Weekly Update
August 8th, 2023
January 8-12, 2024
Message From the Principal
We have had a great two days back! We are glad to see everyone and to get this second semester going!
We do have some changes for this semester that I want to make sure you are aware of.
As we have spent the first semester digging deeper into our Fastbridge data which is our new benchmarking platform we have noticed that students are lower in their automaticity of their math facts as well as their knowledge in vocabulary partially due to lack of exposure and background knowledge. To help with this and to work on closing our achievement gaps we will be moving to a school wide intervention during our Tiger Time part of the day. We will still have students that will go to a Tier 2/3 intervention during this time to work on skills more specific and focused on their needs to help get them on benchmark, these skills are focused around Phonics, Fluency, and Comprehension as well as math concepts that they might have missed or not mastered from previous grades.
Students who do not go to a Tier 2/3 intervention will stay with their advisory teacher or move to a different teacher. They will complete the following activities;
Grade Check- they will list their current grades and any missing assignments they have
ELA or Math skill review
Study Hall/ Silent Reading
Accountability sheet, stating what they worked on during their study hall time
Students will earn 4 points a day:
1- Being Prepared
1- Being Seated
1- Being quiet or actively participating in activity
1- Working during the study hall/silent reading portion
We have also added some requirements to our Monthly Celebrations; we have had students showing up with iPads not charged or dead by 3rd hour due to not being fully charged or playing on them.
Each day advisory teachers will check and make sure student iPads are charged to at least 50% if they are not students will get an iPad write up. Their iPads are tools that they need to be able to be successful during the school day and complete their work, it is important that students are responsible and are charging their iPads every night if they take them home or turning them in at the end of the day if they leave them at school so Ms. Savanna can plug them in to charge.
Students will also receive write ups for not bringing their iPad to school, for playing games or on YouTube when they should be working on work.
If a student receives 3 iPad write-ups they will receive a lunch detention and will not be eligible for that months monthly celebration.
We have also had a lot of students getting tardies to their classes during the middle of the school day, there is plenty of time for students to check in with their teacher and use the restroom, get a drink or fill up their water bottle during passing period. Tardies should not be occurring.
If a student receives 3 tardies they will be given a lunch detention and will not be eligible for that months monthly celebration.
To recap in order to qualify for the monthly celebration at the end of each month students must:
1. Not have any Fs
2. Not have more than 5 missing assignments
3. Not have more that 2 visits to Mrs. Dooley
4. Not have 3 iPad write-ups
5. Not have 3 tardies
Connecting with the Counselor
Enhancing Your Future with Mathematics & Science -- A Conference for Young Women in Grades 6-8
Please view THIS LINK for an exciting opportunity for our ladies in 6-8 grade at Emporia State University!
Word of the Year
Students spent their first couple of days back reflecting on 2023. As students reflect on last quarter and last year, they will start to create their Word of the Year!
Attention 5th and 6th Grade Parents
TeamMates Kick-Off!
Students in 5th and 6th grade were given this flyer today to show their families. For more information, you can visit www.teammates.org, or scan the QR code on the flyer.
All Things Activities and Athletics
Boys Basketball- Boys will travel to Holton on Monday. Games will start at 4:30 and game play order will be A team followed by B team. 7th Grade will play at Holton Elementary School and 8th Grade will play at Holton Middle School. Thursday the boys will play at home against Nemaha Central, 7th grade will play at the High School and 8th Grade will play at the Middle School
eSports- Below is a link to order fan wear for eSports it closes on Jan. 17
Fees
If your child is in art this semester they will need to make sure the fee gets paid. Even if they were in art 1st semester there is another fee for 2nd semester.
Let's Talk About Food
Cost for Breakfast is $2.10- we start serving breakfast at 7:30 am
Lunch cost is $3.25- We are offering a hot meal, a sandwich and a salad option please make sure you let your child know what is on the lunch menu so they know what they would like when their teacher takes lunch count.
JWMS Calendar
Events for the week of January 8-12, 2024
Thursday- Boys basketball at Home against Nemaha Central