The Jaguar Journal
November 2025
Email: jamessales@fpschools.org
Website: jamessales.fpschools.org
Location: 1301 113th St S, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4200
FAX: 253-298-4215
October 27 - November 14 ~ Butter Braids fundraiser
November 4 ~ Election Day
November 5 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
November 6 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
November 6 ~ LENS Project Performance - 5:00
November 7 ~ Treat Friday - Popcorn
November 8 ~ Adventure Club - 4th and 5th grade students and parents - Pinnacle Peak
November 11 ~ NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day
November 12 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
November 13 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
November 13 ~ Veterans Day concert - 4th and 5th grades - 5:30
November 14 ~ Health Screenings for grades K, 1, 2, 3, and 5
November 14 ~ Treat Friday - Fruit Snacks
November 18 ~ Pick up Butter Braids orders - 1:30 - 4:00
November 19 ~ 11:55 EARLY RELEASE - End 1st Trimester
November 20 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
November 21 ~ Treat Friday - Popcorn
November 26 ~ 11:55 EARLY RELEASE
November 27 ~ NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving
November 28 ~ NO SCHOOL - Native American Heritage Day
December 3 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
December 4 ~ Picture re-take day
December 4 ~ Treat money due by 9 AM
December 5 ~ Treat Friday - Fruit Snacks
Dear James Sales Families,
My how time flies! November is here already!
Thank you, parents and students, for all your support. Students are settling in nicely and working hard. Please check in with your child regularly to see what they are working on in class to see if any support is needed at home. At home you and your student can practice reading, memorize math facts, and assist your student with their homework. This support is incredibly important. Thanks in advance for your support in your child’s learning.
We appreciate you listening to and reading our weekly Parent Square messages and reading your emails as we work to keep you informed.
Sincerely,
Brandy Nelson, Principal
If you are struggling to feed your family, you can check for availability of food resources on this district webpage . The district will update the webpage as they learn of more resources. Also, Emergency Food Network’s website is also a great resource as EFN supports over 75 food pantries in the county.
On Tuesday, November 4, our community has the chance to shape the future. Voting is one of the most powerful ways to support our students and schools. The decisions made by elected leaders affect education, safety, and the resources our children depend on every day. We encourage all eligible parents, guardians, staff, and community members to make a plan to vote—And don't forget to return your completed ballot by 8pm on Tuesday! When you vote, you show students that civic engagement matters and help build a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Your vote shapes their tomorrow.
Drop boxes near Franklin Pierce:
- Summit Library, 5107 112th St E
- 72nd Street Transit Center, 1319 E 72nd St
- 13718 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444
- View all drop box locations: https://bit.ly/PCdropbox
To learn more about the upcoming election, visit https://www.piercecountywa.gov/elections.
The 4th and 5th grades will perform in honor of our veterans on Thursday, November 13th at 2:00 for the whole school and at 5:30 for families and all community members. Doors will open at 5:10. Students should arrive by 5:15. Plan to bring the family! We invite all veterans to wear their uniforms to be recognized at this special concert. Participation from all 4th and 5th graders is highly encouraged. Performing is a large part of learning, and all students should be present to have the experience and to encourage each other. Please contact Mr. Delgado if your student will NOT be attending the after-school performance.
November is Native American Heritage Month! While we recognize that Native and Indigenous peoples should be celebrated, recognized, and included in our academic curriculum every month, we are excited to take this specific opportunity to celebrate and recognize the ancestry and traditions of Native peoples—especially our James Sales students and families—throughout the month of November. If you or your family would like to contribute something to the display case in our main hallway, please fill out the form that was sent home with your student and return it along with the item. We look forward to partnering with you to celebrate Native American Heritage Month!
James Sales Elementary is excited to share that we’ve partnered with Sound Fundraising to raise funds for our school again this year! For our upcoming event, we will be selling the delicious Butter Braid® Pastries. Butter Braids are a light and flaky pastry, containing mouthwatering fillings like cinnamon, cream cheese and various fruit flavors. They are a hit! They are a frozen product initially. When ready to be enjoyed, they need to thaw and rise, overnight for example, to then be baked for a warm, fresh pastry, every time!
Our fundraiser will begin on Monday, October 27th and run through Friday, November 14th. All orders placed both online and with the paper order form will be delivered back to the school on Thursday, November 18th. Parents must be available to pick up orders on Tuesday, November 18th between 1:30 and 4:00 as we do not have the ability to store items overnight. Students will then deliver items back to their supporters. Please use the link below or scan the QR code below and on the paper order form to access our online store. Orders placed on the paper order form are cash sales only.
Select Seller | My Fundraising Place
These pastries make for a wonderful addition to any gathering, a lovely gift for friends and neighbors, or a special treat to enjoy together as a family! We appreciate your support in raising funds for exciting field trip opportunities for our students!
We're excited to introduce the FPS Family Academy, a new series of courses designed specifically for parents and guardians of PK-12 students! These hands-on sessions will help you confidently navigate the digital tools that keep you connected to your child's education. This series is brought to you by the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Strategic Partnerships & Communications.
Each course focuses on a different topic. The first course is about Family Access and helps parents use the school's website and apps. You will learn how to update your contact information and check your child's grades online. The class also teaches you about different ways schools send messages to families and how to choose which messages you want to receive.
Whether you're tech-savvy or just getting started with digital platforms, these sessions are designed to meet you where you are and build your confidence in supporting your child's success.
Our first course will take place on November 3rd from 5:30-6:30pm at the District Office (315 129th St S). This course will be offered in English and Spanish, please let us know if you need an interpreter for another language.
The end of the day at James Sales is a hectic time! If you forgot to send a note in the morning and need to call the office with a change to your child’s schedule, please do so before 2:40 so the office can get a message to your student before they leave for the day. All end of day schedule changes must be made through the office, not with the classroom teacher. The office will ensure the teacher is informed of the change.
Our James Sales Junior Adventure Club for 4th and 5th graders and their parents is ready to hike! Once a month these students will have the opportunity to go on an adventure somewhere in the Puget Sound area. Each student must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/relative. Any adult attending the adventures must be cleared as a volunteer. Access the volunteer application here! Please allow plenty of time for your application to be processed. It can take up to two weeks to be approved so do it as soon as possible.
Our next Adventure Club outing will be to Pinnacle Peak on November 8th. The bus will leave James Sales at 9 AM and return at around 3 PM. Wear sturdy hiking boots/shoes (no crocs) and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Bring a water bottle, and snacks in a backpack. Watch for permission slips to come home soon.
If you wish to give permission or decline permission for your child to be included in pictures for publication in our newsletter, in our James Sales social media, and on our website you can indicate your wishes by going to this form. If you give your permission for your child to appear in pictures, we can include them in photos from Adventure Club trips, activities at school and on field trips, etc. You can access the form here.
Congratulations to October’s students of the month who were honored at an assembly on October 31st!
These students were selected by their teachers for showing awareness and emotional regulation:
Zain I., Abagail L., Serenity A., Alan H., Kassondra F., Fatima M., Ava W., Bella J., James S., Cataleya O., Dean B., Kamila U., Paityn T., Damian O., Annette H., Jedidiah P., Mercy U., AJ B., Miranda C., Malika M., Pharaoh M., Damien E., Serena S., Isabella H., Shawn L., Kylie T., Alyanna F., Emmanuel H., Delano W., Renesme L., Judy C., Maiko P., Justin C., Ivy N., Felicia K., Lilly B., Sophia S., Lily H., Elizabeth B., and Bentley B.
From the Health Room
Book Fair Update
Picture Re-take Day is Coming
Treat Fridays continue in November! Treats will alternate between fruit snacks and popcorn. Please read the details of treat Friday below.
- Treats are 50¢ each week (exact change only).
- One treat per student may be purchased each week.
- Treat money must be turned in to teachers by 9 AM on the Thursday before Treat Friday! Late money will not be accepted.
- Parent volunteers to help with treat Fridays are needed. Please contact Mrs. Nelson (bnelson@fpschools.org) if you are interested in volunteering an hour or so each week.
School Assemblies
Jaguar Assemblies are held regularly to celebrate students who exemplify Jaguar Pride and our monthly character trait. Parents are invited to Jaguar Assemblies by the classroom teacher or letter from the school. Balloons are not allowed because they are a distraction. Other assemblies are held for a variety of reasons, such as school-wide expectations, PTO assemblies, and Veteran’s Day. Parents are invited to assemblies in which their child will participate.
School will dismiss at 11:55 on Wednesday, November 26th with no school on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28. We are thankful to work with the wonderful students and families of James Sales Elementary school. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
November 18-22 – Substitute Employees
Be sure to thank a sub for their diigence in keeping our school running when our staff members are out sick or at training meetings.
Please send an extra set of clothes in your Kindergarten or 1st grade student's backpack. Accidents happen and it is very helpful for students to have the clothes they need here at school so they can change and get back to class. We have a very limited amount of clothing to lend in our health room. If you child does not have a change of clothes with them, we will call you to bring clothing for them.
Each trimester our students have the opportunity to earn a special treat reward for meeting the following goals:
- Behavior - One or fewer Write -ups
- Attendance - Three or fewer absences and/or tardies
We hope all of our Jaguars will be able to meet these goals!
We anticipate the need for volunteers for field trips and other occasions. If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take two weeks or more to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application. If you need assistance with your application please come to the office, call 253-298-4200, or email Linda Morrison - limorrison@fpschools.org .
James Sales houses a before and after school care program on-site for our students. The care is provided by Right at School. Right at School provides a safe environment to learn, to play, and to grow. Click here for more information and to register.
Franklin Pierce Schools has a resource center for our families. You will find information and help for all sorts of situations and needs - food, diapers, formula, community referrals, and more. Click here to access the Family Resource Center website.
