Patriot Connection
Week of October 19, 2025

Week of October 19, 2025
Welcome to the Patriot Connection!
As a community of parents, guardians, and staff at Jefferson Junior High School, Home & School is dedicated to fostering a supportive and engaging environment for our students. The Patriot Connection serves as our semi-monthly newsletter, designed to keep you informed about school news, events, and opportunities for involvement.
Home & School functions as our school's version of a PTO or PTA, aiming to bridge the gap between home and school by encouraging collaboration among parents, teachers, and administrators. Our focus is on enhancing the educational experience of every student by supporting various school activities, events, and programs.
Questions? Please email Melissa at jeffersonhands@gmail.com.
This Week at a Glance:
It's Bullying Awareness Week!
Monday, October 20:
- Board of Education Meeting, 7 pm
Tuesday, October 21:
- Put Bullying to Rest: Pajama / Comfy Clothes Day
Wednesday, October 22:
- Unity Day: Wear and Share Orange
- Illinois School Bus Driver Day
Thursday, October 23:
- Star Power Day: Dress like your favorite movie, TV show, or book character
Friday, October 24:
- We Are All in This Together: Twin Day / Match with Friends
- Scene 75 Prize Trip
Looking Ahead:
October 29: JJHS Fall Band Concert
October 30: JJHS Fall Orchestra Concert
November 6: End of First Trimester
November 11: Veteran's Day; Home & School Meeting, 1:30 pm
November 19: Patriot Night Out, Buona Beef
November 26-28: No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
December 12: Winter / Holiday Bunker
December 22- January 2: No School, Winter Break
January 5: No School, Institute Day
January 6: Classes Resume
Directory Spot: Now Updated
Jefferson Home & School is excited to announce that the DirectorySpot App, our school's directory, has now been updated for the 2025-2026 school year!
If you were a DirectorySpot user last year, then you don’t need to do anything. Just log in (same username and password) and you will see the new data. If you are a NEW user and opted into the school directory (during school registration), you have been set up as a user for DirectorySpot. You can download the app for free from the App Store (iPhone users) or Google Play (Android users). You can also access the data from the web (directoryspot.net) with the same login and password.
For Smartphone Users:
Download the DirectorySpot app by going to your app store and searching "DirectorySpot" or by using the appropriate link here: iPhone - http://goo.gl/5U2Tzq or Android - http://goo.gl/iBK9lY
Launch DirectorySpot, enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password."
Click on the link in your email to set your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and login with your username and password.
For Tablet, Mac, or PC Users:
Go to directoryspot.net and click on "Login" in the upper right hand corner.
Enter your email address as your Username, and click on "Reset Password." An email will be sent to you with a link to set your password.
Click on the link in your email to set your password and login.
Be sure to check out all the features, such as the auto dial when you click on a phone number, or the auto launching of maps when you click on an address. If you hold down the cell phone number, you will get an option to send a text or call the number (iPhone only). DirectorySpot will even create an email if you click on someone's email address.
If you have any questions, need to update your information, or need help accessing DirectorySpot, please contact Me'Chele, DirectorySpot Chair, at jeffersondirectoryspot@gmail.com.
8th Grade Parents/Guardians: HS Course Selection Webinar
Please see the attached flyer regarding the “Plan Your Path” parent webinar coming up on November 6th.
COURSE SELECTION • DUAL CREDIT
CAREER PATHWAYS • ENDORSEMENTS
"Whole Brain" Parenting in a Digital World
If you weren’t able to attend our Parent Night on Tuesday with guest speaker Laura Langes, Psy.D., P.C., who spoke about parenting strategies to promote digital wellness, you can view the presentation at the link below.
Veterans Day Prep: Honoring the Heroes in Our Jefferson Families
The students and faculty of Jefferson Junior High School will be holding our annual VeteransDay Assembly on November 11th. We would like to recognize the American veterans within the families of our Jefferson students at this time. If possible, we would like to include a photo of the veteran and information about him or her in our slide show presentation (linked). Choose a slide on this slide deck and include the first and last name, rank, branch of service, dates of service, and the name and grade of the student they are related to. If your student attended Jefferson in the last two years, and you sent this information at that time, we will still have these files and plan to include them in our presentation. Thank you for making this a memorable day for our veterans, students, and staff.
Candy Donations
If you end up with extra candy after Halloween, consider donating it to The Bunker!
We’re collecting individually wrapped, peanut-free and tree nut-free sealed candy, especially if the wrappers aren’t Halloween-specific.
A donation bin will be located in Jefferson Square, and we’ll be accepting donations through November 5.
New This Year: Join Home & School on GroupMe!
We’re excited to offer another way to stay connected—our new Home & School GroupMe! Check in regularly (or turn on notifications) for updates, volunteer opportunities, and reminders.
While this isn’t a public forum, you’ll have the option to send feedback, ask questions, and communicate directly with the Home & School team.
Please note: This does not replace our newsletter or social media pages—it’s just another great way to stay informed!
Report, Don't Repost: See Something, Say Something
It’s crucial to maintain open and proactive communication with our students in today's world. We encourage everyone, including parents and guardians, to adhere to the principle of “see something, say something.” If you or your student encounter any unusual or concerning activities, please remember to Report, and don’t repost.
Unity Day: Wednesday, October 22
WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE
Send a visible message of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.
Making a #WeAre203 Difference 🍏
It is more than a hashtag; it is a reflection of our shared identity and our unwavering commitment to student success.
At Naperville 203, our mission is to empower students to develop a learner’s mindset, demonstrate adaptability, communicate effectively, think critically, and become global citizens. #WeAre203 brings that mission to life by uniting our students, staff, families, and community in celebrating the everyday moments and big milestones that help shape tomorrow’s leaders.
Whether it’s inside the classroom, on the stage, in service to others, or out in the world making a difference, #WeAre203 represents the people, purpose, and pride that define our district.
Please tell us who is making a #WeAre203 difference by answering the questions below. We hope to share your stories on our social media platforms!
Winter Sports Registration
As our Fall sports seasons are wrapping up, we are opening the window to register for our winter sports. In the winter we offer Cheerleading (a cut sport), Boys Basketball (a cut sport) and Wrestling. These sports are open to 7th and 8th graders. In order to participate, athletes must be registered on SNAP Snap Link
When registering, we ask that you use the same account created prior, if you child has participated in interscholastic sports at Jefferson before. If this is your child's first time participating in a sport, you will need to create a new registration and will need to upload a current sports physical to the site. Physicals should not be brought in to the school nurse, but instead they must be uploaded to the SNAP site. Directions on how to register and upload the physical can be found on this LINK
Schedules for each of the seasons can be found in the "resources link" on SNAP.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the coach of the sport you are interested in:
- Boys Basketball
7th: Jason Lenz jlenz@naperville203.org
8th : Tim Kane tkane@naperville203.org
- Wrestling: Alex Smid asmid@naperville203.org
- Cheerleading: Shanta Miles scmiles@naperville203.org
- Or you can email me, John Bilardello jbilardello@naperville203.org
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is overflowing with unclaimed items! If your child is missing clothing, water bottles, or other personal belongings, please encourage them to check the Lost & Found this week during their lunch period. Parents are also welcome to stop by before or after school to check for lost items.
Order Your Yearbook Today
If you would like to order a 2025–2026 yearbook for your student, please use the link below to place your order. Yearbooks are not guaranteed to be available for purchase in May if they are not preordered. We have sold out for the past three years.
If you have any questions, please contact Christine Levernier at clevernier@naperville203.org.
JJHS Home & School has a Facebook Page
Like and Follow our page to find out about upcoming events and information about Home & School happenings!
Let's Connect!
2025-2026 JJHS Home & School Exec Board:
President: Melissa Scacco
Vice President: Carol Cantor & Julianne Fox
Secretary: Heather Huether
Treasurer: Jen Fosdick
Website: https://www.naperville203.org/Page/4464
Location: 1525 N. Loomis Street, Naperville, IL 60563
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JJHSHomeandSchool