JMS Weekly Update
August 29, 2021
Dear JMS Families,
This week's Update contains new information about the following:
- Picture Day
- Picture Day Volunteer Sign Up
- COVID-19 Notification Process
- Accessing Classes While on Quarantine
- Fall Spiritwear Sale
- PTA Membership Drive
We had an AWESOME first week at JMS! Don't forget to follow us on JMS social media to see what we have going on inside the building.
As we head in to week two, we ask that you please continue to let our nurse, Mrs. Suess, know if anyone in your family is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. We want to keep the children here and we want to keep them safe. This information is critical to the safety of the students and staff at JMS.
Take Care,
Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal
Ms. Katelyn Deet, Assistant Principal
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday - Day 2
Wednesday - Day 3 - Picture Day
Thursday - Day 4
Friday - Day 5
Monday (9/6) - Labor Day - No School
Tuesday (9/7) - Day 1
New News
Our photographer is Wayne Bratten from Wayne’s World of Photography. All students will get their picture taken. If you do not want your child’s picture to be taken, please contact the office. Pictures will be taken outside, weather permitting.
Information about ordering pictures online will be shared with you in the coming weeks. You do not need to fill out any paperwork prior to picture day.
We are in need of a few volunteers to assist the children on picture day. If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up here.
The school district website dashboard will serve as notification to our community of COVID-19 cases in schools and is designed to provide the most up-to-date data for our community.
The dashboard consists of two charts. The first chart provides a snapshot of the total number of employee and student positive cases of COVID-19 in the District, and the second displays the total COVID-19 cases by month.
We will carefully contact trace all cases of COVID positive individuals in our District buildings and programs. Anyone who is identified as a close contact impacted by a positive case will be alerted directly by a member of our school nursing staff.
In some instances, individuals who are directly impacted may be difficult to determine. In cases such as these, there will be notification sent to everyone involved in the activity, or present in the classroom, at the same time as the positive case.
Quarantining as a result of COVID-19 protocols is the only reason that students are able to attend class remotely. Quarantining as a result of COVID-19 protocols must be approved through the Nurse's Office.
If your child has been identified as a close contact, is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, and/or has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact Nurse Suess.
If your child is approved to attend class remotely, Nurse Suess will contact your child's teachers. Students who have been approved to attend class remotely will follow their normal bell schedule and will log into their classes using the meeting links on their Clever page.
COVID-19 Reporting
Report Cases of COVID-19
If you or someone in your family has been exposed to COVID-19, has COVID-19 symptoms, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please contact Nurse Suess. We want to keep the children and our staff safe and in school. Your accurate and honest reporting is appreciated.
Close Contacts & Quarantine
Unvaccinated employees and children should not come to school and are to notify school officials if they become sick with COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting a COVID-19 test result, test positive for COVID-19, or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or to someone with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.
An employee or student who is a close contact of a person who is diagnosed with or tests positive for COVID-19, as defined by the Department or local health department in accordance with CDC guidance, will be evaluated in accordance with the COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance Flowchart. . Close Contacts are individuals who have been exposed (within 6 feet distance for at least 15 consecutive minutes) to someone who is a case during the infectious period, with or without a mask.
Technology
Families In Need of Technology
As we prepare to start the 2021-2022 school year, we are asking families who need to borrow student technology to please complete the form linked below:
Be sure to list every student for whom you need to borrow a device on this form. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive status emails including device pickup details from an @mtlsd.net email address. Please also be sure to whitelist @mtlsd.net email addresses with your email provider to ensure that you receive these communications from us.
Please direct any and all questions regarding loaned equipment to our support address: RemoteSupport@mtlsd.net
Athletics
Middle School Athletics
You can learn everything you need to know about Middle School Athletics, including starting dates, by visiting the MS Athletics Webpage.
If your 7th/8th Grader is interested in any of the following fall sports, it's time to register!
- Cross Country - August 30
- Soccer - August 30
- Volleyball - August 30
- Swimming - September 7
Volleyball Try-Outs
Volleyball try-outs have been rescheduled for the following days:
- Monday, August 30th
- Tuesday, August 31st.
Contact Coach Wigen (cwigen@mtlsd.net) if you have any questions.
JMS PTA Information
SPIRITWEAR SALE
We’re in the final hours of the Fall Spiritwear Sale. Gym uniform packages are back! The online store is open until Sunday, August 29th. Estimated 9/13 delivery is to the student’s homeroom or orders can be shipped.
JMS Picture Day Volunteer Sign-Up
We need a few volunteers to assist the children on picture day (Wednesday, September 1st ). Sign up here.
PTA Membership and Directory Access
The JMS PTA Membership Drive is now open! Parent membership in the PTA helps us meet volunteer needs and budgetary commitments which enrich programs for our JMS students and staff. Members receive access to a member directory which has a mobile app.
Go to My Account.
- Check that your updated student info is correct. Indicate your child's team.
- Indicate your preferences for inclusion in the directory. Add a second contact so that both receive directory access and all PTA correspondences. Student phone is optional.
- Purchase a parent membership for $20
- Consider a donation. Donated funds stay 100% with JMS programs without fees. We encourage this rather than purchasing a membership for both parents, unless both parents wish to vote in meetings or hold PTA office.
JOIN US! Together we can do a lot of good for JMS!
https://jeffersonmsptapittsburgh.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/161238
SHOPPER & SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAMS
Amazon
Please bookmark our Amazon link and save it to your browser favorites or add it to your home screen for easy shopping. JMS does not earn any rewards when the Amazon app is used.
Android devices - click on this Amazon link. Hit the 3 dots in the top corner of the Chrome browser and select "Add to Home Screen."
Apple devices - click on this Amazon link. In Safari, tap the Share button [box with arrow]. On the bottom row of icons, scroll over and tap Add to Home Screen. On the next screen, choose a name for the link on your home screen and tap Add. The link will now look like its own "app" icon.
The school earns up to 10% on eligible purchases.
Box Tops
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents, so don't forget to physically and electronically clip the for us! The clipped Box Tops can be turned into the office.
See Box Tops for more information on how to scan Box Tops and to download the app. Receipts must be scanned within 14 days for the Box Tops to be scanned electronically.
Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle Support our students! Enroll your Giant Eagle Advantage Card and earn points for FREE educational rewards with every shopping trip.
Click here to register your card. Our school code is 3369. The Giant Eagle card program is also easy to use - just register your card and shop away as usual!
Office Depot/Office Max
Office Depot/Office Max has a school rewards program. When shopping, remember to ask the cashier to tag Jefferson Middle School. For online orders, enter our school ID (Thomas Jefferson Middle School ID:70088453 Pittsburgh, PA) on the Thank You Confirmation page.
Resources For Families
The following resources provide information to help Mt. Lebanon School District families and staff navigate the complexities of COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic it is having on our daily lives. These resources will be updated as more information becomes available.
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
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
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