Weekly Update
August 8th, 2023
A Message from the Principal
January can be a tough month in middle school. The excitement of a new semester wears off quickly, the weather is cold and gray, and routines can feel harder to get back into. It’s normal for students to feel tired, stressed, or just a little “off” this time of year.
Because of that, January is also a great time to focus on something simple but powerful — being kinder to one another. Everyone who walks through our halls is carrying something we may not see: a difficult class, a friendship problem, a bad night of sleep, or worries at home. A kind word, a smile, or choosing not to join in when others are being negative can make a bigger difference than we realize.
We are talking with students about slowing down, thinking before they speak, and treating others the way they would want to be treated. Small choices add up — inviting someone to sit with you, encouraging a classmate, or simply saying “thank you” or “I’m sorry.” Middle school isn’t always easy, but we can make it better for each other. Let’s use this January to reset, refocus, and remember that kindness matters every day, in every hallway, and in every classroom.
Along with focusing on kindness, we are already nine days into the new semester, and it’s a great time to help students get back into strong routines. Please encourage your child to get to bed on time, stay organized, keep up with assignments, and prepare for upcoming tests and quizzes.
This is also a reminder about our academic eligibility policy. Students who have two or more F’s will be placed on probation for the first week. If they still have two or more F’s at the end of that probation week, they will become ineligible. Ineligible students are not allowed to practice, participate in, or attend any school or athletic events. Eligibility runs weekly from Sunday through Saturday.
As always, ASAP is available Monday–Thursday until 4:30 p.m. If you would like your child to stay after school for extra help, please reach out to the office to make arrangements.
Thank you for your continued support in helping our Tigers grow, learn, and have a successful semester. We’re proud of them and all they continue to do! 🐯
Healthy Habits We have had a wonderful first week back! As we adjust back into the swing of things, I want to highlight one habit that makes a big difference in students’ success at school: getting enough sleep. Middle Schoolers need about 8-10 hours of sleep per night to stay focused, manage emotions, and do their best learning. When students stay up late playing video games or using screens, it often leads to tired mornings, difficulty concentrating in class, and increased stress during the day. I encourage families to support healthy routines at home by: Setting a consistent bedtime Powering down screens and video games at least 30–60 minutes before bed or leaving devices outside of the bedroom at night Creating a calm, tech-free sleep environment These small changes can have a big impact on students’ mood, behavior, and academic success. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students feel rested, ready, and set up for success each day! Enhancing Your Future Event – STEM Day Opportunity for Middle Schoolers We’re excited to share an opportunity for students in grades 6–8 to attend the Enhancing Your Future Event (EYF) on March 7, 2026 at Emporia State University. This one-day event is designed to spark interest in science and math through hands-on workshops and career exploration sessions. Students may attend independently or as part of a group with myself and other JWMS Students. Event Highlights: Interactive STEM workshops and career discussions Lunch, event T-shirt, bag, and materials included Students may attend individually or as part of a school group using district transportation Cost: $35 per student If you are interested in signing your student up and would benefit from assistance paying the fee, please reach out to me at payton.andrews@usd340.org. Registration:
If you are interested in your child attending as part of the school group, please email me at payton.andrews@usd340.org.
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Reminder for games ALL students must pay to get in - Admission prices are $5/Adult, $5/Student (K-12)
If your child is planning to attend a lot of the home boys and girls basketball games you might want to look at getting them a pass. A pass for all Middle School games would be $35 and can be purchased from Linda in the office. If you would like a middle school and a high school pass those are $60 for a student.
Boys Basketball-
1/19 Basketball at Nemaha Central- games start at 4:30pm- Coach Bartel will message out specifics
1/22- Basketball at Home- 7th grade at the High School and 8th grade at the Middle School
Games Start at 4:30 pm
7A, 7B, 7C
8A, 8B, 8C
Girls Wrestling-
Full Week of wrestling
1/19- Sabetha at 4pm
1/21- Washburn Rural at 3:30pm
1/23- Seaman at 2pm
