JSE Tracks
Principal's Weekly News, August 24, 2020
JSE Monthly Attributes:
Characteristic of a Successful Learner (CSL): Strive for Personal Best
Bucket-Filling Trait: Respect
It's a Marvelous Monday at JSE!
Good evening, JSE Families,
It's a Marvelous Monday at JSE! And together we are ALL making a difference! #BearcatPride
Enjoy class pictures of our fun, learning days! (see below)
We start each morning with a news episode with our host Mr. Smith and we end each day reminding our students they are loved at JSE. Our students have quickly adjusted to the daily routines and to my surprise, they tell me they don't mind the masks! I enjoyed visiting each classroom for my beginning of the year, Mrs. Barnes and Princess Peach Pep Talk. We talked about all the changes this year, how they felt about them, and how to cope with a few of the changes they don't like. Kids are so resilient, they have taken all the changes in stride and have still been excited and happy to be at school. I appreciate all you have done to help, support and encourage your child each night, prepare for the next day! It has made a difference!
Safety Drills: We will be conducting all of our safety drills during the first weeks of school. Our drills will look a little different this year as we adhere to our social distance guidelines. We will ensure that your child knows this is only practice. Bus safety for all students will also occur in the coming weeks.
Please review the important dates below, picture day is September 24th and order forms will be sent home next week.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @JSimatovichElem
Have a great week!
Mrs. Barnes
Thank you to our Resource Officers for their daily support!
Attention Families of Virtual Students: Set your child up for virtual success!
Thank you for helping your child set up their virtual classroom at home! We appreciate your efforts to have them ready for school each day, just as our kids are doing at school. All virtual students should have eaten breakfast, dressed for school, and be sitting at their "desk" ready to log-in their chrome books for school by 9am. I have included a couple resources below for setting up their at-home classroom and desk.
We have had several families change to in-person learning, if you choose to make this change or have any questions regarding this, please email Mrs. Barnes at lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
(QUESTION) I still have my child's textbook(s) and/or Chromebook from last year? What do I do?
JSE is still missing several textbooks and a few Chromebooks from the pick-up back in March and April. If you still have either a textbook or Chromebook from last year, you need to return them by the end of the day on Friday, September 2nd
If these items are not returned, charges will appear on your child's textbook rental fee.
(QUESTION) What about birthday parties in the classroom? Can my child bring cupcakes, cookies, and snacks?
Snacks: Your child may bring a snack from home or purchase one from our cafe to eat throughout the day! We will begin selling extra snacks such as chips, extra lunch servings and ice-cream in the cafe during your child's lunch after Labor Day.
Birthdays and Classroom Parties:
We still want to celebrate birthdays and have our annual classroom parties here at JSE, however we can only share treats that are store bought and pre-packaged such as pre-packaged Rice Krispie Treats or Mini Chips Ahoy Cookies. The treats must come with the nutrition label attached for our nurse to check. Grocery store made cupcakes and cookies are no longer acceptable.
If you have any questions about what to bring or send in with your child, please contact your child's teacher.
From the Desk of Mrs. Morton: Arrival and Dismissal
Thank you to parents, staff, and our bus drivers for supporting our arrival and dismissal procedures. We appreciate your continued communication with teachers and our main office regarding your child's transportation plans. We also appreciate your patience and understanding as we adjust to new procedures. Please spread the word to JSE parents of the importance of our main office having your updated e-mail and cell phone information. We are able to text immediately when we have transportation changes or other communications we want to get to you.
If you have any concerns or questions, please let me know. If there are any changes you need to make to your child's dismissal plans, we ask that you call our main office as well as email Mrs. Rittel at brittel@union.k12.in.us. Please make sure we confirm your dismissal changes by phone or email.
Important Dates:
August 24 Last Day for Virtual Students to return to In-person before the 9 week grading period.
September
7 Labor Day-No School
10 Progress Report
24 Fall Pictures
October
9 End of First Grading Period
12 Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences
15 Report Card Available in Harmony
29,30 Fall Break No School
Harmony Parent Portal LINK: https://sis.union.k12.in.us/familyaccess.nsf/hello.xsp
With our current situation, please be reminded all dates, events, and information is subject to change. We appreciate you working together with us by checking your email regularly and reaching out to us with questions and concerns. Our partnership will remain strong for our children and community!
You are always welcome at JSE!
Please let us know how we can strengthen our partnership with you!
Feel free to contact me anytime! Very Sincerely, Mrs. Barnes
Leigh Barnes, Principal ext 3001
Barb Rittel, Secretary ext 3000
Lisa Morton, Home School Advisor ext 3003
Kathy Maniszko, School Nurse ext 3002
Email: lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
Website: http://jsimatovich.union.k12.in.us/
Location: 424 West 500 North, Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: (219)759-2508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JSEPTO/
Twitter: @JSimatovichElem