The Jaguar Journal
March 2024
James Sales Elementary
Email: jamessales@fpschools.org
Website: jamessales.fpschools.org
Location: 1301 113th St S, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4200
FAX: 253-298-4215
Brandy Nelson - Principal
Ryan Moore - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 8:30 to 3:30
Dates to Remember
February 29 ~ Treat money due - 50¢
March 1 ~ Treat Friday - Gummies
March 4-8 ~ Read Across America Week - Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday
March 4 ~ 'The Places You'll Go' - Wear your favorite vacation t-shirt
March 5 ~ 'Lorax Day' - Wear orange
March 6 ~ 'Wacky Day' - Dress wacky
March 6 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
March 7 ~ 'Cat in the Hat Day' - Wear your favorite hat
March 7 ~ World's Finest Chocolate Sale begins!
March 7 ~ Treat money due - 50¢
March 8 ~ 'Dr. Seuss Day' - Bring your favorite book
March 8 ~ Treat Friday - Popcorn
March 10 ~ Daylight Saving Time begins - set your clocks ahead 1 hour
March 13 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 11:55 - End of 2nd Trimester
March 13 ~ Superhero Day!! Dress like a superhero.
March 14 ~ Class Picture Day / Optional Individual Pictures
March 14 ~ Honor Choir Performance - Trinity Lutheran Church
March 14 ~ Treat money due - 50¢
March 15 ~ Treat Friday - Gummies
March 16 ~ Junior Adventure Club Hike
March 20 ~ FULL DAY OF SCHOOL
March 21 ~ Treat money due - 50¢
March 22 ~ Treat Friday - Popcorn
March 26 ~ Last day of World's Finest Chocolate Sale! Must turn in all money today.
March 27 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
March 28 ~ Treat money due - 50¢
March 29 ~ Treat Friday - Gummies
March 29 ~ National Crayon Day
April 3 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
April 8-12 ~ Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
From the Principal's Office
Hello James Sales families,
Happy March! Over the next six weeks students will be working hard in class on reading, math, and science as our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students prepare for the state assessment coming up soon. Thank you for taking time to help your child with homework as this reinforces skills and concepts they are learning in class.
Sincerely,
Brandy Nelson
Principal
James Sales Elementary
Attendance is Important!
Annual Student Information Update
As we finalize the transition between Skyward and Qmlativ, we ask that parents and guardians review and update their student's information in our Qmlativ/Skyward database. This information allows FPS and your student's school to stay connected with you and access vital information about your child's health and safety.
For a tutorial on how to complete the Annual Student Information Update, visit https://www.fpschools.org/departments/k-12-office/asiu.
Thank you in advance for completing the Annual Student Information Update!
Facts About Lice
If you have questions about head lice prevention and treatment, please visit this website. It will give guidance about identification, treatment, and prevention. Click here.
The 2024-2025 School Year Calendar is Out Now!
Treat Fridays Will Start Again!
We are starting Treat Fridays again after a long hiatus that began during the pandemic. The PTO is looking for volunteers to help with treat Fridays. We need volunteers to help with popping popcorn, bagging popcorn, and other related jobs. The time frame would be from 8 AM to about 10 AM. If you are interested in helping, please let the front office know and complete a volunteer application. Click here for the volunteer application.
Treats will alternate Fridays between popcorn and gummies. The cost is 50¢ per treat - exact change. Money for treat day will be collected on Thursdays, the day before the treat day, in the morning when teachers are taking roll. If your student is late, they will not be able to turn in treat money. All treat money must be turned in during the first five minutes of class. No late money will be accepted.
For our first Treat Friday on Friday, February 16th our SRO, Deputy McArthur, purchased popcorn for every student! Thank you to Paris Turay, Matt Mohn, Brandon Stover, and Megan Morehouse; the volunteers who spent the morning popping and bagging the popcorn. Deputy Mac delivered the bags of popcorn to classrooms. Thank you Deputy Mac!
Library Books
The end of the trimester brings new overdue and fines lists. Please look at home for any overdue and lost library books and turn them in. Students who have missing books will not be able to attend upcoming field trips and other special activities.
Do You Want to Volunteer?
Do the volunteer application now! Click here to access the application link. It takes up to two weeks to process an application - possibly even longer the closer we get to field trip season. If you need assistance with the application, please call the office. Don't be left out of the field trip fun!
Important Information!
Teacher Requests Due
Yearbook Order Time
Don't miss out on the memories! Order your 23-24 yearbook today! This year's yearbook will feature cover art by a James Sales student once again! Yearbooks are $15 each and are only available while supplies last. Ordering deadline is May 3rd. Click here to order. For questions please email ecordell@fpschools.org.
Class Picture Day
Class picture day is scheduled for Thursday, March 14th. All students will receive a complimentary 6x8 class photo this year! You may also purchase optional individual pictures. Only students with picture money will be photographed for individual pictures. Make checks to Quality School Portraits or send the correct amount of cash to school that day in a picture payment envelope, or pay online at www.qualityschoolportraits.com. Remember, neither the office nor the photographer can make change. Payment envelopes will come home with your student Friday, March 1st.
Girls on the Run - for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Girls
James Sales is hosting their second season of Girls on the Run (GOTR) beginning Tuesday, March 12th! Registration is officially open. Girls on the Run is an international nonprofit founded in 1996 that has served over 2 million girls across North America. This program is intended to strengthen girls' social, emotional, and physical skills. Throughout the season, we have engaging conversations, lessons, and participate in community service, all while training for a 5K race! Our official 5K race is Saturday, June 8th! If you have any further questions, please reach out to Claire Elbaum (3rd grade teacher) at celbaum@fpschools.org.
A Message from James Sales PTO
PTO’s mission is to encourage family involvement in the classroom and around the school, as well as raise funds to support classroom enrichment, and to provide our students and staff with items and activities not funded by the district.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!
If you have ever considered volunteering NOW IS THE TIME! We need volunteers for Popcorn/Treat Fridays on Friday mornings starting around 8 AM. We need help popping popcorn, bagging treats and delivering to classrooms. VOLUNTEERS' STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE TREATS/POPCORN!!
You must be cleared by the district prior to volunteering in any way, INCLUDING CHAPERONING FIELD TRIPS. If you have not already been cleared to volunteer for THIS SCHOOL YEAR by Franklin Pierce Schools, please visit the James Sales Office to use the technology there or go to this link to apply:
https://www.fpschools.org/get-involved/volunteer
WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser
Our favorite fundraiser is back! Students will have the opportunity to sell World's Finest Chocolate bars to friends and family and win prizes. The proceeds from this fundraiser will help pay for field trips and other special events at James Sales. The chocolate sale will run March 7th to March 26th.
Each family will have one permission slip for all children in the household. Siblings in the same household will be awarded prizes as a group. If you would like to participate in the sale, please return the completed permission slip to school. A box of chocolate will be issued to you or your child (oldest in the family) when we receive $60 cash per box. Each box of chocolate is prepaid. Each chocolate bar is $1.
Prizes for those participating in the chocolate sale are as follows:
- The top seller will receive a $100 gift card to their choice of DEFY Tacoma or CATAPULT Lakewood, Regal Movie Theater, Paradise Bowl.
- Top five sellers will receive a ONE POUND CHOCOLATE BAR!
- The top selling class will receive a GIANT FIVE POUND CHOCOLATE BAR!
Students who sell:
A - ONE BOX - Win an extra recess
B - TWO BOXES - WIn A and and ice cream treat
C - THREE BOXES - Win A and B and a $5 book fair certificate
D - FOUR BOXES - Win A, B, and C and pizza with the principal.
Please contact Ms. Bruce, jbruce@fpschools.org, or Mrs. Nelson, bnelson@fpschools.org, if you have any questions.
Thank you for participating in this sale and making our field trips possible!
School Store Fundraiser
We are partnering with SchoolStore to raise funds for essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed. Participation is easy through our 100% online email campaign, and your child can earn points towards great prizes.
Here's what you need to do:
1. Go to SchoolStore.net and sign up using our School ID: 195626
2. Send the provided emails inviting family, friends, and co-workers to support your student. Every email sent helps your student's school meet its fundraising goal, so if you have a phone contact, asking to use their email can help boost your student's SchoolStore program.
3. If your student has not already done so, return the envelope that was sent home with the Student Prize Code for your child to get their awesome participation prize.
Here are three ways your family, friends, and co-workers can help our school:
1. Support your child's classroom with a 100% tax-deductible donation by purchasing a Caring for Classrooms gift card for your child's teacher to acquire classroom supplies and equipment.
2. Shop online at The Family Book Store for wrapping paper, magazines, popcorn, cookbooks, and more. Our school receives up to 50% from each purchase.
3. Shop online with over 400 major merchants like Walmart, Kohls, Best Buy, Disney, and more. Our school earns a percentage of these sales also.
With only a few minutes of your time, SchoolStore offers a safe and easy way for our teachers and school to raise money for materials that enhance your child's education.
Thank you for your participation!
* Please confirm that your supporter's emails are correct. Your student only gets credit for valid emails.
Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday!
From Our Handbook
Report Cards
Report cards are sent home after each trimester (approximately every 12 weeks of instruction). We send them home with your child. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding their progress. Franklin Pierce School District uses Standards Based Grading:
4 - Exceeding End-of-Year Standards
3 - Meeting End-of-Year Standards
2 - Approaching End-of-Year Standards
1 - Performing Significantly Below End-of-Year Standards
/ - Introduced - Insufficient evidence at this time
X - Not addressed in this grading period
March Junior Adventure Club Activity
The James Sales Junior Adventure Club (for 4th and 5th grade students and their parents) will go to Little Si for a hike Saturday, March 16th. The bus will depart James Sales at 10:00 am and arrive back at the school around 5:00 pm. All attendees should wear layered clothing with a waterproof jacket, waterproof shoes or boots, beanie, gloves, and bring a backpack, water, snacks, and $20 for Mod Pizza
Please make sure your student lets Mr. Horak know they will be going by turning in the permission slip for the trip. Don't forget to check the box if it is OK to post pictures of your student on our website, yearbook, newsletter, etc. Students must have an parent/guardian attend with them. Any adult accompanying a student on the activity must complete a volunteer application (https://www.fpschools.org/get-involved/volunteer) and pass the background check to attend. Please let Mr. Horak (chorak@fpschools.org) know if you have any questions!
February's Adventure Club Activity
Hiking in the Snow at Gold Creek Pond at Snoqualmie Pass
Students, parents, and teachers had an awesome time hiking in the snow at Gold Creek Pond at Snoqualmie Pass. Thank you Mr. Horak for organizing our Junior Adventure Club activities!
Employee Appreciation
Please join us in recognizing our hard-working para-educators during the week of March 4-8. We are grateful for our paras and all the very valuable help and support they offer to the students at James Sales Elementary. They are: Ms. Charlie, Alyssa Craig, Taqua Alansi, Danielle Douglas, Sam Foppiano, Tonnika Kawalec, Tranise Marshall, Itzel Martinez Jeronimo, Dawn Miskar, Anika Nordin, Nancy Pack, Marisol Ramirez, Christian Ryle, Marian Ufland, Leticia Vasquez, and Ivana Watkins. Please give them a big “Thank You” when you see them during this week.
Thank you also to our IT department, our Superintendents, Mr. Goodpaster and Mr. Hester, and all the workers at the district office. It takes many hard working people to make our district run. We appreciate each and every one!
Attention Parents of 3rd and 4th Grade Students!
It is time to refer 3rd and 4th grade students for the 23-24 Highly Capable Student program, Project Excel.
Do you have a student who…
- learns easily and quickly?
- thinks up unusual ways to solve hard problems?
- has a clever sense of humor?
- dislikes doing the same thing over and over?
- thinks logically and wants things to make sense?
- is open to new ideas?
- is persistent and wants to keep trying with difficult tasks?
Complete a Project Excel Program Referral here. Referrals are due by March 15th.
Conce a algún estudiante que. . .
- ¿Aprende fácil y rápido?
- ¿Piensa de forma inusual cómo resolver problemas difíciles?
- ¿Tiene un sentido del humor ingenioso?
- ¿Le desagrada hacer la misma cosa una y otra vez?
- ¿Piensa de manera lógica y quiere que las cosas tengan sentido?
- ¿Está abierto a nuevas ideas?
- ¿Es persistente y quiere seguir tratando con tareas difíciles?
Complete una referencia del programa Project Excel aquí. Las remisiones son para el 15 de marzo.
Free Developmental Screening For Children 3-5 Years Old
Hewins Early Learning Center Enrollment
Tutoring at PLU
Parkland Literacy Center
Before and After School Care with Right at School
James Sales hosts a before and after school care program on-site for our students this year. The care is provided by Right at School. Right at School provides a safe environment to learn, to play, and to grow. Click here for more information and to register.
Franklin Pierce Schools has a resource center for our families. You will find information and help for all sorts of situations and needs - food, diapers, formula, community referrals, and more. Click here to access the Family Resource Center website.
Nutrition Services
Volunteers
Join the James Sales PTO!
Because we are a PTO, not a PTA, we are able to put 100% of our membership dues right back into our school! We provide classroom enrichment, and raise funds to provide our students and staff with items and activities not funded by the district. Volunteering and attending meetings is encouraged, but not required. A family membership (for adults living in the same household) is $10.00. PTO membership forms are in the office. Cash or checks are accepted. Make checks to James Sales PTO.
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to Brandy Marshall, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to Human Resources.