Restart Jackson Newsletter No. 7
Information for parents, caregivers, and families
FIRST COVID CASE
Last week the Jackson Local School District experienced its first COVID-positive case involving an individual within our district. We want to let you know the district, working in collaboration with the Stark County Health Department, has informed all those who might have come in close contact with the positive case. Within 24 hours of learning of the positive case, we:
Informed all parents/guardians and staff members of students in the affected building;
Informed all parents.guardians of students and staff members who might have been in close contact with the affected individual;
Informed all parents/guardians of students in the district of the positive case.
Director of Security David Morgan is our COVID-19 coordinator and will work closely with our student medical services team and the Stark County Health Department. The Stark County Health Department will determine close contacts and which students need to remain home as a result. As Gov. Mike DeWine said, "Please remember that if a school has positive cases among their students or staff, it does not mean the school did anything wrong. Schools cannot control spread in the community, so it is important to practice safety measures not only in the classroom but also when you’re out in the community."
To date, the district has investigated more than 130 individuals experiencing COVID-like symptoms and there has been one positive COVID test as a result.
This also is a good time to illustrate why the JLSD settled on its three learning options. Let's focus on the first two options (in-person instruction and eLearning 2.0). As a result of the positive COVID case, at least 26 students were advised to self-isolate for 14 days. Those students, so long as they are feeling well enough, are able to transition to eLearning 2.0 without missing valuable classroom instruction and pick right up where they left off with in-person instruction.
This is an important fact: The Jackson Local School District is able to seamlessly transition students from Option 1 to Option 2 or vice versa and remain in complete classroom curriculum alignment. As we pivot, our classroom teachers will be able to stay aligned with options 1 and 2 students. This is a testament to the job our teachers are doing in populating our Learning Management System with curriculum, instruction, and assessments.
Any parent or guardian who does not feel comfortable sending their child(ren) for in-person instruction based on evolving pandemic circumstances, can smoothly transition to eLearning 2.0. Conversely, any parent or guardian who feels more comfortable sending their child(ren) for in-person instruction based on evolving circumstances, can smoothingly transition from eLearning 2.0 to in-person instruction. It is remarkable the work being done in this district to allow us all to be nimble and flexible in a time when it is most needed — and keep our options 1 and 2 students in sync with their curriculum.
JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL HAS 8 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
Eight Jackson High School students have been selected as 2021 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced this week. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue to compete for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.
The eight Jackson seniors are:
Allan Cao, Zachary Charlick, Ryan Farneth, Lauren Hall, Nagappranav Nagajothi, Dorothy Stuhmiller, Grace Sykes, Matthew Visco
Jackson’s eight semifinalists are the most the district has had in at least four years, and it the most of any school in Stark County and among some of the highest in Northeast Ohio.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. More than 90% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
More than 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. They did so by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants from each state.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in spring 2021. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships, awarded on a state-representation basis. About 1,000 corporate scholarships will be provided by about 220 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specific criteria. About 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance 4,100 college-sponsored awards for finalists who attend their institution. National Merit Scholarships winners will be announced from April to June.
SO THIS HAPPENED TODAY ... U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT PLAQUE ARRIVES
VIDEOS TO HELP YOU RELAX IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILD & ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
HOMEWORK HELP FROM STARK COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY
The Homework Help area has many online resources linked to it to find easy-to-use and digest information on thousands of subjects including language arts, geography, history, social studies, world cultures & languages, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health, and so much more
JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC TEAMS EXCELLING
- The Jackson High School boys soccer team started this week ranked No. 3 in Ohio
- Our girls tennis team, ranked in the state, finished second at the exclusive Upper Arlington double tournament, which consisted of the top 10 teams in Ohio
- Our girls "B" varsity tennis team won the Dover Invitational
- Our girls and boys cross country teams continue to be the top performers at Stark County meets and both just won the mid-season Federal League meet
- Our girls volleyball team beat previously unbeaten Green last week and is ranked No. 3 in the state by MaxPreps.
WHEN YOUR CHILD CAN RETURN/SEND HOME FROM SCHOOL DECISION TREE
JSA, JAGS STUDENTS PLACE FLAGS TO REMEMBER 9/11
USDA EXTENDS FREE LUNCHES FOR ALL
The United States Department of Agriculture has extended its “Summer Service” food program through December 31. Breakfast and lunch will be available to ALL Jackson Local students each school day at no cost. This program started Tuesday, September 8.
Per the USDA and Federal Summer Food Service Program, this free service applies to complete meals only. Individual ala carte items will be charged accordingly. For example, if students choose to buy only milk (or an extra milk), they will be charged fifty cents. However, if students order a full meal which includes milk, the meal is provided at no cost to the students.
USDA has announced this program may be canceled before December 31 if funding is depleted. Should the free breakfast and lunch program be canceled, parents will be notified. Because of the possibility of cancellation of the program, it is IMPORTANT parents still complete the free and reduced lunch applications for all eligible students for 2020-2021 school year. Enrollment for free and reduced lunch is available on the school district website at https://www.jackson.stark.k12.oh.us. Click District/ Food Service and PaySchoolsCentral.
Our MyMealOrders is available on the district website PaySchools Central to place orders for our eLearning 2.0 and Digital Academy students. Orders placed are available for pick-up from 10 AM-11:30 AM at the school building your students normally would attend. These meals include our daily breakfast and lunch the campus students receive. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES OF eLEARNERS OR DIGITAL ACADEMY TO ORDER MEALS FOR THE NEXT WEEK BY THURSDAY AT NOON.
VIDEO SERIES: WHAT'S COOL ABOUT SCHOOL FROM JACKSON LOCAL TEACHERS
IMPORTANT ATHLETIC EVENT UPDATES
We also are changing our pathway to seats at Robert Fife Stadium. Please see the photo below to follow the proper protocol all home football games.
Ticket office hours for parents purchasing football tickets are:
Tuesday/Wednesday 9-11 AM Door 1
Tuesday 6-7:30 PM Door 1
While we are disappointed we are not permitted to include more spectators, we will live stream all home football, soccer, and volleyball contests at JacksonLocalSports.com. There is no fee to watch these live streams. They are powered by Akron Auto Auction and the Law Offices of Winkhart & Minor.
During games at Robert Fife Stadium, fans will be required to sit on seats marked with "sit here" stickers. One sticker per two seats or family. No one is permitted to sit on seats with yellow caution tape. Your cooperation is appreciated as we all do our parts to make sure student-athletes, band members, and cheerleaders have a season this fall.
For boys and girls soccer games at Neitzelt Stadium, tickets are sold only before the game at the gate. Parents of junior varsity players MUST leave the stadium after the junior varsity game, and not arrive until 30 minutes before the start of the game. Parents of varsity players will not enter the stadium until parents/spectators from the junior varsity game have exited the stadium. Varsity parents shall wait in their vehicles for the stadium to clear. There will be no congregating outside the entrance to the stadium. The seating capacity for soccer games is set at 120.
For volleyball contests at Jackson High School tickets are $6 and sold at the gate. Two tickets maximum per player.
We encourage parents to visit our webpage to become familiar with the plans, including what to do in the event of inclement weather outside. This information is available here.
There will be no congregating before or after events and anyone without a ticket will be asked to leave. Parents must exit the stadium immediately after the game and proceed to their vehicles.
MAP OF ENTRY/EXIT FOR ROBERT FIFE STADIUM
THIS WEEK'S JACKSON LOCAL NEWS CLIPS
NEW HELP DESK FOR eLEARNERS
The Help Desk can be found by clicking here. For future reference, the Help Desk can be found by the Parents section of the district's website, and and going to POLARIS/eLearning. Click on the link under the eLearning/Help Desk area.
Once you are on the Help Desk site, go to "Open a New Ticket." The first time you are there, you will have to create an account. An authentication email will be sent to you. Click on the link in the email and you can file your first help desk ticket.
CHECK OUT MORE VIDEOS FROM OUR JSA STUDENTS SHOWING US HOW TO WEAR FACIAL COVERINGS
HOW TO REACH US
Striving for Excellence
———
Superintendent: Christopher DiLoreto
Board of Education:
Thomas W. Winkhart, president
Scott Gindlesberger
Kenneth J. Douglas
Christopher V. Goff
Tonya M. Wright
Email: contactus@jackson.sparcc.org
Website: https://www.jackson.stark.k12.oh.us/
Location: 7602 Fulton Drive Northwest, Massillon, OH, USA
Phone: (330) 830-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonLocalSchools
Twitter: @JacksonLocal_SD