Wildcat Country News!
Jefferson Parent Newsletter - Week of Sep. 28, 2020
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PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Dear Wildcat Students & Parents,
Below is important info from Dr. Melton regarding new middle school schedules starting on 10/5/20. In addition to the schedule below, there is a Jefferson specific near the bottom of this newsletter for your convenience.
Raul Gaston, Principal
- - - -
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In order to further increase synchronous learning time in middle school academic classes during remote instruction, your child’s schedule is being revised to include synchronous instruction on alternating days consisting of odd numbered periods and even-numbered periods. The new schedule will take effect on Monday, October 5. Teachers will also review the new schedule with their students beginning on Monday.
Click here for the new middle school remote schedule
The revised schedule brings forth the following benefits:
- Keeps classes and teachers the same as our current remote platform
- Aligns to the tentative schedule of instruction, should in-person learning resume
- Maintains daily ELA and Math time
- Increases synchronous time for Fine/Practical Arts and Physical Education
- Better utilizes office hours for their intended purpose as a student support period for specific content areas or programmatic (IEP/504/EL) supports
- Moves the student support period earlier in the day, potentially allowing for better planning and use of asynchronous learning time
- Maintains the district priority area of social emotional wellness
We again thank our families for your continued partnership with us during remote instruction.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Melton, Ed.D.Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Click on the Image Above to "Nominate A Teacher" to win!
Virtual Town Hall Presentation on 9/28
Join District 45 for a Virtual Town Hall on September 28. The presentation will be given in English from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. and Spanish from 7:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
District Administration will provide an update to the community and gather feedback about your current preferences regarding full-remote vs. in-person (hybrid) learning. To submit questions or comments prior to the meeting, please click here.
To view the Virtual Town Hall Presentation, please visit livestream.d45.org.
Curriculum Night onMonday, 10/1/20
- Between now and 10/1/20, please go to PowerSchool and print or write down your student's schedule with the teachers name for each period. You will need your student's schedule and teacher's names to know when and what session to attend.
- Curriculum Night will run virtually with live sessions.
- The links on the schedules below will be turned on so you can click on the teacher's name at the designated time and attend the correct session.
On 10/1/20 at 6pm, Curriculum Night will begin with a Advisory.
- See the schedules below for a preview of what you'll receive on 10/1/20 to attend the Jefferson Virtual Curriculum Night.
CURRICULUM NIGHT SCHEDULES
JOIN A CLUB AT JEFFERSON!!!
Book Club
- Are you looking for a place to relax and chat about some really good books? Come to Book Club with Mrs. Pakeltis on Mondays after school starting at 3:30 pm. We will find attention grabbing books to read and share! See you on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. You can Goggle Chat Mrs. Pakeltis with questions. The Google Classroom code is: HAAVBFK.
Broadcast Club
- Create the morning announcements. Learn to use WeVideo and other editing apps. Reach out to Mr. McDaniel and/or Mrs. Tarrant for more details and use code S43APTW to join.
Builders Club
- Builders Club is a service club that helps to "build" a better school, community, and world by helping others. This group works together on ways to help others who need support in a variety of different ways. Join the club using the code AXFFRLO and contact Mrs. Pakeltis if you have any questions.
Choir:
- All students interested in Choir. Join the Jefferson Middle School Choir google Classroom using the google classroom code: QD4SMZJ and contact Mrs. Vrchota with any questions.
Conservation Club
- Students that are interested in recycling and discussing ways to improve the environment. are welcomed to join us. See Mr. Johnson for more details and use code 4NWPI3I to join us.
Escape Room
- The Virtual Escape Room Club is now being offered at Jefferson on Thursdays from 3:15-4:15. What is an escape room? A virtual escape room is all about solving riddles, and puzzles to get out of a situation. There’s usually a theme and some questions you'll need to answer about that subject while others are just about figuring out clues that incorporate the theme. All interested students please join with the code is YJ3GUDY. Any questions please contact Mr. Kulovits or Mr. Peterson!
Fantasy Football
- Are you a sports fan? Then we have the club for you. Come join Mr. Kulovits as he sponsors a virtual fantasy sports club. The first sport that we are going to start with is football, the NFL season is upon us, so all interested students please join the Google classroom.
Photo Club
- Please join the Google Classroom with code "P5GNCB4" If you have any questions, please email Mr. Johnson or Mr. McDaniel! To join the Jefferson Photo Club. ope to see you there!
- 7TH GRADE: Can’t get that worry thought out of your head? Explore all 5 senses doing fun activities. Ms. Farfan will show you cool calming activities which she is learning in college. Club members will have access to borrow and practice with Mr. Schwiekert’s many calming tools and fidgets to reduce stress too. Go to 5QXBUDG to join the 7th grade mindfulness club.
- 8TH GRADE: What does it mean to make Mindful Choices? We all feel emotions, some are heavy and some are light. The focus of the group is emotional awareness and learning mindful practices to manage emotions. Use code LFV4XTA to join the 8th grade mindfulness Club.
Video Game Club
- Students who enjoy video games will have a place to meet up and discuss new games/consoles and even play against other students in mini tournaments. We will even discuss the history of video games and how they started and where they have gone since the beginning. Use code N7MUQHN and contact Mr. McDaniel for more details.
Curbside Book Pickup
Middle School Advisory
Middle school advisory supports the District 45 priority area of social emotional wellness and mental health, especially as we navigate this challenging time. Goals of middle school advisory include supporting our students in the following ways:
Connecting students with peers to build relationships
Connecting students with teachers and mentors
Preparing students to navigate the online world with digital citizenship instruction
Supporting students with social emotional skill-building and mindfulness strategies
Responding to real-time needs that emerge in academic settings, such as synchronous class meeting expectations, effective use of asynchronous work time, and use of tools to self-monitor academic progress
In the coming weeks, we will seek feedback from students on how the student experience is matching our program goals as we refine our instructional programming.
The 2020 D45 5K Fun Run Cancelled
It is with great disappointment that we announce the cancellation of the District 45 5K Fun Run in honor of Bonnie Scahill. We hope to resume next fall, however we would like to encourage everyone to honor her memory by running on their own. Please send a selfie of you and your family from your run to d45.pta@gmail.com or tweet at us @d45villaparkpta. Pictures emailed will be posted on our D45 5K Facebook Page and on Twitter. If you would like to make a donation to assist in District 45 PTA Events, go to https://d45villapark.memberhub.store/shopping/items/42699.
Daily Schedules for the Week of 9.28.20
Wednesday Schedules
Daily Schedules Starting the Week of 10.5.20
Grade Level Links - Under Construction -
PowerSchool Parent Portal
PowerSchool is a proactive communication tool parents/guardians can use to stay informed about their child’s academic and work habits progress in school. Please click on the PowerSchool Parent Quick Guide link here for more information about how to navigate the PowerSchool portal. There is a mobile app version of the PowerSchool Portal for families. The interface of the mobile app is slightly different from the web version. If you experience any difficulties accessing PowerSchool, please email Mrs. Daszkiewicz, the secretary who oversees PowerSchool for our Jefferson families. Her email address is ddaszkiewicz@d45.org
DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feel free to view the daily morning announcements for last week. Enjoy!
- Monday, 9.21.20 - www.wevideo.com/view/1840913983
- Tuesday, 9.22.20 - www.wevideo.com/view/1842605567
- Wednesday, 9.23.20 - www.wevideo.com/view/1844351075
- Thursday, 9.24.20 - www.wevideo.com/view/1846175647
TEACHERS' OFFICE HOURS
If I have a tech issue, who do I contact?
Classroom teachers have experience with many common Chromebook or software issues. Contact your classroom teacher first with any problems. If they are unable to resolve the issue, they may direct you to contact our Technology Department through one of the other support options below or to the appropriate school or district personnel.
Other support options:
- Email support@d45.org
- Call (630) 516-7575
- Text (630) 454-7745
- View Support Videos on Return to School Website
Chromebook Support:
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.HEALTH EXAMINATION AND IMMUNIZATION
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.
DISTRICT MEAL PICkUP
THE WILDCAT PTA
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...
- 9.28.20 www.smore.com/8tz2f
- 9.21.20 www.smore.com/z5ky0
- 9.14.20 www.smore.com/kevqg
- 9.7.20 www.smore.com/p09bs
- 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