James Morris School
Weekly Newsletter, Vol. 8.31.2017
A Message from the Principal
Greetings, JMS Families and Community Members, and welcome to the start of the 2017-2018 school year! This is the first in a series of weekly online newsletters, each intended to provide you valuable and interesting information about school happenings, district initiatives, and community events.
After just two days, I could not be more pleased with the positivity, enthusiasm and energy of our students and staff. This, my fifth as principal of James Morris School, has been a time for me to both look back and look forward. The past four years, I have seen impressive growth in our students' academic performance in both literacy and numeracy. Our instructional practices have improved and become more consistent as a result of our district's and Board's commitment to professional development, instructional coaching, cross-district collaboration, and our educators' collective desire for constant self-improvement.
As we look forward to 2017-2018, our focus will continue to be (a) students' academic growth and (b) the fostering of a safe and supportive learning environment that encourages students' love of learning. To this end, we will emphasize strong habits of mind and students' ownership of their own learning. Throughout the year, I will provide you updates on our progress. I extend to you an open invitation for your feedback and insight on how to strengthen JMS, whether through your contributions at one of my parent/community meetings, a telephone call, or email; please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you,
KC Chapman
Welcome, New Staff!
- Miss Maria Cook, Administrative Assistant
- Mrs. Jennifer Fodor, Library-Media Specialist
- Mrs. Krystal Wall, Special Education Teacher
- Miss Sarah White, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
- Mrs. Caitlin Yovino, Instrumental Music Teacher
RSVP for our Harvest Luncheon
Your Input and Feedback
Additionally, our first Safe-School Climate meeting will take place on Wednesday 9/13 at 10:30AM. The focus of these meetings is anti-bullying efforts and fostering a positive school culture. Any interested parents/guardians are invited to attend. Again, coffee and pastries will be provided.
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 4th: Labor Day (No School)
Tuesday, September 5th: PTO Meeting (9:30-10:30AM)
Monday, September 11th: School Improvement Plan meeting
Tuesday, September 12th: Board of Education meeting, (District Office, 7:00PM)
Wednesday, September 13th: Principal & Community Coffee Hour (9:30-10:30AM)
Wednesday, September 13th: Safe School Climate Meeting (10:30-11:30AM)
Thursday, September 14th: Literacy & Numeracy BBQ Blast (Wamogo, 5:00-6:30PM)
Tuesday, September 19th: JMS Open House (5:30-7:00PM)
Thursday, September 21st-22nd: JMS School Photos
Friday, September 22nd: Harvest Luncheon
Friday, October 6th: Teacher Professional Development Day (No School)
Monday, October 9th: Columbus Day (No School)
Tuesday, October 10th: Board of Education meeting, (Warren School, 7:00PM)
Week of October 16th: Scholastic Book Fair
Wed, Thur, Fri, Oct. 18-20th: School Conferences (1:30PM Dismissal)
Flyers and Forms
Our School Vision
Our vision for James Morris School is to be highly regarded for our students' academic growth, and for instilling in students the desire to strive for the intrinsic value, rewards and opportunities that result from quality, professionalism, and pride in one’s work. To achieve this vision, we believe in:
A culture of academia
A strong partnership with parents and the community
A growth-mindset for students and staff
Research-based practices
Authentic hands-on learning experiences for all students
Awareness and understanding of issues related to diversity - social, cultural, and cognitive
Embedded character education and promotion of strong habits of mind