JMS Weekly Update
October 4, 2020
Dear JMS Families,
Tomorrow will be the first day of our Hybrid Model.
Students who have elected for the Hybrid Model with the last names A-E, should report to JMS by 8:00AM. All other students (F-L, M-Z, Cyber Cohort), should prepare to log in to homeroom at 10:00AM.
Our teachers have been working hard and have been thoughtfully planning for hybrid instruction. We have thought of, and planned for a lot, but likely not everything. There will be some bumps, we will need to make some changes. We will adjust and everyone will be ok. Please be patient with yourself, your child and the teachers, as we ease into this transition. We are here to help.
We are looking forward to seeing all of our students, online and in person, tomorrow!
Please reach out to myself or Ms. Deet if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Ms. Katelyn Deet, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Hybrid A/B/Cyber BELL SCHEDULE
On Monday, all students (A/B/Cyber) will begin following the Hybrid Schedules. We will no longer follow the "Full Remote" schedule. Please notice the tabs at the bottom of the sheet for the Oct. 5, 6, 8, 9 Hybrid Schedule and the Normal Hybrid Schedule.
We will be running the October 5, 6, 8, 9 schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday (October 7th) will be a Normal Hybrid Schedule. Normal Hybrid Schedule will resume the following week.
Monday (10/5) - Day 4 - 1st Day of Hybrid
- A-E - Report to school by 8:00.
- F-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Tuesday (10/6) - Day 5
- F-L - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-E, M-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Wednesday (10/7) - Day 1
- A-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom by 8:00.
Thursday (10/8) - Day 2
- M-R - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-L, S-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Friday (10/9) - Day 3
- S-Z - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-R, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Monday (10/12) - No School - In Service
Tuesday (10/13) - Day 4 - Cohort A (A-L)
New Information
Mt. Lebanon School District has now transitioned to a Hybrid Instructional Program. The Food
Service Department will be distributing meals daily outside of each elementary school during remote instruction! Meals will be available from 10:45 until 1:15 every day to accommodate all students during their lunch periods. Click on the Lunch link above for more information.
If your student is attending an in-person instructional day at one of the secondary schools, they
will receive their meals in the cafeteria – breakfast will be available prior to the start of the school day and lunch will be available at the normally scheduled lunch periods.
Reflections
Calling All Artists, Dancers, Musicians, Writers, Photographers and Filmmakers - it is time for the 2020 Reflections Program sponsored by the PTA!
This year’s theme of “I Matter Because" inspires our students to use their imaginations to consider their role in and contributions to their world!
Click HERE for additional information. Student winners from the local level have the opportunity to move up through their district, region, council and state PTA programs to the national level.
National Reflections winners are announced in May and celebrated annually at the National PTA's Convention and Expo in June. National PTA then collects and curates the traveling exhibit for the next year.
Submissions will be accepted the week of October 12 through October 16. More details to come.
Submission Form (separate form required for each entry)
Please confirm that your artwork meets the requirements for your category!
Our Spiritwear sale is winding down. Don’t miss out. Check out the new colder weather items-hats, sweatshirts, joggers, and fleeces. Orders can be placed using this link. Items can be shipped to your home (free over $99) or local pickup will be available. The store will close October 6th with delivery around October 29th.
Arriving to School
Arriving to School - 7:45-8:00AM
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 = C-18
- Thunderbolts = A-1
- Emerald = C-27
- Sapphire = C-25
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.
Suggested 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.
Hybrid Information
Hybrid Cohorts
Students will be split into two cohorts for the Hybrid Model.
- A-L - Report to JMS on Mondays and Tuesdays
- M-Z - Report to JMS on Thursdays and Fridays
- Cyber Cohort - Home Monday - Friday
Gradual Return to the Building - (10/5, 10/6, 10/8, 10/9)
Beginning the week of Oct. 5th, we will be gradually welcoming our students back to the building. Students who are scheduled to return to the building will begin their day at JMS at 8:00AM. Students who are scheduled to be at home, will begin their day at 10AM. 1/2 of each cohort will report to JMS following the schedule below:
Monday (10/5) - Day 4 - 1st Day of Hybrid
- A-E - Report to school by 8:00.
- F-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Tuesday (10/6) - Day 5
- F-L - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-E, M-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Wednesday (10/7) - Day 1
- A-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - Log in to homeroom by 8:00.
Thursday (10/8) - Day 2
- M-R - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-L, S-Z, Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
Friday (10/9) - Day 3
- S-Z - Report to school by 8:00.
- A-R , Cyber Cohort - Home - log in to homeroom at 10:00.
From 8:00AM-10:00AM (10/5, 10/6, 10/8, 10/9)
We have scheduled orientation time from 8:00AM-10:00AM for students will be in the building. During this time, students will:
- Learn about our new rules, expectations and procedures.
- Have a guided tour of the building.
- Have an opportunity to walk their schedule.
- Spend time learning about their team.
Bring a Device to School
Students will need to bring a device to school. They will also need to bring a charging cord and headphones. If you are in need of a device, you can request on here.
Students must self screen before reporting to school. Any person with a positive symptom will not be allowed to attend school. If your child is feeling ill, please keep them home.
Item Drop Off
Only in emergency circumstances should forgotten items be brought to the school building by family. Lunch will be available for students who forget their lunch. Students who forget homework, musical instruments, or other things for class can make arrangements with the classroom teacher to submit assignments at a later date.
Water Bottles
Students should bring a water bottle to school. Students will have access to water bottle filling stations, but they will not have access to communal water fountains.
Breakfast
We will be serving breakfast beginning at 7:30. Only students who will be eating breakfast are permitted to arrive at 7:30 due to occupancy limits in the cafeteria. Children eating breakfast should enter JMS through entrance C-23 (in the back of the building). Students who are not eating breakfast will begin to arrive at 7:45.
Rules, Expectations & Procedures
- Students will enter the building and report directly to homeroom.
Lockers
- Students will be dismissed from homeroom in small groups to use their lockers.
- Lockers will be used to store coats, boots, umbrellas, and sporting equipment.
- Students will use their backpacks to carry their materials. They will not be visiting their lockers throughout the day.
- Lockers will be assigned to maximize physical distance between students.
Hallways
Students will walk in a single file line on the right side of the hallway.
At the end of class, students will be released by a staggered bell schedule to avoid congestion in the hallways.
Restrooms
Students will use an electronic passes.
No more than 3 students at a time (unless there is an emergency). Students will wait their turn using the 6ft. markers on the floor.
Cafeteria/Lunch
We will be using the cafeteria and classrooms for lunch.
The cafeteria and classrooms will be set up with desks for individual students spaced 6 feet apart, all facing the same direction.
Students will wash/sanitize hands before and after lunch.
Lunch will be free and grab and go.
Classrooms
Desks will face the same direction.
Desks will be 6ft apart where feasible.
Ultraboard Barriers will be used when 6ft is not feasible.
Students should wash/sanitize hands at the beginning and the end of each class.
Masking
All staff and students are required to wear a mask when in the building.
Mask breaks can occur for no longer than 10 minutes and students must be 6 feet apart.
Students will have masks off when eating, but must be spaced 6 feet apart.
When not eating, students must wear masks.
Ultraboard Barriers
Are required to be used when 6ft of space is not feasible in a classroom.
Can be used anytime.
Will remain in classrooms (students will not travel with them).
Bring Your Own Technology
Students will bring their own device, charging cord and headphones to school everyday.
Charging stations will be provided in classrooms.
If a student does not have a portable device to use, you can request a device using this link.
Physical Education
- Students will not be changing for PE.
- Students should wear appropriate clothing on PE days.
- We will not be using the locker rooms.
- Students will dismiss from JMS through their arrival doors.
Athletics
We are excited to announce that we are now offering the convenience of online registration for our athletic programs through partner company, FamilyID (www.familyid.com). FamilyID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for our programs, and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, you enter your information once for multiple uses, multiple kids and multiple programs.
Technology
Families In Need of Technology
As we prepare to start the 2020-2021 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
JMS PTA Information
JMS PTA membership drive is open. In a typical year, your membership fee to the JMS PTA helps to meet our budget commitments to various PTA-sponsored school programs. This year we have reduced the membership cost to $15, to cover primarily the national and state dues and fees associated with the organization, and we have included an option to make a donation, 100% of which goes to JMS PTA-supported activities. Membership includes one vote per household at PTA meetings, inclusion in the Membership Directory, and PTA Newsletters. Families can link a second parent's email to their first at no additional cost or decide to purchase memberships for two parents. Membership Toolkit has a mobile app for your convenience.
You will be prompted to update your family's information, opt in or out of the directory, and update your child's team, optional phone contact info, and the elementary school from which they came.
Please join us!
Help JMS Earn Money While You Shop!
AmazonSmile
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
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
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