The Cyclone Watch

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year at JMS! My name is Jacob Adams and I am proud to serve as the principal at Jeff, a place that holds a special spot in my heart. Joining me on our administrative team is Mrs. Hilary Trammell, our assistant principal and Mr. Jeremiah Settles, our administrative assistant. Together we are excited to lead this building into a new school year full of that same high achievement that we have come to expect at JMS.

Whether you are just starting out your Cyclone career with us as a 6th grader or are ready for your last lap before high school as our 8th grade leaders, we hare happy you are here. Our goal this year is to maintain and build upon the successes that we have shown as Cyclones and to lead our STEAM mission into the future.

Again, welcome to another great year at JMS. Please feel free to contact me at jadams@cpsk12.org or at 573-214-3210. Be sure to follow our JMS instagram account @jmscyclone.

Jacob Adams

Principal

On Tuesday, July 15th you received email communications from Columbia Public Schools (CPS) <cpscomm@cpsk12.org> regarding Back-To-School Registration & User ID and Password Information. These emails provided directions for completing the required annual registration along with your Guardian ID. To support our families with Enrollment & Registration Jeff Middle School's registrar office will are open from 7:00-2:00

The links to begin online registration are below:

This is a reminder that it's time to complete the annual school registration process. Below you will find items and information you will need to begin the 2025-2026 school year, including information on completing the annual registration process, school supplies, transportation, and more.

The first step is to complete your student's annual registration information via the CPS Families Portal.

To begin, log in to the CPS Families Portal with your CPS-issued guardian ID and password.

Your guardian ID and/or password information can also be found at the CPS Families Portal Username and Guardian Email Check.

• Forgot your ID?
• Forgot your password

You should have also received a separate reminder email with account information to assist you.

Once logged in to the CPS Families Portal, locate the Campus Parent icon to begin the annual registration update process. Within the registration update process, you will have access to the following:

• School registration updates: (updating your student's contact information, emergency contact information, health information, bus information, school lunch status, acknowledgments and agreements, etc.)
• Bus Opt-In: Families must indicate if they will require bus transportation services each school year. This is included as a question within the registration update. It is a mandatory question that requires an answer to complete your registration submission. Families that indicate they will require transportation and need alternate pick-up or drop-off accommodations can then complete the Alternate Transportation Survey tab on the portal.
  
  Bus opt-in information must be completed by August 1 to receive bus transportation on the first day of school.
  
  The deadline for late opt-in requests is September 3. Appeals for transportation outside of the eligible rider distance will not be considered until after the routing timeline is complete following the September 3 late deadline.

As a reminder, Columbia Public Schools only offers transportation services to those students who meet the following qualifications based on home of residence:

• High School (grades 9-12): reside 2 miles or more from school
• Middle School: (grades 6-8) reside 1 mile or more from school
• Elementary (grades K-5): reside 1 mile or more from school

For technical assistance accessing the CPS Families Portal, visit our FAQ page. If you have questions about the registration forms you're completing or the data you see in them, contact your student's school or the District Registrar.

You can find more information about the new school year on the school district's website at www.cpsk12.org/back2school.

Students who need transportation to and from school will need to OPT IN for that transportation by Friday, August 1st. A bus route for those eligible for bus transportation WILL NOT be secured for the first day of school unless the Enrollment & Registration process (including transportation OPT IN) is completed by Friday, August 1st.

You will not be routed for a bus for the first day of school unless you OPT-IN for bussing on the online registration page BEFORE August 1. Any registrations after 8/1/25 will not be routed for multiple weeks.

The deadline for late opt-in requests is September 3. Appeals for transportation outside of the eligible rider distance will not be considered until after the routing timeline is complete following the September 3 late deadline.

JMS is a no-phone campus during the hours of 7:25-2:35. Students are not able to use or access phones while in classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeterias and all other school areas. This is a change from SY25 due to the passage of Senate Bill 63 which was recently signed into law. Students will not be allowed to use cell phones at any point during the school day.

Our goal is to provide a learning environment that is free from distractions and provides scholars the opportunity to engage in real-time collaboration with their teachers and peers. This communication allows all stakeholders to stay informed, and engaged, so we can partner together and provide a positive and productive school experience for all students within Columbia Public Schools. If you have any questions or need further clarification on any aspect of the cell phone procedures, please do not hesitate to contact our office

JMS will hold an open house night on August 13th from 5 to 7 pm. This is a great chance to come in and check out your schedule, walk through the building, get acquainted with nutrition services and get your online portal taken care of if you had run into difficulty. We will have opportunities to sign up for PTA.

At this open house, we hill have various tables set up to get your field trip forms turned in (We take a lot of field trips at Jeff!), pay end of year field trip fees, buy a yearbook, and check on specific school supplies.

Our Back to School Night is August 26th from 5-7pm. This is an opportunity to get familiar with JMS and your student's teachers. During the event, you will have the opportunity to experience your student's schedule for the day and spend about 10 minutes with each teacher in groups. It is not intended for individual meetings with teachers. If you need to meet with your student's teacher individually, we encourage you to contact them directly and set up a time.

The Athletic/Activities Department would like to extend an early welcome to JMS incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. It is our hope that every student gets involved in an ECA activity or athletic team while at Jefferson Middle School.

Seventh and Eighth grade students may try out for Cross Country, Football, and Volleyball in the fall, Basketball in the fall/winter and Track and Field in the spring. Start dates for these sports will be communicated via the JMS website, the Cyclone Watch and morning announcements.

All student athletes must have a current physical and proof of insurance to participate in Columbia Public Schools athletics. Please make sure to complete all parts of the physical form and submit a copy to the main office. Physicals are good for 2 years so for example, 8th graders who participated in a sport as a 7th grader will not need a new physical.

Again, it is our goal to get all students involved in extracurricular activities and athletics at Jefferson Middle School. Research indicates a high correlation between student involvement in extracurricular activities and achievement levels, plus students tend to really enjoy coming to school the more they are involved. The Athletic/Activities Department of Jefferson Middle School looks forward to working with you and your student this upcoming year.

If your child would like to participate in a Fall Sport (7th & 8th only) please be sure to contact the appropriate coach so they can add you to their email list as this will be the most direct way for them to communicate with you and your athlete.

Fall Start Date: Monday, August 18

7th - 8th Grade Cross Country begins at JMS, Head Coach Catherine Sadowski csadowski@cpsk12.org

7th & 8th Grade Football begins at JMS, Head Coach Mike Cleppe mcleppe@cpsk12.org

7th & 8th Grade Volleyball tryouts begins at JMS, Head Coach Jodi Rowe jrowe@cpsk12.org

7th & 8th Grade Cheer begins at JMS, Head Coach Jordyn Kendall jowalters@cpsk12.org

Check the JMS website for further information.

Jodi Rowe

JMS Athletic/Activities Director

jrowe@cpsk12.org

CYCLONE NATION!!

One clarification and correction is needed about Cyclone Football Camp. In our May newsletter, the dates were mistaken. Cyclone Football camp will be July 28th to August 1st.

6th Graders, we are looking forward to seeing you on August 18th for Jumpstart Day! Doors open at 7:00 AM and we start at 7:25 with a great day to introduce you to Jeff! We wrap up the day at 12:05 (busses will be running that day) after a hot dog lunch.

Jumpstart Day is a fun-filled day of activities for incoming 6th grade students to get you ready for Jeff. We will be doing activities outside (weather dependent) and throughout the building. Please rememebr to dress for the weather. Jumpstart Day is not the time to wear your best new school shoes!

Can't wait to see you all there

JMS students will take pictures on August 26th during the school day. Please see the flyer in the documents section to order through Interstate Studios.

You may order pictures by visiting www.inter-state.com/order and using the event code 0084PTT

Those of you who were with us last year know that we end the school year right! While we are just starting, we wanted to provide a chance to get all of the end of year fees taken care of early and in one spot. Below, you will see a link to each grade's social fee at the end of the year with an explainer of what the cost covers. We try to provide a memorable experience for students to wrap up the year. We will have a table set up at our Open House Night for questions and to check this off your list. Never to early to start planning for May!

Follow JMS on Instagram

@jmscyclone

Email: jadams@cpsk12.org
Website: https://www.cpsk12.org/jms
Location: 713 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: 573-214-3210