TJ Today
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
2016-17 School Year - January/February Edition
January/February
Jan. 19 NWEA reports sent home
Jan. 20 Report Cards online - see more information below
Jan. 25 8th Grade Parent Night @ VHS 6:00 in cafeteria
Jan. 27 TJMS Blood Drive 2 PM Cafeteria
Feb. 9 6th Grade Parent World Language Meeting
Feb. 15 Parent Advisory Meeting 6:00 pm
Feb. 17 Mid-winter break - No SchoolFeb. 20 President's Day - No School
Feb. 28/March 1 ISTEP+ Part One
e-Signature for Report Cards
November Pride Card Winners
8th Grade Looking back and moving forward...
Results from the PSAT 8/9 that your child took in October were sent home with your child on Dec. 20. Prior to sending home the results, advisory teachers explained how to interpret scores, set-up College Board Accounts (https://studentscores.collegeboard.org), and link PSAT scores to Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org). We hope that all 8th grade students will take advantage of linking their scores to Khan Academy and use the personalized learning path to help them grow in both math and English. Please feel free to contact your child's advisory teacher or guidance counselor if you have any questions about this account. Students will take the PSAT 8/9 again in 9th grade prior to taking the PSAT 10 which also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students will take the SAT and/or ACT in 11th/12th grades and send their scores to colleges during the application process.
During January, we will also continue our discussion of PSAT scores while discussing high school scheduling. Your child will start to learn about the high school scheduling process during advisory as well as in their other classes and receive recommendations from their teachers on January 23 on their scheduling “green” sheet. Students will bring these home for you to review and determine electives. Signed “green” sheets will be due to Social Studies teachers no later than Wednesday, February 15. VHS will also hold a parent night on Wednesday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m. We encourage all parents to attend this important meeting as there are many changes to the scheduling process/requirements. In the meantime, you can visit the academic tab on the VHS website (http://valparaisohigh.ss10.sharpschool.com/academics) to learn more about courses offered and graduation requirements. Students will sign-up for their high school classes in Social Studies classes on February 23 or March 2.
7th Grade is Keeping Busy
With a week of the third quarter under their belts, the 7th grade students and teachers at TJMS are pushing forward with their daily endeavors. From solving proportions and reading chapters in novels to dissecting cow eyes and earning pesos, our 7th graders are engaged in a plethora of academic activities designed to challenge and enrich. With 8th grade and high school on the horizon, the development of skills to increase success at these ensuing levels is essential.
7th grade is a transitional time when students begin to look ahead to high school. Change is a fact of life. Friendships may change, study habits may vary, but stability is important in the life of a 13-year old. Meaningful consequences and family support can go a long way in assisting a 7th grade student to find success.
As our 7th grade students strive for independence, it can be a struggle to determine how much support should be given to them. Regularly checking Skyward may provide much insight into the academic success of your child and may give you an opportunity to speak with your child about their current successes or failures.
It is also okay to occasionally, or regularly, check your child’s assignment notebook to stress the importance of organization and work completion. Parental involvement is essential for academic success.
6th Grade - Gravitates to Feudal Days
ELA : Literature classes will begin a Poetry Unit that includes writing many different poetry forms. Students will publish their best work in their illustrated Poetry Collections at the end of the unit.
Social Studies: Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Rome is falling and the Middle Ages are beginning! We are entering our unit on all things Medieval. Our Feudal Day is set for Wednesday, February 15th. We will be discussing this in the weeks ahead as we prepare for the Royal Coronation at Castle Jefferson and guest visits from the Royal Falconer, Sir Mark, and Sir John, our local Knight. We will also be entertained by Royal Troubadours, Poets, and the Knights of the Realm jousting tournament. Please continue to check Skyward for your child's grades and help them to have a very successful third 9 weeks.
Science: We continue to work in Chapter 6, Earth, Moon, and Sun. This is quite a long chapter for us; it has six different lessons, which will equate to extra time needed to be test ready. We are learning how gravity and inertia are the forces that keep objects in orbit in space. Students are learning how the position, size and relative motions of the Earth, moon, and sun cause day and night, solar and lunar eclipses and phases of the moon. Students have also learned that the seasons in both hemispheres are a result of the inclination of the earth on its axis. Science question for January: What is a blue moon and when will it appear next in our night sky? Hint: not till 2018
Math: We just started inequalities in math. This is a short unit to conclude Algebra. We are moving on to Geometry and Measurement beginning next week.
YEARBOOK PERSONALIZATION DEADLINE COMING SOON!!!
Yes, there is still time to order a personalized yearbook, but don't delay much longer! Our publisher will begin stamping the 2017 TJ Journal covers with names and icons next month! Make your cover distinct by adding your name and maybe an icon or two of your activities this year. Putting your name on the cover of your yearbook is also a theft deterrent.
Place your order online at www.jostens.com for a personalized copy of this year's priceless pictures. Be sure you click on Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valparaiso, as there are several schools with our same name.
The personalization window will close at the end of next month. After that time, yearbooks can still be ordered online, but no personalization can be added.
Questions? Email Mrs. Strayer: jstrayer@valpo.k12.in.us
Student Council Update
- Smencils sales was a HUGE success! In the month of December, the student council sold over 600 Smencils. We will be selling them again the week of Valentine's Day.
The Box Tops keep rolling in! The grade level winners last month were Mrs. Joll's advisory class for 8th grade, Mrs. Olsen's 7th grade advisory, and Mrs. Janowiak's first hour. We recently received a check for $400 from Box Tops for Education, so every little Box Top adds up to big dollars for our school when we work together.
- National Breakfast Week Food Drive - March 6 -10, we will be having a breakfast food drive to help fill the local food pantries. This will be a competition between the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade.
- It's never too late to join the Student Council! See Ms. Coberg or Mrs. Highlan if you're interested in joining. Our next meeting is January, 27 at 7:00 a.m. in Ms. Coberg's Room.
Meeting Days:
- Friday, January 27 at 7:00 am
- Friday, February 10 at 7:00 am
- Friday, February 24 at 7:00 am
- Friday, January 27 - Viking Pride Day
- Friday, February 3 - Super Bowl Dreams (Favorite Pro Team)
- Friday, February 10 - Viking Pride Day
- Tuesday, February 14 - Show Your Love
TJMS Skate Night
Performance Music
Sat. Jan. 28 - Solo and Ensemble District Contest for orchestra and band - at Kankakee Valley Middle School
Sat. Feb. 4 - Solo and Ensemble District Contest for choir and piano - at Kankakee Valley Middle School
This yearly contest allows students to prepare a solo or a small group piece to perform for a different music teacher. The students receive a comment sheet with suggestions for improvement, and they earn medals for their performances. Best of luck to all our TJMS students!
Builders Club News
Happy 2017! As the advisor of the Builders Club at TJMS, I am so proud of the giving spirit our members displayed at the end of 2016. Members gave their time, singing talents, and good cheer to shop for Angel Tree recipients, carol at a local nursing home, and ring bells for the Salvation Army. A special thanks to their parents for helping with the driving and allowing their children to participate.
Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month. We will be planning upcoming events at our next meeting, so be listening to the announcements to find out how to be involved.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
Parent/Teacher Advisory Group
Greetings from your TJMS Parent Advisory group!
We had an incredibly successful skating event at Central Park! It was wonderful seeing students and families participating at such a fun event. We really lucked out with the weather!
Have you heard about our new game room? It is filled with a variety of games and activities for the kids to engage in, including pop-a-shot, air hockey, ping pong, Xbox one, and board games. We are looking for gently used, fully intact:
- board games
- puzzles
- Xbox one games
- card tables
Please be on the look out for information on our February and March giveback nights.
Did you know we have a Facebook page? Please "like" our page for information and events at TJMS. https://www.facebook.com/TJMS.Valpo/
Important Dates:
February 15th - Parent Advisory Meeting 6:00 in the Media Center
March 10th - Luck of the ISTEP after school celebration 3:00-4:30 (more details to follow)
May 1st - 5th - Teacher Appreciation Week
Media Center Happenings
What do eighth grade vocabulary projects, popular book fair books, and 3Doodler pens have in common? They're all included in this fun collection of videos that show what students are doing in the TJM media center!
FORGOTTEN CHROMEBOOKS
Homework and Study Table Procedures
- 6th Grade - Skyward
- 7th Grade - Canvas
- 8th Grade - Canvas
- AA - Canvas
All parents are encouraged to create a parent Canvas Observer account. For more information on this, please follow this link on our website.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Email: ekrutz@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.valpo.k12.in.us/Domain/248
Location: 1600 Roosevelt Rd, Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: 219-531-3140
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJMS.Valpo
Twitter: @Valpo_TJMS