Wildcat Country News!
Jefferson Parent Newsletter - Week of August 31, 2020
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PRINCIPAL'S DESK
What a first week of school! We were so thrilled to see so many students and staff engaging in teaching and learning. I jumped into a few classes and saw students connecting with teachers on-line during remote synchronous lessons. I want to respond to a few topics that parents have asked.
Attendance
- We are thrilled to see an over 90% attendance rate this first week of remote learning at Jefferson!
- Attendance is taken daily in Advisory at 8:45am and filled for the full day.
- If a student is absent in Advisory, they are marked absent for the full day and a parent is notified.
- If a student is absent from Advisory, but attends the other classes that day, the teacher will change the attendance for that period. Parents may still get a call depending on timing.
- In short, the Advisory class at 8:45am is not an optional class. Students must attend Advisory so they are marked present for the day and receive SEL, PBIS, 2nd Step, Team Building, and a number of other lessons or supports.
Grades
- Assignments and grades will be posted on PowerSchool and updated weekly.
- Grades will count towards eligibility and part of the qualifications for identifying students for supports, extracurricular participation, acceleration courses, graduation, and others.
- Parents are encouraged to check PowerSchool weekly to monitor grades and progress. If any questions regarding a grade or assignment in any class, parent's first step is to contact the teacher directly regarding the grade/assignment.
These were some of the topics that parents have asked more frequently over the first week of school. As other topics come up, I will respond and add them to future newsletters. Thank you for making the first week of school a great start to what we know will be a challenging year, but I know there are even better days ahead for all us! It's a great day to be a Wildcat!
Raul Gaston, Principal
Jefferson Spirit Photo Contest!!!
It's time for a little fun with a school-wide Jefferson Spirit Photo Contest!!! At steak is a $5 gift card. We will select a winner for 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, and staff. What do you have to do? Students need to send their Advisory Teacher a picture of their Remote Learning Workstation. That's it! We know so many staff and students have an awesome set-up for both teaching and learning and we want to see how awesome your work area is. Just two big rules to follow.
- Zoom/GoogleMeet screens must be small enough or blurred so we can't see pictures and names of any students, and
- Entries must be appropriate and be able to be shared publicly on Twitter and on our weekly newsletter.
Daily Schedules by Grade Level
Wednesday Schedules
Grade Level Links - Under Construction -
DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday, 8.24.20 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1802953880
Tuesday, 8.25.20 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1808220188
Wednesday, 8.26.20 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1805093748
Thursday, 8.27.20 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1807389019
Friday, 8.28.20 https://www.wevideo.com/view/1808220188
BAND, ORCHESTRA, & CHOIR
- Directors will reach out to families to schedule lessons with students.
- Lessons will not take place during synchronous instruction so students will not miss core instruction.
- Lessons will be scheduled during asynchronous time when students are available to have flexibility in their learning.
- Lessons may also be scheduled prior to the start of school at 8:45a or after the end of office hours at 3:15p.
- Some lessons may be scheduled occasionally during the office hours of 2:30p - 3:15p so students can still get help from teachers as needed.
- Students are still expected to practice daily during their asynchronous time and before/after school hours.
- Please contact our directors with any questions regarding our programs and scheduling.
TEACHERS' OFFICE HOURS
TECH HELP
Teachers have experience with many common Chromebook or software issues. Contact your teacher first with any problems. If the teacher is unable to resolve the issue, please reach out to our LRC Assistant. Email Mr. O'Neal at eoneal@d45.org with your request and in order to start the process to get your students tech back in working order. You may also contact Mr. O'Neal if you are in need of internet access support.
Additionally, drop off/pick-up hardware support is available daily at the District office between 8am and 4pm. Please utilize one of the remote support options prior to coming in. You may contact the D45 Tech Department by Email: support@d45.org, Phone (630) 516-7575, or Text (630) 454-7745. Also, visit the D45 Tech Support website and watch this great 1-minute video on how to navigate all the great tech support resources available to you.
6TH GRADE PHYSICALS
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
FEES, FORMS, REGISTRATION
- Mrs. Aguilera - maguilera@d45.org
- Mrs. Daszkiewizc - ddaszkiewicz@d45.org
- Mrs. Schmidt - tschmidt@d45.org (health office).
Additionally, a letter regarding fees will be sent home from our District 45 office in early September. Please look for this letter for those details and please contact our office if you have any questions.
DROPBOX AVAILABLE TO YOU
STUDENT MEALS
Grab-n-go lunch and breakfast will be available for families to pick up at all District 45 schools each Wednesday between 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning August 26. Lunch and breakfast for five days will be bagged together.
- Only students enrolled in District 45 schools will be provided grab-n-go meals (requirement of the National School Lunch Program). Upon pick-up, the student's name will be verified. Only one pick-up per student will be allowed.
- You may pick up meals at any District 45 school. Signs will be posted at all schools to identify the location for pick-up. Face coverings must be worn and social distancing must be practiced while out of vehicles and standing in line for meals.
THE WILDCAT PTA
ADVISORY TEACHER VIDEO
By Friday 8/21/20 at noon, all parents will receive a video from their student's advisory teacher. The video will walk you through the remote learning expectations, log-in information, the schedule to follow, PowerSchool, grading, attendance, and much, much more. Be on the lookout for the video via email and/or Remind. If you do not receive that video by this Friday at noon, please email your student's advisory teacher for a copy to be re-sent to you. If you somehow did not get a link from your Advisory teacher to their At-A-Glance video, please do the following:
- Email your students Advisory Teacher to make sure your email is accurate and correct.
- Go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a4BV09qCGqGi6q02LnrrglQ0n5qkQnWI62WKR9rph4g/edit?usp=sharing
- Click on the correct video link for your student's Advisory Teacher.
STAY CONNECTED
Join Remind and get weekly updates from the Principal. It's really easy.
- Take out your phone.
- Open a new text message.
- Enter the number 81010.
- Enter the message @e97chb for 6th Grade, @ea8eah for 7th grade, or @6ae9c4 for 8th grade.
- Then hit send. That's it! Easy!!!
2020-2021 Wildcat Newsletter Archieves
Week of...
- 8.31.20 www.smore.com/1jth6
- 8.21.20 www.smore.com/avem7
- 7.15.20 www.smore.com/b3pcm
Jefferson Middle School
- Mr. Wes Riley, 6th Grade Team Leader (Semester 1)
- Mr. John Bratko, 6th Grade Team Leader (Semester 2)
- Mrs. Carolyn Pakeltis, 7th Grade Team Leader
- Mrs. Kathleen Kocimski, 8th Grade Team Leader
- Mrs. Christine Zaccaro, PE Team Leader
- Mrs. Jackie Vrchota, Fine & Practical Arts Team Leader
- Mr. Ryan McDaniel, Special Education Team Leader
- Mrs. Kathy Gerber, Counselor
- Mr. Paul Schweikert, Social Worker
- Mrs. Christine Osterman, Psychologist
- Ms. Gabby Clow, Assistant Principal
- Mr. Raul Gaston, Principal
Website: https://www.d45.org/jefferson
Location: 255 W Vermont St, Villa Park, IL, USA
Phone: 630.516.7800
Twitter: @D45Jefferson