JMS Parent Newsletter
Week 5: November 9th - 13th - Midterm Week!
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.” Brene Brown
Week 5: November 9th - 13th - Midterm Week!
We had a wonderful week welcoming all students back to Jefferson Middle School!
In an effort to mitigate Covid-19 and other illness transmission for our students and staff, please be sure to keep your child at home if they have any of the following symptoms: headache, runny nose, cough, temperature, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, etc.
We appreciate your patience with arrival and dismissal each day. A few things regarding arrival/dismissal:
- In an effort to keep traffic off of Fairbanks, please be sure to pull your vehicle up to the curve near the Flagpole (Blue Cones) when you arrive to school.
- Please utilize the Bus Loop (near the cafeteria/softball field) after 7:10am (when no busses are present) to drop off your child.
- You can also pick up your kids after school when the buses dismiss on the cafeteria/softball field side to eliminate waiting near the track.
- Please be sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle in the morning so that we do not have traffic back up.
Please see below the items included in this weeks Parent Newsletter!
- The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
- Veteran's Day - Thank You!
- After School Help & Super Wednesday Information
- Week 5 - Midterm Week
- 8th Grader ACT Aspire Testing Information (Includes ConnectOR Aspire testing information)
- School Picture Proof Information
- Tips from Mr. Fowler - Microsoft OneDrive & Chrome Syncing
- PTO Update
- The Reading Eagle
- JMS Counselors Corner w/ Portrait of Graduate!
- JMS Athletic Update
- Ski Club Update
As always, the health and safety of our students and staff will remain our number one priority.
Have a wonderful week!
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Jenifer Laurendine, Vice Principal, jllaurendine@ortn.edu
Nick Corrigan, Dean of Students, njcorrigan@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Instructional Technology Coach, bjfowler@ortn.edu
The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday, November 9
A Day
RTI Meetings Zoom (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th)
First Lego League Meeting - Room 102 - 2:45-4:30pm
Boys Basketball Practice - Gym 3-5pm
JV Girls Basketball Game vs. Norris @ Norris MS 5pm
Tuesday, November 10
B day
First Lego League Meeting - Room 102 - 2:45-4:30pm
Boys Basketball Practice - Gym 3-5pm
Girls Basketball Practice - -Gym 3-5pm
Wednesday, November 11
A Day
Veteran's Day
Admin Team Meeting Eagle Innovation Center - 6am
8th Grade ACT Aspire Reading Test - (Regular 7:50 – 9:05) (Extended Time 7:50-9:38)
8th Grade ACT Aspire English Test - (Regular 9:15 – 10:05) (Extended Time 9:50 – 11:00)
Staff Meeting Zoom - 1-2pm
Cognia Meeting Zoom - 2:30-4pm
Boys Basketball Practice - Gym 1-3pm
Girls Basketball Practice - Gym 3-5pm
Grade Posting Window Closes 11:59 PM
Thursday, November 12
B Day
8th Grade ACT Aspire Math Test -
- (Regular 7:50 – 9:15) (Extended Time 7:50-9:43) (Read Aloud 7:50-10:20)
8th Grade ACT Aspire Science Test -
- (Regular 9:25 – 10:35) (Extended Time 9:55 – 11:35) Read Aloud 10:50-12:55)
Oliver Springs Tournament - Basketball Game vs. Kings Academy @ Oliver Springs MS
Girls Varsity 5pm, Boys Varsity 6pm
Friday, November 13
A Day
Distribute Midterm Grade reports to students 7th period
Oliver Springs Tournament - Basketball Game vs. Lakeway @ Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy
Girls Varsity 7pm, Boys Varsity 8pm
Saturday, November 14
Oliver Springs Tournament - Basketball Game @ Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy
Girls Varsity vs. Mt. Pisgah Noon
Boys Varsity vs. Sacred 1pm
Veteran's Day 2020
We would like to thank our Veteran's for their service! A special thank you to anyone in your family who has served and is a veteran. We appreciate their sacrifice, dedication and commitment to defending our nation.
In addition, we would like to recognize the JMS staff members for their service:
Captain Brian Wilson
Sgt. Bill Byas
First Lieutenant Nicholas Corrigan
Staff Sergeant Matt Reed
Thank you for their service and dedication to our nation!
After School Help & Super Wednesday Information!
Interested in having your child receive assistance after school? Please contact Nick Corrigan at njcorrigan@ortn.edu or Corey Huddleston at cdhuddleston@ortn.edu to register!
After School Homework Help
Monday & Thursday – Last Names A-K
Tuesday & Friday – Last Names L-Z
Please remember students will need to be picked up by 3:45 PM.
Super Wednesday Homework Help
Students should report to the Eagle Innovation Center (main lobby) after being dismissed from school on Wednesday.
Please remember that students will need to be picked up by 3:45 PM.
Week 5 - Midterm!
This is Midterm Week! Please have your students touch base with teachers about when assignments must be turned in for the Midterm Grade Reports. The Midterm ends this Wednesday, November 11th and Midterm Reports will be sent home on Friday, November 13th during 7th period.
Check Skyward
- Check your child's grades in Skyward. You will be able to tell what their current grade is and what assignments are missing. Please see the video below on how to access your child's grads on Skyward.
Contact Teacher
- If your child has missing assignments, reach out to their teacher to see what steps can be taken to possibly make them up. Many teachers provide opportunities to resubmit or make up assignments.
Attendance
- Please be sure to bring in a doctor or parent note within 3 days of returning to school when your child is absent. Students are only permitted 7 parent notes for a sickness that does not require a doctor note.
Please feel free to reach out to Vice Principal Jen Laurendine at jllaurendine@ortn.edu (865-425-9257) or Dean of Students Nick Corrigan at njcorrigan@ortn.edu (865-425-9271) if we can assist in any way
Attention 8th Grade Parents - ACT Aspire Testing - Wednesday & Thursday!
On Wednesday, November 11th and Thursday, November 12th, your child will be taking ACT® Aspire® assessments for 8th grade Reading & English and Math & Science. The valuable data we gain from these assessments allows us to make evidence based decisions when addressing your child’s strengths, areas for improvement, and growth potential. This can give you an early indication of his or her likely readiness for the future, providing time to address areas where improvement is needed.
Measuring academic growth is necessary to keep your child on track for college and career readiness. Our students rise to the challenge and we ask you to encourage your child to do their best and get plenty of sleep the night before.
To learn more about the test, visit www.act.org/actaspire or call Ms. Laurendine at 865-425-9257.
ConnectOR ACT Aspire Testing
If your child is a ConnectOR student, please see message from Mr. Scott regarding ACT Aspire administration:
The ASPIRE ACT test is next Tuesday and Thursday for ConnectOR 8th graders. The ASPIRE is an in person test and will be administered at Secret City Academy. This test is used for class placement next year at Oak Ridge High School. Important information regarding registration, COVID safety protocols, testing times and directions has been sent to your email, Canvas messenger and posted on the ConnectOR Middle School Homeroom page.
School Picture Proof Information
Parents of virtual students who had a photo taken will be contacted with information on picking up proofs and returning any picture orders. Please note that any orders that are placed after November 18 will need to be mailed directly to the company and may require a late fee.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Laurendine at 865-425-9257 or jllaurendine@ortn.edu.
Tips from Mr. Fowler - Microsoft OneDrive & Chrome Syncing
Sometimes, students leave their laptops at school over the weekend or the device is left at Memaw’s house after a delightful visit. Sometimes student devices break, and while your device is being repaired or replaced, you need a loaner device. But what about my files?
Great news! Every student device is setup to utilize Microsoft OneDrive. It automatically uploads their documents to the cloud server which allows easy access from any internet capable device with a web browser. This allows easy swapping of devices and quick access if your device goes down. However, your student must save their files in the appropriate places. Check out the guide below to make sure your student’s OneDrive is currently syncing and that your student is saving his or her work in the appropriate place.
In the same way, the Oak Ridge Schools Technology Department has set up Chrome to sync their bookmarks and access across devices, provided their ORTN accounts are syncing inside the browser. Check out the training below to make sure your student I set up appropriately.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Fowler at bjfowler@ortn.edu.
JMS PTO News
Next PTO Meeting
The next PTO meeting will be Monday, November 16 at 7:50am via Zoom. Meetings are kept short and are conveniently scheduled immediately after drop-off so anyone can attend. If you would like to receive a Zoom invite, please email sandy@issi.net.
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 the main office at JMS. Did you know that outside the office, there is a plaque displaying the names of students that have achieved highest honors – straight A’s all four years? At the end of last school year, there were several new names to be added and PTO was able to pay for the engraving with funds from the Direct Drive. Great job JMS students and thank you JMS families for making this possible by supporting the Direct Drive!
The Reading Eagle
JMS Counselors Corner
Good Evening from the Counseling Department at Jefferson Middle School!
We are so happy to be back to school 5 days a week! The students were so happy to see each other after being absent from each other since March 13, 2020. Students have shown many ways of building relationships this week and helping one another with getting back into the swing of things.
Portrait of a Graduate
Self-Awareness, Self-Discipline, & Empathy - Ms. Little’s 5th Grade Science Class
Ms. Little’s students have been studying about physical and chemical changes in matter. Students have learned that a physical change occurs when a substance changes in size, shape, appearance, or state of matter, but the chemical make-up of the substance remains the same. For example, water in the solid state is called ice. Water in the liquid state is just called water. Water as a gas is called water vapor. We can easily cause water to change states by changing its temperature. However, no chemical change has occurred. The atoms have not combined or broken apart to make a different substance; it is still water or H2O. Chemical changes are different because they cause a new substance to be formed, and they also either release energy or absorb it. Chemical changes cannot easily be undone. Burning is a good example of a chemical change. When we burn wood, it releases energy in the form of heat and creates new substances: smoke and ash.
In order to apply this knowledge of physical and chemical changes, Ms. Little’s class made some yummy S’mores. The students had fun roasting marshmallows over ceramic camp fires. The browning or burning of the marshmallow represents a chemical change because a new substance was created. Breaking a piece of chocolate and a graham cracker in half represents physical changes. A broken graham cracker is still a graham cracker. Broken pieces of chocolate or melted chocolate is still chocolate. Students helped each other by communicating how to move the marshmallow around so it would not melt and drop into the flame or catch on fire.
After students assembled their S’mores, they enjoyed eating them! While eating their yummy S’mores, they collaborated in groups to answer some questions about physical and chemical changes in matter. It was a fantastic Friday building relationships and making S’mores in Ms. Little’s class!
Prewrapped Snacks Needed for After School Academic Help
The counseling department provides After School Academic Support. These programs were created in order to better meet our students’ academic needs. Since implementing this program, we have been able to aid in bringing up a number of students’ grades to passing and graduate them from our program, having grown their individual academic and organizational skillsets. At each session, each student receives a nutritious snack that helps them re-center their brains and stomachs for further concentration. We are asking all who are able and interested in supporting this program to donate nutritious, prepackaged snacks for our students. All donations can be dropped off to the Jefferson Middle School Counseling Office. We thank you so much for your willingness to support this wonderful program here at JMS.
The counseling department also provides a quiet place for students to come during their lunch to complete any assignments and finish tests. Seventh grade students helped to social distance from one another.
Resurface of JMS Track
We are blessed as a school and community to have the track at JMS that has been used regularly for many years. In order for this track to remain safe for the students and community, it needs to be resurfaced. Here is where you come in! Please complete the quick survey below on how your family uses the track at JMS. If you know of other families that no longer have students at Jefferson that use this track, please feel free to share this survey with them. Evidence of community support is a key factor is getting this track resurfaced. Please see pictures below. Also, please access the survey by using the link below:
Last Week for Thanksgiving Donations
For a few decades now, JMS has conducted a tremendously successful Food Drive for our local food pantries to help our families in need during the holidays. This year, we have to take a pause on this worthy tradition, but we have created an alternate way to help Oak Ridge: We will collect cash donations or checks made out to JMS, which will then be equally divided and shared with our two Oak Ridge food pantries.
- Any amount is greatly appreciated.
- Monetary donations will be accepted from November 2-16.
- There will be a secure barrel in the lobby where you can drop in your spare change.
- MANY THANKS to Home Depot for donating the barrel and fall decorations to support our cause!
- We will present the monetary donations to our local food banks, so they may purchase what they need to provide for our community during the holidays.
- JMS has a strong history of stepping up—let’s keep this tradition going!
Congratulations to the following students on being nominated for Student of the Week:
Dhimitrios Butler
Isabella Hokenson
Maverick Fitzwater
Kaitlynn Thomas
Angel McMomas
Abigail Ault
Malik Howard
Nayeem Khan
Annabella Shugerman (Nova Reina)
Silas Rowden
Ibrahim Al ANajjar
Amara Jackson
Gracie Fisher
Kori Gentry
Scarlett Smith
Lylah Martin
Ja' Rell Jemerson
Zoe Harper
Gracie Fisher
Abbigale Ault
Haanah Zetans
Important Upcoming Dates:
8th grades ONLY- ACT ASPIRE Testing - November 11th and 12th
Thanksgiving Break- November 25th-27th
Winter Break Early Dismissal- December 18th
Winter Break December 21st-January 4th
JMS Athletic Update
The Lady Eagles and Eagles basketball teams and cheer squad kicked off the 2020-2021 basketball season this week with two home games!
On Monday night, the Lady Eagles fell to Coalfield 17-23. The Eagles defeated Coalfield 30-19. On Thursday night, both Jefferson teams scored victories over Pigeon Forge. The Lady Eagles won 21-8 and the Eagles won 36-24.
The Jefferson basketball teams and cheerleaders travel to Norris on Monday night. Girls JV will play at 5pm, followed by girls varsity at 6pm and boys varsity at 7pm. The Eagles are also competing in a Tournament in Oliver Springs Thursday, November 12th through Saturday, November 14th.
Just a reminder of the COVID guidelines being followed at all home basketball games this season:
- All spectators will be required to wear a mask at all times while inside Jefferson Middle School. Spectators will be asked to leave if they do not keep their masks on.
- Out of an abundance of caution and safety, seating capacity for all home basketball games at Jefferson Middle School during the 2020-2021 season will be limited to 200 fans and spectators to allow for appropriate social distancing.
- Upon conclusion of the girls game, we request that fans not staying for the boys game exit the gym out the front gym doors to allow space in the bleachers for the spectators arriving for the boys game.
- Spectators attending the boy’s game are requested to arrive as close to tip-off as possible to allow fans attending the girls game time to exit the gym. All fans and spectators will enter Jefferson through the main front doors.
- At conclusion of games, all fans should exit the gym through the front gym doors.
- · Spectators will have their temperatures taken upon arrival and are expected to maintain social distance in the bleachers from anyone other than those living in the same household.
- Admission will be $4/adults and $3/students—correct change is appreciated.
- We will have limited, pre-packaged concessions available for purchase.
ORS Looking for Subs!
Please see the pay scale below and application links below!
Link to apply: https://www.ortn.edu/central-office/employment/substitutes/
Link to information: https://www.ortn.edu/central-office/employment/substitutes/
Ski Club Trips - Cancelled
Out of an abundance of caution and care for our students and staff, Jefferson Middle School administration has made the decision to cancel JMS Ski Club for the 20-21 Winter Season. We would like to thank Ober Gatlinburg for their support and will resume this club activity in the 21-22 school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jenifer Laurendine at jllaurendine@ortn.edu.