JCIB Middle News

It's that bittersweet time of the year when summer comes to an end! While we hope that you all had a wonderful summer full of great memories, we are excited to welcome our students back into the building on Thursday, August 7.

Throughout the year, our goal is to carry out the school's vision statement in the classroom and beyond. JCIB's vision is to "cultivate intellectually curious, internationally-minded individuals who possess the skills, knowledge, and creativity to positively impact lives through compassion and tolerance in an ever-changing world." With your partnership, we can have an immense impact of the growth and development of our students.

Below, you will find some valuable information pertinent to the start of school.

Bus Transportation and Behavior Requirements

Buses are scheduled to arrive and depart at the scheduled times. If bus arrival or departure times change, communication will take place via ParentSquare. Buses may not stop to pick up students once they begin moving from the pickup location. Parents, under no circumstance should a vehicle be used to prevent a bus from pulling off. Also, the bus should never be followed with the expectation that it will stop to pick a student up anywhere other than the designated bus stop. It may take several days for bus route times to become more exact, as back-to-school traffic often impacts our commute times.

All students are expected to follow bus rules. A failure to follow bus rules may result in a bus suspension. Please encourage your student to follow bus rules and expectations so all students have a safe and supportive ride to and from school. There are many things that students can do on the bus to create a positive and safe environment, including:

• homework
• read a book
• listen to music (with headphone)
• talk calmly to seatmates
• etc.

Students may not scream, throw objects, put hands on one another, change seats while the bus is in motion, turn around in their seats, use profanity, leave messes, etc. Please access the Jefferson County Code of Conduct for specific behavior requirements on the bus.

Please read this section carefully, as student safety is our highest priority.

An adult will be directing traffic during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.

Morning procedures:

Both cars and buses will utilize one line in the morning for student drop-off. A teacher will be present in the morning to direct traffic starting at 7:20. Students may not be dropped off until that time. Please do not drive around buses after you drop your student off, as this poses a safety threat to students and drivers. Lastly, please only drop off your student in the arrival line, not the parking lot.

Dismissal procedures:

Buses will begin lining up in a single-file line for dismissal at approximately 2:30. If you arrive prior to the buses, please allow space at the front of the school for the buses to get around you. Behind the buses cars will form two lines. Once bus riders are dismissed, teachers will direct traffic. They are trained to get students in their vehicles safely, so please pay close attention to their directions when going through the car line. We kindly ask that all parents picking up students by car come through the car line, and not park in the parking lot. Your help during dismissal is greatly appreciated and helps us ensure that students are dismissed safely to their vehicles. Car riders must be picked up at 3:15.

All Jefferson County Schools utilize the approved Jefferson County Code of Conduct. Although we anticipate a great year, students do sometimes make unfortunate choices. If disciplinary situations arise, they will be addressed according to the Jefcoed Code of Conduct.

A common issue that teachers and administrators encounter are dress code violations. Please ensure that your child adheres to the dress code prior to arriving to school. Common dress code issues are torn/shredded jeans, exposed midriff, and shorts/skirt length.

Personal wireless communication devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, pagers, email devices, gaming devices, wearables, or any other portable electronic communication device that has the capability of exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with another electronic device. This includes earbuds or headphones with Bluetooth technology for wireless audio transmission.

• Unauthorized possession of a personal wireless communication device

• Students are only permitted to possess personal, wireless devices during the instructional day if the following requirements are met:

• The device remains turned off; and

• The device remains stored off their person in one of the following locations as determined by the local school principal for each school site;

• In a locker

• In a backpack

• In a school cell phone locker

• In a car

• Use of a personal wireless communication device during the instructional day

• Students may not use a personal wireless communication device during the instructional day.

• The instructional day is defined as the period of time during which students arrive on campus until the final dismissal bell rings. This time includes class transitions, lunch, and non-instructional times.

Responses for Violations:

1st infraction - Verbal warning, parent contacted by administrator, documentation in PowerSchool, device removed from student until the school day ends and parent pick up is required

2nd infraction - Verbal warning, parent contacted by administrator, documentation in PowerSchool, device removed from student until the school day ends and parent pick up is required; and up to six hours of detention or one day of out-of-school suspension, or one day of in school suspension.

3rd infraction - Verbal warning, parent contacted by administrator, documentation in PowerSchool, device removed from student until the school day ends and parent pick up is required; and up to one day out-of-school suspension or one day of in-school suspension.

4th infraction - Verbal warning, parent contacted by administrator, documentation in PowerSchool, device removed from student until the school day ends and parent pick up is required; and up to two days out-of-school suspension or two days of in-school suspension; and student loss of the privilege to bring any personal wireless communication device to school until the end of the semester.

**Note: Students may use a personal device while being transported on a school bus before and after the instructional day.

Students are not permitted to carry purses, messenger bags, other bags at school. Students will transport their belongings in their backpack. Makeup bags/pencil pouches are permitted (no larger than 10"X7").

Students who attend school regularly and are on time to class have greater academic success than those who are often absent and tardy. JCIB students who miss school often struggle to keep up with their assignments which creates stress on the student. Please make attendance and promptness a priority for your student. All excuses should be emailed or brought in to Mrs. McCrary, office secretary. She can be reached at marcymccrary@jefcoed.com.

Due to the negative impact student absences have on our State Report Card, vacations during school days will not be approved by administration. All parents have 7 parent excuses to use at your discretion during the school year. Many use these for illnesses that do not require a visit to a doctor, personal family matters, unavoidable trips, and other things. Use these with care because unexcused absences are unable to make up missed work.

Nine (9) unexcused absences from a class in a semester can result in a failing grade and zero earned credit in that class.

A grace period is offered during the first week as students work to figure out their class schedule, etc.

Please encourage your student to get to class on time. In middle school, tardies are often a result of disorganization and socialization. It can be helpful for you to look at your student's binder and backpack together to ensure they are organized and knowledgeable of where their materials for each class are located. Students who accumulate 9 or more tardies per semester may be withheld from participating in PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) activities, such as our annual Turkey Bowl and March Madness competitions. We want our students to develop healthy habits that will set them up for long-term academic and personal success.

We have class sets of computers available for all of our students to use during school hours.

If your student does not have access to a computer at home, please contact administration so that we can work with you to address the issue.

The bell schedule is available to view below. We run different bell schedules depending on events happening that day such as advisory, club activities, ceremonies, etc.

All medication must be dropped off and picked up by an adult. Do not, under any circumstance, send medication with a student to school. The nurse is available from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The nurse will be on campus Wednesday, August 6.

Jefcoed is proud to announce that all students will be served free breakfast and lunch during the 2025/2026 school year. Students will only have to pay if they purchase extra items. If you will purchasing extra items, please send a check or make a deposit in your students account because charging lunch (negative balance) is not allowed. Here is the link to the online payment platform. You can contact our cafeteria manager by emailing tscoggins@jefcoed.com.

Turning in work on time is an essential habit of a successful student. All teachers will utilize the same late work policy, regardless of grade level or subject.

McWane Science Center is hosting the Invent Your Future: Back-to-School STEM Career Fair—a special event where high school and middle school students can meet real professionals working in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Date: Saturday, August 9th

Time: 10am-2pm

Place: McWane Science Center Lobby

• We have bus stops at various locations throughout the county that parents transport their students to each morning and pick them up from each afternoon. Our current bus schedule is shared above so you can see the stops. Locations and times are subject to change.
• Students are not permitted to check out of school after 2:45 pm. Please make arrangements accordingly.
  
• If your student will be transported to school by car, drop-off begins at 7:20 am and pickup concludes by 3:15 pm each day.

• Email is by far the easiest way to reach an administrator or coordinator if you have questions. You'll find all of our contact information at the bottom of this newsletter.
• Email is also the easiest way for us to share information with you, so please check the email you shared with us regularly.
• This year's school calendar is shared below for your convenience.

The academic calendar is shared below for your convenience.

Lori Lightsey, Principal

Dr. Michael Cloninger, Asst Principal

Lauren Brown, MYP Coordinator

Dr. April Miller, DP Coordinator

Pleasant Grove Campus - (205) 379-5280

Shades Valley Campus - (205) 379-5356