No Place Like Jones
Parent Updates for the Week of 12.06.21
Principal Corner
Dear Ira B. Jones Elementary Families:
I hope you had a restful and healthy Thanksgiving break and have enjoyed this beautiful December weekend!
We are almost at the end of the first semester for the 2021-2022 school year and a few short weeks until winter break! You guys are doing a great job! I'm proud of our students, families, and staff for their perseverance and dedication during this first semester. It seems our students are starting to get back into the swing of things, have settled in a bit more, and are more used to the schedule and structure of being in school every day from 8:00a m - 2:30 pm.
The first semester ends on January 14, 2022.
Progress reports went home this past week. Please check your child's home-to-school folder for their progress report. If you did not receive one, don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher.
We have collected some coats, sweatshirts, hats, and gloves in the lost and found. If your child is missing one of these clothing items, please encourage them to check the lost and found area.
As a school leader and a parent, I understand the necessity of healthy communication between families and the school. I welcome your questions, celebrations, or concerns at any time. You can reach me by calling the school (828-350-6700) or email (ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net).
I want to wish you a joyful, happy new month. That will bring you more memorable moments than you had the previous month. Cheers to a fabulous new month. (That's my wish for you today).
Thank you for all of your support!
Ruafika A. Cobb
Principal
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
A Message on Behalf of ACS School Board Chair, James Carter
In case you missed the December 3, 2021 message from James Carter, Chairman of the Asheville City Board of Education, please see below for an important update.
Good Afternoon Asheville City Schools Students, Staff, and Families. This is James Carter, Chairman of the Asheville City Board of Education.
I wanted to personally reach out to let you know that the Board will be hosting a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, December 7th at 5:00 PM in the Board Room located at 85 Mountain Street.
The purpose of this meeting will be to hold a public hearing related to the possible relocation of Asheville Primary School to the campus of either Hall Fletcher Elementary School or Montford North Star Academy starting in the 2022-23 school year.
Relocation means that staff and students would be moved to a new location. If the Board votes to use this model, Asheville Primary would continue to be a separate school, with a separate principal, co-located with another school on a single campus. This model is currently used by Asheville High School and SILSA, which are separate schools sharing a single campus.
The School Board will receive information about the possible move during its December 6th Work Session and looks forward to hearing YOUR comments during its December 7th Public Hearing. Sign up for in-person public comment will be set up outside the Board Room starting at 4:30 PM. Speakers will receive detailed instructions on public hearing protocols upon their arrival. However, please know that in-person speakers will have three minutes. All remarks must be limited to the issue of the possible transfer of Asheville Primary students and staff. The School Board will also accept written comments on this topic. Any such written comments must be emailed to ashley.thublin@acsgmail.net by 5:00 PM on December 7, 2021. Written comments will be public records and will be forwarded to School Board members but will not be read aloud at any meeting.
Comments can be made in person or by email. There will NOT be an option to make public comments virtually on Tuesday.
Please understand that no action will be taken on December 6th or December 7th. The School Board will be making a decision about the possible move during its Regular Meeting on December 13th.
Upcoming Important Dates
Monday, December 6: 5th Grade Muddy Sneakers On-site Fieldtrip
Monday, December 6: ACS Board Meeting at 5:00 pm
The Week of December 6: Hour of Code
Tuesday, December 7: Special Called ACS Board Meeting at 5:00 pm
Thursday, December 9: 5th Grade Middle School Tours
Monday, December 13: ACS Board Meeting at 5:00 pm
Monday, December 20: Friday, December 31 - Winter Break/No School for Students
Monday, January 3: Students return to school
Friday, January 14: End of Quarter 2/1st Semester
Monday, January 17: Holiday, no school
Monday, January 18: Optional Teacher Workday, no school for students
Tuesday, January 25: Report cards go home
Bus Update
Hour of Code
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS:
This week is Hour of Code week, an international event in which students learn about computer science. This week and next week, all students will participate and learn that coding develops collaboration, critical thinking, design, and problem-solving skills. The Hour of Code website is full of resources if you would like to continue to explore this at home (https://hourofcode.com/us/learn).
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Cathy Sorensen, our Digital Lead Teacher at cathy.sorensen@acsgmail.net.
Eblen Pumpkin Sales Update & Thank You Note
On behalf of our students and families at Ira B. Jones Elementary, we want to thank everyone that supported the Eblen Pumpkins Sales for 2021.Despite a pandemic year, you all responded generously to the needs of our families and community.
We made a little over $400.00.
Thank you again for your support and always being willing to make a difference in our community. There is" No Place "like Jones!
Thanks
Ms. Abby Owolabi, SSW
Student Weather Packets and Winter Weather Remote Learning Days
According to Senate Bill 654, all districts in North Carolina can utilize up to five days of virtual learning if a school is unable to open because of severe weather conditions, energy shortages, power failure, or other emergencies.
The district WOULD be able to count the day's instructional hours if a Remote Learning Day was called. This means students could learn from home, and our total number of instructional hours would not decrease.
According to School Calendar Legislation, each district must have a minimum of 1,025 instruction hours for students.
Any additional time is considered "banked hours" that can be used for late starts, early dismissals, and snow days. At this time, Asheville City Schools has 16.5 hours.
Essentially, we will use Remote Learning Days to keep students and the calendar from going off target when bad weather closes schools. Plus, an added benefit of this alternative is that we won't have to make up the missed day, take away a Staff Work Day, decrease the number of days we have off for Spring Break, or extend the school year.
If Dr. Freeman decided to call for a Remote Learning Day, Ashley-Michelle, our Communication Director, would share this information as part of her winter weather message.
Regarding instruction on Remote Learning Days:
Kindergarten - 5th Graders district-wide will complete a work packet. These packets were sent home with your student on Tuesday, December 2. Please contact your child's teacher if you did not receive a packet for your students. Please do not use these packets now. We will let you know when it's time to bring them out.
Assigned work must be completed to be counted present for the day. However, due to the possibility of power outages, students will have five school days after the Remote Learning Day is called to complete their assignments.
More information about the district's Inclement Weather procedures can be found here. Additionally, click here to see whether your neighborhood falls on our current list of "No Buses on Icy Roads," which means it wouldn't be traveled on should that call be made by our superintendent.
Ira B. Jones Elementary School
Website: https://www.ashevillecityschools.net/Domain/478
Phone: 828.350.6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irabjones/
Ruafika A. Cobb
Email: ruafika.cobb@acsgmail.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/acsgmail.net/jones-remote-learning-hub/home
Phone: 828.350.6700
Twitter: @Principal_IBJ