JPT TIGER TOWN NEWS: PARENT EDITION
January 2, 2024 -January 5, 2024
Principal's Message
Welcome Back ! We hope everyone enjoyed your time with family and friends! We are excited to be returning with our students on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
January is packed with alot of activities and our Winter STAR Assessment! This assessment will be completed by ALL kindergarten - 5th grade students in ELA and Math. The dates are January 10, 11 , 17 and 18, 2024! Your child's teacher will be able to share their classes specific date. We have built some growth incentives for our students! Please encourage them to do their best and get a good night's rest each day before their scheduled assessment. Please check out the goal sheet and speak to your child about their goals for this winter assessment.
Just a reminder that the 2nd quarter ended on December 19, 2023 with reports available on January 11, 2024. Remember it is not how you START but how you FINISH!
Just a reminder that Barron Academy nor Afterschool CRP will NOT operate this week! Please double check with them for any updates as it may have changed since the break!
Please come check out the lost and found for lost jackets!
We need your help in the car lane in the morning ! Please be sure to unload your student on the passenger side to promote safety . If you must unload from the driver side , please have them walk in front of the car not behind . Also, please use the crosswalk and not walk between cars.
Please be reminded that the building is NOT OPEN until 7:00AM for drop off of students. There is NO supervision of students prior to that time! Students are tardy at 7:35AM. We begin instruction at 7:30AM daily. A hard copy of the student code of conduct was sent home with a signature page for your review and should be returned to Mrs. Simmons.
Please check our school website, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) , your class dojo and the Parent Newsletter for updates!
REMINDERS:
Please update your address so that you do not miss any updates regarding the school for 2023-2024. Access your parent portal to complete update. Those updates are necessary in order to access BUS TRANSPORTATION!
Kindergarten BUS RIDERS MUST have an ADULT to meet them at the bus stop in order for the driver to let them off! IF the adult on the form is not present, they will return the student to the school for pickup by the Parent.
Sincerely,
Selina P. Latimore
John P. Thomas Elementary Teacher of Year 2024-2025 - Ms. Antoinette Freeman
Photos of 2023
Congratulations to November 2023 Employees of the Month!
Certified Employee of the Month- Dainesha Smith
Classified Employee of the Month- Kewanda Gardner
City Year Core Member of the Month- Isaiah Washington (Mr. Zay)
JANUARY 2024
December 1, 2023- January 19, 2024- IMPACT AID SURVEYS OPEN - submit via Parent Portal
December 18-19, 2023- NO BARRON ACADEMY
January 3, 2024- No school students/ Teacher workday
January 4, 2024- School Resumes
January 4-5, 2024- NO BARRON ACADEMY- Double Check with Barron Academy
January 9, 2024- School Improvement Council Meeting (SIC) 5:00PM-6:00PM in the media center
January 10,11, 17 and 18 , 2024- WINTER STAR Testing ELA/ MATH (k- 5th grade)
January 11, 2024- Report Cards Live in Parent Portal by 3pm
January 12, 2024- Early Release for students (11AM)/ District PD for staff
January 15, 2024- M. L. King Jr. Holiday (no school for students/ staff)
January 22, 2024- BOOKS and BBQ Community Engagement Drop IN - 5:30pm-6:30PM (see flyer)
How to ACCESS Report Card in Parent Portal-January 11, 2024 by 3pm
IMPACT SURVEYS- OPENS DECEMBER 1, 2023- CLOSES JANUARY 19, 2024
JP THOMAS CITY YEAR TEAM 2023-2024
Latimia Hampton- Team Lead
Bobby Bovain - 3rd grade
Lakya Lawrence- 3rd grade
Faith Howard- 4th grade
Marley Suber- 4th grade
IsaiahWashington- 5th grade
Chenera Ash- Impact Manager
Welcome New City Year Core Member- Lakya Lawrence
Please give a TIGER ROAR to our new City Year Core Member, Lakya Lawrence!
Many Thanks to our Village who supports JP Thomas Families and Staff- 23-24
City of Refuge Church
Belmont Baptist Church
Kona Ice of Irmo
Dazzling Diamonds - Mary Kay via Dr. Deborah Belton
Heart of God Ministries
Spring Valley Rotary Club
V and T Enterprise
College Lodge#378
Moore Light Lodge #468
VFW Post #4262
Office Depot
Ebenezer Lutheran Church via Lisa McClain
Columbia Praise Radio Station 95.7 FM and 1170 AM
Benedict College
Allen University
PDQ
FRC 9315 Coding Comets, with Dr. LeConte Middleton
NOMA via Sabrina Odom
Riverside Community Church via City of Refuge
Lake Murray Evangelical Church via City of Refuge
Coca Cola Consolidated
Greater Faith Church
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Wiley Foundation
Junior league of Columbia
Capitol City Rotary Club
Omega Psi Phi - Omicron Phi Chapter
Frances Burns United Methodist Church
Many Thanks to Omega Psi Phi - Omicron Phi Chapter for their support!
Health Room Tidbits- Nurse Suzonne Williams
Parent and Volunteer Shoutouts- JPT Unsung Heroes!
We are starting a new section where we will be sharing the great things that our Parents/ Volunteers are doing in our school community! Please feel free to share a story and a picture for our newsletter each week by Friday in time for the Sunday Newsletter Publishing. You can send your entry to Mrs. Gabrielle Turnipseed (gabrielle.turnipseed@richlandone.org)for her to submit to Principal for final approval for posting.
JPT Reading Corner with the Principal
J.P. Thomas is an AVID School!
Click here to learn more about the program.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
Become A Volunteer Today!
Join the PTA Today!
It is with great excitement that we announce the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Officers and Membership openings for the 2023-2024 school years.
- Click here to download the PTA Application. Membership Dues are $7.00.
Thank you for becoming a member of John P. Thomas Elementary School's PTA!
R1 Champs- Join the TEAM!
Volunteers provide an additional adult presence and an “extra set of eyes” on campuses during the school day. They greet students at the beginning of the day and assist staff during dismissal; monitor the halls during class changes and help ensure that students report to their classes on time; and assist staff during school assemblies and special events.
R1 CHAMPS is open to anyone who wants to volunteer their time to serve Richland One schools. Volunteers must undergo a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) background check and a Department of Social Services (DSS) Child Abuse Registry check.
If you are interested in becoming an R1 CHAMPS volunteer, contact Kerry Abel, Richland One’s coordinator of dropout prevention and mentoring services, at 803-231-7182, 803-553-0072 or kerry.abel@richlandone.org.
School Improvement Council Officers for the 2023-2024 School Year
Next Meeting January 9, 2024 @5-6pm
Click here to download the SIC Form
Virtual Title One Suggestion Box:
New one coming soon!
VISIBLE LEARNING DISPOSITIONS AT JPT!
SAVE THE DATE- Eau Claire Cluster Family Reunion
Thursday, Feb 1, 2024, 05:30 PM
Grace Christian Ministry, Monticello Road, Columbia, SC, USA
Parent Resources to Help your child at HOME
National PTA:
https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/Family-Guides
Digital Virtual Library-updated link
https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/11297
Morning News Show:
The link will be posted by your child's teacher
Title One Plan FY- 2024
Parent Corner: Parent Guide to Student Success
Student success guide:
https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/Parents-Guides-to-Student-Success
Need afterschool care.... check out Barron Academy!
ABOUT US.....
Email: johnpthomaselementary@gmail.com
Website: https://www.richlandone.org/Page/61
Location: 6001 Weston Avenue, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 803-735-3430
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnpthomaselementary
Twitter: @JohnPThomasElem
Instagram: @johnpthomaselementary