Eagle Eye JMS Parent Newsletter #13

Report cards for Term 1 were distributed on Friday. Please be sure to look it over with your child to help address any areas that may be in need of improvement. Teachers have been utilizing the Individual Student Reports from our MVP benchmark #1 to help your child set personal goals for their core classes.

Term 2 will move quickly. It is 8.5 weeks long, with Thanksgiving square in the middle. Students need to be engaged with their academics through out, and we encourage parents having the conversation about engagement often. No one wants to look up with 6 days to spare and realize grades may have slipped. To that end, please reach out if you need assistance accessing Skyward and Canvas.

The JMS administrative team is here to support students, teachers, and families. If you need anything, please reach out to us. As always, we thank our parents and our staff for what they do to help our students be the best they can be.

Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu

Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu

Jacob Quilliams, Dean of Students jrquilliams@ortn.edu

Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu

Monday 23 B Day

• Chess Club Library 3:00-4:00
• Atomic Eagles Meeting Science Wing 2:45-4:30
• RadioActive Brix Meeting Rm 223 2:45-4:30
• Master Builders Meeting Rm 102 2:45-4:30
• France Trip Parent/Student Meeting Innovation Center 6:00
• 5th/6th Grade Combined Chorus and 6th Grade Band Costume Concert @ ORHS 7:00
• Girls Basketball Practice TBD
• Boys Basketball Practice TBD

Tuesday 24 A Day

• Cheer Practice 3:00-5:00
• Atomic Eagles Meeting Science Wing 2:45-4:30
• Master Builders Meeting Rm 102 2:45-4:30

• RadioActive Brix Meeting Rm 223 2:45-4:30
• Girls Basketball Practice TBD
• Boys Basketball Practice TB

Wednesday 25 B Day

• Wilderness Connections to Big Fork: Depart 10/25 1:00 – Return 10/27 3:30
  
• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Girls Basketball Practice TBD
• Boys Basketball Practice TBD
  

Thursday 26 A Day

• Student Council Meeting Library 6th period (SAB Visitors)
• Girls Basketball Parent Meeting: Picnic tables in front of school 5:00
• Girls Basketball Practice TBD
• Boys Basketball Practice TBD
  

Friday 27 B Day

• Girls Basketball Practice TB
  

Saturday 28

Basketball Foothills Tip-Off Classic (Varsity ONLY) @ Eagleton TBD

Term 1 Report Cards were sent home on Friday, October 20th.

Where do I check my child’s grades?

Parents and students will need to use Skyward gradebook to check student progress. Teachers will post and update Skyward gradebook weekly.

What is my child doing in class?

Canvas is the resource for parents and students to access information for the child’s classes. Canvas can oftentimes provide more real time updates for student grades on individual assignments. Our goal is for teachers to share a look at the week ahead including announcements, assignments, etc. in order to keep both students and parents up to date. There may be some assignments, quizzes, tests etc. that may be subject to change, but the general idea is for parents to have a place to see what is happening this week.

Reach out to Elizabeth Leavitt ealeavitt@ortn.edu Instructional Technology Coach, if you need assistance with Canvas. In addition to teachers, your child's school counselor is also a great person to reach out to with any questions or concerns.

Finally, check out the Homework Hotline Resource free to TN Students! A phone number is provided below, and additional information can be found at the following link.

Homework Hotline TN 501(c)(3)

Free tutoring for students in Tennessee. Homework Hotline is on the phone, online chat, web based whiteboard, and more.

launchhomeworkhotline.info

Picture proofs were distributed today. Please remember that these are proofs and that elements such as color and clarity will be corrected in your final order. Picture proofs and money are due back to your child's homeroom teacher by Wednesday, November 1. There are no retakes allowed, but if your child was absent on picture day, the makeup date is Wednesday, November 1.

ALL 5th and 6th graders will be going to the JPAC/Auditorium entrance.

All 7th and 8th graders will go to the picnic tables/main lobby area.

We will dismiss to breakfast like we normally do from these locations. The JMS admin team will be out front to redirect students to the correct location. We apologize for the construction, but we will work to keep things going smoothly. We think we have ONE more week of this current change.

Hello JMS Parents & Guardians,

We will begin out Direct Drive October 17 through October 30th.

This is our biggest fundraiser that we do and it’s so important that you help!

JMS is a 501(c)3 organization. This year we have increased our goal to $10,000, I believe this is attainable. We rely on your generosity and company matching, to help fuel our staff appreciation for treats and events, as well as staff grants that enable even more phenomenal teaching and learning right here at Jefferson Middle school! Your contributions and corporate matching go toward so much.

Without your direct help these things could not be provided for. Please consider donating to help fund these needs.

Please be on the lookout for our Venmo QR code in the drop off area in the morning or afternoon. Envelopes will be sent home with your children after Fall Break, that will include all this information!

With gratitude,

PTO

President-Susanne Wren

Vice President- Kayla Colwell

Treasurer- Eric Schmitt

Secretary- Amanda Steele

Holiday Food Drive

For well over 30 years, Jefferson has carried out a food drive to aid our Oak Ridge families in need. This year, the food drive runs from November 1-10. We encourage all students to consider donating non-perishable food to the cause. All of the contributions go to three Oak Ridge food pantries. In the past, we have collected more than 50 boxes of food! Here is how to help:

• ·Food pantries can only accept non-perishable foods
• Canned goods: fruit, vegetables, soups; boxed food mixes, cereal, condiments, spices.
• ·Please check to make sure food is not expired
• ·Bring donation to your homeroom
• Homeroom reps will keep track of number of items donated
• Homeroom with the most donations receives a Chick-Fil-A breakfast!

Please consider participating in this worthy cause. If everyone brings in just one item, we will have donated over 700 items!

Susanne Wren is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: JMS PTO MEETING

Time: Oct 17, 2023 07:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99592150374?pwd=SU1IdkJ1OEFFaDI4blVOcEZ2RDM0UT09

Meeting ID: 995 9215 0374

Passcode: nM427g

This year the Oak Ridge Schools curriculum includes the implementation of SB 856, more commonly known as Erin’s Law. JMS will implement this during Wednesday Zero Period. This is a state-mandated, age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for students K through 12th grade. The program teaches children how to address or report abusive behavior such as safe and unsafe touches and other physical and emotional abuse. In grades 6 - 12, we will be using Vector Solutions, an award-winning K-12 training platform, to deliver curriculum developed by leading experts. In grades K - 5, school counselors will be delivering curriculum provided by fightchildabuse.org. The curriculum is tailored for each grade level, ensuring age-appropriate content and delivery.

Because some of the content is sensitive in nature, we wanted to make you aware so that you can continue these important conversations at home and be prepared to field questions from your student that may arise. There are excellent resources designed for parents through the Erin's Law website.

For further information regarding Erin’s Law please visit: http://www.erinslaw.org/erins-law/. If you have any questions about the content of the program, feel free to contact our Student Success Coordinator, Callie Painter at clpainter@ortn.edu or (865) 425-9053.

From September 5-26 JMS 7th graders collected items for the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. Students brought in items such as dry and wet food, treats, toys, and food and water bowls. On the afternoon of September 27, Erika Shildt, our student representative for the project met Mrs. Humphrey to unload and deliver the items at ORAS. Many thanks to the students who participated. We are excited to continue more service projects as the year continues.

Nisha Kala and Amber Rengar attended the Access Oak Ridge Fair on Oct 7th. Ms. Kala's spent two weeks working on an Art Projecst to display at this event. The theme of our project was “Character Strong”. The Einstein piece that you see above Amber Rengar's shoulder was created by MS. KALA!! We celebrate these ladies and their students and we are so very proud!

Congratulations to the Jefferson boy's cross country team for winning the Sectional Meet last Friday night and qualifying for the State Meet in Clarksville on September 30th. JMS 8th grader, Michael Izquierdo, finished 3rd overall in the meet.

Congratulations to the Jefferson girls cross country team for finishing fourth in the Sectional Meet and congratulations to Ava Vacillio for qualifying for the State Meet!

Congratulations to the Lady Eagles volleyball team for winning the 2023 District Tournament Championship! The Lady Eagles were led by Tournament MVP, Vivian Sullivan. Congratulations to Stephanie Kenworthy and Brooke Slattery for earning All-Tournament Team honors.

The Eagles are now moving on to the 2023-2024 basketball season! Please make plans to come out and support the Eagles this winter! Please see the attached schedule below!

For the week of 9/25-29 (Responsibility September)

5th grade

Christian Raifsnider

Landon DeLong

6th grade

Kate Doling

Easton Knipp

Maebree Davis

7th grade

Tytan Chatman

Akasha Alejo

Ian Smith

Jensi Gonzalez Hernandez

Camila (Berlyn) Hollander

8th grade

Vincent Quenga

Andrew Mishler

Brayden Williamson

For 10/16-20 October Gratitude

Wynn Uptgraft

Easton Greenlee

Lola (Laney) Harper

Malia Barnes

The links below contain resources for setting up and accessing Skyward and Canvas, an updated calendar, along with a welcome message from our ITC coach and a link to district and school websites.

• Elizabeth Leavitt, ITC: Welcome Message

• School Calendar

• ORS District Website

• Jefferson Middle School Website

• Canvas Parent Account Setup.docx
  
• Skyward Family Access Account SETUP .docx
  

Please reach out to Elizabeth Leavitt at ealeavit@ortn.edu

You have received many communications this summer from the district about registering for the Bus through Skyward. If you have, but are not sure what bus your student is riding, here is how you check it.

FIRST! Log into Tyler's Versatrans E-Link https://transportation.ortn.edu/elinkrp/Login.aspx

Username: (use student’s name) firstname.lastname This is case sensitive–example: john.smith
Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

Click on Students, then View My Students. If you see a bus route there, you should be good. If you DO NOT see a bus route, you will need to update bus service! You will not have bus service on the first day of school.

To get bus service, log into Skyward and click on Forms. There is a bus request form. Transportation is working to move quickly to add new students to the bus, but it will take a few days before your student can be added to bus service.

First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.

MyStop - Parent/Student Login (You may click on the MyStop Picture to the left!)

• Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
• Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007

MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store

Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.

Can’t Access the MyStop App?

If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:

1. Please confirm the following:
2. You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
3. You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
4. You have selected all lower case letters.First Student Transportation is working hard to get routes assigned to all students who requested bus service.

   
   

Coming back from a break always brings a cycle of illnesses. Good hand washing, strong diets, and excellent sleep habits will always help; yet still, students will get sick. As always, we want your student to be present. However, if they are sick, we also understand them staying home until they recover.

Any time a student is absent, they can always work on the classwork they missed by checking Canvas. Students will always have time to submit assignments when they return. Students are allowed 7 parent notes throughout the year. You may email them to us or your student can drop them off when they return. Often students will hand the note to an administrator standing at the front door, and we will make sure it gets to Ms. Langford, our attendance coordinator.

Be safe and be well!

The local news has reported a small rise in COVID cases over the last couple of weeks. Below is a screenshot of the Isolation Guidance from the TN Department of Health (last updated 11 October 2022). The full document is linked below: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/Isolation-QuarantineRelease.pdf