Eagle Eye JMS Parent Newsletter #28
February 20-24, 2023
Hello, Jefferson Middle School families and parents!
Wow! We are nearing our final benchmarks and the end of Term 3! So hard to believe, yet we continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that all of our students are mastering skills and experiencing the highest levels of learning across our building. We are so thankful to have the very best families to support us. We have some critical upcoming events for our rising 9th graders. Also, check out opportunities for cheer tryouts, essay competitions, and upcoming events. As always, we appreciate your support!
Academically, we want to take the time to encourage all of our parent and families to check in with your child weekly, daily, through conversations about classes, projects, and learning goals. One excellent way to walk through some of the content and agendas for each class is to navigate CANVAS together. Be sure to reach out if you are not currently an observer in your child's courses. Ms. Leavitt, our ITC, is always eager to assist parents with Canvas and Skyward. Thank you so much for your ongoing engagement and investment in our school's mission!
We have several events and upcoming opportunities for families and students in our newsletter. Be sure to check it all out. Also, please be sure to check our new Track schedule, Vaping Prevention Week resources and events, and updates for all of our departments below!
Please do not ever hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Have a wonderful week!
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu
Brian Tinker, Dean of Students, bjtinker@ortn.edu
Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu
Week at a Glance!
February 13-17, 2023
Monday 20
- NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS!
Tuesday 21, A Day
- Girl Scouts Meeting Rm 208 3:00
- Track Practice 3:00-4:30
Wednesday, 22, B Day
- Basketball End of Season Party Cafeteria 1:00-2:00
- Track Practice 1:00-2:30
- Garden Club 1:00-2:00
Thursday, 23, A Day
- 8th Graders take TN Together Survey during PE
- Track Practice 3:00-4:30
Friday, 24, B Day
- 8th Graders take TN Together Survey during PE
- Track Practice 3:00-4:30
2022-2023 JMS Student Handbook
Early Childhood Education Application
Is your child interested in education or working with children someday? Then, the Early Childhood Education Academy might be a great fit! In order to be considered for enrollment in the Early Childhood Education Academy at ORHS, you must complete an application. Applications are now available in the School Counseling Office or attached. *The deadline to complete the application is February 24th!
Important Counselor Updates for Rising 9th Graders!
- Tuesday, February 21st, ORHS Registration Sheets should be signed and returned to the students homeroom teacher today!
- Thursday, February 23rd, ORHS Counselors will visit JMS to assist students in completing their course selections in Skyward.
- The ORHS Academic Planning Guide can be found here: https://orschools.wpenginepowered.com/highschool/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/ORHS_APG_2023-2024.pdf
- Class of 2027 Newsletter : https://www.smore.com/uyxm1
SPRING SEMI-FORMAL DANCE: April 21st
ORHS Cheerleader Tryouts: 8th Graders Only!
All 8th graders interested in trying out, please access the document below. An interest meeting will be held April 10 at ORHS Amphitheater.
ORHS Counselors Will Visit JMS 8th Graders on Thursday!
The ORHS Academic Planning Guide can be found here: https://orschools.wpenginepowered.com/highschool/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2021/01/ORHS_APG_2023-2024.pdf
Math Teachers Rock the Numbers AND the Love on Valentine's Day!
The JMS Math Department is a strong, cohesive group, and they have the t-shirts to prove it! A few weeks ago Mr. Lars Hondorf created the phrase “Live. Laugh. Love Math.” Ms. Rachel Haun took that theme and developed a design to go with it, including a parabolic smile and a symmetrical heart. Then, known metal-head Mr. Alex Goldberg suggested that we do something different than our traditional blue/gold colors and go with black t-shirts with white text. This was the result of their teamwork! Of course, the first day the JMS Math Department rocked their new shirts was appropriately on February 14th. 😍
DRESS CODE REMINDERS!
Please be sure students are coming to school in dress code and dressed for success! JMS Administration has noticed an increase in the areas listed below and would like to remind students and families of ORS Code of Conduct.
Students are prohibited from wearing:
- Clothing that resembles sleepwear such as lounging pants, or other lounging items. This also includes house shoes.
- Students are not permitted to wear pants or shorts with holes above the knee. This includes wearing any type of shorts or leggings underneath ripped attire.
PTO UPDATES!
Black History: Academic Opportunity Contest Below!!📓
Black History Month Essay Contest 2023: Submissions Due by March 6!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONTEST 2023 The Branch’s Education Committee is sponsoring a Black History Month Contest for Oak Ridge School/Anderson County Schools Middle (6-8) and High School (9-12) youths. Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd and 3rdPlace winners from Oak Ridge Schools and Anderson County Schools. The Black History Month Contest question will be:
“How would you create a curriculum to include the Clinton 12 or the Scarboro 85 in the school system.” You could create a podcast, develop a lesson plan, or develop a creative or dramatic art project (like a mural or a play for example).
*Please see the attached flyer for details!
5th Grade Essay Contest Sponsored by Farm Bureau🚜
JMS ATHLETIC UPDATES from COACH BOLLING!
JMS Track & Field:
Check out our students and Coaches gearing up for Trach and Field! We are already working hard as we gather to condition and practice.
The 2023 JMS Track & Field Schedule is below.
As always, GO EAGLES!
Thank you,
Coach Bolling
FEBRUARY FOCUS: Eating Meals Together as a Family! 🥗
The Benefits of Eating Meals as a Family
Take a moment right now and think about when your family sits down together to eat a meal—is it something that happens frequently or a rare occurrence? Is a TV usually on? Do you all sit and linger, or does everyone hurry in and hurry out to continue whatever they were doing? The family meal has become a bit of a lost art in the modern age, where life moves at breakneck speed, long work schedules are juggled, screens are glued to everyone, and activities and other commitments fill up the “off” hours.
But whether your family is just two people or ten, eating together at the table should be a priority because it offers more benefits than most people realize. Family meals don’t have to be extravagant or consist of complicated dishes; it’s less about what’s on the table than who’s at the table.
Why eat together?
Besides the obvious fact that family time is important for bonding, here are other research-backed benefits to eating together:
Physical health:
Meals tend to be more balanced and nutritious, containing the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. People eat slower and talk more, which allows more time for digestion and helps prevent overeating because there is more time to recognize fullness. Kids who eat with their family are exposed to a wider variety of foods and become less picky.
Mental and emotional health:
It’s much-needed time to catch up, reconnect, and find out what’s happening in your children’s lives. This builds closer bonds, and you recognize potential issues your children may be having.
Through this time together, kids build greater self-esteem and parents are able to role model healthy behaviors, whether it’s choosing nutritious foods or problem-solving a conflict. Kids and teens who eat family meals may earn higher grades in school, experience fewer symptoms of depression, and are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors, like drug use. For kids in early childhood, family meals help develop language and social skills.
And one final benefit? It saves money—potentially quite a bit, depending on how frequently your family eats outside the home.
For more tips on how to make the most of family meals, visit Action for Healthy Kids Web Site.
Wednesday Zero Period: Capstone and Social Emotional Learning
- 8th Grade: 9th grade Registration Discussion and Folder!
- 7th Grade: Check-in
- 6th Grade: Exercising Well-Being
- 5th Grade: Strengthening Friendships
Attention Parents and Guardians of 6th and 8th grade Students!
Attention Parents and Guardians of 6th and 8th grade students
On February 16th, 17th and 27th, students in 6th and 8th grade will participate in the Oak Ridge Board of Education approved Family Life curriculum during their Physical Education class. The programming will be age appropriate and address topics covered in the 6th and 8th grade Health Education standards.
***Due to the 8th graders touring ORHS on February 16th, 8th grade students who have PE on A-days will participate in their Family Life presentation on Monday, February 27th.
6th Grade Family Life Information
Lessons presented will be age- appropriate information on the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up. Boys and girls will be separated for this presentation, but will watch the same video. The link for the video is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw1N06PKhu4
8th Grade Family Life Information
Lessons presented will be age-appropriate information on the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up. Information on sexually transmitted diseases, refusal skills, abstinence, HIV/AIDS is also included. Students will remain in the same classroom, unlike when boys and girls were separated in the 6th grade program. This information will be presented by Mrs. Tracey Robbins.
Per School Board Policy 4.213, a parent/guardian has the right to opt their child out of participating in the family life education programming. Your child may be assigned alternative health activities and will not be penalized academically.
https://forms.office.com/r/gGV1b9H2pc
If you would like additional information about the program, or if you have further questions, please feel free to contact Katie Bolling, Sean Jessie or Casey Ensley at 425-9301 or by email at ksbolling@ortn.edu, skjessie@ortn.edu, or ceensley@ortn.edu.
🚑Clinic Corner with Nurse Stacey! 🩺
We are especially still in need of Ziploc bags! We so much appreciate all of our parents. Feel free to continue sending in any donations for our clinic.
Contact SJCallison@ortn.edu with any questions!
February POG Focus: LIFE READY
Life Ready: CTE Career Fair!
One of ORS POG indicators for Life Ready, Middle School, is "set goals and create an action plan to meet those goals, while recognizing challenges as an opportunity for growth".
Check out our 8th grader engaging in a CTE fair in our gymnasium!
Life Ready: ORHS Tour for 8th graders!
Life Ready: Ms. Kala's Students Helping to Beautify Cedar Hill Park 😍
February Character Trait: COOPERATION
STUDENTS of the WEEK
Congratulations to our students who were recognized for honesty this short week back to school. We are so proud of our Character Trait winners each week!
7th grade:
Alyssa Jestes😃, Lily Faulkner🙂, and Lindsay Faulkner😁
We also want to note that our Character Trait program is tied directly to our ORS district POG, as represented in "LIFE READY" above: Students exhibit traits of citizens ready for life with age-appropriate measures of self-awareness, self-discipline, and empathy.
The Reading Eagle - Messages from Ms. Haverkamp!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER!
Early Childhood Education Academy Application
Is your child interested in education or working with children someday? Then the Early Childhood Education Academy might be a great fit! In order to be considered for enrollment in the Early Childhood Education Academy at ORHS, you must complete an application. Applications are now available in the School Counseling Office.
*The deadline to complete the application is February 24th!
Contact Ms. Price with any questions: clprice@ortn.edu
Important Information for Rising 9th Graders:
- Tuesday, February 21st, ORHS Registration Sheets should be signed and returned to the student's homeroom teacher today!
- Thursday, February 23rd, ORHS Counselors will visit JMS to assist students in completing their course selections in Skyward.
- The ORHS Academic Planning Guide can be found here:
- Class of 2027 Newsletter : https://www.smore.com/uyxm1
February Character Strong Trait – COOPERATION
This month’s focus is Cooperation or “working together to reach shared goals.” We all experience situations in which we must work with others to accomplish a goal or task in our life. Whether we are working with friends or with someone new, we need tools to help us navigate those situations successfully and keep our relationships healthy. As a family, talk about how this definition applies to how you work together at home. What are some goals you share?
Family Fun Activity: Cooperation Activities
Review Cooperation as a family! Search through your cupboards for some board games your family has not played in a while or grab a deck of cards for a simple game of Go Fish. Pop some popcorn and have fun playing together! Look for moments of Cooperation that you can point out.
For example:
- Choosing which game to play
- Choosing who gets to go first
- Handling wins and losses
- Working together to solve a problem
WE NEED YOUR HELP: After School Program
Our After School Homework Help Program needs nutritious, prepackaged snacks. All donations can be dropped off in the School Counseling Office. Thank you for your willingness to support this wonderful program.
Clothing Closet Accepting Donations
JMS is pleased to offer support for students in need through our “Clothing Closet”. We are now accepting clean, gently used clothing items for the warm, winter months (mostly in need of, girl pants in all sizes and boys clothing in small). Please make sure all donated items meet the JMS dress code policy. Donated items can be dropped off in the Counseling office. Thank you for your support!
Mental Health Resources
For mental health support, please feel free to reach out to the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Department at (865) 425-9301.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please refer to the information below:
Mobile Crisis/Youth Villages: 866-779-9225
Ridgeview Behavioral Health in Oak Ridge: 482-1076
Statewide Crisis Hotline: 1-855-Crisis-1 or 1-855-274-7471
Statewide Crisis Text line: Text TN to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255
School Counseling Support Team
Ms. Price – Counselor (5th & 7th Grade) - clprice@ortn.edu
Mr. Sudderth – Counselor (6th & 8th Grade) - pwsudderth@orth.edu
Ms. Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu or 865-425-9302
JMS EXPECTATIONS: Click on each picture to enlarge!
Student Success Assembly Information
WEDNESDAY Homework Help!
SIGN UP for CANVAS: See What Your Child is Doing Each Week!!
Reminders about Drop Off and Pick Up
- JMS's weather policy is to load busses and release car riders during most weather events EXCEPT lightning or severe rain/wind. When lightning is present we will push our students back to the building and delay releasing students. We have had three major lightning issues and a major wind/rain events during our releases over the first term, and we wanted to reiterate what our hold policy is. We thank our parents for their patience as we do our best to keep our students safe.
- DO NOT enter the bus loop when buses are present!
- Please pull your vehicle all the way up so we can keep as many cars as possible off of Fairbanks Road.
- When dropping off AFTER 7:30am, students will be directed towards the main entrance. Go ahead and pull all the way up.
- Make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle and doesn't have to access the trunk for items, as this holds up the line.
- DO NOT park or leave your vehicles in the neighborhoods across the street from Jefferson. Traffic is heavy during pickup and drop off and parking on those streets only increases the danger to our students and parents attempting to navigate the traffic.
Free Dental Clinic!
2022-2023 ORS Code of Conduct
Extended Vaping Resources
Oak Ridge Schools will be providing resources for families as we collectively tackle this growing vaping problem in our schools and families. For the complete schedule, please follow this link:
ORS Vaping Letter to parents
Parents,
We are sad to report that student vaping has increased significantly at the secondary level this school year. School Administration and staff are committed to addressing this concern, but effectively controlling this trend will be challenging. Student access, the ability to hide vapes and the odorless nature of vapes increases the difficulty of monitoring and reducing this dangerous trend.
This trend is resulting in lost instructional time for many students. Students using or possessing vapes that contain nicotine products are being assigned multiple days of out of school suspension. Students identified as using vapes or being in possession of vapes containing THC, are being expelled for a full calendar year. Approximately 50% of the students currently assigned to the Secret City Academy are there due to using a vape that contained THC.
Due to the increase in vapes containing THC, we are informing parents that the Secret City Academy is currently at capacity. The Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct clearly communicates our expectations regarding the unauthorized use or possession of drugs. Students confirmed of using or being in possession of drugs at school, or at a school activity, will be expelled in accordance with the Oak Ridge Schools Code of Conduct.
If your child is expelled, it is likely that they will only have the option to participate in on-line learning. Expelled students will be placed on a waiting list and granted access to the Secret City Academy when a student complete their time at the SCA. Choosing to use a vape containing THC or participating in other zero tolerance events while at school or at a school event will remove your child's ability to participate in face-to-face instruction.
Oak Ridge Schools clearly recognizes the value of attending school in person, but we also understand the importance and are committed to providing students a drug free learning environment.
Please continue speaking with your child or children regarding the harm of vaping and drugs. We are in the process of scheduling a Vaping Education Week which will focus on providing students an educational assembly to communicate the harms of vaping. We are also looking to provide a similar evening opportunity for parents to attend.
Respectfully,
Oak Ridge Schools
Youth Vaping Prevention - Additional Resources
Youth Vaping Prevention - Additional Resources & Information
2022-2023 ORS Student Code of Conduct Handbook (see pgs 22-24)
National Institute of Health (NIH) - Smoke Free Teen
Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County - Parent & Teen Resources