Family Update - October 25, 2026
Parent Update, October 25, 2026
FROM THE PRINCIPALS
Dear Families,
A huge thank you to Sarah Santilli and the entire Fall Production staff for an amazing performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. We also want to recognize the cast and crew for the countless hours of hard work, dedication, and energy they invested to make this production so memorable. The commitment required to bring a show like this to life is tremendous, and it is always wonderful to see so many students participating both on stage and behind the scenes. It truly takes everyone working together to make a performance like this possible.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our first evening conference opportunity is on Thursday, November 5th from 4pm-7:30pm. If your child’s teachers are requesting a conference, invitations will be sent this week. If you do not receive an invitation, your child is progressing as expected and there are no concerns at this time. If you have questions, families are always welcome to communicate with teachers via email, as this is the quickest way to share information.
Friday, October 30
Students are invited to dress up on Friday, October 30th! Costumes must be school appropriate and not interfere with learning. We can’t wait to see the creativity and spirit on display!
Math Lab Reminder
Just a reminder that Mrs. White holds a math lab for students taking algebra and geometry every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7:30-8:00 am in room 254.
Warm regards,
Jasa George, Principal
Keona Walker, Assistant Principal
Jasa George, Principal
Keona Walker, Assistant Principal
Jones Weekend Update
Click here to watch this week's episode of Jones Weekend Update.
What's Happening At Jones
Jones Athletics Update
Fall Season Recap
That’s a wrap on our fall athletic season! We are so proud of all our Jones student-athletes for their hard work, growth, and dedication over the past several months. A special thank you goes out to our coaches, athletic trainers, and custodial staff for your support, time, and behind-the-scenes work make our programs possible!
Please join us in congratulating our Fall John McQuillen Sportsmanship Award winners:
Sam Harper (Football)
Roan Doyle (Volleyball)
Thank you both for representing Jones with integrity, effort, and high character on and off the court and field!
Upcoming Winter Sports Information
As we pivot to the winter season, here are key dates to keep in mind:
7th & 8th Grade Basketball Tryouts: November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Wrestling: Practice begins November 4th
Important Action Item:
To participate on day one, all athletes must be registered in FinalForms with an up-to-date physical form submitted. Please make sure these are completed before tryouts/practices
Go Bears!
PAW Award
PAW Award Winners will be announced on Friday morning. Teachers will nominate students based on the district's characteristics in the Profile of an Engaged Learner.
The Profile of an Engaged Learner reflects the vision for all Upper Arlington learners, at every stage and every grade. Developed with input from students and all teachers across the district and solidified by a districtwide work group of educators, the Profile of an Engaged Learner document articulates the skills and characteristics that Upper Arlington Schools believes will prepare our students to serve, lead and succeed in Upper Arlington and beyond.
The characteristics include being a solution seeker, creative, skilled communicator, open-minded & empathetic, responsible & resilient, and well-balanced.
Due to the short week, we will announce PAW Award Winners this Friday!
Ski Club Parent/Student Meeting
Please plan to attend the mandatory parent/student meeting this week, Wednesday, October 28 at 7pm in the Jones Auditorium. The dates this year for ski club are: Jan. 15, Jan. 22, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Make up dates if needed are Feb. 12 and Feb. 19.
PTO Updates
MINI FUNDRAISER AT COFFEE AND CONE - NOVEMBER 3RD
Please stop in Coffee and Cone anytime on November 3rd and mention Jones PTO. 20% of all sales will support Jones Middle School PTO, and work to provide many great programs for students and staff. Grab a coffee on the way to vote or treat yourself to ice-cream. Don't forget to remind the kids to pop over on their day off too. Thanks in advance for supporting our PTO!
VETERANS DAY
We are looking for volunteers to help set up for the 8th Grade Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday, November 5th, as well as volunteers to help during the actual celebration on Friday, November 6th.
We do ask that for those who volunteer on the 6th, please dress nicely to honor the Veterans.
Sign up here. Thanks in advance for your support!
Profile of the Engaged Learner
Our building-level Profile of an Engaged Learner goal is creating advisory activities that embed the Sources of Strength curriculum and support the characteristics of the Profile of an Engaged Learner.
This week, we will share and discuss our building-level results from the Engaged Learner Competencies and Well-Being survey. One of our areas of strength at Jones is students reporting they have supportive relationships inside and outside Jones. This means that many of our students reported that they have a positive feeling about people they can connect with and rely on at school, home, and the community.
Also, based on student feedback, sense of belonging is an area we will continue to discuss. While our sense of belonging is in the 90th percentile nationally, we know this is a continued area of focus at the middle school level. We will have monthly advisory lessons, class meetings, and classroom lessons with the counselors to support students' sense of belonging.
We encourage you to participate in discussions at home using the same questions from the Engaged Learner Competencies and Well-Being survey. You will find these topics, connections to the Profile of an Engaged Learner, and individual question items for K-2, 3-5, and 6-12 at this link: Survey Topic & Description - Connection to Engaged Learner - Survey Items. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact (administrator or school counselor) or Cathy Ely, Director of Well-Being, Prevention and Intervention at cely@uaschools.org.
Students in current grades 6-8 have an exciting opportunity to travel to Europe in 2028! Mademoiselle Newcomer is leading a trip to France, Switzerland and Germany! The informational meeting has been changed to Wednesday, October 28, from 6-7pm. Because of the Jones ski club meeting that evening, there will be another meeting on Wednesday, November 4 in the Jones Middle School LC. Come to either meeting to find out more about this exciting opportunity. Those in attendance to either meeting and who enroll will get entered into a raffle for a scholarship! Use this form to RSVP https://forms.gle/SCidsRH3jDJZR8tu9 and to become eligible for a scholarship! Email Mademoiselle Newcomer (knewcomer@uaschools.org) with questions, but hope to see you at an informational meeting!
Spain Trip Meeting
Current 8th, 9th or 10th graders are invited to join us on an upcoming educational travel experience to Spain in Summer 2028! Global language teachers from UAHS will lead the trip, and it is an excellent way to see Spain, experience its culture, and gain language skills.
When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are valuable as these young adults head to college and beyond, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.
Come hear all the details, including the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities, the cost of the trip and EF’s risk-free enrollment period at our informational meeting on Wednesday, 10/28 6 - 7 PM in the UAHS College Center Mezzanine.
Please click here to register for the meeting and/or share your interest: https://forms.gle/SCidsRH3jDJZR8tu9 We would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Sincerely,
Señora Chandler & Señora Kessinger
Jones Speech and Debate Information for Parents/Guardians
What is it? Speech and Debate is a competitive activity where students can compete against peers across the state in various events to build public speaking and critical thinking skills
Students can compete in either speech or debate events. Speech events focus more on presentation and often on writing and organizational skills. Debate events focus on creating clear, logical arguments and rebutting opposing points.
More information concerning specific events will be provided at the parent information session (tentative date: November 12)
Run by students from the UAHS Speech and Debate team
When are meetings? Thursdays after school 3:30 - 4:30 in Room 204
Why should my child join?
Improves…
Public speaking and communication
Critical thinking
Research and writing
Thinking on your feet
Opportunities to compete and win awards!
How do I get my child started?
Fill out the interest form here
Attend the information meeting
Have your student attend our Thursday meetings in room 204
Cost: $20 (competition fees)
What does a typical season look like?
Practices and preparation will begin after the information meeting
1-2 local district tournaments (self-transportation), possibly starting November 14
Middle School states attendance TBD.
If offered, bus transportation to Canton South High School on February 27 would be provided
*No Prior Experience needed!*
Yearbook Info.
Don't forget to order your 2026-2027 JMS yearbook HERE.
If you missed your chance to purchase a 2025-2026 JMS yearbook, now is your chance! We have extra copies that will be for sale for $55. Please email ppickering@uaschools.org or stop by the front office if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Checks can be made out to Upper Arlington City Schools. Please include 'yearbook' in the memo.
The Yearbook Team is still looking for photos from our middle school fall sports season! Parents, if you have great action shots, team photos, or fun moments from games and events, we would love to include them in this year’s yearbook. Please email your photos to ppickering@uaschools.org. Thank you for helping make this year's yearbook a great one!
8th grade Veterans Day Parent Volunteer Sign-Up:
We are looking for volunteers to help set up for the 8th Grade Veteran's Day Celebration on Thursday, November 5th, as well as volunteers to help during the actual celebration on Friday, November 6th. Those who volunteer on the 6th, we ask that you dress nicely to honor the Veterans.
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4DA5AC28A5FC1-59560108-veterans#/
Resources for Military Families
The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce has many resources for military families. See below for some of these resources:
Save the Date: 8th-Grade Shadowing Day on Friday, April 16, 2027!
We are excited to announce the return of 8th-Grade Shadowing Day on Friday, April 16, 2027! This mandatory experiential learning event allows all 8th-grade students to step outside the classroom and explore career paths in real-world professional settings before they transition to high school. Students will spend this official school day off campus with a host and earn instructional-hour attendance credit upon submission of a reflection form.
How Parents Can Help:
Identify a Host: Support your student in reaching out to a relative, family friend, local business owner, or community professional to serve as their workplace host.
Prepare & Plan Ahead: Review the Outreach Guide, discuss career interests with your child, and check out the Shadowing FAQ to help them prepare.
Ensure Attendance Credit: Remind your child to complete and submit the post-event reflection.
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering as a host for local students, please contact Leah Miller, Career Development and Service Learning Specialist, at lmiller@uaschools.org or 614-487-5000.
Save the Date: Mandatory Washington, D.C. Trip Meeting!
Attention 8th Grade Families! Please mark your calendars for our mandatory D.C. Trip Parent/Student Meeting on Tuesday, April 27th, 2027, at 7:30 PM in the Jones Auditorium. This is the preferred meeting for our families to attend.
If it is absolutely impossible for your family to make the Tuesday session, you may attend the alternative meeting on Monday, April 26th, 2027, at 7:30 PM in the Hastings Auditorium.
Attendance is required for both the student AND at least one parent/guardian. It is vital that both attend, as we will go over critical trip logistics, safety protocols, and the final itinerary. Having every family fully present ensures everyone is aligned and prepared for a safe, smooth, and unforgettable experience.
Thank you for prioritizing this. We look forward to seeing you there! Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the DC Trip, Nick Judy, njudy@uaschools.org.
Report Cards
Click here for directions to accessing the reports.
District News
Do you have questions about Issue 7?
As we approach Election Day, UA Schools wants to ensure our community has access to clear, factual information about Issue 7, the combined operating levy and bond issue on the November ballot. The school district’s role in this election is to share the facts, answer questions and help residents understand what is being proposed.
To help with that, we have put together a video version of the Issue 7 presentation that we have been sharing out in the community. The video provides an overview of the proposed issue and offers answers to common questions, with bookmarks to help you navigate directly to the topics most relevant to you.
To find additional factual information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the district website, www.uaschools.org/issue7.
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2026
October 28 - Parent/Student Ski Club Meeting, 7pm
November 2 - PTO Meeting, 8:30am
November 2 - Packing for the Streets, 3:30pm
November 3 - No School - Election Day
November 3-PTO Mini Fundraiser at Coffee and Cone, all day
November 5 - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4 to 8pm
November 6 - Veteran's Day Celebration
November 12 - Band Concert, 7:30pm
November 25 - 27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
IMPORTANT LINKS
PaySchoolsCentral.com (Pay Fees and Add $$ to lunch accounts)
schoolbusquestions@uaschools.org or call 614-487-6477 (Transportation)
https://www.uaschools.org/students-families/lunch-menus (Nutritional Services)
https://ps-uar.metasolutions.net/public/home.html (PowerSchool Parent Portal)
This email has been sent to you by JONES MIDDLE SCHOOL. If you received this email in error, please contact allcall@uaschools.org.