JMS Weekly Update
February 6, 2022
Dear JMS Families,
This is a reminder that course registration ends tomorrow (Monday). If you or your child have not yet registered for 2022-2023 classes, you need to do that now.
This week's Update contains information about the following:
- Test to Stay Program (TTS)
- Lost and Found
- JMS 2022-2023 Course Selection - closes on Monday!
- Social Media Safety Meeting
Please complete this FORM if anyone in your family has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. We want to keep the children here and we want to keep them safe. This information is critical to the safety of the students and staff at JMS.
Take Care,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Ms. Katelyn Deet, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday - Day 3
Wednesday - Day 4
Thursday - Day 5
Friday - Day 1
Monday (2/14) - Day 2
New News
On Monday, February 7, 2022, Mt. Lebanon School District will launch the Test-to-Stay (TTS) program.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which is in partnership with Concentric by Ginkgo Bioworks for this program, Test-to-Stay (TTS) is a COVID-19 strategy that enables school-aged students and staff to continue in-person learning while minimizing the disruption of quarantine on students, families, and schools.
If you are 1) an in-school close contact, 2) asymptomatic, and 3) not or partially vaccinated, your school nurse can arrange for your participation in this program. Participation includes:
Completing the required consent form. Note: This is the same consent form to participate in the Pool Testing program. If you have already consented to participate in the Pool Testing program, there is not a need to complete the form again.
Administering a Rapid antigen tests on-site through our school testing program* or a Rapid antigen tests administered through a healthcare provider.
*The onsite program will be coordinated with the Pool Testing program.
At this time, at-home tests are not considered eligible for participation in TTS.
More details about this program can be found on the PA Department of Health’s FAQ page. We appreciate your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe and students being able to learn in-person.
The Lost and Found is full and it is time to reclaim your belongings before it is cleaned out and donated on February 17. If you are missing anything, please check the Lost and Found box by the attendance office prior to February 17.
JMS 2022-2023 Course Selection - 1/31-2/7
The course selection process will begin on January 31st and will end on February 7th.
Online course selection will OPEN for all students (incoming 6th, 7th and 8th graders) and parents on January 31st through PowerSchool/Dashboard. This system will CLOSE on February 7th at 8:00AM. Please complete the online course selections for next year's middle school courses during this time frame through your student or parent Dashboard accounts. You can access course selection in Dashboard by clicking on the chair and pencil icon labeled as "Class Registration." The directions linked above should guide you through the process.
Social Media Safety - 2/16 @ 7:00PM - HS Auditorium
Hosted in partnership with Representative Dan Miller, the PA Attorney General's Office and the Mt. Lebanon School District, the Mt. Lebanon City Council of PTAs is proud to present a Social Media Safety program on Wednesday, February 16th at 7pm in the Mt. Lebanon High School Auditorium.
Learn how to keep children safe while using mobile apps, streaming services, gaming, social media and more. This event will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person.
Other Information
The field trip to Parkway West Career and Technology Center is rescheduled for Friday, February 18, 2022. A bus will be leaving Mt. Lebanon High School at 7:30 AM and returning between 10:45-11:00. Parents of middle school students are required to drop their child off at the C20 entrance by 7:30 AM. Middle school students will be dropped off at their respective schools upon return. In the event of a school delay, the field trip will be rescheduled. This information is on the permission form.
All students who are interested in attending the field trip MUST complete the Permission form and Interest Survey again, as they have been revised. Both forms are due to me by Monday, February 14th.
Families should print out the permission form and either scan it to Mrs. Schneider (eschneider@mtlsd.net).
February 18 - 12:00 Dismissal for Students - Act 80 Day
Friday, February 18, 2022 will be a noon dismissal for all students K-12 to allow our faculty and staff to participate in professional learning.
Through our dedication to the important diversity, equity, and inclusion work in our District, our staff has the opportunity to take part in a presentation by educator, writer, and facilitator for equity and racial justice, Dr. Ali Michael. As part of a partnership between the District and Municipality, Dr. Michael will return to her hometown of Mt. Lebanon to work with K-12 educators, as well as preschool educators and local faith leaders. We are happy to have one of our alumni back with us who has become so accomplished in this field of study.
In addition, the entire community is invited to a discussion led by Dr. Michael focussed on her perspective of a positive and productive multiracial community: Building the Beloved Community: How Everyone Can Play Their Part. We encourage your participation in this community-sponsored discussion scheduled on Sunday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m., in the Auditorium of the High School.
Mt. Lebanon High School's Black Student Union (BSU) 1st Annual Book Drive
Beginning January 3 through January 31, the BSU will be hosting a book drive in an effort to increase the representation of Black characters in our classrooms and libraries to provide students with a better understanding of their and other cultures.
These and similar books can be found at www.mahoganybooks.com
Drop boxes will be available at each school in the Mt Lebanon School District from January 3rd, 2022 through January 31st, 2022.
Technology
Families In Need of Technology
As we prepare to start the 2021-2022 school year, we are asking families who need to borrow student technology to please complete the form linked below:
Be sure to list every student for whom you need to borrow a device on this form. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive status emails including device pickup details from an @mtlsd.net email address. Please also be sure to whitelist @mtlsd.net email addresses with your email provider to ensure that you receive these communications from us.
Please direct any and all questions regarding loaned equipment to our support address: RemoteSupport@mtlsd.net
Athletics
Middle School Athletics
You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.
JMS PTA Information
SHOPPER & SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAMS
Amazon
If you haven’t used AmazonSmile Before:
- Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your regular Amazon username and password.
- You will be prompted to choose a charity. You should enter "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” into the search box that appears. It will say "Pittsburgh, PA" as the location for the charity.
- Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com on your browser.
If you already use AmazonSmile:
- Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your username and password
- Make sure the charity you’ve selected is "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc." This information is located under the search bar where it says “supporting”.
- If it isn’t, you can change it by clicking on the charity and selecting “change”
- This will bring you to a page where you can search for “Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” and allow you to switch charities.
Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com to checkout.
If you shop on the Amazon app. Please activate Amazon Smile on your mobile app by opening the app and finding ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.
Box Tops
Scanning Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. See Box Tops for more information on how to scan Box Tops and to download the app. Receipts must be scanned within 14 days for the Box Tops to be scanned electronically.
Office Depot/Office Max
Office Depot/Office Max has a school rewards program. When shopping, remember to ask the cashier to tag Jefferson Middle School. For online orders, enter our school ID (Thomas Jefferson Middle School ID:70088453 Pittsburgh, PA) on the Thank You Confirmation page.
Resources For Families
The following resources provide information to help Mt. Lebanon School District families and staff navigate the complexities of COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic it is having on our daily lives. These resources will be updated as more information becomes available.
The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:
- Food
- Rent/Mortgage
- Utilities
- Pets
- Abuse
- Mental Health
- General Assistance
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit a report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
- Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app
Jefferson Middle School
The Jefferson Middle School learning community has an exceptional reputation for its dedicated teachers, staff and parents working together to provide learning experiences for our children that include high expectations, a challenging curriculum and a shared commitment to provide the best education possible for each and every student.
Email: sshaw@mtlsd.net
Website: https://jms.mtlsd.org/
Location: 21 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: (412) 344-2120
Facebook: facebook.com/jmslebo
Twitter: @JMSMTLSD