JSE Tracks
Welcome Back - First Days of School
We LOVE JSE!
Good Evening, JSE Families,
What an amazing first day of school! A huge thank you to our parents, teachers, and staff for making today amazing for our kids-they are, who this is all for! The first days of school will be dedicated to building relationships with our kids, learning and practicing classroom and school procedures, and most of all enjoying each other through fun and engaging activities to show our students how excited we are for the year!
The students ended the day with a news video from their Oh so VERY Proud Principal! Our students watch the news each morning, tomorrow we will practice our bearcat cheer. Be sure to ask them about it, you might want to cover your ears:) We would love to see your first day of school pictures...please email them to me and I will make sure they make our daily morning JSE student News Show!
When you have time please review the back-to-school important information below. You may refer back to previous newsletter on our school's website under news.
Again, our main office is open daily 8-4pm, if you have question or concerns I am available anytime via my email lbarnes@union.k12.in.us or if you would like to meet in-person, please call the main office to schedule an appointment.
We are #BearcatStrong together!
Very Sincerely,
Leigh Barnes
Principal
First Days of School Quick Reminders:
Send a refillable water bottle. Please provide your child with a water bottle. We have installed brand new touchless water bottle refilling stations in place of our drinking fountains.
Classroom Snacks and Birthday Treats: If you choose to send your child with a daily snack as your child's teacher may request, please send it in an individual small sealed ziplock or snack size bag of an item such as pretzels. All birthday treats must be individually pre-packaged from the store and we must have the nutrition label. Examples of acceptable birthday treats are any mini bag or single serving size of a packaged treat. Store bought cupcakes are not acceptable. We must be able to easily pass out an item in a sealed package.
Changes in Transportation: Please send your child with a note if you have any changes to your typical dismissal routine.
Afternoon Car Riders: Please make sure you have your car window sign in the window of your car for dismissal. We will provide you one for the remainder of the year, if you need additional signs please let us know.
Breakfast: We encourage your kids to eat breakfast. It is free this year and often times if they do not finish an item they may take it to their classroom for a snack later.
Arrival and Dismissal: Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. With new arrival and dismissal procedures, our schedules will run slower to ensure student and staff safety in developing these routines. Please remember our arrival begins at 8:30AM with the final bell at 8:50AM and our dismissal begins at 3:20PM for car riders and 3:30 with buses.
Daily Schedule returns
8:40AM First Bell
8:50AM Tardy Bell and School Begins
Lunch Schedule below *Lunch is free this year also
3:20 Car Rides and Walkers/Bike Riders *see car rider directions below
3:25 Bus Dismissal
**Masks are optional during the school day and required on the bus.
Beginning of the Year events:
SEE FLYERS BELOW
This year, we are excited for these events to return:
- Open House Night for only 2nd through 5th graders and Parents: August 19th 6PM-7PM
Our JSE Cafe: UPDATE Breakfast and Lunch Free for ALL again for the 21-22 school year!
Breakfast/Lunch will be FREE again this year through the state. HOWEVER, the Free and Reduced Application will still need to be completed online through your Harmony Family Portal Account or picked up in the office anytime in order to qualify for free or reduced book rental fees. Applications need to be completed each year. Families who applied and qualified last year will need to reapply at the start of school. If you would like us to send a copy home with your child during the first week of school please call the main office.
Mealtime: You may find information at this LINK to create an account or add your child to your mealtime account. You may also always send money in with your child to be added to your child's account. Please make sure the money is in an envelope marked with your child's name and indicate lunch money (this would be for snacks/ice-cream as the lunch is free). Our kitchen manager will get all Kindergarten and new student families their lunch account information the first week of school, should you choose to create a mealtime account, this will be needed information.
Ice Cream and Snacks: These will be available to students starting the week of August 23rd.
Lunch Schedule
11:00 1st Grade Lunch
11:25 Kindergarten Lunch
11:55 3rd Grade Lunch
12:20 2nd Grade Lunch
12:45 4th Grade Lunch
1:10 5th Grade Lunch
Lunch Visitors: To start the school year, we will not be allowing visitors during our lunch periods. Thank you again, for understanding the changes in place to support our safety measures this school year.
UTSC Return to Learn Plan
UTSC updates their Return to Learn Plan based on new guidance from Indiana State Department of Health.
UTSC Return to In-Person protocol and ESSER III Expenditures LINK
Highlights from the Plan for the New School Year
Masks: Optional for school day, required on the bus *if your child rides the bus please send them with a mask each day.
Daily Schedule: Return to Normal 8:50AM-3:20PM *first bell at 8:40AM
Physical Distancing: 3 feet and reduced lunch table capacity
PTO News
- PTO Events: Stay tuned for spirit wear and coupon book sales!
- Join our facebook page and let us know if you are interested in joining our meetings and looking for ways to get involved in our school! Please reach out to us through our facebook page or our PTO email.
- PTO Meetings usually occur the first Tuesday of each month at 6PM. Please consider attending the meetings this year, every JSE parent is welcome and encouraged to attend!
Important Dates:
August 19 2nd-5th Open House 6PM-7PM
August 19 PTO Ice-Cream Social 6PM-7PM JSE Cafe
September 6 Labor Day No-School
September 15 Fall Pictures
Harmony Parent Portal LINK: https://sis.union.k12.in.us/familyaccess.nsf/hello.xsp
YOUTH Basketball League Announcement and Alert
Check out our UTSC Website
Our school's website has registration, daily schedules, lunch information, and other important information for you! Consider adding the UTSC website app to your phone!
Kidstop Program: Before and After-School Care at JSE:
Information will be shared in early August, before school begins.
JOIN our UTSC Team: Employment Opportunities
Want to work at Union Township Schools? If so, please take a look at the below postings or click the UTSC Corporation website HERE:
- Building Aide-Interested applicants should email Leigh Barnes at lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
- Bus Aide/Bus Substitute Driver- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- JSE Substitute Custodian/Substitute Kitchen Dishwasher- Interested applicants should email Leigh Barnes at lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
You are always welcome at JSE!
Please let us know how we can strengthen our partnership with you!
Leigh Barnes, Principal ext 3001
Barb Rittel, Secretary ext 3000
Lisa Morton, Home School Advisor ext 3003
Kathy Maniszko, School Nurse ext 3002
Email: lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
Website: http://jsimatovich.union.k12.in.us/
Location: 424 West 500 North, Valparaiso, IN, United States
Phone: (219)759-2508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JSEPTO/
Twitter: @JSimatovichElem