The Jaguar Journal
February 2026
Email: jamessales@fpschools.org
Website: jamessales.fpschools.org
Location: 1301 113th St S, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4200
FAX: 253-298-4215
February 4 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
February 5 ~ 100th Day of School (1st through 5th)
February 5 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
February 6 ~ Treat Friday - Fruit Snacks
February 6 ~ BLUE FRIDAY!
February 9 ~ Coin Drive - Pennies
February 10 ~ Coin Drive - Nickels
February 11 ~ Coin Drive - Dimes
February 11 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
February 12 ~ Coin Drive - Quarters
February 12 ~ Kindergarten Field Trip - Point Defiance Zoo
February 12 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
February 13 ~ Coin Drive - Dollars and all other coins that were forgotten!
February 13 ~ Treat Friday - Fruit Snacks
February 14 ~ Adventure Club - 4th and 5th grade students and parents - Cedar Butte
February 16-20 ~ NO SCHOOL - President's Day and Mid-Winter Break
February 25 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
February 26 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
February 27 ~ Treat Friday - Popcorn
March 2-6 ~ Read Across America Week
March 2 ~ Oh the Places You'll Go Day - Wear your favorite vacation shirt
March 3 ~ Lorax Day - Wear orange
March 4 ~ Wacky Day - Dress wacky
March 4 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
March 5 ~ Cat in the Hat Day - Wear your favorite hat
March 5 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
March 6 ~ Dr. Seuss Day - Bring your favorite book
March 6 ~ Treat Friday - Fruit Snacks
March 8 ~ Daylight Saving time begins - spring forward one hour!
March 12 ~ Spring individual and group pictures
Hello James Sales families,
We are excited about the start of the new year!. Your students came back to school from Winter break eager to continue learning. The teachers work hard daily with your children in class practicing reading strategies and introducing new math skills. Please join us in the teaching of your child by reading at home for 15-20 minutes and practicing math flashcards with your child nightly. Together we can all make a difference in the lives of your children.
Thank you for bundling up your little ones for recess. Remember, we try our best to have outdoor recess every day so your kids can run and play. We appreciate you dressing your children for the weather – sun, rain, or cold! Also, please take some time to discuss recess expectations with your child. We are working hard with students to remind them to keep their hands to themselves and to use kind words. Your help and support with this are appreciated.
Thank you for all your help, support and collaboration in educating your child. We love working with you!
Sincerely,
Brandy Nelson
Principal
James Sales Elementary
U.S. News and World Report published their 2026 Best Elementary Schools list. Our school placed among the top 35% of elementary schools in the state of Washington, making it a U.S. News Best Elementary School. The ranking is based on state proficiency tests and individual school performance. Click on this link to see what was published about our school including its new ranking along with related data and descriptions - https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/washington/james-sales-elementary-243689
If you are struggling to feed your family, you can check for availability of food resources on this district webpage . The district will update the webpage as they learn of more resources. Also, Emergency Food Network’s website is also a great resource as EFN supports over 75 food pantries in the county.
Our James Sales Junior Adventure Club for 4th and 5th graders and their parents is ready to hike! Once a month these students will have the opportunity to go on an adventure somewhere in the Puget Sound area. Each student must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/relative. Any adult attending the adventures must be cleared as a volunteer. Access the volunteer application here! Please allow plenty of time for your application to be processed. It can take up to two weeks to be approved so do it as soon as possible.
Our next Adventure Club outing will be hiking at Cedar Butte near Rattlesnake Lake on Saturday, February 14th. The bus will leave James Sales at 9 AM and return at around 3 PM. Wear sturdy hiking boots/shoes (no crocs) and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Bring a water bottle, and snacks in a backpack. Make sure your permission slips are turned in right away!
Our classes are collecting coins for classroom libraries. By donating loose change, you help us purchase books for classroom libraries AND give more children access to books. All change collected will go directly to purchase books for your child's classroom at the upcoming Book Fair.
We will collect coins February 9th-13th. Please send coins in a baggie with your child.
Monday, February 9th - Pennies
Tuesday, February 10th - Nickels
Wednesday, February 11th - Dimes
Thursday, February 12th - Quarters
Friday, February 13th - Dollars and any coins that may have been forgotten
Thank you for ALL of your support!
If you wish to give permission or decline permission for your child to be included in pictures for publication in our newsletter, in our James Sales social media, and on our website you can indicate your wishes by going to this form. If you give your permission for your child to appear in pictures, we can include them in photos from Adventure Club trips, activities at school and on field trips, etc. You can access the form here.
Girls on the Run is a nonprofit after school program to support 3rd-5th grade girls in social-emotional skills, lift skills, and running skills. They will work their way up to a 5K by the end of the season. The season runs from March 31st through June 2nd. Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 to 5:15. If your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade girl is interested in joining in Girls on the Run, go here to complete an application: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/Spring-2026-GOTRWS?sid=084283a9308d4114b9a32bd1f57d82a0
Congratulations to the January students of the month who were honored at an assembly on January 30th.
These students were selected by their teachers for showing Resiliency/Problem Solving:
Neytan T., Jayda M., Brielle B., Jhonweshley M., Mazikeen C., Eithan T., Asher C., Apolo G., Gabriel C., Guadalupe A., Sosefina T., Gabriel C. M., Rainier T., Lily M., Jazmin B., Asher M., Hope B., Liam D., Braxton P., Alexander F., Charlotte A., Selena S., Sophia U., Bobby B., Jaxon F., Trey H., Josh M., Sophie S., Juju T., Emily G., Adrianna G., Sir W., Kawnain I., Deimien P., Emily G., Pierre M., Brithany C., and Malachi N.,
From the Health Room
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) published a report in 2015 about sleep health, where they provided several suggestions. In its study, NSF brought together a panel consisting of sleep experts, psychologists, scientists and others to garner a wide range of views.
After studying the issue at length, the panel came up with the following guidelines for the amount of sleep necessary for each age group:
- Newborns 0-3 months of age – 14-17 hours
- Infants 4-11 months of age – 12-15 hours
- Toddlers 1-2 years of age – 11-14 hours
- Preschoolers 3-5 years of age -10-13 hours
- School-aged children 6-13 years of age – 9-11 hours
- Teenagers 14-17 years of age -8-10 hours
- Young adults 18-25 years of age – 7-9 hours
- Adults 26-64 years of age – 7-9 hours
- Older adults ages 65 and over – 7-8 hours
Yearbook Order Time
Individual and Class
One of the great things about public schools is that we welcome every child with open arms. As you know, some children face unique challenges. James Sales is fortunate to have an outstanding team of professionals to support the special learning needs of all our students. During the week of February 2-6, we recognize and honor Anna Barnes, Speech Pathologist; Ian Manh, Psychologist; Karen Harkins, OT; Maddie Roberts, PT; Sharika Callaway, Counselor; and Coleen Brisbin, Social Worker. These professionals do an outstanding job supporting the needs of our James Sales students. Please give them a big “Thank You” when you see them during this week!
We enjoy treat Fridays each week at James Sales. Treats alternate between fruit snacks and popcorn. See calendar attached to this newsletter to see which treat is offered on which Friday. Money is due weekly on Thursdays by 9 AM if you want you child to participate in treat Friday.
- Treats are 50¢ each week (exact change only)
- One treat per student may be purchased each week.
- Treat money must be turned in to teachers by 9 AM on the Thursday before Treat Friday! Late money will not be accepted.
- Parent volunteers to help with treat Fridays are needed. Please contact Mrs. Nelson (bnelson@fpschools.org) if you are interested in volunteering an hour or so each week.
Recess
Recess is an important time when students get to expend physical energy, explore, express themselves creatively, have fun together, build and strengthen friendships, and independently experience life lessons which will help them develop and grow. We want to create a play environment where all kids feel safe and can find a place where they belong.
General Playground Expectations:
1. For safety and to maintain order, it is essential to follow the directions of adults.
2. Concerns at recess should be shared with an adult right away.
3. Misconduct such as play fighting, kicking, pushing, karate, and grabbing of clothing is not tolerated.
4. Objects such as rocks, gravel, twigs, mulch, etc. are to stay on the ground.
5. Appropriate language for school is to be used. “Keep it clean.”
6. Use the playground equipment appropriately, and follow the rules of all games.
7. In cold weather, coats must be taken outside. After students have left the classrooms, they are not allowed to return unsupervised to get their coats.
8. For dangerous or illegal behavior, such as fighting, students will be sent directly to the office. The parents will be notified of the infraction and the consequences.
9. Invite other students to join in. It is not ok to exclude or tell others they cannot play.
10. Play safely and have fun!
It is a good idea for younger students to bring a change of clothes in their backpacks just in case of a bathroom accident or a particularly wet day outside. Put the clothing in a plastic bag into their backpack, then when the clothing is needed, they can put the wet clothing into the plastic bag and bring it home to be laundered. If we have lent your child clothes, please wash them and return them to the health room. Thank you!
The end of the day at James Sales is a hectic time! If you forgot to send a note in the morning and need to call the office with a change to your child’s schedule, please do so before 2:40 so the office can get a message to your student before they leave for the day. All end of day schedule changes must be made through the office, not with the classroom teacher. The office will ensure the teacher is informed of the change. If you need to pick up your student early from school, please do so before 2:40 as well.
Each trimester our students have the opportunity to earn a special treat reward for meeting the following goals:
- Behavior - One or fewer Write -ups
- Attendance - Three or fewer absences and/or tardies
We hope all of our Jaguars will be able to meet these goals!
We anticipate the need for volunteers for field trips and other occasions. If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take two weeks or more to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application. If you need assistance with your application please come to the office, call 253-298-4200, or email Linda Morrison - limorrison@fpschools.org .
James Sales houses a before and after school care program on-site for our students. The care is provided by Right at School. Right at School provides a safe environment to learn, to play, and to grow. Click here for more information and to register.
Franklin Pierce Schools has a resource center for our families. You will find information and help for all sorts of situations and needs - food, diapers, formula, community referrals, and more. Click here to access the Family Resource Center website.
