The Jaguar Journal
June 2019
James Sales Elementary
Brandy Nelson - Principal
Office Hours - 8:15 to 3:45
253-298-4200 / FAX 253-298-4215
Dates To Remember
June 3 - 5th Grade Visit to Keithley 12:30-2:00
5th Grade Parent Night at Keithley 5:30-7:00
June 4 - 5th Grade SBA Test
3rd Grade Field Trip
June 5 - Early Release – 1:55
5th Grade SBA Test
June 6 - Kindergarten Concert 2:30 & 5:00
June 7 - 4th & 5th Grades – Biz Town
June 12 - Early Release – 11:55
End of 3rd Trimester
June 13 - Kindergarten & 1st Grade Field Trip
June 17 - Attendance Reward
June 18 - Behavior Reward Field Trip
June 19 - Field Day
June 20 - Early Release – 12:25 Last Day of School!
5th Grade Promotion - 10:45
Report Cards Go Home
August 22 - Back to School Night 4:00 – 5:30
August 27 - First Day of School
A Message From Our Principal
Hello James Sales families,
Our last testing dates are June 4th and 5th. Our fifth graders will take the WCAS Science assessment.
1. Make sure your child gets a good night sleep the night before testing.
2. Make sure your child attends school on testing day. Avoid scheduling appointments on testing day.
The character traits we focused on as a school in April (May’s were posted last month) are listed here so you can review them as a family with your child:
Work Ethic – Work ethic is being responsible about completing tasks you are given. Spend a little extra time and energy working hard at everything you do – at school, at home, and in your activities. Your hard work will pay off when you accomplish your goals!
Perseverance – People who persevere show mental toughness and commitment to finish a job. When you try to do what you said you would do, no matter how hard it may be, you persevere. Perseverance allows you to reach your learning goals and life goals by pushing through problems to reach success!
Reliability – If you are reliable, it means people can count on you. Reliable people keep their promises to their friends, families, classmates, and teachers. The people around them trust them to get things done! Show others you’re reliable by doing what you agreed to do when you agreed to do it!
Gratitude – Gratitude means being thankful. Show gratitude to the people who help you succeed in school – your family, your classmates, your teachers. Look for the good things in your life and express how thankful you are for those. Having an attitude of gratitude makes life happier!
What an amazing year it has been at James Sales Elementary! Thank you, families, for working with the school and your child as we continue to help them grow and learn each day. Over the summer, please set aside time for family time, reading, and practicing math facts. This will help reduce summer loss when we return in August. I am so lucky to work in such a wonderful building with amazing staff and families.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nelson, Principal
2019-20 School Year Announcements
Mark your calendars for our Back-to-School night on August 22nd from 4:00 till 5:30. Meet your child's teacher, see the classroom, drop off school supplies, and have a treat with us. The first day of school is August 27th. See you then!
2019-20 Registration
Registration for new kindergarten through grade 5 students who live within our attendance boundaries is now open. A child must be five years of age on or before August 31, 2019 to be eligible to enroll. Enrollees must provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, up-to-date immunization records, and proof of residency. Come to the main office to pick up or turn in an enrollment packet between 8:30 and 3:15 daily.
Current students who live within James Sales boundaries are automatically enrolled at James Sales for next year. Students who were overloaded to James Sales for the 18-19 school year will return to their home schools for 2019-20. Students living within our district but outside of James Sales boundaries who want to attend James Sales must complete a within-district transfer online. Out-of-district students who wish to attend James Sales must complete a new out-of-district transfer to be considered for enrollment.
Transfer Students
All in-district and out-of-district transfers for 2019-20 were due by May 6th. Students from outside of James Sales’ area without an approved transfer on file will not be enrolled for next year and will need to return to their home school.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Music Notes
The kindergarten classes will present a concert on June 6th at 2:30 for the school and at 5:00 for families.
1st Grade Concert
Students of the Month
Students of the Month for both April and May were honored at an assembly on May 31st.
These students were selected by their teachers for showing responsibility, respect, caring, and safe behavior:
Madison W., Ash M., Ammmika T., Noah A., Malia T., Dakota I., Tristan J., Terre’ya T., Ashton C., Abel H., Jazlynn I., Evyn G., Lei’Ani S., Malia F., Annalisa T., La’Mareon C., Viahney E., Leandra R., Jaden P., Trance G., Eliannah F., Maddy L., Mireya J., Madison C., Thomas B., Alberto H., Jasmine T., Jeff C., Denis F., Athena M., Mason L., Akasha B., Neveah P., and Rolondo K.
The following students exemplified the Virtue of the Month – Gratitude:
Jack N., Martin G., Aireana M., Noah B., Felise P., Luke J., Arianny A., Elvis P., Rio F., Jacy C., Isaac H., Sofia T., Covin M., Chloe B., Nathan L., Abdulkadir M., Jackson S., Jonathan N., Joshua H., Alice H., Katie D., Jose N., Gabe L., Alex B., Solomon H., Sandra M., Chase A., Priscilla A., Kira C., Yuriko L., and Payton B.
Clothing Guidlines
These reminders are to help you and your child select clothing that is comfortable, appropriate for warmer weather, and meets school standards. Thank you for your support!
- Crop tops and bare midriffs are not acceptable at school. Tummies must be covered.
- Shorts and skirts are to be at least finger-tip length.
- Straps must be at least two inches wide – no spaghetti straps on shirts and dresses.
- Baggy, sagging pants are not allowed.
- No flip-flop, open toed, or high-heeled shoes. These type of shoes are not appropriate for PE and are difficult during recess activities.
Please Remember
If you need to take your child out of school early, please make sure to come to the office at least a half hour before dismissal time. On a regular school day, please be in the office by 2:55 and on an early dismissal day, be in the office by 1:25. Thank you for your help!
Free Preschool Programs
If you have a pre-school age child in your household, they may be eligible for the Head Start and ECEAP preschools at the Franklin Pierce Hewins Early Learning Center. We have applications in our main office at James Sales or you can go to the following link to access an application: http://elc.fpschools.org/preschool_programs/head_start/head_start__e_c_e_a_p_applications
Goodbye to Special Staff Members
James Sales Elementary bids a fond farewell to each of the following staff members: Nicole Foss, Kelly Glick, Heather Hagler, Ryan McCormick, Katrina Mercado, Michealea Lemons, Melinda Peckham, and Ivana Watkins. They have all been valued members of the James Sales team and we wish them well in their new ventures.
Return Library Books
The end of the school year is quickly aproaching! It is time to look under beds, in closets, and other hiding places for those overdue and lost library books. Students who have overdue books or unpaid library fines will not be able to participate in field trips or field day unless these books are returned or fines paid before these events. Our goal is to have all books turned in so every student can participate in field day. Please help us out! Questions? Email Mrs. Bruce – jbruce@fpschools.org or call 253-298-4200.
From the Health Room
Does your child have medication at school? Please come to the Health Room during school hours on the last day of school to pick up your child’s remaining medication. Any medication left at the school after June 20th will be disposed of. It will not be saved for next year. We will need NEW MEDICATION and NEW DOCTOR’S ORDERS for the 2019-20 school year.
ALL students entering the 6th grade are required to receive the Tdap vaccine before entering 6th grade. This vaccine can be obtained from your primary doctor, or at the Pierce County Health Department Immunization Clinic at the South Hill Mall. If you need a copy of your student’s immunization record or have other questions, please contact our nurse, Jessica Churchill, at 253-298-4223.
Dreambox
James Sales students can continue to access DreamBox throughout the summer to keep their math skills fresh. Go to this site to log in:
https://play.dreambox.com/login/95mq/dsze
Each student has a customized account that was created by their classroom teacher. This will be great summer practice. We recommend 20 minutes per day at least three times a week.
Field Trips
Field trip time is here. Here are some things for you to remember as your child prepares for their fun outing.
1. Turn in field trip permission slips.
2. Pay all fines, fees, and fundraiser money before the field trip, or your child will not be able to attend.
3. Parents or others who wish to attend the field trip as a chaperone must be cleared to volunteer. See the Volunteer section of this newsletter for instructions.
4. Make sure your student wears clothing appropriate for the weather and good walking shoes.
End of Year Reminders
The last day of school is June 20. Dismissal will be at 12:25 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Our Goals for 2018-19
Are your students on target for meeting the attendance and behavior goals at James Sales?
· Attendance – This year’s goal is to have nine or fewer tardies and/or absences. At the end of each trimester, all students who have missed less than nine days or have had less than nine tardies, will receive a reward. At the end of the school year, the PTO will sponsor a reward for all students who have met the attendance goal for the year.
· Behavior – Students with zero write-ups at the end of each trimester receive a reward. At the end of the year, Students with zero write-ups will also go on a PTO sponsored field trip.
Attendance
Did you know if your child is tardy or leaves school early, it will show on their attendance record? Please make appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. Make sure you call the school office at 253-298-4200 if your student is absent for any reason. You may leave a message if you need to call before or after school hours.
Volunteers
If you would like to spend time in your child’s classroom for any reason or attend field trips, you must be cleared as a volunteer. All previously approved volunteer applications expired July 31st and must be renewed before participating in any volunteer capacity at James Sales.
You will find the online application for volunteers on the fpschools.org website. Click on ‘Volunteers’ and follow the directions. You will receive an email when you are cleared. It can take up to two weeks to process the application. Please don’t wait until just before your student has a field trip to submit your application!
All volunteer clearances will expire July 31, 2019 for the 2018-19 school year. Volunteers must renew volunteer clearances after July 31st for the 2019-20 school year.
PTO News
The winner of the K-1-3 Box Tops trophy for April - May was Ms. Paczkowski’s class. They turned in 62 Box Tops. The winner of the 2-4-5 Box Tops trophy was Mrs. Stover’s class with 87 Box Tops. Keep clipping Box Tops and send them to school. Each one is worth 5 cents!
The final PTO meeting of the school year is scheduled for June 10th at 3:45 in the library. All are invited to attend. Members are invited to approve the 2019-20 budget and vote on board members for next year.
Please download and use the Shoparoo app. We earned $196.15 last year from parents scanning their receipts with the Shoparoo app!
If your student would like to purchase popcorn or a treat on Fridays, please send 50 cents – exact change – to school with your student. Money must be turned into the teacher first thing in the morning for the PTO to fill the classroom orders. This means that students who are tardy will not be able to turn their money in on time and receive their popcorn or treat.
You can contact the PTO board by email – PTOJamesSales@gmail.com or Facebook message. Search @jamessaleselementarypto to follow on Facebook.
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.