JMS Newsletter
December/January
A note from your Principal - Mr. Haire
Have a wonderful winter vacation and let's come back from the break rejuvenated and ready to tackle a great second semester.
A note from your Assistant Principal - Mr. Haag
Parents/Guardians –
Have you checked out our student handbook, which is online on our school website? You can
find it at this web address:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mzpk76svwUc6eBHUyWu3VLljNH-ZaKto/view
A few items from our student handbook:
From page 14 in regards to cell phones/electronics/ear buds/air pods:
12. CELL PHONES, EAR BUDS, AIR PODS, AND OTHER ELECTRONICS (Except for Chromebooks):
Students are strongly encouraged to keep all electronic devices, including cell phones, at home.
Such devices are not allowed to be used in classrooms (unless for an educational activity led by
the teacher) or hallways during school hours (7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.) and should be turned off
and stored in lockers or pockets. Phones and other devices (including earbuds/air pods)that are
used in classrooms and other common areas, not being used for educational purposes, will be
confiscated, and a parent will be required to retrieve them in the office, however, students may
use their cell phones at breakfast and lunch. Lost, stolen, or damaged phones/electronic
devices will not be investigated by staff or administration at any time. Jardine Middle School
staff are not responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices. Parents – please do not call or text
your student during class time as they may receive a consequence for having their phone out. If
it is important/emergency, please call the school’s main line and a message can be given to
your student.
From page 1:
Doors open at 7:15 am. There is NO supervision before 7:15 am. Breakfast is only served from
7:20 am until 7:40 am.
After school – Students should be off school grounds by 3:00 pm unless involved in an after-
school activity. This means that if your student arrives to school after 7:40 am, there will not be
breakfast served. It also means that after 3 pm there is NO outside supervision for students still
on property as teachers and staff have meetings that begin at 3 pm.
Please help your student be as successful as possible by helping them understand these
expectations.
Counselor Corner - Mr. Falk & Mr. Barber
Mr. Falk and Mr. Barber have been working with 8th grade students to select their 9th grade course requests and guide them to complete a 4-Year Plan on Naviance. This information will be reviewed with parents of all 8th grade students at Parent/Teacher Conferences on February 21st and 22nd. Parent of 8th grade students (last name A-M) will meet with Mr. Falk. Parents of 8th grade students (last name N-Z) will meet with Mr. Barber.
During the week of January 29th, one counselor from each high school will be coming to Jardine to give a 60 minute presentation to students. Topics will include TCALC, Washburn Tech, AVID, ROTC, JAG (Jobs for American Graduates), and other programs offered at specific schools. It will also include a Q&A opportunity for students to ask questions they have regarding high school. It is recommended that students start thinking of questions they have and bring those to the presentation.
Each high school will be hosting a meeting for parents and students to attend. This is a great opportunity for parents and students to meet the high school counselors. It also will provide information about the enrollment process and class offerings at each high school. Dates for each high school meeting are as follows: (Specific times will be announced at a later date)
Highland Park High School
Thursday, February 1
Topeka High School
Wednesday, January 31
Topeka West High School
Tuesday, January 30th
If your student is planning on requesting a transfer to attend a different high school, it is important that they apply once applications are made available on January 1st. The application link will be put on the students’ science class Google Classroom after winter break. If transfers are not approved prior to high school visits in May, students will only be allowed to visit their assigned high school based on their attendance area. Specific high school visit dates will be announced at a later date.
A note from our Social Worker - Ms. Sparks
IT IS DECEMBER AND WE HAVE HAD SNOW!!! COLD WEATHER IS HERE AND SO IS OUR LONG HOLIDAY BREAK. RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER LONG BREAKS CAN BE QUITE CHALLENGING FOR PARENTS AND THEIR STUDENTS.
THE PUBLICATION – GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI –RECENTLY PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NATALIA OLIVER–teacher and copywriter–THAT DISCUSSES TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER LONG BREAKS.
Back to school can mean different things to each family. For some, it’s an exciting period of anticipation marked by outings to pick new school supplies. For others, it triggers disappointment because it means the end of the slower summer pace.
No matter your age, changes in routine are always an adjustment. You can imagine, then, why your child might be apprehensive towards meeting new classmates. Likewise, you can see how shifting from unstructured time in summer to full days of school can be a challenge.
Luckily, transitioning to the start of school does
No matter your age, changes in routine are always an adjustment. You can imagine, then, why your child might be apprehensive towards meeting new classmates. Likewise, you can see how shifting from unstructured time in summer to full days of school can be a challenge.
Luckily, transitioning to the start of school doesn’t have to weigh down the end of summer break. By starting a few routines slowly and early, the whole family will feel prepared for fall. Read on for our top 6 tips that will have your family feeling energized for the start of the school year.
1. Prepare for Coming and Going
The start of school can feel disappointing for children because it brings with it too many unwelcome activities at once. School days might mean the end of a family vacation or the start of a new bedtime. On top of it, weekday routines may now include more preparation in the morning and more cleanup at the end of the day.
To avoid having chores pile onto the family in one heap before school, start incorporating them in small ways now. Ease your child into being an active part of getting ready for outings. As parents, we tend to remember what everyone will need for the day ourselves. You can start creating opportunities for your child to participate in readying themselves for a day out. Have a conversation about what it means to leave the house for the entire day. Modeling what you wonder about a day out can get them thinking and inspire them to join in. This can be as easy as asking, Is it a good idea to bring a snack if we get hungry? Or I wonder what we’d need from your bedroom now if we wanted some alone time later.
The same logic goes for routines when the family gets home. Once school starts, there will be backpacks, lunch boxes and other supplies that will need a spot to call home when children get back from school. Take a moment to find the hooks, cubbies or closets that are accessible so your child and encourage them to put their things away on their own. As they say, don’t put it down, put it away. Having a particular spot for your child’s supplies is a small and easy way to encourage them to honor their belongings, too.
2. Pay Attention to Bedtime
Parents know how important bedtime is to a growing child. A 2018 public health study from the UK showed that children with consistent bedtime routines had better working memory and attention, and were more prepared for school. Good sleep supports a happy child, too. Earlier bedtimes were found to improve emotional stability in children, making it easier to handle the ups and downs of the school day.
We want our child’s school year to start right, and we can do it by making some adjustments to their bedtime routine. If your child’s bedtime has stayed consistent throughout the year, your transition to school will be easier. For those of us who relaxed the bedtime routine, you can start making changes now. About two or three weeks before school, find the magic number for the ideal bedtime. If you have three or more weeks to spare, you can start to shift bedtime by about 15 minutes at a time every few days. If you’ve only got a week or two, you may have to speed it up by 30-minute increments.
You may also want to consider the ways your child can get to sleep a little easier every day. Try to limit screen time before bed, including TV, tablets or computer screens. Electronics emit a blue light that hampers your sleep. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that blue light from electronics suppressed twice as much melatonin in children than adults, making it even harder to get to sleep or stay asleep. You can make the bedroom a device-free zone at nighttime and create new routines before bed. Reading stories, sharing the best parts of the day, or encouraging older children to journal before bed are great options.
3. Mimic Their Social Setting
There’s no doubt about it — summertime looks different than the rest of the year. Your child may have gone from interacting with many children to spending quality time with only a few core people. For homeschooled children, it may have been the opposite.
As your child nears the beginning of school, you can reintroduce them to the kind of social setting they’re heading towards. If your child spent most of their summer with their sibling, you could find opportunities for them to get used to a larger group setting. Many summer camps have day camp programs at the end of the summer, and local libraries have story time.
Look for activities that include a little more structure or participation to help your child get used to navigating new interactions again. Any situation that promotes communication between your child and others will help to prepare them for back to school.
4. Talk About Changes
It can be comforting to name the challenges we’re facing and talk about them. No matter your child's age, they feel the effects of the transition back to school. As parents, we can offer our children a new perspective to help them cope if they’re struggling. You may find out your child gets tired or hungry earlier or more often during this time. Opening this topic can be as simple as sharing your own experience. It might sound something like, I notice I get extra tired when things change, and I feel a little nervous.
Allowing space for your child to share how they feel is a great step, even if they’re not keen to say much at first. Acknowledging that the family is going through a change makes your child’s feelings about it okay.
5. Get (Really) Excited
If you notice your child doesn’t seem to be looking forward to any part of school, you may need to play cheerleader. It’s normal for us to hone in on the negative when we’ve found something to be nervous about. But the truth is, there’s a lot of fun to be had at school that your child can be reminded of.
If your child already has some close friends, remind them how they met and that it wouldn’t have happened without interacting with new people. Make a game of imagining adding another best friend to their circle and who it might be this year. Likewise, highlight the unique things your child can do with others that they can’t do at home or by themselves. Maybe there aren't enough people at home to play a game, or your child's school has unique materials and supplies to get excited about. Better yet, try to guess what kinds of field trips they might take this year with their class.
6. Start it Slow, Start it Early
The best gift we can give our children and ourselves as parents are making sure a transition plan is easy to incorporate. It shouldn’t be a colossal project that adds to parents’ to-do lists. Introducing habits several weeks before school will make for the easiest transition without grouchiness on anyone’s part.
Transitioning from summer to school is a process for parents, too. The tips above aren’t black-and-white, and they’re meant to be flexible. No matter which strategies you remember to incorporate, you’ll see positive results.
Conclusion
Transitions are a naturally challenging part of life, and compassion is key as we move through them. These moments are opportunities for parents to guide their children with understanding and help them build resilience. They’re also a chance for parents to model self-kindness. When everyone is tired, and things don’t work out as planned, remember that your child is watching how you cope, too. Give yourself and your family a little more time for tasks and plenty of rest. We hope these tips are a good starting point to making the transition to school go more smoothly.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Natalia Oliver
Oliver is a classroom educator turned copywriter and content writer. With a passion for teaching and writing, she happily splits her time between the classroom and the keyboard in the spectacular Pacific Northwest in Vancouver, Canada.
Jardine Activities - Mr. Snyder
Our girl’s basketball team has continued to perform on the court to remain undefeated in league play. The junior varsity and B team are improving each game they play. The city championship will be December 13th at Highland Park High School.
Reminder that all students must have a parent stay with them at all away sporting events. Events at Jardine, students do not need a parent.
With the semester ending, the boys basketball season will begin soon. I have visited with students concerning eligibility, KSHSAA has a rule that students must pass five of the six classes in order to be eligible for the season. We also require our student athletes to pass all classes in order to play during the week. A check on progress happens each Friday and the student/athlete has until the day of the game to improve grades. This does not mean turning in late work at 2:00 the day of the game will allow the student/athlete the opportunity to play. If you have questions please give me a call.
Boy’s basketball will start January 4th, you must have a physical on file and be eligible under KSHSAA guidelines. I plan to have a boy’s basketball parent zoom meeting on January 9th at 6:00 pm. Zoom code and more information will be sent on the first day of practice.
Band Notes - Ms. Rowe
December is a busy month for Jardine musicians!
All JMS Band students will be featured at the Winter Band Concert on Monday, December 11th at 7:00 pm. The free concert is in the gym.
The 7th and 8th Grade Band will support the 8th Grade Girls Basketball team at the City Classic on Wednesday, December 13th at Highland Park High School. The time will be announced.
JMS Choir - Ms. Rowe & Mr. Stipcack
6th Grade Chorus classes, 7th and 8th Grade Choir will perform their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 5th at 6:30 pm in the JMS Commons. The concert is free!
Orchestra - Mr. Oathout
Our String Orchestra classes will present their Winter Concerts on Monday, December 4th, in the Commons.
-7th hour (6th Grade Strings) will arrive no later than 6:15. Their Concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
-6th hour (Advanced Strings) will arrive at the orchestra room no later than 6:45. Their Concert will begin at 7 p.m.
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Both groups will be taking a field trip on Friday, December 8th.
Here is the schedule for that day:
10:00- Students dismissed from class.
10:15- Depart from Jardine Middle School. Destination Capitol Building.
11:00-11:50- Students take a guided tour of the Capitol.
12:00-12:30- Orchestras Play Music in the Rotunda.
12:35- Bus departs from Capitol. Destination McDonalds @ 3117 S. Topeka Blvd. Students will be responsible for the cost of their own lunch. Sack lunches are allowed for any student who wishes to have an alternative.
1:45- Students are Back at School.
Language Arts - The Language Arts Team
Winter break is fast approaching and there is no better time than to catch up on some good reading! I know what you’re thinking….if I’m not in school, why should I read? Here are a few reasons why it’s important to read EVERY DAY.
1. Reading keeps your mind active. Reading helps keep your brain engaged and prevents it from losing its “power.” Just like any other muscle in your body, the brain needs exercise to keep it strong and healthy. So, if you don’t use it, you lose it – and we want you to remember everything you’ve learned in school so far!
2. Knowledge. Everything you read fills your head with new information, and you never know when it might come in handy.
3. Improved Focus and Concentration. Our internet-crazed world draws our attention in a million different directions: checking our email, sending a text message, skyping, gaming, etc...It can lead to high levels of stress and reduce productivity. When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story – the rest of the world just falls away and you become absorbed with every detail.
4. FREE Entertainment. Libraries have books on every subject you can think of. They constantly get in new books so you’ll never run out of reading material. There are also many sources online where you can download free e-books, so go hunting for a new book to read! So, grab a hot cup of cocoa, put on your favorite pajamas and fuzzy slippers and get lost in a book over the break. Your brain will thank you for it later!
6th Grade: Ms. Appelhanz, Ms. Morlock, Mr. Henry: In December, we’ll be wrapping
up Unit 2 prior to Winter Break. We have MAP testing as well. When we return, we’ll
have FastBridge testing and starting Unit 3 with more figurative language, cause/effect,
fact/opinion, and starting new novels. Towards the end of January, we will be preparing
for the District Writing Assessment.
7th Grade: Ms. Bisconer, Ms. Morlock, Ms. Carrington: December contains end of
semester testing MAP. We will finish out the semester with an emphasis on defining the meanings of similes and metaphors. In January, we will start fresh and begin the novel A Girl Named Disaster. We’ll also have FastBridge testing soon after our return in January. Our standards for the 3rd quarter include more elements of figurative language, word parts, and point of view.
8th Grade: Ms. Bisconer, Ms. Pumford, Ms. Watson: December has us finishing up our
current unit as well as MAP testing. In January, we’ll be starting off the year with a bang as we cover our Collection on “A March Toward Freedom” where we’ll discuss the Civil Rights Movement and Post-Civil War America. FastBridge testing will also occur in January soon after our return.
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Newcomer 1: Ms. Shelton: Students will be learning about foods, money, plural nouns, likes and dislikes, library resources, technology, safety signs, and wants and needs.
Newcomer 2: Ms. Shelton: Students will be learning about people and places in the community, prepositions, past tense verbs, pronoun-verb contractions, rooms and furniture in the house, plural nouns, the present tense verbs has and have, and will write about their family.
ESOL Elective: Ms. Scott: Students will be putting the finishing touches on their Pet PBL project before we leave for Winter Break. They had the opportunity to go visit Helping Hands Humane Society before Thanksgiving Break and learned a lot about the benefits and responsibilities of owning a pet. They still have time to incorporate what they learned into their final writing project.
When we start the new semester in January, we will focus on what happens when cultures cross paths? Students will choose a culture that they are unfamiliar with to research and will then present their findings in a speaking presentation. We will focus on primary and secondary sources when doing our research.
Science - Ms. Abellon, Mr. Lobatos, Mr. Jennings & Mr. Morris
Our 6th grade students will be learning how to explain how the periodic table organizes elements by their properties. Use models to describe molecules and analyze the arrangements of extended structures. Then in January we are ready to discuss water cycle and weather conditions. How air pressure and earth rotation affect our climate.
The 7th grade science team is concluding its Energy/Waves Unit and moving to learning all about “Matter and its Interactions”- chemistry units. We will be learning about The Periodic Table of Elements, states of matter and their physical and chemical properties. We will also be doing some experiments to observe and learn about chemical reactions.
The 8th graders seem to like where we are headed next…into space. Before the winter break, we will take a look at the relationship between the Earth and the Moon. How it was created, the phases it goes through each month, and the gravity that keeps it in orbit. After the break, we start in on the life cycle of stars, including the Sun. This will help us better understand how our own solar system was created and scientists' best guess as to what happens to the Sun at the end (which is a few billion years away).
History Happenings - Mr. Jennings, Mr. Barrett, Ms. Miner & Ms. Morelli
6th Grade - Ancient World History: We will be finishing up Egypt as the 1st semester comes to an end. Keep an eye out for an email with details about your child's Egyptian diorama project. Shoe boxes are great for this so hang onto them if you have any. When we return from Winter Break we will be doing a short investigation into Ancient India and then gearing up for the Ancient Greeks.
7th grade Social Studies is winding down first semester by examining all sides of land use conflict as it pertains to the Amazon Rainforest. Several groups have different uses in the rainforest, some are sustainable, some are not. Students will be determining their own opinions based on research they complete, and evidence about each group, and the pros and cons of their use of the rainforest.
As we look ahead to the 2nd semester, we will be switching gears and learning Kansas History. Kansas is history rich. From the Indigenous peoples, to explorers, settlers, cowboys, abolitionists and the Civil War. It will be fun to explore our great state.
8th grade- It is hard to believe that the school year is half over. Parents, before you know it you will have high schoolers in the house. In 8th Grade United States History, the students just finished learning how the United States gained the land we now call the United States of America. We will now be learning about what drove a wedge in our country that led to the American Civil War.
Math - The Mighty Math Team
6th Grade Math: As we close the semester, students will continue Unit 3, Module 3 on rational numbers. In November, 6th graders were introduced to integers (positive and negative whole numbers and zero), comparing and ordering integers and learning about absolute value (the distance from a number to zero). In December, they will be working on rational numbers, the coordinate grid with all four quadrants, and finding the distance between points. This will be a lot of new concepts and skills for the students!
In 7th grade math, we are continuing along in our third Module “Expressions and Equations.” Our focus right now is learning how to solve multi-step equations and inequalities. Students will also need to learn how to graph the inequalities. Looking ahead, we will be taking our second MAP assessment on December 7th and 8th. Please make sure your child has a charged Chromebook on those days. These Winter scores will help us determine who is on track to meet their yearly goal and who is not on track.
If your child needs additional support in math, please consider after school tutoring.
8th Graders will be taking the Winter MAP test in December. The purpose of this is three fold; one is to measure progress made this semester as compared to the Fall MAP, the second is to plan small groups for next quarter, and the third is to make recommendations for which students need to be enrolled in Math Lab next year.
The final unit for 8th graders this semester will cover scientific notation. Scientific notation is used to express enormous numbers, such as the distance between planets, and miniscule numbers, such as the weight of an atom. We will also use it to provide information about the magnitude of a number.
8th Grade Algebra students will end the semester with systems of equations and inequalities. Systems of equations will be solved using graphing, substitution, and elimination- taking note when there are no solutions or infinite solutions. Systems of inequalities will primarily be solved using graphing. Students will be shown how these solutions can help them make real world decisions. In addition to this, Algebra students will also be taking a District Final and (as voted on by the students themselves) the KITE Predictive Interim which gives a predictive score of what their KAP state assessment score will be.
Art - Ms. Latham
PE Happenings - Ms. Remer & Mr. Mitchell
As we start to wind down with the first semester of PE here at JMS it is a good time to revisit what it takes to get an A in PE. There is still a lot of time to raise our grades or maintain that A that many of us have right now. Classes are going great! Let's all close out the first semester with our best efforts. As a reminder we will post the rules and regulations below.
JARDINE MIDDLE SCHOOL
6-8 PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXPECTATIONS
Prompt Prepared Participate Pleasant
ITEMS NEEDED FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS:
Tennis shoes - No Crocs, boots, slides, sandals, etc.
Clothing you can comfortably participate in. No hoodies, coats, tight pants, shirts that dip down in the front, midriffs, tank tops etc.
No jewelry. Watches included.
Deodorant should be kept in lockers.
If a student utilizes an inhaler, the necessary paperwork must be on file with the school nurse. Please mark inhalers with names.
*We will meet in the gym and place belongings against the walls. Each grade will have a designated spot to put their belongings every day.
TIMELINESS
A student is tardy to class if they are not in the gym when the bell rings.
Points will be deducted if you are not in your assigned squad spot when daily roll is being taken.
NON-PARTICIPATION
If a student is to be excused from participation for an extended period of time because of health or physical problems, a note from a medical doctor to the teacher will be necessary.
GRADING
All grading will be done daily and meeting our district P.E. Standards.
Ways to earn daily points:
Prompt - be on time to class…………………………... ..(1 point)
Prepared - correct clothing/shoes worn for class ……….(1 point)
Participate - participate in class activities ……………….(1 point)
Pleasant - have a good positive attitude ………………...(1 point)
Each weekly assignment will be worth 20 points (4 points per day)
SAFETY RULES AND MISCELLANEOUS REMINDERS:
Students are to enter the far east door of the gym at the beginning of class. Girls will exit through the south gym doors. Boys will exit into the hallway from the boys’ locker room.
All students will go to the locker room at the end of class to use the restroom, put on deodorant, get drinks etc. You will be verbally dismissed from the locker rooms.
Do not handle any piece of equipment unless under direct supervision of the teacher.
HORSEPLAY will NOT be tolerated.
NO food including gum and candy. Water ONLY!
Last hour and bus riders.
Noise level in the locker room is 0-1.
CELLPHONES are to be kept in your binders at all times.
Teachers need to know immediately if there are ISSUES in class.
DRILLS: Secure campus, lockdown, fire drill and tornado drill procedures.
Talk through a day in PE. Roll, warm-ups, universal signal, explanation of activity, 10-minute bell, locker rooms, dismiss form locker rooms and exit out the designated doors.
Practice universal P.E. signal.
Daily class leaders.
Chromebook Information & Library News - Ms. Gilliland
The students enjoyed learning and reading about Thanksgiving on World Book Online, our district paid subscription encyclopedia source.
Students will be decorating bookmarks, using more World Book, using Kahoot, and doing a price comparison activity for the holiday in the coming lessons.
If your student is having chromebook issues, please tell them to visit the library during AB time to talk to Ms. Gilliland
Each student at Jardine is allowed to check out up to 3 library books at a time. The students are allowed to checkout anytime they have permission from their teachers.
Chromebook chargers: You can purchase one from A office for $25 or follow these links at Walmart.com or Amazon. Please do not continue to charge your chromebook with a phone charger as this will destroy the chromebook battery due to the different watts.
This month we are featuring the genres of Historical Fiction and Science Fiction, The authors, Sam Moussavi and Lois Lowry; The nonfiction section of ghosts and poetry, and the Series’s of Loop and I survived.
Jardine Middle School
Website: www.topekapublicschools.net/jardine
Location: 2600 SW 33rd St, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 730-8100