JSE Tracks
Principal's Weekly News, January 25, 2021
JSE Monthly Attributes:
Characteristic of a Successful Learner (CSL): Demonstrating Perseverance
Bucket-Filling Trait: Forgiveness
#BearcatPride!
Greetings, JSE Families,
Hard to believe we are already celebrating our 100th and 101st day of school! All of our kids get excited on these days, remembering their special JSE memories! Reflecting with our students and staff, I am extremely proud of our schoolhouse. We have safely persevered together with our community: Doing what's best for Every Student...Every Day!
The weather is on all of our minds! We MAY, pending our unpredictable NWI weather, have our first snowfall on a school night. If a school closure is announced for tomorrow, an eLearning day is being considered and would be communicated in the school closure communication from our UTSC superintendent's office.
This is a pertinent time to remind families of the expectations for eLearning days and the difference between eLearning and virtual days. eLearning is different from virtual learning in that students are not expected to get online for live instruction with their teacher during the day as they would on a virtual day. Rather, on an unscheduled eLearning day such as a snow day, teachers will provide students a daily agenda with activities and an assignment list posted in Canvas by 9am. Students are expected to complete the eLearning work before the next school day, however, they are allowed up to three days for completion. Chromebooks will not be sent home for elementary students on an unscheduled eLearning day such as tomorrow. eLearning days count for school days, therefore students are considered in attendance when they complete assigned eLearning work and activities. From your child's teacher, look for specific communication pertaining to your child's eLearning day.
In other News: Congrats to our Science Bowl Team for their hard work and dedication to learning and mastering new Science Standards! The competition will be online for our team, we know they will represent JSE proudly! Thank you to Mrs. Asher for her coaching.
Please check our website and watch for school closure updates.
Be Safe,
Leigh Barnes
Principal
Attention Kindergarten and 1st Grade Families: Promise Porter County
Greetings, Parents!
Promise Porter County is an agency that seeks to promote post-high school education and training, a career-minded mentality among our children, and funding for their savings accounts. During the month of February, if you set up a new college savings account through www.promiseportercounty.org, we will make a $25 deposit into your account, even if you don't make a deposit yourself. The documents attached to this email have all the information you need.
If you have questions, please feel free to email me.
Sincerely,
Susie Hord
Promise Porter County Coordinator
VALPARAISO FAMILY YMCA
1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive, Valparaiso IN 46383
(P) 219 462 4185 ext 226 (F) 219 477 4720
(E) promiseportercounty529@gmail.com
(W) www.promiseportercounty.org
Attention Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade: Dyslexia Screening
Starting this week, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students at both JSE and UCE will be given the annual screening for dyslexia in accordance with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 217. This same screening was conducted last year.
The screening process is very minimal for the students and will be a very small part of their academic day.
Parents do have the option to 'Opt-Out' of this screening. A separate informative email was shared with K-2nd grade parents including the option to 'Opt-Out' for your child.
Please email Mrs. Barnes if you have questions or concerns.
Little League Baseball at Union Township
If your child is interesting in participating in Wheeler Little League, please click HERE for more information!
PTO NEWS: Our PTO is still in action!
- February brings some excitement to get us through the winter! Stay Tuned!
- Cookie Decorating Order Form Due February 5th
- PTO is looking for a secretary, please email the pto or complete the paper form in your email.
- February 19 PTO sponsors a virtual wildlife assembly to our school live broadcasted to classroom smartboards. This will be a great reward to the end of the quarter!
- Did you know you can email the PTO at johnsimatovichpto@gmail.com with any questions or volunteering information you need?
- Open Board Position-Please email if interested!
- PTO Meetings are virtual with our PTO board this year.
Join in our Family Cookie Decorating on Valentine's Day!
Exciting family activity provided to our JSE families from our PTO for a minimal cost.
Kids love cookies and they love decorating cookies even more! A perfect family activity to celebrate family LOVE at Valentine's Day.
Please view the below sign-up link and complete your order by February 5th.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rrRjMmigVmZYTvKW-o39FgnvwXUmbx4m_z8ga1H0DrM/edit?usp=drivesdk
Thank you to our PTO and parent volunteers for making this activity possible for our families!
JSE PTO is looking to fill the secretary position!
John Simatovich PTO wants YOU!
Our primary objective as a PTO is to provide our school with funds, programs, resources, and services that will enrich and maximize the education of every child and to benefit the school. To meet this important objective, we fundraise. Here are a few programs that we sponsor and/or support: Fun Fair, Family Fun Nights, Holiday Shop, Veterans Day Event, Teacher Appreciation, Ice Cream Social, Book Bingo, School-wide Assemblies, Camp Goodfellow, Field trips and various other activities throughout the year.
Our PTO board has a vacancy for Secretary. The Secretary position includes: attend all meetings, keep record of meeting minutes, keep record of meeting attendance, type a monthly newsletter, chair one event, co-chair other events, and assist with committees. Does this sound like something you would be interested in? Please consider joining the PTO Board!
I would like to be considered for:
Secretary ___________________________________
(first and last name, contact phone #)
Please return this letter by February 1st, 2021 if you are interested in the Secretary position or contact our PTO President Carey Minton at our PTO Email: johnsimatovichpto@gmail.com. Voting will take place on February 3rd, 2021 at the virtual PTO meeting at 6:00 pm. https://meet.google.com/eqg-oapw-ooz
Important Dates:
February 4 Progress Report
February 11 Classroom Valentine Exchange and Fancy Valentine Candlelight Lunch
February 12-15 President's Day No school/Snow Make-Up Day if needed
February 19 PTO sponsored Virtual Wildlife Assembly at school
March 8-12 IREAD-3 3rd Graders Only Assessment
March 18 Report Card
March 22-26 Spring Break
April 2 No School/Snow Make-Up Day
Wear your Bearcat Spirit Wear on Fridays!
Harmony Parent Portal LINK: https://sis.union.k12.in.us/familyaccess.nsf/hello.xsp
With our current situation, please be reminded all dates, events, and information is subject to change. We appreciate you working together with us by checking your email regularly and reaching out to us with questions and concerns. Our partnership will remain strong for our children and community!
Repeat: From the desk of JSE Nurse, Mrs. Maniszko: COVID-19 Positive Cases
Repeat: Winter Reminders
Delays and School Closures: You will receive an email and text from UTSC indicating a school delay or closure plan. Make sure we have updated contact information in our system. You may also check our website in the morning for a school closure announcement as well as follow the UTSC twitter account. A reminder we do not serve breakfast during 2hr. delays.
Repeat: Attention Families of Virtual Students
Families of virtual students are encouraged to return to in-person learning when they feel comfortable this semester. Second semester is a vital learning period of preparation for the next grade level. Your child's teacher will communicate with you if they have concerns about your child's academic progress and/or virtual learning performance.
LIBRARY: Virtual students can check out books from our library too! Check out what books we have,at this LINK and then let Mrs. Kegebein, akegebein@union.k12.in.us, know of the book you would like to check-out and we will put the book in your teacher's pick-up bin at our main entrance.
ATTENDANCE: What should I do if my child can not attend virtual school due to an illness, doctor appointment, or other absence?
The same hand-book guidelines for students learning virtually apply. Parents should call the school and report their child's absence for the day and the reason for the absence. The office will inform your child's classroom teacher. We appreciate the consistency for all student absences as this communication will support teachers in preparing for both in-person and virtual instruction.
How do I arrange for my child's learning if they are quarantined and temporarily virtual?
The nurse will work with you to determine your child's return day and then your child's teacher will work with you to develop a plan to continue their learning from home. This may include learning packets, virtual lessons, and activities on Canvas. Please email both the nurse and your child's teacher directly as well as call the main JSE office to report their absence. It is not necessary to report their absence each day after a return date is determined with our nurse. Please remember the return date may change based on symptoms or future exposure.
How can I sign up my child to read with Mrs. Barnes? Mrs. Barnes would like to read to, with, or listen to your child read through a google meet! Please email Mrs. Barnes directly to sign up for a time. lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
Continued until June, Free Breakfast/Lunch Curbside Pick-up at JSE: If you would like breakfast/lunch but were not able to sign up through the form, please let us know and we will add you to our pick-up list. Pick-up will now be at the car rider door on Mondays between 10-10:30AM.
Front Office Vestibule Pick-up/Drop-off: Parents may use this to pick up learning packets as directed by your child's classroom teacher or drop-off completed work. Please communication with your child's teacher if you have questions.
You are always welcome at JSE!
Please let us know how we can strengthen our partnership with you!
Feel free to contact me anytime! Very Sincerely, Mrs. Barnes
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