Parent Newsletter
May 20th - May 24th
Spring Open House is Thursday May 23rd: 6 pm for rising 5th grade families. 7 pm for rising 6th - 8th grade families
Finish Strong
Just a few weeks left in 2018 - 2019 school year
It's hard to believe, but we only have a few weeks left in the 2018 - 2019 school year. Please check out this week's newsletter to learn more about what's happening at JMS:
- A look at the week ahead
- Spring Open House
- Meet Our Team
- 2019 - 2020 Laptop forms
- Laptop Device collections May 28th (5th and 6th grade) May 30th (7th and 8th grade)
- 21st Century Skills - Creativity
- Tools to help Students Learn and Grow over the summer
- Counselors Corner
Thanks for all that you do to support JMS,
Phil Cox, Principal
Chris Layton, Vice Principal
Jenifer Laurendine, Dean of Students
A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday-20 A day ALL Library books are due 8th grade Spanish/French Final Exam Environmental Club 2:45-4:00 Boys Basketball Tryouts 3:00-4:30-Gym Girls Basketball Spring Practice 4:30-6:00-Gym Board of Education Meeting 6:00 SAB
Tuesday-21 B day Homework help for 5th/6th graders 7:00-7:30-Room 219 (Corrigan) 8th grade Spanish/French Final Exam Boys Basketball Tryouts 3:00-4:30-Gym Girls Basketball Spring Practice 4:30-6:00-Gym Girls Basketball Parent Meeting-6:00-Gym Homework help for 5th/6th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 319 (Martin) Homework help for 7th/8th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 301 (Hondorf)
Wednesday-22 A day Coach Gaddis to speak to 8th grade boys during PE-JPAC Girls Basketball Spring Practice 2:30-4:00-Gym
Thursday-23 B day Homework help for 5th/6th graders 7:00-7:30-Room 219 (Corrigan) 8th Grade Social Studies Final Exam Coach Gaddis to speak to 8th grade boys during PE-JPAC Homework help for 5th/6th graders 2:45-3:30-Room 319 (Martin) Spring Open House- Rising 5th Grade 6:00-7:00 PM Rising 6th-8th Grades 7:00-8:00 PM
Friday-24 A day Youth for Christ 7:00-JPAC 7th and 8th grades English Final Exam Truancy Meeting 10:00-JPAC Student Council Meeting-7th period
Spring Open House is May 23rd
Jefferson Middle School Open House
Thursday, May 23rd
6:00pm for rising 5th grade parents
7:00pm for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade parents
You are cordially invited to join the teachers and staff of Jefferson Middle School in their annual Spring Open House on Thursday, May 23rd at 6:00pm for rising 5th grade parents, and 7:00pm for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade parents. This is a great opportunity for families to see the teachers that their students may be working with next year, and hear about JMS and the material that students will be talking about next year. We will begin in the JPAC for introductions and general information. After the JPAC, parents and students are dismissed to different parts of the building in order to hear from the grade-level teachers.
Again, this is a wonderful time to hear about what your student will be learning and talking about next year, and ask questions and get to know some of the teachers at JMS. We are excited to have this event, and look forward to seeing you on Thursday, May 23rd!
Track has a great weekend at State Meet
100 hurdles: Olivia Land 9th, Brian Kelley 2nd;
100 m dash: Emily Lindsey 2nd;
200 m dash: Andrew Ferrerira, 15th
4x200 relay Girls: 4th, Boys 8th;
4x100 Girls 4th;
400m dash: Brian Kelley 4th;
200m dash: Emily Lindsey 2nd
4x400: girls 6th,boys 4th
Long Jump: Imelia Markus-Brock 10th, Jeremiah Holman 11th
High jump: Olivia Land 1st; 1st state champion in JMS history (Pictured below)
Shot put: Sophia Hughes 12th, Nicholaus Lucas 11th
Coach Bill Byas was also named TMSAA State Runner Up Coach's Award recipient
Mr. Holman - Teaching Assistant
Ms. Cousins - School Nurse
Ms. Myers - Counseling Office Administrative Assistant
Meet Our Team
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and moved at an early age to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I grew up attending Oak Ridge Schools! I graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and RN license from the state of Tennessee. My first nursing experience was working at St. Mary’s Hospital in the medical surgical area, but then I found my true passion –the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit working with infants and their families. I worked over ten years at the University of Tennessee Hospital in the Intensive Care Nursery before deciding to take some time off to raise my children. I returned to nursing as a substitute nurse working several years in the Oak Ridge Schools before becoming JMS’s nurse six years ago.
I have always enjoyed working with children and really love the school atmosphere! My goal is to promote the physical, mental, and emotional health and safety of students and staff in any way I can. I want the school clinic to be an environment where students feel safe and comfortable. I hope to make a difference in their lives.
My advice to students would be to always believe in yourself and stay true to your morals and values. With hard work and dedication any goal can be accomplished!
Dancing (ballet) is my main hobby. I have danced almost my entire life starting at age three. I danced professionally with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre after graduating from high school. I spent a year at the University of Cincinnati pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. I have taken ballet classes in England and Europe. I stayed in Genoa, Italy taking classes for many weeks one summer. After an injury I decided to change my focus to a degree in the medical field which had always been an interest of mine. I teach ballet at the Dance Centre of Oak Ridge and work as the Assistant Director for the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association, teaching and choreographing classical productions.
My favorite times are spent with my two children, Andrew and Elizabeth and my husband Hal, three cats, four dogs, and two horses on our small farm!
Mr. Holman
I began my career as a special education teacher almost thirty years ago in California at a non-public school for emotionally disturbed students. Talk about stress! Not a day went by without a major “crisis,” not a day went by without being cussed at, and all too frequently, we would have to take a kid down kicking and screaming, and hold him or her there until he or she calmed down. Yet for some odd reason I knew this was the right place for me. I knew I could help these kids, and often felt a real connection with them. So for twelve years I worked in the “trenches” helping some very needy kids. I worked at a couple other special needs schools for a few years, the last of which went out of business for lack of students, and at that point I decided to make a change.
The last ten years in California I worked as a special day class teacher for learning disabled students at Ione Jr. High School. I was done with the “trenches” and wanted something more sedate. I had a self-contained class of seventh and eighth graders and taught all subjects but P.E. Then two years ago my wife and I decided that if we played our cards right we could take an early retirement. With the money we had saved over the years, and with what we could get from selling our two properties, then buying an inexpensive house here in Tennessee, (much cheaper than California!) we could be at least semi-retired.
Last year I spent substituting in Oak Ridge and could hardly believe what I saw. The facilities, the staff and especially the students here are so much nicer than anything I experienced in California, I tell everyone I wish I would have moved here thirty years ago! I applied for a permanent position at the end of the school year and was fortunate enough to be hired as an aid at one of the best middle schools in the state! Seriously, if you have not experienced a “typical” school somewhere else, you can’t know how great you have it here. I do so appreciate all of you here.
I have also discovered a great passion for public speaking in the ORICL program at Roane State here in Oak Ridge. Not that I am very good at it, but I do so enjoy giving history lectures to the very well educated retired folks who are members of ORICL. They really appreciate my efforts, if not my skill. This summer I will be leading a class on poetry reading, and teaching a history class entitled, “Fascinating Characters You Should Know.”
Ms. Myers
I am a native Oak Ridger, a Jefferson Junior High School alumni, and a 1984 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. In 1988, I received a BS in Transportation and Logistics from UT Knoxville. My first job out of college was with Averitt Express Transport Company in Lexington, and later in Cookeville. In 1993, I moved back to Oak Ridge when I married my best friend Michael Myers. For obvious reasons, he prefers his middle name Kelly, although not by much. We have a daughter Mahala, and a son, Sam. My family and I are all JJHS/JMS alumni, and graduates of ORHS: 1983/1984/2014/2016.
After having children, I was lucky to work part-time as a bookkeeper, for my husband’s family, at The Soup Kitchen restaurant. My son started at Oak Ridge Preschool in 2002, and I was hired as a Teacher Assistant. In 2007, when Janet Hobson retired after 30 plus years in the Jefferson Counseling Office, I was given the opportunity to move to JMS, as an Administrative Assistant.
I was back at Jefferson over 25 years later, and just like in 1978, I am proud to be a Jefferson Eagle. JMS is an excellent academic school, with great teachers, and staff. With help from the community, we are able to support our students in many other important ways. As the Counseling Office Administrative Assistant and Registrar, I’m honored to be the first point-of contact for our new families.
Even with the best support system, it’s still middle school, and it’s always challenging socially. For the best middle school experience, be nice to your classmates, be respectful of your teachers and stay out of middle school drama. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, something I struggle with, and do things that challenges you mentally, physically and emotionally. Be willing to learn and try new things, not just now, but throughout your life, because when you do you’re building confidence and self-esteem.
I’m happy for the opportunity to share, with the Jefferson community, my journey from Jefferson Junior High School to Jefferson Middle School, and how I have enjoyed it as a student, a parent, and humbly, as part of the excellent staff. When I’m not with my Jefferson family, I like spending time with other family and friend. I like being outside; hiking, paddle boarding, or reading a book on the dock at the lake.
JMS Students Excelling at High Levels
This week, four 5th Grade Blue Team students made a trip to the principal’s office - for all the right reasons. (Pictured above, Cynthia Markus-Brock, Kendall Hayes, Ava Bell, Amara Jackson)
Mr. Cox learned that all four students had not only completed and turned in every, single Language Arts assignment this year (131 assignment and test grades in Skyward, an additional 90 practice assignments in their composition books), they also turned in every, single one on time (or before it was due)! It’s a remarkable feat of responsibility and dedication. Amara, Ava, Kendall, and Cynthia, as Mr. Cox expressed to them, represent the best of what Jefferson is about as a school. To honor their hard work, Mr. Cox presented each of them with a $15 gift card to Books-A-Million, provided by the Jefferson PTO, and Ms. Laurendine treated each young lady to free ice cream. Congratulations, ladies, on a successful school year and well-deserved acknowledgement.
RTI for 2019 - 2020
End Of The Year Fees
School Laptop Collection and Fee Collection
On Tuesday May 28th and Thursday May 30th, students will turn in their devices for the summer. At that time, the devices will be assessed for the following potential issues:
1. The condition of the device in terms of any damage and then an assessment of any damage that is found by IT. There are two levels of damage most commonly found and each are described below:
- Level 1 damage - If a student has level 1 damage to their device this is often damage that has been identified by IT that is on the device and that damage is noted for the duration of their device's life cycle.
- Level 2 damage - If a student has level 2 damage to their device this is damage that impacts the functionality of the device. When IT deems damage to be level 2, again families are contacted through the mail with pictures of the damage. Students are not issued a laptop loaner with level 2 damage until full payment of the fee has been made or an approved payment plan by JMS administration.
The general fee for most level 2 accidental damage is $ 50. If a device is found to have been damaged intentionally then a student and family can be held to the full extent of all repairs beyond the $ 50.
Missing or Damaged Cords
The charger cord with the battery pack portion that helps hold the charge for a device can be another item that results in damage and/or becoming a missing item. The cost for the missing cord portion where the battery pack is found is $ 11.
Damaged Bags
If a student's device bag is damaged and determined by IT to need repair, it can also be identified as an item that will need repair for cost. The cost is $ 32.
Missing/Stolen Laptop
If we get to the end of the year and your child's laptop is missing and/or stolen. The parents and student must work to file a police report for the missing/stolen item with the Oak Ridge Police. Upon filing the police report families will need to bring the police report to the school in order to avoid paying full replacement cost for a missing/stolen device.
Cafeteria Debts
As we work to finish the school year, please check Skyward to see the current account balance for your child's cafeteria account. Each week, there is an automatic call that goes out to families once a negative balance goes over $10 as a reminder to help inform the family and work to set up payments.
8th Grade Junior Achievement Event
Students Learn Real World Skills
Students worked to research and learn about careers and then complete a job application. From there students learned about professional dress, financial literacy, and even the soft skill of good handshake skills. Students were working to complete a scavenger hunt throughout the event and each station they were taught soft skills along with ideas about how to secure career goals. In the final event, students sat down with professionals from many different careers and performed "mock interviews" in order to get a better idea as to how a real interview would look like.
The events of the day were a huge success and we were extremely proud of our students. They came into the event with such a positive attitude and energy along with a dedication to learn about these real world skills. A special thanks to Junior Achievement for putting this together as well as Ms. Holly Cross, the director of CTE for Oak Ridge Schools. This was an amazing event that really helped motivate and inspire our awesome students to learn about pursuing their dreams and careers.
2019 - 2020 laptop sign ups
User Agreements for 2019 - 2020 school year are now on Skyward
It's hard to believe, but it's that time of year again to start the 2019 - 2020 Technology User Agreement forms for the Access OR program. Each year parents are required to fill out the forms online through the Skyward portal. Below you will see a step by step video that helps guide you through the online process.
Rising 9th grade students (Current 8th grade students) Stylus sign up for ORHS
We are very excited to welcome the Class of 2023 to Oak Ridge High School next year!! As your family prepares for this transition, the high school invites everyone to fill out their online computer distribution form via the parent Skyward account. Moving to the high school, you will find an additional item regarding the stylus on your Technology User Agreement. We felt the importance of sharing how heavily this instrument is used at ORHS, particularly in the math and sciences. There will be an opportunity to check the permission box for your rising freshman to obtain a stylus when the computer is issued prior to the beginning of school. Our friends coming from Jefferson Middle School are largely accustomed to classroom sets being provided. Should you have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Witick nwitick@ortn.edu or Mrs. Thompson sathompson@ortn.edu
We look forward to welcoming our RISING FRESHMAN TO ORHS - EQUIPPED AND READY TO LEARN!
Device Collections for 2018 - 2019 school year
lease make sure students have the following ready for Tuesday May 28th (5th and 6th grade collection) and Thursday May 30th (7th and 8th grade collection):
All items your child has are scanned and will be scanned on the day of turn in thus allowing us to document that your child has turned in their device.
1. Laptop is cleaned and ready to turn in (learn more from the video below)
2. They have their charger cord
3. They have their laptop bag
MOST devices will not have damage assessed and students who do NOT have damage, will simply turn in their device and it will be stored and ready to be set up for them next year.
1. The damage will be documented including pictures of the damage and students will receive a letter and notification of the damage on that day.
2. A letter documenting the damage along with the pictures will be mailed home. In addition, a letter will be provided to your student on the collection and also mailed home on May 31st.
3. If your child's device has damage, the damage will be assessed by IT. If the damage is ruled to be accidental, there will be a $ 50 fee that must be paid to the the school library.
- If your child's laptop bag is damaged or missing the fee is $ 32
- If your child is missing their cord or it is damaged the fee is $ 11
4. IF a device is lost or stolen, parents are responsible for filing a police report and submitting that report to IT in order to avoid a full replacement cost for the device. The police report for a lost or stolen device will be submitted to IT for insurance purposes and thus allow for the $ 50 fee to be applied instead of full replacement cost.
- If your child's device or accessories are damaged, lost or stolen there will be appropriate communication sent home with your child and also copies mailed home.
- The goal is to communicate the damage of the device, lost or stolen items etc. in order to allow parents to be aware, take care of the fees associated with the damage and/or missing/stolen items. Students will not receive their device for 2019 - 2020 until this has been resolved. This includes our current 8th grade students who will be going to ORHS.
Again, these damages will be assessed over the two day period on May 28th and May 30th. The notifications will be sent to families in the mail on May 31st and in addition with students in letters sent home. The documentation will include both notification of the damage and fee along with the pictures of the damage.
The devices will be repaired over the summer and awaiting the student's arrival back to school from the summer. Students who have damage but do not pay their fee for the damage noted on May 28th or May 30th , will have delay in getting their device for 2019 - 2020 until that fee has been paid.
MOST devices will not have damage assessed and students who do NOT have damage, will simply turn in their device and it will be stored and ready to be set up for them next year.
Rising 7th and 8th Grade Summer Reading
This summer we are asking rising 7th graders to read one of two novels, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell or Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. You may purchase your book of choice at area bookstores, check it out of a local library, or find the book online.
To encourage careful reading and thinking about the novel, each student, upon return to school, will complete a book report on his or her chosen novel. We also encourage students to take notes as he/she reads to aide in memory retention. (The book report will be written in class during the first week of school.)
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Humphrey at jhumphrey@ortn.edu or Mrs. Sears at crsears@ortn.edu .
Rising 8th graders are to read Freak the Mighty by Roman Philbrick. You may purchase your book of choice at area bookstores, check it out of a local library, or find the book online at: (https://www.amazon.com/Freak-Mighty-Rodman-Philbrick/dp/0439286069/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8&pldnSite=1
To encourage careful reading and thinking about the novel, each student, upon return to school students will need to have completed the attached documents. Right click and OPEN LINK
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. McMahon at jcmcmahon@ortn.edu or Mr. Sprouse at cjsprouse@ortn.edu .
21st Century Skills: Creativity
When we think of creativity, we often think of the arts, literature, theater etc. The reality is for our students creativity will also be assigned to tasks of innovation, design and engineering mindsets. It takes creativity to be an innovator. It takes creativity joined with critical thinking to resolve complex ideas and problems. We want to help our students understand the importance of being able to think and design creatively. For our students, many of the mundane and repetitive tasks of the 20th century will fall away and be replaced by AI and Machine Learning. This is one major reason we work to help focus our students on developing creative skills.
The question shouldn't be focused around solely memorization of content, but rather finding ways and opportunities for students to problem solve, innovate, design, fail (first attempt in learning) and be creative. As we work through various lessons, projects, and ideas in education, much like the other C's in 21st century learning, it will be vital for students to learn to master creativity.
Tools to grow over the summer
1. To begin, Reading is paramount to being a lifelong learner. We highly encourage students read over the summer. They need to find a book that they enjoy or something that excites them to read and spend 10 or 15 or 30 minutes a day just taking time to read.
2. Math is all around you! When you hear someone say you should practice math skills over the summer the first thing that may pop up in your head may be, worksheets for math facts. Try not to think of it like that! Try to find a career that involves a lot of math and try to learn more about that career. For example, have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an engineer, fashion designer, computer programmer, video game designer, construction career, professional athlete etc. Almost any career you can imagine involves some use of math and math skills. Spend time over the summer researching a career and finding out specifically how can math be related to that career, more than likely you will be surprised.
3. Design a project for yourself! Open up your creative mind and design a project to complete yourself. It could be something utilizing technology, arts and crafts etc. Take time over the summer to have your brain operate in a creative space. Spend some time looking up information about how and why so many companies in the future are looking to hire creative people. There are a lot of great resources out there to help you get a better idea about how creativity can have an impact in not only education, but also future careers.
Learning about Yellowstone National Park
Counselors Corner
15 LOGIC GAMES TO DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET!
Logic games and logic puzzles are a great way to support the development of a growth mindset. Developing a growth mindset is an essential part of our jobs as educators. We have a responsibility to teach our students how to persevere through difficult problems, and how to manage the frustrations of “not knowing the answer.” This is particularly important to teach to our fast finishers that rarely struggle to understand new concepts or complete work.
While perseverance is something we work on throughout our day, one of the ways to develop a growth mindset is through logic games and logic puzzles.
1. KANOODLE
It is a great way to develop visual-spatial skills while students work through each challenge. The challenges in this game get harder and harder as you move on. Students are given a prompt that shows where the first few pieces should be placed, and then what it should look like when completed. They have to figure out how to place the remaining pieces to match the final image. These begin as 2-dimensional challenges, and slowly move into 3-dimensions, where students create pyramids and a variety of other formations!
There are only visual directions in this game, making it very inclusive for your struggling readers and ELLs.
2. META-FORMS
This is NOT tic-tac-toe! It is a very sophisticated activity that challenges you to appropriately place 9 pieces on the board given a series of visual directions. Again, each puzzle gets harder as you move on. You have to use the other clues to eliminate two out of the three possibilities!
This is another activity with only visual directions in this game, making it very inclusive for your struggling readers and ELLs.
3. CART BEFORE THE HORSE
There are a variety of images (barrel, cart, chicken, harp, flowers, chains…etc.) and you are told ahead of time which to select for that particular puzzle. You are then provided with a series of clues to determine which order to put them in.
1 Barrel, 1 Horse, 1 Tree and 1 Harp:
The tree does not touch the barrel.
the course is directly on the left of the harp.
The barrel is directly on the right of the harp.
Math puzzles are a great way to combine their logical reasoning skills with their knowledge of math facts. Here’s how you play:
Write the digits 0-9 on little square tiles. (Also, have printable tiles because sometimes you run out!) Students have to place ALL tiles down to make ALL of the math sentences true. There are often multiple options for a single math sentence (e.g. __ x 4 = __2 could be 3 x 4 =12 or 8 x 4 = 32). However, there is only one way to make all of them true!
It is a game of visual perception, where you need to match items that are alike and different, using colors, shapes and patterns.
6. WINOMINO
This game is similar to Kanoodle, in that it really focuses on the visual-spatial thinking. However, this game stays two-dimensional and gets progressively harder by how many pieces you are asked to use. With each level, you move the divider bar over a notch, requiring you to use another piece!
7. GRAVITY MAZE
Students have to physically manipulate each piece to get the ball to roll from the pre-determined starting point to end point. It’s’ fascinating to watch students struggle with why the ball gets stuck, or moves a different way than expected. This is great for your students who really need to be working with their hands to stay engaged! It’s another language-free game.
8. COLOR STIX
This is another visual puzzle that is great for small groups or for independent learners. Each of these Color Sticks contains seven colors in various orders. The goal is to align yours to have as many like-colors touching as possible.
9. ZOO LOGIC
This game is very similar to Cart Before the Horse, but it uses no language. The rules about which pieces can and cannot touch other pieces are embedded into the game itself. This language-free option in my classroom because it ensures inclusion and collaboration amongst ALL students.
10. SQUARE BY SQUARE
For Tetris lovers, it adds a logical element on top of the visual-spatial manipulation of the pieces! Each card (brilliantly housed UNDERNEATH the board so they never get lost!) shows an image that you need to create given the green and blue pieces in front of you.
11. MONTHLY MATH LOGIC PUZZLES
This game really pushes their mathematical reasoning skills.
12. LOGIC DOTS
Similar to cart before the horse, this game works in rows and columns! Each cube has 6 different colors, making the amount of possible puzzles seemingly infinite. I also just need to mention how easy the clean-up is for this activity.
13. QUADRILLION
First, you have to place the four game boards down in a specific order. Then, depending on the level, you place a certain amount of pieces down by coping their placement from the directions card. Finally, your job is to take the remaining pieces and figure out how they fit onto the board.
14. LASER MAZE
This activity is doubly awesome if you are ever teaching about light in science, or angles in math. Kids love trying to manipulate the mirror and predict which way it will reflect the light!
15. KENKEN PUZZLES
These are kind of like Sudoku puzzles, but they require you do addition and subtraction while you work! Each column and row uses numbers 1-4 once (like Sudoku uses 1-9). However, these numbers must not only be placed to use each number only once per row and column, they must also be placed so that each set of numbers in the bolded boxes “add up to” or “can be arranged in a subtraction sentence” to equal the number in the corner.
These activities help develop parts of mathematical thinking that are too often overlooked. I encourage you to find time in your daily/weekly schedules to include opportunities for your students to develop their logical thinking skills.