The Panther Paw

As the temperatures drop and Indiana starts doing its “maybe snow, maybe not” thing, it’s a good time for all of us to get ready for possible schedule changes. W want every student and family to feel prepared, calm, and confident when Mother Nature decides to spice things up. Here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead of the weather.

Winter weather can turn on a dime. That’s why we remind students to take their Chromebooks and chargers home every single evening.
Even if the forecast looks clear, things can shift overnight. Having their device ready ensures students can jump into eLearning without stress, missing work, or that “my charger is in my locker” moment.

A quick habit to build:

Plug the Chromebook in each night
Pack it in your backpack before bed
Double-check the charger is there

Three minutes now saves a whole lot of scrambling later.

Helpful Tips for eLearning Days

eLearning doesn’t have to feel chaotic. Here are some pro-tips to help the day run smoothly at home:

1. Stick to a routine.

Have students wake up, log in, and knock out work early. Staying on a normal schedule keeps them focused and reduces stress.

2. Check Canvas and email first thing.

Teachers post instructions, links, and assignments there. If students check early, they’ll have all day to get help.

3. Find a quiet work spot.

Kitchen table, bedroom desk, couch—whatever works—as long as it’s calm and distraction-free.

4. Message teachers with questions.

Teachers are online and available. Students shouldn’t struggle in silence. Reach out for help early, not at 2:59 PM.

5. Take short breaks.

A few minutes every hour helps them stay focused. Snack breaks count as academic fuel.

6. Submit work the same day.

Avoid the “I’ll do it later” trap. Work submitted on time = accurate attendance and reduced missing assignments.

A reminder that JCSC uses ParentSquare for all weather-related updates. When decisions are made on whether JCSC is operation on a delay, eLearning, early dismissal—you’ll get a message straight to your phone or email.

You can expect alerts to come through:

Push notifications
Text messages
Phone calls

We send information early enough to help you plan your morning and keep everyone safe.

Not Receiving ParentSquare Notifications?

Here’s What to Do:

Sometimes tech wants to test our patience. If you’re not getting weather alerts:

Check your contact info in Skyward.
Old phone numbers and emails = zero notifications.
Open the ParentSquare app
Make sure notifications are turned ON for:
• Posts
• Alerts
• Messages
Check “Do Not Disturb” settings on your phone.
Contact the JCMS Main Office.
We’re happy to help you troubleshoot and get it fixed.

If you can’t see what we send… we’re basically yelling into the void. And nobody wants that.

With the end of the semester sneaking up — less than five weeks to go — we’re gearing up for one of the best parts of school life: our End-of-Semester Celebration! This event will look a little different from our first nine-weeks celebration.

Students will have a variety of activities to enjoy, including:

A school dance
Open basketball in the gym
Board and video games in the Cafeteria
Quiet hangout or reading time in the Library
A movie showing in the Auditorium

We want this to be a moment for students to relax, have fun, and celebrate the hard work they’ve put in so far. At the same time, we want to encourage them to finish the semester strong. To attend this celebration, students will need to meet the following expectations:

Eligibility Requirements

To participate, a student must:

Have no failing grades in any classes this nine weeks.
Have no more than three classroom or office referrals.
Have no more than three tardies to any classes between now and December 18th.

This celebration is all about rewarding positive choices, academic effort, and responsibility. We can’t wait to wrap up the semester with something fun, meaningful, and well-earned for our Panthers!

After Thanksgiving Break, students will begin the second round of ILEARN checkpoint testing. Students will test in their language arts and math classes. Each checkpoint has 20-25 questions and will show how your child is doing in key skills and concepts from the Indiana Academic Standards. Once testing has finished, teachers will be reviewing the data to determine what they can do to best support students on the standards they might be struggling with.

Students will complete checkpoint tests in their Language Arts and Math classes. Here is our testing schedule:

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - Language Arts Test

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - Language Arts Test
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - Math Test
Friday, December 5, 2025 - Math Test

Here are a few testing tips for this week:

Get Plenty of Rest!

Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night leading up to the test. A well-rested brain performs much better!

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Fuel your brain with a balanced breakfast on test days. Include protein (eggs, yogurt), whole grains (toast, cereal), and fruits for long-lasting energy.