Jane Addams Middle School
August 23, 2021
Dear Families,
We are looking forward to seeing your students in a little over a week on September 1. The school day begins at 8:55 and all students should meet their advisory teachers on the field by 8:45. In this letter you will find a few more updates to help get us all started in the 2021-2022 school year in a Positive, Aware, Welcoming and Safe Jaguar Way.
Lunch
More information is coming later this week via a video where we outline our safe and supportive lunch plans. At Jane Addams we have taken significant steps to keep students as safe as possible during lunch. Our cafeteria has an exceptional HVAC system, we are reducing recommended capacity by 50% and students will be six feet apart and in assigned seats.
During our first day of school we will teach students to eat "airplane" style, removing their masks briefly to eat and drink. Eating time during lunch will be brief (less than 20 minutes) and students will have time to go outside or to the library for a bit of masked social time. See our bell schedule below for more details about times.
Lockers
Students will not have lockers this fall due to COVID Safety measures and will carry their backpacks to classes. Contact the main office if your child needs a backpack, we have plenty. Students who participate in school sports and in music will be assigned lockers to store instruments and athletic gear.
COVID Safety
SPS continues to follow the requirements of the Washington State Department of Heath. Safety measures have been established for the start of school and will be adjusted in partnership with the department throughout the year. Highlights include:
- Masks will be worn at all times for staff, students and visitors with the exception of "airplane style" eating and drinking.
- To the extent possible educators and students will practice physical distancing of 3 feet while in classrooms and 6 feet in common spaces (including hallways and the cafeteria).
- Vaccinations: SPS is requiring vaccinations of all staff and volunteers at this time. We will continue to partner with community organizations to hold in-school vaccination clinics.
- COVID-19 Testing: SPS is partnering with the Health Commons Project to provide free in-school COVID-19 testing to students and staff who have been exposed to COVID and/or have COVID-like symptoms.
Laptops
Jane Addams is pleased that we are now a 1:1 technology school. Laptop distribution will occur during the first three days of school. Students should bring their signed laptop agreement form (we are mailing home) on the first day of school. SPS is asking that every family that can pay a $25 fee to cover insurance and repair fees.
Nurse Yukevich
Nurse Yukevich will be back in the office this Thursday. Families may contact Nurse Yukevich to update student health information by email kwyukevich@seattleschools.org or by phone 206-252-4507.
Class Schedules
Student schedules are now "live" on the Source. We are also mailing home paper copies to everyone this week. Be sure to check your paper mail.
All requests for a schedule change must be done via this form: https://forms.office.com/r/GqPPTf45L6
If you do not know how to access the Source, this webpage has information. https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/dots/support-training-forms/source/
6tth Grade Math Empowerment class available:
Math Empowerment (EMP) is a powerful second class (elective) for 6th graders that kids are excited about. Math Empowerment focuses on sense-making, pre-teaching, conceptual understanding and developing a growth mindset. This is not a direct instruction math intervention class. This is an opportunity for 6th graders to build skills, understanding, and confidence in math through student discourse, group projects, and math tasks to that encourage productive struggle and identity as a mathematician.
Good candidates for math empowerment are students who:
- have historically tested below grade level in math (SBA, MAP, class assessments).
- are not receiving support in other ways already.
- the teacher fears may “fall through the cracks”.
- has gaps in their learning of mathematics for various reasons.
- do not have strong number sense yet.
If you are interested in adding this to your 6th grade students schedule please contact Teacher Alexander. amhellumalex@seattleschools.org
Welcome Back Events
Since nearly 2/3 of our students are not familiar with our building we are building in traditional orientation activities during the first week of school. But we are hosting an outdoor 6th Grade Orientation on August 30, from 1pm-3pm. This event will be led by 8th grade leaders and is for students only!
We are also hosting 7th and 8th grade students who have never been inside our building on Monday, August 30. This is a self-guided tour, visitors must be masked and respect the window of time set aside.
- Students with last names beginning with A-H, 6:00-6:30 pm
- Students with last names beginning with I-P 6:30-7:00 pm
- Students with last names beginning with Q-Z 7:00-7:30 pm
Family Forums
Last year we learned that once everyone has computer access, hosting meetings on-line was a success. These forums will be an opportunity to learn about classes, safety updates, hear from educators and ask questions.
We will host Family Forums on the following dates:
6th grade, September 14, 7-8pm
7th Grade, September 21, 7-8pm
8th Grade, September 22, 7-8pm
Curriculum Night, October 7, 6-8pm
We will also host a remote Curriculum Night. Save the date! You will have the opportunity to meet your child's teacher, hear about learning to date and how best to support your student.
Below is our school supply list, sports information and how to reach us.
We look forward to welcoming your family to Jane Addams next week!
Take care,
Paula
Paula Montgomery, Principal
Jane Addams Middle School
School Supplies
Backpack
Headphones/earbuds
Pencils/erasers
Pens (black or blue)
Pencil Pouch
Dividers
Small Binder or folders with pockets (to hold papers from classes)
2 Composition books (lined and graph)
Sports are Back!
We’re excited to have school sports running again at JAMS this year! Fall sports (Girls Soccer and Co-Ed Ultimate Frisbee) will start the week of September 6th. Tryout and practice days are still being finalized, and will be posted to the JAMS website as soon as we have them.
Before students participate, ALL sports paperwork must be turned into Ms. Megan in the main office. Hard copies of athletic packets will be available in the main office once school starts.
You can also access all forms on the SPS website:https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/athletics/forms/middle-school-forms/.
Students will need a doctor-signed physical as a part of the athletic packet, so make sure to make an appointment/request a copy of that ASAP if you don’t already have one.
Feel free to email meriber@seattleschools.org with any questions.
Jane Addams Middle School
Email: jams@seattleschools.org
Website: www.addamsms.seattleschools.org
Location: 11051 34th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA, USA
Phone: 206-252-4500
Twitter: @JAMS_Seattle