JMS Weekly Update

November 13, 2022

Dear JMS Families,


This week's Update contains information about the following:



Please notify our nurse, Mrs. Raco, and complete this FORM if your child has tested positive for COVID-19.


Take care,


Dr. Sarah Shaw, Principal

sshaw@mtlsd.net


Mrs. Katelyn (Deet) Toth, Assistant Principal

kdeet@mtlsd.net

Weekly Schedule

Monday - Day 2

Tuesday - Day 3

Wednesday - Day 4

Thursday - Day 5

Friday - Day 1

Monday (11/21) - Day 2

New News

Veteran's Day Video

Thank you to all of our JMS Veteran's for your service. We honor you and appreciate your service. You can view our Veteran's Day Video HERE.

Writing Lab Volunteers Needed!

Volunteering in the Writing Lab offers a flexible schedule and a priceless chance to help our young writers. There is absolutely no requirement for a volunteer to be a grammar expert! The teacher provides a streamlined conference sheet with a few targeted questions in regard to the content and organization of the student’s paper. The volunteer listens to the student read the paper aloud and then offers feedback in the areas designated by the teacher.


The overall purpose of the adult conference is to connect with students and help build their communication skills with others. The goal of the conference is to send students back to class knowing one thing they are doing well and one thing they need to revise. The adult conference zeroes in on the domains of focus, content, and organization and does not address editing or proofreading. Please reference this training recap for key points regarding being a Writing Lab Volunteer at JMS. Volunteer clearances will need to be up to date and on file with the school district prior to helping.


If you would like to volunteer in the JMS Writing Lab, help is always needed! Please sign up here .


Contact the JMS Writing Clinician, Melissa Kelly (mkelly@mtlsd.net), with any questions.

Reminders

JMS Clubs

You can find a list of JMS clubs HERE. You can also find a list of our clubs in the "Resources" folder on the JMS Schoology page. If you are interested in having your child participate in a club, please contact the club sponsor!

Viewing Grades in Schoology

Interested in viewing your child's grades in Schoology?! Click HERE to learn how!

JMS Yearbooks - On Sale Now!

JMS Yearbooks are on sale now through December 16, 2022. Order your yearbook and take out an 8th grade ad TODAY! yearbookforever.com


Prices:


  • Tuesday, November 1 at 12:00 AM- Wednesday, November 30 at 11:59 PM: $55
  • Thursday, December 1 at 12:00 AM- Friday, December 16 at 11:59 PM: $60


Limited extras will be sold on the last day of school for $60


8th Grade Advertisements are also for sale from now until December 16 for $35.


Please watch this video if you need help on How to Order a 2022-2023 JMS Yearbook and Purchase an 8th Grade Advertisement.


If you are unsure if you've already ordered a yearbook, please watch the video below to see how you can check your order status: How to Check for 2023 Yearbook Purchase

Technology

Families In Need of Technology

As we prepare to start the 2022-2023 school year, we are asking families who need to borrow student technology to please visit www.mtlsd.org/families/technology/one-to-one

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.

JMS PTA Information

PTA Membership and Directory Access

Our Membership Store is now open! We hope you will consider joining out PTA to help fund excellent educational opportunities for our children. Directory access is available to JMS PTA members only.


You can join the PTA HERE.


Please email jmsptamtl@gmail.com if you have any questions.

SHOPPER & SCHOOL REWARD PROGRAMS


Amazon

If you haven’t used AmazonSmile Before:


  • Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your regular Amazon username and password.
  • You will be prompted to choose a charity. You should enter "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” into the search box that appears. It will say "Pittsburgh, PA" as the location for the charity.
  • Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com on your browser.



If you already use AmazonSmile:


  • Go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your username and password
  • Make sure the charity you’ve selected is "Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc." This information is located under the search bar where it says “supporting”.
  • If it isn’t, you can change it by clicking on the charity and selecting “change”
  • This will bring you to a page where you can search for “Jefferson Middle School PTA Inc” and allow you to switch charities.



Make sure whenever you check out, you always go to smile.amazon.com to checkout.

If you shop on the Amazon app. Please activate Amazon Smile on your mobile app by opening the app and finding ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.

Box Tops

Scanning Box Tops is an easy way to earn money for our school. 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.

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

Local Resources for Families

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

Safe 2 Say Something

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.