No Place Like Jones
Family Updates for the Week of April 23, 2023
๐ Every Day is Earth Day, but especially April 22, 2023 ๐
๐ Each blade of grass ๐ฑ, Each honey tree ๐
Principal Corner
We had a great turnout on Thursday for our Step Up Event! Thank you for coming if you were able to make it out. If you didn't make it, I will post the grade-level presentations on our school's website this week. We will also ensure your child receives their baggie of summer goodies this week. Check out our social media for some pictures.
As I mentioned on Thursday, we have been working on reimaging our magnet theme. Although our Global Scholars theme will not change, we want to make sure our students, families, staff, and community know what it means to be a Global Scholar, and we want to explicitly define the experiences all our students should have while at Jones.
This type of undertaking involves a lot of work; we created a 3-5 year plan. I shared in an earlier newsletter some steps we've already taken. Here are a few more updates:
- We have decided on the cornerstones of our magnet theme. They are service learning, celebrating cultures and diversity, Paideia Seminars, and 21st Century Skills, including project-based learning.
- We are working on a new logo. We could use some ideas! So, if you would like to join us in this process, please let me know.
- We rewrote our school's mission and vision statements and created a magnet theme statement.
Our New Mission Statement:
By providing access to educational opportunities for all Ira B. Jones students, our mission is to empower students to become independent learners who seek solutions to problems so they can fully participate as global citizens.
Our New Vision Statement:
At Ira B. Jones, our vision is a learning community thatโฆ
โฆEmbeds social-emotional learning across content areas
โฆDevelops relationships and ongoing partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and other agencies to meet the needs of students
โฆMakes decisions grounded in data to support instruction that meets individual student needs
โฆ Identifies ways to build and strengthen a student's ability to think, plan, question, problem solve, self-monitor, and assess.
โฆDevelops students who understand themselves and their role within their local and global communities
โฆDevelops school-wide expectations for parent communication and has professional development on effective and varied school-based communication tools
โฆWorks to strengthen socioemotional and behavioral practices and supports
Our Magnet Theme Statement
Weโre intentionally cultivating a community in which our sole focus is to create opportunities for our students to learn the value of their connection to the world and how they can improve it.
We will continue sharing updates and invite you soon to share your thoughts and ideas about our theme.
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.
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.
In Partnership,
Ruafika A. Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
#noplacelikejones
Title 1/IBJ Family Engagement Policy/Title 1 Compact
We need your help! Please take a few moments to review the Title 1 presentation below and share your feedback on our Family Engagement Policy. Click on the link at the end of the presentation or below to share any comments, thoughts, or ideas that will help improve our policy. Thanks for your help!
Asheville City Schools Moves Communications to ParentSquare to Better Connect with Parents and Families
Our district is excited to share that ParentSquare will be our official communication tool, and we will fully implement ParentSquare this summer as our primary communication platform. Our school has been asked to try it out early!
Why ParentSquare?
ParentSquare is a comprehensive communication platform designed for schools that offers a variety of benefits for both parents and educators. Some of the benefits of using ParentSquare include:
Improved communication: ParentSquare allows educators and parents to communicate more effectively through real-time messaging, email, and social media integration.
Increased parental involvement: By keeping parents informed about their child's academic progress and school activities, ParentSquare helps parents become more involved in their child's education.
Streamlined school-to-home communication: ParentSquare allows schools to send messages and updates to parents in a timely and efficient manner, reducing the need for paper flyers and other traditional forms of communication.
Enhanced safety and security: ParentSquare offers a variety of safety features, including emergency alerts and two-way communication between parents and school officials.
Access to valuable resources: ParentSquare provides parents with access to important resources and information, such as school calendars, homework assignments, and volunteer opportunities.
Overall, ParentSquare can help schools build stronger relationships with parents and improve student outcomes by creating a more informed, engaged, and connected community.
Watch for an email or text invitation to join ParentSquare, and click the link to activate your account. Click below on the video for a quick overview and "Frequently Asked Parent Questions" and details on signing up!
Attention 2nd Grade Families!
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Dear IBJ 2nd Grade Families:
Asheville City Schools universally screens all students with the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This assessment appraises the cognitive development of students. The test measures studentsโ learned reasoning abilities. The questions on the CogAT require students to demonstrate their reasoning abilities in each of the following areas:
Verbal: assesses a studentโs abilities to use search, retrieval, and comparison processes.
Quantitative: assesses a studentโs abilities to reason about patterns and relations using concepts that are essential in quantitative thinking.
Nonverbal: assesses a studentโs abilities to reason with somewhat more novel questions that use spatial and figural content.
Traditionally this test has been given at the beginning of third grade. We are excited to share with you that the test moved to the end of second grade for several reasons: First, the second-grade CogAT administration is an untimed test. The third-grade version of the test is timed, which can prevent students from completing all test items. Additionally, the second-grade version of the CogAT is a completely nonverbal test, which, in a research study, qualified English language learners at the same rate as non-English language learners. Finally, moving the test to the end of second grade provides an opportunity for teachers to have access to this new piece of data at an earlier date which will be helpful in informing instruction for third grade.
The testing window for the Cognitive Abilities Test is April 24th-May 10th, 2023. Ira B. Jones test dates are April 25, 26, and 27th. Students at each elementary school will have exposure to the types of items they will encounter on this assessment before the testing window opens.
If you have questions regarding this test, please contact Mr. John Pruett, IBJ AIG Specialist, at john.pruett@acsgmail.net
5th Grade Families, We Hope You Can Attend!
Upcoming Events
April 25, 26, & 27: 2nd Graders take the CogAT Assessment
Thursday, April 27: Spring Musical for 1st & 2nd Graders
Friday, April 28: Battle of the Books Event
Friday, April 28: FTO Dance-a-thon Final Dance Event
Wednesday, May 3: Late Start Day
Friday, May 12: Spring Fling!
1st & 2nd Grade Spring Performance
SAVE THE DATE
IBJ 1st & 2nd Grade Families:
Happy Spring! First and second graders will be performing a Spring Concert for families on Thursday, April 27! Please have your student wear bright colors and have them in the auditorium at 6:15 pm that day. They will perform a variety of songs for your enjoyment! If you have questions, please email Jenni Park, the music teacher, at jennifer.park@acsgmail.net. Hope to see you soon!