No Place Like Jones
Family Updates for the Week of November 13, 2023
🎃 Save the Date: Wednesday, November 15 Thanksgiving Luncheon 🎃
Principal Corner
Ira B. Jones Families:
Please join us for Thanksgiving Lunch:
WHEN: Wednesday, November 15
TIME (grade level lunch times):
- 1st Grade: 10:20 - 10:50
- 3rd Grade: 10:35 - 11:05
- 2nd Grade: 10:55 - 11:25
- 5th Grade: 11:20 - 11:50
- 4th Grade: 11:50 - 12:20
- Kindergarten: 11:55 - 12:25
All adult meals will be $8. Cash and check are accepted, but not credit cards
As a reminder, the upcoming week will be a 5-day week, but the week of November 20 will only have school on Monday and Tuesday. It's essential to ensure your children attend school every day on time and are ready to learn. We want to make the most of every second!
It is crucial for students to attend school regularly, as research shows that children who are chronically absent have a higher risk of falling behind academically. Even missing just two days every month can have a significant impact on a student's academic success.
Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk of dropping out of school. Good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Families play a crucial role in ensuring students attend school and understand why attendance is essential for school success and life. While some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances, it is vital to note that absences can add up quickly, and chronically absent students miss valuable learning opportunities.
Let's work together to ensure our children are successful in their academic journey.
I invite you to visit our school's website and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/ and follow us on Twitter @Principal_IBJ and Instagram @IraB.JonesElementary. These will serve as a resource tool for all upcoming events, the student/family handbook, and important reminders, and you can catch up with all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing. I also send out a weekly family newsletter. Please ensure we have updated contact information so you can stay informed of all our school happenings.
As a school leader and a parent, I understand the necessity of healthy communication between families and the school. I welcome your questions, celebrations, or concerns at any time. You can reach me by calling the school at 828.350.6700 or emailing me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.
Thanks for your continued support,
Ruafika Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
#noplacelikejones
Save the Date: Tuesday, December 12, Winter Concert
Upcoming Important Dates
- November 14, 15, and 16: NC Check In Testing for 3rd - 5th grade students
- Friday, November 10: Holiday, no school for students and staff
- Wednesday, November 15: Thanksgiving Luncheon
- November 22 - 24: Holiday, no school for students
- Tuesday, December 12: Winter Concert
- December 18 - January 2: Winter Break, No School for Students
- Monday, January 15: Holiday, No School for Students
Notes from the Counseling Corner with Ms. Courtney, School Counselor
Empathy
How Empathy Grows
Empathy — the ability to understand another person's feelings — develops over time. By age 4, students can better understand when they've hurt someone and can sometimes offer an apology without being told. They are also quite empathetic about another student's injuries. By the time students are 5 or 6, they can often share more easily and take turns. And they can discuss what it means to be kind and brainstorm ideas for how they might help people.
Strategies for Encouraging Empathy
1. Model positive action. What you do and say is critical; let your student catch you in the act of kindness, such as driving an elderly neighbor to the store or offering a comforting word to a friend. Most adults start this role modeling from early on.
2. Coach your student to pay attention to people's facial expressions. This is the first step in learning how to understand another's perspective. We are more likely to reach out to other people in need when we are able to imagine how the world looks from someone else's point of view.
3. Let your student often know that how they treat others matters to you greatly. For example, a student might think it's funny to see someone get splashed if a car drives by and hits a puddle. You can point out, "That lady is not laughing at what happened. Look at her face. She looks sad. Her clothes are dirty and wet now."
4. Acknowledge kindness. Be sure to show your student that you notice when someone does something nice. For example, if someone slows down to let you cross in the crosswalk, say, "It was really nice of that driver to let us cross" Likewise, if your own student treats someone nicely, be sure to acknowledge and praise her effort.
🏫 Support Our School! 🏫
SUPPORT IRA B. JONES WHEN YOU GROCERY SHOP
Harris Teeter will donate a percentage of your purchase to Ira B Jones when you link your VIC card (free Harris Teeter loyalty account) to Jones. You can do this in person at the store, or online. IBJ's school code is 2143, or you can search by our school's name. VIC card holders can link up to 5 NC schools! A percentage of all items you purchase from the Harris Teeter brand, HT Traders, Farmers Market (pre-packaged items only), and Harris Teeter Organics will be donated back to Jones.
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Phone: 828.350.6700