JMS Weekly Update
Week of 5.24.2020
Dear JMS Families,
We hope you are enjoying this long weekend!
This week's update contains information about Medication Pick-Up and Locker Clean-Out.
We also have two 8th Grade updates:
- If you have an 8th Grade Band, Chorus, or Orchestra Student who was scheduled to attend the High Note Festival, click here to request a ticket refund.
- Join us on June 9th @ 12:00 to Clap-Out our 8th Graders during the Community Wide S@H Clap-Out. For more information visit the JMS Activities section of this Update.
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher(s) or myself and Mr. Zeiders with questions.
Take Good Care,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Mr. Jeff Zeiders, Assistant Principal
New News
In accordance with the district medication protocol, all medications stored in the health office must be picked up by a parent/guardian on or before the last day of school.
Due to COVID – 19, the Medication pick up date scheduled for Jefferson Middle is Tuesday, May 26th between the hours of 11:00am & 12:00pm. Medications not picked up on May 26th, will be disposed of properly on that date. Please click on the link above for more information.
We are offering another round of locker clean-out this Thursday (5/28). If your child has belongings in their locker that they would like to retreive, please sign up for a time slot by clicking on the link above.
Students must wear a mask and bring their own bag to hold their belongings. Any belongings left in lockers will be discarded on June 1st.
8th Grade High Note Festival (Band, Chorus, & Orchestra) Refunds
The High Note Music Festival is an experience that involves a judged performance at Carnegie Mellon University in the morning, and a trip to Kennywood Park in the afternoon for 8th Grade Band, Chorus and Orchestra Students.
The annual 8th Grade High Note Festival was cancelled this year do to COVID-19. If you have an 8th grade Band, Chorus or Orchestra student who paid for this trip, and would like a refund, please complete the JMS High Note Festival Refund Form by Friday, May 29th.
Click the link above to hear a message from Dr. Steinhauer.
JMS Activities
Promising Young Writers Program
Congratulations to Julia Descalzi and Grace Goslin for receiving Certificates of Recognition for the Promising Young Writers Program from the National Council of Teachers of English!
According to NCTE, 131 eighth grade students from across the country were nominated this year. Of those, just 52 students received Certificates of Recognition.
To participate in this program, students were nominated by their English and literature teachers. Then, they submitted a piece of writing in response to the prompt provided by NCTE. After being selected to represent JMS as finalists, the students revised their writing samples and also revised and submitted an additional piece of their best writing in a different genre. The two writing samples were evaluated by national judges on content, purpose, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style.
Congratulations, Julia and Grace!
Help Us Celebrate Our 8th Grade Students!
The Mt. Lebanon School District and the Mt. Lebanon PTA Council are proud of our High School Seniors and our 8th and 5th grade students who are making an important school and life transition. To celebrate these major milestones, please join us in a LEBO Clap Out to recognize and acknowledge our students on the last day of school, June 9, 2020 at 12:00 PM. To all Mt. Lebanon residents, families, and business--please join us to clap, cheer and make some noise at your home or place of business in the Mt. Lebanon Community. As always, we ask that you follow social distance and safety guidelines.
We are #Leboproud of the work and efforts of all students, teachers, administrators and staff for their incredible efforts during School@Home. It’s time to celebrate!
Take a look at this very sweet video that celebrates the many cultures in Mt. Lebanon. Thank you to all of our JMS families who participated in this celebration!
Resources For Families
Free Breakfast and Lunch for ALL Children
Check out the new lunch menu from our Food Service Department! Remember, lunches also include a breakfast meal and are free to all children in the community. Free breakfast and lunches are available for pick up from 11:00-1:00 outside of entrance C20 on Horsman Drive at the HS.
The MTLSD School Counselors in partnership with The Allegheny Children's Initiative Inc., have compiled a list of social services resources that may be helpful to you and your family. Please take a look and reach out to these organizations. They are here to help with any of the following:
- Food
- Rent/Mortgage
- Utilities
- Pets
- Abuse
- Mental Health
- General Assistance
Families wanting to borrow technology equipment from the District during this time may request a Chromebook for their family using the following form:
Once you receive your unique family code (e.g. ABCD) from your submission of the Initial Request Form, you may request additional Chromebooks and/or a portable WiFi access point from the District using the following form:
- Supplemental Equipment Request Form
- (You will need your family code to complete this form)
If you have any questions and/or concerns about your District issued equipment please email FIDSupport@mtlsd.net
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
Other Information
Navigating Dashboard During S@H
Looking for more information about how your child is doing during S@H? Check Dashboard!
Dashboard looks a little different now that we are using a P/F system. The teachers have been working hard to provide specific feedback as often as possible. The link above will take you to a document that will help you navigate Dashboard so you can view your child's educational progress (complete/incomplete assignments and feedback from teachers) during S@H.
Students will be considered "present" at school each day unless an Absence Excuse is submitted by the parent by 8:30 am on the day(s) in which the student will not be able to participate in the instruction. Make-up of student work as a result of an excused absence will be consistent with District policy.
Daily Updates and Mindful Moment
Please join Dr. Steinhauer at 9AM everyday for a Mindful Moment - a daily livestream with up to the minute news and information followed by a Mindful Moment.
PTA Information
We do not have any PTA Updates at this time.
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