The Jaguar Journal
January 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
December 20- January 2 ~ NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
January 1 ~ Happy New Year!
January 3 ~ First day back at school - FULL DAY OF SCHOOL
January 10 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
January 15 ~ NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 17 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
January 18 ~ 2nd and 3rd grades concert for MLK Jr. Day
January 24 ~ FULL DAY OF SCHOOL
January 26 ~ NO SCHOOL - Teacher Training Day
January 31 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 1:55
From the Principal's Office
Hello James Sales Families,
Happy New Year! 2024 will be a great year for our James Sales Jaguars! We will hit the ground running as soon as we return.
We will be busy benchmark testing all students in the school. We will conduct our winter reading and math fluency assessments. Students have been working incredibly hard at school on reading fluency and comprehension along with daily practice on math fact fluency to prepare for testing. We greatly appreciate your continued support with reading and practicing math facts at home each night with your child. This practice will help them to continue to progress throughout the school year.
We enjoy collaborating with you in educating your children. Thank you for your help and support as we continue the school year.
Sincerely,
Brandy Nelson
Principal
James Sales Elementary
Plan ahead! See the dates for the new school year so you can make sure your vacations don't conflict with school days.
Food Drive
School Delays and Closures
As the weather becomes colder, it is important that you have a plan for emergency school closures and limited or delayed bus runs. School may be delayed or canceled in the case of bad weather or an emergency. If the regular school schedule is changed, local radio and television stations will be notified.
"School Closed" means that all schools will be closed for that one day only. All school related activities will be canceled. If schools close early, parents are asked to make arrangements for their child's care.
"Late Start" means that all schools will start late and transportation will be delayed by the amount of time specified for that one day only. Breakfast will not be served on late start days. School related activities may or may not be altered.
Families can expect to receive information about school closures and delays in the following ways:
- Recorded Telephone Message contact the main office at your child's school to ensure your contact information is up to date
- Email from info@fpschools.org
- Website www.fpschools.org
- Flash Alert Notification sign up to receive email notifications and download the Flash Alert App, click here.
- Local Media including KIRO 97.3 FM, KOMO 1000 AM, KIRO TV Channel 7, KOMO TV Channel 4, and KING TV Channel 5
- Social Media Facebook and Twitter
About Head Lice
Important Information!
From the Health Room
Please make sure your child comes to school dressed for the weather! Students are outside every day for recess and need warm jackets, hats, and proper footwear. It is getting cold and wet outside and we want our students coming back to class refreshed and ready to learn, not damp and shivering for the remainder of the day.
It is a good idea for younger students to bring a change of clothes in their backpacks just in case of a bathroom accident or a particularly wet day outside. Put the clothing in a plastic bag into their backpack, then when the clothing is needed, they can put the wet clothing into the plastic bag and bring it home to be laundered. If we have lent your child clothes, please wash them and return them to the health room. Thank you!
2nd and 3rd Grades Will Perform
Attendance Matters!
Is Your Child Too Sick to Come to School?
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 pone 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.
From the Handbook
Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs, and Weapons
Federal and State law requires public school campuses to be tobacco, alcohol, drug and weapon free. This includes e-cigarettes/vapes and is true for anyone on school property. Thank you for setting this example for our students.
Please remind your child that students cannot have any object at school that can reasonably be considered a weapon or instrument that can create a danger to self or others, or cause a disruption of the learning environment. Consequences can be short-term suspension, long-term suspension, or expulsion and may require a referral to the Pierce County Sheriff. We appreciate your partnership in keeping everyone safe. If your child sees or hears anything regarding weapons, drugs or alcohol at school, it is important that they immediately report this to an adult at school.
January Junior Adventure Club Activity
The James Sales Junior Adventure Club (for 4th and 5th grade students and their parents) will enjoy a snowshoeing and hiking activity at Gold Creek Pond at Snoqualmie Pass on Saturday, January 20th. The bus will depart James Sales at 10:00 am and arrive back at the school around 3:30 pm. All attendees must dress appropriately for snow!
Please make sure your student lets Mr. Horak know that they will be going by turning in the permission slip for the trip. 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!
Free Tutoring
Tutoring at PLU
Nutrition Services
SPYA Soccer
Volunteers
We anticipate the need for volunteers for field trips and other occasions. If you are interested in volunteering as a chaperone for field trips or in any other capacity that may come up, please complete the volunteer application as soon as possible. It may take two weeks or more to process an application and we don't want you to be left out of a volunteer opportunity because you are not approved yet! Click here to begin your volunteer application.
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 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.
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.
Hewins Early Learning Center Enrollment
Before and After School Care with Right at School
James Sales hosts a before and after school care program on-site for our students. 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 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.