No Place Like Jones
Family Updates for the Week of October 9, 2023
Principal Corner
Dear Ira B. Jones Families,
I am excited to announce that the Candance Pickens Memorial Park rebuild project has commenced! Our students are eagerly observing the transformation of the space into a new playground that they will be able to use not only during school hours but also after school and on weekends. We want to express our gratitude to Mr. David Rodgers for leading this effort and all the volunteers who are contributing to making this possible. Please take a look at the pictures below to see the beginning phase of the project.
I also want to remind you of the upcoming October FTO meeting and Conversation w/Cobb, which will be held on Monday, October 9, in the media center. From 5:00 to 5:30 pm, Ms. Booth and I will share important information with families about the road to student resiliency. We will offer a virtual option for families who want to join the conversation, but cannot attend in person. Please find the virtual meeting information below. The FTO meeting will follow from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, and food will be provided.
Please remember that Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on Thursday, October 12, and Friday, October 13, will be a Required Workday for teachers; therefore, students will not attend school on those days. If you haven't already scheduled a conference with your child's teacher, I encourage you to do so, or if you have any concerns or questions that may require more than a 30-minute conference, please let your child's teacher know, and a follow-up conference can be scheduled. During Parent/Teacher conferences, teachers will discuss the beginning of year literacy and math assessment results, specific interventions your child may be receiving, Read to Achieve information (3rd grade only), and how your child is doing overall in the first quarter.
I invite you to visit our school's website and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/ and follow us on Twitter @Principal_IBJ and Instagram @IraB.JonesElementary. These will serve as a resource tool for all upcoming events, the student/family handbook, and important reminders, and you can catch up with all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing. I also send out a weekly family newsletter. Please ensure we have updated contact information so you can stay informed of all our school happenings.
As a school leader and a parent, I understand the necessity of healthy communication between families and the school. I welcome your questions, celebrations, or concerns at any time. You can reach me by calling the school at 828.350.6700 or emailing me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.
Sincerely,
Ruafika Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
#noplacelikejones
Conversation w/Cobb Virtual Meeting Info!
Join with Google Meet Using this Link: https://meet.google.com/qmr-zhpm-jtn?authuser=0&hs=122
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qmr-zhpm-jtn
Or dial: (US) +1 262-682-3759 PIN: 551 672 158#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qmr-zhpm-jtn?pin=4709983463053
Picture Day is Monday, October 23
Upcoming Important Dates
- Monday, October 9: Conversation w/Cobb & FTO Meeting at 5:00 pm
- Monday, October 9: ACS Board Meeting
- Thursday, October 12: Fall Teacher/Family Conference Day - No School for Students
- Friday, October 13: Required Workday/No School for Students
- Wednesday, October 18: IBJ Open House at 5:30 - 7:30 pm
- Tuesday, October 31: End of Quarter 1
Save the Date! October 19: Open House Event
Support Our School!
SUPPORT IRA B. JONES WHEN YOU GROCERY SHOP
Harris Teeter will donate a percentage of your purchase to Ira B Jones when you link your VIC card (free Harris Teeter loyalty account) to Jones. You can do this in person at the store, or online. IBJ's school code is 2143, or you can search by our school's name. VIC card holders can link up to 5 NC schools! A percentage of all items you purchase from the Harris Teeter brand, HT Traders, Farmers Market (pre-packaged items only), and Harris Teeter Organics will be donated back to Jones.
Visiting LEAF Global Artists Details - Jones Assembly Oct 19
What Does it Mean to be a Global Scholar?
Our school is hosting a schoolwide assembly on October 19 in collaboration with Hall Fletcher Elementary. We are thrilled to have these incredible Native American dancers perform for our students and those from Hall Fletcher Elementary. The event details are provided below:
We thank our Family Team Organization (FTO) for their invaluable contribution in organizing and helping to execute this event. Their efforts made this event possible, and we are truly grateful.
October 19th at 9:30am
LEAF Global Arts presents First Nation teaching artists to speak and perform for Jones Global Scholars
This opportunity is funded by the Ira B. Jones FTO. Thanks to Jones families for their support!
Featured Performers:
Ms. Angela Miracle Gladue
Angela will explore foundational steps from the Native American cultural dance form known as Powwow Dancing with a special focus on The Fancy Dance & The Hoop dance. Angela isa nêhiyâw (Plains Cree)/Creek Powwow Dancer and Beadwork Artist from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who started cultural dancing (Metis & powwow) at age six and continued her dance career professionally starting in 2003. She has been invited to perform, teach and speak to countless countries throughout the world. https://www.misschiefrocka.com/the-artist
Mr. Sage Andrew Romero
Sage Andrew Romero is from the Big Pine Paiute and Taos Pueblo Tribes. He is an accomplished Hoop Dancer that has traveled throughout the world sharing the hoop dance and Native culture with international audiences to help educate against stereotypes. He founded the AkaMya Culture Group in 1998 to give youth a healthy, safe and positive place to go and learn more about their culture. AkaMya continues the focus of maintaining native culture through song and dance while also utilizing multimedia such as video, art, photography, and music to spread awareness. https://youtu.be/XFJGDwj-KLg
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Phone: 828.350.6700