News and events - Oct. 2, 2026

Picture make-up day is on Tuesday, October 13. Students who did not attend Passport Day will receive a pass to get their picture taken on Tuesday, October 13. Even if you do not plan to purchase school pictures, this picture is used in the yearbook, on student ID cards, and in Synergy for student identification for teachers. Pictures can be purchased online with the Picture Day ID: EVTBHP97T

Picture RETAKE day will be on Tuesday, November 17. This is for any student who missed both Passport Day and picture make-up day, or students who would like to have their picture retaken.

Mark your calendars: October 26–30 the beloved Book Fair returns, and middle schoolers can’t wait to explore new reads, cool finds, and all the fun!

To make this magical week happen, we desperately need volunteers - every time slot must be filled to keep things running smoothly! Volunteers will help run the cash register and restock books, making sure the fair is a great experience for every student.

If you'd like to help us out, please check to see if any times work with your schedule: Time Slots Available.

Then, fill out Jackson MS Volunteer Application (if you have not already this school year).

Send a message to MSVolunteerServicese@ahschools.us if you have general questions about volunteering or need assistance with the volunteer paperwork.

Let’s make this year’s fair the best one yet!

This year JMS will be running two fundraising events. The first one will Kickoff on Monday, October 5 with Believe Kids. It is a fundraiser that is prize based - meaning that the more the kids sell (catalog orders or cash/online donations) the more prizes they earn. The envelopes will come home on Monday and kids are encouraged to get 10 contacts entered to earn their first prize - the squiggly noodle! Students can monitor on a dashboard top sellers! Supporters can shop from over 500 products and ship straight to their homes.

Parent Letter for Fall fundraiser.

This fundraiser will run from Monday, October 5 - October 23.

The second fundraiser we will hold is in the spring and it is through Apex and it is also a prize based fundraiser AND new this year - your child could earn a spot in the FIRST EVER - color fun run!!!

The purpose of fundraising is to: update technology and drive down costs of transportation for the variety of student experiences we host throughout the year. Thank you to all of our families and students who participate in making a difference with your ongoing support!

Questions: camille.mattson@ahschools us

Join us for a fun-filled Halloween Activity Night! There will be a DJ, games, karaoke, and a costume contest for all students. Costumes should be school-appropriate and non-violent in theme.

Tickets: $5 each, sold before school October 26–30. Tickets will not be available at the door.

6th Grade:

• Time: Right after school until 5:00 PM

• Tickets sold at Door 58 from 8:05-8:25 am

• Pick-up: East Pool Lot by 5:10 PM

• Students may change into their costumes after school (no costumes during the school day).

7th & 8th Grade:

• Time: 6:00–8:00 PM

• Tickets sold at Door 3 from 8:05-8:25 am

• Pick-up: East Pool Lot by 8:10 PM

Please plan to pick up your student promptly—students must be picked up by a parent or guardian within 10 minutes of the activity ending. Timely pickups help ensure that we can continue offering fun events like this in the future.

This event is for JMS students only, and all school rules will be in effect.

We can’t wait to see everyone for a night of Halloween fun!

Do you have a wealth of facts floating around in your brain? Do you enjoy answering random trivia? Find some friends, form a team, and have fun! Join JMS Knowledge Bowl!

Informational meeting- Wednesday, October 7, after school in the Rebel Center.

Practice Dates- Wednesdays after school October 21 - February 18.

Meet dates- December 1, January 28, February 11- after school until 8pm.

Order your 2026-2027 yearbook now! Pre-ordered yearbooks are $30 and include iTag personalization. When ordering online, find the iTag box under the add accessories section. Click “ADD” to receive this free personalization.

Click here to reserve your yearbook now!

We are off to a wonderful start this school year! Parent involvement is vital to keeping our community vibrant and supported, and we would love to have your partnership. Here is a quick look at upcoming opportunities to get involved:

Volunteer Opportunity List

• Submit Your Volunteer App: Remember that a background check must be renewed every school year. If you would like to chaperone future 7th-grade field trips or help on campus, please fill out the annual JMS Volunteer Application.
• Explore Volunteer Shifts: You can view and claim specific volunteer slots, or sign up for field trips on our JMS SignUpGenius Hub.
• Conference Snack Donation Request: Sign up to purchase and bring in snacks / beverages for staff on October 20 and 21. Conference Snack Sign Up
• Complete the Survey: Please take a brief moment to fill out our Parent Involvement Survey to share your feedback and join school groups. Parent Involvement Survey

Key Dates & Volunteer Slots Needed:

• Oct 20 & 21: Drop off conference snacks and beverages for staff appreciation!
• Oct 22 (2:30–4:00 PM): Help serve the staff pizza buffet line before conferences.
• Oct 26 - 30 (All Day): Book Fair volunteer sign up
• Oct 27 (1:45–2:45 PM): Help set up conference snacks for teachers.
• Nov 11, Jan 27, & Apr 14 (7:00–8:00 PM): Join our online Parent Advisory Group meetings via Google Meet to connect with school leaders.

Thank you so much for your time, energy, and dedication to supporting our students and staff!

To ensure student safety and efficient traffic flow, please use the east JMS lot for all student drop-offs and pick-ups. This includes before and after school, as well as after school activities. Using this designated area is essential to keep the bus lanes clear.

Due to the high volume of traffic, it's critical that all vehicles follow the marked lanes around the large loop to the designated drop-off area. This helps protect students and staff who are walking. Students may exit cars along the entire length of the drop-off area.

We strongly encourage families to use district-provided transportation whenever possible to reduce traffic congestion.

Please note: Students are not to be dropped off in the CBPA parking lot, or on 109th Avenue.

Students must have a pass from a teacher to enter the building before 8:00 AM. Our cafeteria opens for breakfast at 8:00 AM, and students eating breakfast should enter through Door #4. All other students are welcome to enter the school at 8:05 AM, when all other doors are open.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students and staff safe.

Students need to attend school to achieve in school. Anoka-Hennepin Schools aims to share attendance and resources and tips with families to support student success.

Every day counts: Research shows that missing 10 percent of school negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month! (Attendance Works.) District student services staff and attendance secretaries at each school may reach out to families throughout the school year if your student is at risk of truancy.

Why it matters: The more involved students are in school, the more likely they are to enjoy and want to attend school. Students who attend school 95% of the time are:

• More likely to be on track to graduate on time.

• Do better in reading and math.

• Are less likely to fail a class.

• Are more likely to have the credits needed to graduate.

Families can make a difference: We can all work together to support students. Consider how you can help your student attend to achieve!

• Teach your child to organize their clothes, lunch and books for school the night before, so they are prepared in the morning.

• Encourage your child to participate in before- or after-school activities. Students who are involved at school usually enjoy school more and are more likely to want to attend each day.

• Schedule non-emergency health and dental appointments outside of school hours; and schedule vacations for days your children don’t have school.

• If you know your child needs to miss school, contact the office as soon as possible to coordinate plans as soon as possible.

Watch the video to learn more about why attendance matters.

Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school classrooms. Students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.

As part of Anoka-Hennepin Schools' commitment to student safety and well-being, an optional technology tool is now available for district families at no charge, “GoGuardian Parent.” This application provides parents with insights into their child’s online activity within their school-managed accounts and devices.

Features include:

• Review of browsing history.

• Blocking of specific websites during out-of-school hours.

• Pause internet access on demand during out-of-school hours.

• Scheduled times to pause internet access during out-of-school hours.

Participation in GoGuardian Parent is optional. Anoka-Hennepin Schools respects parental rights and provides this tool as an additional resource for families who wish to utilize it.

Read instructions to get started.

Student Handbook

26/27 MS Digital Day Calendar

JMS Bell Schedule