#NoPlaceLikeJones
Family Updates for the Week of April 22, 2024
Congratulations to Our Battle of the Books Team!
A Job Well Done and for Winning the Sportmanship Award!
Principal Corner
Dear Jones Elementary Families,
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your weekend. As we approach the end of the school year, I wanted to share some important updates and reminders to help our students finish the year strong.
Increasing Academic Rigor
Our dedicated teachers are committed to providing our students with a challenging and enriching learning experience. Over the next few weeks, you may notice increased rigor in classroom instruction and assignments. This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our students are well-prepared for the next grade level and future academic endeavors. We encourage you to support your child’s learning by reviewing homework, discussing class topics, and fostering a positive attitude toward challenges.
End of Year Testing
End of year assessments are quickly approaching, and our students must be prepared and confident. Teachers are working diligently to review important concepts and provide additional support where needed. Please remind your child of the importance of these assessments and encourage them to ask questions and seek help if they are struggling with any material. Your support and involvement in your child’s education are invaluable.
Schedule Changes
As we approach the end of the school year, please be aware that schedules will change due to testing and other end-of-year activities. We will do our best to inform you about any changes quickly and clearly. It is essential that students remain flexible and adapt to these changes to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of learning.
Continuing to Follow Expectations
Lastly, I would like to remind our students of the importance of following school expectations, especially regarding behavior. As the school year comes to a close, it is essential that we maintain a positive and respectful learning environment for everyone. Please take some time to discuss the school’s behavioral expectations with your child and reinforce the importance of making responsible choices inside and outside the classroom.
We appreciate your continued support and collaboration as we work to ensure our students' academic success and personal growth. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the school administration.
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. I also send out a weekly family newsletter. Please ensure we have updated contact information so you can stay informed of all our school happenings.
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 call the school at 828.350.6700 or email me at ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net.
Sincerely,
Ruafika Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
#noplacelikejones
Moving Up Night
Please Join Us!
Understanding your child's grade-level expectations is crucial for their academic success. To provide comprehensive insight into what your child will be learning next year, we offer an exclusive opportunity to hear directly from our current teachers. This will give you a clear understanding of the curriculum, a sample schedule, prioritized skills, grade-level standards, field trips, and anything else unique to the grade level.
Each session will begin with a quick presentation. Families will be given a glimpse of the activities and lessons students are expected to engage in to demonstrate the type of work and rigor required to meet grade-level expectations.
As part of our commitment to preparing students for the upcoming school year, each student will receive a bag of educational goodies. These items, designed to be used over the summer, will keep their minds challenged and reinforce the skills and knowledge they will need in the next grade. This aligns perfectly with the goals of our event.
The evening will kick off with an overview at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Following this, from 5:15 to 6:00, families can connect with other Jones families and enjoy a grab-and-go dinner in the cafeteria. Teachers will be in their classrooms at 6:00 p.m., ready to start the first session. Each session will last 15 minutes, and there will be three sessions. Specialists will be available in the gym, so remember to visit them during one of the sessions. Please take a look at the information above for more details and the schedule below.
Moving Up Night Schedule
Students will dance on Friday, April 26 in the gym!
Tropical Jones Jam Dance-a-thon - SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT IN THE JONES JAM! We have just 2 weeks to make our fundraising goal!!
As you have recently learned on Parentsquare, the Tropical Jones Jam Dance-a-thon, our Ira B. Jones 2024 Spring Fundraiser is coming up April 26th! This year’s dance-a-thon is tropical, so Jones students: Break out those Hawaiian shirts, bright colored ’fits, and your best dancing shoes (flip flops?), and catch a wave, dancing with your fellow Global Scholars and DJ Molly Parti in the gym on April 26! This dance-a-thon is for everyone! ALL Jones students will be able to participate regardless of any donations secured – no contribution is required. It is a Jones FTO priority to keep our events inclusive and fun for all students.
PRESENTING SPONSOR: Thank you to Blue Ridge Orthodontics for sponsoring the 2024 Tropical Jones Jam! Thanks to BRO, all students will receive a color-change water cup after they dance!
OUR GOAL: To raise $12,000 from the Jones community through pledges for students between now and April 26.
INCENTIVES: To thank you for donations of $75 or more, students with pledges in their name amounting this amount or more will receive a pair of fun bright colored sunglasses or a tropical keychain! However, everyone will dance regardless of donation amount.
DONATE TODAY! Read our info page on the FTO's website.
Click here to make a pledge to your Jones student(s). Please share with your family and friends so that they can support our school!
Upcoming Events
- Thursday, April 25: Moving Up Night
- Friday, April 26: FTO Dance-a-thon
- Friday, May 10: Spring Fling
- Wednesday, May 15: An Evening of Black Excellence Event
NOTES FROM THE COUNSELING CORNER WITH MS. COURTNEY, SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Helping Your Student Tackle Test Anxiety Recognizing the Signs of Test Anxiety
Test anxiety isn't just about nerves; it can significantly impact a student's academic performance and overall well being. Signs of test anxiety may manifest physically (ie, stomach aches or racing heart), mentally (ie, negative self talk or irrational thinking), and behaviorally (ie, procrastination or irritability). Understanding these signs is the first step in providing effective support to your student. Here's a breakdown of insights and strategies to help you support your student through their test anxiety:
Break Things Up: When beginning to feel panicked, students can find a way to change their focus. Encourage your student to break up their routine in order to calmly complete the test. For example, skipping the first page and going back to it.
Practice Calming Techniques: Practicing coping skills prior to a test is important in beating our test anxiety. For instance, deep breathing, mindfulness, and positive self talk are common strategies.
Accept When You Don’t Know Something: Sometimes the best way to manage test anxiety is accept that we may not know the answer to every question – and that’s okay! If that happens, encourage your student to move onto the next question and give that question another go at the end.
Positive Self-Talk: Having the right attitude is the key in ensuring success on a test. Make sure to encourage your student and promote any positive thinking to boost their confidence prior to a test. To your student, remind them that it’s just one test, they know the material, and one test does not define them. Remember, it’s all about doing their best! A key focus is on their effort rather than the outcome.
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Phone: 828.350.6700