JMS Weekly Update
August 22, 2021
Dear JMS Families,
Tomorrow is our first day of school! We are very excited to be welcoming the children back in to the building! This week's JMS Update contains a lot of information about navigating the first day of school. Please review the First Day of School section.
If you are looking for some back to school JMS Spiritwear, our Spirtwear sale is still running. You can find more information about our Spiritwear sale here.
As we welcome the children back to into the building for the 2021-2022 school year we ask that you please continue to let our nurse, Mrs. Suess, know if anyone in your family is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. This information is critical to the safety of the students and staff at JMS.
We are looking forward to a wonderful school year! Please remember your masks.
See you soon,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Ms. Katelyn Deet, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday - Day 2
Wednesday - Day 3
Thursday - Day 4
Friday - Day 5
Monday (8/30) - Day 1
FIrst Day of School
Students should arrive to JMS between 7:45-8:00AM. In an effort to physically distance we are asking students to use the following doors for arrival:
- Twisters = D-28
- Wildfire = A-2
- Stars = A-2
- Thunderbolts = A-1
- Emerald = D-28
- Sapphire = A-2
Entering through these doors will allow the students to enter the building nearest to their lockers/homerooms. You can view a map here.
We will have adults at each door to welcome and guide the students to their homerooms.
Breakfast - Monday-Friday @ 7:15
Students who plan to join us for breakfast can arrive beginning at 7:15 using entrance C-23. Breakfast is free to all students.
Sidewalk Construction Walking Routes
The gas line work around the complex is nearing an end. However, I learned today that there are still some areas along our sidewalks that are not completely finished. I have notified the MLPD and our Crossing Guards. There will be extra adults on hand until the work is completed to help everyone arrive to/from JMS safely. Above you will find a link to our sidewalk construction map. This map will tell you which sidewalks are open, which sidewalks are closed, where to proceed with caution and/or where we will need to temporarily reroute the children with adult assistance.
I do not anticipate any road closures for drop-off or pick-up. Should that change, I will let you know. Thank you, in advance, for your patience and attentiveness with drop-off and pick-up this week!
Mt. Lebanon is a walking district. If you do not like to sit in traffic, we encourage you to have your child(ren) walk to school.
The Municipality of Mt. Lebanon, along with the Mt. Lebanon Police Department and Juvenile Protection has formulated the following walking routes. These routes are recommended safe walking routes according to pedestrian and vehicle laws of the Commonwealth of PA. The walking routes are all encompassing not simply for routes to each elementary school. They were designed to be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These routes will show the safest area to walk on the street as well as the safest place to cross every street and crossing guard locations. The routes will take you to a signalized intersection with a stop sign or traffic signal making it easier to cross.
For students in middle and high school, locate the elementary school map where you live and follow that towards your school and onto the next elementary school map where the middle school is located. You may then follow the blue arrows to the school. The reverse would be done for walking home.
Suggested Student Drop Off Routes - 7:45-8:00AM
In preparation for returning to school, I would like to provide some guidance regarding traffic flow around campus so that we can ensure a safe environment for all students, and also reduce congestion and lengthy delays for drivers. If you are not the person that will be dropping your child off, please this information with the appropriate person.
Please drive slowly around the campus during drop off and dismissal times. If possible, have your children walk or carpool to reduce congestion. Families that are dropping off need to pull ahead along the green painted curb all the way up to the auditorium/gym entrance (A-2), by the steps, before letting your student(s) out of the car. Cars that pull up just to the JMS main doors and let students out cause additional back ups to occur, and cause much of the drop off zone to go unused.
There will be traffic. Please be patient and present when you are driving around the complex.
See the link below for suggested drop off routes for those families that choose to drive their children. Please keep in mind that you cannot turn onto Moffett from Bower Hill during drop off and pick up times. You will need to access the complex from Old Hickory to Pin Oak, or from Ruth Street to Pin Oak.
If you need to turn right onto Bower Hill after drop off, it is recommended that you utilize the yellow route. Right turns are not recommended from Moffett because there is a crossing guard at that intersection and only 1-3 right turning cars can get through because of students crossing.
If you need to turn left onto Bower Hill after drop off, it is recommended that you utilize the blue route. The left turn is not affected by the crossing students.
If you do not need to access Bower Hill after drop off, it is recommended that you utilize the red route through the JMS parking lot, which allows you to exit the back of the campus to Pin Oak.
Following these guidelines will help to create the safest environment and best flow of traffic possible. Thank you for your attention to this. The staff at JMS is looking forward to many smiling faces on Monday.
JMS Bell Schedules
You can click on the link above to see the JMS Bell Schedule. This is the schedule that we will use for the 2021-2022 school year. We will run staggered bells. When the first bell rings, all odd numbered classrooms will dismiss. One minute later a second bell will ring. At this time, the even numbered classrooms will dismiss. The staggered bell system will help reduce congestion in the hallways.
First Day of School Bell Schedule
We will run an extended homeroom schedule on the first day of school. This will allow us to review our expectations and procedures, assign lockers, and help the children get acquainted to the building.
Reminders
Lunch
We are going to try our best to have the children spaced 6ft apart at lunch. In some cases, it might be slightly less (5ft or 5.5ft). We will be eating lunch in the Cafeteria, the Auxiliary Gym and Classrooms. The students will be sitting at desks and tables. Students sitting at desks will all be facing the same direction. Students sitting at tables will not be facing each, but will be facing alternate directions.
For the first two weeks of school, the children will be assigned to each of these areas so they are able to get a feel for each of the spaces. As we head into the 3rd week of school, the children will get to choose their preferred lunch space for the rest of the first quarter.
Masks will be required to be worn when the children are not actively eating.
Masking
Universal masking is required for all individuals regardless of vaccination status while indoors in our schools, effective Monday morning, August 9, 2021.
Bring Your Own Technology
Students should bring their own technology with them to school daily. Devices will be used to access Google Classroom, type assignments, conduct research, etc. Devices will not be used in the same manner as they were last year.
COVID-19 Reporting
Report Cases of COVID-19
If you or someone in your family has been exposed to COVID-19, has COVID-19 symptoms, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please contact Nurse Suess. We want to keep the children and our staff safe and in school. Your accurate and honest reporting is appreciated.
Close Contacts & Quarantine
Unvaccinated employees and children should not come to school and are to notify school officials if they become sick with COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting a COVID-19 test result, test positive for COVID-19, or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or to someone with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.
An employee or student who is a close contact of a person who is diagnosed with or tests positive for COVID-19, as defined by the Department or local health department in accordance with CDC guidance, will be evaluated in accordance with the COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance Flowchart. . Close Contacts are individuals who have been exposed (within 6 feet distance for at least 15 consecutive minutes) to someone who is a case during the infectious period, with or without a mask.
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.
If your 7th/8th Grader is interested in any of the following fall sports, it's time to register!
- Field Hockey - August 18
- Football - August 23
- Cross Country - August 30
- Soccer - August 30
- Volleyball - August 30
- Swimming - September 7
JMS PTA Information
Show Your School Spirit - Spiritwear Sale
Check out the Fall Spiritwear Sale. Gym uniform packages are back! The online store is open until Sunday, August 29th. Estimated 9/13 delivery is to the student’s homeroom or orders can be shipped.
PTA Membership and Directory Access
We are in the process of preparing the JMS Membership Toolkit Database for the coming 2021-2022 school year. Our membership store will reopen soon for the upcoming school year. Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.
Fall Welcome Back Video.
SHOPPER & SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAMS
Amazon
Please bookmark our Amazon link and save it to your browser favorites or add it to your home screen for easy shopping. JMS does not earn any rewards when the Amazon app is used.
Android devices - click on this Amazon link. Hit the 3 dots in the top corner of the Chrome browser and select "Add to Home Screen."
Apple devices - click on this Amazon link. In Safari, tap the Share button [box with arrow]. On the bottom row of icons, scroll over and tap Add to Home Screen. On the next screen, choose a name for the link on your home screen and tap Add. The link will now look like its own "app" icon.
The school earns up to 10% on eligible purchases.
Box Tops
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents, so don't forget to physically and electronically clip the for us! The clipped Box Tops can be turned into the office.
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.
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle Support our students! Enroll your Giant Eagle Advantage Card and earn points for FREE educational rewards with every shopping trip.
Click here to register your card. Our school code is 3369. The Giant Eagle card program is also easy to use - just register your card and shop away as usual!
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