Parent Newsletter
Welcome Back! Students return Jan. 8th
Students return on Tuesday January 8th
Welcome Back!
- A look at the week ahead
- STEM Night is Feb. 19th
- Student Device Check this week
- Spirit Week
- Leadership in Action Awards
- Teacher Assistant and Teacher of the Year Awards
- Good Habits to start the new 9 weeks
- Setting Goals for 2019 and starting off on a positive note
Thanks for all that you do to support JMS,
Phil Cox, Principal
Chris Layton, Vice Principal
Jenifer Laurendine, Dean of Students
Students return to School Tuesday Jan. 8th
A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday-7
No School for students
Tuesday-8
A day
Students Return
Spirit Week—Tacky Wacky Clothes
Homework help for 5th/6th graders 7:00-7:30-Room 219 (Corrigan)
Library Club 2:45-3:45
First Lego League, Atomic Eagles, Meeting 2:45-4:45
First Lego League, Master Builders, Meeting 2:45-4:30
Franco First Lego League Team Meeting 2:45-4:00
Science Bowl 2:45-4:00-Room 317 (Little)
Homework help for 5th/6th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 319 (Martin)
Homework help for 7th/8th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 301 (Hondorf)
Basketball vs. Northview Middle School at JMS
Boys JV 5:00, Girls V 6:00, Boys V 7:00
Wednesday-9
B day
Spirit Week – Western Wear
Device Check
Collaborative Teams
Cheer Practice 1:00-3:00
Girls Basketball Practice 2:30-4:00
Thursday-10
A day
Spirit Week – Crazy Hair/Crazy Hat
Homework help for 5th/6th graders 7:00-7:30-Room 219 (Corrigan)
Device Check
Math Club Practice 2:45-4:00-Room 203 (Tracey)
Homework help for 5th/6th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 319 (Martin)
First Lego League Team, Master Builders, Meeting 2:45-4:30
First Lego League Team, Franco, Meeting 2:45-4:30
Basketball vs. LaFollette Middle School at LaFollette MS
Girls JV 5:00, Girls V 6:00, Boys V 7:00
Friday-11
B day
Spirit Week – Blue and Gold
Device Check
Youth for Christ 7:00-JPAC
7th/8th grade Discipline Assemblies JPAC 2nd/3rd period
Distribute Grade reports to students – 7th period
Pep Rally – 7th period
Cheer practice 3:00-5:00
Girls Basketball Practice 4:30-6:00
Saturday-12
Basketball vs. Robertsville Middle School at ORHS
Girls JV 1:00, Girls V 2:15, Boys V 3:30
Ski and Snowboard Club Cancelled this week
Ober Gatlinburg has cancelled this Wednesday’s Ski and Snowboard Outing (1/9) due to poor conditions on the slope. Please realize that the weather and conditions are not within our control. Stay tuned early next week for an update on the status of the trip scheduled for 1/16.
It's Spirit Week
This week is Basketball Spirit Week! Below are the dress up themes for each day:
Tuesday – Tacky Wacky Clothes
Wednesday – Western Wear
Thursday – Crazy hair/crazy hat
Friday – Blue and Gold
Spirit Links:
The JMS Cheerleaders will be selling Spirit Links this week before school from 7-7:30am in the gym and in the lobby. Spirit Links are 10 cents each. The homeroom class that purchases the most Spirit Links will be awarded a doughnut party and also awarded the Spirit Stick to display in their classroom until our next Spirit Week. Please show your school spirit and purchase Spirit Links to support the JMS Cheerleaders!
On Friday afternoon, we will have a Pep Rally 7th period. The City Championship basketball games are on Saturday afternoon at Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Arena. Girls JV will begin at 1pm, Girls Varsity at 2:15pm, and Boys Varsity at 3:30pm. Please come out and support the JMS Eagles basketball teams!
Upcoming Basketball Games
Home Game at Jefferson
Tuesday January 8th vs. Northview at JeffersonBoys JV starts at 5 pm
Away Game
Thursday January 10th @ Lafollette
Jefferson vs. Robertsville Game on Saturday Jan. 12th at ORHS
January 12th vs. Robertsville at ORHS gym
Girls JV at 1 pm
Girls at 2:15 pm
Boys at 3:30 pm
Home Game at Jefferson
January 14th vs. Webb at Jefferson (8th grade night)
Girls Varsity at 6 pm
Boys Varsity to follow
STEM NIGHT is coming 2/19/19 - We want to see you there
STEM Night is 2/19/19 6 pm - 8 pm
Student Device Check Jan. 9th - 11th
Winter Weather and Keeping up with School Information
1. If a snow day is called by the Oak Ridge Schools, parents and staff members will receive an automated phone call from Oak Ridge Schools to inform them. In addition at JMS we will update through our Twitter account @JMS_Eagles.
2. You can also check the Oak Ridge Schools website www.ortn.edu
3. We are "Oak Ridge City Schools", so when checking on the status of a snow day, please do not confuse with Anderson County Schools
4. With bitterly cold weather we are having students go into the building to their respective areas (5th/6th to gym and 7th/8th to lobby) upon their arrival to campus for the mornings with bitterly cold temperatures
5. On non-delay days Supervision of students begins at 7 a.m. including car riders. The bus riders arrive between 7:00 am - 7:10 am, when buses are in the bus loop cars should not enter the bus loop. For a one hour or two hour delay please add the appropriate times (8:00 am for 1 hour delay; 9:00 am for 2 hour delay)
Special thanks to TN Bank of Oak Ridge for sponsoring our Leadership in Action Award each month
Leadership In Action
Mr. Mitchell works hard to create and foster a student centered learning environment and build real world connections. The dedication shown by this Mr. Mitchell is seen through his efforts to work to build rapport and relationships with his students. He works to create lessons, projects and opportunities that both help to support student learning opportunities with exhibition of 21st century skills. In addition, he works to help motivate students who often find academic needs and the rigor of their classes to be a great challenge. Mr. Mitchell works to spend time and help support student needs not only with their students. He works to support Jefferson Middle School through many activities in addition to his classes. His efforts of recent, have shown a growth mindset in his approach to supporting 21st students by developing student centered learning opportunities. Mr. Mitchell's efforts each and every day to learn, share and grow exhibit great opportunities and modeling for our students to learn, share and grow. These efforts among many other great efforts is why Mr. Mitchell is one of our Leadership in Action award recipients.
Mr. Murphy
Mr. Murphy has consistently worked to support the students of JMS throughout several years. His efforts to spend time to support students, challenge students to give their best efforts, and work to help develop their students in the learning process are evident. Mr. Murphy's mastery of the art of teaching is shown consistently as he has been a level 5 teacher for seven years dating back to 2011 – 2012. He contributes each and every day to support the mission of JMS and to help students. The efforts by Mr. Murphy have helped students learn a great deal about science and also finding success in school. He works to devise challenges to spark engaging lessons for students to think critically and exhibit curiosity as they work to learn. Mr. Murphy works to help support students both in the classroom and through many various activities. That is why Mr. Murphy is one of our Leadership in Action recipients for this month.
Teaching Assistant of the Year: Ms. Haygood
Teacher of the Year: Mr. Murphy
It is challenging to surmise the impact Mr. Murphy has each and every day and has had for years in his role at JMS. The impact of his teaching and life lessons taught along with his subject have made major impacts on our current students and those from the past. Mr. Murphy has consistently worked to support the students of JMS throughout several years. His efforts to spend time to support students, challenge students to give their best efforts, and work to help develop his students in the learning process are evident. His mastery of the art of teaching is shown consistently as they have been a level 5 teacher for seven years dating back to 2011 – 2012. Mr. Murphy works to devise challenges to spark engaging lessons for students to think critically and exhibit curiosity as they work to learn. He works to help support students both in the classroom and through many various activities.
Mr. Murphy is the ultimate professional, always looking for ways to improve, grow and learn. As we have merged into the realities of 21st century education, he has worked to find ways to integrate not only technology into their curriculum, but also ways to include real world skills in their lessons. He works to help support student needs both for the classroom and often finding ways to help support student needs outside of the classroom. He has been a major fabric to the success of Jefferson Middle School, since joining the JMS family. It is often efforts like the ones displayed by Mr. Murphy that has a profound impact and intangible effect on student success. Simply stated, his students know he cares and they know they are cared for by him.
We are pleased to announce that the 2018 – 2019 Jefferson Middle School teacher of the year award goes to Mr. Michael Murphy.
Lego League Success
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Secret City Qualifier FIRST LEGO League Tournament on Saturday, December 15, 2018. The Disco Robots received the 1st Place Champions Trophy and the 1St Place Robot Performance Trophy. Devin Slattery is a member of the Disco Robots. Team C.A.T.S received the 1st Place Robot Design Trophy. Team CATS members are Anshra Ajaz, Ashley Godfrey, Grace Godfrey, Olivia Herrell, Iliana Spence and Thora Spence. These Jefferson Middle School students are part of home teams that compete in FIRST LEGO League. Both teams will advance to State in February.
PTO News
Fundraiser Spotlight: Are you curious about how your fundraiser dollars are being used? Each week, the PTO section of this newsletter will feature a different department or classroom from JMS that was helped with money from our annual direct drive fundraiser! This week the spotlight is on Mrs. Wyatt’s 5th Grade Science class. Studies have shown that flexible seating options in the classroom enhance learning and help kids focus so she requested some new chairs, stools and adjustable tables for her classroom. The kids are loving their new learning environment! Thank you JMS families!
If you have questions about how you can get involved with PTO at JMS, please contact Sandy Pelletier sandy@issi.net
Starting off 2019 with Success
The following article lays out some good ideas and practices for students and parents about goals and how to set goals. Check out the article from Edutopia "SMART goal setting with your students" to learn more. Below is an excerpt from that article:
With all that is being written now about "mindset," it is an excellent idea to begin school by having our students set positive goals. More and more K-16 schools are introducing concepts like SMART goals as a way of gradually building students' capacity to tackle the increasing challenges they are facing.
Developing a Specific Goal
SMART goals are:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Relevant, Rigorous, Realistic, and Results Focused
T = Timely and Trackable
Learning how to frame goals as SMART goals and being willing to adjust them to get SMARTer is an important skill that would help every student get off to a better start and have a better school year, this year and into the future.
Here is a practical example, starting with a typical, but not especially SMART, goal:
I will do better on my report card in the next marking period.Here is a way to make it SMARTer:
In the next marking period, I will get at least a C on all my math tests, and at least a B on most of my quizzes and homework assignments.But it's not SMART yet because it has no action plan or benchmarks. Here is a pretty SMART goal:
In the next marking period, I will take careful notes and review them at least two days before tests and quizzes so that I can ask the teacher questions about what I don't understand. I will do my math homework before I do things with friends, and when I hand it in, I will ask the teacher about anything I am not sure about. When I get anything wrong, I will make sure to ask the teacher, or one of my classmates how they got the right answer.It's not easy to write SMART goals. This skill takes time to develop, and it’s especially important to have in place for students at the secondary level. A goal is an outcome, something that will make a difference as a result of achieving it. It can't be too ambitious to be out of reach, but also not so simple that it does not challenge. A goal has to be realistic with a stretch, requiring effort and focus to achieve it. That's why goals need timeframes and measurable action steps along the way so that we can keep track of progress and make adjustments as necessary.
New Nine Weeks....take a positive approach to it!
While we want students to relax, rest and enjoy their holidays with family and friends, it is also important for students to continue to work their mind. While their pursuits may not be directly related to school and assignments from classes they may still have opportunities to engage in challenges designed to expand their brain and growth mindset. For example, it could be a holiday art project, using legos, reading for fun, making a video project about a topic of their choice, developing a solution to a real world issue etc.
The following article talks about how we can all work collectively to help students who may have had academic struggles understand that they are capable of learning, but there may be some challenges along the way. Promoting a growth mindset is great for all students and even adults. As our world is continuously changing, so is our need to continue to be lifelong learners. Here is an excerpt from "Helping Struggling Students Build a Growth Mindset" :
ENCOURAGING OPTIMISM ABOUT LEARNING
This outlook helps struggling students become more motivated, alert, and ready to learn, so that neurotransmitters that enable learning can be released. Many students who have learning challenges become pessimistic about school and lose hope that they can make academic progress. These teaching strategies help reinforce how useful it can be to develop a state of practical optimism:
- Model practical optimism and point out examples of this approach in action; for example, say, “We knew this would be a tough project, but we stuck with it and worked hard. Just look at what we’ve accomplished!”
- Share examples of how you have overcome learning obstacles. It’s helpful for struggling students to realize that everyone occasionally faces learning challenges.
- Share stories that illustrate the benefits of practical optimism.
- Maintain a positive learning atmosphere by posing questions such as “What was the best thing that happened today?”
In previous posts, we’ve discussed cultivating practical optimism in the classroom and in schools generally.
Counselors Corner
Welcome back to a new year! We hope that you have had a safe and restful break. We will have lots of things happening at JMS from now until the end of the school year so be sure you look at important dates that will involve your child(ren). As we have begun a new year we need to begin to look at where we are in the school year with our academics and what New Year’s resolutions we need to be making to end the school year on a positive note. Here are some steps that Jennifer Gonzalez, Cult of Pedagogy developed that may help with getting you started:
Just like adults, students may be looking at the new year as an opportunity for a new beginning and a time to reflect on their lives and make goals on how to be more successful.
Here’s a step-by-step plan you can use to help your students make the kinds of resolutions that could have a significant impact on their goals for the remainder of the school year.
1. GET WARMED UP.
Ask students if any of them have made a new year’s resolution yet. Allow students to consider a question, turn to a partner and discuss their response with the partner. Then ask a few to share their resolutions with the class. Remember some students may want to keep their resolution private due to dealing with some serious challenges in their lives. Also talk about your own, if you have one. This is just a casual conversation to get warmed up.
2. EXPLORE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESOLUTIONS.
One of the main goals for thinking about goals is to give students a better sense of control of the things in their lives. That’s an important message; one that can empower them to take ownership for their choices and start making big changes. And this message will be most effective if students are exposed to a broad range of possibilities by listening to their peers, rather than limit themselves to whatever ideas they happen to come up with on their own.
So spend some time surfing the web and look at the different kinds of resolutions other middle school students make. You might brainstorm a list of possible resolutions on the board, then divide that list into categories. This would essentially be to help students brainstorm and how certain topics relate to others.
The list could include categories and examples like these:
Health Resolutions: eat less junk food, exercise more, get better sleep
Academic Resolutions: set up a homework routine, keep school materials organized
Social Resolutions: be a better listener, stop gossiping, spend more time with family
Personal Growth Resolutions: learn a new hobby or skill, spend less time on devices
Once students have explored many possibilities, have them choose at least one resolution for the new year.
3. EXPLAIN HOW TO TURN A RESOLUTION INTO A GOAL.
One of the reasons some resolutions fail is because they aren’t specific or measurable. If a person resolves to “eat healthier,” that’s hard to measure and hard to track. With a broad resolution, it’s easy to fall into a gray area and eventually drop it altogether. So, teach students how to take a vague resolution like “give my dog more attention” and turn it into a specific, measurable goal like “spend 10 minutes a day petting and playing with my dog.” Introduce students to the concept of SMART goals so they can develop a goal that meets all five criteria.
If a resolution is something more complex and long-term, like “learn how to cook,” have students think about what success with that resolution might look like: Maybe someone who knows how to cook can make a certain number of meals easily, so have the student decide what that number is and set a deadline for learning that number of meals. Or better yet, have them create a list of specific things they want to learn how to cook; this can serve as a checklist for the year.
4. SHOW STUDENTS HOW TO TRACK THEIR GOALS.
Explain to students that people generally have a greater chance of meeting their goals if they keep track of their progress in some way. Then show them how to do it.
Because students will have different kinds of goals, they will need different approaches to this tracking. Some will have the kind that require daily changes, like flossing every day or spending time each day with a pet. For a goal like that, they could use a daily record like this one, where they record “scores” they define themselves.
5. LATER, PROVIDE TIME TO REFLECT.
Plan class time later-on for students to do some written reflection on the progress they have made. Have them consider how well their plan is going, what factors may be getting in their way, or how the new changes are impacting their quality of life. The first time might be a week after goals are set, followed by two more check-ins spaced further apart. During these reflection times, share how your own goals are going, and talk to students about how sometimes we end up changing our goals based on what we learn about ourselves over time.
Dates to Remember:
January 8, 2019 - Students return to school and they will receive their new schedules for their term classes within their homeroom. RTI changes will NOT be made until after grades are due on Wednesday, January 9th. Therefore, those schedules changes will not be on the schedule for the students on Tuesday morning. RTI changes will be available no earlier than Thursday, January 10th through Skyward.
January 15th, 2019 - AVID applications for 8th grade students interested in the AVID program at the high school are due. The application can be found through their English teacher’s Canvas page. If there are any questions about AVID, the application process, or the due date please contact Andy Magee at 425-9252 for more information.
January 20th, 2019 - AVID recommendations from teachers are due. Again, please contact Andy Magee if there are any questions concerning AVID, the application process or the due date.
January 31, 2019 - Selected 8th grade students will be participating in the NAEP test either in Math or Reading. If you would like to know more about the NAEP test please contact Andy Magee at 425-9252 if you have more questions. More information will be provided closer to the test date.