JAHS News

Good Afternoon JAHS Families and Students,

Finals week is next week. Please remind students to review the exam schedule and take time to prepare and study for their final exams.

The Class of 2026 completed their final day of school on Tuesday, and we celebrated with our annual Senior Cookout. Today, the seniors are enjoying their trip to Cedar Point, and next week we look forward to several important senior events, including Senior Awards Night, Graduation Practice, and Graduation on Sunday.

We hope to see everyone at 2:00 p.m. next Sunday as we celebrate this outstanding group of seniors and their accomplishments.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the high school office at (614) 873-4642 — we’re here to help.

GO PIONEERS!!!

Warm regards,
Mr. Hayes
Jonathan Alder High School

Commencement 2026 Announcement

The Class of 2026 Commencement will be held at Performance Stadium and Volunteer Field on Sunday, May 31st, at 2:00 PM. We invite all to attend and celebrate this exciting occasion with our seniors and their Families.

For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be live streamed. The JAHS livestream link will be shared in the coming weeks for family and community members who cannot be there in person.

Inclement Weather Plan

We aim to hold the ceremony outdoors at the stadium, but due to unpredictable weather, we have established multiple potential start times for this year’s ceremony. The biggest change is the possibility of an earlier start. If rain is forecasted between 1:00 PM and the remainder of the day, we may begin the ceremony at 12:00 PM. Please plan accordingly and note that the ceremony may take place at any of the following times:

• 12:00 PM (If rain is expected between 1:00 PM and the rest of the day)

• 2:00 PM Scheduled Time (weather permitting)

• 4:00 PM

• 6:00 PM

We will confirm the start time by 9:00 AM on May 31st and communicate any changes to the entire district via phone call and other means. If weather conditions require us to move the ceremony indoors to the JAHS gymnasium, this decision will be made by 5:00 PM on May 31st, and all families will be notified promptly. The ceremony will be held at 7:00 PM if it is indoors.

Ticketing for Indoor Ceremony

If the ceremony is moved indoors due to weather, a ticket will be required for entry, as the gymnasium cannot accommodate all guests. Each student will receive 5 inclement weather tickets when picking up their cap and gown. Families with more than 5 attendees can watch the ceremony in an overflow viewing area in the JAHS auditeria, where a livestream will be provided.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating with you!

Diploma Pickup

Students will receive the diploma binder during the ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the actual diploma can be picked up in the auditeria of the high school.

Below you will find the livestream link for graduation.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD2Emsl87RwKq9epY18fMVg

Congratulations to Addison Ranly on being named a National Merit Finalist for 2026. Addison's test scores put her in the top 1% of all test takers in the United States. This is a great accomplishment and we are extremely proud of Addison.

National Merit

This year’s National Merit Scholarship Program began in October 2024 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. This past fall, the highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named Semifinalists on a state-representational basis. More than 16,000 Semifinalists had an opportunity to continue in the competition.

From the Semifinalist group, over 15,000 students met the very high academic standards and other requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. By the conclusion of the 2026 program, about 6,700 Finalists will have earned the “Merit Scholar” title.

National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors. These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

Congratulations to Addison Ranly for her $2,500 National Merit Scholarship and being named a National Merit. What an amazing accomplishment!

May 27: Senior Awards Assembly This ceremony is for seniors at 7 pm at the high school. You will receive notice if you need to be present. Business dress is required.

May 28: Mandatory Graduation Practice at 9:45 am. Make sure you call off work if needed and make any arrangements to be here on this day, as it is mandatory for participation in the graduation ceremony. Practice usually lasts until about 11:45 am if all goes smoothly.

May 31: Graduation! Seniors should arrive no later than 1:30 pm. Graduation begins at 2pm.

Final Exam Schedule and Information

Please see the flyer below.

Class of 2026, please fill out this Google Form to let your counselors know if you have Scholarship & Monetary Awards money that you have won.

We need YOUR expertise! Planning ahead for the 2026-27 school year, we hope to offer authentic and hands-on experiences for our students that help them build future ready skills and explore what their futures might look like! Please fill out this survey with your information to help us build a foundation of local business partnerships.

Future Ready Survey

The landscape of options for high school students is changing as quickly as the job market. To help support parents in future ready conversations with their students about scheduling, work based learning through our ELEVATE program, and how what students are doing now may help them in their future, here are a few resources:

Wondering what CCP courses will transfer to Ohio colleges? Check out this resource

Wondering what your student is considering as a future pathway? Schoolinks provides surveys, resume building tools, college virtual tours, and a place to request transcripts, just to name a few features. Parents have access to Schoolinks! Login to https://app.schoolinks.com/recover-password using the email you provided to the school as your contact information. You will then receive an email that allows you to create a new password. Once you have created your password, you can log in using this link: https://app.schoolinks.com/login/k12"

Detailed directions provided in the link below.

Link

Last week, AP Biology students visited 2nd grade classrooms at Monroe Elementary. The 2nd graders were learning about animal and plant life cycles as a follow up to their Franklin Park Conservatory field trip. With the help of district librarian Shelley Conley, AP Biology students used this experience to write and illustrate a children's picture book about the life cycle of sea turtles, connecting it to the knowledge they gained this year and applying it in an age-appropriate manner. They shared the story and an activity to bring awareness of the harms that sea turtles face in the few days following hatching. 2nd graders were tasked with designing a habitat or apparatus to help protect young sea turtles and help them migrate to the ocean. It was a great way to reach young learners and end the year in a fun and challenging way.

Students in College and Career Readiness visited Plain City Elementary on Tuesday, May 19. Through Lead 4 Change, “a free, nationally recognized leadership program for middle and high school students that earns students accreditation towards graduation and that empowers youth to identify community needs and lead positive, service-oriented change," students brainstormed, organized, created an action plan, and completed a project designed to supply ALL JA Preschool students with Summer Activity Kits.

ODEW Survey: The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) would like to invite you to participate in a short, 25 question survey about your involvement in your student’s education. You may be eligible to participate if your child has an IEP and receives special education services. The purpose of collecting this information is to improve services for students with disabilities across Ohio.

Please see the following links to participate:

• English

• Spanish

• Arabic

Upcoming JAHS Band Events:

Student Director Interviews

Thursday May 28th 12:00pm

Open to all current juniors Thursday May 28th 12:00pm until we finish (usually by end of school day. 26-27 Student Directors will be announced at Graduation.

JAHS Drumline 2026-27 Auditions

Thursday May 28th from 2:45-4:30

We will have auditions on Thursday 5/28 from 2:45-4:30pm. The audition will consist of learning a few basic exercises and general technique across the 4 instruments to find the best fit for each student. You may bring your own sticks as long as they are marching sticks, if you do not, we will have extra pairs provided.

We ask that everyone select two of the following instruments as your prefered instrument choice as we do take these into consideration during the audition process: Snare, Bass, Cymbals, Tenors. Additional music will be given at the audition and you will be required to have a binder with sheet protectors for all rehearsals, along with a pencil to make revisions.

Memorial Day Parade/Service

Monday, May 25th at 10:00 AM

All Students will report to JAHS on Monday, May 25th at 9:00 AM. Please have your red band shirt, black shorts, and long black socks for this day. We will not be wearing hats or gloves and should finish by 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. **THIS IS THE BAND EXAM GRADE.

Graduation Band

Sunday, May 31st at 2:00 PM

Wind Symphony Members plus any additional musicians or substitutes. Students will report to JAHS Stadium on Sunday, May 31st at 1 PM. Please plan to dress up for this event. (Nice shorts are ok since we will be outside). We should be finished by 3:30PM. Bring sunscreen and water! *Seniors are responsible for getting your instrument to and from the stadium

Summer Band Camp Dates:

New Marcher Camp

Wednesday, July 29th - Friday, July 31st

*Required for all 2026-27 New Marchers, Seniors,*

Tubas, and Percussion

9am-4pm- JAHS Band Room/Practice Field

JAHS Band Camp

Monday, August 3rd - Friday, August 7th

Monday, August 10th - Friday, August 14th

*Required for All 2026-27 Band Students*

9am-4pm- JAHS Band Room/Practice Field

JAHS Meet the Band Night

Thursday, August 13th 7:00PM @ JAHS Performance Stadium

YEARBOOK PURCHASE DIRECTIONS:

1. Visit yearbookforever.com

2. Search for Jonathan Alder High School

3. Click on Jonathan Alder

4. Choose the yearbook options you would like

YEARBOOK NEEDS YOUR PHOTOS! If you have a freshmen or sophomore student, please email photos for consideration to Mrs. Sheridan at sheridca@japioneers.org

All JAHS fees are now due. Please submit payment as soon as possible to ensure your student does not miss out on upcoming spring activities and field trips. If needed, payment arrangements can be made with Mrs. Puckett in the high school office.

Junior Families,

Ohio law requires all 12th graders to receive the Meningitis (ACWY) vaccine (this is a booster dose to the one they receive in 7th grade). Please make plans to schedule over the summer and turn documentation into the main office PRIOR to the start of the 26/27 school year. All vaccination information can be found under the Health Services tab on the JALSD website. Any questions may be directed to our nurse Tia Rutherford. rutherti@japioneers.org

As another successful athletic year comes to a close, the Athletic Boosters would like to thank our athletes, families, volunteers, coaches, sponsors, and supporters for everything you have done to make this year so special. Your time, dedication, and generosity continue to make a positive impact on our programs and student-athletes. We truly could not do this without you.

We extend a special congratulations to our senior athletes and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We are proud of all they have accomplished both on and off the field!

We also look forward to another successful year ahead under the leadership of our 2026–2027 Athletic Booster officers:

Erica Warren- President

Kelly Sifrit - Vice President

Nikki Damron - Treasurer

Jaclyn Donaldson - Secretary

Rebekah Kennedy, President
Jonathan Alder Athletic Boosters
GO PIONEERS!

Jonathan Alder Music Boosters

The mission of the Jonathan Alder Music Boosters (JAMB) is to provide organizational and financial support to the performing arts program in Grades 5 through 12 at Jonathan Alder. Information about the arts programs, upcoming performances, events, and volunteer opportunities can be found at www.jamb-arts.org

As the school year comes to an end, the Music Boosters would like to thank all the family and friends who volunteered their time, made financial contributions, and helped make the band, choir, and theater programs at Jonathan Alder High School successful!

We are already looking forward to the 2026-27 school year and encourage anyone interested to join us in an Executive Member capacity, as a Chairperson, or as a Volunteer for upcoming events. Specifically, we are looking for:

• Treasurer (Executive Member) - This person would ideally have an accounting background and would handle financial matters for the booster group and arts programs at Jonathan Alder. This role interacts directly with the Directors of the band, choir, and theater programs and involves bookkeeping, taxes, issuing checks for payments and reimbursements, etc. Our current Treasurer's term is expiring but she will be available for training and assistance for the new Treasurer as they ease into the role.

• Concessions Chairperson (shadow for 2026-27 school year with expectation to assume full role for 2027-28 school year) - This role involves ordering food/drinks/candy, and running the Vistor's Side concession stand throughout the football season. Additionally, this Concessions Chair will coordinate with the Directors for any concessions needed for the school play, musical, or other events. The majority of the responsibilities for the Concession Chair fall within a several month time period in the fall, followed by two weeks spread throughout the remainder of the school year.

• Shopper(s) - This role is responsible for shopping for food and items needed for the arts programs. The role can either be filled by one person or can be divided amongst two people. The person in this role should have availability during the day to order and pick up food or receive deliveries, especially during football season. For example, this person would order and pick up the food from Raising Canes, then bring it to the high school in time for the concession stand to open on Friday night home games. Items that can be delivered, such as Jet's Pizza or Pepsi, would require the shopper to be available to meet the driver at the concession stand. Ordering is done either online or via phone and we typically shop at Sam's Club, Kroger, GFS, and Gold Medal for other items.

• JAM Fest Chairperson - This role involves working alongside the choir Director to coordinate and oversee JAM Fest. JAM Fest is a one-night musical performance competition highlighting singers and instrumentalists from Jonathan Alder High School and Junior High and is the main fundraiser for the choral department. Responsibilities include coordinating concessions, decorations, volunteers, awards, etc. The Chairperson will have the support and assistance of the VP of Choir, who ran JAM Fest for the 2025-26 school year.

• Special Foods Chairperson (Band) - This role coordinates with the Directors and VP of Band to provide food or snacks for the band students throughout the year in grades 5-12. The time commitment is minimal and the Chairperson can enlist the help of other volunteers. This person will also oversee volunteer sign ups and food donations. Typical duties include coordinating food for summer band camp and away games, bringing donuts or ordering pizza for class events, etc.

• Special Foods Chairperson (Choir/Theater) - This role coordinates with the Director and VP of Choir to provide food or snacks for the choir and theater students throughout the year in grades 7-12. The time commitment is minimal and the Chairperson can enlist the help of other volunteers. This person will also oversee volunteer sign ups and food donations. Typical duties include coordinating meals and snacks for Harmoneers camp and for the school play and musical during tech weeks.

If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities, please reach out to any of the following for more information:

• Executive Members: Niki Talik (president@jamb-arts.org), Amy Berger (treasurer@jamb-arts.org), Sonja Nunamaker (secretary@jamb-arts.org), Jennifer Rich (vpband@jamb-arts.org), Heidi Sebestyen (vpchoir@jamb-arts.org)
• Directors: Mr. Justin Hennig (hennigju@japioneers.org), Ms. ReneeHostetler (hostetre@japioneers.org), Mr. Nicholas Mayes (mayesni@japioneers.org)

For upcoming events, information on meetings, announcements, and volunteer opportunities, please follow the Jonathan Alder Music Boosters on Facebook and Instagram.

Niki Talik

president@jamb-arts.org

614-499-0475 cell

As summer approaches, we all look forward to a break from the daily school routine and one tradition our students and families especially enjoy is our Jonathan Alder Summer Youth Sports Camps.

This summer, most of our athletic teams will once again be hosting youth camps, providing great opportunities for students to stay active, build skills, and have fun with our Pioneer coaches and athletes. Whether you are a parent or student, summer camps are always a highlight of the season.

To make the process as simple and convenient as possible, all registrations for our Summer Youth Sports Camps will once again be handled online through one central website. You can view all available camps, register, and make payments at:

https://alderathletics.com/camps-clinics/

You can also access the camps page through the Athletic Boosters website at jaboosters.com by clicking on “Camps and Clinics” at the bottom of the homepage.

Our online registration system provides a quick and easy one-stop experience, eliminating the need to mail forms, drop off paperwork, or send registrations in with students. Most of our Summer Youth Camps are already live, so we encourage you to visit the website and register your children for one or more camps this summer.

If you need assistance navigating the website, registering, making a payment, or if you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Office at 614-873-4642.

We look forward to seeing your children at our Pioneer Youth Summer Camps this year!

YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS WEBSITE - Camps & Clinics – Jonathan Alder Athletic Payments

Website - Athletics | Jonathan Alder High School

Twitter - Jonathan Alder Athletics (@AlderAthletics) / Posts / X

Instagram - Alder Athletics (@alderathletics) • Instagram photos and videos

1. Course Handbook

2. Student Handbook

3. Athletic Handbook

4. Bell Schedule

5. Final Forms

6. Course Supply Lists

7. Information about Canvas and Progressbook

8. Lunch Menus

9. School Fees

10. Work Permits

Please visit our website at the link above for information on all of these topics and more.

Please visit the transportation page for information on stopfinder and transportation resources.

Cindy Wolfe will be the counselor for students names that end in A-K.

wolfeci@japioneers.org

614-873-4642 ext 2012

https://calendly.com/wolfeci

use the link above to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Wolfe

Anne Depriest will be the counselor for students names that end in L-Z

depriean@japioneers.org

614-873-4642 ext 2010

https://calendly.com/depriean

use the link above to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Depriest

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Dear Parent and Students,

The Jonathan Alder Board of Education created a Personal Communication Devices (PCD) Policy in order to Elevate our teaching and learning practices across the district. Research shows that student use of cell phones in schools has negative effects on student academic performance and mental health. Cell phones distract students from classroom instruction, harming learning gains and resulting in lower test scores.

Recently passed legislation requires every school district in Ohio to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage during school hours.

Specifically, at the high school, students should prepare for cell phones not to be visible during any instructional time. Each classroom will be equipped with technology for students to have access to Canvas and online learning platforms. Students are permitted to bring their own computer for educational purposes only. In the event students need to communicate with families, the office phone will be made available.

The complete policy is available for your review HERE. Please do not hesitate to contact the high school administration with any questions.

For more information and studies pertaining to the impact cell phone usage has on our students, please review the following on social deprivation, sleep deprivation, and attention fragmentation. For students, these harms may contribute to an increase in youth mental health concerns and have negative impacts on academic performance. Youth mental health symptoms and disorders continue to rise at concerning levels in the United States, with at least 1 in 5 children reporting mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders.

Nothing in this policy prohibits a student from using a cell phone for a purpose documented in the student’s individualized education program developed under Chapter 3323 of the Ohio Revised Code or a plan developed under section 504 of the "Rehabilitation Act of 1973," 29 U.S.C. 794. A student may use a cell phone to monitor or address a health concern.

The safety, development and overall growth of our students is the district’s highest priority. Anything pertaining to the information in this letter can be directed to the Administration or the Jonathan Alder Board of Education. We are here to serve.

We are grateful and appreciative of your attention to this very important matter.

The Jonathan Alder Local Schools

Please be advised of the recently changed Valedictorian policy which impacts the cohort of 2028 and beyond. The Jonathan Alder Board of Education updated the decades old Valedictorian/Salutatorian calculation in order to increase rigor and standard for the top graduating students. In order to earn the highest rating, student(s) will use the following scale:

• All "regular" courses will be based on the normal 4.0 scale: (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0).
• Courses designated as honors courses will be based on a 4.5 scale: (A=4.5, B=3.5, C=2.5, D=1, F=0).
• Any Advanced Placement (AP), Post Secondary and CCP courses will be on a 5.0 scale: (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=1, F=0).

All grades, including final examinations, will be included in determining the student with the highest academic average (valedictorian) and the second highest average (salutatorian).

Please don't hesitate to contact HS administration with any questions.

Please make sure that you update your information (contact information, email, phone number) and complete all paperwork in Final Forms. Please click here for Final Forms or you can go to alder.k12.oh.us and find the link.

Website: www.alder.k12.oh.us
Location: 9200 US Route 42 S Plain City Ohio, 43064
Phone: 614 873 4642
Facebook: facebook.com/JonathanAlderHighSchool
Twitter: @AlderHS