This will be the last Weekly Warrior for Families for this school year. We look forward to keeping our families updated next year. We hope you have enjoyed receiving updates each Friday. If you have suggestions/comments/questions regarding this weekly newsletter, please reach out to rkerkhoff@k12k.com

~ 6th grade: Wednesday, May 17 @ 8:00 AM
~ 7th grade: Wednesday, May 17 @1:30 PM
~ 8th grade: Thursday, May 18 @ 9:00 AM
The 8th gr ceremony is both a promotion for all 8th graders to high school as well as the awards ceremony.

*All programs will be held in the Sevier Gym.

Students must arrive to Sevier between 5:30-5:45am on Monday, May 8th at the big gym entrance with their green paper completed. Each student is required to turn in their completed green paper in order to load luggage on the bus and board the bus. As a reminder, please do not park or drop off in the bus stop area. This needs to remain clear for the buses.

Students, Be ready to see some super cool things, learn a thing or two (or more!), and have some FUN!

*** 8th Graders will keep their Chromebook and charger over the summer. They will be required to turn their Chromebook/charger in and resolve any obligations before receiving their new Chromebook as a rising Freshman. Rising Freshman Chromebook Distribution will take place in July.

*** Our current 6th/7th graders will keep their Chromebook, charger, and case (where applicable) over the summer.

ALL LIBRARY BOOKS ARE DUE! Please bring all books to the library.

• We need a few more items to help us celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week! If you could have your items to the school Monday morning, we would be so appreciative.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a0f4ba4ac2faafd0-teacher2/72683480

• Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the Spring into Summer Market. However, we are hoping to get started on planning a market for next year! Stay tuned for more information.

• Our last PTA meeting of this school year will be Friday, May 12 at 1:00 pm. We will approve next year's budget and the transition from PTA to a PTO!

• The JSMS PTA is recruiting board members for the next school year (23-24) school year!

What does the position involve?

Advocating for students and staff, monthly meetings, and getting to know admin and staff (and you won't regret this).

What's the time commitment?

The average time commitment is 60-90 minutes a month for meetings. Some months we don't meet. Depending on the role you play could require more time needed BUT we all have other commitments too! You decide how much time you want to give.

We can't wait to work with you!

Email jsmsptsa@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions.

Football has some important dates coming up.

A message from Coach Spivey...

Spring Practice will begin on May 10th. You must have a sports physical on file for this year to participate. All 6th and 7th graders (rising 7th and 8th graders) that plan on playing next year are strongly encouraged to participate. Spring practice will be held from 3:00 - 4:30 after school.

Also, I am going to be walking around to all of the 6th and 7th grade classrooms on Friday, May 5th. I will be talking to students about playing football next year. I will also be handing out physical forms, summer schedule calendars, and just getting them a chance to meet me and put a face to the name.

We are going to be offering a free physical on May 17th. All student athletes that play any sports, are encouraged to take advantage of this free physical, because it will take care of your physical requirement for the entire 2023-2024 school year.

Any female interested in volleyball at Sevier or DB next year can pick up information in the Counseling Office.

Sevier is offering a Free Physical Clinic for our Athletes for the 2023-2024 school year on Wednesday, May 17. Packets, along with a permission form to ride the bus, were handed out on Friday, April 21 and must be completely filled out by parents (except for the doctor's page) and returned to Sevier by May16 to participate in the clinic. Please remember that all athletes must have a new physical every year to continue to participate. Encourage your student to be involved and take advantage of this free opportunity.

All 8th Grade School Instruments Due ~ May 8th

JSMS Orchestra - all 8th grade instruments due May 8th

• May 6 - new date for the Band trip to Carowinds, 7th/8th grade reward trip
• May 16 - Band Banquet at Farmer's Market at 6:00pm, tickets are $15 each
• June 5-8 - Summer Concert Band Camp for rising 7/8th grade at Robinson Middle
• July 17-21 - Summer Pep Band Camp for rising 7/8th grade at Sevier Middle

Kingsport City Schools would like to remind parents (who have student's entering seventh grade next year) that it's not too early to get your child's state-required immunizations. In Tennessee, all students entering seventh grade are required to have the Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine prior to entering school. Parents must provide their school with an updated immunization certificate, indicating that the child has received the required vaccination, before the first day of school in August. Parents may submit this information to the school at any time.

Name of essay – Why celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day?

Email a one page typed essay to juneteenth@kingsportchamber.org by May 15. If you need assistance with the essay, Vanessa Bennett at the Chamber of Commerce would love to assist. VBennett@kingsportchamber.org

4 winners will receive prizes and the opportunity to present their speech at the Juneteenth festival in downtown Kingsport on June 17.

If your child had a laptop charger replaced, you will be receiving an automated email regarding the fee.

SNS (School Nutrition Services) seeks energetic, positive people to work in school kitchens! Full and part-time jobs available, daytime hours while kids are in school. Click this link https://www.k12k.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=345728&type=d&pREC_ID=781054 and follow instructions. Please have three non-family emails ready to include with this online application. Contact Jennifer Walker at jwalker@k12k.com or 423-378-2106 with questions.

After school weightlifting has ended for the school year. We will have middle school lifting for 6th & 7th graders (rising 7th & 8th) during the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am-12pm. The first day of summer lifting is May 23rd. Lifting is open to anyone with a physical on file with the school. If anyone has questions, email dluethke@k12k.com

Current 8th (rising 9th) will report to their teams at DB.

Games Club will meet Tuesday May 9th after school in Mr. Olson's room until 4:30PM.

The last Games Club meeting of the year will be Tuesday, May 15th.

The Sequoyah Scribe journalism program is now accepting applications for next school year! Students interested in interviewing interesting people, writing about important issues, taking photos at school events, and helping create the newspaper and yearbook should be sure to apply. The application is posted in Sevier’s “Way of the Warrior” Google Classroom. You can also visit sequoyahscribe.com and click the “Apply Here” link at the top of the page or simply CLICK HERE.

Response to Instruction Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B) presents the Way of the Warrior Dance (WoW Dance) which will be held during school hours (double RA blocks) by grade level. This is an opportunity for students to celebrate positive behavior. A student is qualified to go to our RTI2-B dance if he/she meets specific behavior and academic expectations that do not exceed significant discipline referrals or more than two minor discipline referrals including: bus referrals, transition referrals, and/or lunch detentions – and who has met school-wide expectations for the four weeks prior to the dance. The RTI2-B dance will not cost money to attend. Dances for each grade level will be held during school hours. The Specific criteria are listed on the Flyer below!

This is a friendly reminder that we do not permit family members in the cafeteria during student lunch times.

Please be mindful of where you stop and park, it is a violation to block a driveway.

Please encourage your child to check lost and found. We have lots of jackets, hoodies, lunch boxes, etc. All items not claimed by May 12th will be donated.

Next school year we have hopes of beginning a mentoring program at Sevier, spearheaded by Brian and Jana Woliver (Sevier parents/active community members). They have been involved with the youth in Kingsport for nearly 20 years combined and understand the importance of having a positive role model during this crucial phase of development in our youth. Over the past couple of years, they have been blessed to mentor several KCS kids. One thing they have learned is that all kids need access to a mentor, which they feel very passionate about. They are excited to assist us in growing a program at JSMS. We need volunteers that would love to join us in helping mold our next generation. If this is something you would be interested in or learning more about, please reach out to Robin Kerkhoff, rkerkhoff@k12k.com or 423.378.2406.

The application for zoning exceptions and tuition for the 2023-24 school year is open.

A few reminders about the tuition/zoning process:

• All families must re-apply annually if the zoning or tuition status still applies.
• It is not a first apply, first approved basis. As long as families apply from 3/1 to the end of the open enrollment period, they will be given the same consideration.
• Rising 6th graders will be rolled over to their home school in Aspen
• Open Enrollment period will be later this spring
• All tuition need to re-apply. Rates are anticipated to remain the same. As an FYI, it takes BOE action to change rates.
• Kindergarten zoning & tuition will be the last group to be processed as we monitor kindergarten enrollment. This is communicated in the Zoning/Tuition application.
• Zoning requests take priority over tuition requests.
• As a reminder, priority is given to KCS and City of Kingsport employees.

Students need to have an inexpensive pair of earbuds to use with their Chromebooks in their classrooms. These are utilized by students when they are working on individual assignments. Students are not allowed to have earbuds, airpods, or headphones in while teachers are giving direct instruction and will be directed by a teacher when the appropriate time comes to utilize earbuds.

Over the summer while you are cleaning out closets and decluttering, please keep in mind we will accept the following for our clothes closet (new or slightly used).

• Shorts that are an appropriate length (elastic waistband is best for sizing purposes)
• Sweatpants/"joggers"- students prefer the kind that are gathered at the bottom over the wide leg.
• Backpacks
• Hoodies

The online store is now available for the spirit wear. You can access this by following this link.

Home | My Business (square.site)

• Please keep your contact information updated. This can be done through your Aspen Parent Portal or by contacting LeAnn Franklin in the counseling office, 378-2435 or lfranklin@k12k.com. It's vitally important that we have current contact phone numbers and a correct address for each student.
  
• You MUST present an ID when visiting Sevier or checking out your student.
  
• If you know your child is going to be absent, please email ewilliams@k12k.com, you can do this rather than calling the school. If you prefer to call, please call 423.378.2450 as early as possible on the day of the absence. Any doctors notes or other excuses can be sent to the above mentioned email as well, or brought to the front office by the student upon their return.
  

The Prayer Warriors Club would like to invite all faculty, staff and their families to the end of year movie celebration. Christ Fellowship Church has been kind enough to sponsor this event with the Prayer Warrior Club. FREE MOVIE, FREE CANDY, FREE POPCORN, FREE DRINKS!! Please RSVP with link below so we can plan accordingly. We hope to see you there!

Kindergarten registration:

If you missed this registration date, please contact your zoned elementary school ASAP.

Families can visit https://www.k12k.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=345568&type=d&pREC_ID=753665 for details on requirements for registration and screening.

Pre-K information:

Pre-K Screening is by appointment at Palmer. Call 378.2160 to schedule your appointment or for any additional information.

6th graders - can attend the camp (more information to come)

7th/8th graders - can volunteer at the camp

Do you have any students who may want to get volunteer hours with the Victory Sports Camp? It will be run through Kingsport Community Church, but will be housed at RNR. KCS food service will be sponsoring meals for the children. The contact information for Jamichael Lipscomb is jamichael@kingsportchurch.org and his phone number is 423-380-9157.

The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency will be at City Hall (415 Broad Street) on two dates in the coming weeks to assist low-income households to apply for assistance in paying their delinquent utility bills.

• Monday, April 3rd from 9 p.m. to 2 p.m. in their RV in the City Hall parking lot.

UETHDA received federal COVID grant money to help low-income families pay utility bills through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Income limits depend on the number of persons in your household. For example, a household of 4 can earn as much as $50,902 annually and still qualify for assistance. If you qualify, the LIHWAP grant will pay $250 on your account, even if you owe as little as $10. Some customers receive as much as $5,000.

You will need to bring a copy of at least one social security card for someone in the home, a copy of a driver’s license or an ID card of the person completing the application, along with proof of income for the last 30 days for everyone in the home over the age of 18.

The LIHWAP program is scheduled to end September 30, 2023. UETHDA has dispensed $365,000 in LIHWAP funds throughout its 8-county service area with $1.3 million remaining. If you want to turn in your application or ask about assistance sooner, please go to UETHDA’s office at 301 Louis Street or call them at 423-246-6180.

If you have a delinquent balance and don’t qualify for federal assistance, you can make a payment arrangement with Customer Service, including paying the balance over a 12-month period to prevent your water from being cut off.

You can call Customer Service at 423-343-9860 or visit City Hall on Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See the flyer below with information on iCode events including Saturday Camps and Parent's Night Out events that St Dominic's Catholic School is hosting in the coming months. There is a QR code on the flyer for families to request more information and register.

Are you a grandparent or relative caregiver raising kids? We have heard great things about this organization. If you don't want to attend alone...reach out to Robin Kerkhoff, she will be happy to attend with you. Do you need help getting transportation to the event? Robin Kerkhoff can also assist with that. You can reach her at 423-378-2406 or rkerkhoff@k12k.com

If you could use assistance with your taxes, see the information below.

Monday, May 8

• DC students depart (more info above)
• There will be an Usher Meeting after announcements in room 239.
  
• JSMS Orchestra - all 8th grade home instruments due today
• Steam Field Day at Bays Mountain for 7th Grade
• 8th Grade Local Trips - Putt-Putt and Bowling

Tuesday, May 9

• Any 6th or 7th grader interested in running Cross Country next year, there will be a meeting at 8:00AM in room 239.
  
• 6th grade Field Trip to Bays Mountain (6-2, Bridwell, and Utsman)
• 8th Grade Local Trips - Movies
• Games Club will meet after school in Mr. Olson's room until 4:30PM.
  
• 5th Grade Orchestra Parent Night 6pm, Orchestra Room
  

Wednesday, May 10

• 6th Grade Field Trip to Bays Mountain (6-3, Abrams, and Leonard)
  

• 8th Grade Local Trips - Bristol Skateway

• Spring Football Practice begins. You must have a physical file for this year to participate, and all 6th and 7th graders (rising 7th and 8th graders) that plan on playing next year are encouraged to participate. Spring practice will be held from 3:00 - 4:30 after school on those days.

• There will be a Sequoyah Scribe staff meeting in room 329 from 2:50 to 3:30 pm. All student journalists are required to attend. The editorial team will meet until 5:00 pm.

Thursday, May 11

• 8th Grade Local Trips - Hands on Museum

Friday, May 12

• 8th Grade Local Trips - Field Day

Save the date:

• Leadership Ambassadors will have a meeting on Monday, May 15th from 2:45-3:30

• Awards Day Information:

~ 6th grade: Wednesday, May 17 @ 8:00 AM
~ 7th grade: Wednesday, May 17 @1:30 PM
~ 8th grade: Thursday, May 18 @ 9:00 AM
The 8th gr ceremony is both a promotion for all 8th graders to high school as well as the awards ceremony.