The Jaguar Journal
October 2019
James Sales Elementary
Brandy Nelson - Principal
Joy Sims - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 8:15 to 3:45
253-298-4200 / FAX 253-298-4215
Dates To Remember
Sept. 27, 30, Oct. 1-3 - Book Fair – Before and after school
Sept 30, October 1-3 - Student Led Conferences
Early Release – 11:55
October 4 - No School
October 9 - Early Release – 1:55
October 16 - Early Release – 1:55
October 21 - School Picture Day
October 23 - Early Release – 1:55
October 30 - Early Release – 1:55
A Message From Our Principal
Dear James Sales Families,
What a great start to the year! We have completed our beginning-of-the-year testing and classroom routines and structures are coming together. Teachers and students are working hard on developing skills students will need to be successful.
Please remember to:
· Keep in contact with your child’s teacher
· Ask the teacher if you are unsure about something
· Check your child’s backpack daily as important information and homework may be found in there
· Help your child be on time to school. Students need 10-11 hours of sleep each night.
· Have your child at school every day, on time, all day!
We look forward to working with you this year. Thank you for your support as we all work together to ensure your child is successful.
Sincerely,
Brandy Nelson, Principal
Book Fair!
The Rainbow of Colors Book Fair begins the Friday before conference week, September 27th and runs through October 3rd. The book fair helps to put books on our library shelves and into the hands of your children. Take a minute or so to come check it out!
We are also looking for volunteers to help run the fair during the day and also Monday evening. Please be aware that you must be cleared to volunteer in order to help at the book fair. Contact Mrs. Bruce if you can volunteer – jbruce@fpschools.org . All volunteers receive a discount! Let your imagination grow!
Book fair hours are:
· September 27 – 8:15-8:45 and 3:40-4
· September 30 – 8:15-8:45 and 12-4
· October 1 – 8:15-8:45 and 12-3
· October 2 – 8:15-8:45 and 12-6
· October 3 – 8:15-8:45 and 12-12:30
Student Led Conference
Parents should have a conference appointment from your child’s teacher already. If you have not sent in your appointment slip to confirm your appointment, please do so as soon as possible. Remember, all students will be dismissed early at 11:55 each day of conferences. Sack lunches will be served and busses will run 3.5 hours earlier than a regular dismissal day. Please make arrangements ahead of time for any daycare needs.
From the Health Room
Our younger students still have accidents at times. Please make sure your child has an extra set of clothes in his/her backpack. Remind your child to ask to use the bathroom as soon as they need to go. “If you wait, it may be too late!”
Remind your child that thorough hand washing helps keep you healthy. Teach them to wet their hands, lather up with soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry them everytime they use the bathroom, eat, or just get messy!
The beginning of the school year has hit our Jaguars hard with different kinds of illnesses. Please remember that your child cannot return to school until he/she has been fever-free/not vomiting for at least 24 hours.
Appreciation Week
October 14-18 – Nutrition Service Staff
October 21-25 – Transportation Staff
Thanks to Mrs. Kimball, Ms. St. Clair, and Mrs. Laughon our kitchen workers, who work hard to keep our students well-fed, happy, and ready to learn!
We also appreciate our bus drivers, Sheila Harris (#10), Rudy Jones (#14), Agnes White (#23), Denise Reno (#35), Rick Thompson (#19), Nancy Koski (#78), and Eddie Brinson (#81), who transport our students safely to and from school each day.
Fall Weather Is Here!
We are enjoying our beautiful Fall weather which means that mornings can be cooler. Please take a moment to label outer-wear with a permanent marker in case it is misplaced. We do go outside on rainy days unless it is a real down-pour!
No Cell Phones Please
End of the Day Changes
Any changes in your child’s end of the day procedure MUST be received in the office at least half an hour before the end of the school day. (2:55 on a regular day, 1:25 on an early dismissal day). Sending a note to school with your child will help us to receive the information in plenty of time to make the change.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Family Access
Interactive Skyward Family Access features are open and ready for primary guardians to review, update, and/or request changes to the following information:
· Student Information
· Family Information
· Emergency Contact Information
· Military Active Duty Status
· CEP Grant Survey
We ask that a primary guardian log into Family Access and complete the information update for each student prior to the first day of school. The system will remain open until mid-October. Please use this link to log into Skyward Family Access: https://www2.franklinpierce.wa-k12.net/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wfrankls71/seplog01.w
Free Developmental Screening
Children ages 3-5 who reside within the Franklin Pierce School District are eligible for free developmental screening. Hearing, vision, kindergarten readiness, speech and language, motor skills, and behavior are checked. Screenings take place regularly. See their web page here. To schedule an appointment, call the Early Learning Center Child Find hotline at 253-298-4658.
Our Goals for 2019-20
Are your students on target for meeting the attendance and behavior goals at James Sales?
· Attendance – This year’s goal is to have nine or fewer tardies and/or absences. At the end of each trimester, all students who have missed less than nine days or have had less than nine tardies, will receive a reward. At the end of the school year, the PTO will sponsor a reward for all students who have met the attendance goal for the year.
· Behavior – Students with one or fewer write-ups at the end of each trimester receive a reward. At the end of the year, Students with one or fewer write-ups will also go on a PTO sponsored field trip.
Attendance
We hope you will make every effort to encourage consistent and on-time attendance at school. Did you know if your child is tardy or leaves school early, it will show on their attendance record? Please make appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. Make sure you call the school office if your student is absent for any reason. Our attendance desk number is 253-298-4200. You may leave a voice message if you need to call before or after school hours.
Volunteers
If you would like to spend time in your child’s classroom for any reason, attend field trips, or be at field day, you must be cleared as a volunteer. All previously approved volunteer applications expired July 31st and must be renewed before participating in any volunteer capacity at James Sales.
You will find the online application for volunteers on the fpschools.org website. Hover over 'Get Involved' and click on ‘Volunteers’ and follow the directions. You will receive an email when you are cleared. It can take up to two weeks to process the application. Please don’t wait until just before your student has a field trip to submit your application!
It can take up to two weeks to process the application. Please don’t wait until just before your student has a field trip to submit your application! All volunteer clearances will expire July 31, 2020 for the 2019-20 school year.
PTO News
T-shirt / sweatshirt sales are happening NOW! Please visit www.winningseasons.net to place your order. Click on TEAM SALES and select James Sales Elementary. Sales end October 6th.
The PTO Catalog Fundraiser runs October 7-21. Please look for fundraiser packets to be sent home with students soon.
We alternate Popcorn Friday and Treat Friday. If your student would like to purchase popcorn or a treat, please send 50 cents – exact change – with your student. Money must be turned into the teacher first thing in the morning for the PTO to fill the classroom orders. This means that students who are tardy will not be able to turn their money in on time.
Thank you to everyone who has supported PTO through their memberships this year! It is not too late to join. Membership slips can be found on the PTO bulletin board above the lost and found as you enter the school.
You can contact the PTO board by email – PTOJamesSales@gmail.com or Facebook message. Search @jamessaleselementarypto to follow on Facebook.
Please download the NEW Box Tops for Education app! After scanning your receipts, please forward your confirmation emails to PTOJamesSales@gmail.com and put your teacher’s name in the subject line. We will continue to collect physical Box tops as well. You can also download the Shoparoo app (scan your receipts) and send in your Coke Rewards to help raise money for your school.
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 James Hester, 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.