JMS Parent Newsletter
Week 8: September 14th - 18th
"Forget all of the reasons why it won't work and believe the one reason it will." - Unknown
Week 8: Two Weeks Left in the 9 Weeks!
A few important items:
- TE 21 Benchmark testing will take place each day your student is in the building this week! Please be sure your child's device is fully charged each day and encourage your child to do their best.
- There will be no Fall Intersession over Fall Break.
- Please take advantage of After School and Super Wednesday assistance! This is an opportunity for your child to make up any missing assignments before the end of the 9 weeks! Please contact your school counselor to arrange! Ms. Castle (5th & 7th grade) can be reached at mccastle@ortn.edu and Ms. Sullivan (6th & 8th grade) can be reached at fcsullivan@ortn.edu. You can also reach After School Coordinator Corey Huddleston at cdhuddleston@ortn.edu.
Please check out the information below to ensure your child finishes strong and takes advantage of all of the learning opportunities this week!
- The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
- What can I do to ensure my child finishes the 9 weeks strong?
- TE 21 Benchmark Testing Information
- School Picture Information
- ITC Corner - Tips from Mr. Fowler - What is Clever?
- PTO News
- The Reading Eagle
- Counselors Corner
- Athletics Update
Again, thank you so much for your continued support of our teachers and staff!
Phil Cox, Principal, pcox@ortn.edu
Jenifer Laurendine, Vice Principal, jllaurendine@ortn.edu
Nick Corrigan, Dean of Students, njcorrigan@ortn.edu
Ben Fowler, Instructional Technology Coach, bjfowler@ortn.edu
The Eagle Eye - A Look at the Week Ahead
Monday, September 14th
A Day
A – K on campus
L – Z Remote
Benchmark-ELA and Social Studies
Football Practice 3-5pm
Cheer Practice 3-4:30pm
Cross Country 3-4:30pm
Volleyball Practice 3-5pm
Tuesday, September 15th
A Day
L – Z on campus
A – K Remote
Benchmark-ELA and Social Studies
Instructional Coaches Meeting - Eagle Innovation Center - 3pm
School Counseling PLC - 3:30pm
Football Practice 3-5pm
Cross Country 3-4:30pm
Volleyball Match vs. Norris MS @ Norris MS
JV – 4:30, Varsity – 5:30 and 6:30
Wednesday, September 16th
All students Remote learning
Admin Team Meeting - Eagle Innovation Center - 6:30AM
BOE Visit-8am
System-wide Groups
Faculty Food Truck-Crazy Cubans 11-1pm
Football Practice - Varsity 3-4:30pm; JV 4:30-5:30pm
Cheer Practice 3-4:30pm
Cross Country Team Photo - 6pm in front of the school
Cross Country City Championship vs. RMS - @ JMS Girls – 6:15pm, Boys – 6:45pm
Thursday, September 17th
B Day
A – K on campus
L – Z Remote
Benchmark-Math and Science
USAble Life Representative in Library
Student Focus Meeting - Eagle’s Nest (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th)
Cross Country 3-4:30pm
Volleyball Practice (uniform collection/awards) 3-4:30pm
Football Game vs. Lenoir City MS 6:30pm - Lenoir City Middle School
Friday, September 18th
B Day
L – Z on campus
A – K Remote
Benchmark-Math and Science
USAble Life Representative in Library
Football Practice 3-5pm
Cross Country 3-4:30pm
2 Weeks Left in 9 Weeks- Finish Strong and Make up Missing Assignments!
With two weeks remaining until the end of the first 9 weeks and Report Cards are sent home, please take a look at the information below to ensure your child finishes successfully!
Check Skyward
- Take a moment to check your child's grades in Skyward. You will be able to tell what their current grade is and what assignments are missing.
Contact Teacher
- If your child has missing assignments, please reach out to their teacher to see what steps can be taken to possibly make them up. Many teachers provide opportunities to resubmit or make up assignments.
After School/Super Wednesday Assistance
- If your child has multiple missing assignments, please reach out to his/her school counselor to schedule time after school or during Wednesdays to make them up. Ms. Castle (5th & 7th grade) can be reached at mccastle@ortn.edu and Ms. Sullivan (6th & 8th grade) can be reached at fcsullivan@ortn.edu. You can also reach After School Coordinator Corey Huddleston at cdhuddleston@ortn.edu.
Attendance
- Be sure your child clicks on the attendance link for each class, every day to ensure they are counted present. If your child is absent for in-person learning days, please be sure to submit a parent or doctor note within 3 days.
Technology Issues
- If your child is having technology issues or trouble accessing something on Canvas, please contact Ben Fowler, Instructional Technology Coach at bjfowler@ortn.edu, for assistance.
Please feel free to reach out to Vice Principal Jen Laurendine at jllaurendine@ortn.edu (865-425-9257) or Dean of Students Nick Corrigan at njcorrigan@ortn.edu (865-425-9271) if we can assist in any way.
TE 21 Benchmark Assessments This Week
Students will take TE21 Benchmark Assessments this week when they are in the building for all core courses: ELA, Math, Social Studies & Science.
Please see below for more information:
Schedule
- Monday/Tuesday - ELA & Social Studies
- Thursday/Friday - Science & Math
Why does my child take these assessments?
- These Benchmarks allow us to check on students understanding of the standards in these subjects throughout the first nine weeks of the year.
- The data that we receive back from these assessments allow us to provide further instruction, if needed, and feedback for all of our students as we progress throughout the school year.
What can I do to help my child be successful on the Benchmark?
- Get a good night's sleep all week.
- Eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school or at school each day.
- Be sure your child's device is fully charged prior to coming to school each day.
- Encourage them to give their best effort!
ITC Corner - Tips from Mr. Fowler - What is Clever?
Hello! A couple of weeks ago we talked about the difference between Canvas and Skyward. There is a third major tool we use in Oak Ridge Schools, and that is Clever.
What is Clever?
Clever is our Single Sign On (SSO) management tool. When students use their ORTN account to log into Clever from the http://ortn.edu/onlineors page, they have access to all of our district tools, textbooks, and more at the click of a button. For most tools, they don’t need to sign in again. For access to tools like the Amplify textbook, MasteryConnect, Freckle, or IXL, students just click and the link logs them in automatically. All the data that connects teachers and students and these third party apps is managed through Clever, securing student data and only sending what is necessary, as decided by the Technology Department and Oak Ridge Schools. Any links placed into Clever come from your student’s teacher or district staff. A great one for JMS students is the “I Need a Counselor” link that will set up appointments with the Counseling staff.
Please see the pictures below. As always, if you have any questions, let me know at bjfowler@ortn.edu.
PTO News
PTO Annual Fundraiser Has Begun:
- Last week, your child brought home the JMS PTO Direct Drive Fundraising form. This is the PTO’s only fundraiser of the year so please consider donating. Direct Drive donations are used to help address needs of the school which are not included in the school’s budget such as dissection animals, art clay, supplies for the nurse’s office, new materials for the library and so much more! Donation forms and envelopes can be returned September 17th through September 25th to one of two lock boxes located either in the downstairs lobby or the second floor administration office. They can also be mailed to JMS PTO 200 Fairbanks Rd. Oak Ridge, TN 37830. This year the PTO is also accepting donations via PayPal (jeffersonmspto@gmail.com).
“Like” Our New PTO Facebook Page:
- The PTO now has a Facebook page! To stay informed about PTO meetings and events, be sure to “like” our page. Search for Jefferson Middle School PTO or click here https://www.facebook.com/Jefferson-Middle-School-PTO-107297091103222/
Next PTO Meeting:
- The next PTO meeting will be Monday, September 21 at 7:50am via Zoom. Meetings are kept short and are conveniently scheduled immediately after drop-off so anyone can attend. If you would like to receive a Zoom invite, please email sandy@issi.net.
JMS & Covid -19 Precautions
Look Who Came to Visit Ms. Kala's Class!
The Reading Eagle
New in the Library:
We are excited that we have a new set of the whole Harry Potter series ready for check out! We also have added 20 other new titles this week. Encourage your child to come by and see what’s new!
Donations:
The JMS library does accept age appropriate book donations. We take the donated books and use what we can. Then, we redistribute the rest depending on the books, so many end up in JMS classrooms.
Open Library:
We are committed at JMS to make sure all students get time in the library. The JMS library is ALWAYS open for student checkouts. That means that students can request time from teachers to come to the library. Most teachers also schedule checkout times for students on a regular schedule to make sure the have something to read. Students in grades 7th and 8th can come before school. All grade level students can stop by on their way to their classes in the morning starting at 7:30. The virtual library is always open for eBooks, audiobooks, and hold requests. Email Mrs. Haverkamp with any questions at ewhaverkamp@ortn.edu.
Attendance Awareness Month - September
Thank you, Oak Ridge Home Depot!
JMS Counselors Corner
Good Evening! We hope that you had a great weekend and that you are ready for the 2-week countdown to FALL BREAK!
With Benchmark Assessments beginning, it is important your child eat healthy and get a lot of rest.
This week we will educate we will provide you how important it is to provide your child more potassium and less salt to help with mental health concerns. According to Jennifer Berry she states there are various foods that provide the most potassium.
These foods are listed below:
- Dried apricots are a good source of iron, antioxidants, and potassium.
- Potatoes are an excellent source of potassium. Baked potatoes with the skin still on are the best option, as much of a potato's potassium is in the skin.
- Leafy greens are some of the most nutritious foods available. One study found that eating a serving per day of leafy green vegetables may help slow age-related cognitive decline.
- Lentils contain potassium, fiber, and protein.
- Prunes are dried plums. Juice companies usually make prune juice by adding water back into the prunes, cooking them, and then filtering out the solids.
Important Dates from the Counseling Office
Fall Break: September 28th – October 9th
Fall Parent Conferences with Teachers: October 21st
8th Graders ONLY-ACT Aspire Testing Window: October 19th -23rd
Election Day: No School November 3rd
Thanksgiving Break: November 25th-27th
Winter Break: Early Dismissal December 18th
Winter Break: December 21st- January 4th
JMS Athletics Update
The 2020-2021 Jefferson athletic teams are off to a great start this Fall! Please see below an update for our Fall sports and some information about our Winter sports!
Volleyball:
The Lady Eagles will travel to Norris on Tuesday night for their last match of the season. JV will play at 4:30pm and Varsity will follow at 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
Cross Country:
Our Cross Country team will host the City Championship on Wednesday evening. Girls will run at 6:15pm and boys will follow at 6:45pm. Please come out and see this exceptional team of runners at their last home meet this season!
Football:
The Fighting Eagles Football Team will travel to Lenoir City Thursday night for their final away game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30pm.
Cheer:
The JMS Cheer Squad is working hard to cheer the football team on Thursday night at Lenoir City!
Girls Basketball:
There will be a player/parent interest meeting for any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade girl interested in trying out for JMS Girls Basketball on September 22nd at 5pm at the picnic tables in front of JMS. Please wear a mask and bring your own chairs to social distance.
Boys Basketball:
There will be a player/parent interest meeting for any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade boy interested in trying out for JMS Boys Basketball on September 22nd at 6pm at the picnic tables in front of JMS. Please wear a mask and bring your own chairs to social distance.
Please come out and support all Jefferson Athletics this week! All spectators will be required to wear a mask, have their temperature taken upon arrival, and maintain social distance at all events.