Eagle Eye -JMS Parent Newsletter #5
August 15-19 2022
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ― Aristotle
Mission Mindset:
As we continue to step, always, in the direction of excellence, JMS is making strides each week, each day, each class period. We never want to miss an opportunity to thank our families and parents for your investment, not only in your children, but in our building's mission:
Jefferson Middle School's Mission:
"to provide an adaptive and challenging learning environment and instruction that prepares each student for excellence in education and the workplace, while cultivating integrity, responsibility and a sustained passion for continued learning."
As JMS Eagles, we truly take pride in conquering challenges, soaring to excellence, and passionately absorbing each piece of learning. We appreciate that our families and parents continue to help instill these values in our students. In each classroom, students learn the value of productively struggling through each challenge; in each classroom, teachers facilitate excellence, setting the bar high but providing supports with effective teaching and high-quality instructional materials, grounded in our mission; in each classroom, we create a spark, fan a flame, and ignite passion, relating our learning to our world.
Once again, we thank you for aligning with our mission mindset!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at any time!
Have a wonderful evening!
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Vice Principal, bjfowler@ortn.edu
Brian Tinker, Dean of Students, bjtinker@ortn.edu
Elizabeth Leavitt, Instructional Technology Coach, ealeavitt@ortn.edu
2021-2023 JMS Student Handbook
Reminders about Drop Off and Pick Up
- JMS's weather policy is to load busses and release car riders during most weather events EXCEPT lightning or severe rain/wind. When lightning is present we will push our students back to the building and delay releasing students. We have had three major lightning issues and a major wind/rain events during our releases over the last three weeks, and we wanted to reiterate what our hold policy is. We thank our parents for their patience as we do our best to keep our students safe.
- DO NOT enter the bus loop when buses are present!
- Please pull your vehicle all the way up so we can keep as many cars as possible off of Fairbanks.
- When dropping off AFTER 7:30am, students will be directed towards the main entrance. Go ahead and pull all the way up.
- Make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle and doesn't have to access the trunk for items, as this holds up the line.
- DO NOT park or leave your vehicles in the neighborhoods across the street from Jefferson. Traffic is heavy during pickup and drop off and parking on those streets only increases the danger to our students and parents attempting to navigate the traffic.
Week at a Glance - August 15- August 19, 2022
Monday, August 15 , 2022
- Cross Country Pictures 3:00
- Cheer Pictures 3:15
- Cheer Practice 3:00-4:30
- Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
- Football Practice 3:00-5:00
- Volleyball Game vs. Cleveland @ JMS 4:30
- JV Football Game vs. Cherokee @ Blankenship Field 6:30
Tuesday, August16, 2022
- RTI Fall Screener-ELA STAR
- Football Practice 3:00-5:00
- Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
- Volleyball Game vs. Clinton @ Clinton 4:30
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
- Girls Basketball Team Meeting-Locker Room 7:10 AM
- RTI Fall Screener-ELA
- Cheer Practice 12:45-2:15
- Volleyball Practice 1:00-2:00 Football Practice 1:00-3:00
Thursday, August 18, 2022
- RTI Fall Screener-Math STAR
- Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
- Volleyball Game vs. Horace Maynard @ JMS 4:30
- Football Game vs. Loudon @ Loudon 6:30
Friday, August 19, 2022
- Youth for Christ-Band Room 7:10
- Volleyball Practice 3:00-5:00
- Cross Country Practice 3:00-4:30
- Football Practice 3:00-4:30
Saturday, August 13, 2022
- FLL Bootcamp @ JMS 9:00-4:00
JMS EXPECTATIONS
Want to See What Your Child is Doing in Each Class? Canvas is the Place!
SCHOOL PICTURES: September 8!!
TCAP reports were sent home last week!
Phenomenal Opportunity: Pen Pals with Students in Japan!!
Ms. Kayla's Class Raising our FLAG!
― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie
Counseling Corner
Ms. Katie Cormack (Left- 6th and 8th Grade)- My name is Katie Cormack and am the school counselor for grades 6 and 8, following their cohort until they go to the high school! I am entering my 5th year as a school counselor and was previously a special education teaching assistant. This is my second year at Jefferson Middle School, and it absolutely feels like home. JMS is a very special place. I consider working with your children a true blessing. Please know I am always here to help in any way- just reach out! My office number is 865-425-9252. Here’s to a great year!
Ms. Candie Price (Right- 5th and 7th Grade)- Hello JMS Family! I will be the School Counselor for grades 5 and 7 this year. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three children. I love being a school counselor and am thankful to have the opportunity to work with you and your children. Please contact me with any questions or concerns! Go Eagles!
Please contact our school counseling department with any other questions at 865-425-9302. Ms. Amy Myers, school registrar, is happy to assist with enrollment, withdrawal paperwork, transportation, Skyward, school updates, etc.
We have had a great third week with students. If you have not already done so please, take a minute to complete the JMS Parent Needs Assessment so we may know how to best serve our students this year.
If a student needs to see us: We want to make sure we are available to support students who may need to see a school counselor. If a student wishes to speak to his/her counselor and is it is NOT an emergency, please have the student fill out an online request form. This form can be found on the JMS School Counseling page on the school website AND on the School Counseling Canvas page. FORM LINK: I Need A School Counselor 2022-2023 (office.com)
MS Family Resource Survey
We are happy to partner with some great community resources in order to help our families and students. Please complete the digital form below if you would like to receive any community services at this time.
School Programs:
1. Second Harvest Food Bags: Bag of nutritional snacks placed discretely in student's lockers every Friday before dismissal.
2. Angel Tree Gifts: Supports through the Holiday Season with buying your children a gift(s)
3. Holiday Food Baskets: Helps to put a meal on your table during the special holiday season!
4. ADFAC Backpack program: Helps provide students with a new backpack and school supplies each year
Form Link:
The Oak Ridge Family Resource Center offers many types of services to our families!
Information and Referral to Community Resources
- Network to provide families with needed services
- Aid with applications to community resources
Program Development and Implementation
- Eliminate gaps in services
Case Management
- Home visits
- Emergency Transportation
- Family Advocate
Educational Goals
- Readers and Leaders Tutorial Programs
- Attend parents teachers conferences at the request of the parent
- Attendance Support
Student Programs
- Food for Kids
- School Supplies
- Children’s Clothing Closet
Adult Programs
- Parenting Classes and Seminars
- Job Skill/Resume Assistance
- Budgeting Classes and Seminars
Emergency Assistance
- Provide emergency assistance for rent/utilities
- Provide emergency assistance for medicines and gasoline
- Provide emergency assistance for food and clothing
The family resource center has two offices located on the west and east side of Oak Ridge. Their offices are located at Willow Brook Elementary and Glenwood Elementary.
For assistance, please contact Jo Bruce, FRC Director at 865-425-3205/jbruce@ortn.edu or Sharon Gleason, FRC Assistant at 865-425-9369/slgleason@ortn.edu
- Ms. Cormack - 6th & 8th Grade Counselor - khcormack@ortn.edu
- Ms. Price - 5th & 7th Grade Counselor - clprice@ortn.edu
- Ms. Myers - Registrar - amyers@ortn.edu
JMS Athletic Updates from Coach Bolling
The Jefferson Eagles have another busy week of athletics ahead!
- On Monday night, the Lady Eagles volleyball team will host Cleveland. JV will play at 4:30pm, followed by varsity at 5:30pm. The JV football team will host Cherokee at JMS at 6:30pm.
- On Tuesday night, . the Lady Eagles volleyball team will travel to district rival, Clinton, for a JV match at 4:30pm, followed by varsity at 5:30pm.
- On Thursday night, the Eagles football team and cheerleaders will travel to Loudon for their first away varsity game of the season. Kickoff is at 6:30pm. The Lady Eagles volleyball team will host Horace Maynard on Thursday evening. JV will play at 4:30pm, followed by varsity at 5:30pm.
Please make plans to come out and support the JMS athletic teams this week! Go Eagles!
Please see the new 2022 Cross Country Schedule below along with our Football and Volleyball schedules!
Go Eagles!
CHEER FUNDRAISER August 24, 5:00-9:00 P.M.
Cheer is hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, August 24th from 5-9 pm at El' Jinete Mexican Restaurant located behind Jefferson Middle School at 770 Briarcliff Rd. Oak Ridge, Tn
El' Jinete has graciously offered 10% of food prices from 5-9 pm to JMS cheer. Cheerleaders will hand out small flyers to turn in at the restaurant.
The Reading Eagle - Messages from Ms. Haverkamp!
Join the ORS STEM Committee! Stem Committee Form is attached below.
First Student Transportation - Bus Information
Thank you for your patience and communication during our first week back! Please be sure to discuss your child's method of transportation each day to ensure they know where they are to go at dismissal.
First Student Transportation has posted 2021-2022 Bus Routes and you can find them here:
https://www.ortn.edu/Transportation/2021_Revised_JMS_Bus_Routes.pdf
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to t Ms. Myers at amyers@ortn.edu.
SIGN UP FOR MYSTOP - BUS TRACKING APP!
Once you are registered for transportation, you will be able to track your child's bus using the app information detailed below. Please see information on how to register for MyStop below.
MyStop - Parent/Student Login
- Username: (use student’s name - case sensitive) firstname.lastname
- Password: (use student birth date) in this format 03122007 for March 12, 2007
MyStop Phone App Available In Your App Store
Go to: Versatrans My Stop™ provides mobile access to bus information. This app displays the location of the user’s assigned school bus, as well as the estimated time of arrival to their stop. Students can plan for late or on-time arrival, and prevent missed pick-ups or being left outside in inclement weather.
Can’t Access the MyStop App?
If you are having difficulty accessing the MyStop App please take the following steps:
- Please confirm the following:
- You have downloaded the App from Tyler Technologies.
- You are using the legal student name as listed in Skyward.
- You have selected all lower case letters.
- You have placed a period between the first and last name.
- The birthdate is correct and only consist of 8 numbers.
If this information doesn’t allow you to successfully download your child’s MyStop App account, please contact Amy Myers at 865.425.9302 or email amyers@ortn.edu. You can also view more information on the ORS District website at https://www.ortn.edu/district/bus-routes/.