track bus times. Information is still being loaded, and the app will be up and running Thursday, August 20.

Parents can make cafeteria payments through the K12PaymentCenter. This site allows you to add money to your child’s meal account, receive notifications when their balance is low, view their meal account balance, and keep up with your child’s purchase history. A link to login or setup a new account can be found on the OCS Child Nutrition page.

NOTE: As a precaution, OCS will not be serving fresh produce until further notice.

Middle school is one of the most common times for diabetes to be diagnosed. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed between ages 10–14, while Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common during the teen years. In the United States, approximately 314,000 children and teens under age 20 are living with Type 1 diabetes, and new cases of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes continue to rise each year. In fact, diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes in youth have doubled since 2002. (CDC)

Know the warning signs: Increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, or slow-healing cuts.

Healthy habits matter: Encourage your child to stay active for at least 60 minutes each day, eat balanced meals with fruits and vegetables, choose water over sugary drinks, and get enough sleep.

If your child is experiencing symptoms or you have concerns, contact your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment can help children stay healthy, active, and successful in school.