JCMS Parent Newsletter
August 31-September 4
General News
- Builders Club - First meeting is September 2 from 3:15-4:15 in Rm. 17. See Mrs. Kelley for more information
- Labor Day - NO SCHOOL - Next Monday (September 7th) is Labor Day and we will not have school that day.
- Picture Day - Thursday September 10th is Picture Day. Order forms were sent home last week. Pictures can also be ordered online at www.mylifetouch.com and use the Picture Day ID Code: TF015231Q0. Extra copies of the order form can also be picked up in the front office.
- Fall Dance - We will have our first after school dance on Friday September 11th from 3:15-5:00. Cost is $4.
Recommended Reads from the Library
From Mr. Grubbs
Throughout the summer months, the kids are gone, teachers are out of the building but there are a handful of staff still working diligently at JCMS. We do a lot of planning and preparing for the upcoming school year, but one of the most important parts of this planning rarely gets mentioned and many times gets overlooked as kids flood back into the building in August. Ironically enough, what gets overlooked is the very reason why students come to school in the first place - academics. We have searched high and low around the state for schools that are being successful and borrowing their ideas/strategies which make them so. Over the past few years, we have worked to perfect our curriculum (what is being taught) for each subject, ensure all teachers are teaching the same curriculum, ensure the best possible teaching practices are being used and then find ways to help those students that may be struggling. The point of stating this being that I am very proud and feel very confident of the learning that is happening in our building. We have very competent teachers that are constantly improving their craft and working towards providing the best quality education that they can for your student. Largely due to our Title I program, we have a remediation system in place that I would put up against any other school in our area in terms of its effectiveness. And last, we have established a positive, cooperative culture where we want learning to be an experience. As the leader and figurehead of this building, I feel it critical to share with you the improvements that we have been making and what it has done for your students learning. You entrust your student with us every day and we owe it to you and the student to make sure that they are getting a quality education. We have been working hard and will continue to work hard to make Jennings County Middle School a place where students truly become prepared for their future
Parent Resources
Great tips for parents of any middle school student - http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/ss/slideshow-adhd-study-habits
Tips For Helping Kids and Teens With Homework and Study Habits
Certain key practices will make life easier for everyone in the family when it comes to study time and study organization.
- Turn off the TV set. Make a house rule, depending on the location of the set, that when it is study time, it is “no TV” time. A television set that is on will draw youngsters like bees to honey.
- What about the radio or other audio devices? Some kids do seem to function all right with the radio turned on to a favorite music station
- Certain rules should be set about cell phones during study hours. Cell phones should be powered off and left in another room during homework to help with focus.
- Designate specific areas for homework and studying. Possibilities include the child’s room or the kitchen or dining room table, but the rules should remain consistent regardless of the study area.
- Consider your child’s developmental level when setting the amount of time for homework. While high school students can focus for over an hour, first-graders are unlikely to last more than 15 minutes on a single task. Allow your child to take breaks, perhaps as a reward for finishing a section of the work.
- Organize study and homework projects. Get a large calendar, one that allows space for jotting down things in the daily boxes. Rip it apart so that you (and the child) can sequentially mount the school months for the current semester. For example, you can tear off September, October, November, December, and January and mount them from left to right across one wall. Have the child use a bold color writing instrument (felt tip pen) to mark exam dates in one color, reports that are coming due in a different color, etcetera. This will serve as a reminder so that things aren’t set aside until the last dangerous moment.
- Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework assignments. One of the most misunderstood aspects of schoolwork is the difference between studying and doing homework assignments.
- Note-taking is a critical skill and should be developed. Many students don’t know how to take notes in those classes that require them. Some feel they have to write down every word the teacher says. Others have wisely realized the value of an outline form of note-taking. Well prepared teachers present their material in a format that lends itself to outline form note taking..
- Should notes ever be rewritten? In some cases, they should be, particularly if a lot of material was covered, and the student had to write quickly but lacks speed and organization. Rewriting notes takes time, but it can be an excellent review of the subject matter. However, rewriting notes isn’t worth the time unless they are used for review and recall of important information.
- Help your child to feel confident for tests. Taking tests can be a traumatic experience for some students. Explain to your child that burning the midnight oil (cramming) the night before a test is not productive. Better to get a good night’s sleep. Students also need reminding that when taking a test, they should thoroughly and carefully read the directions before they haphazardly start to mark their test papers. They should be advised to skip over questions for which they don’t know the answers. They can always return to those if there’s time. Good advice for any student before taking a test: take a deep breath, relax, and dive in. Always bring an extra pencil just in case.
- During a homework session, watch for signs of frustration. No learning can take place and little can be accomplished if the child is angry or upset over an assignment that is too long or too difficult. Frustration calls for a short break to relax and regroup.
- Should parents help with homework? Yes-if it is clearly productive to do so, such as calling out spelling words or checking a math problem that won’t prove. No-if it is something the child can clearly handle himself and learn from the process.
JCMS Contact Info.
Email: nhill@jcsc.org
Website: ms.jcsc.org
Location: 820 W Walnut St, North Vernon, IN, United States
Phone: 812-346-4940
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenningscountymiddleschool
Twitter: @JCMSPanthers