Eagle Gazette Parent-Update

Our Black History Month Program was a fantastic celebration. Guest speaker Jerrilyn Harmon-Johnson reminded us to appreciate each unique individual because everyone brings something new to the table, to lift each other up, and to celebrate our differences. Our drama, chorus and band students performed amazingly!

On Friday, February 14th, the J-E-T Advanced Chorus had a clinic with the Strom Thurmond High School Advanced Chorus classes. The clinic was amazing and served the purpose of introducing the middle school chorus classes (especially the eighth grade) to the high school. Ms. Shoffner and Mr. McKinney want to intentionally build a bridge to connect the two schools' Fine Arts Programs. There were almost 70 students in the room and the sounds of harmonies that came out of them jointly was amazing. We practiced the songs that we will sing together as a mass choir for the Fine Arts Festival that will be held March 20 at 6:00 in the Strom Thurmond High School gym. The students had a great time together and are looking forward to having joint classes again.

On February 12th and 13th, the 8th grade students participated in their IGP Blitz to get ready for the move to Strom Thurmond High School. The J-E-T gym was set up with tables displaying the career academies from the high school. Each student and their family had the opportunity to meet with a counselor to discuss high school criteria and the classes they will take next year. They were also able to walk through the displays and speak to STHS students about the classes and programs they will be able to participate in at the high school. Our 8th graders were also the first students in the district to complete student led IGPs. The students have been learning about high school and careers all year long and put their new knowledge into a presentation that they were able to share with their families and the counselor to show all they have learned this year. The student led IGPs were a huge success, and it was wonderful to see them take a lead in the transition to Strom Thurmond High School.

Students in Mrs. Tomkinson's 8th grade science class had the opportunity to dissect tulip flowers at the end of January 2025. Students learned about specialized plant structures and how they help plants successfully reproduce. Students were able to see the individual pollen grains and ovules using a microscope.

J-E-T Middle, a Title 1 School