TJMS Weekly Family Newsletter
August 21, 2022
TJMS Weekly Family Newsletter - August 21, 2022
Great start to Toby's 20th Year
Toby Johnson Middle School opened on August 26, 2002. This week marks the 20th anniversary and what a great start it's been! Students spent the first two days getting to know school wide expectations (Safe, Kind, Respectful and Responsible) and how those expectations look in each area on campus. They participated in lots of activities to get to know one another and their teachers and even hand wrote a "Letter to the Principal" which I will keep in a binder in my office. Both grades got to experience a spirit rally, which was a FIRST for the 8th grade students. And now, we've successfully been through a full "typical" week. I'm guessing they came home pretty tired Friday. I know WE did!
Term 1 Back to School Night
- Date: Wednesday, August 24
- Time: 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm
- Location: Begins in the TJMS Gym with a greeting from the Principal, then classrooms from 6:00 to 7:30.
- Details: The night is intended for families. Students do not need to attend. Students will bring home a piece of paper Wednesday after school with their schedule by period and a map so that families can follow the schedule. We look forward to seeing you!
Student Forms and Payments
- Student First Day Forms:
- The ONLY forms that are turned in to the 1st period teachers are the WHITE forms and possibly the GREEN lunch form.
- * If lunch is already free... why do we need to do the green form?
- Meals are free for all students. But if a family qualifies for free and reduced lunch, completing the form to register also may qualify the students and families for other discounts beyond free lunch. I hope this helps.
- Please turn in the white and green forms to the 1st period teachers by Friday, August 26th. After that, they should be turned in directly to the Student Services building.
- Regarding Picture Day money, PE apparel purchases, and yearbook purchases:
- Picture Money is saved and turned in on picture day or ordered online after picture day.
- PE Apparel and Yearbook purchases should be made by students in the student store during lunch with cash or money order only.
- * YES, online purchases would be easier. The district is in transition from an old online payment system to a newer one. When the switch is complete, we will transition to as much online purchasing for families as possible.
Opportunities for Parents and Guardians
Superintendent's 2022-23 Advisory Committee - TJMS Parent Representative
- The Superintendent provides for direct parent and teacher questions and feedback by forming an advisory committee. The attachment provides the details. If any guardian of a TJMS student has an interest in joining the committee or being an alternate, please email Principal Keyport at jkeyport@egusd.net. It's a great opportunity to have direct input in decision making and make sure Toby families are represented.
TJMS 2022-23 School Site Council needs three Parents or Guardians
- The School Site Council is an important group that is made up of the Principal, two students, three parents, three teachers, and one classified staff member. The council meets a minimum of five times throughout the school year. The main purpose is to develop and approve the School Plan for Student Achievement (Site LCAP) including goals and expenditures. We need your nominations. Please complete the attached nomination form by Wednesday, August 24th OR email jkeyport@egusd.net with the name of the person nominated.
Parent Volunteers and a Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO)
- It's been a long time since families have had typical experiences in participating at schools. We're excited to take welcome as much family participation as we can. Whether you can participate a little or a lot, we want to provide opportunities for you to contribute to a positive school climate and support student and staff success. If interested, email Activities Director Jody Hill at jehill@egusd.net or complete the form below.
Safety and Transportation
- "OFF wheels ON campus". Many students ride bikes, skateboards or scooters to school. This is wonderful as it cuts down on foot traffic. For safety, they should WEAR A HELMET and MUST get off the bike, scooter, or skateboard as soon as they enter school property and walk. We are frequently reminding. Sidewalks are for walking, not wheels.
- Drop off and pick up: No one likes the traffic. We have two large campuses embedded in a crowded suburban neighborhood, with limited two lane roads for access. People get frustrated sitting in traffic. When traffic moves slowly, bikes and pedestrians start cutting through it. We're seeing drivers beckon students to run out into streets to jump into cars that are stopped or blocking traffic. We must prevent someone from getting hit by a car.
- *Just this past Friday, a car jumped the curb, went across the sidewalk, and hit the tree right outside the Principal's office. WHY? They were running late and tried to do a u-turn in the middle of the street (as we see many cars doing). LUCKILY there was no one walking on the side walk at that moment.
- The school will: take another person from campus supervision to assist at the traffic light after school, maintain as much visual presence as we can, teach students through TJTV about safety in transportation, in traffic and at the traffic lights.
- For safety:
- Please remind students:
- To obey the crossing guard.
- Not to run out into the street.
- Not to jaywalk.
- Drivers, please be careful, leave early, drop students off further from school and let them walk if they can. We know traffic is bad. We will do all we can as a site to help facilitate quicker drop off and pick up.
- Thank you for your support and cooperation. At the end of the day, all that matters is the safety of each student, staff, and community member.
Students ride city busses for FREE
Important Dates
Week of August 22-26
Monday, August 22nd:
- 7th and 8th Girls Volleyball Tryouts in the gym from 3:15 to 5:15 pm. Email thjones@egusd.net for information.
Tuesday, August 23rd:
- 7th and 8th Girls Volleyball Tryouts in the gym from 3:15 to 5:15 pm. Email thjones@egusd.net for information.
Wednesday, August 24th:
- 7th and 8th Girls Volleyball Tryouts in the gym from 3:15 to 5:15 pm. Email thjones@egusd.net for information.
- Term 1 Back to School Night: 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm
Thursday, August 25th:
- 7th Grade Picture Day and receive School ID
Friday, August 26th
- 8th Grade Picture Day and receive School ID
10099 Franklin High Road
Elk Grove, CA 95757