We are so close to the start of school. I can see it. Today, we had a great first day with teachers. They are all excited to get started, although we are all disappointed that we won't be able to see everyone on that first day. So we are asking you to upload your virtual first-day picture to our Instagram Account.

Next week on Aug. 19, schedules will become active thru ParentVUE and StudentVue. If you are new and did not receive your activation email, please call the JMMS office for assistance.

Next week we are going to spend two days conducting assessments with your children. A separate communication with more information will be coming out on Tuesday. In general, students will be participating in MAPs Testing in Reading and Math.

Those two days' goal is to assess any learning gaps that may have arose as a result of the loss of instruction during the spring. We recognize that this isn't the usual way to start a middle school year, but 2020 is unusual.

Starting now, please have your child log into their AUSD Google Account. If, for some reason, they no longer remember the login, please send me an email.

Many families have asked, "What supplies will my child need to start school." Because students see multiple teachers in Middle School, it is not realistic to publish an all-encompassing materials list. We have found it better to let the teachers tell the students what materials they will need after school starts. They will need to start a computer, and when we start back to in-person instruction, they need to bring that computer back and forth to campus. If you already have a device and are okay having your child bring that device back and forth to school, that is awesome. However, if they are using your Macbook during distance learning and they will not be allowed to bring that to campus, please make sure they check out a Chromebook on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Please be sure and read the entire Weekly Update as there is a wealth of information about the start of school.

Students and parents are responsible for district-owned technology property that is issued to them, just as they are for other district-owned items such as textbooks and other materials.

AUSD recognizes that there is a need to protect the investment by both the district and the student/parent. If the device is damaged, the district will repair or replace it, but students/parents will be responsible for the cost of those repairs or replaced devices. However, the liability on families/students can be reduced significantly by taking part in the district’s Chromebook Protection Plan program. For $25 (non-refundable) per year, per device, the Chromebook Protection Plan program will repair or replace the device one (1) time with no deductible.

The Protection Plan program covers accidental damage. It does NOT cover loss, theft, damage by flood/fire/intentional destruction. The district strongly recommends purchasing our Chromebook protection plan.