The Jaguar Journal
November 2019
James Sales Elementary
Brandy Nelson - Principal
Joy Sims - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 8:15 to 3:45
253-298-4200 / FAX 253-298-4215
Dates To Remember
November 1 - Student of the Month Assembly
Grades 1-3-5 - 2:00 Grades K-2-4 - 2:40
November 3 - Daylight Savings Time ends
November 6 - Early Release – 1:55
November 11 - No School – Veteran’s Day
November 13 - Full Day of School
November 14 - Veteran’s Day Program 2:30 and 6:15
4th and 5th Grades perform
November 20 - Early Release – 11:55 End 1st Trimester
November 25 - Behavior Reward
November 26 - Attendance Reward
Picture Retake Day
November 27 - Early Release – 11:55
November 28-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
A Message From Our Principal
Hello Families!
Happy November. Each week we focus on one character trait as a school. Classrooms discuss the meaning, thought, and question related to this word. Each month I will be posting the words we focus on so that you can review these as a family with your child. Here are the four character traits we focused on in October:
Empathy- We show empathy by trying to understand how someone else is feeling. When you notice that someone is sad, scared, angry, or worried, you are showing empathy! Once you know how someone is feeling, you can try to help them or be extra kind to them. Empathy is a great way to show others you care!
Friendship- Being friendly means welcoming new classmates, treating others with respect, and reaching out to others who are lonely. Friends are a great resource to help you too. They will encourage and support you in good times and in bad, through success and failure. Being a good friend takes effort and kindness so try your best to be friendly today!
Helpfulness- There are many ways to be helpful to others. You can help get a tough job done, help someone learn new skills, or help someone feel better when they are upset. If you are helping someone, you are showing them respect and kindness. It’s okay to ask for help as well – we all need others to help us reach our goals.
Courage- Courage is doing something even when it frightens, scares, or worries you. Courageous people stand up for their own beliefs and people who need help. When you are courageous, you take risks and do hard things. Be courageous by setting challenging goals for your future!
As a school, we just set reading, math, behavior and attendance goals and shared them with our school board. Below are our goals:
ELA: To increase the number of students reading at grade level.
Math: To increase the number of students meeting the proficient level on math assessments.
Behavior: To reduce the number of write-ups.
Attendance: To increase the number of students who meet our attendance goal of 9 or fewer absences and/or tardies for the year.
I am thankful for you, the family, for being such a huge part of your child’s education! We couldn’t do what we do without your support and assistance. Thank you for all your help and support with your child.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is truly an honor to be working with you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nelson, Principal
James Sales is Ranked #28 out of 100 Puget Sound schools!
Veteran's Day Concert
The 4th and 5th grades will perform in honor of our veterans on Thursday, November 14th at 2:30 for the whole school and at 6:15 for all community members. Plan to bring the family. We invite all veterans to wear their uniforms to be recognized at this special concert. Participation from all 4th and 5th graders is highly encouraged. Performing is a large part of learning, and all students should be present to have the experience and to encourage each other. Please contact Mr. Delgado if your student will NOT be attending the after-school performance.
From the Health Room
When to keep your child home from school:
Fever: Temperature over 100 degrees. Keep home until fever free for 24 hours.
Eyes: Any green or yellow drainage.
Ears: Any drainage or significant ear pain.
Throat: Severe or persistent pain, difficulty swallowing, white spots on back of throat.
Mouth: Significant dental pain or infection.
Chest: Deep or constant cough.
Skin: New, undiagnosed rash.
Abdomen: Vomiting or diarrhea. Keep home until symptom free for 24 hours.
If your child returns to school with a lingering cough or nasal congestion, send him or her with tissues and advise to drink extra fluids. Please remember that over the counter medicine cannot be brought to school unless a doctor’s order is provided. Also, understand that all children must go outside for recess when they return. We do not have an area for students to be supervised inside. Thank you for dressing your children for the weather.
Health Room – 253-298-4223
Picture Re-take Day
Picture re-take day is the morning of November 26th. Picture re-takes are for anyone who missed picture day because they were absent or because they are a new student since picture day. Those who are dissatisfied with their original packet of pictures may also have their pictures re-taken. The complete original packet of pictures must be returned on re-take day. The office has picture order envelopes if you need them.
construction is moving right along at James Sales!
Students of the Month
September’s Students of the Month were honored at an assembly October 3rd.
These students were selected by their teachers for showing responsibility, respect, caring, and safe behavior:
Naeshelle S., Landon M., Grace Lynn M., Bennett H., Dakota I., Daniel C., Danna C., Lizbeth U., Isaac H., Vidalan K., Maximilliano N., Lilly S., Temukisa S., Nathalye C., Moana T., Abigail F., Edgar A., Pablo C., Riley N., Alexander F., Omar A., Lilly C., Ashley G., and Luis H.
The following students exemplified the ‘Virtue of the Month’ – Self Control:
Efren L., Genesis F., Kalani H., Colby V., Justin C., Maria W., Mason S., Matthew E., Azariah R., Destiny J., August H., Messiah M., Ja’Shaun W., Bailey B., Gianna F., David N., Nakayla F., Leea M., Maya F., Jaiciana B., and Karla R.
Honor Choir Auditions
Appreciation Week
November 18-22 – Substitute Employees
Be sure to thank a sub for their hard work in keeping our school running when our staff members are out sick or at training meetings.
Lost and Found
Our lost and found is overflowing with student’s belongings. Please check to see if your student is missing a jacket or other items. You will find our Lost and Found bin just inside the front doors. Remember to label your student’s belongings with their names. We will be able to return them to the proper owner more easily! We will donate all unclaimed items during the Winter break.
Thanksgiving Vacation
School will dismiss at 11:55 on Wednesday, November 27 with no school on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29. We are thankful to work with the wonderful students and families of James Sales Elementary school. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Drop-off Reminder
As students are dropped off in the morning, please make sure to use the drop-off circle. Mr. Watkins is there to help all students exit vehicles. We want all our students to be safe!
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Stay Connected
Stay on top of what is happening in our school district and with your child at school. Click here to find easy access to bus information such as bus routes and bus bulletin, Peachjar for community announcements, Flash Alert for weather announcements, Skyward Family Access, and other important information.
Free Developmental Screening
Children ages 3-5 who reside within the Franklin Pierce School District are eligible for free developmental screening. Hearing, vision, kindergarten readiness, speech and language, motor skills, and behavior are checked. Screenings take place regularly. See their web page here. To schedule an appointment, call the Early Learning Center Child Find hotline at 253-298-4658.
Our Goals for 2019-20
Are your students on target for meeting the attendance and behavior goals at James Sales?
· Attendance – This year’s goal is to have nine or fewer tardies and/or absences. At the end of each trimester, all students who have missed less than nine days or have had less than nine tardies, will receive a reward. At the end of the school year, the PTO will sponsor a reward for all students who have met the attendance goal for the year.
· Behavior – Students with one or fewer write-ups at the end of each trimester receive a reward. At the end of the year, Students with one or fewer write-ups will also go on a PTO sponsored field trip.
Attendance
We hope you will make every effort to encourage consistent and on-time attendance at school. Did you know if your child is tardy or leaves school early, it will show on their attendance record? Please make appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. Make sure you call the school office if your student is absent for any reason. Our attendance desk number is 253-298-4200. You may leave a voice message if you need to call before or after school hours.
Volunteers
If you would like to spend time in your child’s classroom for any reason, attend field trips, or be at field day, you must be cleared as a volunteer. All previously approved volunteer applications expired July 31st and must be renewed before participating in any volunteer capacity at James Sales.
You will find the online application for volunteers on the fpschools.org website. Hover over 'Get Involved' and click on ‘Volunteers’ and follow the directions. You will receive an email when you are cleared. It can take up to two weeks to process the application. Please don’t wait until just before your student has a field trip to submit your application!
It can take up to two weeks to process the application. Please don’t wait until just before your student has a field trip to submit your application! All volunteer clearances will expire July 31, 2020 for the 2019-20 school year.
PTO News
The PTO Officers would like to thank the parent volunteers who helped make the Book Fair a big success. Thank-you Blanca, Aina, and Rachel; and a big thank you to Vice President Tonnika and Mrs. Bruce for organizing and coordinating. Money earned from the Book Fair pays for new books for our library.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Fall Fundraiser; the money earned will benefit all students at James Sales Elementary.
The winners of our September Box Tops trophies were Mrs. Gillon's class with 91 Box Tops and Mrs. Stover's class with 41 Box Tops. Please continue to download and use the Shoparoo and Box Tops apps. These apps are an easy way to earn cash for our school right from your smart phone.
You can contact the PTO board by email - PTOJamesSales@gmail.com or Facebook message. Search @jamessaleselementarypto to follow on Facebook.
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.