Jaguar Journal

Hello JMS families!

Hope everyone is getting to enjoy this amazing stretch of weather! Here's this week's information!

The end of the first quarter is officially Thursday, October 15! This is the last week to ensure we are doing what we need to before grade cards get finalized for Quarter 1. It's crazy how time flies!

The deadline for all things Washington DC related is TODAY! I accidentally sent that out as an email reminder to the whole school - but it should have went to just 8th grade families. Sorry for that confusion. But 8th graders wanting to go to DC need to register by today. Scholarship applications, T-Shirt Design entries, and Chaperone applications are also due today. See the DC information below.

Our PTSA is asking for your help! They are running the "Anti-fundraiser Fundraiser" this month! Why purchase items you don't need just to have a percentage of it help our cause? This is just a donation drive to help raise funds to support all the amazing work PTSA does! This includes incentives for students, our end-of-year field day festivities, scholarships for graduating seniors, treats and snacks for students and staff, and much more! Please support their Anti-fundraiser Fundraiser below!

Lastly, our NJHS is in the planning stages of a Veterans Day Assembly being scheduled for Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30am. We'd love to have participation to honor veterans in our own students' families! Check out the information below from NJHS with all the details!

Please check out the rest of this week's important information below - including information about our Family Night at Circle S Farms on October 15th!

Daniel Boland

Principal

Jackson Middle School

jms.swcsd.us

Follow us on X: @JMS_Jaguars

TODAY ... Fri Oct 9 - Washington DC Trip Registrations Due!!

Tue Oct 13 - Orchestra Concert (at GCHS), 7pm

Wed Oct 14 - Makeup Picture Day; Choir Concert 7pm

Thu Oct 15 - End of 1st Quarter; Circle S Farms Family night (see below for more info)

Fri Oct 16 - No School (PD Day for teachers)

Tue Oct 20 - PTSA Mtg, 6pm

Fri Oct 30 - Winter SBC Scholarship Applications Due

Mon Nov 2 - Arts & Athletics Boosters, 6pm

Tue Nov 3 - No School - Election Day

Thu Nov 5 - Band Concert, 7pm

Wed Nov 11 - Veterans Day Assembly, 9:30am

Fri Nov 13 - Winter Pay to Participate Fees Due

Tue Nov 17 - PTSA Meeting, 6pm

Nov 25 - 27 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

See below for more information on these items

Today is the last day to do all things related to signing up for the Washington DC Trip! Registration is Due; T-Shirt Design Entries are Due; Scholarship Applications are Due; Chaperone Applications are Due. Please be sure to secure your spot by signing up today!

If you have any questions, check out the DC information page linked below, or email Mrs. Nesler!

Please support our PTSA in the amazing work they do by participating in our Anti-Fundraiser Fundraiser! This couldn't be simpler - click below and donate what you are able! Don't spend money on snacks and trinkets you don't need, just to have only a certain percentage help our group - donate straight to us and 100% of your donations stays in the PTSA! Anyone can donate - share the link on your socials, with grandparents, friends - anyone that may have bought candy or items from you on a typical fundraiser! Thank you so much for your support!

The easiest way to support PTSA is to just become a member! Membership is $10. Click the button below to join!

Our next PTSA meeting is Tuesday, October 20th, at 6pm in our library. Come see what it's all about! Our PTSA is a huge partner for our school, providing opportunities for recognition for our students and staff, hosting a dance, giving scholarships to graduating seniors, and making sure our end-of-year celebrations are an amazing experience for students! We can use your help!

Can't make it to the meeting, join us virtually! Click on the button below to join us on Google Meet!

Our PTSA is also available as a community rewards entity in the Kroger Community Rewards program! When you log into your Kroger app, go to Community Rewards, and our PTSA will receive donations based on your spending! Thanks in advance for helping our program!!

Veteran's Day is Wednesday, November 11. The National Junior Honor Society is hosting a special Veteran's Day program to honor the veterans in our community at 9:30 in the school gymnasium. If you or a loved one is a veteran, please join us and let us know you are planning to attend by filling out this form. If you have any pictures to share, there is an opportunity to do so in the form. We look forward to honoring our veterans on this day. We will have a reception with light refreshments for our veterans and families after the program.

Come celebrate the three day weekend, and get into the Fall spirit, at Circle S Farms! For only $11 (pay at the event) you can get a pumpkin, a treat, and engage in all kinds of fall activities! We hope to see lots of JMS Jaguars at the event just celebrating the season! Click on the button below for more information.

Our Our next Arts & Athletics Booster meeting is Monday October 5th. Mark those calendars! Can't make it in person? We offer a Google Meet Link as well. Click the button below to join!

Click the button below for a letter from the high school regarding what we need from Jackson students at Grove City football games. Ultimately, middle school students should either be in the Middle School student section, or with their parents on Friday nights. Thank you for your help with this!

October is Anti-Bullying Month across the country. As defined by Youth.gov, bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. At South Western City Schools, we encourage students to treat others with respect and how they would like to be treated K-12. As an extension of our "see something, say something" campaign we also encourage students who may witness unwanted behavior towards others to tell a trusted adult when possible as we all play a role in promoting a positive school environment.

For more information on October's Anti-Bullying Month, visit StompOutBullying.org or click the button below:

On November 3, 2026, South Western City Schools will present a No-New-Millage Bond Issue on the ballot—our first since 2018. Focused on high school facility improvements for grades 9–12, this measure will not raise the district tax rate, which has remained constant since 2009.

Approval of this initiative allows SWCS to execute Segment 3 of its long-range facilities plan while securing approximately

• $113 million in matching state funds. Key outcomes include:
• New High Schools: Constructing brand-new facilities for Grove City High School and Westland High School.
• Expanded Career Tech: Addressing waitlists at the South Western Career Academy.
• Targeted Upgrades: Investing in facility and athletic enhancements for Central Crossing High School and Franklin Heights High School.

Coffee & Conversation Informational Sessions

SWCS leadership invites community members, parents, and staff to learn more about the proposed projects. Special thanks to our community partners and local businesses for hosting these events.

• Friday, October 16, 2026 (10:00–11:00 a.m.)
  • Location: Prairie Township Community Center, 5955 W Broad St, Galloway, OH 43119
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (6:00–7:00 p.m.)
  • Location: The SWCS Welcome Center (formerly Brook Park Middle School), 2803 Southwest Blvd, Grove City, OH 43123

Stay Informed and Read more - click the button below

Arrival

Students may enter the building and go straight to the cafeteria beginning at 8:45am. Students should not arrive before 8:45, as staff is not available for supervision. When dropping students off, please ONLY drop off on the south side of the building. Our busses needing extra assistance drop off on the north side, and we cannot have extra traffic on this side. When dropping off on the south side (Mallow Lane side) please do not enter the bus lane closest to the building. Instead turn down the drop off lane, and pull as far forward as possible to drop off. The further you pull down, the more cars we can get in the lane to drop off at once, and the less waiting around you do as parents. Staff members will be in the drop-off lane encouraging you to pull forward, and to help monitor traffic flow and safety. Students should cross the bus lane ONLY at one of the two crosswalks.

Departure

We begin dismissal at 3:50 by dismissing car riders and walkers first. Again, please only use the south side of the building for picking up students - our busses need to not deal with extra traffic on the north side of the building. When picking students up, we form TWO lines in the drop-off lane, one on the left and one on the right. Please pull as far forward as possible to accommodate as many cars as possible. Once the drop-off lane is full, the rest of the cars are then directed to pull into the parking lot just south of the drop-off lane and park in a parking spot waiting for your child. Please be be patient getting out of the spot with the cars entering and exiting the lot. Students riding busses are then dismissed in the order their bus arrives.

Changes To Bus Passes for Daily Ridership

Beginning this school year, South Western City Schools is updating its student transportation procedures regarding bus passes and alternate drop-off locations to improve student safety and ensure accurate transportation for every child.

Students will continue to be assigned one morning pick-up location and one afternoon drop-off location within their school attendance boundaries. For families with established split-custody arrangements, Transportation can continue to accommodate consistent weekly schedules, such as specific weekdays, when they are communicated in advance.

However, students will no longer be permitted to ride home on a different bus with friends or relatives for social visits or other informal arrangements. Daily transportation changes create challenges for school offices and bus drivers, particularly substitute drivers, and increase the risk of students being transported to the wrong location. These updated procedures help ensure every student arrives safely at their authorized destination each day.

Just like last year, cell phones are prohibited from the time we enter the building at 8:45am until we start bus dismissal at 3:50pm. Phones must be off and out of sight during these times. At JMS, we warn our students in the first week at class meetings, and ANY violations from there forward start with After School Detentions. Repeat offenses can result in leaving the phone either at home or in the office for the entirety of the school day. We encourage families to help our students meet this expectation by reminding them of the rule and the consequences, and by not texting students during the day. If there is an emergent message that needs to get to your child, please call the main office a 614-801-3800.

Students are NOT able to bring in outside food/drink for lunch. This includes dropping off food from restaurants or having food delivered. The student handbook for all middle schools states this:

"We operate under a closed lunch policy. Students may not leave during the school day to get food. Students cannot order food for delivery from outside restaurants or businesses. Please do not bring restaurant food for your students during the day." (Page 15)

Thank you for your cooperation with this expectation!

Each year, it is vital for every family to log in to the Parent Portal and update and/or confirm the emergency contact information for their child. We need to ensure we have the most current information to reach parents. Click the button below to get to the Parent Portal. On the left side menu, press the "More" button, then look for Annual Information Update. Please complete this information as soon as possible.

Apply Today!

It is that time of year again to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application! For many families, they wonder if they qualify and for some that believe they do not qualify…sometimes they are surprised that they do end up qualifying and avoid unnecessary costs and meal debt in the process. As a rule of thumb, we suggest “it does not hurt to apply!” Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications need to be completed annually each school year.

Free and Reduced-Price Lunch eligibility is determined annually at the federal level using a sliding scale based upon a household’s combined income. Once a family qualifies, they receive either Free or Reduced-Price breakfast and lunch. Additionally, qualifying families are eligible for academic fee waivers for school supplies.

Beginning this school year, South Western City Schools students in grades 7-12 will begin using SchooLinks, a comprehensive college and career readiness platform designed to help every student answer one important question: What's my plan after graduation? Whether a student's future includes college, the military, a skilled trade, an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce, SchooLinks provides personalized tools to explore interests, discover career pathways, and build a meaningful post-graduation plan.

Throughout middle and high school, students will complete career interest assessments, create personalized academic and career plans, explore colleges, scholarships, internships, and workforce opportunities, and track progress toward Ohio's graduation requirements. By connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities, SchooLinks empowers students to make informed decisions and graduate with a clear plan and the confidence to take their next step. Families can learn more by visiting https://www.swcsd.us/SchoolLinks.aspx.

Sports passes can be purchased, allowing adults a discounted entry for multiple events through the season. The pass works as a punch card, giving you a certain number of entries. Click the button below to be directed to the purchasing website. Passes will then be able to be picked up in our front office.

PLEASE LET US KNOW!!

ATTENDANCE HOTLINE 614-801-8884

SWCS is excited to continue using an innovative new tool for parents and guardians this school year in the form of a new Absence Request tool within the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (web or mobile application)! Parents and guardians can use this new Absence Request tool to submit a request that informs the office in advance when their student is not going to be in school. After the request is processed, an attendance record is created for the student. The tool helps parents log all types of absences at the ease of their fingertips, while also automating administrative tasks for school front offices in the process.

As a reminder, Ohio law requires written notification of all types of absences, including full-day absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals. Absence Requests can now be submitted through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Click the button below for instructions.

Reminder to all 7th Grade Parents: The Ohio Department of Health requires all 7th graders to have a Tdap and Meningococcal vaccination prior to the start of the school year. Please turn in updated vaccine records to our school nurse, Jessica Vehr, or you can email them to jessica.vehr@swcsd.us

There are two documents linked below with more information!

• Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
• Annual Emergency Information Update
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• JMS Daily Announcements

Jackson Middle School

Asst. Principal: Laurie Buchieri

Main Office: 614-801-3800

Attendance Line: 614-801-8884

Website: jms.swcsd.us
Location: 2271 Holton Road, Grove City, OH 43123
Twitter: @JMS_Jaguars

Previous Weekly Newsletters: https://jms.swcsd.us/newsletters