TJ Today
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
October 1, 2015
Stracks Donates to TJM!!
Fall Assessments
- MAP Assessment - All students will be taking the MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) through the NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) from October 1-16. This assessment will provide important information about your child's Reading and Math progress and will be given three time this year to measure their growth.
- PSAT8/9 - All 7th and 8th grade students in Valparaiso will be taking this assessment on Wednesday, October 14th. It consists of questions in Evidence-Based Reading, Writing and Math. Please see this Parent Information Flyer for more details. The assessment comprises three tests and includes 2 hours and 45 min. of actual testing time. Results of the PSAT will be shared with you and will be used to establish a baseline for students as they plan for high school and prepare for college and career readiness. Our guidance counselors will be giving presentations to all 7th and 8th grades students on Tuesday, October 13th.
Media Center ~ Open for Academic Support - More Days Added!
Late Bus
- South Bus #15, 3:50 - begins at TJMS and then goes to VHS, and then to BFMS.
- North Bus #30, 4:05 - begins at BFMS, then goes to VHS, and then comes to TJMS.
Skyward - FYI
8th Grade Color Wars Begin
- Do you know which 8th grade teacher’s father was a National Cornhusking Champion?
- Who has surfed in Hawaii?
- Which two faculty members share the same birthday?
These questions and more were answered as the 8th grade students participated in their first homeroom battle this year as Color Wars began.
The 8th grade of TJMS will embark in Color Wars throughout the school year. It began on September 8th with our first homeroom contest- Teacher Trivia. In these Color Wars battles, students compete as homerooms in various contests and activities. The winner of the opening battle/contest, Mrs. Joll’s homeroom, earned first color choice for homeroom t-shirts, second place had second choice, etc. These Class of 2020 shirts will be worn for various activities throughout the year.
Even more Color Wars battles are ahead including TJ’s Got Talent and the Economic Survivor game. And if you want to know the answers to the burning questions from Teacher Trivia, be sure to ask your child what they learned about their teachers during our first contest.
7TH Grade Is Having a "GREAT" Year
Please be sure to ask your student about all the awesome happenings in 7th Grade! They are sure to have some great news for you!
6th Grade Happenings
Popcorn Parade - We Are Valpo
Over 450 people have Registered for our Color Run!!
- Why: To have have a great time and raise money for a new track!
How can you help?
- Volunteers are needed on Race Day during event and for clean up. See sign up information below.
- Sponsor the race! For more information, check out our website, or contact Jenn Campbell at 219-252-8839.
- Encourage your child to be a fundraiser! Information was sent home with details about how to register your child for online fundraising. Sign up at www.pledgestar.com/colorrunvalpo or collect pledges and turn them in on this form (copies available on table outside of office).
Fundraising Pledge Prizes
- The highest fundraiser at TJMS will win a Go Pro camera ($400 value), and all students who collect $50 or more are registered to win gift certificates and other prizes.
- Color Carnival - All students that register for the race and raise $10 or those that raise $25.00 can attend our Color Carnival that will be during the school day the week after the Color Run.
Color Run Valpo
Here is the link to Sign Up:
Saturday, Oct 10, 2015, 02:00 PM
Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso, IN, United States
SPELL BOWL 2015 - THE DYNASTY CONTINUES
Puzzle Time
table.
Most formal research about the benefits of jigsaw puzzles applies to younger kids – but the same benefits can extend to older students when a more challenging puzzle is presented. Skills potentially used while completing a puzzle include: critical thinking, problem solving, spatial organization, and team work – among others.
To the students, it might feel like a break from school work – but we know
better!! With both sides of the brain naturally engaged while completing a puzzle, perhaps we’ll see some students better prepared to finish out their day because of the differentiated activity.
Here are a few pictures of students working hard – and having fun!
8th Grade ~ D.C. Trip
Games Club
Games Club is an opportunity for students to gather after school to meet new friends and play a variety of different games. Some games might be familiar board games like chess, checkers, Sorry, or Life, while others will be brand new. Games Club meets on Thursdays after school until 3:50, beginning at the end of September and continuing until the spring. Listen to the Morning Announcements for the exact beginning times and dates. Students will be able to take the late bus home if they are unable to arrange any other transportation.
Valparaiso Community Schools Transportation Department
Effective immediately, students will not be allowed to ride a school bus that they are not assigned to unless it is an emergency situation, and, in that case, the request must be approved by the school or the transportation department in advance. Students will not be permitted to ride a bus that they are not assigned to for the following reasons: going to a friend’s house, going to a work site, or various other non-emergency related reasons. In the last year and a half, we have eliminated five school bus routes to be more fiscally responsible and help with the shortage of school bus drivers. For that reason, our school buses are running at or near capacity.
Lady Viking's Invite Camp Members
The Lady Viking High School Basketball Program would like to invite all girls who attended their Basketball Camp last Spring to walk in the Homecoming Parade with the high school girls basketball teams and coaches. The parade will be held Friday, October 10th. Please have your daughter meet us at our float in the Northview Elementary School parking lot, no later than 5:10pm, wearing her camp T-shirt that she received from us. The parade will begin at Northview at 5:30 pm and end at Valparaiso High School. Girls will be walking with our players and coaches behind our float down Campbell. We'd also like to invite any Lady Viking Basketball who are Alumni, and have a daughter walking in the parade, to join us as well wearing something that has Valpo Basketball on it. We look forward to having all of our future and past Lady Vikings Basketball Players walking with us at this special event.
Sincerely,
Coach Candy Wilson
Thanks to all Who Supported our Catalog Fundraiser!
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Email: ekrutz@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.valpo.k12.in.us/Domain/248
Location: 1600 Roosevelt Rd, Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: 219-531-3140
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJMS.Valpo
Twitter: @Valpo_TJMS